Absolutely South West September 2021 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

SOUTH WEST

South West SEPTEMBER 2021 / £3.95

SPECIAL

Sleep secrets The real truth about babies and sleep

SEPTEMBER 2021

YELLOW

MOON

News and views from all the best schools

Indian SUMMER Late season trends for last minute breaks

Colourful interiors from Yellow London

Lounge

STYLE FA B U LO U S LO O K S F O R T H E S E A S O N

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STAY I N B E D The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents SEPTEMBER 2021

60 C U LT U R E 10 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y 51 BEAUTY NOTES

14 WHAT'S ON

57 FITNESS FOCUS

FOOD & DRINK 24 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

INTERIORS 60 INSPIRATIONS

26 EATING OUT

66 YELLOW LONDON At home with the designer

10 things we’re coveting this month

Your diary for September

What's hot and what's new

30 RECIPES Social Pantry for Falcon Enamelware

FA S H I O N 38 THE SHOOT Late summer with Paolita

46 JEWELLERY Heavy metals

Why spin is for you

News from the industry

Sumi; Suzi Tros

News from the industry

E D U C AT I O N 96 NEWS Independent schools news

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

106 D OF E

How the awards have evolved

118 SPORTS FOR ALL Schools and their sports

O N T H E C OV E R orchardmoon.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Beautiful timber windows & doors

EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR LAYLA TURNER MAMA EDITOR CARLY GLENDINNING ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE ROBERTS SAMANTHA SCOTT MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MEDIA CONSULTANTS STELLA ADAMS ANABELA KOLECI FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER

Bring the outside in

MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3981 7187 or email: craig@zest-media.com

zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Social icon

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Editor’s

LETTER ABSOLUTELY’S September issue highlights

Golden slippers Footwear for home and away from Olivia Morris

eptember might not have much going for it, with its back-toschool and end-of-summer connotations, but it's good to think of it as a new beginning. A fresh start. The beginning of the academic year might not mean something to everybody, but for anyone currently at school or college, hopes are currently running high for this new year. In this issue we focus heavily on education, with a huge 66-page section dedicated entirely to schools and their news and views – and resoundingly, the feeling is one of optimism after two heavily disrupted years. Schools are getting ready for a return to normal, while celebrating the new flexibility that they have learnt to enjoy. And in fact there's lots more to feel optimistic about, now that we are fully back to enjoying restaurants and the theatre – both of which feature in this issue – and travel is also looking up. This month we are enjoying maximalist interiors and fashions, and hoping for some late summer sunshine as we plan our future trips. Garden offices are here to stay, however, as are stylish house shoes and houseplant subscriptions, all of which feature in these pages. Enjoy September.

4 Glass art Tom Dixon's new cocktail coupe, Puck

It's all yellow

Maximalist home style with Yellow London

Line of beauty

Beautiful pens from Caran d'ache

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

Fashion plate

Pretty dishes at Suzi Tros

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

PENDLE HARTE

L I L AC TIME

Aspiga's mission is to work responsibly towards a more socially and environmentally conscious future, putting people and the planet first. That’s why they only partner with ethical suppliers, using the best sustainable materials to design beautiful, contemporary and stylish pieces that are intended to last, such as this Carella embroidered organic cotton midi dress, £135 aspiga.com

PURPLE HAZE

The Tadi Blouse by Christian Wijnants comes in a classic check pattern, printed on a summer-ready lightweight fabric cut to a loose fit. It’s finished with a stand-up collar and tie-up details at the cuffs. £410 couvertureandthegarbstore.com

EDITOR’S PICK

U LT R A V I O L E T

C H E C K M AT E

Leinikki gingham frill tablecloths are made from two different scales of the same gingham, with a larger scale on the main and smaller scale on the frills. £260 projektityyny.com

Urbanears' Luma wireless headphones not only sound great and connect seamlessly, but they come in a wide range of unusual hues. Our favourite is this ultra violet. £79.99 urbanears.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

C O L O U R WAY British designer Jessica Russell Flint creates vibrant, entirely unique hand-illustrated prints, with luxury products ranging across accessories, clothing, sleepwear and homeware. Inspired by life’s eccentricities and with a love for colour and texture, Jessica transforms the ordinary into designs like you've never seen before. jessicarussellflint.co.uk

S TA R Q U A L I T Y

French brand Louisa Bracq is new to the fold at Amelie's Follies with its range of stylish shapes in all cup sizes ameliesfollies.co.uk

MAUVE ON

Eleanor Bowmer's stylish print designs adorn a wide range of products ranging from teatowels and tablecloths to wallpaper and stationery. eleanorbowmer.co.uk

LOCK D OW N

T WO TO N E

The new shade in Mustard's colourful locker collection is lilac. Here's the Lowdown in lilac, £249. mustardmade.com

Bella Freud's new Baby Blue jumper in merino wool with two colour jacquard is high on our autumn wishlist. £295 bellafreud.com

WRITE ON

The new collection reinvents Caran d'Ache's iconic 849 ballpoint pen with an array of new shades including this stylish violet. £39.99 papersmiths.co.uk

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C U LT U R E

LILY BAISDEN IN THE BARBICAN'S ANYTHING GOES, PHOTOGRAPHED BY TRISTRAM KENTON

What's on 14 • Theatre reviews 17 • Artists at Home 20 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

T H E AT R E

Twelfth Night Until 30 October SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identity, music and the madness of love ﬁnds new life at the Globe Theatre this summer. Illyria is a society in limbo, held captive by loss, until a sea-drenched stranger arrives and unexpectedly unleashes the chaotic power of love. Get ready to be on the edge of your seat with this wild, surprising, ﬁery and funny show. shakespearesglobe.com

A RT

Virtual Purpose P U R S L A NE • O NGO I NG

Experience the beauty of an art exhibition from the comfort of your own four walls. This new online gallery features all the movers and shakers in and around the British art scene including Amy Beager, Cecilia Reeve, Venetia Berry (a favourite of Dolly Alderton) and BP Travel Award winner Casper White. purslane.co.uk

E XH I BI T I ON

Bags: Inside Out Until January 2022 V& A The V&A does not disappoint with this vibrant show dedicated to the ultimate accessory. With an exclusive look inside the world of the factory and atelier, this exhibition explores our longstanding fascination with the bag, from designer handbags to despatch boxes, vanity cases to military rucksacks. vam.ac.uk

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

EV E N T

Infinity Mirror Rooms Until June 2022 TAT E M O D E R N Ever wondered what infinity looks like? This year, the Tate presents a rare chance to experience two of Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. These immersive installations will transport you from the streets of London into Kusama’s unique vision of endless reflections, a peak into something beyond the familiar. This exhibition is a must see for the curious and creative. tate.org.uk

PAST

LIVES The pick of London events during Heritage Open Days

DORICH HOUSE MUSEUM

Visit the former studio home of the sculptor Dora Gordine and her husband the Hon. Richard Hare. This Grade II listed building, completed in 1936, is now a museum featuring Gordine’s works and the couple’s collection of Russian art. Dorich House, 67 Kingston Vale, SW15 3RN

MU S I C

JAZZ NIGHT

This Month’s Must See

Ongoing SUMOSAN TWIGA Sumosan Twiga have launched their weekly music nights, starting from 31 August, with Sarah and The Jazz Band taking centre stage. You can enjoy the music every Tuesday, along with the venue’s diverse menu of Japanese food and traditional Italian cuisine, providing a night of entertainment that should not be missed. sumosantwigalondon.com

DORICH HOUSE

HOUSE MILL

Visit the world’s largest tidal mill. This ﬁve-storey, timber-framed watermill with four waterwheels was originally built in 1776 to mill grain for the distillery trade. It remained operational until 1941 and has since been restored. House Mill Trust, The Millers House, Three Mill Lane, E3 3DU

BL I T H E SPI R I T

16 S E PTE MB E R - 6 N OVEMBER • HAROLD PIN TER THEATRE

his promises to be a fabulous take on Blithe Spirit, featuring the iconic Jennifer Saunders. Novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth are haunted, in the literal sense, by a past relationship when an eccentric medium - Madame Arcati - inadvertently conjures up the ghost of his ﬁrst wife, Elvira, at a séance. When she appears, visible only to Charles, life starts to get complicated. haroldpintertheatre.co.uk

SCADBURY MOATED MANOR

Follow a self-guided trail around this moated manor site, taking in the archaeological excavations and the foundations of the Tudor kitchens and great hall. You will also see World War II defences and a restored shepherd’s hut. Scadbury Park, Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6LN

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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RAYMOND GUBBAY presents

THE FESTIVE TRADITION RETURNS

BARBICAN barbican.org.uk

SAT 18 DEC 2.00 & 5.30PM

CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG

SUN 19 DEC 2.30 & 7.30PM

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

TUE 21 DEC 7.30PM

KING’S COLLEGE CHOIR

WED 22 DEC 7.30PM

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS WITH ALAN TITCHMARSH

THU 23 DEC 2.00 & 5.30PM

JINGLE BELL CHRISTMAS

MON 27 DEC 7.30PM

THE MUSIC OF ZIMMER VS WILLIAMS

TUE 28 DEC 7.30PM

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH

WED 29 DEC 7.30PM

THU 30 DEC 7.30PM

FRI 31 DEC 7.30PM

SAT 1 JAN 2.30PM

THE GREATEST SHOW TUNES

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THE BEST OF JOHN WILLIAMS

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CULTURE • THEATRE

2:22 A GHOST STORY Until 16 October NOEL COWARD THEATRE

his new play by Danny Robins (of The Battersea Poltergeist podcast fame) has a lot going for it – not least the fact that it stars Lily Allen in her first theatre role. It's billed as a spooky show, not suited to nervous types and under-14s, and the audience is asked at the end not to give anything away. The set is busy and familiar: we're in a house in east London, home to new parents Jenny and Sam. They're midrenovation: the side return has been extended, skylights and a new kitchen are in place, while brown wallpaper and an ancient gas fire remain as reminders of past inhabitants, not yet extinguished. Sam is back from a few days away on the island of Sark and Jenny has become convinced that there's a ghost in her baby's room. Friends Lauren and Ben arrive for dinner and a discussion arises: is there really a ghost? Sam insists that it's impossible, Ben's open to the idea, Lauren's on the fence and Jenny is increasingly terrified. They all decide to wait until the witching hour – 2.22am – and see. It's a gripping and tense performance, punctuated with heart-stopping screams and a recurring Massive Attack bassline – Lily Allen is fragile yet energetic and full of presence. 85-88 St Martin's Lane, WC2 222aghoststory.com

ANYTHING GOES Until 31 October

ANYTHING GOES

BARBICAN

MUST SEE 2:22 A GHOST STORY

ou couldn’t think of a better return to the theatre than the Barbican’s new production of Anything Goes. It's an all-singing, all-dancing spectacle, with stand-out performances and an enormous sense of joy. If we've missed live performance over the past year, this is musical theatre at its best: energtic, fun and visually impressive. And the timing's fitting for this Depressionera play witih its dedication to escapist entertainment. It's a familiar enough play: farce and capers aboard a 1930s ocean liner with music and lyrics by Cole Porter after an original book by PG Wodehouse. Lots of contemporary concerns shine through and make it more than a nostalgia piece, with issues of celebrity feeling very current – the ship's people being happy to vote for a convicted murderer as captain because of his celebrity, for instance, feels very 21st century. Musical numbers are excellent – Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney has an impossibly strong voice and amazing breath control, while Robert Lindsay and Felicity Kendal are larger than life. The set and lighting are vivid and colourful, while dancing and choreography is pure Hollywood golden age. Silk Street, EC2 anythinggoesmusical.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CULTURE • PROMOTION

“THE CAPITAL’S NEWEST HOTSPOT WILL OFFER A PLETHORA OF OPEN SPACES”

In the HEIGHTS

New opportunities in Park Royal's extensive redevelopment By EVE HERBERT

he £26 billion regeneration scheme for Old Oak and Park Royal, set to transform the region into a new hub for West London, is already well underway. With a proposed 26,000 new jobs in the surrounding areas along with cultural and leisure facilities, the capital’s newest hotspot will also offer a plethora of open spaces, including Pitshanger Park, a green riverside area with tennis courts, creating an idyllic sanctuary away from bustling city streets. Offering first-time buyers the opportunity to step onto the London property ladder at the very start of this exciting new venture, developer L&Q has recently launched one and two bedroom Shared Ownership apartments at L&Q at Regency Heights. Shared Ownership offers an alternative route onto the property ladder, giving buyers the option to purchase a percentage of a property - usually

between 25% and 75% - and pay rent on the rest. You only have to put a deposit down on the share you are purchasing, which makes Shared Ownership more accessible than buying a home outright. Deposits at L&Q at Regency Heights start from just £4,188, providing a chance for a range of buyers to access affordable homes in this changing part of the capital. The apartments all offer high quality interiors, designed for 21st century living. Contemporary, open-plan kitchens feature integrated appliances including an oven, ceramic hob, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and chrome fixtures. Each home also provides sought-after private outdoor space, with sensational views across lush landscaped gardens from private balconies. L&Q at Regency Heights is ideally positioned in Park Royal, a prime Zone 3 location. Existing Piccadilly and Central Line stations enable convenient travel connections from Park Royal and Hanger Lane stations, with a journey time of 23 minutes to Oxford Circus. Further ambitious development will soon transform nearby Old Oak Common Rail Depot into a major interchange station, serviced by both Crossrail and HS2, making Park Royal one of the city’s most well-connected areas. Nearby, the well-established neighbourhoods of Ealing and Chiswick offer a range of gastropubs, restaurants and bars, while Westfield shopping centre is just a short trip on the Central Line. R E G E N CY H E I G H T S For more information or to register your interest, visit: lqhomes.com/regencyheights

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CULTURE • PROMOTION

AMANDA DENISON

SARAH GRANVILLE

ART HOUSE

THOMAS DORAN

Artists at Home returns to west London By EVE HERBERT

fter a year of virtual events during the pandemic, Artists at Home, west London’s favourite open studios event, is thrilled to be opening to the public again from 17 to 19 September. Artists at Home was the first event of its kind in London. Founded by artists Julian Trevelyan and Mary Fedden and initially incorporating only a handful of studios, it has now grown to occupy a three-mile radius of Chiswick, Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush and become a wellloved institution. The event provides the public with an opportunity to view and purchase original art as well as a chance to see where the artist works and lives. “This year, we welcome a particularly large number of new artists to Artists at Home, which is very exciting. Many of them have visited Artists at Home for a

“We have all been busy creating over the lockdowns and are more eager than ever to open our studios” number of years before applying to join and the array and quality of work on offer this year is simply incredible,” says Kathryn Davey, Chair of Artists at Home. “I think we have all been busy creating over the lockdowns and we are all more eager than ever to open up our studios.” There are 93 artists in total – 79 exhibiting live and 14 online only – making this one of the largest cohorts to take part in any given year. Artists at Home normally opens in the third week of June but has chosen later dates this year to ensure greater safety and confidence for

those opening up their homes and visiting. The Artists at Home online event is already open and remains so all year round on the website which features an interactive map for planning a route, individual artists’ pages and an easy-to-use system to allow buyers to enquire about works. Artists at Home is proudly supported by Horton and Garton, independent estate agent at the heart of the community in Hammersmith, Chiswick and Shepherds Bush. artistsathome.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FOOD & DRINK

PRETTY PLATES SUMI

Possibly the prettiest food in west London can be found at Sumi, Westbourne Grove's newest sushi offering. Everything tastes amazing too. sushisumi.com

Food notes 24 • Eating out 26 • Recipes 30 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

IN THE spirit Gin recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this month By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

By MR HOBBS

Mr Hobbs 150 Gin 70cl 40% ABV  £34 Mr Hobbs 150 is a classic London Dry Gin with quintessential English heritage, which marks the 150-year anniversary of the family owned, British boating institution; Hobbs of Henley. The award-winner is bursting with nine botanicals, making a serious gin that will leave you wanting more.

Rhubarb & Ginger Gin Liqueur 50cl 21.5% ABV  £25 Blended with the very best British rhubarb to produce a perfectly balanced gin liqueur. Summer fruits and herbs on the nose with well-rounded ginger notes and plenty of rhubarb on the palate. The perfect addition to any drinks cabinet, this is an exceptional base for seasonal cocktails, sparkling or otherwise.

Raspberry & Elderflower Gin Liqueur 50cl 21.5% ABV  £25 Fresh British raspberries have been introduced into this intensely flavoured gin liqueur. The nose is full of ripe berries which continue onto the palate before a long and refreshing elderflower finish. An ideal accompaniment to Prosecco but just as delicious with soda or tonic water.

The Mr Hobbs Gin range of products is brought to you by the family pleasure boating business, Hobbs of Henley, who give you the most enjoyable way to “mess about on the river’’. Today they are very proud to share their cherished family tipples with you and raise a glass to their Henley heritage.

mrhobbsgin.co.uk

Two for one S U M O S A N T W I GA

Knightsbridge’s ﬁnest, the multi-award winning Sumosan Twiga, offers you two experiences in one, renowned for its diverse offering of Japanese cuisine and traditional Italian food. Whether you are sat at the bar experiencing its buzzy ambience, or tucked away in your own little intimate space, expect nothing but style and elegance. The extensive menu is headed up by newly appointed executive chef Alessandro Scala. sumosantwigalondon.com

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

MEAT YOUR MATCH Enjoy the best burgers in town

A TASTE OF TUSCANY EGGRUN

Pick and mix CHOTTO MATTE

Grab the yummiest burgers at the new London opening dedicated to the humble egg, EggRun. Make it the Truffle Run (£10.95) with a 100% beef organic patty with fried egg, lettuce, cheddar, tomato and EggRun's secret truffle sauce, or go meat-free with the Beyond Run (£9.45). theeggrun.com

At Chotto Matte you experience the very best of Nikkei (Japanese and Peruvian) cuisine. The two cultures meet in the middle, with both sharing a deep appreciation for fresh ﬁsh and seasonal ingredients. With Japanese sushi and sashimi, and Peruvian ceviche, Nikkei is a true unique blend of these mouth-watering taste sensations. chotto-matte.com

IL BORRO TUSCAN BISTRO

Situated in the heart of Mayfair, this October Berkley Street welcomes the ﬁrst UK restaurant from the Ferragamo’s prestigious Il Borro Estate in Tuscany. This illustrious new opening is the perfect destination when you are wanting to escape and experience the beautiful valley of Valdarno. Promoting biodiversity and organic farming, you will experience the Ferragamo family’s ‘farm-to-table vision’. ilborrotuscanbistro.co.uk

YO U N G ’ S B U R G E R S H AC K S All about chin-dribblin’ burger and bun times, head to one of Young’s Burger Shacks across London and get stuck into their selection of patties, including the Loaded Burger (£12) – a double beef patty, slow cooked ox cheek, cheese, pink onions, and iceberg lettuce. youngs.co.uk/burger-shack

H E A R T

AND SOUL

Travel tastes AMAZÓNICO

Whilst most international travel is on hold, Amazonico in Berkeley Square is offering guests the chance to travel without having to leave the capital. The menu features over 14 newly created dishes, infused with inspiration from across the Amazon region. From the head chef’s family favourites to street food staples, Amazonico is elevating everyday dishes. amazonicorestaurant.com

THE DANDY BAR

H E L I OT ST E A K H O U S E Served within the luxurious Heliot Steak House, located in the famous Hippodrome Casino, find the Heliot Burger (£18). Sink your teeth into a soft brioche bun filled with the finest USDA beef patty stuffed with mature cheddar cheese and grilled oyster mushrooms topped with decadent truffle sauce, served with classic fries. hippodromecasino.com

Located at The Mayfair Townhouse, and bold in style, yet understated in nature, The Dandy Bar exudes the essence of a private club without the frills of membership. Enjoy artistic and expressive cocktails alongside the very best in well-loved classics. themayfairtownhouse.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“Inventive Japanese food with an emphasis on pretty presentation”

SUMI

Excellent and elegant Japanese in W11

B y PENDLE HARTE

otting Hill’s newest sushi restaurant is super stylish, expensive and buzzing. There’s terrace seating outside on Westbourne Grove, and inside it’s all blonde wood and Japandi style minimalism. We’re sitting at the back and something about the heatwave, the exciting menu and the novelty of eating out is creating the kind of atmosphere where diners talk to strangers at neighbouring tables. Everybody seems especially friendly and eager

FOOD Authentic yet inventive – and very pretty

to share thoughts about the food. And this food is pretty special (and also pretty pricey). Sumi is little sister to Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda, and the focus is on authentic yet inventive Japanese food with an emphasis on pretty presentation. First off we have cocktails: the house cocktail is Kawaii Ne, a foamy and unusually delicious blend of sake, gin, peach lychee and yuzu that comes with a flower on top. Our feast starts with sesame seaweed salad and edamame, both elegantly and neatly presented. Mushroom gohan comes in its own small lidded casserole and is served for us with

DECOR Minimal, stylish, contemporary

PRICE Sashimi from £8; Wagyu striploin £55

VERDICT Pricey but worth it

some ceremony, attracting further interest from neighbouring tables. It’s a sort of Japanese risotto, with exotic mushrooms and a crusty bottom layer. Flavours are intense and satisfying, as are our temaki dishes: we choose diced scallop with hanahokiso flowers, soy and salt, plus pickled carrot and mooli radish with smoked and fermented mooli, chives and sesame and soy dressing. Temaki comes as a single, finely crafted and geometric roll, beautiful but technically tricky to share. Chopped yellowtail temaki comes topped with mioga-shiso, white sesame and soy, a flawless fusion of sweet and salty. There are two puddings on the menu; we order both. Matcha mille is a bright green soft layered cake with a texture somewhere between sponge and mousse, while Sumi ice cream is slightly sandy with an intriguing sesame flavour. With food like this, Sumi is set for great things. SUMI 157 Westbourne Grove, W11; 020 4524 0880 sushisumi.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Veuve & Grooves AWARD WINNING BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE & SEVEN COURSE BRUNCH BY VEUVE CLICQUOT BRU N CH every Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm

Awarded the BEST ALFRESCO SPOT in South West London The Sanctuary by Yum Sa in Putney opens a fully climate controlled outdoor dining experience. Serving our signature Veuve & Grooves Champagne Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from noon onwards with music and a 7 course Modern Asian Menu All Thai’d Up. BY RESERVATION ONLY

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YUM SA RESTAURANT 3 plaza gardens 88 upper richmond road putney, sw15 2dt (opp east putney tube station)

WWW.YUM-SA.COM 020 3371 9111 #YUMSARESTAURANT 25/08/2021 11:56

FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“Smoked aubergine with tahini and thyme honey is the showstopper”

SUZI TROS Greek-inspired bistro Suzi Tros is a stylish neighbourhood favourite

B y PENDLE HARTE

illgate Village, behind Notting Hill Gate, is home to established Greek eaterie Mazi, known for its innovative ways with modern Greek cuisine. A few doors down is Suzi Tros, its little sister, smaller and with more cocktails. But the food’s just as serious and just as pretty, with a natural flair for beautifully served dishes. All ingredients come from sustainable sources and it’s a small, friendly spot.

