PREP
ISSUE 4 • SPRING 2020
ISI Rates the Prep School ‘Excellent’ PAGE 2
stedwards.co.uk
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...
PAGE 4 PAGE 3
Loving Literature
Room on the Broom – Forest School Style
PAGE 8 PAGE 5
Lessons from the Past
Working with New Star College
St Edward’s Preparatory School, 252 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6NR T:01242 388550 E:prepschool@stedwards.co.uk
The amazing spirit of the Prep School community has never been more prevalent than during the last few weeks of the Spring Term when circumstances beyond all of our control changed life as we knew it and we quickly had to adapt and change to ensure we were operating as normally as we possibly could. Difficult times call for people to step up and go the extra mile and I’m so thankful that our dedicated and innovative staff team, in collaboration with our families, have shown how much can still be achieved despite the difficulties presented by the current situation. In their report, following the Prep School Inspection in February (see full article below), the Independent Schools Inspectorate noted that ‘Pupils demonstrate an excellent understanding that individual success is not the only factor in their development and that co-operation can result in better outcomes. They adopt strong skills in working together as members of the school community’. On page 7 there is a collage of images sent in to us during the last two weeks of term – a fantastic display of our school community sharing, working and learning together, even though we couldn’t physically be in the same place. As we look ahead to the challenges of the Summer Term I know that this spirit of community will stand us in good stead as we continue to support each other and keep on learning through our Distance Learning School initiative. We hope to welcome pupils and staff back to the School site as soon as possible, but until then we remember that a School is about much more than buildings, it is the people and relationships between them that lead to our success and happiness.
DATES FOR THE DIARY Summer Term 2020 Term Starts: Tuesday 28th April Half Term: Monday 25th May - Friday 29th May Term Ends: Wednesday 8th July
Social Media links For all the very latest from the Prep School please follow us on Twitter: • @StEdwards_Prep – for news from the Prep School • @StEdsPrePrep – for news from Kindergarten and Pre-Prep • @SportStEds_Prep – for news of our sporting activities And on Instagram: • stedwardsprepcheltenham You can also like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ StEdwardsSchoolCheltenham
Mr Stephen McKernan Headmaster
ISI Rates the Prep School as ‘Excellent’ In early February, a team of Inspectors from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) visited the Prep School to carry out a Compliance Inspection and an Educational Quality Inspection.
It was an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate all that is on offer at St Edward’s both inside and outside of the classroom. We were delighted with the ISI findings that judged the School to be Excellent across the board. The inspection focused on three distinct areas. The first was a Focused Compliance Inspection, where the School was found to have met all the regulatory compliance matters and didn’t have any recommendations. It is common for Schools to have at least one recommendation in the area of Compliance, so we were delighted that the efforts of the School and the Board of Trustees were recognised in this way. The second area was an EYFS Educational Quality Inspection which looked our provision in our Foundation Stage (from Nursery up to and including Reception). This part of the Inspection was monitored by OFSTED as we cater for under 2-year olds. The School was judged ‘Outstanding’, the highest grade for this section. In the report it was noted that ‘All children, including those with SEND and EAL, make excellent progress
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in relation to their starting points, cumulatively building the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for the next stage of their education’. The final part of the Inspection focussed on Educational Quality, specifically on the level of Academic Achievement and Personal Development from Reception to Year 6. The School was judged to be ‘Excellent’ in both areas, the highest grade for this section. We were particularly pleased that in the report it noted that ‘Pupils demonstrate high levels of attainment in accordance with the school’s aim for them to ‘Believe, Strive and Achieve’, to be the very best version of themselves and find a joy in learning’. Headmaster, Mr McKernan said, ‘We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of the Inspection and are grateful for the recognition of the amazing work and effort of our inspirational and dedicated staff team. We look forward to continuously building on our strengths, seeking new ways to inspire, and continuing to enable all our pupils to develop into confident, resilient, compassionate and balanced individuals who can thrive in the present and the future.’
