WINTER 2020
Brought to you by schoolnotices.co.uk
Piers Morgan WAKING UP THE SNOWFLAKE GENERATION
ANGELLICA BELL ON HER 'FANTASTIC EATS'
ALEX SCOTT A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN'S SPORT
WIN! A LUXURY STAY AT
SPARKLE & SHINE WITH
Mrs Hinch Working closely with schools in association with
Let’s get Welcome to your Winter ‘Noticed’ magazine. Since our last edition the world has changed immeasurably and with this in mind we want to help you to ‘bin the lockdown lethargy’ and celebrate Christmas with a toast to positivity and hope for the future. Piers Morgan tells us exclusively how we all need to “wake up” and look ahead, Angellica Bell inspires us with her huge energy for life while Alex Scott champions the importance of sport and the role of women within it. Organised house, organised mind, Mrs Hinch talks to us about her own battles to keep her life sparkling. Finally, you can WIN a luxury break to One Aldwych - in short we promise to put a smile back on your face. Excitingly, this year School Notices has entered into a partnership with My School Portal, the UK’s leading parent portal provider, to make our wonderful content available directly to parents via their very own school parent portal.
Over time this will mean that thousands more independent school parents will benefit from all that School Notices offer within the secure confines of their own school website. School Notices continues to be the trusted network for schools, parents and alumni within the private school community. You can buy and sell on our fantastic Noticeboard, get the latest in education and lifestyle, check out our trusted school reviews, as well as some great offers and exclusive competitions all designed with you in mind – there’s everything you need for independent school life and beyond. The School Notices Team
Visit: schoolnotices.co.uk Email: info@schoolnotices.co.uk Follow us on:
WINTER 2020
Brought to you by schoolnotices.co.uk
Publisher and Editor Katie Wiggin • Artistic Director Ruth Ellis • Contributor Amanda Morison Founder and CEO Gordon Dawson • Advertising Tania Buckley and Lisa Thornton Head of Account Management Milly Steel • Account Management Henrietta Moyes Head of Schools Tia May • School Reviews Emma Parkins • Social Media Manager Natasha Minto Cover Geoff Waring (geoffwaring.com) for spots-and-stripes.com
For advertising: advertising@schoolnotices.co.uk or call 01256 223060
Piers Morgan WAKING UP THE SNOWFLAKE GENERATION
ANGELLICA BELL ON HER 'FANTASTIC EATS'
ALEX SCOTT A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN'S SPORT
WIN! A LUXURY STAY AT
SPARKLE & SHINE WITH
Mrs Hinch Working closely with schools in association with
Contents
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54
5
15
26 12
This issue… 05 10 12 14 22 26 32
Christmas sorted
ALL PRICES SHOWN CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION (DEC 2020)
Our gift guide has something for everyone
Competition time
WIN a luxury stay at One Aldwych
Foodies Favourites
A gastro Christmas delivered to your door
Angellica Bell
On her stellar career
Jump into Christmas
The must-have jumpsuits
Piers Morgan
Waking up the snowflake generation
The mid-life hair crisis Josh Wood comes to the rescue
38 43 44 49 50 54 58
Meet Mrs Hinch
Cleaning supremo on life’s ups and downs
12 Faces of Christmas
Best masks to be seen in
Deck the halls with Bee & Caroline
Interior gurus share their tips
Book Club
Camilla Leask on her top winter picks
Alicia Drummond
Helpful tips to tackle teens mental health
Great Scott
Role model Alex Scott on women in sport
Fun Facts
Dazzle them with your trivia
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 3
E S TA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 9 2
W W W. T R OT I N E T E . P T 44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
info@trotinete.pt · +351 226054081 Continuously improving design and comfort Made in Portugal
Shopp ng
YOUR
stellar CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE Let the shopping commence!
Ladies
Star BUY
From top left clockwise: Personalised candle £55, JO BY JO LOVES joloves.com • Small puzzle edge bag in nappa calfskin £2,300 LOEWE loewe.com • Scarlett scallop dungarees £185, WYSE LONDON wyselondon.co.uk • Velvet leopard embroidered turban headband £35, ORELIA orelia.co.uk • Cashmere alphabet knit scarf £90, HADES hades-shop.co.uk • Gingerbread truffles, £15 CHARBONNEL ET WALKER johnlewis.com • Mara bijou organiser £265, SMYTHSON smythson.com • Felix emerald disc necklace £95, Louise Hendricks cleverlywrapped.com • Flowerbomb Gin 70cl £39, COPPER IN THE CLOUDS fenwick.co.uk • Bee ace sneakers £445, GUCCI harrods.com
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 5
Star BUY
Girls
From top left clockwise: Amuseable Rainbow £22, JELLYCAT Jellycat.com • 2020 Advent calender £150, CHARLOTTE TILBURY selfridges.com • Glitter star hair slides (Set of 2) £4 ROCKAHULA harrods.com • Personalised clear apple airpod standard case £10, notanotherbill.com • Love concrete base neon sign £60, oliverbonas.com • Air Jordan 1 low £94.95, NIKE nike.com • Pink flamingo print knicker £10, CHEEKFRILLS cheekfrills.com • Trolls World Tour Pop Village Celebration £44.99, LEGO DREAMWORKS lego.com • Pink & orange cross body bag £150, NOBLE MACMILLAN noblemacmillan.com • Sparkle jumpsuit from £37, MOONSOON monsoon.co.uk
6 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
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Boys
Star BUY
From top left clockwise: Warm storm rain jacket £80, THE NORTH FACE thenorthface.co.uk, Hedwig £34.99, LEGO lego.com • Beanie £12, NO EMOTIONS noemotions.com • Personalised Gilbert Omega rugby ball £29.99, GETTING PERSONAL gettingpersonal.co.uk • Camo paint-splatter mesh polo £89, RALPH LAUREN ralphLauren.co.uk • Remote Control Robotic Robotosaur £70, FAO SCHWARZ SHARPER IMAGE selfridges.com • Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker £99.99, ULTIMATE EARS argos.co.uk • Razor 24V Dirt Quad Electric Ride On Quadbike £749.95, outdoortoys.co.uk • Boy Gift Goals Set SPOTS & STRIPES £55, spots-and-stripes.com • Marvin’s treasured magic tricks £34.95, MARVIN’S MAGIC harrods.com
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 7
lEt�iT GlOw, LeT It�gLoW, LeT It�gLoW 44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
www.pooky.com
Shopp ng
Star BUY
Men
From top clockwise: Cashmere stripe scarf £110, BODEN boden.co.uk • Comfort craftsman boot £375, R.M. WILLIAMS rmwilliams.com • Fitbit Versa 3 £199.99, FITBIT fitbit.com • Batch No.2 organic single malt scotch whisky £59, NC’NEAN harveynichols.com • Personalised bat and ball £125, NOT-ANOTHER-BILL notanotherbill.com • Caiman leather holdall £229, TED BAKER tedbaker.com • HomePod mini £99, APPLE apple.com • Spreadable Gin & Tonic marmalade £10, OLIVER BONAS oliverbonas.com • The first class leather tech case £365, STOW stowlondon.co.uk • SPORT lightweight water-resistant quilted golf Jacket £200, LACOSTE lacoste.com
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 9
WIN! A family break to stay at the incredible One Aldwych
Enter now to have the chance to win a two-night stay for four people and experience a little luxury in the heart of Covent Garden
One Aldwych – Covent Garden’s cultured, independent hotel – is a true modern oasis with stunning spacious, contemporary interiors by Fabled Studio and Robert Angell, embellished with Art Nouveau flourishes inspired by the building – and spirited English touches – warm, welcoming and a little unconventional.
