Arnold House Annual Review 2019

Development The Bursary Fund We have provided five 100% bursary places this year funded through a combination of the School’s fee income and donations from the Arnold House community. A fantastic £82,022 for the fund was raised during the year following the success of the inaugural Bursary Fun Run in March and a number of generous donations from current parents, old boys and friends of the School.

Raising Money for Charity Over the year, the boys, staff and parents have raised significant amounts of money for a variety of local, national and international worthy causes, including SwimSafe, St John’s Hospice and the The Royal British

ANNUALREVIEW 2019 The Annual Review focusses on three areas: Year 8 Leavers, Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities, and Fundraising. The School Magazine published every autumn, provides a comprehensive account of all the boys’ exploits and achievements throughout the school year.

Annual Fund The total amount raised for the Annual Fund this year was £6,901. This has enabled the School to fund a number of items for the boys to enjoy as part of their co-curricular programme. Six bicycles were purchased for Canons Park along with helmets and suitable storage units. These will be used to help the boys to learn and gain confidence in cycling, especially prior to their trip to Devon in Year 5.

Farewell Year 8!

O

f the 227 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, 90% were graded A* to B and 60% 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.

Orange and Yellow themed charity day

Nautical themed charity day

Legion. There were three charity days this year with a Nautical theme in the autumn, an Orange and Yellow theme in the spring and a ‘Flippers & Floats’ theme in the summer as well as the annual Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon hosted by Years 6&7.

Bicycles purchased through the Annual Fund

The ’42 Club made a donation enabling the School to purchase a variety of catering equipment to use at events.

Other items purchased have included eight kindles for the Library, twenty pairs of headphones, a keyboard and a speaker for the music department, a vegetable trug for gardening club and a school camera drone used to make video clips of various events and activities.

Particular congratulations must go to the six boys who had the honour of being entered for academic scholarships: Nathan Fairclough (St Paul’s) and Cyprien Riboud-Seydoux (Westminster) acquitted themselves extremely well and secured their places through the scholarship route rather than Common Entrance. Jonny Brown (St Paul’s), Isaac Halamish (City of London) and Freddie Jerome (City of London) were all deemed worthy recipients of scholarship awards.

Sebastian Eatwell (Westminster) was awarded a Music scholarship to go with his Queen’s scholarship for academic excellence; a rare and exceptional ‘double’. In addition,

Cameron Kerr (Whitgift) was awarded an All-rounder scholarship and Oscar Rice (The King’s School, Canterbury) a Music scholarship.

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 at their chosen senior schools. Many congratulations to all of Year 8 and we wish them the very best of luck for the future!

Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon

The total raised for charity this academic year was: Charity Money Raised 2018-2019

Headphones purchased through the Annual Fund

From left to right, top to bottom: Y3 at the Lord’s Cricket Day, STEM trip to Iceland, Y4 exploding volcanoes, Y1 visit the Tower of London, Grandparents’ Open Afternoon, Y5 Teamwork Week in Devon, Y8 at Senior Prize Giving, Wellington win the House Cup, Y8 trip to Normandy and Hendrix Guitar Group at the Senior Cummer Concert

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

SwimSafe*

£4,661

St John’s Hospice

£1,806

The Royal British Legion

£206

Lifeboats appeal

£28

Hackney Church

£985

Total

£7,686

*Linked with the Royal Life Saving Society

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

Year 8 Leavers

Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

The Scholars

Senior school destinations

Number of boys transferring

City of London

2

Dulwich

1

Eton

4

Harrow

1

Kensington Park

1

Mill Hill

4

Oundle

2

Radley

1

St Paul’s

3

The King’s School, Canterbury

1

UCS

2

Westminster

2

Whitgift

1

Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities PSHE and Wellbeing PSHE has had another successful year. Lessons were moved from the morning registration slot to break time which has allowed lessons to flow more freely. The core themes of Relationships, Living in the Wider World and Health and Wellbeing were covered in the three terms respectively.

Assemblies, guest speakers and class subject material (especially in Religious Studies and Science) all reinforced the learning taking place. New initiatives are being trialled within the School based on discussion points arising from PSHE lessons, such as mindfulness sessions at the start of the day.

There is one member of the School with whom everyone wants to be friends, and that is Arnold the School dog. It is no surprise that everybody wants to spend time with him; he is easy to get along with, full of energy, always has a positive attitude and as if that was not enough he looks like a teddy bear! While Arnold might not be able to analyse a poem or recite his seven times tables, he has an important role to play inside and outside the classroom: adding an extra dimension to the boys’ well-being. Numerous studies have shown that a dog can have a positive effect in a school. Given current concerns about the rise in mental health issues in children, the positive influence on wellbeing that Arnold can contribute to is something to be welcomed.