OUTDOOR PLAY TRAIL Thanks to all our parents, and the lead taken by the PTA, a new play trail was installed at the Prep School in January. The idea was initially presented to the PTA by Year 5 pupil Unai C and, as a token of thanks to him, Unai was lucky enough to get the first go on the finished equipment. The trail has gone down really well with the pupils who have been making good use of it at break and lunchtime.
EXPLORING THE ARCTIC
Loving Literature Pupils from Kindergarten through to Year 6 demonstrated their love of literature when they participated in World Book Day in March – the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK.
At the beginning of term children in Pre-School embarked on a topic exploring arctic regions and habitats. They have all had great fun learning about what life is like for the animals and people who live in the coldest places on the planet. One particularly enjoyable task was using a selection of sugar cubes and marshmallow to make their own igloos!
YEAR 6 INVESTIGATE BLOOD In Kindergarten the focus was on Rod Campbell’s classic book ‘Dear Zoo’ with both children and staff dressing up as characters from the well-known tale, including lions, tigers, elephants and rabbits! In Pre-Prep pupils in Pre-School to Year 2 had been asked to come to school dressed as a Julia Donaldson character. There was a whole range of characters on show including Stick Man, the Witch from ‘Room on the Broom’, the Gruffalo, Zog and Charlie Cook. There was a special World Book Day Assembly where the teachers, who had dressed up as characters from ‘What the Ladybird Heard’, sang to the children and talked about why reading is brilliant! In Years 3 to 6 the theme this year was literary monsters and pupils were encouraged to come to school dressed as a weird and wonderful character. During the morning the children participated in World Book Day themed activities with each year group focussing on a specific work of literature: ‘The Book that Eats People’ (Year 3), ‘The Hobbit’ (Year 4), ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (Year 5) and ‘Macbeth’ (Year 6).
During Prep assembly, each year group had an opportunity to share some of the things they had been working on during the morning, including creating comic strips, writing their own Patronus spells, and having a go at acting out a scene from ‘Macbeth’. There was also a costume parade, allowing all of the children to display their impressive outfits. A number of awards were presented, including ‘best dressed’ in each year group, along with the prizes for entries to the World Book Day Story Competition and the World Book Day Bake Off, where the children had been challenged to bake something based on a children’s story book or character. Our School Caterers, Holroyd Howe, also joined in the fun, dressing up as Mr Men characters and providing us all with a delicious themed cupcake at lunchtime. The days’ events were a wonderful way of bringing our pupils together, and encouraging them to talk about their favourite books.
This term, Year 6 had an interesting time working in the Science Lab as they found out about what blood is made of, what its function is in the body and where it goes. They learnt about the elements of blood – red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and enjoyed making their own representation using various materials including marshmallows and jelly!
CELEBRATING ST PATRICK’S DAY We celebrated St Patrick’s Day in March with a little help from our fantastic catering team, Holroyd Howe. They produced a delicious themed menu of Braised Gammon with Colcannon, or Vegetarian Irish Stew with soda bread, followed by Irish Porterless Cake and Shamrock Biscuits! All agreed that it was a lovely way to mark the day!
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PROTECTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PC McDowell came along to an assembly in January to talk to Year 2-6 pupils about the important role played by the Police in Cheltenham and the work they do to protect people in the local community. Presenting a mock crime scene, with the help of some willing volunteers, she demonstrated the importance of collecting the evidence correctly in order to ensure that the police have the best chance of identifying suspects.
WE THE CURIOUS Year 3 had a fantastic day at We The Curious in Bristol in January, taking part in lots of creative science-based activities as part of their topic, ‘Forces and Magnets’. A highlight was some hands-on fun using the We The Curious Truck, as the group explored some of the forces needed for movement. They also carried out some interesting investigations into how magnets repel and attract each other.