10 WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk
HIGHLIGHTS
Compet t on
OVERVIEW Opened 20 years ago, One Aldwych has more than 350 contemporary paintings and sculptures displayed throughout the hotel.
The enchanting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea
THE PRIZE: ★
Two-night stay at One Aldwych* (Breakfast included)
Then choose between: ★ Dinner for four at stylish Indigo Restaurant** Or ★ Immerse yourself in the wonders of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with afternoon tea for four
To be in with the chance to win this amazing prize simply
ENTER HERE TERMS AND CONDITIONS Competition closes 05.01.2021. One entry per household. *Max of two adults and two children (under 12 years) staying in a suite. **Three course dinner at Indigo Restaurant (excl. drinks). Subject to availability and excluding bank holidays. Black-out dates may apply. No cash alternative for the prize. Prize must be taken within one-year of receipt. For full Terms and Conditions visit blog.schoolnotices.co.uk/category/competitions/
ACCOMMODATION 86 rooms and 16 suites. The overall look is subtle, simple and elegant.
DOG-FRIENDLY For the first time ever, the hotel has opened its doors to our four-legged friends in partnership with Bow Wow London.
WHAT’S NEW A brand new, Weekend Roast on the menu at Indigo restaurant with a gluten-free and dairy-free version available.
MAC & WILD London’s Mac & Wild is a game restaurant celebrating all things wild and Scottish. If you can’t get there in person it‘ll come to you as a Virtual Festive Dining Kit. Either watch the cooking demo when suits, or up the ante with a live cook-a-long with co-founder Andy Waugh. Festive Burger Kit, £25 per head. Festive Chateaubriand Kit, £30 per head. macandwild.com
Let’s do lunch Much is likely to be different this Christmas, but you can still eat, drink and be merry with friends and family by giving the gift of food. You’ll also be supporting the hard-pushed artisan, restaurant and events industries too
Cow & Claw by Caper and Berry
Cow & Claw by Caper and Berry deliver a seriously decadent dinner, with straightforward instructions, to cook at home. Think lobster, steak, all the trimmings and the best quality ingredients. Upgrade with Albury Estate wine, Tunworth cheese or signature chocolate brownie. An amazing selection of hampers are also available. £85 for two, plus £12 delivery. caperandberry.co.uk 12 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Forman & Field If you’re longing to give someone a hug this Christmas but won’t be able to do so in person, send the Forman & Field Ultimate Christmas Care Package. Designed to feed two, its contents include dinner with many trimmings, a half bottle of fizz and even festive crackers! In short: Christmas in a box. Forman & Field Ultimate Christmas Care Package, £99.95 formanandfield.com
Food & w ne
The Newt in Somerset CHALKSTREAM “My family love this”, said Jamie Oliver of ChalkStream when he championed their trout during lockdown #1 as part of his Save our British Artisan Farmers initiative. ChalkStream delivers nationwide and two delicious new Christmas boxes are on offer, celebrating rainbow trout reared in Hampshire’s gin-clear waters. The Christmas Box (pictured), £30, contains 1 x 200g cold smoked trout, 1 x 125g hot smoked trout, paté, potted trout and a jar of The Wasabi Company Mayonnaise. The Large Christmas Box, £50, includes all the above doubled up. Gift cards from £10. chalkstreamfoods.co.uk
The Newt in Somerset’s Christmas Hamper, £65, is full of artisan festive treats that are homegrown, simple but very special. Think a variety of cyders, a bar of very superior blond, lemon and thyme chocolate, and a jar of Black bee orchard honey. All packed into a beautiful and reusable gift box. shop.thenewtinsomerset.com
THE WOLSELEY New this year is the classic Sipsmith Dirty Martini set, with Wolseley Savoury Oat Biscuits, Organic Green Olives, Salted Almonds and a 20cl bottle of Sipsmith London Dry. You’ll also get a Dirty Martini recipe card – when martini hour happens is up to the recipient! The Wolseley Sipsmith Dirty Martini Cocktail Gift Box, £45. thewolseley.com
Rocket Starry event planner Rocket has turned its skills to A Cook’s Tour: live monthly cook-alongs with ingredients delivered to your door and a restaurant-quality meal at the end of it. The packaging is eco, there are freebie treats to enjoy (there were a couple of sparklers on Bonfire Night), and you discover new ingredients and clever cooking tips. Subscribe, join a one-off Cook’s Tour or send as a gift. £60, plus £4.95 delivery. rocketfood.com WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 13
Angellica to the rescue 14
She’s taught our children to cook, inspired us on MasterChef, entertained us on The One Show, sailed the seas for charity and is now solving our financial Covid worries with Martin Lewis. Is there no end to her talents? We catch up with the busy Angellica Bell
Interv ew
Have you always had a passion for cooking? My gran really inspired me. She was a chef in St Lucia and continued when she arrived in the UK during the Windrush years. I lived with her for a bit and loved spending time with her in the kitchen. From a young age I was gutting fish, frying chicken, cooking rice and baking cakes. Cooking stays with you and I had flashbacks in the MasterChef kitchen of being young learning with my gran. That gave me confidence in those stressful rounds. What’s your best advice for getting our children interested in cooking? Maybe not to worry about the mess that can potentially be made in the kitchen! Set them the challenge of preparing the dinner and empower them. They will love it and you may need to guide but it’s so worth it. Hardest part of Celebrity MasterChef and the most rewarding? For me, the hardest part was not knowing what was coming up and the challenges they would set. When John and Greg say you have an hour, they mean it. It was scary and stressful, and I was dreaming about food and recipes every night – it was all consuming but worth it when they called my name out as the winner! What made you write Fantastic Eats? My plan was not to necessarily write a book at first but a friend in the industry contacted me and said I should. She was the one who introduced me to my publisher Quadrille. We discussed the idea, and I went away and wrote the book! It made sense to write a book focussed on young people as it resonated with my own story of learning when I was a child, it’s such an important life skill. What is your go-to recipe from that book? That’s a tricky question. Either the simple,
From top down: A treasured postcard from Angellica’s CBBC presenting days, her Celebrity MasterChef 2017 trophy and baking with her beloved Kenwood mixer. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 15
A different perspective Some furniture is made for the here and now. Some is built to stand the test of time. At Neptune, we believe that the best can do both. Because good design never grows old.