FOOD Innovative and attractive

DECOR Cocktails are a speciality, designed to make up for not being on holiday in Greece: Summer in Hydra, for instance, is a refreshing mix of Ouzo, cucumber, honey and mint, while Coco Mykonos is a more decadent Malibu, Mastiha, pineapple and coconut cream. All wines and beers are Greek too. Foodwise, it’s the ubiquitous sharing plates idea, and we order six between the two of us. Tarama and blackened bread is delicious creamy beige tarama (pink is only for supermarkets) with a pretty splash of oil is subtly smoky and a touch of salty bottarga powder

Simoke, understated, elegant

PRICE Small dishes £6-£32; cocktails £12,

is spot on. Next there’s sea bream carpaccio with yellow chilli and tomato hearts, its translucent components elegantly arranged and intensely fresh. Smoked aubergine with tahini and thyme honey is the showstopper: a flattened half aubergine, caramelised and blackened, with the intriguing texture of tahini and honey sweetness. It’s unlike anything else. Also good is Greek salad with barrel-aged feta and crsipy Cretan rusks, while braised octopus wiht fava, caper and onion relish is meaty and sustantial. We weren’t sure that we’d be able to manage the last dish, billed as Grandmama’s Meatballs with tzatziki and pickled cucumber, but they were excellent and much more exciting than we expected – herby, juicy and delicious. For pudding we shared strained yoghurt mousse with fresh raspberries and strawberry crispies, which was much more creamy and decadent than it sounds, loaded with vanilla seeds and whipped to a sweet, indulgent froth. Suzi Tros, we salute you.

VERDICT

S UZ I T R O S

Almost better than an actual holiday

18 Hillgate Street, W8 suzitros.com

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ST Y LE Alex Head from The Social Pantry's recipes for Falcon Enamelware Wo r d s A L E X H E A D

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Brussel Sprout Taco with Smokey Chipotle Serves 6

INGREDIENTS •4 00g Brussel Sprouts, prepped and cut in half •2 tsp Chipotle Chilli Paste •3 tbsp Soured Cream •½ Red Onion • 1 00ml White Wine Vinegar •5 0ml Water •2 5g Sugar • 1 Lime, cut into wedges • 1 tsp Honey • 1 -2 Green Chilli, thinly sliced • 1 bunch Coriander, chopped •2 5g roasted Peanuts, roughly chopped •6 Small Tortilla Wraps •L ight Olive Oil •S ea Salt

METHOD 1 To make the pickling liquor, combine the vinegar, water and sugar in a small pan. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar before turning the heat up. When the pickling liquor comes to a simmer, remove from the heat. 2 Slice the red onion thinly from root to tip, place in a heatproof bowl and pour over the still warm liquor. Allow to cool at room temp. 3 To make the chipotle soured cream, mix 1 tsp of the chipotle paste into the soured cream and set aside. 4 In a non-stick frying pan, heat 2 tbsp oil on a medium-high heat and fry the brussels sprouts until golden, after 3-5 minutes add in a splash of water, 1 tsp Chipotle Paste and the honey. Mix well on the heat for another minute, then season well with sea salt. 5 Warm the tacos in a dry pan and drain the pickled red onion. 6 Build the tacos by layering up chipotle soured cream, sprouts, green chilli, red onion, coriander and finish with a squeeze of lime and chopped peanuts. 7 Enjoy!

METHOD

Roasted broccoli Steak

with Zero Waste Herb Stem Chimichurri Serves 8 – 10

INGREDIENTS •2 heads of broccoli • 1 banana shallot, finely diced •2 green chilli, finely diced • 1 bunch parsley, chopped • 1 tsp red wine vinegar •3 tsp olive oil for the dressing, plus extra to cook the broccoli •M aldon salt •2 5g toasted sunflower seeds, roughly chopped •5 0g fresh spinach leaves

1 Cut each broccoli in half directly through the stalk. Then cut down the side to trim off excess florets so that the steak sits flat as a piece. Keep the trimmings and set aside. 2 Mix together the shallot, green chilli, parsley and sunflower seeds, season with lemon zest, juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt. Set aside. 3 Preheat the oven to 160C fan and heat up a griddle pan until it is really hot. 4 Cook the broccoli trimmings in a little veg stock until soft, drain (reserving the liquid) and blend with the spinach to keep it a bright green. Season and place in a bowl over ice to cool down as quickly as possible. 5 Once the grill is hot, drizzle the broccoli with a little oil and salt and chargrill the broccoli steaks until they have deep black lines on either side. Place on a baking tray on baking paper and cook in the oven for 8-10 minutes. 6 To serve the broccoli steaks, spoon on some broccoli puree, and chimichurri and garnish.

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INGREDIENTS

Wild Rice with Sautéed leeks, Green beans, Summer Pea and Pesto (salad) Serves 8 – 10

• 2 cups wild rice • 6 cups of water • Maldon salt • 1 large leek • 250g green beans • 1 pack, frozen peas • 1 tub green pesto • 1 bag rocket

METHOD 1 Firstly, rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs completely clear. Place the rice and cover with 3x as much water and 1 tsp salt; using cups is an easy way to measure. 2 Cover with a lid and place on a medium-high heat, bring to a

simmer and cook for 40-45 minutes. 3 Meanwhile, slice the leek and sauté slowly in a pan with olive oil and salt until soft 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool. 4 Prepare a bowl of iced water. 5 Put a pan of salted water onto the boil, prep the green beans and asparagus tips, and blanch for 2 minutes. Add the frozen peas right at the end for 30 seconds and drain. Refresh in the iced water. 6 When ready to mix the salad, coat the wild rice in the pesto, mix in the cooked, cooled veg. 7 Add rocket and serve.

falconenamelware.com

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

DRINKS CABINET What to drink this month By PENDLE HARTE

REVIEW

KEY NOTES N O. 3 G I N No.3 Gin’s refreshing balance of juniper, citrus and spice makes it the perfect addition to this season’s drinking occasions. As the only gin to have been awarded World’s Best Gin four times, No.3 promises a superior taste experience, every time. From garden parties to sundowners, these crisp cocktails are bursting with flavour, simple to make, and sure to impress.

£36; no3gin.com

FRENCH SPRITZ ST G E R M A I N Known as the 'barman's ketchup' for its versatility, St Germain is said to improve any cocktail. This elegant elderflower liqueur contains as many as 1,000 elderflowers per bottle and it makes a mean spritz.

Cocktail o’clock

The Mayfair Townhouse x Acqua dei Parma By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

he super stylish Dandy Bar in The Mayfair Townhouse is mixing cocktails inspired by a new partnership between Möet Hennessey and Acqua di Parma. Named for the dandy characters of Mayfair’s past and present, the enigmatic yet intimately cosy atmosphere of the Dandy Bar is an exceptional space in which to sit back and be whisked off to somewhere magical. Effervescent Italian bar manager Pierpaolo Monaco has carefully created a selection of new cocktails inspired by the summer fragrances of Acqua di Parma's Blu Mediterraneo range and the liqueurs and champagnes of Möet Hennessy, including the Amalfi (paired with Fico di Amalfi), Calabria (paired with Bergamotto di Calabria), and Capri (paired with Arancia di Capri). You will also receive a complimentary sample of each fragrance and an invitation for a complimentary fragrance consultation at the Acqua di Parma Barbershop at Selfridges, complete with a special gift.

AMALFI COCKTAIL RECIPE

£25.99; stgermain.fr

CAUSE A STIR

LO C K D OW N L I Q U O R New to Lockdown Liquor's fold of smallbatch, premium blended cocktails is the delicious lychee Martini - silky, not too sweet nor too strong, it's a joy to sip. Add a whole lychee for the full effect..

£25 for 500ml; lockdown-liquor.com

Pour the below ingredients: - 30ml Sabatini Gin - 25ml Mancino Amaranto - 25ml Fig Liquor (Brand from Ischia Island) - 4 Drops of Coffee Been • Top off with Soda. • Serve in a champagne coupe and enjoy. THE MAYFAIR TOWNHOUSE 27-41 Half Moon Street, W1 themayfairtownhouse.com

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FA S H I O N

ASK ALEXA

MULBERRY X ALEXA CHUNG

Mulberry has launched an exciting new design collaboration with a long-time friend of the house and the woman who inspired one of its most iconic bags: Alexa Chung. Mulberry x Alexa Chung is the latest chapter in Mulberry Editions, in which collaborators make their mark on the house’s design DNA. mulberry.com

The shoot: late summer with Paolita 38 • Jewellery: heavy metals 46 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INDIAN Summer Catch the season's last rays with Paolita

P A O L I TA . C O . U K

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Our appointment book is now open, just go to ameliesfollies.co.uk and use the Book a Fitting button. We will operate by appointment only for the foreseeable future. We can’t wait to see you all.

GIFT VOUCHER AND GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE LINGERIE • NIGHTWEAR • SWIMWEAR BEACHWEAR • NURSING BRAS

34 Webb’s Road, London SW11 6SF

Lingerie and swimwear from A to J cup (size 8 to 20)

www.ameliesfollies.co.uk | ameliesfollies@yahoo.com

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Q&A

Home and

AWAY Shoe designer Olivia Morris is done with heels and has switched her focus to slippers. Absolutely quizzes her Interview PENDLE HARTE Q How did the At Home collection happen? A I just really love being at home! My life

revolves around my home in St Leonards on Sea. Raising my young family, I’ve always worked from home for various periods of my career and I socialise here. There’s nothing I love more than having friends over for drinks or supper or an impromptu kitchen disco. A love of interiors is probably deeply ingrained – my Mum trained as an interior designer when I was a little girl and I remember stippling our bathroom wall at home with kitchen roll in the 80s. Also, home is very much a sanctuary for me, even more so in the times we are all living through and I have a true love of colour, texture and wallpaper. Combine that with a fascination with flora and fauna and it makes for an eclectic combination that makes me happy. After 20 years of having my own collection, and then working in London, I wanted to do something a little bit different that combined all of the above. It now seems a simple equation....shoes plus interiors = slippers! Q Why slippers? A Because I’m genuinely done with heels!

I’ve always loved flats and I felt there wasn’t anything comfortable and chic that

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FASHION • Q&A

I could wear at home, or going to friends’ houses. I was also aware after 20 years in the industry, that the designer market is flooded with incredible dress shoes. I wanted to design something unique and find a niche part of the market to explore. Slippers have given me the opportunity to combine my passions and I’ve created something that you can pack for a weekend away, a hotel stay, dinner or drinks at friends' houses or garden parties. The collection has leather soles, so it’s very much indoor/outdoor – or as I have started to call it ‘at home and away’. Q What materials do you work with? A I have a huge collection of vintage textiles

that I select from each season for limited edition small batches. I am working hard to be sustainable as a business, so when buying fabrics from suppliers I work as local as possible with my family-run factory in Spain, and I’m drawn to pure-blend, high quality materials like the cotton terry and cotton velvets which are made in the same village as my factory and are becoming my seasonless best-sellers.

“It now seems a simple equation.... shoes plus interiors = slippers” Q Do you still design shoes? A I cant get away from it I suppose....

that’s why I call them House Shoes. They are constructed like a shoe, but I’ve worked closely with the factory in product development to make them as comfortable as possible, without sacrificing the style element. For example, I use memory foam footbeds and lightweight cork wedges, all part of what you don’t see, but what makes them super soft and comfortable. Q What inspires your aesthetic? A I have great fun researching incredible

and eclectic women from decades past and these form a huge part of my inspiration and I get such a great reaction

when I share these with my clients. I think a little fantasy goes a long way, but for my collection I also consider how women live their lives at home now and how they want to feel good for themselves, not just when they go out. And as I mentioned, colour, texture, florals are a constant. Q Who is the Olivia Morris woman? A I think she’s a modern-day woman with an

eclectic twist. She likes a nod to nostalgia, but is looking forward in her life. Also, I think my new customer is searching for quality and investment, for something new and original because she’s an individual and unique. On a practical level, dressing is about making life as simple as possible and these are no fuss and easy to slip on. Q Are you always glamorous at home? A No! But I am busy and I need things to

be as simple as possible when its comes to my wardrobe so that there’s less to think about when time is of the essence. I definitely dress from the feet up: slipping on a pair of slippers and throwing on a dress (vinatge, kaftan or kimono – or, coming soon, my collab House Dress with Valerie Goad) is my go-to, with a big knit cardi and socks in winter. And then for dressing up, all I need to add is red lipstick. OLIVIA MORRIS Olivia Morris at Home is at taking over the gallery at Anthropologie, 131-141 King’s Road SW3 from 16 to 26 September. oliviamorrisathome.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

FASHION • JEWELLERY

Heavy Hardware It's the season of chains, bangles and chunky rings By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

PHINE

EDGE OF EMBER

TOHUM DESIGN

Forever interlinked earrings, £149, phine.london

Veneto chunky chain bracelet, £175 edgeofember.com

Dunya Sumba ring, £188, tohumdesign.com

EDGE OF EMBER

SANDRA ALEXANDRA

PHINE

Luxor statement gold ring, £155 edgeofember.com

Chilli earrings, £150, sandraalexandra.com

Spike ear cuff, £99, phone.london

TOHUM DESIGN

TADA & TOY

ALIGHIERI

Pure light medium globe choker necklace, £440 tohumdesign.com

Celestial hoops, £125, tadaandtoy.com

The Flashback ring, £195, alighieri.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

LIP SERVICE BITE BEAUTY Sought after beauty brand Bite has launched in the UK to give skin minimalism a whole new aesthetic. It's a clean, highperforming beauty range fuelled by superfood ingredients to provide all the things our skin craves.. bitebeauty.com

Beauty notes 51 • Professional products 53 • Fitness notes 57 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

REVIEW

EDITOR’S PICK

PERFECT

Blend

Headmasters Mayfair reviewed

p l s LO N D O N ™

B y A N A B E L A KO L E C I

September is the perfect time for a hair transformation, and it has never been easier with the help of plsLONDON™. The brand stocks Russian Remy cuticle hair – the finest hair extensions on the market, for a seamless and smooth finish that effortlessly blends in with your own hair.

plshair.co.uk

Skin Renewal R O C S K I N CA R E

Every skin minimalist should have their go-to selection of products that always delivers, and no skincare routine is complete without RoC. With their re-entry to the UK market, they offer a wide range of treatments via their innovative products. We highly recommend the RoC routine. rocskincare.com

EYE C O N TAC T CHANEL

The art of self-expression is encouraged with Chanel’s 2021 edition of The Eye Collection, by way of ultra-resistant, longwearing products. Highlighting our eyes is a way of enhancing our natural beauty, keeping things simple with the skin and asserting your personality on the eye.

TOP CLASS

s I entered Headmasters I was greeted by the friendly receptionist and offered refreshments. The salon was immaculate with a relaxed atmosphere. Luke, my stylist, sat with me to assess the condition of my hair and find out what I would like to achieve. I showed him pictures and listened to his recommendations on what he thought would be best, but in the end we made all decisions together, including what kind of colour and cut to go for. Since the condition of my hair was completely wrecked after years of box dyes and bleaching, Luke explained he would be doing Olaplex and Protein treatments to help restore the broken bonds. After our discussion we got straight into it and he proceeded to colour my hair, explaining everything he was doing thoroughly at each stage. The colouring lasted a couple of hours, first with babylights for a lovely contour followed by freehand balayage and toners to create dimension and depth. I had a myriad of nourishing and restorative treatments including Olaplex 1 & 2, the new metal detox from L’Oreal, and Kerastase nectar thermique. During my treatment, Luke took his time to explain post-bleach aftercare. After the colouring and treatments, Luke finished with a gorgeous cut and blow dry, getting rid of all my dead ends and completely reviving my hair with soft layers to create movement. I left the salon feeling like a celebrity with my full head of balayage and bouncy blowout. HEADMASTERS

12 Maddox Street, W1S 1PG headmasters.com

chanel.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Protect Your Immune System While Losing Weight

The Natural Formula for Weight Loss and Wellbeing Simply Because it Works.

Supporting your wellbeing and losing weight may be a lot easier than you think, with Germany's No.1 meal replacement1 and ‘Most Trusted Weight Loss Brand 2020’2.

With over 30 years of scientific research, Almased® remains at the forefront of healthy, effective weight loss and optimum wellbeing. Recent clinical studies have shown that consuming Almased® not only results GERMANY’S in significant weight reduction, but also improves detrimental SELLING inflammatory markers in the body MEAL REPLACEMENT FOR WEIGHT LOSS and subsequently, immune health4.

NO.1

Made with a calorie-controlled, plant based, natural formula, Almased® contains a nourishing blend of soya, yogurt, enzyme-rich honey, all teeming with vitamins and minerals. Almased®’s ingredients combine synergistically to provide your body with superior levels of nutrition, all while optimising your immune system3, enabling you to feel your best while losing weight.

020 3463 9769

Incorporating Almased® into a balanced diet will strengthen your immunity long after your weight loss goal has been achieved. Achieve your very own weight loss and wellbeing goal with Almased®’s 14-Day or Long-Term Plan. Lose weight, keep it off and feel great!

nutritionist@almased.co.uk

• Greater calorie and fat loss vs a normal 2,000 calorie diet5. • Reduces body fat without loss of essential muscle6. • Clinically proven weight loss vs a fat-restricted low calorie diet7. • Low glycaemic index and glycaemic load. Improves glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes8. • Supports healthy immune system. Packed full of antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamin C and zinc3. • Backed by science. 30 years of scientifically proven results. • Contributes to weight loss when replacing 2 daily meals*. • Maintains weight after weight loss by replacing one daily meal. • Natural. Contains no gluten, artificial flavours, fillers, stimulants or preservatives. • Suitable for... vegetarians, sports enthusiasts and those with diabetes.

www.almased.co.uk

Almased UK

® 1. Euromonitor International (2020). 2. Reader’s Digest. Trusted Brands 2020. Germany. 3. Vitamin C and Zinc contribute to the normal function of the immune system. 4. Kempf, K et al (2021). Nutrients, 13: 1-12. 5. Oliveira, C et al (2020). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 00:1–12. 6. Deibert, P et al (2004). Intl. Journal of Obesity; 28(10):1349-52. 7. König, D et al (2008). Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism; 52(1):74-78. 8. Kempf, K et al (2017) Diabetes Care; Jul 40(7): 863-87. *Substituting two daily meals of an energy restricted diet with meal replacements contributes to weight loss.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND

CHANEL Au Ritz body massage oil, £175 chanel.com

AURELIA LONDON Botanical brightening mist, £42 aurelialondon.com

EVE LOM Cleanser, £160 harrods.com

OLEHENRIKSEN Dewtopia 20% acid night treatment £46 boots.com

EDITOR’S PICK

OLEHENRIKSEN Phat glow facial, £42 boots.com

REVIVE ReVolve contouring massage roller, £115 reviveskincare.com

CBII Muscle balm, £29 cbii-cbd.com

EXPERT TOUCH

AESOP Parsley seed anti-oxidant intense serum, £55 aesop.com

The best products to bring that luxury spa touch into the home By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

ALUMIERMD

CHANEL

Everactive C&E peptide serum, £149 alumiermd.co.uk

Le Lift flash eye revitalizer firming – anti-wrinkle, £105 chanel.com

COMFORT ZONE Sublime skin lift & firm ampoules, £45 lookfantastic.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Lu x u r y U n i s ex Wra p s a S c a r v e s i n n at u ra l y a r n s

...stay SAFE, SNUG & STYLISH In our new world of meeting outdoors more often...

Bridesmaids Tasell Wraps made to order in any colour

NOT JUST ANOTHER SCARVES COMPANY

WE CARE ABOUT THE MATERIALS

WE CARE ABOUT THE COLOURS

We also offer a unique Colour Analysis Service using the ancient elements of Earth-Wind-Fire-Water

All our products are made from 100% natural yarns: Cashmere, Llama, Alpaca, Merino Wool and more

Wearing the right colours from your own unique colour palette will bring joy. You will be in your element

website: www.entulisso.co.uk CAMBERG.indd 1

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • COMPETITION

SHAKE IT OFF

Win £120 of Almased products including their new face cream, plus a blender worth £80

lmased, Germany’s No 1* meal replacement for healthy sustainable weight loss, is supported by more than 30 years of scientific research and trusted by millions of customers worldwide. It is a high protein, calorie-controlled meal replacement, made with a blend of three high-quality ingredients: non-GMO soya, premium yogurt and enzyme-rich honey. It is packed full of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals to support a healthy immune system1. Importantly, Almased also contains more hunger-beating protein than

“Incorporating Almased into a balanced diet will support healthy weight loss” any other meal replacement in the UK. Recent scientific studies have shown that when compared to a normal 2,000-a-day calorie diet, Almased resulted in a greater number of calories being used over 24 hours, and a

greater amount of body fat loss2. Incorporating Almased into a balanced diet will support healthy weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. It’s easy to prepare, nourishing and perfect for any lifestyle. Experience the Almased effect and begin your own weight loss journey today. Its delicious range is available from Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Amazon. For your chance to win, visit absolutely.london/win-almased almased.co.uk * Euromonitor International (2019) 1. Vitamin C and Zinc contribute to the normal function of the immune system. 2. Oliveira, C et al (2020). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 00:1–12.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

TOP

PICKS YOUR NEXT WORKOUT FIX

FITNESS NOTES

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

P I L AT E S Hollie Grant, award-winning Pilates instructor and founder of Pilates PT, has shared some of the theory behind the key aspects of Pilates that is extremely useful for beginners to understand. Absolutely recommends checking out all the do’s and don'ts on her website. pilatespt.co.uk

R E S I S TA N C E T R A I N I N G Tash Lankester, PT & Peach for the Beach trainer at FLEX Chelsea, explains that there are huge benefits to resistance training: “It builds strength, muscle and increases bone density. Strength leads to improvements in posture, reduces the risk of injuries and aids in pain management in older age." flexchelsea.com

CYCLE WIT H SO UL Five reasons why you should try a spin class LOW IMPACT, HIGH INTENSITY

BARRE Inspired by the elements of ballet, yoga and Pilates, barre focuses on low-impact, high-intensity movements designed to strengthen the body in ways that workouts neglect. London is blessed with choice of venues to enjoy this, but we recommend Barrecore. barrecore.com

Spinning is the ideal physical remedy if you are recovering from an injury/surgery, or just like to take things a little more gently. A dance class on a bike is the best description to attach to spinning, working both your upper body, arms and core, while forgetting you’re doing all the hard work that the latter brings.

STRESS RELIEF If you affected by stress, it can in some cases by relayed into our muscles. Exercise has been

scientifically proven to reduce stress, focusing both your mind and body, helping you to focus on just one thing – or in some cases, nothing – and to just let go of everything. With some fun dance moves on the bike and some rhythmic tunes, spinning really does beat the stress out of the room.