Celebrating Chinese New Year In January, right across the Prep School pupils took part in a range of activities to mark the advent of the Year of the Rat. In Kindergarten, pupils created threaded dragons using card cut-outs and a range of different beads and threads to decorate them. They also had the opportunity to learn some Chinese characters, using red sand and drawing them with their fingers. This was followed by an investigation of traditional types of Chinese food and an opportunity to try out using chopsticks.
the story of the Chinese Zodiac by acting out the Jade Emperor’s idea for a race, with each pupil representing a different animal that was involved. They also explained some other Chinese traditions and gave each child a fortune cookie on their way out. The Chinese theme continued throughout the week in Art lessons with pupils having a go at Chinese brush painting.
In Reception the children made mini lanterns, designed their own dragon, built the ‘Great Wall of China’ and wrote their name in Mandarin. The whole of Prep was treated to a themed assembly led by one of our Year 3 classes. 3T burst into the Sports Hall together to create a ‘dragon’. Each pupil had prepared information about Chinese New Year, including an explanation about when and why it is celebrated and the significance of the Chinese Zodiac.
WELCOME TED! We welcomed the latest member of the Prep School Well-Being Team this term - Ted the Cockerpoo! Ted has begun to accompany our Well-being Nurse when she is at the Prep School on Wednesdays, taking part in sessions with the children. Research has shown that a therapy dog can help to reduce anxiety and provide emotional support and so far Ted has proved to be a real hit with the children.
PRE-PREP VISIT SLIMBRIDGE The Pre-Prep Department visited Slimbridge Wetland Centre in late January. Whilst at the Centre they took part in a range of range of workshops and hands-on activities which focussed on how wildfowl and waterfowl dabble, dive, probe and graze for their food. They also looked at how birds’ bills are adapted to best suite their food stuff. The enjoyed trying to spot all the different species which live on the site.
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They talked about the 12 different animals that Chinese years are named after, presenting
‘Room on the Broom’ - Forest School Style This term, over the course of three focussed Forest School sessions, Pre-School children enjoyed playing out an interactive version of Julia Donaldson’s well-known story of ‘Room on the Broom’. During the first session the children listened to the story with enjoyment before setting off on their broomsticks in search of the missing characters who were lost in the swamp. They worked together to create super-improved broomsticks and forest crowns. They also used clay to make some scary swamp monsters and engaged in an activity to sequence the characters from the story, before enjoying a well-deserved hot chocolate and toasted crumpets. The following week the children made a witch’s brew by following recipe cards which encouraged them to mix a selection of mud, leaves and twigs. They also made magical wands by whittling sticks and decorating them so that they could turn their teachers into frogs and horses! In their final session on the story they used adult tools to prepare their wooden story logs and worked together to make magic mud!
Together for Story Time
YEAR 6 AT CHELTENHAM TOWN A group of Year 6 pupils formed a guard of honour for the teams as Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town played out a closely fought encounter in very cold conditions in February. Both teams scored but Cheltenham won 2-1 so smiles all round and a good night was had by all despite the wintry conditions.
DOWN ON THE FARM One afternoon in February, children in Pre-School and Reception were delighted to welcome their Grandparents to the Pre-Prep Department for story time and a delicious afternoon tea. The children had a wonderful time reading stories with their visitors, before they all enjoyed some really tasty sandwiches and cakes.
It was a lovely experience for the children to be able to entertain their guests and show off their classrooms. It was also really lovely for the Grandparents to gain a sense of what their grandchildren are doing on a daily basis and find out more about what life is like at St Edward’s.
In late January, the pigs from the School Farm transformed into rotavators when Mrs Pirie employed their help to dig over a small part of the school garden ready for planting. Never to miss an opportunity for curriculum enrichment, two intrepid Year 6 pupils, Ellen O and Alex I, braved the wintry weather to calculate the area of land the pigs had dug up – a very impressive work rate of 12sq metres in an hour and a half!
