The Great Outdoors at RMS

THE GREAT OUTDOORS AT THE ROYAL MASONIC SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Few schools can boast either the size of grounds or the number of opportunities afforded by the outside space that RMS enjoys - a 300 acre parkland site, which is home to more than 200 varieties of tree and a whole host of fauna, including breeding buzzards, badgers, muntjac deer and glis glis.

Opportunities for outdoor pursuits are almost limitless, and the School continues to work to ensure that every member of the School community actively engages with the grounds they are so privileged to share.

And all this just 25 minutes from Central London!

Embracing the Great Outdoors

NEW PLAYGROUND FOR

At RMS, we start every academic year with a whole school Focus Day, when students from Ruspini House Pre School, Cadogan House Prep Department, the Senior School and the Sixth Form all engage in “off timetable activities”.

RUSPINI HOUSE

In September 2017, our focus was The Great Outdoors, and the girls took part in a wide variety of activities, some at school, including orienteering, rugby, and golf, and some further afield including horse-riding, teambuilding activities at Phasels Wood, and a trip to London Zoo.

NEW PLAY AREAS FOR

The importance of the great outdoors in our school has not diminished over the year, and this term we are delighted to have created some fantastic new outdoor spaces to enhance the learning environment of all our students.

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

PRE SCHOOL

CADOGAN HOUSE PREP DEPARTMENT

THE ROSE GARDEN AT HIND HOUSE SIXTH FORM CENTRE

FUTURE PLANS

New Playground for Ruspini House Pre School In Ruspini House, we have just opened a brand new play area for the youngest members of the RMS family – the children are clearly enjoying this new space, which complements the existing outdoor spaces to which the children already have access.

Head of Ruspini House, Mrs Toni Finkel says

"Ruspini House love their new hard surface play area. The children are really enjoying having a specific area for riding bikes, trikes and scooters and being able to participate in ball games and PE activities outside; staff also appreciate being able to plan whole class physical activities that develop the children’s control and co-ordination of large movements, enabling them to learn to move confidently in different ways and safely negotiate space whilst also learning the importance of physical exercise and being outdoors for our good health."

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

Further Developments for Cadogan House "We are thrilled with all the new developments in Cadogan House's outdoor space, and it is wonderful to see the girls exploring and playing so imaginatively - Pooh Sticks Bridge is a particular favourite of our Pre Prep girls, and our Year 1 pupils are delighted to have a space to call their own!"

Mr Ian Connors, Head of Cadogan House Pre Prep and Prep Department

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

The Rose Garden at Hind House "The Rose Garden provides a wonderful alternative to the Common Room (when it isn't raining!) for our Sixth Form students to relax and take a well-earned break between lessons or studying in the Resource Centre.

The girls themselves were instrumental in designing the garden, choosing both the furniture and some of the plants!

We are extremely grateful to our Estates team who worked so hard to make the girls' vision a reality! Having the door from the Common Room onto the garden has made a real difference and we are looking forward to the better weather when we know the garden will be well used" Mrs Clare Freeman, Head of Sixth Form

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

Outdoor Sports Facilities at RMS

RMS has a justifiably impressive reputation for sporting excellence with teams and individuals competing at local, regional, national and even international level in a variety of sports.

In recent years, the School has opened a new all weather pitch and a six hole golf course, and the tennis and netball courts have also recently been resurfaced.

Our parkland setting lends itself beautifully to cross country running, and we frequently host inter-school Cross Country meets.

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

Plans for the Future At RMS, we are always striving to enhance the learning environment of our students and have many plans for the coming months. Our Estates team will be building some shelters overlooking the valley, to give the students somewhere to sit and relax as exam season looms.

We are also planning improvements to our Forest School for our younger pupils.

Prospective families are very welcome to visit us any time to see these and many other exciting new initiatives that are taking place at RMS. To arrange a time to visit, and to meet with the Headmaster Mr Carson, please contact our Registrar Mrs Gail Braiden via email registrar@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk or telephone 01923 725364.

You can also keep up with what is happening at RMS via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram simply follow @RMSforGirls We look forward to welcoming you to RMS soon!

www.rmsforgirls.org.uk