Book an appointment to chat to one of our friendly designers – on us. neptune.com
44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Interv ew
yet delicious recipe of Tuna Pasta Bake – a family favourite, but the Jamaican Rock Buns come in at a close second, as they remind me of helping my gran in the kitchen. When I make them now, the smell from the oven reminds me of all the amazing memories we shared together. What is your most used kitchen utensil? I love kitchen utensils and don’t have enough space to put them! But if you’re asking me to single one out, I’d have to say my Kenwood Mixer is always on the go as it’ so versatile and quick for making cakes. However I do acknowledge having one is a luxury as cooking with my gran and a wooden spoon nearly made my arm fall off! Did you always want to be a TV Presenter? I’m not quite sure what I wanted to be exactly when I was younger and being on television certainly wasn’t something I’d considered until much later on, although I do remember my Politics teacher at school telling me I should be in front of camera (probably because I messed about a bit!). I did toy around with the idea of being a barrister, joining the police and maybe becoming a teacher. How did CBBC come about? This is a cliché I know, but I was in the right place at the right time. I was working at the BBC as an Executive secretary arranging meetings for staff across all departments. I was told that CBBC were looking for a new presenter and I should put myself forward. I made a showreel and was able to put it on the desk of the Head of the Broom Cupboard department. The rest is history. How did you get involved in The One Show? I was lucky to be asked to join the team when it launched on BBC1 in London. I had just left
CBBC and went straight onto the show. Right now, there are only two reporters who have been there from the start and I am really proud to say I’m one of them. Most interesting person you have interviewed for TV? Every person I have interviewed has been interesting as we all have a story to tell. There have been funny moments, moving moments and awe-inspiring ones too.
It made sense to write a book focussed on young people as it resonated with my own story of learning when I was a child, it’s such an important life skill. A couple of years ago I did get the chance to interview Oprah Winfrey who was someone I watched growing up. It was a moment for sure and I even asked for a selfie! You obviously love a challenge, what were the hardest parts of Hell on High Seas and 71 Degrees North? The hardest part for me was the battle in my own head! The will not to give up, pushing through and not wanting to let my team mates down. Those experiences physically pushed me to the edge, and I am so pleased I did them. Facing fears is scary but gives you an adrenaline kick. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 17
The r future l es n your hands…
Get the parent view with our exclusive school reviews Image provided by kind permission of Marlborough College
Interv ew
The Martin Lewis Money Show has been invaluable answering financial questions during lockdown. As co-presenter do you need to have a head for figures? It’s not so much about figures as it’s more about where to get the best deal. Working on the show has been invaluable to so many people but also for myself. Martin is an inspiration. I’ve learned so much from him. As a busy working mum, how do you manage to juggle all the balls? I like to be organised so carry a massive paper diary around with me which has everyone’s schedule on it. People laugh at me when they see it but it works for our family! Another way to keep focused is not to compromise. I make sure I don’t overwork myself as it would impact on my loved ones and they are the most important people. How do you always look so fashionable? I wear what I like and feel comfortable in. Where did your love of Classical music come from – at what age did you learn the cello? I had the most inspiring music teacher at secondary school, and he selected me to be in the Madrigal choir. Being part of the group meant I had the opportunity to read and learn classical music. It was new to me. I travelled Europe singing at incredible venues like the Duomo and Gaudi Cathedral and even sang in St Paul’s. That’s why I love working on my weekly Saturday show on Scala Radio. It’s classical music with a modern twist. What do you do to relax? I like to go to the gym and go out with friends and both have been tricky this year. I’m going to try and read more and have a new crossstitch in my bedside draw to try. I don’t take enough me time to be honest, so this is a great
From top down: Messing around whilst filming 71 Degrees North in 2011 and with Martin Lewis.
question. I don’t relax enough. Do you know what, I’d like to go for a spa day with friends – haven’t done something like that in years! What project next? I have no idea! I tend to take one day as it comes and enjoy the moment. Motto for life? There is always a solution and way out. Also, if you agree to do something, do it to the best of your ability or don’t do it at all. There’s two. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 19
JAMAICAN ROCK BUNS If you ask your parents about rock buns they’ll probably reminisce about how they learned to make them at school in Home Economics – the name for a cooking class many years ago. My gran used to make them all the time. I liked them because they were dry, not too sweet and looked like… well, rocks. We called my gran ‘Mama’ and she was a cook in the Caribbean, so she would make hers with a bit of extra spice and coconut. Here’s my version of her Jamaican rock buns. MAKES 12 Ingredients ● 75g (½ cup) raisins ● 225g (1¾ cups) selfraising flour ● 2 teaspoons baking powder ● 1/8 teaspoon salt ● ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg ● ½ teaspoon ground mixed spice ● 100g (½ cup minus 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, at room temperature ● 75g (⅓ cup) demerara (brown) sugar ● 40g (½ cup) desiccated (dried shredded) coconut ● 1 egg ● 4 tablespoons milk ● 1 teaspoon vanilla extract granulated sugar, for sprinkling Method 1 Put the raisins into a small bowl, cover them with warm water, then put the bowl aside to let the raisins soak. 2 Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Pop a piece of baking parchment on a large baking tray. 3 Put the flour, baking powder, salt and spices in a large mixing bowl. Cut the 20 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
butter into small cubes, then add it to the flour mixture. With your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like tiny little breadcrumbs. (Don’t give up if your fingers start aching!) 4 Tip the raisins into a sieve over the sink to drain. Add the raisins, demerara sugar and desiccated coconut to the flour mixture. Then mix everything together with a wooden spoon. 5 Crack the egg into a jug or medium bowl, add the milk and vanilla extract and mix everything together with a fork. Tip this into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients and, using a wooden spoon or spatula, mix everything together until it forms a light, airy dough. Don’t over-mix – stop stirring when everything is just combined. 6 Using a tablespoon, blob the mixture onto your baking sheet, spaced well apart, to form 12 rough mounds. If your baking tray isn’t large enough, that’s fine, you can bake in two batches. Sprinkle the rock buns with granulated sugar. 7 Bake the rock buns in the oven for 12–15 minutes, until golden brown. Take them out of the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes on the baking tray, before placing the rock buns on a wire rack to cool completely. These are best eaten the same day, but I don’t mind them a bit crumbly a day later! I also freeze mine.
