LDP Education www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/education
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
It’s important to find out how much effort a school makes to help pupils settle in. Parents are advised to pay as many visits as possible before making their choice
Decision time for parents I F THERE’S a huge stack of glossies in your living room and none of them have photos of fashion models on the cover, then it sounds like you’re in the middle of choosing a school. It’s a process every parent goes through at least twice and it never seems to get any easier – not least because this decision will impact on your child’s happiness and maybe even their future career. As helpful as glossy prospectuses may be, nothing can replace visiting the schools on your short-list and getting a feel of the atmosphere. With around 40 independent schools in the region, each boasting different facilities and specialities, how do you decide which one is best for your child? Daniel Magill, pastoral head and head of sixth form at St
Open days are the best way of finding out more about a school. Laura Davis reports Mary’s College, in Crosby, recommends arriving prepared. “This move is a very important one for both parents and children, and it is best achieved through careful planning,” he says. “You should think clearly about what you are looking for from the school in terms of coeducational or single-sex provision, academic success, spiritual, cultural and moral support, sports opportunities and extra-curricular activities. “Ideally, you should try to visit the school as many times as possible to see how it feels for you and your child.” A key consideration is the effort a school makes to help its
new pupils settle in. “Remember that, in a secondary school, the pupils move around to the subject bases and this ‘travelling’ can be strange, tiring and even daunting to children who are more used to having all of their lessons in just one or two rooms,” explains Daniel. “It goes without saying, then, that one essential requirement for the newcomers is a structured induction period. Many schools have a guardian or buddy scheme whereby new pupils can readily approach sixth-formers or other older pupils if they need some assistance, or simply want to chat with someone other than a teacher.”
First impressions are important. Parents should arrange a visit to all schools that catch their eye in the local area to get a feel for the atmosphere and attitude of the staff. Talk to as many different people as possible – the teachers, senior staff and current pupils – to ensure you have a complete picture. Consider how the children seem. Are they happy, confident and enthusiastic about their work and experience at the school? Arrange a meeting with the head teacher to discuss whether the school is the right one for your child, and mention any
special concerns you might have. Check how wide the curriculum is. Finally, consider the pastoral care. “Once a school has been selected, pupils and parents must have the confidence to talk to the form teachers and heads of year if there are any worries about how they are settling in,” adds Daniel. “Do not hesitate to contact your new school if you have any concerns, as it is always better to sort things out promptly, rather than let them to grow out of proportion.” ■ FIRST Class’s directory of independent schools, on Pages 57, should help you with your decision. For information on all schools in the region, and for education news, visit www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ education lauradavis@dailypost.co.uk
DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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LDP Education
Take the green route through Laura Davis finds out how to make school life organic, despite the credit crunch
I
N THE playgrounds of Merseyside, the kids might be arguing over whether the best colour is red or blue, but for their parents it is undeniably green. Never since the country was told that growing a few potatoes in the back garden would be as great a weapon against the Nazis as a speeding Spitfire have all things organic been so much on our minds. We have become a nation of recyclers, composters and growers and, with an issue as big as the environment at
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stake, it makes sense to tackle the subject young. So, as you iron your children’s uniforms and cut their sandwiches into quarters, why not spare a moment’s thought for how to make their school lives organic. Fortunately, choosing healthier, more ecofriendly clothing and food doesn’t mean you have to choose organic cotton over a pension. There are enough options out there to make sure that you, and your children, can be clothed, fed, and taken care of as nature intended. lauradavis@dailypost.co.uk
