Education

Opportunity and aspiration

The world has changed, no more so than in recent years, but where is Prep education in this response to the changing times? Asks Sheina Wright, Head of Prep at Embley.

A deep secure foundation in English and Mathematics remains vital. The ability to read and write and be numerate, as well as puzzle through problems, is essential both in life and the world of work. That said, education is not a meaning to an end or a function: it is about igniting a passion within a young person.

Our generation of young people have a greater sense of responsibility and self-awareness of the impact their actions have on our plant. The profile and depth of Science teaching will continue to rise, alongside a thirst for knowledge. Learning about the impact we have on the environment and indeed our own bodies will be key. Being outdoors will continue to form an important part of school life, but it will be embedded more fully in the curriculum; Prep schools should provide their children with a substantial and deep Science curriculum which includes Natural Sciences.

Geography will also need to raise its profile in the Primary years. This in part will be in response to the increased concern from our young people about the environment. Add to that a shared pandemic, which has challenged humanity and a political landscape that has made us more insular, it has never been more important to understand that we are part of something much bigger. It is particularly important to raise world-ready children with an international understanding. Other subjects that I think will continue to become more prevalent are those such as Computer Science.

With an uncertain world in front of us, we need to help young people to help themselves. This is about the way we teach young people, our day-to-day interactions and modelling behaviours. Key qualities for future growth will be the ability to adapt, to create, make mistakes, repeat practice for confidence growth and to be bold enough to try something different if things don’t work out.

For further information please visit: www.embley.org.uk Embley Park, West Wellow, Romsey, SO51 6ZE Tel: 01794 512206

Adam King, Headmaster Elect at Prince’s Mead School

The Governors are delighted to welcome Adam King as the Headmaster of Prince’s Mead School from September 2022.

In September 2021, it was announced that Peter Thacker was stepping down to become Headmaster of Bishopsgate School after 4 years of outstanding leadership at Prince’s Mead.

After 13 years of Headship at Thorngrove School, Highbury, Adam is relocating to Winchester to lead this vibrant and adventurous Prep School & Nursery. He was previously House Master at Giggleswick School in the Yorkshire Dales and St Faith’s School in Cambridge.

In 2004, he took up the post of Deputy Head at Thorngrove and was appointed as its Head, five years later. He has been Headmaster at Thorngrove School, in Highclere, ever since. As well his day job, he is also a Compliance and Educational Quality Inspector for ISI, on the Academic Committee for the Independent Schools Examinations Board and the Secretary of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools District 10 Committee. He finds these additional roles interesting, fulfilling and enjoyable and feels that in many ways they support his role as a Head by giving him fresh ideas and challenging him to be the best person (and Head) that he can be.

In his spare time, Adam enjoys running (he has run a couple of London marathons and a few half-marathons), walking and cooking. Although his playing days are over, he supports Bath Rugby Club and enjoys watching them at the Recreation Round in Bath. Adam loves the theatre, whether it’s regional or West End and also enjoys going to the ballet at Covent Garden and Sadler’s Wells.

Adam and his family are very much looking forward to moving down to Winchester and making the most of living in such a beautiful city, as well as the surrounding countryside. We are delighted to have made an exceptional appointment for our new Head at Prince’s Mead School.

Adam extends a warm welcome to every new family that will be joining Prince’s Mead in the coming year.

Prince’s Mead is a thriving independent preparatory day school for 300 boys and girls set in a beautiful site in Winchester, Hampshire. The school is a forward-thinking yet traditional school with a strong family ethos and an excellent reputation. Housed in an impressive Grade II Georgian building, with spectacular panoramic views over the Itchen Valley, the School offers an imaginative, allround education.

St Swithuns, Winchester

The Power of Fun: by Jane Gandee, headmistress of St Swithun’s, Winchester

As I write this, I am ruefully aware of my skinned elbows, and a gash on my chin which necessitated a visit to A+E. In the space of a week, I managed to acquire the injuries of an energetic toddler. My elbows are the result of an over-exuberant slide down the inflatables that we had in school on the penultimate day of term whereas the chin injury is from falling over my own feet whilst playing a family tennis match. Did they hurt and are they faintly ridiculous? Absolutely, but I acquired them whilst having fun.

I came across the Power of Fun by Catherine Price earlier this year, and it has had a big impact on my approach to life. As I have got older, I have instinctively tried to take myself less seriously. Afterall, as a headteacher, it’s always safer to laugh at yourself before the students do. And now, I have evidence to reinforce the importance of a playful approach to life.

Price outlines the benefits of fun for everyone. As she says, ‘if you make fun a priority, you will be healthier and have more energy. You will be more productive, less resentful and less stressed. You will find community and a sense of purpose. You will stop languishing and start flourishing.’Frankly, who wouldn’t want to remove languishing from their life?

Price defines fun as activities that are playful, involve a connection with others and involve ‘flow’ or being so immersed in what you are doing that you don’t notice time passing.

She also points out that as we get older, we are often encouraged to take things more seriously. Yet there is no evidence that this produces any positive benefit. Our aim at St Swithun’s is to have fun in a range of different ways. And it’s not just about the students. Why would any of us want to work in a fun-free community? Indeed, as far as I am concerned, one of the most important advantages of working in a school is the many, varied opportunities for fun. Increasingly, however, we need to differentiate between true fun and the type of activities that our students are told are fun, but which actually leave you feeling ‘dead inside’ as Price puts it, such as scrolling through your social media feed.

Therefore, we have been turning to more traditional activities such as dancing. We now have a school dance featuring iconic St Swithun’s moves such as cradling (a lacrosse move) and playing the air guitar, which we have performed together on several occasions. Similarly, nothing beats communal singing or solving quirky, interactive problems in the style of TaskMaster. These activities are designed to include the three key components: playfulness, connection with others and ‘flow’.

On our final day of the term, we all (guests, students and staff) sang My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean complete with actions. There wasn’t a serious face in the marquee and we left for the holidays buzzing with a spring in our step and the intention of creating further opportunities for fun over the summer.

I am sure that the intentional creation of micro moments of fun would help everyone to enjoy life more fully. I am certainly looking forward to more minor injuries as I wholeheartedly embrace my inner child.