Recipe taken directly from Angellica’s book Fantastic Eats! & How to Cook Them (Quadrille). Photos: Ellis Parrinder. amazon.co.uk
Interv ew
My gran used to make them all the time. I liked them because they were dry, not too sweet and looked like… well, rocks. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 21
JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH The ultimate one-piece wonder and there’s one for everyone. Here with a round-up of the seasons best from Mellisa Murrall
22 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
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p22 L-R: Karolina metallic jersey all-in-one £650, GOAT goatfashion.com • Joan velvet high neck jumpsuit £185, REISS reiss.com • Strapless embellished wool jumpsuit £2,580 ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER net-a-porter.com • Carter wrapeffect leopard-print silk-blend jumpsuit £735, JONATHAN SIMKHAI net-a-porter.com • Navy velvet kernel jumpsuit £110, PEACHY DEN peachyden.co.uk • Italian compact stretch tailoring jumpsuit £299, KAREN MILLAN karenmillen.com p23 L-R: Long knit jumpsuit £59.99, MANGO shopmango.com Star pattern jumpsuit £465, PERFECT MOMENT farfetch.com Blue twill jumpsuit £110, YUKA PARIS cleverlywrapped.com Zip front jersey jumpsuit £99, MINT VELVET mintvelvet.co.uk Knit jumpsuit with pockets details £59.99, ZARA zara.com Casual utility jumpsuit £250, ME+EM meandem.com
Melissa has over 15 years’ experience of styling real women with real lives. Known for creating maximum style with the minimum of effort. mmpersonalstyling.co.uk
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 23
A partridge in a pear tree Eating well, naturally and locally is at the heart of the menu at Holland & Holland’s Shooting Grounds. We speak to Head Chef Josh Hunter about his passion for game meat and interest in contemporary food Do you remember the moment when you decided on becoming a chef? Yes - I was two months into a politics degree at Exeter University and was really questioning whether it was what I wanted to do. I was wandering around the campus and it sort of came to me in an instant. I had always been massively into food and wanted to find something that I could really engage with as a career and be passionate about.
How did you pursue your career and who inspired you along the way? After completing a diploma at Leiths School of Food and Wine I spent the next 10 years working at La Trompette in Chiswick, Murano in Mayfair, and Kitchen W8 in Kensington. I also worked as a private chef for the Beckhams and Tom Cruise. Meeting Nicolas Ollivier, the Director of Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds was a pivotal moment for me to take up my first head chef position. We have a similar idea of what good food and hospitality entails. What’s your style of cuisine? Modern European with a focus on British produce. The provenance of the ingredients that we use is paramount to me. We have
The Bordeaux Wine Room
Set in 60 acres of open countryside, the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds have provided world-class tuition since 1932. Whether you are seeking peace and quiet or a place to spend time with your family, the grounds and their restaurant offer the perfect escape from the city without venturing outside London.
24 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Fillet of stone bass, parsley purée and chanterelle mushrooms
Promot on
The Lodge From top left: The Terrace, private tuition in The Shooting Grounds, Partridge Tortellini, Rice Pudding Soufflé, The Lodge
some amazing suppliers who give me access to the very best the British Isles have to offer. Do you have a signature dish? We’ve recently had on: braised leg of roast pheasant, stuffed onion and bacon with delica pumpkin purée and parsnip crisps. What’s your favourite item on the H&H menu? I’m very fond of the rice pudding soufflé with banana ice cream and rum soaked raisins. What ingredient could you not live without? Butter! And one you would happily never use again? I once tried something soy-based called tempeh. Healthy but pretty gross!
Children dine with our compliments*
If you could choose three dining guests, who would they be? Marco Pierre White - I read his autobiography ‘The Devil in the Kitchen’ and found his cooking journey fascinating. Jonny Wilkinson - My childhood sporting idol. Sandi ToksvigI think she’s very entertaining. What’s new on the H&H menu for 2021? The menu changes frequently and is always seasonal. I’ll continue with our ‘wild food’ ethos. We’ve got a special Christmas menu for December and then the last proper month of the game season in January. From March onwards some of my favourite ingredients such as forced rhubarb and wild garlic come into season and I can’t wait to experiment with new dishes.
Quoting ‘School Notices’
*This offer is applicable for up to two children’s meals from our children’s menu at the Shooting Grounds when accompanied with an adult booking. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 25
E K A W UP…
and listen to Piers! The world needs your book – do you think people WILL wake up and listen? I hope so. We’ve all been given the biggest wake up call of our lives with this pandemic and it’s an opportunity for all of us to take a good long hard look at ourselves and decide what kind of society we want to be when we come out of it. The crisis has brought out the best and worst in people – we need to see more of the former and less of the latter going forward. Why have we lost our common sense and can we get the “Great” back into Britain? I think social media is mostly to blame – it’s made people very tribal and allergic to 26 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
proper debate where you listen to opposing views, respect them, and perhaps adjust yours accordingly. Now the ‘cancel culture’ is so insidious and widespread that people are terrified of expressing opinions for fear of the backlash from the woke outrage machine. It’s absurd and dangerous for free speech. Do you think the snowflake generation is self-perpetuating? It will be if we don’t get a grip of the way we teach young people and encourage them to be more resilient and less ‘anxious’ about everything. I blame participation prizes in school sport – it makes kids think life is never about losing when of course, it is.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ©CNN
It’s time to set our alarms, open our eyes and ‘Wake Up’. Piers Morgan tells us why he ‘woke’ sit still until we’ve cancelled the cancel culture and got back some much needed common sense
Interv ew
The crisis has brought out the best and worst in people – we need to see more of the former and less of the latter going forward.
As a society how can we inspire the next generation to dig deep, stand up and speak their minds? We need to teach it at schools, like we teach them everything else, and stop wrapping kids in cotton wool. And we need to encourage them to have their own opinions, not run with the crowd because that’s easier. As parents and educationalists, what can we do to reverse the ‘woke’ mentality? We need to stop cow-towing to it, and make a stand. Just because a bunch of shrieking wokies on Twitter say something or someone has to be ‘cancelled’ because they don’t like it, doesn’t mean they’re right or that anyone has to act on the hysteria. What would be your political utopia? A return to old fashioned liberal democracy where we can argue respectfully with each other but remain friends.
Piers admiring his ‘greatest moment as an Editor’ on the wall at his beloved Arsenal FC, with co-host Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain.
How did you get into journalism? I went to a journalism college in Harlow Essex, and then onto local papers in South London. I put the hard yards in and learned my trade properly. It helped that I always wanted to be a journalist. I’ve always been addicted to news.
To be a good journalist you need to be endlessly curious, endlessly questioning about people in power, and endlessly charming to get people to tell you what they may not want to tell you! 28 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Interv ew
Did school impact on your career choice? Not really, I knew from the age of six what I wanted to be. What advice can you give to the younger generation thinking about a career within the media industry? I’d say only go into it if you’re really passionate about it, because without the passion you won’t put the hard work and dedication in that you need to be successful in a very competitive industry. To be a good journalist you need to be endlessly curious, endlessly questioning about people in power, and endlessly charming to get people to tell you what they may not want to tell you! Most inspiring interview to date? Professor Stephen Hawking gave me his last TV interview before he died and the morning I spent with him in Cambridge was unbelievably inspiring. What a man, what a mind… and not a trace of self-pity despite his very debilitating condition. Most challenging? I once interviewed President Ahmadinejad of Iran when he was running the country and he had about 30 henchmen in the room all staring at me very intently throughout. That was a tad disconcerting! Who did you interview who was a surprise? When I did Sir Michael Parkinson for Life Stories he suddenly broke down and wept about his dad who had died 50 years ago. I was stunned, because he’d never cried on TV before and I had no idea that this would make him so upset.
Enjoying a pint with the late great Professor Stephen Hawking in Cambridge.
