Arnold House Annual Review 2018

ANNUALREVIEW 2018 Academic Success

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f the 264 Common Entrance and Scholarship exam papers sent to senior schools to be marked for English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Latin, Ancient Greek, History, Geography and Religious Studies, 79% were graded A* to B and 47% A* or A. This is a phenomenal achievement from the boys and staff. They have certainly done themselves proud whilst upholding the School’s strong academic traditions along the way.

Particular congratulations must go to the eight boys who had the honour of being entered for academic scholarships: Harry Brotherton (Eton), Alexandre Guilloteau and Theo Maidment (both Westminster), Nathan Phillips (Eton), George Singellos (St Paul’s), Luke Wallis (City of London) and Henry Wilcke (Eton) and Robin Wopalenski (City of London). All the boys acquitted themselves extremely well and Robin was deemed a worthy recipient of a scholarship award.

Year 8 Leavers 2018 ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2018

Whilst it is lovely to see that all the Year 8 boys’ hard work has paid-off, it should not be forgotten that they have contributed enormously to the wider life of the School throughout the year and taken these final exams largely in their stride. They end their prep school days in good heart and can look forward with confidence to five very rewarding and happy years ahead of them at their chosen senior schools. Many congratulations to all of Year 8 and we wish you the very best of luck for the future!

Scholars 2017-2018

Senior school destinations

Number of boys transferring

City of London

2

Clifton

1

Eton

4

Marlborough

1

Merchant Taylors’

1

Mill Hill

4

St Paul’s

2

Tonbridge

2

UCS

4

Westminster

2

Westmount Charter, Canada

1

Wetherby

5

Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities Computing After the success last year of a lunchtime coding club and regular programming lessons for the Year 4 boys, it was decided that we needed to transform the computing curriculum here at Arnold House.

Before the boys learn any programming skills, it is essential that they acquire a rock-solid understanding of how to use the many different aspects of IT. Mrs Ruda (Director of Studies) now teaches the boys in Years 1 to 4 all the essentials they will need: touch typing, online safety, an introduction to graphical and animation software, and Google Apps.

In Years 5 to 8 the boys get the chance to work on many different aspects of programming and attain a varied range of coding skills by learning how to use Scratch, Python, HTML, Micro:bit, and for the really proficient coders JavaScript.

The transformation from merely using IT to learning how to build the programs that power the IT has begun a new journey for the boys.

Using a Micro:bit in Computing

PSHE PSHE themes are covered in assemblies, by visiting speakers and also by ring-fenced lessons in Form Time.

At other times the boys participate in class discussions based on the week’s ‘Vote for Schools’ topic. Vote for Schools is a web based package. Each week a new topic (which is closely linked to a PSHE theme complete with all background information) is sent to Form Teachers / Tutors. After discussion of the topic, boys are given the chance to vote, enabling them to express their opinion based on what they have learnt. The Vote for Schools topic is also included in In House allowing for wider discussion in assemblies and at home.

Well-being We aim to help the boys build resilience and to enjoy positive mental well-being. We do this through our extensive extracurricular programme, in lessons and through our pastoral care system. We believe that our boys are robust and happy but at the same time we are not complacent. A very powerful presentation in September to all staff by Dick Moore from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT) highlighted the extent of mental health problems amongst children today and taught us how to identify the early signs of stress, depression and anxiety. Having sought advice from Dick, Seb Stones (Deputy Headmaster Pastoral) and Susie Dart (Head of Pre-Prep), our Designated Safeguarding Leads, attended an advanced training course about mental health in schools and ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2018

we have been able to put together a structure for supporting the boys’ mental well-being here at Arnold House.

We have also established a professional relationship with Clinical Partners who specialise in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. They can offer families specialist help once a mental health problem has been identified. In-school support, when we are concerned about a boy, is structured around an Individual Action Plan which is put in place by the Individual Support Group, headed by Susie Dart, our Mental Health Lead.

Arnold – Our School Dog Arnold, a 10-week old Goldendoodle, was introduced to the boys for a couple of days at the end of the summer term.

A four-legged member of staff is a first for the School and Arnold’s new role has been created to enhance our family ethos, strengthen our pastoral care provision and generally add an extra dimension to the life of the School.

Pupil Tracking The data management system (Data Manager) is now up and running. We now analyse the data on boys’ performances across the school, using standardised scores, which focus on attainment and potential. This is then compared to report grades, which record the actual term-on-term performance and progress of boys in all subjects. The comparison of both sets of data is a very useful tool in pupil tracking. We have also been looking at the year group averages of all the standardised data to identify trends in progress made by each cohort group. We are now capitalising on the capability of the Data Manager system to develop our record keeping on boys’ activities, achievements and awards, which has been a great help to Form Teachers / Tutors compiling the end of term reports, where this information forms part of each boy’s Citizenship Report.