Keeping lunchboxes healthy PLAYGROUND politics used to mean that the person with the best snack – be it a brownie, packet of crisps or sprinkle-laden cupcake – would earn the kudos. It was never the pig-tailed blonde with the carrot sticks and apple juice in the corner who earned any respect because, let’s face it, cupcakes beat carrots in any kids’ taste test. But not any more. With tastier, healthier snacks now available (and costcomparative, too), you can send your child to school knowing that not only will she enjoy what she’s eating – it’s also healthy. Organix (www.organix. com) makes 100% natural, additive-free snacks for four to 10year-olds called “No Junk” (not to mention the organic baby food they also sell), packed full of natural sweeteners like organic apple juice and filled with ingredients you’d find in
The range of Organix Goodies is very varied your gran’s own store cupboard (that means no E-numbers). There’s even a recipe section and meal planner to help parents in their quest to be more green. Organix cereal bars, savoury snacks, raisins, fruit bars and rice cakes have passed taste tests with 400 children, so you can be assured that yours will most likely like the range, too. Sainsbury’s Kids range (www.sainsburys.co.uk) and Tesco’s Healthy Eating for Children (www.tesco.com) also offer snacks and lunchboxes free from artificial colours and flavourings. They’re ideal for five to
10-year-olds with their bagels, yoghurts, mac and cheese and milkshakes – and recipes for parents looking for further inspiration. Organic giant Whole Foods’ Back to School section (www.wholefoods market.com/kids/backto school) also has meal and snack planners, plus recipes, to get you pumped up about those months in the classroom. If you’re not sure that the snacks you’ve bought your kids are as good as they purport to be, check them out on Action On Additives (www.actionon additives.com), which tells you what foods have which additives in them.
Organix’s Anna Rosier says this is a very important step in ensuring the health of your child. “You have to understand food in its own right,” she says. “Snacks can be lots of different things – carrots, pots of hummus – it’s about being quite creative and not about switching from conventional crisps to organic crisps. “It’s a parent’s responsibility to educate their children where food comes from, but they have to know it themselves and that’s the challenge. “If they don’t eat well, they won’t pass it on to their children.”
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BECAUSE children grow so quickly and tend to stain, rip and destroy whatever clothing you put in front of them, it’s easy to go for the cheapest and most convenient on the market. But most children’s uniforms are made from polyester – a crude oil by-product. The three major retailers selling school uniforms – M&S, Bhs and Tesco – are again offering the standard uniform in Recycled ranges, which basically mean that the plastic bottles you recycle weekly are turned into the lightweight fleece sweaters your child wears to school. While this isn’t necessarily any better than wearing brandnew polyester – the plastic bottles are melted down into raw polyester and turned into fibres for the clothing – the Recycled range does help reduce landfill and find a way of dealing with waste.
A blazer from the Marks and Spencer recycled school uniform range
Teflon, the miracle ingredient that makes eggs not stick to our pans, is also present in school uniforms to strengthen fibres and turn the clothing water and stain-repellent. But the main chemical in Teflon, Perfluoro-octanoic Acid (PFOA), has been associated with major health risks, notably birth defects and cancer – and even the US Environmental Protection Agency has urged a ban on PFOA usage. So, if you’re keen to find your uniforms elsewhere, Clean Slate Clothing (www. cleanslateclothing.co.uk) supplies Fairtrade and organic cotton uniforms, and is even having a sale on at the moment. Lint-Kids (www.lint-kids.com) also offers organic and naturally dyed blazers, trousers, skirts and tops, all available at nice prices. If you’d rather reuse than buy new, Uniform2.com is an online community that recycles books, clothing, shoes, and even musical instruments, across the UK.
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DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
LDP Education
your child’s education After-school activities PERHAPS the best thing for you to do after school with your child is to engage in some Food 101. If you want to get your little one thinking about where his food comes from (and learn all that yourself, too), look no further than Garden Organic for Schools (www. gardenorganic.org. uk). Garden Organic has around 1,500 member schools across the UK who are aiming to get kids thinking about food. It sounds simple enough, but as more and more of us live in big cities, and our only interaction with nature is to notice whether it’s raining or not, getting kids planting and
harvesting tomatoes and potatoes is actually a big deal. If there isn’t a school near you that has such a programme, why not sign yours up? Joining is free and schools receive practical organic gardening advice, free seeds, curriculum-based resources, activity sheets, a quarterly newsletter and access to the website’s lesson plans and ideas. ■ LIVERPOOL Organic Gardeners, www. logweb.connect free.co.uk, tel: 0151 722 7561 ■ EAST Cheshire Organic Group, tel: 01625 425192, email: woollamp@aol.com ■ WARRINGTON Organic and Wildlife Group, tel: 01925 263545.