Are you scared of anyone? Only the Grim Reaper – and even with him, I intend putting up one hell of a fight. Who would you most like to interview? Jack Nicholson – he hasn’t given a TV interview for over 40 years, believing rightly that it dents the movie star mystique. What was your most exciting scoop? I think getting the first UK interview with President Trump after he won the election. Everyone wanted that one, and I got it because we’d been friends for years. What do you see as your main objective on Good Morning Britain? To wake everyone up! Which 5 people (dead or alive) would you invite to dinner? WG Grace, Winston Churchill, The Queen, Marilyn Monroe and Dennis Bergkamp.
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 29
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Interv ew
My late, great grandmother Margot always told me: ‘Remember darling, one day you’re cock of the walk, the next a feather duster. Above: American President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania with Piers during their state visit to the UK in 2019.
What three things would you take to a desert island? My phone, my laptop and an endless supply of Ambrosia creamed rice. Are you as confrontational away from the spotlight? Not really, though friends will attest it doesn’t take much to turn on my GMB persona if the wine’s flowing at a dinner party and someone starts spouting woke nonsense… When did your love of Arsenal materialise? I fell in love with them when they won the League/Cup Double in 1971 when I was six, and they’ve been the one constant love of my life ever since.
How do you keep fit? At the moment, not easily because I broke my ankle several months ago. But usually, by swimming and cycling on my Peloton bike. What do you do to relax? I watch a lot of sport and binge-watch good dramas. Biggest regrets? I don’t have any. I’ve learned as much from disasters as triumphs. Motto for life? My late, great grandmother Margot always told me: ‘Remember darling, one day you’re cock of the walk, the next a feather duster.’
Wake Up is Piers’ rallying cry for a united future in which we reconsider what really matters in life. It is a plea for the return of true liberalism, where freedom of speech is king. Most of all, it is a powerful account of how the world finally started to wake up, and why it mustn’t go back to sleep again. Out now (HarperNonFiction, £20) amazon.co.uk WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 31
JOSH WOOD’S
Mid-life hair
MASTERCLASS "How to deal with hair when you're not in your 20s anymore" Josh Wood talks to beauty guru Lucia Ferrari
As one of the world’s most sought after hair colourists, Josh Wood has styled everyone from Victoria Beckham, the Royal family to Elle Macpherson. He became even more of a hair colour legend during lockdown earlier this year when his home hair colour kits offered some much needed help in our own bathrooms. His Root Smudgers, Crayons, Glosses and full on hair dye kits (with thankfully online consultations and virtual hand holding with someone from his Holland 32 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Park Atelier) meant that lots of us could have a bit of the “Josh Wood effect” at home when we couldn’t get to a salon. The second lockdown has also got lots of us reaching for one of his Root Smudgers (I know I find it invaluable for covering stray greys) but he’s done it again and this time has brought out (after three years of research) a revolutionary conditioning system called Miracle Shot, which will condition and strengthen the hair (while the
Prof le
hair is being coloured). Being put into lockdown again is inevitably harder for hair salons and much of his time currently is planning the very best way to reopen and making sure all his team are OK. It’s a stressful time for anyone in this industry but so far Zoom yoga, mega-walking his rescue dog Gandalf (“Gandalf now asks to go in rather than go out”) and making sourdough bread are keeping Josh on track. He’s also on the board of the British Beauty Council who have been in discussions with the government how best to support the British Beauty Industry. And that’s before all of his on-going product development. So I’m grateful he can spare some time to catch up with me on Zoom from his cottage in Oxford to offer some advice on a subject I always want to discuss – how to deal with mid-life hair. Or as he more kindly puts it, “How to deal with hair when you’re not in your 20’s anymore”. Read on for Josh's tips…
Top left down: Prepping hair for the catwalk, his dog Gandalf, the infamous Root Smudger, a stunning redhead creation, Holland Park Atelier, revolutionary new product Miracle Shot and behind the scenes at Matty Bovan, London fashion week
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 33
BOOK A CONSULTATION “Generally it’s at the life-changing moments like having a baby, a big birthday that it’s a good time to have a pause and reassess your hair. Statistics show that most of us want to cling on to the hairstyle we had when we fell in love. This can be absolutely fine, but clever tweaks can make all the difference. It’s a total myth that your hair has to go shorter as you get older. Lots of people do this for maintenance but there may be other ways around it. You just need the right advice. This is the starting process for the magic to happen.”
Thinning Hair LISSE LUXE HAIR TURBAN £30 AQUIS, SLIP SILK SCRUNCHIES £39 FOR SET OF 3
“Thinning can begin in pre-menopausal hair and the effects can be really devastating. You may notice your ponytail isn’t as thick as it used to be, or more hair left at the bottom of the shower. Either way it’s important to be kinder to the hair at this stage. Treating the scalp is key – with specific products or even a five minute daily scalp massage can help (I’ve got a lovely client who has just trained her young daughter to do this in lockdown!). Invest in a few new tools too. I love Aquis towels and turbans which are much gentler for drying hair than a normal towel and use silk scrunchies for ponytails instead of anything more harsh which can cause the hair to break.” 34 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Prof le
Going Grey
CHANGES IN TEXTURE
“Generally blondes will want to stay blonde – which is a good idea. Blonde highlights are very forgiving especially when you begin to go grey. It’s important not to go too cool or ashy. The tone is important. Your eye colour, skintone and whether you have a tan or not all have a role to play when choosing the right tone. Brunettes may choose to go a shade lighter brown and add some balyage or a face frame of highlights which can be really flattering. Ultimately it’s back to that all important consultation.”
EVERYTHING MASK £19, JOSH WOOD COLOUR
MALE COVER UPS
Dryness
“It’s fascinating how there is still a stigma about men dying their hair. Probably because we can all think of a shocker when it doesn’t look realistic! The key to getting it right is NOT to do a blanket change. It’s so important to leave some grey to make it look realistic. It’s more about managing and controlling the greys - you basically want to look the best version of yourself not a ginger fox.”
The Darker Root “The root shadow can look very flattering and contemporary. It’s flattering basically to have the root and the eyebrows working in a relationship. It looks very real. But if you’ve got greys coming through it’s obviously not a low maintenance option as the greys will be more visible on a brunette root so you may want to just stick with full blonde highlights.”
“As the hair goes grey it can become more wiry and frizzy. Generally speaking this isn’t the kindest thing to the complexion which is why so many people end up dying their hair. Invest in a good hair mask at least once a week to help with the texture. Try my Everything Mask which is specifically designed for grey, coloured hair."
“Hair definitely becomes dryer as we get older (and colour our hair) but know the difference between dehydrated hair and brittle hair and tailor your products accordingly. During a hot summer holiday, the hair will be more dehydrated so look for conditioning products for this type of hair. After a skiing holiday, hair is more brittle, so use products which will work to strengthen the hair.” UPLIFTING CONDITIONER £10, JOSH WOOD COLOUR
With over 25 years’ experience as a beauty journalist working for titles including, the Daily Mail, Harpers Bazaar and London’s ES magazine, Lucia is the go-to beauty guru. Passionate about skincare, makeup and the latest tweakments, her many Insta followers love
Josh Wood consultations and products are available from joshwoodcolour.com
her honest, knowledgeable and of the moment beauty posts and videos. @luciaferraribeauty WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 35
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Meet the real MRS HINCH It’s official, cleaning is back in vogue. With over 3.4 million Insta followers, it seems we all want a bit of the Hinch sparkle and shine in our lives. But it hasn’t always been a bed of roses for Sophie Hinchcliffe, her new book, This is Me, explains why…
What’s the best part of being Mrs Hinch? Without a doubt getting to speak to and interact with my followers each and every day. I have the best followers in the world! They tell me all the time how much I help them, but they honestly help me just as much! It feels like we’re all part of this big group of friends and family. Being able to do something that you love as your job every day is also absolutely amazing, but if I had to pick just one thing, I’d say my Hinchers every time!