THE IMPACT OF POLLUTION As part of their topic on water this term, Year 2 learnt about the impact pollution is having on our natural environment. During one lesson they focussed on the pollution of our waterways and how it can affect the natural habitats of fish, animals and plants. They followed the story of ‘Freddie the Fish’ to see how pollutants in our waterways, including mud, oil, food and rubbish can have an impact on the creatures that live there.
Lessons from the Past We were delighted to welcome a very special guest to the Prep School in February. Peggy Smith, who has reached the impressive age of 105 years old, came to talk to some of our Year 6 pupils about her life and the world events that she has lived through. Peggy talked about her work in the fashion industry and also of her experiences during World War Two when her husband was a soldier. She also reflected on some significant events in history that she had witnessed, including the Moon landings, which she remembers as a hugely significant moment. The Year 6s had the opportunity to ask Peggy questions and it was really interesting for them to hear about the different type of life Peggy had experienced as a child when compared to their own. It was lovely to hear Peggy say that, despite getting on in age, she is still keen to be in touch
with the world and she was genuinely interested to talk to the Year 6s about their lives and the activities they enjoy doing. Peggy was keen to encourage our pupils to make sure they try really hard at school as she is convinced that it sets people up for life. She urged them to make the most of the opportunities they have every day and to look at life as adventure. We were hugely grateful to Peggy for giving up her time to come and visit us and, as a token of our appreciation, the Year 6 pupils were very pleased to present her with a jar of honey from our beehives.
LET’S DANCE In February Ellis W (Year 6) and Poppy (Year 4) had a very successful day at the National School’s ‘Let’s Dance’ Competition. They both competed in individual and couples’ categories with Poppy reaching a quarter-final (Individual Tango), two semi-finals (Individual Paso & Samba) and coming 4th in her couples, Cha Cha. Ellis placed 1st in three Classes (Couples Jive, Waltz and Quickstep) 2nd in Individual Paso and 4th in Individual Tango. A fantastic result for them both!
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Small Things Make a Big Difference
Engaging with Nature in Forest School Year 2 grabbed their binoculars one sunny day in February to see what birds they could spot in our Forest School! They followed this up with a bit of exploring and outdoor play.
At the end of February, Mr Fathers, led the final Prep School assembly on the theme of ‘How small things can make a big difference’. The children thought hard about how the little things they do can have a big impact on others, from an infectious smile, the kind gesture of holding the door open for someone or the little, but essential, inventions such as paper clips or nails used in construction. There was then a discussion about ‘The Apostleship of the Sea’, a Catholic charity providing pastoral care to seafarers through chaplaincies at ports in all continents of the world. Seafarers are often away from their families for more than six months at a time and the support provided from this charity ensures their well-being and guarantees access to priests and communion.
The assembly coincided with a Mufti Day to raise money for the charity through activities organised by our Pupil Chaplaincy Team. All pupils were invited to come to school dressed in mufti (preferably in sea colours, such as blue and green) and to bake cakes for a cake sale which took place in the Library at the end of the School day. The grand total raised was a fantastic £466!
Flipping Brilliant Children in Year 1 rolled up their sleeves and had a brilliant time in late February, flipping pancakes to mark Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent which lasts for 40 days until Easter. In Christian traditions Lent is a way of marking the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Traditionally, Christians would abstain from a whole range of rich foods and so in the period prior to Lent they would use up foods including meat, eggs, fish, fats and milk – hence the custom of pancake making began.
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Prior to making the pancakes the children had spent time looking at the recipe to ensure they had their ingredients just right. They thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to cook together and, of course, the chance to eat a sweet treat!
DISTANCE LEARNING SCHOOL The Spring Term ended in a rather unexpected manner because of the restrictions placed upon us due to the Coronavirus. Pupils and staff in Kindergarten, Pre-Prep, and Prep, all rose to the challenge magnificently. We were blown away by the enthusiasm, effort and pride the children put into their learning from home. Here is a small selection of some of the images that were sent in to us - #Community
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Working with the National Star College This term, Year 6 have been under the expert coaching of students from the National Star College as they learnt to play Boccia, an international Paralympic sport, similar to bowls.