Google Classroom Google Classroom is a cloud based assignment setting system that allows staff to make greater use of each boy’s existing Google account. A teacher can send instructions to a whole group of boys, who can then create their work within a premade folder on the teacher’s account. This greatly speeds up the collection and supervision of work done via the Google system. There is also provision for discussion and comment boards on the assignment. The interactive style of Google Classroom also allows for the easy sharing of resources and is very helpful in getting boys organised for exam revision.

The boys meet Arnold the School dog

Reading First full year of implementing Volunteer Reading Helpers in the Pre-Prep with plan to continue into Year 3 in the future.

Sport - 1st XI football tour to Football Association Headquarters at St George’s Park in Staffordshire.

- Entered regional IAPS cricket, golf and basketball tournaments for the first time, in addition to regular fixtures and weekend competitions.

- 1st XI hockey team joined 1st XIII rugby team on tour to Leicester.

- Opportunities to compete in inter-school cross-country events increased.

- Twice termly House matches arranged for Pre-Prep boys.

* Ski trip to Switzerland at Easter (optional for Y5 to 8) ** STEM trip in May half-term (optional for Y6 & 7) *** Bryanston summer Sports Camp (optional for Y5 to 8) New school visits this year: Y1 Foundling Museum, Y2 Science Museum and Y5 & 6 Synagogue trips.

Post CE Programme for Year 8 The programme has been expertly enhanced and developed

by David Wilson (Head of PSHE) to provide the boys with a wider range of challenges and activities over the course of three weeks in the post-exam period; a medical and robotics equipment 3D printing workshop, First Aid Course, JFK and the background to the civil rights movement talk, BMX / Mountain bike Skills Course, Paintball and Laser Park Experience were some of the highlights.

1st XI Football Tour to St George’s Park

Residential Trips Year 4 spent a night in early May camping at Canons Park. The boys experienced their first overnight school trip and things went so well that it is now firmly established in our residential trips schedule, as is the STEM trip (also a first) for older boys that took place in the summer half-term.

Boys paintballing as part of the Post CE Activity Programme

Clubs Some clubs that have firmly established themselves in the Activities programme this year include: Dance, Gardening, Knitting and Theatre Studies.

Inspection The School underwent an ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection in March. The Key Findings stated were, ‘The school meets the standards in the schedule to the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations 2014, and associated requirements, and no further action is required as a result of this inspection’.

Y4 Camping at Canons Park

The trips programme reads as follows: Autumn

Spring

Summer

Year 4

Camping / Canons Park 1 night

Year 5

Teamwork / Devon 3 nights

Year 6

Leadership / Devon 3 nights Classics trip / Rome 3 nights

Year 7 Year 8

French / Burgundy 4 nights

Geography / Dorset 2 nights History / Battlefields 2 nights

STEM Trip to Belgium

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2018

Development The Bursary Fund We have provided seven 100% bursary places this year funded through a combination of the School’s fee income and donations from the Arnold House community. A fantastic £130,660 was raised during the year following the success of the inaugural Bursary Art Auction at the Quiz Night in March and a number of generous donations from current parents, old boys and friends of the School.

The first Arnold House boys who benefitted from the scheme have recently completed their time at Senior School and have moved onto University successfully gaining places at Brunel, Newcastle and Oxford (St John’s College). We will continue to watch their success with interest as they decide their future careers.

Annual Fund

The campaign has been very successful and we are grateful to all our parents for their overwhelming support which has raised a fantastic total of £19,225. We are sure that all the boys, both current and future, will gain much benefit from the new facility and hope that all the boys will be inspired by having played a part in contributing towards this exciting upgrade in the School’s facilities.

The Arnold House Periodic Table

Bursary Art Auction

This year the Annual Fund took a slightly different format to usual as we started to plan ahead for an exciting project resulting in the launch of the Elements Campaign to help the School raise funds towards the refurbishment of the Science laboratory.

The project includes the complete refurbishment and refit of the current laboratory space including: • The creation of 5 dedicated practical stations • Each station to be equipped with gas taps, sink and its own equipment • Brand new equipment and furniture throughout the lab • Complete update of storage provision and prep room • Development of a quiet innovation zone Donors to the Elements Campaign have been able to sponsor an element from the Periodic Table and will be recognised on a glass representation of the periodic table as you enter the laboratory.

Raising Money for Charity Over the year the boys, staff and parents have raised £6,750 for a variety of local, national and international worthy causes, including Facing The World, the St John’s Hospice and the Royal British Legion.

The boys, staff and parents have taken part in a number of charity activities including a Myths and Legends Day, Pink & Blue Day, World Cup Day and Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon.

Young Entrepreneurs’

Afternoon

The School is most grateful to the parents and old boys who have supported the various fundraising efforts this year raising a record grand total of £166,315 for charitable causes.

Arnold House School 1 Loudoun Road St.John’s Wood, London NW8 0LH Telephone: 020 7266 4840 Email: office@arnoldhouse.co.uk Website: www.arnoldhouse.co.uk Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2018