Why did you decide to write This Is Me? It’s hard to explain, but it just felt like the right thing to do, and now felt like the right time to do it. I get so many amazing DMs every single day with people asking me lots of different questions. As much as I try, and as much time as I spend, I know now that I’ll never get to the bottom of my inbox, so I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be able to answer a lot of those questions all in one place. I’ve also read a lot about myself over the last couple of years, and I’ve not always been able to tell my side of those stories, so it feels incredible to be able to do that now, in my own words, and on my terms. Do you have a favourite chapter? The chapter all about our Ronnie is definitely my favourite. I can’t wait to read him his letter one day, when he understands a bit more about what is going on here. I’ve kept a little memory box of all the things he’s been sent on our journey and I can’t wait to tell him all about it one day. He doesn’t realise just how much he’s loved by so many people! Left: Sophie with Ronnie and beloved dog Henry relaxing at home.
38 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Interv ew
I will never understand what positivity trolling brings to anyone’s life. It seems like such a waste of time to me.
You write about internet bullying in your memoir, if you could say one thing to ‘trolls’ what would it be? I would ask them to just stop and think, and please remember that there’s an actual person with real feelings at the end of their words. I’m a strong believer that if you wouldn’t walk up to someone and say something to them in the street, then you shouldn’t say those things about them or to them behind a keyboard anonymously. I will never understand what positivity trolling brings to anyone’s life. It seems like such a waste of time to me. Life is so short, and our time is so precious. You recently became a mum – what’s the best part about motherhood? Gosh there’s just so much. I know that you hear that you’ve never experienced a love like it before, but it’s not something you really, truly understand until you get there. He is my whole heart. My world. Everything I do, is for him. He melts me every day. It’s like learning to see the world again through his eyes, and it’s just amazing. Things that we take for granted he’s starting to learn all about, and it makes me see things in a whole new light. I just love it when he tries new food he’s never had before, or we take him to see the animals he’s only ever seen in his books. It gives you a new appreciation for everything because he’s just gets so excited. He’s such a happy little man and that makes me so happy. I just want to give him the world. Do you have any advice for first time mums? Be gentle and kind to yourself. Remember that you’re doing your absolute best and that is enough. You are more than enough. We’re all learning as we go along here guys. So don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure and accept those offers of support. 40 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Top ‘Hincher’ tips ★ Store pan lids upside down to save on space ★ Store bed linen sets in their matching
pillowcase with Lenor tumble dryer sheets
to keep everything smelling fresh
★ Use loo paper rolls for keeping pleats in
your curtains
★ Mix fabric softener with water to clean
grubby marks off painted doors
★ Wipe down indoor plants to remove dust
on the leaves
Try your hardest not to compare yourself to other people because all of our babies are so different and make sure you accept advice from only a few trusted sources. And please, please talk about how you’re feeling! Don’t bottle it up inside. You are never alone! I promise you that! How do you cope when you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious? I have a few things I do when I feel like things are getting on top of me. It depends what
Interv ew
PHOTOGRAPHY: ©CHELSEA WHITE, RACHELL SMITH @RACHELL_PHOTO (INSTA), @MRSHINCHHOME (INSTA)
Henry showcasing Zoflora for his mama, with husband Jamie, her elegantly spotless dining room and Sophie’s own ‘Mrs Hinch’ fairy liquid.
The best person you can be, is yourself. Incredible things happen when you accept who you are and embrace it! type of anxious I’m feeling at the time. If I’m getting panicked, racing thoughts, I like to Hinch to give myself something to do and to redivert my attention elsewhere. I find that really helps me to break the cycle of the panic. If I’m generally feeling overwhelmed, not a lot calms me down more than sitting and cuddling either Henry on the sofa, or swinging with Ronnie on the egg chair. I think people find it funny that Henry calms me down so much, but he’s been such a constant in my life for such a long time now, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him. Long term, to keep myself as balanced as I can, I find taking proper time out for myself; having a long soak with a face mask and writing my lists and doing my activities in my journal really helps over time, but you really have to stick to it for it to work.
What do you hope your fans will take away from reading This Is Me? Mostly I hope that my Hinchers will understand just how much they’ve helped me and changed my life and just how grateful I am for everything. I know I say it all the time, but I’ll never understand “why me”, and I just feel so blessed. I hope my book and my journey shows people that the best person you can be, is yourself. And that incredible things happen when you accept who you are and embrace it! And I think there’s a really important message here about the world of social media and what it can be really like, and just to make sure you go in eyes wide open, if it’s something you really want to be part of. What’s next for Mrs Hinch? So many exciting things to come that I can’t wait to share! One particular project I’ve been working on for such a long time now and it’s always been my absolute dream! I’m so excited to be able to talk about it! You’ll all have to watch this space!
Mrs Hinch (Sophie) has written four books, her latest This Is Me by is published by Michael Joseph, £16.99 amazon.co.uk
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 41
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"I am now able to be more in control, relaxed and confident with answering interview questions, especially ones regarding personal experiences" - Tanya, Job Interview Skills Student 44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
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These face masks are not a suitable substitute for PPE (personal protective equipment) and we cannot authenticate any claims of medical or protective benefits of their use.
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 43
‘DECK THE HALLS ’ with Bee & Caroline This Christmas it’s all about making the most of staying at home. Interiors experts Bee Osborn and Caroline Foster share their top tips for bringing home the magic of Christmas Let’s start with Bee’s top five…
Warm everything up with LIGHTS & CANDLES Use warm white fairy lights for decorating, they bring softness and warmth to a room. Candles and lanterns also help to make your home feel festive.
DECORATE YOUR ENTRANCE
L-R: Fig & Ginger Botanical Candle £25 Sophie Allport, Dome Light Ornament £60 Sirius at Amara, Ndiki Lantern £79.95 Nkuku, Apple Striped Lantern £75 Pols Potten at Amara
Decorate your entrance: it’s always
CREATE FESTIVE SCENTS
nice to decorate the hallways and stair balustrades, to create an immediate feeling of Christmas as you step into the home instead of only containing it to the room with the tree. Use natural foliage where possible. Gather tree branches, holly leaves and pine cones from the garden and woodlands.
We love real Christmas trees and the smell they bring. But if you can’t have a real tree, you can always light lovely scented candles in your home. The smell of Christmas baking makes a home feel instantly cosier as well (if you don’t like baking, you can always cheat with ready-to-bake or frozen treats). Burning orange peels, having cinnamon sticks out and using dried clementine as decorations are other lovely ways of making your home smell Christmassy.