Getting children working with nature is seen as a major triumph nowadays
A little girl eats some food from the Organix snacks range
an education for life OPEN WORKING DAY - Wednesday 8th October Juniors 10.00am - 12 noon, 1.30pm - 3.00pm Seniors 10.30am - 12.30pm, 2.30pm - 3.30pm OPEN EVENING FOR 6th FORM - Wednesday 12th November, 7pm Birkenhead High School is due to become an Independent Academy from September 2009, providing high quality, free education for girls aged 3-19
Children wear Bhs school uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles
Birkenhead High School
86 Devonshire Place, Prenton, Merseyside CH43 1TY tel 0151 652 5777 fax 0151 670 0639 www.gdst.net/birkenheadhigh
DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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LDP Education
Paying for the best schools As the credit crunch continues, Laura Davis finds out the best ways of saving for a child’s education
W
ITH the belts tightening around the middle of our piggy banks, it’s more difficult than ever to afford expensive tuition fees. However, with a bit of foresight, parents should be able to ride out the current credit crunch and send their children to the schools of their choice. This is according to Paul Brokenshar, a chartered financial planner at Liverpool-based investment managers Rensburg Sheppards. “The best ways of saving depend largely upon how much is being invested and the time horizon for such. If the approach to saving is tardy and, for example, there is less than five years to go, then cash deposits would be the recommended course of action,” he explains. “Returns from cash deposits are not high, but they afford an investor short-term certainty where values are concerned, which can be comforting in light of the financial tsunami we are currently faced with.”
An important consideration is how much tax you will end up paying on your investment. “It makes sense to maximise the tax efficiency of your savings by harnessing any available tax breaks such as Cash ISA allowances. “These allow an individual to shelter an amount each tax year from the clutches of HMRC – £3,600 for 2008/2009 tax year for cash ISAs,” says Paul. “Alternatively, Premium Bonds also offer a tax-free return, although the returns are somewhat unpredictable, as there is no guarantee of any at all.” It’s never too early to start planning how you will fund tuition fees, Paul adds. But, if you haven’t thought ahead, then there are still some options available to you: ■ Cover the cost from disposable income, should there be any. ■ Get help from grandparents. They may be willing to help, especially if it helps to reduce any inheritance tax liabilities. They are able to give away capital sums of £3,000 each, per annum, and it will immediately be
removed from their estate from an inheritance tax perspective. They are also able to give away as much disposable income as they can afford to, and these contributions will also be exempt from inheritance tax, so long as it does not impact on their standard of living. ■ Unlock money from your pension scheme – following changes in pension legislation, you are able to release a lump sum plus an income, if required, from a pension scheme and still continue to work. This could be a way of providing funds for education costs, although the impact this will have on tax and a retirement plan needs to be carefully considered. You have to be over the age of 50 for this to be an option at the current time, and this age will increase to 55 in 2010. ■ Think carefully about discount schemes. Some schools offer discounts to fees if you are prepared on pay up-front for, say, three years at a time. ■ Apply for a scholarship – most private schools offer scholarships
Paul Brokenshar – believes parents should be able to ride the credit crunch with a bit of foresight and bursaries, usually for gifted children. Not guaranteed, but still worth applying for. ■ Remortgaging to release equity is another option, but this could be costly. ■ Mortgage payment holidays and drawdown facilities – some lenders allow you to take a holiday from making mortgage
payments which could ease cashflow problems and provide funds for the costs of education. Alternatively, if a mortgage overpayment has been made, there may be an option to “draw down” on these overpayments, which could provide an injection of capital. lauradavis@dailypost.co.uk
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Careful planning can help you pay for your child’s education
Saving tips 1. TAKE advice – it’s important to consider your financial future as early as possible. If you’re planning a family or have a young family, now is the time to consider saving for their education. 2. Start early – the earlier you start saving, the more time there is for your savings to work hard for you. 3. Something is better than nothing – saving even the smallest amount is
important and will make a contribution at least. Financial assistance is available from most private schools, and as many as a third of children in private education now receive some sort of funding on top of their parental contribution. 4. Research your options – most private schools have scholarships for the gifted, and means-tested bursaries, so, if you have left it a bit late to save, it is a useful avenue to research.