Team Tennis, the English Schools Athletics Association for Cross-Country and the BSGA (British Schools Gymnastics Association). A full report on the boys’ sporting year will appear in the 2019 School Magazine.

- Boys have had opportunities to play at top class sporting venues; Olympic Park (hockey), Saracens’ Allianz Park (rugby) and Lord’s (cricket).

capability which means that boys who might be labouring with their reading can listen to a book whilst reading it.

Reading Records have been a real success this year. The boys themselves have responded brilliantly, with the acquisition of stars for good reading or reviewing. Rewards are now in place for this with a certificate for 5 reading stars rising up to a Reading Star badge for their blazer once 50 stars have been accumulated.

E US HO D OL OL HO N AR SC

Library bookmark and reading star rewards U11 Football Tour to St George’s Park

Activities The Activities Programme is designed to provide all our boys with the opportunity to sample a wide and varied range of extra-curricular activities during all stages of their time at Arnold House. It is not uncommon for them to develop a longlasting interest and enthusiasm for their activities, continuing on to more advanced levels as they progress through and beyond their time at the School. The Activities Programme makes an important contribution to the all-round education that we offer and we encourage the boys to take advantage of the sixty-odd clubs we have on offer over the course of the year.

Sport - Appointment of Pre-Prep Sports Coordinator to oversee sport in the younger years.

Drama Productions Pre-Prep boys presented nativity plays at Christmas and “James and the Giant Peach” in the summer term.

- One inter-school fixture per term introduced for Year 2 boys in addition to twice termly house matches at Canons Park

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Mad Scientists Club

Reading / Library Through the Annual Fund, the library now has eight upto-date Kindles. This new model has Bluetooth and audio

Year 5 Drama Review

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Senior School Transfer Parents will be aware that in recent years, there has been a significant shift in the timing of tests and interviews for 13+ entrance to senior schools. Year 6 is now the key time to be ready for this challenge and we have needed to respond to this in two ways:

School Council The Head Boys now feedback to the rest of the School during assemblies about issues discussed during School Council meetings. This is a task they have performed very effectively and we will continue with this format next year.

(1) Provide a systematic programme of meetings over a 14-month period to help guide parents through the process; and (2) adapt curriculum time to reflect the growing importance of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning practice in preparation for November tests without compromising the all-round education we value so much at Arnold House. With this in mind, from September 2019, one lesson a week in the Year 5 timetable will be allocated to senior school transfer preparation. This will replace the current model where Year 5 boys covered this ground in 8.00 – 8.25am early morning sessions twice a week in the spring and summer terms.

Latin and French The allocation of periods given to languages in the senior school will change for the 2019-20 academic year to make way for one Form Period and one Senior School Transfer Preparation lesson for Year 5 boys. The new framework is as follows: Current

2019-20

French

Latin

French

Latin

Y5

3

2

3

0

Y6

4

3

3

4

Y7

5

4

5

4

Y8

5

4

5

4

Year 3 School Council

Questionnaires Parents, staff and boys provided very useful opinions and observations through three separate questionnaires in the middle of the school year. Common themes have been identified and will form the basis of the School’s Annual Action Plan for 2019-20.

The Arnold House Parents’ Association The AHPA continues to go from strength to strength; providing a crucial means of communication between home and school via the Class Reps whilst also putting on key social events such as Christmas in the Courtyard and the Summer Fair for the whole community to share and enjoy.

Termly Reports to Parents Year 6 Drama Presentation

The Year 7 boys participated once again in the annual Shakespeare Schools Festival with a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the RADA Studios Theatre near Goodge Street.

The task now is to consolidate this drama programme in the School’s calendar over the next couple of years and work to include further opportunities for drama and performance for our most senior boys in Year 8 time permitting.

A team of technically-minded boys has also been set-up to support the drama and music departments with sound and lighting requirements for plays and concerts.

- Under 11 football team went on tour for the first time to the Football Association Headquarters at St George’s Park took part in the inaugural Prep 4 Sport Championships.