44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Inter ors
STYLE IT SCANDI We love a Scandinavian style tree, with decorations that have an organic and natural feel to them. Neutral colours, delicate glass and warm wood. But if you prefer a more colourful theme, try to pick a colour palette that compliments your interiors. I’d also recommend picking a theme using two colours to keep it simple. Why not copy the Danish and make homemade decorations with the kids?
Make your own GIFT WRAP
We like to put presents under the tree as soon as it’s brought inside. Making your own gift wrap by using rolls of brown paper, potato stamps of either a Christmas tree or a star used with an ink block can be both cost effective and fun, but it also adds a nice personal touch to a present!
Bee Osborn is a regular interiors contributor to School Notices. Drawing inspiration from classical design and proportion, Bee also likes to infuse her work with a modern, up-todate energy. Together, with her talented team, they produce balanced harmonious interiors that are both practical and visionary. osborninteriors.com
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 45
Caroline’s tips for making your Christmas table ‘naturally’ perfect
I want everyone to feel safe, centred, nurtured and cosy. The inspiration for my Christmas table this year is nature. A soft palette of winter whites, sage, olive green and stone. With rustic textures using washed linen, handmade pottery, hand blown glassware, wicker and soft rattan. Unusually I have decided not to have any flowers but a trail of eucalyptus down the centre of the table placed on top of a stone coloured table cloth. I’ve collected old jars and tied garden twine round them lined with moss, placing a sage green candle inside. To keep with the nature theme, I’m using tealights with scented candles inside, olive green glasses, stone coloured plates which sit on rattan tablemats. For the table gift I’ve chosen a large palm stone in pale green aventurine, when held in your palm they are thought to promote the flow of positivity. Each crystal has been nestled in a small wooden box lined with tissue paper, topped with my favourite deckled edged paper with ‘Noel’ written in green ink calligraphy. I’m finishing mine with a handmade soft green tassel all the way from Indonesia, collected on my travels.
46 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Inter ors
Get the LOOK Above L-R: Dinner plate (31cm) £32 Wonki Ware at The Conran Shop, Blossom tealight holders (set of 3) £12 Joes Browns, Wooden bells (5-pack) £36.30 (plus p+p £16.33 from Canada) Pilosale at etsy, Kartio tumbler (2-pack) £14 Iittalo at Nordic Nest Below top down: Tiller stone tablecloth £115 Daylesford, Double-tassel chair tie £3.46 Exquisite Beaver, Dinner candle £3 True Grace at Heals, John Lewis & Partners cutlery set, (6 place settings), Gold £60, Aventurine palm stone £8.99 June&Ann at Amazon, Woven placemats (4 pack) £22.95 Made Terra
PHOTOGRAPHY: ©ALEX MAY
Caroline Foster is a friend and contributor to School Notices as well as Associate Director of the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. She is passionate about tablescapes, lifestyle, design, travel, flowers, craftsmanship, food, books, wellbeing, her rituals, nature and home. She shares with us her top tips to make life beautiful! @carolinefoster2
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 47
Unwrap the world
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44 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Books
Book CLUB Camilla Leask gives us her top winter picks…
How To Be More Paddington: A Book of Kindness
by Michael Bond Good for the soul, this book is a collection of some of the most heart-warming, uplifting quotes from Michael Bond’s beloved bear from Darkest Peru. Each page is peppered with the beautiful line drawings of Peggy Fortnum, the first person to create a visual image of Paddington Bear. Nine chapters are each dedicated to one Paddington attribute, from being friendly and helpful to polite and positive. This new book has cross-generational appeal – regardless of age or belief system and is a soothing antidote to the harsh blows of 2020 and a reminder of the power of kindness. HarperCollins £12.99
A PROMISED LAND: First Volume of Barack Obama’s Presidential Memoirs by Barack Obama A deeply personal account of Obama’s improbable odyssey from young man searching
The Book Of Hopes
by Katherine Rundell This book was born out of the early days of lockdown, and is dedicated to ‘everyone currently working in hospitals: you are the stuff that wild, heroic tales are made of.’ Designed to ‘comfort, inspire and entertain’, which it does in abundance with its collection of short stories, musings, poems, memories, jokes and anecdotes from over 100 writers and illustrators. Proceeds from book sales support NHS Charities Together. Bloomsbury £12.99
for his identity to leader of the free world. Obama brings readers inside The White House, reflecting on the extraordinary reach and the limits of presidential power. Expect singular insights into U.S. politics and international diplomacy, with personal analysis of how Obama assembled his cabinet, wrestled with a global financial crisis, examined world leaders, clashed with US generals over Afghanistan, tackled Wall Street reform, responded to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout,
Our book club guru and freelance literary publicist
and sanctioned the operation
Camilla has worked with the greats including Cressida
that ultimately led to Osama
Cowell, Enid Blyton Entertainment and the Narnia
bin Laden’s death.
estate amongst many others. @willowpublicity
Viking £35 WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 49
Annus Horribilis for our TEENS No parties, no sports fixtures and uncertainty with public exams. Life for our teenagers is tough and the negative impact on them is very real. Our in-house Mental Wellbeing expert and Founder of Teen Tips Alicia Drummond looks at how to help teens thrive in spite of the current circumstances
50 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
Wellbe ng
I am not the first to point out that this pandemic is particularly tough on the young. They have been in bubbles at school which generally work, but can increase a child’s sense of isolation when they don’t. They are missing rites of passage such as 18th birthday parties, first festivals and school proms. They are missing the cultural opportunities such as school plays, gallery trips, concerts, inter school debates and sports fixtures which promote growth, learning, collaboration and resilience.
1 2
Negativity is toxic, and catching. Encourage them to minimise their exposure to the news, listen to upbeat music and watch light hearted movies.
Help them see they have the power to change their feelings by managing their thoughts and actions. Something simple like reframing a thought from “this is a disaster” to “this is challenging” shifts how we feel because it recognises that it is also an opportunity for growth.
3 Through nobody’s fault, pupils are missing the experiences 4 which help them find their identity and which spark joy.
On top of all this is the uncertainty those with public exams in 2021 face. Will they happen or not? Suddenly every piece of coursework, every test and mock exam counts, and the stress and anxiety are taking their toll. So what can we do to help? Here are my top tips for thriving in the time of Covid.
Act for wellbeing by taking exercise, eating well and prioritising sleep all of which will keep cortisol levels down whilst boosting the feel good hormones. Encourage them to gravitate towards friends who are positive and energetic (the radiators) rather than spending too much time with the negative, energy sappers (the drains).
5 6
Be positive around them, and for them. It is important to acknowledge that life has its limitations right now, but whatever happens they will be ok.
Teach them to manage stress and anxiety. (Anxiety is when we overestimate a threat and underestimate our resources to deal with it.) Focus on the here and now by celebrating the small wins which build self-confidence, and by recognising that we are not alone in this situation.
7
Help them focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t do. The small act of changing focus can have a huge impact on our sense of optimism.
WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 51
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Wellbe ng
8
Practicing gratitude reduces stress and builds optimism - why not spend five minutes every evening getting the whole family to check in with a couple of things which have made them smile.
9 PHOTOGRAPHY: ©SHUTTERSTOCK
Give them their wishes in fantasy. We all know that life is restricted, but saying something like, “wouldn’t it be great if this was all over and you could have your 18th party” will help them manage their disappointment.
10
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WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 53
GREAT SCOTT! Amanda Morison speaks to Alex Scott MBE, retired Lioness, presenter, Strictly alumni and award-winning football pundit You signed with Arsenal aged 8. How was your potential spotted? I used to play football locally in Poplar, EastLondon with my brother, in what was called ‘the cage’. I just loved it – and I was the only girl playing. I was spotted and was quite resistant to playing professionally as I was so happy playing with my friends and brother! That said, when I got to Arsenal I loved it – and the rest is history.
School photo with brother Ronnie and representing England in the London 2012 Olympic Games 54 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
You had a phenomenal playing career, captaining Arsenal to victory in the Continental and the FA Cups, and making 140 appearances for England. Was it hard to hang up your boots? Football enabled me to have so many opportunities, fulfil my dreams and travel the world. However, I always said to myself I wanted to go out still loving the game. I had already started a degree in Sports Writing and Broadcasting and knew the path I wanted after playing. Sometimes we are scared of the next step and can talk ourselves out of things, instead of saying ‘I am going to make this work and have no regrets’. I love the game, and I am incredibly fortunate to have it as part of my life every single day. Was the 2012 Olympics as much fun as it looked? Yes! It was a real pinch-me moment – to represent my country, at my home Olympic
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I loved playing and football enabled me to have so many opportunities, fulfil my dreams and travel the world. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 55
games, was a life highlight. The atmosphere was incomparable and it’s a time I will never forget. Let’s hope the Olympics in Tokyo happens in 2021, it’ll be much needed after 2020 which has been a tough year for sport. You’ve said it’s ‘OK to not be OK’. How do you keep on top of your mental health? Mental health is as important as physical health and it’s something I feel passionately about. For me, physical health feeds into my mental health – going for a run and working out on my Peloton bike makes me feel great. I love to read, play the guitar and started learning Spanish during the first lockdown – positive hobbies help distract my mind. I also have regular therapy, which is a part of my life now.
Mental health is as important as physical health and it’s something I feel passionately about.
From top left clockwise: celebrating one of many Lionesses’ wins as captain with the 2006–07 FA Cup, supporting this year’s Children in Need campaign, picking up her MBE for services to football with her mum, nan and niece and commentating for BBC Sport.
What sports do you play and watch now? I don’t play football as much as I’d like, even as a hobby, because work is very busy (which is great!). I love watching different sports. I love to run, I love to dance, and I’m currently loving spinning - great cardio! I watch the NFL because I lived in America for three years, and I do love a bit of Wimbledon.
special to me. I have worked incredibly hard on my broadcasting so to have this prestigious recognition is amazing. As is the MBE. I found out when I had just got back from Papua New Guinea where I was doing ambassador work to empower young females. I flew to Holland to meet up with the England team, and my mum rang me to tell me an important looking letter had arrived. I told her to open it and started screaming! I was given my MBE by Princess Anne, Princess Royal – it was great to meet her, she knew a lot about women’s sports, which was so apt.
Congrats on your MBE, and your Royal Television Society award for Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit 2019. Thank you so much! The RTS Award is so
You made it to week 11 of Strictly 2019. What was your dance highlight, and are you still dancing? Strictly was just the BEST. My highlight was
56 schoolnotices.co.uk WINTER 2020
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I became very close with Oti through the show and I think you can see what a fun, warm person she is – and an amazing teacher. I think they could get to the final! I was so rooting for Nicola Adams and Katya Jones. Their pairing was ground-breaking and I really wanted to see where they went with their dances. Did you really learn Spanish during the first lockdown? Impressive! Yes, I have always wanted to learn. I’m definitely not fluent … yet! I’ve been bad recently because my work has been full on.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ©BBC, JAMES BOYES AT WIKIMEDIA.ORG, @ALEXSCOTT2 (INSTA)
From top left clockwise: mentoring girls in football, filming The One Show, spooking ghosts with fellow Strictly 2019 contestants for Halloween week and a personal message for London commuters on World Mental Health Day, Below: dancing the Paso Doble with partner Neil Jones.
dancing the Paso Doble to Beyonce’s ‘Run The World’ in the Blackpool Ballroom. I knew the message I wanted to get across, It was the first time on Strictly it had been all female dancers and one male. It was a dance of strength and real power. The messages I received after that dance was incredible. Everyone has ‘a moment’ on that show and after that dance, I turned to Neil and said ‘that was my moment’ – I’ll never forget it. I am still dancing – I actually went to a dance class today with Michelle Visage and Dr Ranj. Are you watching this year? I absolutely love Oti and Bill!
What are you currently working on? I am keeping busy with my role on BBC Sports, Sky Sports and The One Show – which I love. I also recently presented BBC Children In Need which was such a pinch-me moment as I remember being an eight year old watching at home with my mum. I have a lot of other projects on the horizon, so watch this space! Are women in football finally getting the recognition they deserve? Things are changing for the better, but we still have a long way to go. I’ve just started working with Vitality who are committed to strengthening women’s sports, football included. The women’s football league is exceptional in this country and I really feel things are moving forward. And finally… What advice would you give to an eight year old you starting out today? Hard work beats talent. Work so hard that they cannot beat you. Give it your all, at all times, remember to be a team player and enjoy it. WINTER 2020 schoolnotices.co.uk 57
Fun facts
6 MILLION
The number of rolls of sellotape that will be sold in the UK in the run up to Christmas
34m
The height of the tallest ever snowman, which was built in Maine, America
According to tradition, you should eat one mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas to bring good luck
62,824 The record number of Christmas cards sent by a single person in a year
In order for Santa to visit every home on Christmas Eve he’d have to visit
There are
364
822 HOMES PER SECOND
gifts mentioned in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
‘Mistletoe’ comes from the Anglo Saxon words ‘Mistel’ (meaning dung) and ‘tan’ (meaning twig), which translates as ‘poo on a stick’. Not so romantic!
Reindeer are the only mammal that have colourchanging eyes. In summer they appear golden brown and in winter they look blue.
You’ll NEVER guess what? We’ve rounded up our favourite festive facts for you to wow your friends with this winter
Thanks to a successful ‘Kentucky for Christmas!’ ad campaign in 1947, Japanese people traditionally eat at KFC for Christmas dinner
During the Christmas period, around
28 SETS
of LEGO are sold
PER SECOND
Jingle Bells is the only Christmas song that doesn’t mention Christmas, Jesus or the Nativity
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Putting tangerines in Christmas stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks of fruit and nuts at houses of the poor
38cm
The width of the largest recorded snowflake
Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten – the needles being a good source of Vitamin C
Cranberries are also known as “bounce berries” because they bounce when ripe.
PHOTOGRAPHY: © PNGFLY.COM
Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig’s head and mustard.
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