5. Have a plan – whether you start saving late or are very organised, it’s important to have a clear idea of the amount of money you need. Knowing how long you have to save (as well as the number of children you have), and the numbers of years you’ll need to pay for school fees, will determine whether a high-risk or lowrisk strategy is best to generate the returns you need.
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DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
LDP Education
Your guide to the area’s independent schools C
HOOSING an independent school can be a minefield. Here, LDP Education brings you an essential reference guide, including useful details from exam results to term fees. Abbey Gate School Saighton Grange, Saighton, Chester Tel: 01244 332077 Co-ed Religious affiliation: None Term fees: £1,787 (infants), £2,085 (juniors), £3,546 (seniors) Intake ages: 4-18 Number of pupils: 468 Year founded: 1977 Entry requirements: Assessments in English, maths, reasoning (science at 14+) and interview. To sixth form: good GCSE results plus interview. Exam results in 2008: At A2, 96.2% pass rate, 35.8% A/B; at AS, 95% pass rate, 44.5% A/B; at GCSE, 93.6% A*-C, 96.6% five A*-C grades, 72.5% grades A*/A/B. Abbey Gate School Clare Avenue, Hoole, Chester Tel: 01244 319649 Religious affiliation: Christian nondenominational Term fees: £1,750-£1,895 Intake ages: 3-11 Number of pupils: 70 Year founded: 1910 Entry requirements: Non selective Exam results in 2008: Key Stage 2 SATs: Level 4 90%, Level 5 39% (maths); Level 4 100%, Level 5 34% (English); Level 4 100%, Level 5 65% (science). 95% success rate to local independent senior schools. Atherton House School 6, Alexandra Road, Great Crosby Tel: 0151 924 5578 Contact school for further details Auckland College 65-67, Parkland Road, Aigburth, Liverpool Tel: 0151 727 0083 Contact school for further details Avalon School Caldy Road, West Kirby, Wirral Tel: 0151 625 6993 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Interdenominational Term fees: £1,735 Intake ages: 2-11 Number of pupils: 177 Year founded: 1907 Entry requirements: Interview Exam results in 2008: N/A Birkenhead School The Lodge, 58, Beresford Road, Oxton, Wirral Tel: 0151 652 4014 Contact school for further details Birkenhead High School GDST 86, Devonshire Place, Prenton, Wirral Tel: 0151 652 5777 Girls’ school Religious affiliation: Nondenominational Term fees: Nursery £1,776, junior £2,150, senior £2,966 Intake ages: 3, 4, 11, 16 Number of pupils: 620
A good school can provide the best for your child at every age Year founded: 1901 Entry requirements: Entrance examination Exam results in 2008: GCSE overall pass rate 98%, A Level 99.3% Clarendon College Garston Old Road, Liverpool Tel: 0151 494 2094 Co-ed Religious affiliation: None Term fees: £1,300-£1,850 Intake ages: 3-16 Number of pupils: 25 Year founded: 2006 Entry requirements: Interview Exam results in 2008: Only GCSE dance taken, 100% A-C grades Cransley School Belmont Hall, Great Budworth, Northwich, Cheshire Tel: 01606 891747 Co-ed up to 11, girls only 11-16 Religious affiliation: Nondenominational Term fees: £1,135-£2,595 Intake ages: 3-upwards Number of pupils: 190 Year founded: 1930 Entry requirements: Senior entrance examination pass required Exam results in 2008: 100% A*-C for those taking five or more GCSEs The Grange School Bradburns Lane, Hartford, Cheshire Tel: www.grange.org.uk Contact school for further details Heswall Preparatory School 28, Quarry Road East, Heswall, Wirral Tel: 0151 342 3090 Contact school for further details Highfield School 96, Bidston Road, Oxton, Prenton, Wirral Tel: 0151 652 3708 Contact school for further details Kings School Wrexham Road, Chester Tel: 01244 347354 Contact school for further details