- On top of our many and varied inter-school fixtures and local tournaments, our top teams have entered a growing number of regional and national competitions run by IAPS (the Independent Association of Prep Schools) for football, tennis, hockey, cricket, basketball and sailing, ISFA (the Independent Schools Football Association), LTA

The curriculum in Years 5 and 6 has dramatically changed this year. Instead of the usual productions of “Goodnight Mister Tom” and “Millions”, the boys have spent the year learning and experimenting with a range of theatre-based skills. These skills include technical production and techniques, voice projection, staging in relation to status, characterization, direction, improvisation and group work. The Year 5 boys worked in the final term towards a performance led by them. The boys directed the scenes, chose the extracts, edited the scripts and then ran the show, celebrating all of the skills that they had learnt throughout the Year 5 course. The Year 6 boys took this framework one step further and wrote and developed a play from scratch on the theme of evacuees from London during the Blitz of 1940 using the skills they had learnt in workshops and lessons during the year.

Poet in Residence Poetry Club has made a welcome return to the Activities Programme and poetry will be given a further boost next term when AH will have its first ever Poet in Residence – the financial cost of which is being shared with the AHPA. On one day per week, Simon Mole will come into School to work with the boys in all year groups, focussing on a writer’s drafting process. He will also run a lunchtime club, as well as helping the School to celebrate National Poetry Day in early October. We hope to produce a poetry magazine that will be a reflection of the poetry written by the boys under Simon’s tutelage.

The Year 3 and 4 curriculum is now skill-based rather than topic based. The boys now focus on basic performance skills such as voice projection, positioning, entering and exiting in character, characterization and stage presence. The Drama

Arnold on the Year 4 Camping Trip

department works very closely with the Music department to produce musicals at Canons Park; this year, it was “Alice in Wonderland” for Year 3 and the “Rocky Monster Show” for Year 4. Choreography and Dance have been incorporated into the music curriculum to develop the boys’ awareness of music and movement and to develop the skill of singing and dancing at the same time.

Science We have been making good use of the new laboratory and equipment. The boys have thoroughly enjoyed working in the new space conducting practicals in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Years 3 and 4 syllabus has been revamped and now follows more closely the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) Curriculum. More hands-on activities and practicals have also been introduced in the Pre-Prep.

A new reporting system was implemented in an effort to provide parents with clearer information about their son’s strengths and weaknesses in each subject. House points for Effort and Citizenship are collated as before but with the addition of the year group average for comparison.

And alongside the teacher’s comment sits a chart giving an assessment of a boy’s mastery of key skills, ranging from ‘well below expected standard’ to ‘well above expected standard’. It is hoped that this will also be helpful to the boys themselves as they look to see where they should focus their efforts in order to make further progress.

Internet Safety The NSPCC delivered a talk on Internet safety to parents, and boys in Years 1 to 6.

AHPA Summer Fair

The Go Guardian system is now fully operational. It flags up certain words or phrases when the boys use google docs. The searches are sent through to the Deputy Headmaster Pastoral immediately. This is both a way of checking that the boys are using the internet safely and also watching out for warning signs regarding mental health.

Environmental Coordinator The appointment of an Environmental Coordinator on the staff, Miss Keeley Smith, is sure to tap into the boys’ interest in environmental issues and their eagerness to get involved. The summer term questionnaire will form the basis of that work when we return in September.

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities PSHE and Wellbeing PSHE has had another successful year. Lessons were moved from the morning registration slot to break time which has allowed lessons to flow more freely. The core themes of Relationships, Living in the Wider World and Health and Wellbeing were covered in the three terms respectively.

Assemblies, guest speakers and class subject material (especially in Religious Studies and Science) all reinforced the learning taking place. New initiatives are being trialled within the School based on discussion points arising from PSHE lessons, such as mindfulness sessions at the start of the day.

There is one member of the School with whom everyone wants to be friends, and that is Arnold the School dog. It is no surprise that everybody wants to spend time with him; he is easy to get along with, full of energy, always has a positive attitude and as if that was not enough he looks like a teddy bear! While Arnold might not be able to analyse a poem or recite his seven times tables, he has an important role to play inside and outside the classroom: adding an extra dimension to the boys’ well-being. Numerous studies have shown that a dog can have a positive effect in a school. Given current concerns about the rise in mental health issues in children, the positive influence on wellbeing that Arnold can contribute to is something to be welcomed.

Team Tennis, the English Schools Athletics Association for Cross-Country and the BSGA (British Schools Gymnastics Association). A full report on the boys’ sporting year will appear in the 2019 School Magazine.

- Boys have had opportunities to play at top class sporting venues; Olympic Park (hockey), Saracens’ Allianz Park (rugby) and Lord’s (cricket).

capability which means that boys who might be labouring with their reading can listen to a book whilst reading it.