PUSH YOURSELF With spinning, you set your own pace and are encouraged to push your limits at your own pace. There is no hierarchy of expertise in spin, it’s a ‘who wants to work out and

have fun’ expectation. No intimidation and no levels.

MUSCLE DEFINITION There are many advantages to spin, but one of the main ones is the increase in muscle definition in your legs and core. Every part of your body is on the move throughout a spin class; legs, arms, core all engaging with one another. If you’re wanting to tone up your legs/core, but really do not want to go near the weight section, spin and a healthy diet is your alternative.

HAVE FUN The aim in spin is to simply put the fun back into exercising. You know it’s great when you finish the ride wondering where the time went. You will feel that serotonin rush flooding through you while you cycle – and have a singalong to boot, too. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS

H OT D ES K J O N AT H A N A D L E R

Working from home is no reason to give up on style, as Jonathan Adler's Channing Desk shows. The name says it all: a reference to Margo Channing, Bette Davis's character in All About Eve. The sleek silhouette is fabulous for a small space. £1,950. jonathanadler.com

Interior inspirations 60 • Fabulous home gadgets 77 • Garden offices 79 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS NOT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home By PENDLE HARTE

SILK CUT BEAUVAMP

BeauVamp is an independent, British lighting brand specialising in traditional hand stitched, silk lampshades, combining traditional sewing techniques with vintage-inspired design and contemporary style. Founder Alice offers a completely new take on the old fashioned lampshade, drawing and designing her own shapes into humble, hand-sewn lampshades of the early 1900s. beauvamp.com

MAN OF PARTS

The Man of Parts collection is intended to reflect a contemporary way of living, rather than a single aesthetic and features products by a selection of the world's leading designers including Yabu Pushelberg, whose Via del Corso chair is a mix of soft curves and lightness on floating feet. manofparts.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS • NOTES

TA K E FIVE Cutlery sets CIELSHOP Gold cutlery place set, £25 cielshopinteriors.com

WA R M UP

SHINE ON ORIGINAL BTC

Pebble is a new statement pendant handcrafted in Stoke on Trent from the finest bone china. Combining centuries-old manufacturing techniques with the latest in technology, this is an intricate and intriguing piece. £1,499 originalbtc.com

CASTRADS

There's no more stylish heater than Castrads' Mercury 4 Column radiator in beaten brass with Windsor valves and Whitworth wall stays. Though there are lots of equally stylish colours and finishes to choose from too. castrads.com

HOUSE DOCTOR Ox titanium cutlery, from £8 quinceandcook.co.uk

CULT FURNITURE Four piece cutlery set in copper, £39 cultfurniture.com

COX & COX Cutlery set in gold, £65 coxandcox.co.uk

IN THE LEAD WATT WATT

REBECCA UDALL Four piece bamboo handle cutlery set, £68 rebeccaudall.com

Sick of ugly extension leads? We all are. The solution come from Wattwatt, who have designed a range of colourful, pretty ones in endless combinations. Chunky cloth braided cables and premium plugs will look good even tangled. From £36. watt-watt.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • TREND ERCOL Forli chaise, £3,185 ercol.com

HEAVENLY HOMES & GARDENS Orange cotton runner, £62 heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk

COSY COCO Khatim rug, £396 cosycoco.com

MADE BY HAND One-off Penguin Books jug, £45 madebyhandonline.com

MADE TO LAST Hipster pendant light, £190 made-to-last.co.uk

THE HAPPY BLOSSOMS Origami vase, £33 thehappyblossoms.com

EDITOR’S PICK

AUDENZA Lola curvaceous velvet armchair, £657 audenza.com

HK LIVING Ceramic 70s noodle bowl, £11 folkinteriors.co.uk

HUBSCH Orange and black glass bowl, £19 fiveanddime-interiors.com

EDITOR’S PICK

BURNT ORANGE

LIGNE ROSET Pukka lounge chair, £1,605 chaplins.co.uk

The shade of the moment By P E N D L E H A R T E

THE RUG RETAILER Oh So Sisco Burnt Orange by Matthew Williamson, £645 therugretailer.co.uk

LIVING IT UP Arthur bed, £989 livingitup.co.uk

ROOM FOR ROOTS Bohemian hanging planter, £11 roomforroots.co.uk

BOMBAY DUCK Picado Embroidered Cushion £58 orangefrogboutique.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • PLANTS

P L A N T P O S T

FIVE OF THE BEST PLANT SUBSCRIPTIONS

R A R E B LO O M S B E A R D S & DA I S I E S

Each month subscribers will receive a plant from Beards & Daisies' collection of rare, unusual or simply stunning indoor houseplants along with a perfectly fitting ceramic plant pot. £24.99 per month beardsanddaisies.co.uk

LO O K S H A R P

BA R RYS CAC T U S C L U B

Join Barry's Cactus Club and you'll get a cactus or succulent in the post every month, plus a pot and an information card, and a special little surprise too. £15 per month. barryscactusclub.com

GLASS ART

U R B A N B O TA N I S T

Build up a terrarrium with Urban Botanist. You'll receive one beautifully potted low maintenance plant per month, and in the annual plan you will receive a fully assembled terrarium three months of the year. £30 per month urbanbotanist.co.uk

2 4

P OT H E A D

B L O OM B OX C LU B

With Bloombox, you’ll enjoy a unique plant, a perfectly fitting pot and educational materials delivered monthly. Plants come in a range of sizes (12-17cm) so you'll have a diverse collection. £39 per month. bloomboxclub.com

C O L L EC T P LU S LEAF ENVY

Carefully curated to help you build a unique collection of beautiful seasonal plants for your home. Leaf Envy's service includes a surprise plant and bespoke pot each month, plus a care card. £35 per month leafenvy.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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LIFE in COLOUR 66

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS • HOUSE TOUR

At home with designer Cath Beckett, founder of Yellow Interiors Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T P h o t o g r a p h y M A T T C L AY T O N

ath Beckett founded interior design studio Yellow London together with Liv Wallers and their trademark is to create captivating and comfortable interiors layered with colour and pattern. Beckett’s own home is a small, two-bedroom flat in Notting Hill, where she has masterfully designed the interiors to express her personality. Confident layering of bold fabrics, bright colours, antique furniture, family heirlooms, bespoke pieces and flea-market finds all come together with humour and warmth. Colourful fabrics are a starting point for Cath and her design scheme leaves no corner untouched. The living room includes two 1950 bentwood armchairs reupholstered in a striking zig-zag fabric

by Teyssier Hawskwood, which sit either side of the fireplace and set the tone for the room and create the main focal point. Pink walls complement an Andrew Martin sofa in a darker pink velvet by de Le Cuona, beside a scalloped ottoman designed by Cath and upholstered in cream Lelièvre boucle. Cath incorporated piping for the cushions in a lilac silk with Samuel and Sons trims. Adding to the layered look and unafraid to mix pattern and colour, Cath added blinds in a pink and red Ottoline de Vries fan print. A pair of horse lamps, a family heirloom passed down to Cath from her grandmother, add personality to the room. The small but high impact dining room is a standout feature of the flat, covered wall to ceiling in Pierre Fray’s Plein Eté wallpaper - a bold and bright pattern that adds a powerful punch of fun into the room. This cocoon of colour features an orange table and bench from Newark Antiques Market which pairs A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • HOUSE TOUR

comfortably with the maximalist patterns. The patterned wallpaper in the hall by Whiteworks/Jet fabrics provides a similar effect. The fine detail and colour captures the depth and freshness of Jet’s original hand-drawn designs. Cath and Liv visited the Svenskt Tenn showroom when they were working on a project in Stockholm which is where Cath found the Josef Frank fabric for her headboard, depicting cheering colourful tulip blooms. This was the initial starting point for the bedroom, and it ties in perfectly with the bespoke red lacquer bedside tables and the dressing table with a skirt in Ottoline Happy People fabric. The mix of patterns and different shades creates a characterful but restful bedroom space. The chest of drawers is from Newark Antiques Market, and the mirror Cath owned from before. With the bed already in the spare room, Cath found the glass globe lights from Oliver Bonas which are the perfect eye-catching lights that break up the neutral hues of the room. The lampshade from Alice Palmer picks up the pink tones throughout the house and helps to lighten up the room. The colourful, joyful vibe continues through to the bathroom, which is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue, a fresh backdrop for Otto’s high impact Rainbow Stripes Encaustic cement tiles and Cath’s collection of framed vintage prints. As with all Yellow London’s work, Cath has ensured all the rooms sit comfortably together as well as having their own individual character, whether that be from the colour schemes, use of pattern or through the textures and bespoke furniture chosen.

“Cath found the Josef Frank fabric for her headboard in Stockholm”

yellowlondon.com

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INTERIORS • TREND THE VINTAGE LIST Champagne saucers with fern design, £79 for six thevintagelist.co.uk

KAYU HOME Yala hammered wine glass, set of four, £36.95 kayuhome.co.uk

NATALIA WILLMOTT Pair of red cut glasses, £56 nataliawillmott.co.uk

POLKRA Set of six handblown coloured glass tumblers, £42 polkra.com

PASOLUNA Pink recycled glass handmade wine glass, set of two, £19.95 pasoluna.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

TOM DIXON Puck coupe glass, £70 for two tomdixon.net

FERM LIVING Ripple champagne saucers, set of two, £39 utilitydesign.co.uk

SIR/MADAM Rialto glass coupe set of two, £60 iamfy.co

RAISE THE BAR All the loveliest glasses for sipping from

EDITOR’S PICK

By P E N D L E H A R T E

HAY Tint tumblers, set of two, £25 hay.dk

BROSTE Smoke White Wine Glass set of four, £44 silvermushroom.com

SUNDAY LIVING Rose cocktail glass, £12.50 sundayliving.co.uk

CASA CELVA Murano shot glass, £38 for four casacelva.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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B E OV I S I O N CO N TO U R BEU OP VG I SRIA ODNE CYO ON RM E E N T E R TA I N M E N T UTROHUO U P G R A D E YO U R H O M E E N T E R TA I N M E N T

REMASTERING R E M A S T E R I NTGH E H O M E CRI N EM AA S TEEX RPI N EM EG RIENCE T HSOTMEER ICNIG N E M A E X P ETRHI E NHCOEM E C I N E M A E X P E R I E N C E RH EE MA

T Hfrom E H O M E CThe I N Ecustomisable M A E X P E R home I E N Ccinema E At first sight, the timeless design declares iconic refinement. And experience delivers vivid At first sight, the timeless design declares And from the moment you turn it on, the 48” OLEDiconic screenrefinement. and award-wining sound The customisable homeclarity, cinema experience vivid The home cinema sound. experience d image and a customisable superiordelivers range of dynamic is it indeed a Bang & Olufsen television experience. the confirm momentthat youthis turn on, the 48” OLED screen and award-wining image clarity, and a superior of dynamic sound. image clarity, and a superior range of dynam Thesound customisable home cinema experience delivers vivid Flexibility to range build and expand your system over time.

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

BEAUTIFUL OAK-AGED PARQUET FLOORING BY THE NATURAL WOOD FLOORING COMPANY ADDS WARMTH AND TEXTURE TO A LARGE, OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN AND LIVING SPACE. EXTREMELY FORGIVING EVEN IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS OF THE HOME DUE TO ITS HIGH DURABILITY, THE REAL WOOD PARQUET FLOOR SETS THE TONE FOR THE WHOLE SPACE, PERFECTLY BLENDING OLD WITH NEW FOR A TIMELESS FINISH.

INTO THE

WOOD

Nothing can beat real wood for adding warmth and character to the home, says the director of The Natural Wood Floor Company By PETER KEANE

hanging the flooring will give any room in the home an instant facelift, with wood being an excellent choice for bringing nature indoors and adding warmth as autumn rolls around. Wood flooring is a very practical choice, being easy to clean and maintain so ideal for the busy family home, but also extremely versatile aesthetically. Wood flooring will sit comfortably in any style of property and is suitable for virtually any room in the home, from hallways to kitchens. While the temptation can be to opt for wood-effect flooring to help keep costs down, nothing quite beats the real thing, with engineered wood flooring creating a high-end finish that is surprisingly simple to care for and extremely durable. Historically, solid flooring was the primary choice for interiors, but this option is not suitable for environments with high humidity and can’t be used with underfloor heating. Needing to be screwed or nailed to the sub floor, solid flooring can also prove tricky and time consuming to fit, making it a bit of a headache for a refurbishment A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CREATE A WARM AMBIENCE ALL YEAR ROUND WITH REAL WOOD FLOORING BENEATH YOUR FEET. SHOWN IS OAK ANTIQUE BROWN BY THE NATURAL WOOD FLOOR CO.

project. Engineered boards, on the other hand, can be fitted in most rooms in the house and can be floated or fixed to most types of subfloor together with an underlay. An engineered board has up to 11 layers of plywood backing, with each layer glued at a 90-degree angle to the adjoining layer. The surface layer of a precious hardwood is then glued on top, resulting in a much more stable floor with a robust construction, which can be used with underfloor heating too, so your real wood floor is as warm to walk on as it is to look at. Once laid, keeping wood flooring looking as good as new is straightforward too; a combination of dry cleaning to remove dirt

and dust particles, and damp cleaning to protect it against scratches is all that is needed for a lacquered or oiled floors. For weekly cleaning, a capful of concentrate mixed with water and applied with a damp mop will suffice, while to refresh the look and lustre annually in the high traffic areas use a concentrated polish, again applied with water and a damp mop.

THE NATURAL WOOD FLOOR COMPANY ENGINEERED OAK HAS COOL, NEUTRAL TONES WHICH COMBINE THE BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD WITH AN UP-TO-DATE AND MODERN TWIST. FEATURING A LIGHTLY BRUSHED SURFACE, A SUBTLE OIL WORKS WITH THE WOOD TO HIGHLIGHT ITS DISTINCTIVE GRAIN PATTERNS.

T H E N AT U R A L WO O D C O M PA N Y Chosen well and with the right care, this is a flooring option that will look the part for many years. For more details visit naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL FLOORING BY THE NATURAL WOOD FLOORING COMPANY ADDS WARMTH AND TEXTURE TO A LARGE, OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN AND LIVING SPACE. EXTREMELY FORGIVING EVEN IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS OF THE HOME DUE TO ITS HIGH DURABILITY, THE REAL WOOD PARQUET FLOOR SETS THE TONE FOR THE WHOLE SPACE, PERFECTLY BLENDING OLD WITH NEW FOR A TIMELESS FINISH.

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CURTAIN CALL INSPIRED INTERIORS Our redesigned and extended showroom is now open, incorporating a large Luxaflex design studio showing the latest motorised blinds, nestled alongside nearly new curtains and a huge choice of fabrics to be made to measure as curtains and blinds Please call for Showroom appointments

Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5pm • Closed Wed from 1pm 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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INTERIORS • GADGETS

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FA N C LU B

DY S O N

This is the fan to trump all others. Dyson's Pure Cool Me not only looks stylish with its curves and slick finish, but it's almost silent as it both cools and purifies the air around it, capturing particles and releasing clean air into the room. £299.99 dyson.com

H O M E T E C H

ALL THE BEST NEW GADGETS

DUST BUST BISSELL

Deep-cleaning your carpet is easier than ever thanks to Bissell's lightweight and compact PowerClean. Its powerful brush works the cleaning solution deep into stains, revealing a whole new freshness. £149.99 bisselldirect.com

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JUST ASK L AVA Z Z A

Lavazza's Voicy is the first coffee machine to come with Alexa built in. So not only is it "Alexa, make me a double espresso," but also "Alexa, do we need more coffee pods?" and even "Alexa, play my playlist". Just wow. £249 lavazza.co.uk

GET FRESH B R AU N

The new FreshUp is a whole new concept, a dinky handheld device that uses plasma technology to freshen fabrics between washes. It will remove smells with a wave of its magic purple light, and it's portable and rechargeable. £249 bosch-home.co.uk

SOUND OFF B R AU N

Braun Audio has reinvented their classic Dieter Rahms speakers from 1959, with a range made up of three premium hi-fi speakers with google assistant built in. The portable LE03 comes in black or white, £349 braun-audio.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • HOME/WORK

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

C A B I N F E V E R Are garden offices the future for the UK workforce?

By B R O O K E M AC D O N A L D

hen it comes to our work life, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted all our lives in one way or another. For those in occupations were working from home is possible, this became the new norm in 2020 and still continues in 2021. But as we see life gradually return to normal, many of us are keen to get back to the office and away from the confines of our home. With this said, reports suggest that the pandemic has shown many businesses that

having employees work from home comes with many financial and physical benefits attached, raising the question of if remote working will be the new norm in the future. However, who is to say that working remotely is limited to the same four walls of our living room? With remote working in question, we discuss the rise in the garden office trend and look at whether these are gradually shaping the future of the working world. Garden offices, also referred to as garden rooms, are a separate building detached from your main home and are designed to create a comfortable and professional space for work. Other than A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Since 1989

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E-mail: sales@batheandbeyond.com Monday - Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm

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helping to create a divide between your home and office life, garden rooms can be transformed into a quiet and tranquil place to escape to – especially when the UK’s lockdown rules have limited us to the same four walls of our home. Recent search data collected between April 2020 and April 2021 finds that garden office-related terms have dramatically increased in popularity. The term ‘garden office shed’ increased by 200 per cent, along with the term ‘garden office pod’ increasing by 180 per cent, proving many people have taken an interest in the garden room trend. So, why invest in a garden office? There are many reasons why remote workers are opting for this over their main home as a place to work, and here, we discuss a few of them. It’s a given that working from your garden saves both money and time on commuting. No one likes spending time stuck in traffic or dedicating an unnecessary amount of money towards fuel every month, so with home working both of these can be avoided. It even benefits the environment too. Sometimes, having a structured working hours schedule gets in the way

“GARDEN OFFICES ALLOW US TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE WHEN BALANCING HOME AND WORK”

of our life outside of work. Although jobs should always be set as a priority, garden offices allow us to be more flexible when it comes to balancing work life with home life. For those with children especially, spending as much time with them as you can and being part of their everyday life is something every parent wants. So, working from your garden makes this easier to do, unlike working from an office. Anyone who has worked in an office environment before will know that sometimes it can be difficult to concentrate on a task with numerous other conversations going on around you.

From catch-ups in the kitchen to phone calls being made every few minutes, it’s not always easy to focus with so much going on around you. With garden offices, however, all of this can be avoided, helping you do each task to the highest of quality in a shorter amount of time. Now, the question is, where do I start? Data suggests that one question on a lot of people’s minds is how much it will cost, with the search term ‘garden office cost’ increasing by 200 per cent between April 2020 and April 2021. To answer this question, the average cost to create a garden office can vary between £5,000 and A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“WHO IS TO SAY THAT WORKING REMOTELY IS LIMITED TO THE SAME FOUR WALLS OF OUR LIVING ROOM?” £25,000. Although this is quite a hefty sum of money to spend on a space, in the long run, this can add an incredible amount of value to your home – between five and seven per cent to be exact. So, if you’re in need of some garden office inspiration, take notes of these top tips on how to save money in the process. For those who have a family member or friend who is in the building trade or knows someone who is, shopping local for a construction business can not only help support local businesses, but save you money too. As for the basic materials that are needed at this stage, such as concrete plates, bricks, and other materials for the frame of the structure, make sure to have a look around for the most cost-effective suppliers. The likes of Gumtree and Facebook marketplace are a good place to start. This is where the fun part begins. When it comes to designing your garden office so that it never gets boring to look at, now is the time to get creative. Firstly, decide on a theme. Since it is your own

personal space, think about what kind of things make you happy and use that as the catalyst behind some interior inspiration. Perhaps you have an eye for bright and vibrant furniture pieces, or maybe you have an interest in knitting your own throws or cushion covers. Alternatively, you could opt for a particular sport-theme you enjoy – whatever it is, pick a theme and add a personalised twist to your garden room. Since this is the most creative aspect of the process, there is one main activity that can help you cut costs in the design stage: DIY. Platforms such as YouTube are full of easy-to-follow guides on how to DIY everything from building a bed frame to making an entirely new room. Of course, some work might require the help of a professional depending on what it is but assessing what could be done yourself helps to cut costs. After the main interior work is done, the final finishing touches need to be added. Other than the additional home décor that you choose to buy or make yourself, the exteriors of your garden office can also be

enhanced with some creative flair and make it the centrepiece of your entire garden. What better time to invest in some gardening work than after building a garden room? Framing your garden room with an array of vibrant flowers and plants can help bring your space to life. Moreover, you could also purchase a variety of solar-powered lights suitable for outdoor use and create a cosy night-time setting to relax in after work. This can be a relatively inexpensive task too. All you need is a few garden tools and some seeds for your chosen flowers and shrubs. Compost Direct have a handy soil calculator, to help you figure out much soil you’ll need for the borders around you garden room. The future of working from home remains unclear. However, one thing we do know is that garden offices continue to be an interest the nation shares, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Brooke Macdonald compostdirect.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL

VILLA LIFE FOUR SEASONS FAIRWAYS

Just three hours flight from the UK, the Algarve is a delightful year-round destination. The Four Seasons Fairways makes the ideal setting, for a memorable break with friends or family.

The Algarve's Four Seasons Fairways 86 • Are electric cars the future? 89 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DREAM VILLA How the ALgarve’s Four Seasons Fairways makes an excellent year-round holiday choice By EVE HERBERT

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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“PRIVATE VILLA ACCOMMODATION WITH HOTEL-STYLE FACILITIES”

ith 3,000 hours of sunshine just three hours' flight from the UK, the Algarve makes a delightful year-round destination. And situated in Quinta do Lago and nestled within the privacy and security of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, Four Seasons Fairways is the ideal setting for a memorable break. This discreet and elegant private villa resort is set in verdant landscaped gardens. There are 132 traditional Portuguese-style villas and apartments and each villa features its own pool or jacuzzi, terrace or garden area and outdoor BBQ/cooking station. They cleverly blend authentic Portuguese style with modern, vibrant interior décor and furnishings along with new, state-of-the-art kitchens. Portugal’s history and culture is woven into the design, which references the discovery journeys of the 15th century, poems from Luis de Camões and the Fado singing, remembering Amalia Rodrigues. The year-round resort has a clubhouse area that works for all seasons. It’s fresh and light, home to a stunning and spacious inside/outside bar area alongside intimate, cosy areas for dining and a spectacular fireplace. Crittall doors and windows have been cleverly designed and finished with a brushed copper effect to reflect the traditional Portuguese Cataplana, an item of cookware used to prepare seafood dishes.

Craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout is second to none. Everything has been made to measure, with the design team commissioning one-off handmade pieces and sourcing locally, with fabrics and furniture all made in Portugal. Handmade pendant lights with linked copper rings to emulate beehives hang throughout VIVO restaurant, designed to reflect the local area’s sizeable production of honey. With the villas so well equipped for cooking and dining, many guests choose this as an option and the mini market on site is always stocked with the essentials – but breakfast at VIVO is too good to miss, with warm pasteis de nata, indulgent French toast or healthier options of feta and rocket with poached eggs and avocado. Long lazy lunches can be enjoyed at VIVO too; outside by the pool is a favourite spot where you can indulge in local dishes such as chicken piri-piri, piri piri prawns or ria formosa clams alongside delicious salads, wood-fired pizzas and burgers. It’s worth mentioning too that you can order food and drink to be delivered straight to your villa. A good tip is to hire a car. There are so many places to visit nearby: the beach, the hills, Faro old town and the food/farmers market at Loulé. Visitors to Quinta do Lago are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out but one of the finest experiences can be found at Amara, the fine dining/a la carte restaurant at Four Seasons Fairways. The views are spectacular, and the space is intimate and sophisticated. Flavours and dishes are contemporary with an emphasis on local produce. Four Seasons Fairways is lucky enough to be surrounded by some of Quinta do Lago’s numerous championship golf courses and is a haven for those into the game. However, it’s not all about golf. The resort is just a stone’s throw from the stunning Ria Formosa nature reserve, a scenic swirl of seawater lagoons, sandy islands, salt marshlands and diverse bird life, making it the perfect setting for walking, running and cycling. There's also a popular Active Living package throughout

autumn and winter, and during November this year they’ll be welcoming Amy Williams MBE, former skeleton racer and Olympic gold medalist. Amy will host and lead a number of classes including stretch and mobility, HIIT, Full Body Burn, Core & Abs sessions and guests will have the opportunity to join her for a bike tour along the Ria Formosa as well as taking to the water for a kayak safari. If you fancy extending your stay and you have the flexibility to work remotely, the blue skies, peaceful and private villa accommodation with hotel-style facilities offer everything you need for a ‘workation’. And if you’re travelling with the little ones, the resort is home to an ‘Upside Down World’ Kids Club, with classes and activities galore. Ultimately it’s the staff and the people who are the absolute gems throughout the resort. They radiate warmth and kindness, they welcome you like old friends and it’s clear to see why guests keep returning year after year.

FAC T F I L E The Active Living Package at Four Seasons Fairways (fourseasonsfairways.com/en/experiences) costs from £450pp/513Euros pp and is available from October 2021 – April 2022. Price includes 7 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, fresh oranges delivered to your villa daily and complimentary extras such as bike hire, tennis court bookings, classes with the PT and even a jog with the GM.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“10 minutes from Chelsea” Founded in 1977

International Bilingual Pre-Primary school for 3-6 year olds

Creative and structured learning from the earliest years OFSTED 2020 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk 2 HAZLEBURY ROAD, FULHAM, LONDON SW6 2NB

“5 minutes from Chelsea”

Founded in 2005

International Bilingual Pre-Primary and Primary school for 3-11 year olds leading on to top English and French schools, including Lycée Français

In Tatler’s Top 225 Private Schools list, 2009-2021

OFSTED 2018 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk TROTT STREET, BATTERSEA, LONDON SW11 3DS

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23/06/2021 10:27

TRAVEL • MOTORING

On the ROAD

How do electric cars fare on a long journey? We take Audi’s new e-tron to Devon By PENDLE HARTE

DESTINATION: DEVON

AUDI E-TRON

e all know the feeling: your phone’s on 12% and you know you need to get an uber later. Will you make it? Imagine that feeling, only on a motorway, with traffic ahead, and you’re in an electric car that’s on less than half charge. The anxiety is real. We have taken a brand new electric car to Devon to see whether electric cars are a viable option on a long drive. The new top spec Audi e-tron has a range of 235 miles on a full battery and our destination, Saunton in north Devon, is 217 miles away according to Google. So we should be fine, right? We’re borrowing the car through the sleek new subscription service Onto and when they call to talk through the charging systems, my assumptions are all quickly shown to be wrong. I’d breezily assumed that there would be a simple network of charging stations – I’d noticed them around, on lampposts, at motorway service stations – and that we’d simply plug and go. Well, not quite. The network is significantly more complicated than that because it is in fact made up of several rival networks, of varying reliability, with incompatible actual plug connections and different tariffs. How naive I was. This isn’t a planned economy, after all. Navigating the charging networks inevitably requires you to install lots of different apps on your phone. The best network for reliability and presence, anecdotally, is Tesla’s, but it’s not open to outsiders.

WHY SUBSCRIBE TO A N E L E C T R I C V E H I C L E S E RV I C E ?

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Charging the Audi to 80% should only take 20 minutes when you find a good charger. But hooking it up to your house, assuming you can park right outside, is hopeless – we slung a cable across the pavement (a trip hazard) and left the car plugged in for more than 12 hours, only to achieve a negligible amount of charge. Fast-charging points are clearly the only option, as an Audi spokesperson explained. “The rule of thumb is: when charging begins at a battery level of 5 per cent, then ten minutes of charging time, ideally at a fast-charging point, is sufficient for up to 110 kilometres or 68 miles of range; after nearly 30 minutes, 80 per cent has been achieved; a full charging process takes around 50 minutes.” So we install Zapmaps and look out for Instavolt, which was the recommendation (the other recommendation was to avoid bp pulse).

Onto’s EV subscription is the alternative to traditional car ownership. It’s easy: order your ideal electric car online and it will be delivered in just 72hours. The fee is all-inclusive of insurance, 1000 miles, and charging at over 11,000 points, and there’s no deposit. You can stop renting the car after just one month, so there’s no commitment, but in fact most customers keep their cars for over 14months. And best of all, it’s sustainable: Onto is the UK’s largest electric vehicle subscription service. It helps drivers easily and affordably start their EV journey. on.to

The main thing is that you always need a plan B. Just because there's a nearby charging point, there’s no guaranteeing that it’s a) free, b) working or c) on the right network. So you need to think flexibly, work with your maps and come up with alternative strategies, and an element of planning is involved. It’s good to plan a lunch break somewhere with a charger, for instance, and factor in some time spent waiting for it to be free. Ultimately, we make it to Devon problemfree, stopping twice to charge just in case. Like making your children go to the loo before leaving the house, it’s better to be safe. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Keep your promise of private education should the worst happen 25/08/2021 13:04

SPECI A L Inside this section SCHOOLS NEWS p93 REVISITING D OF E p106 SPORTS FOR ALL p118 CLUB LIFE p129 C O O K I N G AT L E I T H S ’ p 1 4 6 ARE EXAMS FIT p148 FOR PURPOSE?

OPEN DAYS M A RY M O U N T LO N D O N

Independent day and boarding school Marymount London in Kingston will be hosting in-person and virtual events to learn what you can do to give your daughter the best chances of success in a post-pandemic world. marymountlondon.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ts e si bl re aila SE av C G on s ti op The Moat Sixth Form is a dyslexia and SpLD specialist Sixth Form with a focus on whole school SEN support. Providing an academic and nurturing environment for pupils with both unique learning proﬁles and learning diﬃculties. A-Level, BTECs alongside GCSE resits at its core with a built in work experience programme for all pupils. Visit www.moatsixthform.org.uk for full course list and more information

All children can achieve

@Moatschool @TheMoatSchool

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The Moat Sixth Form, 23-31 Beavor Lane, Hammermsith, London W6 9AR Email: oﬃce@moatschool.org.uk Tel: 0207 610 9098 www.moatsixthform.org.uk

14/01/2021 12:19

EDUCATION • NEWS

ECONOMICS AWA R D Framlingham College Year 12 pupil Anna-Sophia Heine has been awarded a prestigious economics summer internship at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Anna-Sophia, an international pupil from Munich, will spend a week discussing economic principles and the recent challenges of the pandemic with professional economists. She says: “We will be hearing from economists from all over the world".

Cottesmore School has appointed Priya Lakhani OBE as Digital Patron to support digital learning. Lakhani is Founder and CEO of edtech specialist Century Tech. Head Tom Rogerson says: “Cottesmore has the privilege of enjoying not only her entrepreneurial spirit, but her vision for technology’s role in education”.

“Anna-Sophia has earned one of only 120 places on the prestigious Institute of Economic Affairs' summer internship scheme”

PHOTOGRAPHY: SAM HARDWICK

Dig ital Patron

H E Y H AY !

Play cur tailed

Hay Festival’s Programme for Schools was held remotely as prelude to the festival and you can access all materials. Events ranged from science explorations with Robert Winston to a conversation with author Patience Agbabi. Debates and creative writing workshops for 16+ students are also accessible via hayfestival.org/schools

Children are not allowed to play outside on their own until they are nearly 11, almost two years’ later than their parents’ generation, according to the British Children’s Play Survey. The survey suggests absence of adventurous play can affect both physical and mental health. One expert described this as “a gradual, creeping lockdown over at least a generation”.

V I R T UA L MEDICINE Year 12 students at Oxford High School who want to study medicine organised a Virtual Medicine Day as a way to gain insights into this career path in a year when traditional work experience has not been available. The event attracted some 500 pupils from across the GDST and local schools.

“We mistake being able to get lots of information from everywhere very quickly with actually getting knowledge” M A R G A R E T M AC M I L L A N

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EDUCATION • NEWS

Junior lead Kate Bevan becomes the new Head at Notting Hill & Ealing High’s Junior School in September 2021. Previous roles include St Margaret’s, Danes Hill School and Ibstock Place – where she spent two years as head of the junior school. She succeeds Silvana Silva, who is retiring.

NEW HEAD Kelly Gray will be the new Headteacher of Bassett House School, taking up the role in September. Previously Deputy Head at Ecole Jacques Prevert in Brook Green, she also spent seven years as Head of Thomas’s Kensington. Bassett House is located in Notting Hill and joined Dukes Education in February 2020.

DEPUTY ROLES C O - E D M OV E

Cumnor House Sussex has made two senior appointments. Michael Matthews joins as Deputy Head Pastoral, while Bruno Shovelton joins as Deputy Head Academic, both beginning in September. Headmaster Fergus Llewellyn says: “They bring a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, vision and warmth with them”.

All boarding independent Winchester College has announced it will admit girls into the Sixth Form. The announcement, which was made as part of the school's ‘Winchester College in the 21st Century’ plan, also includes the introduction of female and male sixth form day pupils from 2022. There is a consultation period, with the proposed admission date for the first cohort of female boarders in 2024.

Ar tsEd addition ArtsEd has appointed Sharon D Clarke MBE (pictured with ArtsEd alumna Olivia Hibbert) as a Vice President. Nominated for multiple Oliviers over the years, Clarke picked up her most recent Best Actress award in 2020 for her portrayal of Linda Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

“There are always twenty excellent reasons for doing nothing for every one reason for starting anything” HRH PRINCE PHILIP

SOMETHING THEY SAID

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them” R AY B R A D B U R Y

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EDUCATION • NEWS

A R T M A ST E R S

100 challenge

Giving back Gordon’s School near Woking in Surrey has been named a finalist in the Goldsmiths’ Community Engagement Awards and was also finalist in the Boarding School Association’s (BSA) Awards in Best Community Work category. These national award nominations recognise the efforts made by the school in helping the wider community.

Captain Tom 100 was a special school assembly hosted at the end of April across the nation to raise funds and celebrate what would have been Captain Sir Tom Moore’s 101st birthday. UK schools were invited to tune in and take part in the 100 challenge. The event was organised by The Captain Tom Foundation in collaboration with London Marathon Events.

“Find out more about the Captain Tom 100 challenges young people successfully achieved at #CaptainTom100”

Online explorers Pupils at Ursuline Prep in Ilford have been learning how to stay safe online with ‘Be Internet Legends’ 3D Internaut trophy kits from Google UK. Each kit contains a 3D model that has to be assembled by the pupils. In order to do this, they complete an online quiz that gives insights into areas such as cyber-bullying, online security and social media.

Felsted School is running free art masterclasses online, accessible to all ages. The masterclasses highlight four different techniques with accompanying video and written resources. Topics comprise Land Art, How to illustrate like Quentin Blake, Tonal Studies and Nature Printing. They are delivered by the heads of Art in prep and senior Sarah Mitchell and Elizabeth Jackson. Access the classes at felsted.org/art

S AT U R DAY SCHOOL Clayesmore, a leading coeducational, all through day and boarding school, has introduced LEX. This bold and ambitious weekend programme is designed to combine practical and theoretical learning with emotional and physical wellbeing, adventure and achievement and aims to provide a bridge to adulthood, giving pupils the edge they need to prosper. claysmore.com/lex

New role Kit Thompson – lead at the Unicorn School in Kew – will join Orchard House prep in Chiswick as Headmaster in September. His previous teaching roles include Twyford in Winchester. He succeeds Maria Edward, who is retiring. Aatif Hassan, Founder & Chair of Dukes Education, says: “Kit’s strong educational ethos and commitment to the highest standards of pastoral care make him an excellent fit”.

“The greatest challenge for women athletes today is the lack of options they have to play sport, and the lack of investment in sport” M A R TA V I E R A DA S I LVA

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EDUCATION • NEWS

Mar vellous Moonrakers

UNIVERSITY PREP Taunton School has seen its first cohort of international students complete a course preparing them for places at leading UK and international universities. Tricey Agbolu from Ghana, Paul Paclot from France and Jarry Wang from Hong Kong have passed the International Foundation Year (IFY) course launched by the Somerset school last year. The three have now received offers from universities in the UK and Canada.

Dauntsey’s is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Moonrakers programme of Friday afternoon activities for Year 3 pupils. These include kayaking, cycling and expeditions, and culminate in a five-day Moonrakers Camp in North Wales. There, adventures include a river crossing challenge – a tradition since Moonrakers’ earliest days.

“Students leaving Dauntsey's often talk about their own Moonrakers experiences as a high point of school life”

TO P D E B AT E

UCAS choices

Wellington College Debating Team took the English-Speaking Union’s (ESU) Mace back to Berkshire after winning England’s largest schools debating competition. Arthur Grigg, Anjali Darling, Atticus Christie-Miller and Charlotte Grigg won the debate arguing against the motion 'This House regrets the romanticisation of motherhood'.

A fifth of students block degree choices by choosing the wrong subjects at school, reports UCAS as one of the key findings from a survey published in March. Two in five believe they would have made better choices if they had more guidance. More than a quarter would make different GCSE choices and around a third would opt for different post-16 choices.

S M A R T WO R K Impington Village College, Cambridgeshire is representing East of England and NE London for ‘System Leaders – Workload Reduction Toolkit Refresh’, a Department for Education project. The aim of the project is to identify and reduce workload that gives teachers less teaching and learning time and resources.

“We now live in a world where the only thing to have is success, but failure is marvellous. It’s fertiliser" RUPERT EVERET

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DISCOVERMORE

Open Days

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. th November 1st/7 (9.30am/care, 9.30am) With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral st Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place November 15thof /21learning (7.00pm/ 9.30am) and discovery, laughter and friendship. November 29th (9.30am) Please go to the website for open event dates and to book your place: kewhouseschool.com/openevents T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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@kewhouseschool

17/08/2021 15:55

EDUCATION • NEWS

Government Grilling ACS Cobham students had an opportunity to debate current issues, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. The event was moderated and led by the school’s Model United Nations team and included tough questions about Brexit and the pandemic.

NEW PRE-PREP Oxfordshire prep school Moulsford has begun building a new pre-prep, due to open in autumn 2022. The expansion will accommodate pre-school (age 3) up to Year 2 and provide more space for the existing prep, which is located across the road. The new pre-prep, led by Sabrina McMann, will be co-ed while the prep remains boys only.

N E W PA R T N E R SCHOOL SUCCESSION

Saint Felix School in Southwold, Suffolk announced a partnership with Inspired Learning Group (ILG). The co-ed through school for day pupils and boarders, which is led by James Harrison, says the partnership means extensive investment that will go towards improving facilities and professional development opportunities.

Elaine Purves will succeed Julia Harrington as the next Head of Queen Anne’s School, Caversham, joining in January 2022. She is current Head at St. John’s International School in Belgium and has previously led Rossall School and Ipswich High School. An experienced ISI Team Inspector and a Council of International Schools Evaluator, she began her career as a teacher of modern languages.

R ock on Pupils at Horris Hill Prep are preparing to inaugurate the school’s new theatre with their first major musical production this year, School of Rock. The David Brownlow Theatre, funded by current parents and alumni together with the Greenham Trust and David Brownlow Foundation, seats over 150.

“Ability may get you to the top but it’s character that keeps you there” ST EV I E WO N D E R

SOMETHING THEY SAID

“I don’t like speaking about the female side of it but I hope it inspires and helps girls if they want to continue in sport or go down this road” R AC H A E L B L AC K M O R E

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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North Bridge House

New for er: Septemb Open day fairs

Subject stalls, school tours, taster activities and talks from the Senior Leadership Team. Book now at northbridgehouse.com/open NURSERY & PRE-PREP

NURSERY & PRE-PREP

PREP SCHOOL

SENIOR HAMPSTEAD

SENIOR CANONBURY

WEST HAMPSTEAD

HAMPSTEAD

REGENT’S PARK

11 - 16 YEARS

11 - 18 YEARS

2 - 7 YEARS

7 - 13 YEARS

SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER

SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

Weekday open events and guided tours available online. Book your visit or call 020 7428 1520 to find out more.

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A BRIGHTER

FUTURE

Sydenham High School's headmistress takes some positives from the pandemic

B y K AT H A R I N E W O O D C O C K

s we head towards what we hope is the light at the end of what has been, at times, an extremely dark tunnel and into a new world that reflects some kind of normalcy, we have to be thankful for what this time has taught us. The importance of community, values and caring for one another. The new ways in which we have adapted and evolved: technology at the forefront of much of what we do, balanced with a deeper focus on mindfulness and staying active away from devices. Innovative teaching and more efficient working practices have meant that ahead of the new term in September, the school and its pupils are perhaps in a better position to thrive than ever before.

As it stands, our pupils have the best chance in nearly two years of having an uninterrupted year of learning and being around their peers. Mental health has become a bigger priority across the board, and we welcome athletes role-modelling the importance of mental fitness alongside physical health, something we have long heralded. Though moving towards familiar behaviours and routines at the end of last term helped to provide stability, the necessary adaptability required by the pandemic has fostered key skills of resilience and problem-solving which will stand pupils in good stead for the future. If another lockdown occurs, our pupils are well equipped to deal with, and overcome, the implications that come with that. The foundations of wellbeing at Sydenham High come from the three pillars of Body, Mind

“Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work, building something better”

EDUCATION • PROMOTION

and Soul. Interwoven into all that we strive to achieve for the wellbeing of our whole community, and when the pandemic hit, we used these pillars to ensure that we were truly looking after our mental and physical health, adapting our co-curricular programme so that it could be just as beneficial in a home environment. Another positive change brought about by the pandemic is the transition to and embracing of digital processes. Teachers have been creative in designing innovative solutions to provide outstanding learning despite the constraints of remote teaching, while virtual experiences of the school site provided a new perspective for visitors. These are things that we can assess, adjust and take forward into the new academic year and beyond. Throughout the pandemic our pupils learned to “keep finding joy in small things and remember for every negative situation, if you look hard enough, you can always find a positive”, which is a lesson we all can learn. It’s been said countless times but the past 18 months have not been easy for any of us, especially not for the children whose learning and childhoods have been interrupted. But now is the time to look forward. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work, building something better than what came before. The summer holidays were a time for rest, relaxation and reflection and the new term brings with it something of a new beginning and here at Sydenham High School, we are more than ready for it. SY D E N H A M H I G H S C H O O L The Girls’ Day School Trust is a family of 25 schools helping to shape the future of girls’ education. Open events take place throughout the autumn. 020 855 77004; sydenhamhighschool. gdst.net; admissions@syd.gdst.net

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Lasting

LEGACY Among the many touching tributes to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was the outpouring of warmth about the DofE Award scheme, which began life in 1956 and continues to change lives By LIBBY NORMAN

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EDUCATION • ROOTS LEFT DofE Award students, including at Gordon’s School, Surrey. Also shown, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visiting Gordon’s

he Duke of Edinburgh's Award (or the DofE as it is almost universally known) is a life-changing journey for many young people. The outpouring of warmth from its fans – many of whom had been on the DofE Award journey themselves – made it clear what a huge legacy Prince Philip leaves behind in this regard. The statistics bear this out, with over 6.7 million participants and 3.1 million awards achieved in the UK since its inception. DofE has global reach now, with programmes run in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. Internationally, there were around 1,800 young people embarking on their DofE journey every day in 2017, and with something like 1.3 million worldwide participants in that year. In some places, it is known by different names, but the general framework has stood the test of time and works for young people in all settings and circumstances. It started small, although the ambition was big. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award began life in 1956, with the challenge to young people to: "attain standards of achievement and endeavour in a wide variety of active interests". A less formal description of the DofE's overarching aim, given somewhat later by HRH himself, puts it rather more succinctly and rather well: "It's what I like to describe as a do-it-yourself growing up kit". The Duke of Edinburgh was influenced in the idea by Kurt Hahn, a German-Jewish emigre to the UK, pioneering educator and founder of Gordenstoun. (Hahn, incidentally, was also one of instigators of Outward Bound.) As a former pupil at Gordenstoun, and one who had thrived in an environment

where students were encouraged to test and challenge themselves, Prince Philip could see the benefits of encouraging physical activity, service and leadership training. Lord John Hunt – the Army colonel who had led the first successful ascent of Everest in 1953 – was the first Director tasked with designing and bringing the programme to life. The original design consisted of four sections: rescue & public service, expeditions, pursuits & projects and fitness. Initially, it was known as the 'DofE for boys', but within a year it was announced that girls would be invited to participate. Three years on, the scheme became a charitable trust and the International DofE Award was established in 1988. Over the years, DofE has become a mainstay within independent schools across the land, with universal appreciation of both its testing nature and its ability to bring out the best in all young people and build their confidence for life. And here the focus is on 'all' because the elements that make up the scheme play to different strengths. The athletically minded may love the expeditions and physical challenges, but equal value is placed on volunteering and building skills. It is also incredibly adaptable to suit the individual.