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Learning and growing At St Mary’s College, we want our children to learn and grow. We want them to know the importance of hard work, leadership, personal responsibility and good citizenship. That’s why we offer a happy, safe and structured environment within which they can develop. With over 40 extra-curricular clubs and societies, a fully-equipped multi-gym and 20 acres of sports fields, there’s plenty of opportunity for your child to flourish. Last year, our pupils had a 99% pass rate at A-level, gained over 30 Duke of Edinburgh Awards and helped raise more than £50,000 for local, national and international charities. (That’s a lot of proud parents, pupils and teachers).
OPEN DAYS For a full picture of life at the College, please visit our website at www.stmarys.ac then come along to one of our Open Days on:
Saturday morning 18th October, 10am – 1pm Thursday evening 23rd October, 6pm – 9pm In addition, the Principal is pleased to meet individual parents and prospective pupils by appointment and to arrange a guided tour of the school at work.
The Independent Catholic School for boys and girls of all faiths aged 0-18 St. Mary’s College Trust Limited. Registered Charity No. 1110311 Reg. Office: St. Mary’s College, Everest Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 5TW
DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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LDP Education
Choosing the right CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Kingsmead School Bertram Drive, Hoylake, Wirral Tel: 0151 632 3156 Co-ed, day and boarding Religious affiliation: Evangelical Term fees: £850-£2,875 tuition Intake ages: 3-16 Number of pupils: 212 Year founded: 1904 Entry requirements: Interview, entrance exam Exam results in 2008: 76% of pupils attained at least five A*-C grades at GCSE Kingswood College Scarisbrick Hall, Southport Road, Ormskirk Tel: 01704 880200 Contact school for further details Liverpool College Queens Drive, Mossley Hill, Liverpool Tel: 0151 724 4000 Contact school for further details Maharishi School Cobbs Brow Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk Tel: 01695 729912 Contact school for further details
Independent schools can provide excellent learning facilities
Merchant Taylors’ Liverpool Road, Crosby Tel: 0151 928 3308 Separate schools for boys and girls and mixed infants (Stanfield) Religious affiliation: Christian nondenominational Term fees: £2,727 (senior), £2,004 (junior) Intake ages: 4-18 Number of pupils: 1,700 Year founded: 1620 Entry requirements: Assessment for infant and junior schools, examinations at 11+ and 13+, for A*/A at GCSE required for most A Level subjects Exam results in 2008: GCSE, boys and girls 70% A*/A, A Level boys 70% A/B grades
Prenton Prep School Mount Pleasant, Oxton, Wirral Tel: 0151 652 3182 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Nondenominational Term fees: £1,470-£1,540 Intake ages: 2½-11 Number of pupils: 120 Year founded: 1935 Entry requirements: Taster day Exam results in 2008: 95% 11+ pass, 100% Level 4+ in English and science SATs, 90% Level 4+ in maths The Queen’s School City Walls Road, Chester Tel: 01244 312078 Girls’ school Religious affiliation: Nondenominational Term fees: £2,200-£3,140 Intake ages: 4-16 Number of pupils: 591 Year founded: 1878 Entry requirements: Lower school assessment interview; senior entrance examination; sixth form interview, report from current school and good GCSE results. Exam results in 2008: At GCSE, A*-C 99.2%, A*-B 92.4%, A* and A 69.7%; at A Level A and B 80.2%, A-C 91.4%, pass rate 100%. Redcourt St Anselms 7 Devonshire Place, Oxton, Birkenhead Tel: 0151 652 5228 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Term fees: £1,440 Intake ages: 3-11 Number of pupils: 300 Year founded: 1946 Entry requirements: None Exam results in 2008: All children
went on to selective secondary schools. Runnymede St Edwards North Drive, Sandfield Park, Liverpool Tel: 0151 281 2300 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Catholic Term fees: £1,879-£1,980 Intake ages: 3-11 Number of pupils: 250 Year founded: 1852 Entry requirements: Day’s assessment. Exam results in 2007: Percentage of pupils who achieved Level 4 or above in National Curriculum Assessments aged 11: 93% (English, maths and science). The Ryleys Boys Preparatory School Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge, Cheshire Tel: 01625 583241 Boys school Religious affiliation: Open to all faiths Term fees: £2,620-£2,995 Intake ages: 2½ to 13 Number of pupils: 240 Year founded: 1877 Entry requirements: Assessment Exam results in 2008: Not applicable St Mary’s College Everest Road, Crosby Tel: 0151 924 3926 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Term fees: £2,687 Intake ages: 11+, 16+ Number of pupils: 580 Year founded: 1919 Entry requirements: By examination and interview