Reading Records have been a real success this year. The boys themselves have responded brilliantly, with the acquisition of stars for good reading or reviewing. Rewards are now in place for this with a certificate for 5 reading stars rising up to a Reading Star badge for their blazer once 50 stars have been accumulated.

E US HO D OL OL HO N AR SC

Library bookmark and reading star rewards U11 Football Tour to St George’s Park

Activities The Activities Programme is designed to provide all our boys with the opportunity to sample a wide and varied range of extra-curricular activities during all stages of their time at Arnold House. It is not uncommon for them to develop a longlasting interest and enthusiasm for their activities, continuing on to more advanced levels as they progress through and beyond their time at the School. The Activities Programme makes an important contribution to the all-round education that we offer and we encourage the boys to take advantage of the sixty-odd clubs we have on offer over the course of the year.

Sport - Appointment of Pre-Prep Sports Coordinator to oversee sport in the younger years.

Drama Productions Pre-Prep boys presented nativity plays at Christmas and “James and the Giant Peach” in the summer term.

- One inter-school fixture per term introduced for Year 2 boys in addition to twice termly house matches at Canons Park

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Mad Scientists Club

Reading / Library Through the Annual Fund, the library now has eight upto-date Kindles. This new model has Bluetooth and audio

Year 5 Drama Review

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Senior School Transfer Parents will be aware that in recent years, there has been a significant shift in the timing of tests and interviews for 13+ entrance to senior schools. Year 6 is now the key time to be ready for this challenge and we have needed to respond to this in two ways:

School Council The Head Boys now feedback to the rest of the School during assemblies about issues discussed during School Council meetings. This is a task they have performed very effectively and we will continue with this format next year.

(1) Provide a systematic programme of meetings over a 14-month period to help guide parents through the process; and (2) adapt curriculum time to reflect the growing importance of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning practice in preparation for November tests without compromising the all-round education we value so much at Arnold House. With this in mind, from September 2019, one lesson a week in the Year 5 timetable will be allocated to senior school transfer preparation. This will replace the current model where Year 5 boys covered this ground in 8.00 – 8.25am early morning sessions twice a week in the spring and summer terms.

Latin and French The allocation of periods given to languages in the senior school will change for the 2019-20 academic year to make way for one Form Period and one Senior School Transfer Preparation lesson for Year 5 boys. The new framework is as follows: Current

2019-20

French

Latin

French

Latin

Y5

3

2

3

0

Y6

4

3

3

4

Y7

5

4

5

4

Y8

5

4

5

4

Year 3 School Council

Questionnaires Parents, staff and boys provided very useful opinions and observations through three separate questionnaires in the middle of the school year. Common themes have been identified and will form the basis of the School’s Annual Action Plan for 2019-20.

The Arnold House Parents’ Association The AHPA continues to go from strength to strength; providing a crucial means of communication between home and school via the Class Reps whilst also putting on key social events such as Christmas in the Courtyard and the Summer Fair for the whole community to share and enjoy.

Termly Reports to Parents Year 6 Drama Presentation

The Year 7 boys participated once again in the annual Shakespeare Schools Festival with a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the RADA Studios Theatre near Goodge Street.

The task now is to consolidate this drama programme in the School’s calendar over the next couple of years and work to include further opportunities for drama and performance for our most senior boys in Year 8 time permitting.

A team of technically-minded boys has also been set-up to support the drama and music departments with sound and lighting requirements for plays and concerts.

- Under 11 football team went on tour for the first time to the Football Association Headquarters at St George’s Park took part in the inaugural Prep 4 Sport Championships.

- On top of our many and varied inter-school fixtures and local tournaments, our top teams have entered a growing number of regional and national competitions run by IAPS (the Independent Association of Prep Schools) for football, tennis, hockey, cricket, basketball and sailing, ISFA (the Independent Schools Football Association), LTA

The curriculum in Years 5 and 6 has dramatically changed this year. Instead of the usual productions of “Goodnight Mister Tom” and “Millions”, the boys have spent the year learning and experimenting with a range of theatre-based skills. These skills include technical production and techniques, voice projection, staging in relation to status, characterization, direction, improvisation and group work. The Year 5 boys worked in the final term towards a performance led by them. The boys directed the scenes, chose the extracts, edited the scripts and then ran the show, celebrating all of the skills that they had learnt throughout the Year 5 course. The Year 6 boys took this framework one step further and wrote and developed a play from scratch on the theme of evacuees from London during the Blitz of 1940 using the skills they had learnt in workshops and lessons during the year.