Today DofE Awards schemes in state schools and academies outnumber those in the independent sector. Schemes are run by employers and endorsed by many more – including Google, Burberry and ITV – as a marker of a young person's transferable 'soft skills'. Schemes have been tailored to suit young people with disabilities – in 2014 ao.com employee Melissa Dempsey became the first person from a business running the scheme to complete the Expedition section using a wheelchair. Over 725,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds did their DofE in 2019/20. Notably, the scheme has been made available to those in Young Offenders' Institutions, enabling young people who have lost their way to develop skills and self-confidence – and take back control over the direction of their life. After the announcement of The Duke of Edinburgh's death, DofE participants and Award holders from across the UK helped launch a new fund in his memory. The Living Legacy Fund is designed to give a million more young people the opportunity to achieve a DofE Award. CEO of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Ruth Marvel explains it thus: " We are also focused on engaging those young people who face greater disadvantage as our impact research shows these young people have most to gain from a DofE experience". Find out more about The Duke of Edinburgh's Award's Living Legacy Fund at dofe.org

“IT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DESCRIBE AS A DO-IT-YOURSELF GROWING UP KIT” HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

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EDUCATION • CREATIVE

“Start your journey towards a career in the creative industries”

Musical YOUTH

The Academy of Contemporary Music offers courses for creatives of all types

re you musical? Or maybe creative in another way? There’s a college that can teach you how to earn a living from doing something that you love. Start your journey towards a career in the creative industries at the place where all creativity matters. The last 18 months have demonstrated the importance of the arts. While the pandemic restricted the lives of millions, we found solace in our favourite music, performances and video games. The live music industry is the fifth biggest economy in the UK and the gaming industry is projected to be worth some £7 billion by 2024, so all creativity matters. ACM is a place where creativity is nurtured and celebrated. Building on a 26year history, ACM provides a place where

musicians, technicians, engineers and game developers can be taught by industry professionals. With courses in performance, artistry, songwriting, business, technical services, music production, game development and more, they have study options at both Diploma and Degree level, making it a great alternative to attending a traditional College or University. With campuses in Guildford, London and Birmingham, ACM is also home to Europe’s largest recording facility, Metropolis Studios. With artists such as Queen, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson having made Metropolis their workplace over the years gone by, and a current client list that includes Stormzy, Drake, Clean Bandit, Elton John, Adele, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Beyonce, ACM’s students can work in the very studio environments in which their favourite tracks have been recorded, and learn from the same Grammy award-winning team that have helped produce them. It’s not just all about the music, though. This September, they launched the ACM Games Academy, working with pioneers like Supermassive Games, Alienware, UKIE, TIGA and more. The ACM Games Academy is the perfect place to start your career as a game designer, programmer or project manager. AC M acm.ac.uk/open-days

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EDUCATION • COMMUNITY

GREEN Strength

Grow2Know emerged from a community gardening project after the Grenfell Tower fire. Its mission is to create a green legacy for the North Kensington community and for young people everywhere

he impact of the Grenfell Tower fire will be felt for generations to come, but in all the grief and anger that surrounds the events of June 2017, there are stories of hope and community resilience. Grow2Know is one among them, and it grew from a simple need to do something positive in the aftermath of the fire. Grow2Know co-founder Tayshan Hayden-Smith can still clearly describe what life felt like in the days and weeks after the fire. “I had been living beneath Grenfell Tower all my life – I have many memories around it growing up. After the fire the community went into shock. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves,” he says. Inevitably, with the national and international press descending in the immediate aftermath, there was

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confusion. “You have the community and then you have the whole world,” says Hayden-Smith. He says many in the community turned to art as a means of processing raw emotions, with projects offered locally – including at the Maxilla (Maxilla Hall Social Club). He tried it himself with his son and nephew but it wasn’t the right fit. Then something unexpected happened. “We saw this barren, neglected patch of land and we just decided that was something we were drawn towards.” Tending it and improving it began as the smallest of actions. Hayden-Smith says: “I wouldn’t even call it a decision. It wasn’t as if we sat down and decided: ‘let’s do up this space’. We just went in there and thought ‘oh, this feels good’ – it was our art”. From there, in an organic process, this small patch of common ground morphed into an informal community project. Local plant

shops and nurseries donated plants and the local community started to join in. It was, says Hayden-Smith, a lovely moment during an adverse time to realise what was happening. “Residents and community members would either come past and share a smile or share a conversation and it just brought light to a lot of people’s day. Then you would get some people that would offer their time. They would jump in for five minutes and that would turn into ten, and then all of a sudden they were spending the day with you in this space.” What was also life-affirming was the wide range of people who started to join in. “There were completely different backgrounds and demographics,” says HaydenSmith. He describes the garden as being without barriers, with the majority of helpers being quite young – late teens and twenties initially. Then some community elders got involved, also younger children when

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ALL IMAGES The Grow2Know team have attracted support from across the community – with all age groups joining in

“You can link anything in life to horticulture so why is it not at the forefront of our education?”

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EDUCATION • COMMUNITY

ALL IMAGES Grow2Know's Morley Heart Gardens is both a memorial garden and a place to socialise and relax

the project spread to an area behind the Maxilla. “Every week there would be a different group of people.” There was no formal structure or overarching master plan to these activities – and Hayden-Smith says this made for a conflict-free zone, with a shared activity that pulled down potential barriers between strangers and age groups. “One thing about gardens is that it’s hard to have conflict in that space – when you plant a plant, what can you argue about!” If the project to beautify the spaces close to Grenfell Tower brought positivity to people’s lives in the aftermath of the fire, it also sparked something stronger – the desire to build on what they had already created. Grow2Know was established in 2020 as a means of building a more permanent legacy in order to honour those lost at Grenfell. “It’s important that people remember what Grow2Know grew from – the 72 people we lost that night in June 2017,” says Hayden-Smith. Launched as a non-profit, its board of directors comprises Hayden-Smith, with

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“One thing about gardens is that it's hard to have conflict in that space – what can you argue about?”

horticultural might from garden designer and TV presenter Danny Clarke (AKA The Black Gardener) and agriculturist and chef Ali Yellop. Advisors include the renowned and nine times Chelsea Gold winning garden designer Cleve West. The plan is to green up areas of the city, but the brief is far wider. Grow2Know believe that they can use gardening as a platform to enable communities and their young people to thrive. The team also want to promote horticulture – showing its possibilities to the community and encouraging them to have a relationship with plant and produce growing and the land itself. HaydenSmith says that lockdown has profoundly changed our relationship to green spaces, but it taps into a host of existing issues – from food security and green infrastructure to a better environment to foster mental and physical health. “You can link anything in life to horticulture, so why is it not at the forefront of our education? Why is it not at the forefront of our conversation when we talk about our environment?” Projects so far include a small garden at Morley College, a local further education provider. It was built with “the smallest budget” and incorporated a tree planted earlier in honour of Grenfell Tower victims. The brief was to create a space that felt more like a memorial garden, but also a place to relax and socialise or contemplate in the sunshine.

Despite the small budget Morley Heart Gardens is now transformed into a welcoming retreat with a permanent reminder of its purpose via artist Carrie Reichardt’s stunning mosaic-dressed wall. The next and much bigger plan is to create a garden for Chelsea Flower Show – sponsorship permitting. It will be called the Mangrove Garden, in honour of the Mangrove Nine – local heroes who mounted a landmark court challenge against the police in 1970 that highlighted racial injustice. Through the garden the team at Grow2Know hope to bring resources back to the local community and also educate young people about an important Black history and civil rights milestone for London and the UK. More than that, they would like to open up the possibilities of gardening to young people from all backgrounds and all environments. “If children see people who look like them doing something amazing, then hopefully they will take some inspiration from that,” says Hayden-Smith. “We need to educate our young people so that they can come up with solutions to the problems we’re facing, and also come at things from a more creative standpoint. Greening up London is very much part of that – if we can do it here, where it’s so built up, we can do it anywhere.” Visit grow2know.org.uk

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Tailored

not uniform

When it comes to a good education, one size does not necessarily fit all. At MPW, one of the UK’s best known names in fifth and sixth-form education, we offer a distinctive alternative to traditional schools. A levels and GCSEs in over 45 subjects Personal tutors providing individual academic and pastoral support

Strong teaching and outstanding pastoral care.

Oxbridge-style tutorial groups with nine students or fewer Excellent results and progression to top tier universities Best in class inspection reports from the ISI and Ofsted

The Good Schools Guide

DISCOVER MPW Book your interview and personal tour

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Call 020 7835 1355, email london@mpw.ac.uk or visit our website www.mpw.ac.uk

25/08/2021 11:25

Devonshire House Pre-Prep & Prep School & The Oak Tree Nursery for Children from 2½

‘A lovely, caring environment with dynamic and engagingly creative teachers’ (Junior School Parent)

Open Mornings: Thursday 14th October & Thursday 4th November 2021 at 10:00am To register for an open morning please visit our website or contact Admissions

Telephone: 020 7435 1916 Email: enquiries@dhprep.co.uk Website: www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk

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Community FOCUS

The Headmaster of Kew House School talks about the challenges – and opportunities – to renew community spirit

f all the lessons we have learnt from the past year, the importance of the role played by schools in forging and maintaining community cannot be overlooked. Timely as they were, the renewed statutory responsibilities within the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) guidance and the spotlight shone by Everyone’s Invited and associated discussions played a significant part in focusing school leaders on their role in creating inclusive and supportive whole-school communities. Being the new Head of a thriving London day school in September 2020, it was clear to me that Kew House School (KHS) had an open,

calm, supportive community of staff, pupils and parents. Unfortunately, my first meeting before INSET was: “The One Where We Talk Bubbles” (apologies to Friends aficionados). The construction of our Covid mitigation strategy, as in other schools, created necessary divisions within the school. Staggered arrival times, break times and tutor periods did their job in reducing pupil absence, until of course we all went – very successfully – online. Teams for lessons and Zoom for assemblies cannot ever replace the soft learning that occurs vicariously as pupils go about their school day; listening, watching, laughing, playing. Our approach for the new school year is to make sure that we can give opportunity to all age groups to learn from each other. There are three strands to our strategy. Firstly, we

“Our approach for the new school year is for all age groups to learn from each other”

EDUCATION • TALKING HEAD

are a school that takes great pride in its Personal Tutor (PT) system, arranged vertically from Years 7 to 13. The school’s House system will also evolve over the year so that it provides greater opportunities for pupils to participate in events, from the ‘standard’ elements of sports to any of the nearly 100 clubs we have on offer at KHS. Our second approach is to remove the year-group barriers that often stifle whole-school community. We welcome the traditional curriculum areas of music and drama, which allow year groups to work collaboratively. Our ‘Whole School Summer Read’, encouraging pupils, parents and staff to have a common focus, also shows this innovation. Finally, as community is built on belonging and sharing, we are looking forward to seeing all our parents on site, at the side of sports pitches and by the river. Although the main focus in reinvigorating the school community will be on the youngsters, our school’s ethos embeds community in its founding principles. Having a Parent Café onsite is a tangible expression of our desire to be an open institution where parents can freely come to meet with staff, not behind an office door, but at the heart of the school. There is one further factor that we value very highly at KHS – pupil voice. The school is a positive, calm learning environment within which respect is ingrained. A pupil community whose response to the disclosures from Everyone’s Invited was to engage staff with creative ideas to support RSE for the younger years, is one that demonstrates an embedded sense of community responsibility. This foundation gives me hope that with care, fun and sensitivity, we will, as a school, “build back even better”.

WILL WILLIAMS Headmaster Kew House School kewhouseschool.com

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THINK SMART

How More House School is promoting creative thinking for a changing world

By EVE HERBERT

aith Hagerty, who took over at the beginning of the Summer term as Head at More House School in Knightsbridge, was interviewed on the importance of creative thinking in a changing world. “Creativity is a rather misunderstood noun” she says. She explains that we often associate the term with the creative arts, rather than a way of thinking or approach to a task. “There is an alarmingly common tendency among parents and teachers to separate creativity from academia, as though creative thinkers are somehow less able”. Faith points out that this could

not be further from the truth, proved by the fast moving growth of our creative economy. As we watch our world morph into a new version of itself year on year, surely the creative thinkers will be the ones to keep up, to adapt, to stay ahead of the curve and lead change. But how does More House teach creativity? Faith explains: “We believe that pupils need to be allowed the space in their learning to take in information, process it and then develop the skills to apply their own angle to what they have learnt. They need to be allowed to understand things on a different level to their peers, find an alternative route and to go against the grain”. At More House School,

“Small class sizes build confidence and foster independent thought”

EDUCATION • FOCUS

they encourage engagement in the arts to help facilitate that space and support pupils in finding a voice. Their small class sizes build confidence and foster independent thought. They place enormous value on going off-piste as a way of enriching the curriculum and raising attainment. By delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum within well-defined expectations of behaviour for learning, their girls feel safe enough to explore. More House develops the strengths of all learners, and often, students with apparently unconventional learning profiles are exceptionally creative thinkers. In a post-pandemic world, the education system remains under the spotlight. As Faith embarks on her first headship, she is determined that her school challenges the preconceptions around creativity and intellect. “We must equip our pupils with the tools they need to embrace the fourth industrial revolution in a changing world and ensure their futures as global citizens.”

FA I T H H AG E R T Y More House School, 22-24 Pont Street, SW1 morehouse.org.uk

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SPORT S for ALL

With team and individual sports ﬁrmly back on the curriculum, we look at the good work independent schools are doing to foster a love of games in all their pupils, and build partnerships and networks well beyond the school gates

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port is uniquely placed to develop a huge variety of skills in young people. As well as well-documented health and wellbeing benefits, increasingly it is being seen as a way to develop skills for life – notably resilience, perseverance and deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork and cooperation. When it comes to developing young people's skills for life, there are also benefits on all sides in widened access beyond the school gates. Partnerships have long been a strong element here, enabling independents to hold true to their charitable aims. But they also give young people a broader horizon – a taste of networks as an intrinsic part of life. We spoke to five schools to find out how they develop their culture of sport for all.

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EDUCATION • SPORT

H U R ST CO LLEG E

urst’s sports programme strives to be as inclusive as possible and we are fortunate to have a campus and facilities which allow for a broad range of activity,” says Director of Sport Rob Kift. With a strong tradition in athletics and major team games, there are also lots of individual options, from golf and equestrian to dance and pilates. “Guided choice is our watch word with most encouraged to play team sport for no other reason than to help them develop those skills and qualities which working as part of a team engender,” he adds. “That said, there is no compulsion – many find some of the more individual sports more suitable.” The school hosts many tournaments, as well as county training and holiday sports camps. Sporting open days draw in local schools and facilities are hired by community clubs. “Our outreach programme sees our more qualified coaches head into local state schools and prep schools,” adds Rob Kift. Hurst is an academy school for Sussex cricket, an RFU coach education centre, a hub for Surrey Storm netball and a central venue for Sussex Hockey. Another aspect of Hurst’s community approach is the Sussex Independent Schools Diamond league, a series of athletics meets.

RIGHT AND LEFT Rugby is a key sport at Hurst and it is also an RFU coach education centre

“We reflect our environment and change, chameleon-like, to meet the developing sporting landscape while retaining our core sporting foundations”

“We provide teams for all levels of ability and interest,” says Rob Kift. Pupils have a rich diet of games via the curriculum, but also activity time that enables them to try or refine other sports. “We try to reflect our environment and change, chameleon-like, to meet the developing sporting landscape while retaining our core sporting foundations,” he adds. Girls’ cricket and football sit comfortably alongside hockey and netball. Triathlon, trail running, spin classes and CrossFit have all earned fans, alongside urban and adventure sports – skateboarding, and mountain biking included. Rob Kift says that inclusion is a challenge for all society. “Body image and fear of failure are often limiters,

and it is vitally important to build confidence from an early age.” When it comes to enthusing both sexes in sport, he says that there’s no question that high-profile sporting events raise participation. “During lockdown, the promotion of netball and women’s football on TV has led to a boom in interest.” He says schools need to take the long view in order to encourage a sports mindset. “Sport and physical activity need to be habit-forming and seen as a part of a daily and weekly routine. The pandemic has, in a perverse way, drawn more attention to physical and mental wellbeing simply because we have been restricted from doing many of those daily activities which we often take for granted.” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“Close games are our target across every year group and at every level to give every pupil a positive experience of competitive sport”

ABOVE Classic sports remain part of the diverse mix at Pangbourne BELOW The school consults girls to ensure sports kit gets their approval

PA N G B O U R N E CO LLEG E

ith a site extending to 230 acres, Pangbourne in Berkshire is able to offer plenty of ways for young people to get into sport. For younger pupils, the focus is on breadth. “As they get older we allow them to make choices,” says Sam Hewick, Director of Sport. “They may choose a non-competitive option, however, team games are popular.” Beyond the school gates, Pangbourne works with a range of schools. There are coaching afternoons lead by sixth form pupils and last year’s publicaccess sports seminars proved to be very popular – some are set to continue in the post-Covid world. Traditional independent school sports remain strong, but with varied delivery – for instance, touch and mixed contact rugby are offered

alongside more conventional contact rugby. The school also responds to real-world passions among pupils. “We have introduced football to reflect some of the demands from the boys. We are keen to strike a balance between hockey and football, and allow excellent opportunities for both,” says Head of Boys Games Alex Hawthorn. “Within one games session a week pupils can choose something different, this includes trail running and girls' football and rugby,” adds Sam Hawick. Weight training for boys is popular, and girls only weightlifting sessions have become a hit too. He adds that one important element is staging. “Close games’ are our target across every year group and at every level to give every pupil a positive experience of competitive sport.” They find that, with one or two points, goals or tries in it, students are much more likely to remain enthusiastic. Enabling students to have positive experiences is also central to coaching. “Previously poor experiences can lead to a

disengagement, and it is important to try and change this,” says Sam Hewick. This is especially true for girls – who are more likely to ‘disengage’. Head of Girls Games Pip Sanders says keeping involvement going can be influenced by something as simple as adapted sports kit that is comfortable and doesn’t add to self-consciousness. “I work very closely with all the girls to review this. We have found this can be a big factor in retaining girls in physical activity and sport.” Similarly, the Pangbourne sports team ensure that the culture enables students to try really hard without embarrassment. “We try and make girls and boys feel comfortable taking part in exercise together,” adds Pip Sanders. “This would include being sweaty in front of each other and making that acceptable. Essentially, it’s about making exercise cool!”

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SY D E N H A M H I G H SC H OO L

ABOVE St Catherine's, Bramley is a top UK school for sport

ST CATH E R I N E ’ S , B R A M LEY

irls’ sport may not always get the exposure it deserves, but St Catherine’s School, Bramley aims to redress that – the Surrey girls’ school was placed in the top five independents for sport in 2019. Despite this exceptional ranking, the focus is on sport for all, with traditional pursuits sitting alongside activities such as dance and fitness. “Once the girls reach U4 (Year 9), we also offer a rotational range of sports activities, including indoor hockey, football, trampolining, dance and aerobics, which is tailored to the preferences of each cohort,” says Head of Sport Nancy Moore. The range is increased to enable everyone to ‘find’ their sports. Teams are there for every ability level and the school finds that there’s great camaraderie and support – inspiring the less athletic to stay engaged. To encourage sport to ‘stick’, even as academic studies grow in importance in the sixth form, the team support girls in developing coaching roles –

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BELOW Sydenham High says girls need to see sport as fun and for life

useful life skills that also enhance a CV. It’s also about building teamwork, responsibility and the belief that sport is a lifelong activity. The school helps to make sport available to the wider community – local schools use its swimming facilities and sports holiday camps run through the holidays, supported by staff. Girls are also encouraged to look beyond the curriculum, joining clubs to grow and develop new skills. Each member of the teaching team works to develop a specific sport, and there’s plenty of high-level prowess among St Catherine's teachers. For instance, yoga was delivered by St Catherine’s RS teacher during lockdown (she also happens to be a qualified yoga instructor) and sessions have continued because of their popularity. Girls are also encouraged to share the sports they enjoy – Ultimate Frisbee is now a regular activity. Cricket has also been reintroduced. “It has proved to be hugely popular and we now have six teams per year group which is more than any of our local schools!” says Nancy Moore. Football is being developed to tap into girls’ enthusiasm. “We are always looking for more opportunities to offer the girls and work incredibly hard to make things happen,” adds Nancy Moore.

t Sydenham High School, the approach is all about encouraging girls to see sport as something that is fun, inclusive and for life. Headmistress Katharine Woodcock also leads on the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) Sports Matters Committee so has particular insight into the ways sport can be made more appealing. The approach is to inspire students to try new things. “This is so important with sport,” says Katharine Woodcock. “It is important to us that every pupil feels that they have a chance of proving themselves, of showing ability and potential and are encouraged to get involved and have a go.” The range of sports is broad – from cricket and football to dance and rowing – and with curricular and extra-curricular programmes. “As pupils progress up the school, we are looking to expand the offering

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“To encourage sport to ‘stick’, even as academic studies grow in importance, St Catherine's support girls in developing coaching roles” to provide the opportunity to try activities traditionally available in fitness centres, such as yoga, pilates or spinning,” adds Director of Sport Jenny Matthews. Activities continue beyond the school gates, with a wide range of fixtures with local schools, as well as events such as the London Youth Games and county tournaments. The school sports ground has hosted sports days with a local school partner and there are strong links with a local boys’ school through Sydenham’s rowing programme. More unusual sports include Ultimate Frisbee and trampolining – both available through clubs – and there is encouraging uptake of both cricket and football. These sit comfortably alongside traditional games. Katharine Woodcock says that when it comes to imbuing a lifelong love of physical activity, schools have a key role to play. “We need to expand what ‘sport’ means to young people, away from just the traditional netball and hockey teams and being purely selection based. Even in these traditional games at Sydenham High, pupils at all levels represent the school.”