Mostyn House School Parkgate, Neston, Wirral Tel: 0151 336 1010 Contact school for further details Mount Carmel Prep School 1, Aughton Park Drive, Aughton, Ormskirk Tel: 01695 573254 Co-ed Religious affiliation: Interdenominational Term fees: £1,545 Intake ages: 4-11 Number of pupils: 80 Year founded: 1958 Entry requirements: Interview Exam results in 2008: In Key Stage 2 sats, 100% at Level 4 in science, maths and English; at Level 5, 91% in science, 55% maths, 64% English Newton Bank Preparatory School High Street, Newton-le-Willows Tel: 01925 225979 Co-ed Religious affiliation: None Term fees: £1,350 Intake ages: 2-11 Number of pupils: 96 Year founded: 1939 Entry requirements: Interview with parents, possible grading in the junior department. Exam results in 2008: 100% of children who sat for independent schools passed.
Pupils can benefit from smaller class sizes
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DAILY POST Tuesday, September 23, 2008
LDP Education
independent school Exam results in 2008: At A Level, 98.4% pass rate, 55% A and B grades; at GCSE, 99% of pupils achieved A*-C grades. Streatham House School 2-4, Victoria Road West, Blundellsands Tel: 0151 924 1514 Contact school for further details Sunnymeade School 4, Westcliffe Road, Birkdale, Southport Tel: 01704 568593 Co-ed Religious affiliation: All denominations Term fees: £1,700-2,100 Intake ages: 3-11 Number of pupils: 120 Year founded: 1938 Entry requirements: By interview Exam results in 2008: N/A Tower College Mill Lane, Rainhill Tel: 0151 426 4333 Contact school for further details
Pupils can benefit from varied and interesting lessons
Merchant Taylors’ Schools’ Open Mornings Stanfield Mixed Infants, Junior Girls and Senior Girls Saturday 4th October 9:00 – 12:00noon Senior and Junior Boys Saturday 11th October 9:00 – 12:00noon
Come along to see why we are the North West’s leading independent day school for boys and girls aged 4 –18 Extensive bus services available throughout the North West A Level Results 2008 Boys 70% and Girls 78.8% A B grades 2008 GCSE Results Boys and Girls 70% A* A grades
Stanfield 0151 924 1506 Senior Girls 0151 932 2414 Boys’ Schools 0151 949 9333 www.merchanttaylors.com The Best Education For Life
Senior Boys | Senior Girls | Junior Boys | Stanfield Mixed Infants & Junior Girls
The Merchant Taylors’ Schools, Crosby: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: Company Number: 6654276. Registered office: Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 0QP. Registered Charity Number: 1125485
Words here Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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HILLSIDE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COLLEGE
“Excellence in the Heart of the Community”
PUPILS’ RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS – AGAIN! The Sports Hall at Hillside is the centre of activity on results day each August and this year pupils were able to celebrate even more than ever before. There was a sea of smiling faces as successful young people opened their results slips in what was a record-breaking year! 79% had achieved their “passport to success” of 5 GCSEs at A* to C grades, an increase on even last year’s record score. What is more, 47% of all pupils achieved this with GCSEs in Maths and English included and 97% of Hillside pupils achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grades A* to G. Following last November’s Ofsted inspection when Hillside was judged “outstanding”, the school has continued to raise standards and provide the children with real life