Poet in Residence Poetry Club has made a welcome return to the Activities Programme and poetry will be given a further boost next term when AH will have its first ever Poet in Residence – the financial cost of which is being shared with the AHPA. On one day per week, Simon Mole will come into School to work with the boys in all year groups, focussing on a writer’s drafting process. He will also run a lunchtime club, as well as helping the School to celebrate National Poetry Day in early October. We hope to produce a poetry magazine that will be a reflection of the poetry written by the boys under Simon’s tutelage.

The Year 3 and 4 curriculum is now skill-based rather than topic based. The boys now focus on basic performance skills such as voice projection, positioning, entering and exiting in character, characterization and stage presence. The Drama

Arnold on the Year 4 Camping Trip

department works very closely with the Music department to produce musicals at Canons Park; this year, it was “Alice in Wonderland” for Year 3 and the “Rocky Monster Show” for Year 4. Choreography and Dance have been incorporated into the music curriculum to develop the boys’ awareness of music and movement and to develop the skill of singing and dancing at the same time.

Science We have been making good use of the new laboratory and equipment. The boys have thoroughly enjoyed working in the new space conducting practicals in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Years 3 and 4 syllabus has been revamped and now follows more closely the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) Curriculum. More hands-on activities and practicals have also been introduced in the Pre-Prep.

A new reporting system was implemented in an effort to provide parents with clearer information about their son’s strengths and weaknesses in each subject. House points for Effort and Citizenship are collated as before but with the addition of the year group average for comparison.

And alongside the teacher’s comment sits a chart giving an assessment of a boy’s mastery of key skills, ranging from ‘well below expected standard’ to ‘well above expected standard’. It is hoped that this will also be helpful to the boys themselves as they look to see where they should focus their efforts in order to make further progress.

Internet Safety The NSPCC delivered a talk on Internet safety to parents, and boys in Years 1 to 6.

AHPA Summer Fair

The Go Guardian system is now fully operational. It flags up certain words or phrases when the boys use google docs. The searches are sent through to the Deputy Headmaster Pastoral immediately. This is both a way of checking that the boys are using the internet safely and also watching out for warning signs regarding mental health.

Environmental Coordinator The appointment of an Environmental Coordinator on the staff, Miss Keeley Smith, is sure to tap into the boys’ interest in environmental issues and their eagerness to get involved. The summer term questionnaire will form the basis of that work when we return in September.

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities PSHE and Wellbeing PSHE has had another successful year. Lessons were moved from the morning registration slot to break time which has allowed lessons to flow more freely. The core themes of Relationships, Living in the Wider World and Health and Wellbeing were covered in the three terms respectively.

Assemblies, guest speakers and class subject material (especially in Religious Studies and Science) all reinforced the learning taking place. New initiatives are being trialled within the School based on discussion points arising from PSHE lessons, such as mindfulness sessions at the start of the day.

There is one member of the School with whom everyone wants to be friends, and that is Arnold the School dog. It is no surprise that everybody wants to spend time with him; he is easy to get along with, full of energy, always has a positive attitude and as if that was not enough he looks like a teddy bear! While Arnold might not be able to analyse a poem or recite his seven times tables, he has an important role to play inside and outside the classroom: adding an extra dimension to the boys’ well-being. Numerous studies have shown that a dog can have a positive effect in a school. Given current concerns about the rise in mental health issues in children, the positive influence on wellbeing that Arnold can contribute to is something to be welcomed.

Team Tennis, the English Schools Athletics Association for Cross-Country and the BSGA (British Schools Gymnastics Association). A full report on the boys’ sporting year will appear in the 2019 School Magazine.

- Boys have had opportunities to play at top class sporting venues; Olympic Park (hockey), Saracens’ Allianz Park (rugby) and Lord’s (cricket).

capability which means that boys who might be labouring with their reading can listen to a book whilst reading it.

Reading Records have been a real success this year. The boys themselves have responded brilliantly, with the acquisition of stars for good reading or reviewing. Rewards are now in place for this with a certificate for 5 reading stars rising up to a Reading Star badge for their blazer once 50 stars have been accumulated.

E US HO D OL OL HO N AR SC

Library bookmark and reading star rewards U11 Football Tour to St George’s Park

Activities The Activities Programme is designed to provide all our boys with the opportunity to sample a wide and varied range of extra-curricular activities during all stages of their time at Arnold House. It is not uncommon for them to develop a longlasting interest and enthusiasm for their activities, continuing on to more advanced levels as they progress through and beyond their time at the School. The Activities Programme makes an important contribution to the all-round education that we offer and we encourage the boys to take advantage of the sixty-odd clubs we have on offer over the course of the year.