RIGHT Swimmers at Millfield School BELOW Hockey at Sydenham High School

M I LLF I E LD SC H OO L

illfield has an international reputation for fostering sports high achievers and the approach at the Somerset school is to help children to find the thing they are passionate about. The school’s Discover Brilliance programme lets them try everything on the school menu – and there’s plenty to whet their appetites. “We believe in a multi-sport development experience and avoid early specialisation. To do that, we provide a diverse range of sports and activities from the traditional rugby, hockey, netball to the non-traditional freestyle gymnastics, mixed martial arts,” says the school's Director of Sport Dr Scott Drawer. Millfield opens up facilities for local community use – from swimming clubs to camps, festivals, IAPS netball and football training. One problem Millfield faces – as does every school – is making space to deliver all the new and exciting

activities that are buzzing on social media or TV. Often a new teacher will arrive with a unique skillset, and that’s when pilot sessions and clubs are established to test the waters. Among the recent trials have been parkour and freestyle gymnastics and a mixed martial arts programme is also on the cards. Another element that is being expanded is outdoor adventure, including paddle boarding and surfing. Girls' rugby is already on the list – and growing in popularity among Millfield students. While many students who attend Millfield may love sport, it’s certainly not a prerequisite. “Not everyone loves sport, and we recognise that. The key thing for us is that students are active and that does not necessarily have to be through organised coach sport. There are opportunities for everyone, including yoga, pilates and gym sessions if the students prefer,” says Scott Drawer. “The key thing is to ensure the sporting experience is engaging, enjoyable and fun and this means different things to different people, so we like to keep sport challenging, developmental and motivational. Friendship groups are so important in this process so it’s important to have flexible and dynamic schedules to keep young people connected.” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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ST DUNSTAN'S COLLEGE

Passionate about

COMMUNITY St Dunstan’s College announces a groundbreaking partnership with Lewisham Council and Westside Young Leaders Academy B y C A S P A R D AV I D

t Dunstan’s College is passionate and proud of its vibrant and diverse community: the residents of Catford and Lewisham, its pupils and their families, the organisations they share spaces and ideas with, and the international links and connections across London. The school knows that classroom teaching and learning forms only one part of the educational journey. Learning from and giving to others, through involvement in our wider communities, is of equal importance in shaping compassionate and confident young people who can go on to make positive choices in their pathways through life. This summer, the College announced an exciting new partnership with Lewisham Council and Westside Young Leaders Academy (WYLA), establishing the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy (LYLA). The Academy has been established in response to research and evidence showing disparities in attainment and

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outcomes for Black Caribbean and dual heritage (Black Caribbean/White) children and young people, not just in Lewisham, but throughout London and the UK. Lewisham Young Leaders Academy will offer additional support to young people from across Lewisham, through transformative teaching in life skills, including leadership, teamwork, presentation skills and CV building. Young people will be invited to enroll for the scheme through their school or other networks connected to the programme. The sessions will initially take place on Saturday mornings and will be run by an experienced team of educators who have already enjoyed success with a similar project in west London, the Westside Young Leaders Academy. Lewisham Council is funding the project and St Dunstan’s College will be providing free use of its facilities. Speaking about the partnership with Lewisham Council and Westside Young Leaders Academy, Nicholas Hewlett, Head of St Dunstan’s College said: ‘It is fantastic that the council here in Lewisham is able to see the potential of working

together with schools such as ours. We can likewise see the enormous benefit of being more deeply embedded within the community of Lewisham, and the impact WYLA has already had on countless young people is phenomenal. We look forward to learning from our partners about the important work we are undertaking and how it can be developed in the future. ‘This project has enormous potential for growth and development, and we look forward to trailblazing how private schools can have genuine educational impact on the broader community in which they are based and particularly for minority groups who are in specific need of targeted support.’ A spokesperson for the new Lewisham Young Leaders Academy said: ‘At Lewisham Young Leaders Academy (LYLA), we are excited to offer the young people of the borough some of the very best tried and tested leadership programmes and experiences. We will be working in partnership with St Dunstan’s and Lewisham Council. This partnership will provide the newly enrolled Young Leaders with new challenges and opportunities

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EDUCATION XXXXXXXX • FOCUS XXXXX

“Our children and young people are the future of Lewisham, and we want them all to succeed”

which will aid their development into the next generation of leaders.’ Cllr Chris Barnham, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Performance at Lewisham Council said: ‘Our children and young people are the future of Lewisham, and we want them all to succeed, to achieve all that they can, and to seize the opportunities available to them in the modern economy, and the world city that is London. ‘Developing skills such as leadership, communications and presentation is key to succeeding in life, and that is why programmes such as the Lewisham Youth Leadership Academy are so important. Part of the work we are doing to tackle race inequalities in education is to ensure all young people no matter their background can access high-quality training and learning programmes such as this. I’m excited to meet more of our future

leaders as this programme develops.’ The new partnership comes at an exciting time for St Dunstan’s College, which has just opened a new £25million Junior School building, STEM Centre and Sixth Form Centre with state-ofthe-art facilities, which will continue the school’s long tradition of education ‘being ahead of its time’ – something the original 1888 founders believed in and facilities that will be available to LYLA and other community groups. Last year, the College was named Independent Co-educational School of the Year at the Independent School of the Year Awards and was most recently praised for its ethos by the Good Schools Guide, who explained: ‘The St Dunstan’s ethos could come across as a bit ‘woke’ on paper, but in real life we found the school to be inspiring, both liberating and liberal thanks to interesting leadership, committed

teaching and a very engaged student body. A great school for unstuffy polymaths.’ St Dunstan’s was delighted to report outstanding A Level and GCSE results this summer, a fitting testament to the inspirational courage, compassion and creativity demonstrated by the students and their teachers, within the unprecedented context of the last 18 months. In such extraordinary times, 94% of Year 13 applicants secured their first-choice higher education course, with 94% of students having held offers from Russell Group universities. Find out more about the partnership online at stdunstans.org.uk. St Dunstan’s will also be holding a whole College open day on Saturday 25 September, 9.30am – 3.30pm. A Sixth Form Open Evening will also take place on Thursday 7 October, 6.00pm – 8.00pm.

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Modern Boarding for girls aged 11-18 in the heart of the Kent countryside

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EDUCATION • ROOTS

JOIN

the CLUB

From drama to beekeeping, science to DJ skills, our independent schools are full of brilliant clubs to take learning further. We set out to ﬁnd out more about what’s on offer and why clubs are so important

Eaton Square Schools

BELOW Club fun at Eaton Square Schools

here are a total of 51 clubs (at last count) at Eaton Square Schools, with a dizzying array of activities to keep young people engaged with learning and help their social development. “Music Technology / DJ Club is probably our most novel offering, but there really is something for everyone,” says Eaton Square Prep School Headmistress Trish Watt. Sports enthusiasts can join ballet, karate, fitness fun and athletics – or fine-tune their skills in sports they already play and love. Creative clubs are also popular, with drama and drawing clubs giving children the opportunity to take classroom interests further. “We run a host of academically-focused clubs, such as Maths Brain Builders, Coding and STEM and – for the more able learner – invitation-only Think Clubs, which stretch the children and get them to think outside of the box,” says Trish Watt. Club settings are a useful way to help children build exceptional skills in a different way – the school’s Scholars’ Classes help prepare for senior school scholarships, while elite squads aim higher in swimming or chess. Busy

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“Clubs are a great way of instilling the lifelong values of ownership, service and empathy” working families appreciate the daily Homework Club – a quiet space to help children get work done so home becomes about quality time. When it comes to deciding on a new club, children set the agenda. “It all starts at the all-important Student Council Meeting,” says Trish Watt. “Our Student Council Representatives – a pupil from each class – speak to other children from the wider student body and share ideas in their weekly meetings. If a new club has been suggested and we feel it has traction, we will add it to the roster.” Eaton Square believes a thriving club scene brings multiple pupil benefits. “Prep school is all about discovery. It’s about discovering who you are, what you like and what you are good at. Clubs allow children to do that in the most remarkable way,” says Trish Watt. As children grow, there tends to be a narrower selection of activities – largely because they have now found the things they love and are busy honing their talents. This, too, enables young people’s social and emotional development. “This early taste of democracy and playing an active role in a wider community is of great value. Clubs are a good way of instilling the lifelong values of ownership, service and empathy – all of which happily coincide with our own School values.”

part of the mix, along with specialist clubs in areas such as fencing and golf. Arts and crafts sit comfortably alongside construction and Warhammer. Logical thinkers stretch their minds in science, computer or brainiac clubs, and with a plethora of drama – including a LAMDA club – and specialist music clubs. “The Bell choirs are a unique part of the school, and they perform regularly in school concerts and annually at the College Carol Service in St Albans Cathedral,” says Mark Turpin. In the Senior School, clubs focus on sporting, cultural, academic and pastoral aspects. “There are over 60 clubs to get involved with, and the cornerstone of extra-curricular clubs and student formation is the SHAPE programme – the weekly clubs timetable covering service, House, academic, practical and extra-curricular activities,” says Joe Tatham, Assistant Head for Student Formation. Pupils are closely involved in the

creation of new clubs – LAMDA and Science Crest Award being two recent examples where students have been initiators. “With girls joining the school over the next few years as the school moves to co-education, new sports and clubs will be driven by what these first girls are interested in,” says Joe Tatham. He adds that clubs give the older pupils the opportunity to take on leadership and mentorship roles. The school also sees the benefits they bring in forming and fostering friendships and links across the wider Columban community. “The extracurricular activities that students take part in are what they often remember about their time at the school and enjoy reminiscing about at alumni reunions many years later.” Ultimately, says Joe Tatham, extracurricular clubs build confidence. “The children stretch themselves and experience the pride of learning something new, overcoming fears and sharing the camaraderie of friends. This is the essence of adventurous learning.”

RIGHT St Columba’s pupils enjoy exploring

St Columba’s College

t St Columba’s College, St Albans, there are over 35 clubs in the prep alone. “The programme of activities changes each term so that children can try different clubs throughout the year, and every child can find something to enjoy and be challenged by,” says Mark Turpin, the prep’s ExtraCurricular Activities Co-ordinator. Traditional school sports are a big

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PRIVATE TOURS NOW AVAILABLE Contact us to arrange a visit

My husband and I were very impressed by the school ” “during our visit. We believe the ethos of the school and its teaching philosophy would be a perfect place for our son to thrive, grow and develop. Private Tour - May 2021

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EDUCATION • ROOTS

Taunton School

here are 133 clubs happening every week in and around Taunton School at the moment, and in non Covid times over 185 were counted across prep and senior schools. Deputy Head Co-Curricular Hayley Mortimer says these are divided into different areas, including academic support, enrichment, CCF and outdoor education. There is plenty of dance, drama, music, sport and a host of student-led societies – Dungeons and Dragons has just returned to the school club fold. Taunton has an enviable location on the Devon coast, so among the delights the school can offer include Open Water/Long Distance Swim Club and the prep school Eco-Club – apple pressing, juice making and beekeeping activities are included. A uniquely homegrown invention – The Lisk History Society – remembers a former teacher and noted historian at the school with an array of activities, including an annual parade. There’s a very democratic approach to how clubs are established and run. “Students are involved at every step of the process,” says Hayley Mortimer. “The programme is very dynamic and is constantly evolving, and developing every term based on current trends, or socio-cultural issues.” Senior students run many clubs, with staff support, and also volunteer to assist with the prep school’s co-curricular programme. Hayley Mortimer adds that clubs are vital to the life of the school and the whole co-curricular programme is dynamic, evolving to meet the needs of students and

ABOVE Taunton School swimmers BELOW Taking to the stage at ACS Egham

world events. “You can react to global events, support current socialcultural news and allow the co-curricular river to ebb and flow in whichever direction it takes.” One huge benefit of clubs, from the school’s perspective, is their ability to give lifelong passions the opportunity to emerge – and help young people develop their personalities and leadership strengths. Hayley Mortimer lists confidence, creativity, accountability and perseverance as among the benefits a culture of school clubs enables. “The biggest benefit is that this is how a student ‘shapes’ their whole profile within a school community and our co-curricular activities enable an individualised programme for each of them to find their own path.”

ACS International School Egham

t ACS International School Egham, there are over 100 co-curricular opportunities offered to the population of around 500 students. “We mainly split these into three categories: Challenge, Service and Play,” says Jamie Johnston, Director of Co-Curriculum and Athletics. Challenge clubs give students the opportunity to develop a new skill or enhance existing ones, for example, competitive sports and

drama. Service is where students have the opportunity to give back, develop as individuals and build skills required to complete the Creativity, Activity Service component of the IB Diploma. Last year, students developed a whole production of Alice in Wonderland, updating the children’s classic to highlight modern issues – from loss of innocence to the #MeToo movement. “The entire production was student led,” says Sarah Garlick, ACS Egham’s, Head of Theatre & Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) co-ordinator. Jamie Johnston says that creative play is an area that has come into particular focus. The school has introduced ‘free play’ sports clubs where students participate, but have no pressure to compete. He believes the absence of competition caused by Covid has actually helped some sports to grow in popularity. He says: “Girls football, in particular, has boomed”. Students regularly suggest ideas for clubs and activities. “We do get some unusual requests – whether that’s Marching Band, or Quidditch!” While the decision rests on both staffing and sustainability, the freedom is, says Jamie Johnston, vital. “Clubs can offer an important solution: parents feel confident that their children are in the safe hands of the school and that they are ‘doing’ something. Meanwhile, children have the chance to explore and discover more about themselves.” He believes that post Covid we need to recognise and enhance such opportunities. “Nature walks, ‘maker’ clubs, photography, rock band, disc golf and even kiteflying all give young people a sense of freedom which – let’s be honest – has never been more needed!”

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AV N O W A I N I LA B LO N O RT L E ND H ON

WORKSHOPS Creative Writing

Handwriting Exam Preparation Mock Exams

Interview Skills Reasoning

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EDUCATION • PARTNERSHIP

“REGULAR EYE EXAMINATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF HEALTHCARE”

about your child’s vision, in which case we would recommend they are seen earlier. Children under 16 (and under 19 in full-time education) are entitled to an NHS eye examination each year unless advised otherwise by the optometrist. There are a few signs that parents and teachers can look out for that may indicate a child requires an eye examination and vision correction.

Back to

SCHOOL Shoes? Tick. Uniform? Tick. Sight test? Time to visit The Eye Place B y C A S P A R D AV I D

uch like uniform, shoes and stationery, an eye examination should be on your list of preparations for the new school year. Children spent many months at home over the last year, being educated via computers and spending much more time on digital devices during downtime. So it is particularly important to ensure their eye examinations are up to date before starting the new school year in September. Regular eye examinations are an important element of healthcare, as our optometrists check not only the prescription, but also the health of the eye. There is no minimum age from which you should take your child for an eye examination, but school age is a good time to start, unless there are any concerns

• Squinting to focus • Sitting too close to the TV or holding digital devices too close to their eyes • Excessive rubbing of eyes • Complaining of headaches or eye pain • Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and copying things down incorrectly COVID-19 has had a huge impact on eye health over the last year and may have further contributed to the myopia epidemic. Researchers in China have found a substantial shift in myopia because of confinement at home in children aged 6-8. In Canada, a national health survey discovered that during the early lockdowns, eight-year-olds were spending on average 5 hours per day on devices on top of screen time needed for schoolwork. Myopia, or short-sightedness, is predicted to affect 50% of the world’s population by 2050, with children of myopic parents more likely to develop the condition. People with a high myopic prescription are more likely to develop other longterm eye conditions later in life such as glaucoma and myopic maculopathy, which is why it is so important to diagnose and manage the eye condition as early as possible with myopia control products such as contact lenses or spectacles. If you have any concerns about your child's vision, contact your local Eye Place. T H E E Y E P L AC E the-eye-place.co.uk

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Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate An Excellent rated (ISI) school welcoming children aged 3 months to 19 years. Find out how we can help support your child to achieve their aspirations in our unique prep, middle and senior four-school model. Call to arrange a private tour or join us at our next open day on 2 October 2021. www.qe.org

Shortlisted for Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts and Independent Prep School of the Year.

“To be the best that I can, with the gifts that I have.” www.qe.org | admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS

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EDUCATION • FOCUS

TEAM WHITE WATER RAFTING IN NORWAY FOR THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD AWARD EXPEDITION.

SPORT AND FUTURE CAREERS How sport benefits everybody at Gordon's School

B y C A S P A R D AV I D

here is no doubting the importance of exam grades and qualifications, but increasingly employers are looking at the soft skills that separate one candidate from another. And while the classroom will gain students their first job or place at university, it is character acquired on the games field or in the school play, the team spirit and ability to get on with others as part of a team that will sustain them through life. At Gordon’s School, a non-selective residential boarding school in Surrey, all students are given the daily opportunity to play sport or indulge in a hobby or interest. The school also boasts a higher than average

number of students completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. And in Year 10 every student joins the CCF (Combined Cadet Force), choosing the Army, Navy and Air Force. The school’s Head of Careers, Sandra Radford, sees these opportunities as vital not only for physical and mental wellbeing but for improving transferrable skills and ultimately pupils' chances in whatever they decide to do after leaving school. “Increasingly employers aren’t just looking at exam grades but Duke of Edinburgh Awards on CVs. It demonstrates commitment, diversity, the ability to handle pressure, time management, a have-a-go attitude and certainly enhances a student’s employability. Sport, DofE and CCF take students out of their comfort zone. They become more confident

“Leadership, perseverance, endurance, teamwork and problem-solving are all necessary qualities”

ALL STUDENTS AT GORDON’S ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE A GO AT A SPORT OR ACTIVITY.

through taking part in these disciplines, learn leadership qualities, perseverance, endurance, teamwork, problem-solving and discover new skills – all necessary qualities for their working life, whatever career they choose.” All major sports are represented at Gordon’s as well as equestrian, golf, karting and cycling. The new sports hall, completed in October alongside another all-weather sports pitch, will enable sportsmen and women at the school to compete in even more disciplines such as futsal; badminton, indoor cricket, athletics, football and basketball whatever the weather. In September 2020 the school welcomed the first clutch of students on the Harlequins DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) programme to provide a pathway for 16-18 year olds pursuing a professional career in rugby. The commitment to sports extends to the school’s staff. Many of them have excelled in their fields, ensuring the highest level of coaching and commitment. Some students leave Gordon’s for American universities on scholarships for golf and football. Others are set to tread a path to professional sports. And all take part in some form of competitive sport, whatever their ability. Director of Sport Jamie Harrison explained: “The ethos of the school is to develop the whole child and our sporting infrastructure provides our students with the best coaching, facilities and experiences. However, it’s not just the very sporty students that play competitive sport, every one of them is encouraged to have a go at something – whether representing their House or against other schools. We see time and again those that would otherwise not attempt competitive sport doing so for their House, enjoying and benefitting from it” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Fresh

ARRIVAL Maida Vale School is a fresh addition to the London learning landscape. We find out more about its approach and how this new school community is developing By LIBBY NORMAN

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n the face of it, 2020 was not an auspicious time to start anything new, yet that’s precisely what Maida Vale School did. The co-ed independent secondary located in Saltram Crescent – an enclave of Victorian villas between Maida Vale, Kensal Town and Queens Park stations – opened its sunshineyellow doors to 50 pupils last September. For Founding Headmaster Steven Winter, the pandemic meant a few supply issues back in the early months of 2020 when contractors were readying the school, but nothing to push well-laid plans off course. On the plus side, the team had a heads-up on what was likely to unfold. “We set up the school from day one to be able to go into remote learning,” he says. “Any lessons that had to be learnt were learnt before the school opened.” This meant Maida Vale pupils were ready to rise to the challenge of digital. “They bought into our remote learning incredibly well,” says Winter. When school was physically open, the size of cohort relative to the space helped. “In many ways we could act more normally than many other schools,” he says. And there’s been an abundance of goodwill. “There’s been that camaraderie that comes with being part of a new community.” This includes parents as well as staff and pupils. “We were all much more forgiving of each other because we all understood that we were living in a slightly odd situation.”

“There’s been that camaraderie that comes with being part of a new community” It helped that Maida Vale School had been a long time in the making and with a clear strategy for putting down strong roots. It’s also gained strength from being part of the family-owned Gardener Schools Group – joining three well-established schools in London. So that begs the question, why this location? Winter says one good reason was the number of pupils at sister secondary Kew House travelling from this part of London. “There isn’t an independent co-ed senior school within two to three miles of us so we are serving a community that would really like their children to go co-ed.” Already, the geographic range of its cohort is becoming clear. “We’re starting to see our catchment area define itself – Willesden and Harlesden to the west, the Kensals and Queen’s Park to the north and to the east of us St John’s Wood and Hampstead. Also, pupils are coming from Notting Hill to the west.” Local feeder schools have been very supportive. In April Gardener Schools Group announced to parents that it now offers through school. This means pupils at Ravenscourt Park and Kew Green preps have a guaranteed place at Maida Vale or Kew House provided that their individual learning needs can be met. The four school Heads are close knit and collegiate – for instance, Steven Winter and Will Williams over at Kew House

talk several times each week – so that perspectives and ideas get shared. Parents will spot that all four schools sport the same vibrant blue within their uniform (although each uniform has its own unique identity). What they might not realise is that Maria Gardener, the Group’s founder and Director of Education, still teaches a lesson in both senior schools every week. Winter says this helps to “root her experience” from a pupil perspective, adding: “I think that’s something that says a great deal about the Group”. Maida Vale started small deliberately – the 50 pupils that joined in years 7, 8 and 9 swelled to 66 by the end of the first school year. This September there are 120 pupils enrolled. It is all part of a strategy to grow the school and its culture from the ground up. The first sixth form entry is not until 2023 and it will be managed to avoid overwhelming those students who have journeyed through the school. “While we will allow some sixth form entry in 2023, it won’t be large,” says Winter. Ultimately, the school will have a roll of approximately 600. No doubt the 16+ cohort considering Maida Vale will be attracted by the Independent Learning Centre and Sixth Form Terrace. But the whole Victorian building has been remodelled to offer 21st-century learning spaces. Previously it was a college building (originally built as Paddington Technical A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Institute) and those large rooms, high ceilings and big windows were crying out for bold architectural thinking. Now there are multiple science labs and music suites, along with computer lab, CAD/CAM, art, design and food technology rooms. There is a terrific theatre (Wizard of Oz became a whole-school production and was a highlight of the first school year). There are also dance and fitness studios, Astroturf pitch, basketball court and breakout zones. Another thing that feels distinctly modern is the open-door policy for parents, with a swish Parent Café, along with a programme of friends’ events, workshops and talks. Building a sense of togetherness is integral to the school ethos – community responsibility is one its pastoral values (along with mutual respect, tolerance and compassion). The school also sets out its stall on learning values (resilience, creativity and problem solving, supporting and inspiring others and reflection) and these twin sets of principles

“The strategy is to grow the school culture from the ground up – the first sixth form entry is not until 2023” provide clear language applied to every endeavour. “Values-led education is nothing new – it’s a big thing in the States – but it was a great opportunity for us to do it really well and to do it in a way that would see young people through the challenges of global living,” says Winter. So why are front-andcentre school values so important? “We’ve then got a shared language that we can use all the time,” he says. “Pupils understand their role in that language, and they understand their role in our community.” Winter has seen values-led approaches at work, and he’s made them work. While at Felsted he was ‘loaned’ to Richmond Park Academy and says he learned a lot there about leadership. Most recently, he was Deputy at Bethany School in Kent – rated among the top 0.5% nationally for pupil progress at A level by the time he left – and his time there taught him that good pastoral care and progress go hand in hand. “If you put all the procedures in place – tracking strategies, and so on – and you make sure pastoral care is really effective, then pupils know they are supported and can really fly.” When it comes to the curriculum, perhaps the most innovative approach at Maida Vale is in the design of the school day. There are six hours of lessons – as opposed

to the typical five – thanks to a timetable built round four 90-minute lessons a day. This saves a lot of time between lessons and gives time for more rounded learning journeys. “There’s time to really explore subjects, to focus and question, but also time to consolidate and make sure that before that you’ve left that lesson you’ve fully understood – It has not just been a drive-by.” When it comes to homework, it’s shorter (and sweeter for pupils) with just 40 minutes a night for the youngest. Winter reassures those parents who think more is always better when it comes to homework. “I say to them: ‘What I really want for years 7 and 8 is that they buy into our enrichment’.” Young people enjoy the full gamut of clubs – from sports, languages and drama to coding, cooking and classical guitar. The emphasis on extracurricular ties in perfectly with a school ethos of nurturing not hothousing. “What do we want for young people? We want them to be able to build really good relationships, to find things they are really passionate about and to go out into the world knowing what work-life balance looks like,” says Steven Winter. “What more could you ask for?” maidavaleschool.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Enterprising HURST COLLEGE A look at Hurst College’s recent successes By EVE HERBERT