opportunities. Laetitia Shemilt, North West Headteacher of the Year, said,” We simply continue to be so proud of our lovely children and determined to do everything in our power to help and support them to achieve all they possibly can while they are at Hillside. Whilst these results are the best any pupils have ever achieved at our school, we will continue to work hard to help our present pupils do even better still. When you work daily with these children, you really could not do anything less.” Mrs. Shemilt also pointed out that the children’s success was not only achieved through the classroom, but also by way of the care and support provided throughout their time at the school. This was a feature recognised by Ofsted inspectors, who reported, “The school is outstanding in its care, guidance and support…The interest of the individual student is at the centre of the school’s priorities, ensuring that every child truly matters.”
SPORTS LEADERS HEAD THE WAY Sporting success plays a large part in the life of Hillside, with Athletics teams enjoying particular success last summer and the boys becoming Bootle and District champions. There is another area in which Hillside students have made their mark this year and that is through the Sports Leader Awards. To achieve this award, students have to be actively involved in the local community after school helping to coach, referee and officiate for at least 10 hours. One of the team actually clocked up 39 extra hours! The successful graduates are seen here with Mrs. Shemilt, having supported local primary schools with their sports days and activities and working in a wide range of sports. As we begin the new school year, over 50 young people are aiming for Sports Leader success in 2009.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR “INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR” Hillside has a national reputation for the quality and range of international activities available. However, by any standards this has been a very special year. In July the Spanish Embassy in London named Hillside the Spanish Secondary School of the Year. French is also taught at Hillside with pupils enjoying class links with students in the South of France and everyone is determined to support and encourage all children to learn languages and be aware of other people and cultures. As if that was not enough, the British Council has announced that Hillside is the HSBC “Link2Learn” International Secondary School of 2008 in the UK. Headteacher Mrs. Shemilt will be presented with the award in London next month by the presenter of the BBC 6 o’clock news, George Alagiah. Hillside pupils are beginning three new projects this term with schools in different parts of Spain as well as an English and PE link with a school in South Korea. Other children will be preparing for another series of musical, dance and drama activities at a Cultural Awareness Evening in the spring.
SCIENCE WEEK MEETS SPARKLING CYANIDE! When pupils returned to school after the summer holiday, it wasn’t long before they were creating films about medical science in the 17th century, debating the truth behind the Turin Shroud, recreating faces from the past in clay, playing Cluedo in French and Spanish via interactive whiteboards. In Food Studies, the pupils went back to Agatha Christie murder stories and investigated how food has been used in the past for poisoning – and how this can be detected! This, though, is what happens at Hillside during Science Week, when the timetable is suspended and everyone gets involved in exciting activities. Science is a very popular and successful subject at Hillside with children choosing courses in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Double Award Science and BTEC Science.
OPEN EVENING
For prospective pupils and parents on
Thursday 2nd October at 6.45pm Hillside High School Breeze Hill BOOTLE Liverpool L20 9NU Tel 0151 525 2630 or 4725 Hillside welcomes applications from hardworking children who want to succeed
Hillside High School, Breeze Hill, Bootle, Liverpool L20 9NU Tel 0151 525 2630 or 4725