Sport - Appointment of Pre-Prep Sports Coordinator to oversee sport in the younger years.

Drama Productions Pre-Prep boys presented nativity plays at Christmas and “James and the Giant Peach” in the summer term.

- One inter-school fixture per term introduced for Year 2 boys in addition to twice termly house matches at Canons Park

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Mad Scientists Club

Reading / Library Through the Annual Fund, the library now has eight upto-date Kindles. This new model has Bluetooth and audio

Year 5 Drama Review

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Senior School Transfer Parents will be aware that in recent years, there has been a significant shift in the timing of tests and interviews for 13+ entrance to senior schools. Year 6 is now the key time to be ready for this challenge and we have needed to respond to this in two ways:

School Council The Head Boys now feedback to the rest of the School during assemblies about issues discussed during School Council meetings. This is a task they have performed very effectively and we will continue with this format next year.

(1) Provide a systematic programme of meetings over a 14-month period to help guide parents through the process; and (2) adapt curriculum time to reflect the growing importance of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning practice in preparation for November tests without compromising the all-round education we value so much at Arnold House. With this in mind, from September 2019, one lesson a week in the Year 5 timetable will be allocated to senior school transfer preparation. This will replace the current model where Year 5 boys covered this ground in 8.00 – 8.25am early morning sessions twice a week in the spring and summer terms.

Latin and French The allocation of periods given to languages in the senior school will change for the 2019-20 academic year to make way for one Form Period and one Senior School Transfer Preparation lesson for Year 5 boys. The new framework is as follows: Current

2019-20

French

Latin

French

Latin

Y5

3

2

3

0

Y6

4

3

3

4

Y7

5

4

5

4

Y8

5

4

5

4

Year 3 School Council

Questionnaires Parents, staff and boys provided very useful opinions and observations through three separate questionnaires in the middle of the school year. Common themes have been identified and will form the basis of the School’s Annual Action Plan for 2019-20.

The Arnold House Parents’ Association The AHPA continues to go from strength to strength; providing a crucial means of communication between home and school via the Class Reps whilst also putting on key social events such as Christmas in the Courtyard and the Summer Fair for the whole community to share and enjoy.

Termly Reports to Parents Year 6 Drama Presentation

The Year 7 boys participated once again in the annual Shakespeare Schools Festival with a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the RADA Studios Theatre near Goodge Street.

The task now is to consolidate this drama programme in the School’s calendar over the next couple of years and work to include further opportunities for drama and performance for our most senior boys in Year 8 time permitting.

A team of technically-minded boys has also been set-up to support the drama and music departments with sound and lighting requirements for plays and concerts.

- Under 11 football team went on tour for the first time to the Football Association Headquarters at St George’s Park took part in the inaugural Prep 4 Sport Championships.

- On top of our many and varied inter-school fixtures and local tournaments, our top teams have entered a growing number of regional and national competitions run by IAPS (the Independent Association of Prep Schools) for football, tennis, hockey, cricket, basketball and sailing, ISFA (the Independent Schools Football Association), LTA

The curriculum in Years 5 and 6 has dramatically changed this year. Instead of the usual productions of “Goodnight Mister Tom” and “Millions”, the boys have spent the year learning and experimenting with a range of theatre-based skills. These skills include technical production and techniques, voice projection, staging in relation to status, characterization, direction, improvisation and group work. The Year 5 boys worked in the final term towards a performance led by them. The boys directed the scenes, chose the extracts, edited the scripts and then ran the show, celebrating all of the skills that they had learnt throughout the Year 5 course. The Year 6 boys took this framework one step further and wrote and developed a play from scratch on the theme of evacuees from London during the Blitz of 1940 using the skills they had learnt in workshops and lessons during the year.

Poet in Residence Poetry Club has made a welcome return to the Activities Programme and poetry will be given a further boost next term when AH will have its first ever Poet in Residence – the financial cost of which is being shared with the AHPA. On one day per week, Simon Mole will come into School to work with the boys in all year groups, focussing on a writer’s drafting process. He will also run a lunchtime club, as well as helping the School to celebrate National Poetry Day in early October. We hope to produce a poetry magazine that will be a reflection of the poetry written by the boys under Simon’s tutelage.