Hurst College’s Young Enterprise team, Plants with Purpose (PwP) won the Sustainability Award at the regional Young Enterprise final. As event winners of the overall county title and the Digital Skills Award, PwP went forward to the regional competition against six schools from Kent, Surrey and Hampshire, three of whom won awards. As well as winning the Sustainability Award, PwP only just missed out on going through to the national finals. The Hurst team also made the final of the JA (Junior Achievement) competition, the European version of YE, as one of only five UK teams selected to take part. Earlier in the year, PwP took part in a Dragons’ Den event and won the Business Plan Award and the Dragons’ Den Award. The

dragons praised PwP for having the best produced video, a standout logo, impressive website, good market research, cohesive brand identity/packaging/channel marketing as well as a professional business plan and presentation. PwP’s product was a range of herb planting kits packaged in a reusable fabric bag, with a choice of Thyme, Lavender, Mint, Chamomile and Rosemary. “This is a phenomenal achievement. Covid made the whole process of building and running a viable business more difficult than usual. PwP have achieved financial success and been recognised by Young Enterprise, JA Europe and Dragons’ Den for the quality of their product and the exemplary way they have managed their company,” said Jan Leeper, Head of Careers, Hurst College. In other news, Hurst College’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Jami Edwards-Clarke, won the

“Hurst's team went forward to the regional competition against six other schools”

EDUCATION • FOCUS

Outstanding INDEX (Inclusion and Diversity Excellence) Leadership Award at the Boarding Schools’ Association Awards 2021. Jami was appointed last year, alongside her responsibilities as a boarding housemistress and PE teacher. Under Jami’s leadership, the support from staff and pupils to drive the movement forward has been overwhelming. She created pupil and staff D&I platforms to share and develop initiatives under the mantra #Be#Yourself@ Hurst; and led the team in organising support for the numerous D&I events including Black History Month, Disability Awareness Week and Pride History Month involving pupils, staff and their families. The judges said: “Jami has shown exemplary leadership and management. These results are visible in the impact of her strategies and the clear emphasis placed on stakeholder voices.” In response Jami said: “Pupils and staff have been the engine throughout. Despite a global pandemic what has been achieved is more than impressive. This award isn’t about me, it’s about the College, with everyone embracing the challenge. The journey isn’t over, but we can be really proud of what we have achieved.” H U R ST C O L L E G E College Lane, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BR6 hppc.co.uk

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FOOD SKILLS

Leith’s School of Food and Wine offers classes for children of all ages. Absolutely sends a student By PENDLE HARTE

“There are more ambitious classes for children with an interest in serious food”

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obody wants their child to be the one that arrives at university not knowing how to boil an egg. While some children seem to absorb kitchen skills by osmosis, others manage to bypass them entirely. In my house we have both. There's a 12 year-old who can comfortably produce not only cookies and bakes but also actual dinner, and takes an active interest in salad dressings and the espresso machine – and an otherwise competant 15 year-old who has to ask how to turn the oven on. Brilliantly, Leith's cookery school has devised classes for all abilities, designed for children up to the age of 16. There are more obvious ones for smaller children, focusing on cakes and biscuits, but there are also more ambitious ones for children already showing an interest in producing serious food. We enrolled the foodie 12 year-old in a holiday session focusing on street food for teenagers. Though she was willing, she wasn't exactly delighted, expecting it to be babyish. But as it turned out, she was the youngest one there, and several of the others had been attending sessions in the previous days. They were keen cooks. The menu was impressive and global: Korean beef bulgogi involved marinating steak (freezing it for 15 minutes first, to firm it up, and slicing it thinly) then stir-frying it quickly. Pork and ginger spring rolls in lettuce wraps required lots of chopping of vegetables, soaking noodles and frying pork mince, then carefully constructing the lettuce wraps. Chickpea flatbreads

were a simple recipe and one that we will return to, essentially flour, tinned chickpeas, water, yeast and spices. There's a focus on basic kitchen skills – being careful with heat and knives, for instance, and separating raw meat from cooked, and participants come away with a certificate and recipe sheet at the end. Courses in October include Italian cookers for teenaagers and a plant-focused session with Jenny Chandler. Courses are added regularly; check online for details. leiths.com

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EDUCATION • TALKING POINT

Are exams ﬁt for

PURPOSE? Like the ﬁrst cuckoo of spring, debate about public exams signals summer. But the past year has raised even more questions. We get perspectives from experts on the education front line

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EDUCATION • TALKING POINT

“The change that does need to happen is that GCSE, A level and BTEC should become separate from Government interference” JESSE ELZINGA

HEADMASTER, SEVENOAKS SCHOOL

Sevenoaks School adopted the IB Diploma over 40 years ago, going exclusively IB post-16 some 15 years ago

ummer means that perennial topic raises its head again – public examinations. Parents and teachers everywhere are forced to consider, sometimes wearily, the debate over how we’re testing, why we’re testing and whether the results current tests produce are worth the paper they’re written on. The past year has thrown up even more issues – and a much broader debate – since Covid stopped normal assessment processes at 16 and 18. What is certain is that this debate has some way to run, but in the meantime we asked three school insiders to give their perspectives on the current public examinations landscape.

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“My view is that qualifications are fit for purpose in the UK. The chaos of the public exam debacle of 2020 brought into sharp relief the difficulty of trying to find a fair way of awarding grades in the absence of externally marked assessment, be that examination or coursework. The arrangements for 2021 remain very complicated and difficult, putting even more pressure on schools. My overarching view is that external awarding bodies serve a valid purpose; they offer high-quality qualifications that are marked anonymously and objectively, and are not subject to parental pressure or teacher assessment. It is true that there are, from time to time, inconsistencies in the marking of public exams in this country. However, exam boards do have the hierarchy of markers, with senior examiners checking work and overseeing appeals, and I think mechanisms for reviewing marking are effective overall. In the vast majority of cases, I know that most schools think a fair grade was awarded. One of the biggest challenges for GCSE, A level, BTEC and other qualifications overseen by the UK Government is that these qualifications are too often tampered, particularly when there is a change of Government or a new Secretary of State for Education who wants to make their own mark. Michael Gove’s reforms, in his time as Secretary of State for Education, were

far too radical and ambitious, and left the sector reeling for several years with further amendments since. Ideally, the Department of Education would be a separate branch of Government that is apolitical, where the people in charge are specialists in education rather than Government ministers who, by definition, have a limited tenure. Changes are too often motivated by politics or pressure from the press, rather than what is good for education. The significant advantage of the IB Diploma Programme is that it is run by a non-profit external body, the IBO, and is not subject to the whims of Government. On the contrary, it is taught in more than 150 countries and has changed very little since it was first established more than 50 years ago. Of course, during the pandemic and in the absence of exams, the IBO has also had to think quickly about how to award qualifications and have had their own challenges. The qualifications of GSCE, A level and IB that are offered across the UK are all very well respected by universities and employers. They offer a fair benchmark at these age points and are passports for the next stage of education. We have learned in the pandemic of the difficulty of awarding fair grades in a transparent process without public exams, and for many people in education a return to normality in the next academic year will be a great relief. I do not think it is the time to throw out any qualifications. The change that does need to happen is that GCSE, A level and BTEC should become separate from Government interference in the same way the IB Diploma is.”

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24/08/2021 22:05

Mayﬁeld

AN INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11 TO 18, SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE JUST AN HOUR FROM LONDON OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT STATE OF THE ART EQUESTRIAN CENTRE FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS

Open Mornings SATURDAY 25 TH SEPTEMBER & TUESDAY 9 TH NOVEMBER TO BOOK YOUR PLACE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

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25/08/2021 09:33 11:23 11/08/2021

EDUCATION • TALKING POINT

“The advantage of the UK system is that it provides for both breadth and specialism, and also for students to change their pathway”

KEVIN STANNARD

DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & LEARNING, GDST

Dr Kevin Stannard of the Girls’ Day School Trust previously worked with Cambridge University’s international exams board “The debate about A levels and its alternatives is fundamentally different from that about GCSEs. It makes sense to have some sort of school-leaving qualification, externally verified, that signals a young person’s readiness to progress to the next stage. The problem with A level is that it is being made to serve two very different – even conflicting – functions: as a general schoolleaving certificate for some young people; and as a sorting mechanism for entry to selective universities. Maybe these should be separated, with the sorting (and the attendant need for slicing and dicing in terms of grades) left to the universities themselves. One anomaly of A level is its timing – with results coming after university application and hence the need to issue conditional offers. The move to post-qualification application should be a priority, for the sake of fairness and fitness for purpose. Another anomaly (compared with other countries) is A level’s reductiveness – forcing most students to narrow down to three subjects at an unusually early age. This connects it with the problem with GCSE: without the need to jettison subjects at sixteen, there would be no need for high-stakes exams in those subjects at that point. GCSE exists because many students once left school at sixteen. The school-leaving age is now higher, and this battery of high-stakes tests remains as a relic of past times. Not only does it not serve a useful purpose, it actually forces education out of shape. Time that could be spent teaching is taken up with testing; teaching itself is

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LEFT A pupil at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate RIGHT Jesse Elzinga, Headmaster at Sevenoaks School

focused on test-prep rather than expansive exploration; and the vast amount spent on administering the exam system diverts funds from resourcing schools properly. The cancellation of exams last year, revealed the GCSE system as resembling the emperor’s new clothes: GCSEs were awarded on the basis of teachers’ judgements, and it arguably made next to no difference to students’ trajectories.”

DAN MACHIN

ACTING PRINCIPAL, QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGIATE

QE offers its students both A levels and BTEC exam options “A levels remain one of the world’s leading qualifications for pre-university study. Nationally and internationally, they are recognised by universities and employers as a high-quality, reliable opportunity for students to show what they are capable of achieving. As they are administered and assessed independently by examination boards, the results continue to retain a high level of integrity. In my view, BTECs also provide

outstanding preparation for university, as well as for future employment. Key to their success is their ability to offer an academically rigorous alternative at the same time as developing practical, realworld skills. Not all students are able to demonstrate their abilities and strengths through end-of-course examinations alone. GCSEs provide structure and focus for students who would otherwise be very inexperienced in the demands of public examinations. They allow students to demonstrate ability across a wide range of subjects and at different levels, and the recent move to introduce Grades 7-9 allows for greater differentiation of ability. Where GCSEs would benefit from future review is in the range of options available in English, mathematics, and the sciences to broaden choice. The UK system provides for both breadth and specialism, and also for students to change their pathway. For some, the ability to specialise early is of great advantage in today’s competitive university and jobs markets. For others, the flexibility of the UK education system allows for experimentation, choice and wide-ranging skills development.”

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24/08/2021 22:06

S N IO ON AT D C N LO LO E N TO RE SE G LO C

THE WORLD NEEDS NEW THINKING. GET READY. COME AND SEE OUR SPACIOUS CAMPUSES. We offer a world class international education that builds each child’s resilience, creativity, self-belief and knowledge. Now more than ever we ready our students for a world that demands a new kind of learning – and a new kind of citizen. • Girls and boys aged 2–18 • Day and boarding • International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement Programme (AP) • Bursaries available at all UK schools for students aged 11+ 13+ and 16+ • Safe door to door busing from London and surrounding areas • Top UK and global university destinations

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RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’ Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings Open Mornings

9.15am Tuesday 14th November To book your place on an open morning,

9.15am Thursday 9th May 2019 please go to www.rpps.co.uk/openmornings 9.15am Thursday 18th January 2018 9.15am Tuesday 11th June 2019 or phone 020 8846 9153

9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018

To your place on an open morning, pleasemornings, go to To book register your attendance at one of our open rpps.co.uk/admissions or phone 020 8846 9153 please phone 0208 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk

Ravenscourt Park Prep School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL

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KEW GREEN preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” “Pupils of all ages benefit from a rich and exciting curriculum.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

To book your place on an open morning, please go to www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings or phone 020 8948 5999

Kew Green Preparatory School

Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF

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Be part of the community Our rich and varied curriculum, inspiring teaching and exciting co-curricular activities are designed to spark our pupils’ natural curiosity and foster a joyful love of learning. We encourage each child to find their passions, to be courageous and ambitious, and to truly shine. September 2022 places: Application deadline 1 November 2021.

020 8858 0692 | blackheathprep.co.uk | Follow us:

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SPECI A L ISSUE

absolutely-mama.co.uk

In this section:

Sleep truths

Advice from an expert •

Buggy news

The lowdown on Leclerc

JUMP ARO U N D Absolutely Mama loves the new Mama by MORI maternity collection, created to support you through every stage of your journey and celebrates the changes to our bodies that motherhood brings. We love this super stylish and flattering jumpsuit. babymori.com

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BOUNCER BLISS Mesh – Grey Beige

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m a m a SLEEP

S L E E P T I G H T A sleep consultant explains why parents don’t need to accept sleep deprivation… By KAREN MILLER

ou can forget about sleep now! is a very common phrase that new and expecting parents are sure to hear over and over again from friends and family. It’s commonly accepted that once you have a child, sleep deprivation is the norm and something you just have to learn to live with. We seem to have made little progress over the years when it comes to advice around babies’ sleep. Phrases such as ‘Sleep when the baby sleeps’ and ‘It’s just a phase’ as well as ‘Get used to being exhausted’ are simply not helpful. The truth is, sleep is a biological need, not a luxury. The consequences of getting less than seven hours sleep a night on someone’s physical and mental health are much more serious than people realise. More than 1 in 10 women in the UK suffer with postnatal depression, according to the NHS, and up to 1 in 10 new fathers are also suffering. More needs to be done to educate new parents on the links between sleep deprivation and mental health issues. In his book ‘Why We Sleep’, Matthew Walker talks about how sleeping less than six to seven hours a night demolishes your immune system, more than doubling

your risk of cancer. He explains that insufficient sleep is a key lifestyle factor as to whether or not you will develop Alzheimer’s disease. It also contributes to all major psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety and suicidality. Most shockingly, Walker discusses how drowsy driving, which are accidents caused by sleep deprived drivers, exceed those caused by alcohol and drugs combined. As a sleep consultant, I know that many parents feel guilty for reaching out for support and wanting their child to sleep. Many are even suffering with severe anxiety as a result. The loss of control and exhaustion some mothers feel spending all day trying and failing to get their baby to sleep, only to be up all night as well, is frankly miserable. Added to that is the pressure of having to potentially go back to work on little to no sleep, with many expressing that they don’t know how they will cope, but they feel like they have little choice. Not only does it affect the mother’s ability to function as a parent but it can

“Sleep is a biological need, not a luxury”

also impact your relationship. Many couples end up sleeping in separate rooms and miss having their evenings to spend with their partner. Weekends are mostly spent with dads trying to carry some of the burden, so mum can catch up on some sleep, but where does that leave you as a couple? It’s becoming more acceptable to reach out and ask for help for things like breastfeeding, for example, with lots of support available, but when it comes to sleep there seems to be this unwritten rule that you just have to accept it. Mums feel judged for expressing their concern over their child’s sleep and many do not admit to using a sleep consultant, for fear of others thinking they are being selfish for wanting a good night’s sleep. But what can you do to help your child sleep more soundly?

Sleep Environment Creating the right environment can help promote the sleepy hormone, melatonin, which helps baby to settle and stay asleep. Use black out blinds to keep the room as dark as possible and keep the temperature between 18-20c. Night lights are great for toddlers when they become scared of the dark around age three, avoid white/ blue light which can block melatonin.

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thoughtfully designed Making parenting simpler always comes first at MORI, which is why we created the Zip-Up Sleepsuit. This bestseller is crafted in our softer than soft signature fabric made from organic cotton and bamboo, to keep babies dreaming at the perfect temperature every night. It features a concealed zip from top to toe making dressing and changing quick & simple.

babymori.com Join our community @babymoriofficial #MORImoments

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m a m a SLEEP

Awake Windows Avoiding the dreaded overtiredness makes all the difference in how well your child sleeps. To do this, don’t rely on tired signs as some babies don’t have any. Instead find out what their ideal awake windows are for their age and stick to those. Put them to sleep within that window of time, not after, and this will help to ensure they settle quickly.

Sleep Props

all, especially if baby is over four months they may settle themselves back to sleep. The most important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way for getting your child to sleep – but it is possible for them to sleep well. Sleep isn’t something for the select lucky few who have ‘good’ babies, it’s important for everyone to be able to function properly. It’s time to make sleep a priority because there is a reason why everything is better after a good night’s sleep.

Consider which sleep associations you’re comfortable with. Dummies are great for newborns but can become an issue after four months. Use positive sleep props like comfy toys, swaddles and white noise.

Don’t Rush In Overnight – stop, listen and then react. This will help you to learn what type of cry it is. Are they genuinely hungry? Do they need help to calm down or are they just tired? Sometimes we don’t need to go in at

Karen Miller is a Baby and Toddler Sleep Consultant and founder of Asleep At Last

asleepatlast.co.uk @karenmiller_asleepatlast

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AU T U M N 2021 WITH

YO U N G S O L E S . LO N D O N

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TRIED & TESTED

IN-DEPTH REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PARENTING KIT

mama REVIEWS

Joie’s Signature Collection R e v i e w e d b y L E A H DAY

e have been long awaiting the birth of Joie’s latest offering, the Signature Collection, and we are especially excited to get our hands on the Finiti and the i-Level to see how far this range has stepped up in quality and innovation to make getting around with your little one easier than ever. The new colourway and styling is a noticeable upgrade up from the core range and the new fabric has a luxurious woven feel to it. The matt black frame of the new finiti pushchair, along with the vegan leatherette trim, enhances the whole appearance, making it feel premium to the touch. Wheels are foam-filled rubber and the Flexi suspension makes for a beautiful push on all terrains as well as a superior cushioned ride, making naptime strolls a success.

The leatherette swivel bar is completely removable and the canopy is UV50+. The 5 point harness has clever magnetic strips to ensure clipping your little one in is fuss-free. The seat fully reclines, making it suitable for infants, and there is a handy little pocket at the back of the seat. The push bar has extra length to allow taller people to push at a more comfortable height and the basket has plenty of room. Our favourite upgrade is the cool removable bumbag that neatly clips onto the front of the basket so you don’t have to lug a huge bag with you if you need to nip somewhere. The pushchair is foldable with the seat unit on in either direction, which is a godsend. There is a clip to ensure it is secure and a stopper on the push

bar to allow the unit to stand freely. It weighs only 11.5kgs, which is super lightweight for a travel system. We think the travel system-ready i-Level is the best seat to come out of the Joie family yet. When it comes to car seats, not only do we worry about safety for our little ones but we are also concerned with how long they can stay in their seat and how to transport them from the car fast asleep to the travel system in one easy move. The i-Level clips safely from its Isofix base directly onto any chassis compatible with Maxi Cosi or Joie adapters. This seat reclines 157° which allows for ergonomic airflow and lengthens out the spine. As with the whole Signature collection, the i-Level offers luxurious woven fabrics and tan leatherette trims, plus removable body inserts that allow the seat to adapt as your child grows. We love this seat so much that for quick trips we would opt for this over a carrycot as it is convenient, comfortable and looks superb on the Finiti too. The Finiti - 4in1 pushchair is available now from £400 and the i-level from £300 joiebaby.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Go further. Go finer.

From car seat to carrier, we’ve got all the moves. No matter where your adventure takes you, make your move with Joie Signature – a dream team made up of our favourite Joie players. Available at Boots, John Lewis, Mamas & Papas, Very and all good independent nursery retailers.

Explore signature joiebaby.com

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Open Events for Years 3, 4 and 5 (ages 7 - 9) entry Please visit the Admissions section of our website to book a place for one of our Autumn Open Events. Find out more about our holistic approach to education from the Master, Head of the Junior School and members of staff, including the many opportunities in Sport, Drama, Music and Art. All applications to Year 3 are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships. The offer of a place in the Junior School is the offer of a place at Dulwich College to age 18. Visit www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or please call the Junior School Registrar on 020 8299 8432. We look forward to hearing from you.

Open Events for Year 7 and Year 9 entry Please visit the Admissions section of our website to book a place for one of our Autumn Open Events. Find out more about our holistic approach to education from the Master and members of staff, including the many opportunities in Sport, Drama, Music and Art, and details about how to apply for a Bursary. All applications are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships. Visit www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or please call the Registrar on 020 8299 9263. We look forward to hearing from you.

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mama PROMOTION

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Ethical and successful, Biovault Family explains the life-saving capability of your baby’s umbilical cord blood

new generation of babies are growing up protected by an exciting new kind of health insurance. This protection is unique to your child’s needs, entirely organic and potentially lifesaving. Stem cells are extraordinary, and the ones left in the umbilical cord blood and tissue after birth are especially powerful. These lifesavers can regenerate to replace any damaged blood or tissue cell in the body.

A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES Perhaps the most exciting recent development in stem-cell science is the discovery that the umbilical cord is packed with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Like the stem cells in cord blood (HSCs), MSCs can renew and differentiate to create new specialist cell types. But unlike HSCs, which develop into blood cells, MSCs can differentiate into any tissue type such as bone, nerve, tendon and muscle. The potential to use cord blood and cord tissue stem cells to treat disease and injury is enormous and scientists

are investigating treatments for: • Alzheimer’s disease • Heart attack • Autism • Liver disease • Bone fractures • Macular • Brain injury degeneration • Burns • Multiple • Cerebral palsy sclerosis (MS) • Cystic fibrosis • Parkinson’s disease • Diabetes • Spinal cord injury • Hearing loss • Stroke While some trials are in very early stages, therapies for severe autism and MS are already helping patients internationally. Biovault Family offers the processing and storage of cord tissue to facilitate the future potential of MSCs and is engaged in research and development. Its website’s Health Hub offers up-to-date news on trials and patient stories. Cord blood stem cells represent a pioneering area of medicine, having been used for more than 30 years to treat blood cancers, immune and metabolic disorders and solid tumours.

HOW IT WORKS Collecting your baby’s cord blood and tissue only takes a few minutes. Biovault Family

has made the process as simple as possible. There’s no need to make changes to your birthing plan, and you can still have a natural third stage and delay cord clamping. In fact, most mums say they didn’t notice the collection take place. Everything is in the collection kit, including instructions to share with your birthing partner and the healthcare professional who’ll collect baby’s cord blood, and you’ll be supported at every stage.