The Year 3 and 4 curriculum is now skill-based rather than topic based. The boys now focus on basic performance skills such as voice projection, positioning, entering and exiting in character, characterization and stage presence. The Drama

Arnold on the Year 4 Camping Trip

department works very closely with the Music department to produce musicals at Canons Park; this year, it was “Alice in Wonderland” for Year 3 and the “Rocky Monster Show” for Year 4. Choreography and Dance have been incorporated into the music curriculum to develop the boys’ awareness of music and movement and to develop the skill of singing and dancing at the same time.

Science We have been making good use of the new laboratory and equipment. The boys have thoroughly enjoyed working in the new space conducting practicals in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Years 3 and 4 syllabus has been revamped and now follows more closely the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) Curriculum. More hands-on activities and practicals have also been introduced in the Pre-Prep.

A new reporting system was implemented in an effort to provide parents with clearer information about their son’s strengths and weaknesses in each subject. House points for Effort and Citizenship are collated as before but with the addition of the year group average for comparison.

And alongside the teacher’s comment sits a chart giving an assessment of a boy’s mastery of key skills, ranging from ‘well below expected standard’ to ‘well above expected standard’. It is hoped that this will also be helpful to the boys themselves as they look to see where they should focus their efforts in order to make further progress.

Internet Safety The NSPCC delivered a talk on Internet safety to parents, and boys in Years 1 to 6.

AHPA Summer Fair

The Go Guardian system is now fully operational. It flags up certain words or phrases when the boys use google docs. The searches are sent through to the Deputy Headmaster Pastoral immediately. This is both a way of checking that the boys are using the internet safely and also watching out for warning signs regarding mental health.

Environmental Coordinator The appointment of an Environmental Coordinator on the staff, Miss Keeley Smith, is sure to tap into the boys’ interest in environmental issues and their eagerness to get involved. The summer term questionnaire will form the basis of that work when we return in September.

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

Development The Bursary Fund We have provided five 100% bursary places this year funded through a combination of the School’s fee income and donations from the Arnold House community. A fantastic £82,022 for the fund was raised during the year following the success of the inaugural Bursary Fun Run in March and a number of generous donations from current parents, old boys and friends of the School.

Raising Money for Charity Over the year, the boys, staff and parents have raised significant amounts of money for a variety of local, national and international worthy causes, including SwimSafe, St John’s Hospice and the The Royal British

ANNUALREVIEW 2019 The Annual Review focusses on three areas: Year 8 Leavers, Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities, and Fundraising. The School Magazine published every autumn, provides a comprehensive account of all the boys’ exploits and achievements throughout the school year.

Annual Fund The total amount raised for the Annual Fund this year was £6,901. This has enabled the School to fund a number of items for the boys to enjoy as part of their co-curricular programme. Six bicycles were purchased for Canons Park along with helmets and suitable storage units. These will be used to help the boys to learn and gain confidence in cycling, especially prior to their trip to Devon in Year 5.

Farewell Year 8!

O

f the 227 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, 90% were graded A* to B and 60% 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.

Orange and Yellow themed charity day

Nautical themed charity day

Legion. There were three charity days this year with a Nautical theme in the autumn, an Orange and Yellow theme in the spring and a ‘Flippers & Floats’ theme in the summer as well as the annual Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon hosted by Years 6&7.

Bicycles purchased through the Annual Fund

The ’42 Club made a donation enabling the School to purchase a variety of catering equipment to use at events.

Other items purchased have included eight kindles for the Library, twenty pairs of headphones, a keyboard and a speaker for the music department, a vegetable trug for gardening club and a school camera drone used to make video clips of various events and activities.

Particular congratulations must go to the six boys who had the honour of being entered for academic scholarships: Nathan Fairclough (St Paul’s) and Cyprien Riboud-Seydoux (Westminster) acquitted themselves extremely well and secured their places through the scholarship route rather than Common Entrance. Jonny Brown (St Paul’s), Isaac Halamish (City of London) and Freddie Jerome (City of London) were all deemed worthy recipients of scholarship awards.

Sebastian Eatwell (Westminster) was awarded a Music scholarship to go with his Queen’s scholarship for academic excellence; a rare and exceptional ‘double’. In addition,

Cameron Kerr (Whitgift) was awarded an All-rounder scholarship and Oscar Rice (The King’s School, Canterbury) a Music scholarship.

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 at their chosen senior schools. Many congratulations to all of Year 8 and we wish them the very best of luck for the future!

Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon

The total raised for charity this academic year was: Charity Money Raised 2018-2019

Headphones purchased through the Annual Fund

From left to right, top to bottom: Y3 at the Lord’s Cricket Day, STEM trip to Iceland, Y4 exploding volcanoes, Y1 visit the Tower of London, Grandparents’ Open Afternoon, Y5 Teamwork Week in Devon, Y8 at Senior Prize Giving, Wellington win the House Cup, Y8 trip to Normandy and Hendrix Guitar Group at the Senior Cummer Concert

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

SwimSafe*

£4,661

St John’s Hospice

£1,806

The Royal British Legion

£206

Lifeboats appeal

£28

Hackney Church

£985

Total

£7,686

*Linked with the Royal Life Saving Society

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

Year 8 Leavers

Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

The Scholars

Senior school destinations

Number of boys transferring

City of London

2

Dulwich

1

Eton

4

Harrow

1

Kensington Park

1

Mill Hill

4

Oundle

2

Radley

1

St Paul’s

3

The King’s School, Canterbury

1

UCS

2

Westminster

2

Whitgift

1

Development The Bursary Fund We have provided five 100% bursary places this year funded through a combination of the School’s fee income and donations from the Arnold House community. A fantastic £82,022 for the fund was raised during the year following the success of the inaugural Bursary Fun Run in March and a number of generous donations from current parents, old boys and friends of the School.

Raising Money for Charity Over the year, the boys, staff and parents have raised significant amounts of money for a variety of local, national and international worthy causes, including SwimSafe, St John’s Hospice and the The Royal British

ANNUALREVIEW 2019 The Annual Review focusses on three areas: Year 8 Leavers, Curriculum Development and New Educational Opportunities, and Fundraising. The School Magazine published every autumn, provides a comprehensive account of all the boys’ exploits and achievements throughout the school year.

Annual Fund The total amount raised for the Annual Fund this year was £6,901. This has enabled the School to fund a number of items for the boys to enjoy as part of their co-curricular programme. Six bicycles were purchased for Canons Park along with helmets and suitable storage units. These will be used to help the boys to learn and gain confidence in cycling, especially prior to their trip to Devon in Year 5.

Farewell Year 8!

O

f the 227 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, 90% were graded A* to B and 60% 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.

Orange and Yellow themed charity day

Nautical themed charity day

Legion. There were three charity days this year with a Nautical theme in the autumn, an Orange and Yellow theme in the spring and a ‘Flippers & Floats’ theme in the summer as well as the annual Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon hosted by Years 6&7.

Bicycles purchased through the Annual Fund

The ’42 Club made a donation enabling the School to purchase a variety of catering equipment to use at events.

Other items purchased have included eight kindles for the Library, twenty pairs of headphones, a keyboard and a speaker for the music department, a vegetable trug for gardening club and a school camera drone used to make video clips of various events and activities.

Particular congratulations must go to the six boys who had the honour of being entered for academic scholarships: Nathan Fairclough (St Paul’s) and Cyprien Riboud-Seydoux (Westminster) acquitted themselves extremely well and secured their places through the scholarship route rather than Common Entrance. Jonny Brown (St Paul’s), Isaac Halamish (City of London) and Freddie Jerome (City of London) were all deemed worthy recipients of scholarship awards.

Sebastian Eatwell (Westminster) was awarded a Music scholarship to go with his Queen’s scholarship for academic excellence; a rare and exceptional ‘double’. In addition,

Cameron Kerr (Whitgift) was awarded an All-rounder scholarship and Oscar Rice (The King’s School, Canterbury) a Music scholarship.

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 at their chosen senior schools. Many congratulations to all of Year 8 and we wish them the very best of luck for the future!

Young Entrepreneurs’ Afternoon

The total raised for charity this academic year was: Charity Money Raised 2018-2019

Headphones purchased through the Annual Fund

From left to right, top to bottom: Y3 at the Lord’s Cricket Day, STEM trip to Iceland, Y4 exploding volcanoes, Y1 visit the Tower of London, Grandparents’ Open Afternoon, Y5 Teamwork Week in Devon, Y8 at Senior Prize Giving, Wellington win the House Cup, Y8 trip to Normandy and Hendrix Guitar Group at the Senior Cummer Concert

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

SwimSafe*

£4,661

St John’s Hospice

£1,806

The Royal British Legion

£206

Lifeboats appeal

£28

Hackney Church

£985

Total

£7,686

*Linked with the Royal Life Saving Society

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

Year 8 Leavers

Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

ANNUAL REVIEW | AUGUST 2019

The Scholars

Senior school destinations

Number of boys transferring

City of London

2

Dulwich

1

Eton

4

Harrow

1

Kensington Park

1

Mill Hill

4

Oundle

2

Radley

1

St Paul’s

3

The King’s School, Canterbury

1

UCS

2

Westminster

2

Whitgift

1