BIOVAULT FAMILY Biovault has released over 4,000 tissue and stem cell units for transplantation as the NHS South West Peninsula Transplantation Service’s tissue bank. Telephone: 01752 753713 Facebook: @Biovaultfamily Email: hello@biovaultfamily.com biovaultfamily.com

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mama PROMOTION

ASK AN

ANGEL How spiritual teacher Helena Clare is helping people to navigate the world

ould you love to have insight into your children’s happiness and health, your relationships, your next promotion or job or maybe just understand what the world is all about with its challenges and current craziness? A senior executive, mum and clairaudient spiritual teacher, Helena Clare, has founded The Lightseeker’s Way platform to help individuals of any faith access their own highest guidance. ‘A third of Britons believe they have a guardian angel while 10% claim they have experienced the presence of angels,’ she says. ‘Angelic communication combines the extensive benefits of meditation with 24/7 access to the wisest guidance available.’ Here are some facts 1) Meditation increases wellbeing and

longevity, reduces anxiety and depression, reduces high blood pressure and increases staff performance, CEO visioning and emotional intelligence. Albert Einstein meditated on riding a light wave for months in advance of finding his Theory of Relativity and Steve Jobs used meditation to expand his creative visioning.

“A third of Britons believe they have a guardian angel” 2) Heaven – the neurosurgeon Eben

Alexander in his book Proof of Heaven explains medically how his experience whilst ‘brain dead’ during a coma, is proof that heaven exists. The psychologist Michael Newton in Destiny of Souls provides case studies of countless clients who, under hypnosis, consistently spoke of the same loving ‘in between lives’ world that we return to when we die.

3) The Field – Lynne McTaggart in the

Power of Eight summarises how leading universities have found groups of individuals meditating on a specific intention can statistically significantly change the Ph of water, heal themselves or others of major health problems, and even reduce warfare and crime.

‘People frequently tell me I’m the most resilient person they know. Even my

physician says with all the trauma I’ve experienced I should have a serious medical condition, instead all my health indicators are excellent. I’ve been in a destructive marriage and divorce, experienced the trauma of having a severely disabled child with multiple near-death hospitalisations, while having senior exec roles and during economic and Covid stresses. Instead, I am happy and so are my children. And I’ve met a lovely soul mate. This has been possible because of my ever-present divine, unconditionally loving and intensely wise Guidance. This is a gift that I want to share.’ The Lightseeker’s Way signature 7 Day Angel Challenge online course is designed for busy parents and professionals new to meditation and angel communication. Taught through videos and meditations it has email and Private Facegroup member support (100% money back guarantee). The course is drawn from Helena’s forthcoming book The Lightseeker’s Manual – How to Communicate with Angels, Raise Your Vibration and Save the World. L I G H T S E E K E R S WAY Have a question you want answering? Ask an Angel, visit lightseekersway. com/courses/7-day-angel-challenge/ or email: helena@lightseekersway.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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m am a BRAND XXXXXXXX

FOUR WHEELS GOOD Mama quizzes the brains behind buggy brand Leclerc Baby

Q Tell us about Leclerc Baby. What

makes your buggies special?

A Being a parent doesn’t mean that you

“We want parents

to live their most beautiful life and enjoy every moment of it”

have to radically change your lifestyle. At Leclerc Baby we want parents to live their most beautiful life and enjoy every single moment of it. With the Leclerc Baby pushchairs, we make parenting much easier and safer. With the one-touch folding systems, Leclerc Baby offers a smart solution that allows you and your child to travel ultra-light, compact, and above all very safe. The one-touch folding mechanism allows you to fold and unfold using just one hand. If you travel by car this means that you can hold your child in one hand and fold or unfold with the other hand without leaving your child unattended on the street for a moment.

Q Who is the Leclerc Baby

buggy designed for? A Leclerc Baby strollers are designed for parents with a sense of quality and design. Those who want to do no concession to comfort and quality and are looking for an all-in-one stroller solution that they can use in any possible location. Q What’s new from your brand? A Next to the MF Plus collection (£359)

and the award-winning Influencer collection (£399), Leclerc Baby is about to launch their Hexagon collection (£539). These exclusive pushchairs are designed by famous Dutch fashion designer

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Christian Lagerwaard and are a real eye-catcher. These pushchairs are based on the same auto-fold mechanism but are customised using the highest quality of velvet and leatherette. The pushchairs can even be ordered with personalized embroidery of your child’s name. Q How does the buggy suit urban life? A The Leclerc Baby pushchairs are great

for people who love to travel or for people with a city lifestyle. If you travel by air, the pushchair can easily be placed in most overhead lockers. The ultra-compact size also allows you to travel comfortably by public transportation. With a broad range of accessories, the Leclerc Baby pushchairs can be seen as all in one – 0 to 5 years solutions. The pushchair can be used in combination with an easy-to-store carrycot or changed into a twin/duo combination using the Leclerc Baby twin/duo adaptors.

Q What should we be

looking for in a buggy?

A A pushchair should make parenting a

bit easier. It should fold and unfold easily and it needs to be light and compact for travelling. At the same time, it should have all characteristics of a traditional buggy or pram such as comfort and safety. With integrated mesh in the seat, reflective shoulder pads and a five-point magnetic buckle belt Leclerc Baby proves to take safety very seriously. Of course, design plays an important role when choosing a pushchair as well, but at Leclerc Baby, we believe that the current popularity of our brand is mainly caused by the quality and safety standards of our products.

leclercbaby.com

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PROPERTY

CHURCH ROAD SW19

£2,250,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

well-presented four bedroom penthouse apartment which has recently been re-decorated, and is set on the first and second floors of an impressive period building located in the heart of Wimbledon Village with amazing 360 degree views over the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the London skyline

ROBERT HOLMES & CO

020 8947 9833 robertholmes.co.uk

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www.johnmartinestates.com 1995-2020

EALING W5

£1,250,000 FREEHOLD

A spacious halls adjoining semi-detached five bedroom period property in a premier road in the heart of Pitshanger Village which has been modernised and extended throughout. To the ground floor are two excellent sized reception rooms, cloakroom, utility room and extended kitchen/dining/family area. To the first floor are four bedrooms and modern family bathroom. To the second floor is a large bedroom with separate shower room. Other benefits include period features, some double glazed windows, gas fired central heating and a 70’ east facing rear garden. Energy Performance Certificate - E.

82 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QX jmesales@johnmartinestates.com JOHN MARTIN.indd 1

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“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£1,100,000 FREEHOLD

A well presented mid terraced family home in the heart of Pitshanger Village, superbly modernised and extended by its current owners. The ground floor offers through flowing accommodation including lounge, dining area, cloakroom, well arranged fitted kitchen and spacious family room opening onto the rear garden. To the first floor are three good sized bedrooms and modern family bathroom and on the second floor a further bedroom and en suite shower room. The property also has some period features, double glazed windows, gas fired central heating, 45’ east facing rear garden with wooden cabin which can be used as a study or entertaining area. Energy Performance Certificate - C

T: 020 8998 3333 JOHN MARTIN.indd 2

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www.johnmartinestates.com 1995-2020

EALING W5

£620,000 LEASEHOLD

An unusual, split level (first and second floor) conversion apartment, a short walk from Ealing Broadway, which is rich in character and offers spacious living accommodation throughout. The first floor offers large lounge, well arranged fitted kitchen/diner, family bathroom and third bedroom currently used as a study. To the second floor are two excellent sized bedrooms. The property also benefits from an array of period style features (period fireplaces, double hung sash windows), gas fired central heating and well maintained communal gardens. Energy Performance Certificate - D.

82 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QX jmesales@johnmartinestates.com JOHN MARTIN.indd 3

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“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£465,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A beautifully modernised ground floor, two bedroom flat only a short walk from Hanger Lane Central Line station and award winning Pitshanger Lane. The property has been tastefully redecorated and is in immaculate condition throughout. The accommodation comprises south facing lounge with balcony/terrace, newly fitted kitchen, two good sized bedrooms and modern bathroom. There is also gas fired central heating, double glazed windows, entryphone system, burglar alarm, two storage units to the rear and communal gardens to the front and rear. Energy Performance Certificate - C.

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Bath Road, W4 A six bedroom semi-detached home in the sought after Bedford Park. Arranged over three floors, there are two reception rooms and three bathrooms. The modern kitchen at the rear of the house opens onto a large garden with patio. This would make an ideal family home, energy rating e.

Weston Road, W4 This four bedroom mid-terraced home has been well maintained with spacious rooms, high ceilings and period features throughout. Located close to Chiswick Park and South Acton stations, there are also a selection of boutique restaurants and independent retailers nearby, energy rating d.

£2,500,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

£999,950 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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Parkside Gardens, Wimbledon Village £6,950,000

The Green, Wimbledon Village POA

Thurstan Road, Wimbledon £899,950

With planning approval to extend or demolish and build a new house of approx. 12,000 sq ft.

Close to the Common with self-contained accommodation and garden room with roof terrace.

End of terrace in a quiet cul de sac with a lovely garden and garage.

3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 191’ garden, double garage and OSP ER/F

3 reception rooms, study, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, courtyard garden, OSP ER/D

Double reception room, conservatory, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, west facing garden ER/E

Arthur Road, Wimbledon Village £3,250,000

Pine Grove, Wimbledon £2,225,000

Murray Road, Wimbledon Village £2,750,000

A stunning house in a prime location with far reaching views.

Larger than average, recently modernised house in a quiet cul de sac.

Reception room, kitchen/dining/family room, 5 bedrooms, study/bedroom 6, 4 bath/shower rooms, south facing garden, Garage & OSP ER/C

Reception room with balcony, kitchen/dining/ family room, study/bedroom 5, 4 bedrooms, 3 bath/showers, loft room, garden, garage & OSP ER/C

Offering wonderful scope for a new owner to put their own stamp on their future home located just off the Common. Reception room, kitchen/dining/family room, 6 bedrooms, room suitable for e/s bathroom, bathroom, separate WC, cellar rooms, garden ER/E

Wimbledon Village Office Sales: 020 8947 9833 Lettings: 020 8879 9669 • ROBERT HOLMES_2021.indd 1

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www.robertholmes.co.uk

Dupont Road, Wimbledon

£770,000

Moor Park Gardens, Kingston upon Thames

£3,750,000

A well-presented 3 bedroom, period house in the sought after “Apostles”, providing accommodation arranged over 3 floors with potential to extend (STPP). 3 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen/dining room, garden.

An impressive 7 bedroom double fronted Georgian style residence that is well positioned in a quiet gated development within exclusive Coombe. 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms (all en-suite), 3 reception rooms, superb open plan kitchen/dining room, staff annexe, garden, off-street parking.

West Road, Coombe

Drax Avenue, Wimbledon

£3,400,000

An exceptional and beautifully presented five bedroom detached family house located in a premier private road off Coombe Lane West. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, fabulous kitchen/dining room, double garage, off-street parking, delightful walled garden.

£6,000,000

A most attractive and truly delightful 6 bedroom detached house built in 2004, located in the sought after Drax Estate. 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, cinema, gym, self-contained 1 bed flat, garage, off-street parking, garden.

Coombe Office Sales: 020 8947 1100 • ROBERT HOLMES_2021.indd 2

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A STUNNING COLLECTION OF 4 & 5 BEDROOM CONTEMPOR ARY EXECUTIVE FAMILY HOMES A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO THE BROXBOURNE SCHOOL (OFSTED RATED GOOD)

SHOW HOME NOW OPEN

– Designer kitchens with Siemens appliances and quartz work surfaces – Underfloor heating to the ground floor, Amtico flooring and fitted carpets – Less than 30 minutes to London Liverpool Street* PR ICES FROM £715,0 0 0 Scholars | High Road | Broxbourne | EN10 7HE

SALES & MARKETING SUITE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

By appointment only. 10am–5pm.

CALL 01992 663 890 salesherts@hamptons.co.uk *By train travelling from Broxbourne station. Travel times taken from National Rail.

www.hamptons.co.uk

An exclusive collection of nine 2 & 3 bedroom apartments Short distance from Enfield Town and Enfield Chase stations Private parking

Contemporary Shaker kitchens

32 minutes to London King’s Cross by train

Prices from £599,950 – £925,000

For sales enquiries 020 8370 3999 saleslondon@hamptons.co.uk

Internal images are of a previous showhome and used for guidance only. Computer generated image is indicative only.

• HALVES QUARTERS_USE.indd 11

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NEW RELEASE A development of luxury 4 & 5 bedroom family homes set within an exclusive private, gated development in Hertfordshire. PRICES FROM £975,000 CALL US TODAY AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TO VIEW OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED ASCOT SHOWHOME

104 Cuffley Hill | Goff’s Oak | EN7 5EY

020 8441 955 5

NEWHOMES@STATONS.COM www.chasenewhomes.co.uk

STATONS.indd 1

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Working from home? Let’s find you a home for work and play.

jll.co.uk/residential Sales | Lettings | New homes

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SALES

5 -7 Tur n h a m G re e n Te rra ce, C h isw ic k , Lon don , W4 1R G Te l 0 2 0 8 7 4 7 8 8 0 0 · Fa x 020 8995 7275 E-m a i l i n fo @wh i t m a n a n dco.com · We bsite w w w. w h i t m a n a n dco. co m

FAIRLAWN AVENUE, W4 KINGSCOTE ROAD, W4

£465,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,395,000

LETTINGS

An extended five-bedroom home west garden located this quiet residential TheThree accommodation a double Anexceptional amazingly fully light, well presented triplefamily aspect flatwith with thefacing added benefit of aon balcony and private street. garden. bedrooms,comprises luxury bathroom, reception room,room, full-width room gas withfired bespoke kitchen and large bi-fold doors leading to a landscaped west-facing garden access,Ideally 14' reception fullykitchen/breakfast integrated kitchen, central heating, share in the freehold, balcony and private garden withwith siderear access. master bedroom showerof room and feature floor standing bath,the four further bedrooms, bathroom, west-facing terrace,High cloakroom, situated within suite closewith proximity Chiswick Park tube station and extensive shoppingfamily and restaurant facilities onroof Chiswick Road. eaves and understairs storage, front garden with bike/bin store. Located close to local shops, a park with childrens play area, cafes and restaurants and the more extensive facilities on Chiswick High Road. Transport links include Turnham Green and Chiswick Park stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London.

LINDENCOTTAGE, GARDENS, W4 LAMB THORNEY HEDGEW4 ROAD, W4

£330 PER WEEK £1.600,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,250,000

A newly decorated lower ground floor garden flat with west facing garden. Large double with reception room with An exceptionally spacious natural three-storey Victorian house,private currently registered as an HMO, offering hugebedroom scope STPP andwardrobes, ideally located in this soughtwood floors, bathroom withclose shower over,tofitted kitchen, garden. flat is on oneaccommodation of Chiswick's best located the shops, after residential street offering proximity numerous facilities. The The well-proportioned comprises fiveroads, doublemoments bedrooms,from two bathrooms, restaurants onwith the3m High Road and kitchen/breakfast 5 minutes from Turnham Green station. property available early September, furnished. two receptioncafés rooms high ceilings, room, utility room, privateThe 38’ west facingisgarden, cellar. Situated in this quiet tree-lined residential street offering close proximity to Gunnersbury Station, Chiswick business park and the extensive shopping, bar and restaurant facilities on Chiswick High Road. No chain.

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LETTINGS POINT WHARF LANE, TW8 LONSDALE ROAD, W4

£350 PER WEEK £2,700,000

ABeautifully superb 3179presented sqft double fronted semi-detached period familyfloor homeflat located on this quiet residential streetriverside in the sought-after Bedford Boasting Park area ofaChiswick. Theopen property is two double bedroom second in this highly sought after development. stunning plan unique in having a fullroom, basement extension which provides 27’11x18’10 reception/play utility room, cloakroom androom, store. The comprises 26’10 double kitchen reception a river side balcony and aamaster ensuite bedroom.room, Large open plan reception fullyground fittedfloor kitchen with agranite work reception room, dining room, breakfast room, fully fitted kitchen andparking access tospace a lovelyincluded. mature garden. On the first floor are four double bedrooms, an en-suite shower room, a tops, fitted wardrobes and riverside views. Underground family bathroom and a separate WC. The top floor offers a 28’ full-width master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, fitted wardrobes and extensive eaves storage. Located within a short walk of Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants, Stamford Brook and Turnham Green stations and local bus routes (94 bus stop 2 minutes’ walk). No chain.

QUEENCOTTAGE, ANNES GROVE, LAMB W4 W4 RECKITT ROAD, W4

£430 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £899,950

large,beautifully light andrefurbished beautifullyfreehold presented double bedroom flat on highly road in the heartfrom of Bedford Park, from AAstylish housetwo located on this sought-after roadthis in the heartdesirable of the Glebe Estate moments the shops, cafesjust andminutes restaurants Turnham underground station. Top floor views from the reception and on ChiswickGreen High Road. The property is arranged overposition two floorsensures with thebeautiful accommodation comprising a stunning 29’bedrooms. living space incorporating a fully fitted kitchen, reception room and dining space, a generous boot room/utility/entrance hall, two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, luxury full bathroom, a good size private garden, front garden and cloakroom. Reckitt Road is a quiet residential street within a few minute’s walk of Chiswick High Road’s extensive facilities, the river and Chiswick House and Grounds. Transport links include Turnham Green stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London.

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Urban LUXE

Embassy Gardens’ new Courtyard Collection sets a new standard for apartment living By EVE HERBERT

190

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

he leading riverside neighbourhood Embassy Gardens, home to worldfirst Sky Pool located in Nine Elms, London, has just launched The Courtyard Collection. Complementing the final existing residential offering at the mixed-use development, The Courtyard Collection is the final release at the Modern, marking the final chance to become a part of Zone 1 central London’s most significant regeneration project at the heart of everything. The Courtyard Collection offers 153 apartments designed with a bold take on 21st century city-centre living. The new building comprises a unique selection of river and park-facing suites, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments, with starting prices from £635,000. Completion is expected this autumn, allowing its community of young urban dwellers and families to take advantage of quick occupancy.

PROPERTY • DEVELOPMENT

THE SKY POOL – A NEW ICON FOR MODERN LONDON Residents receive Eg:le membership, giving them and guests access to the highly anticipated Sky Pool, a world-first transparent pool 35m in the sky. Filled with 148,000 litres of water, the Sky Pool spans 15 metres between two residential apartment buildings and is constructed out of thick acrylic, taking inspiration from some of the world’s most impressive aquaria. Further cementing Embassy Gardens’ global reputation for highend amenities, the Eg:le membership’s additional curated menu of services includes access to a 24-hr concierge service, club lounge, two workspace suites,

“THE APARTMENTS HAVE A BOLD TAKE ON 21ST CENTURY CITY LIVING ”

a private cinema, an indoor pool, spa, sauna/steam rooms and one of London’s best health and fitness club offerings.

DESIGNED WITH A VIBRANT CONTEMPORARY LIFESTYLE IN MIND All apartments at The Courtyard Collection have been designed by internationally influential duo Benningen Lloyd to facilitate a luxury yet vibrant lifestyle, blending bold colours to complete the spirit of nearby New Covent Garden Flower Market and South Bank, maximise spacious living and uphold an ethos of craftsmanship at their core. With an Instagram-worthy backdrop of the Thames, every apartment comes with its own private balcony, connecting its living spaces with the new mile-long Linear Park – a zigzagging ribbon of green inspired by the High Line in Manhattan – that passes through Embassy Gardens.

NEIGHBOURHOOD VIBE Home to the U.S. Embassy and Penguin Random House, Embassy Gardens’

established status as a leading lifestyle and commercial hub for London where people work, live and socialise is ever-growing. It is already home to a diverse selection of thriving lifestyle brands, including Robin Gill’s Darby’s restaurant, artisanal District cafe, beauty and lifestyle concept Linnaean, well known craft cocktail bar the Alchemist, Irish cocktail bar Homeboy and boutique cycle studio static. The shops, culture and nightlife of Pimlico and Chelsea are just across the river.

CITY-CENTRE LIVING Walking distance from key transport hubs like Vauxhall station, The Courtyard Collective is well connected with travel to the West End in 15 minutes when the new Nine Elms Station opens in September. The nearby riverside walkways offers a scenic route along the Thames, and a new Thames Clipper service allows for an 11 minute journey to Embankment by water. embassygardens.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house?

Estate agency has moved on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts. You get both with us, because we provide that personal service without expensive high street locations that customers have to pay for.

We also go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible light. Sumptuous photography and video, and a contemporary web experience not only shows buyers how your home looks, but how it feels to live there. It’s the new, innovative way to add value when selling your house. The premium online estate agency.

London, Surrey and Sussex 0800 917 0447 info@housepartnership.co.uk

housepartnership.co.uk

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PROPERTY • LATER LIFE

AGE OF FREEDOM Eden Court – the latest Jewel in the Crown of Cinnamon Luxury Care B y C A S P A R D AV I D

194

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magine living in the heart of London close to the glorious open spaces of Battersea Park and the River Thames and within easy reach of the history, culture and vibrancy that our amazing capital city has to offer. Just think how you could enjoy your retirement without the worry of the upkeep of a property and garden; where everything you need to live an active and fulfilled life is under one roof with an incredible team of people on hand to deal with any worries or concerns. That’s how life could be if you chose to make a move to Eden Court Retirement Village on Battersea Park Road, SW11 – the latest jewel in the crown of Cinnamon Luxury Care which has retirement villages and care homes across the country and whose acclaimed portfolio is set to grow even further. Each of the 28 one and two bedroomed apartments (prices from £400k), is beautifully appointed with state-of-the-art fitted kitchens including top of the range

appliances and bathrooms with a walk-in shower featuring external controls for easy temperature adjustment. For added peace of mind, there is CCTV throughout the site and touch-screen tablets in each apartment to enable communication with reception and round the clock to the on-site team. Some apartments benefit from terraces overlooking the main courtyard garden with its leafy living wall and calming water features – a perfect oasis away from the bustle of London life. For residents seeking companionship, the café bar and restaurant, complete with baby grand piano, is a place where they can meet with friends. Those wanting to keep active will appreciate the Fitness Suite and the Activity Suite will host plenty of stimulating pastimes from arts and crafts to films and quizzes. For those who require more care and support, the integral care home, Eden Grange, offers nursing, residential, dementia and respite care in a comfortable and homely setting. There are spacious ensuite bedrooms, some with balconies, together with luxurious lounges and elegant dining rooms, several of which also have delightful outdoor terraces. The dementia community celebrates the uniqueness of every person that lives there. The innovative environment offers themed areas which will inspire memories and conversation and there is a room designed for peaceful reflection incorporating lighting and sound to calm and sooth the senses. OPEN HOUSE Eden Court is having an Open House on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September. Due to current circumstances, all visits must be booked prior to the day. 020 4502 3352 cinnamoncc.com/edencourt

B E AU T I F U L N E W H O M E S I N A C O U N T RY E S TAT E A selection of new and refurbished houses and apartments | 47-acre country park | Idyllic location

Scan here to see our two minute film & find out more

A country estate re-imagined Sales Suite opening soon, register your interest Call 01344 985889 or email us at sunningdalepark@berkeleygroup.co.uk

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