Mr Stephen McKernan, Headmaster
What is your role within the School? I am Headmaster of St Edward’s Prep School and the resident Farmer. What did you do before working at St Edward’s? I have been teaching since I graduated at the age of 22. My first headship was to start a new school in Northern Ireland and I spent 7 years completing that project. I am very happy to be in my 9th year at St Edward’s where there is much still to do! What would you say is the most interesting part of your day-to-day work? Engaging with the pupils is always invigorating and rewarding. I also enjoy new educational ideas and thinking outside the box. St Edward’s is a place that is open to new initiatives and I gain a lot of energy from that.
The game requires concentration, skill and a degree of strategy as you aim to throw your boules as close to the ‘jack’ as possible. As all players must remain seated throughout, Boccia is an enjoyable pastime that can be shared by those with and without physical disabilities alike. The pupils first honed their skills during a series of training drills, learning to roll the boules with precision and just the right amount of force- trickier than it sounds! The drills increased in difficulty as the lesson progressed, with the National Star students explaining each new activity. National Star is an independent specialist college based in Ullenwood, Cheltenham, for people with
U11 ISA National Netball Tournament
What activities do you enjoy in your spare time? What is spare time? I enjoy all my activities and live my job as a way of life with my very supportive family. I enjoy cooking, doing a little farm carpentry and physically I enjoy running and meeting up with my brothers a few times a year for a weekend of golf. My favourite magazine is the New Scientist which inspires ideas for my next assembly! Who, or what, would you say has most inspired you in life? My mother! My father died when I was young and she raised a large family with endless energy; overcoming all obstacles with determination, perseverance and optimism. She is a very strong woman and defies any sign of weakness or defeat! Tell us one activity that is on your “Bucket List” I don’t have a ‘bucket list’. I love every day that presents itself and enjoy making a difference. I am always busy doing something and don’t yearn for things way out in the future – am too busy in the present! Finally, the best thing about working at St Edward’s is... A combination of the type of lovely pupils and families that are attracted to St Edward’s and a positive, hard working staff body. The animals will be offended if I don’t include them and although we are not supposed to have favourites – I am becoming very fond of the pigs!! P8
A huge well done to the U11A Netball Team who travelled to Rugby School in order to compete in the National ISA Netball Tournament in March. In the group matches, the whole team gave of their very best against extremely tough opposition. Finally, finishing in 5th place, St Edward’s then progressed to the Trophy Competition. With two fantastic wins in the afternoon, the girls went on the win the Trophy. Well done girls!
physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries and associated learning difficulties. St Edward’s has maintained been working with National Star for over 11 years. As well as providing an opportunity for the pupils to take part in a new sport, the lessons taught by National Star students count towards their studies. ‘The long-standing relationship between St Edward’s and National Star is hugely important to us. The aim of this project has always been to increase everyone’s disability awareness but also to recognise the courage and character continually shown by individuals in their quest to overcome adversity in everyday life,’ - Duncan Roberts, Head of Boys’ PE at St Edward’s.
County Swimming Well done to David B (Year 6) who smashed his previous personal best times in 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke and brought home two County Gold medals and two County Silver medals at the Gloucestershire County Swimming Championships in Bristol in January. At the same competition Liam R (Year 5) also took a Gold, along with a Silver and a Bronze medal for his efforts. Well done to them both! In March Phoebe C (Year 4) won two Gold medals at the Bristol Henleaze Development Gala. She came first in both the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle, achieving personal best times.
Coaching from Seven Stars
Fun in Athletics Atlanta G, Zara C and Niamh T (all Year 5) were all selected to represent Gloucestershire at the ‘Sportshall Fun in Athletics’ Regional competition which took place in January in Bristol. The girls were part of The Gloucestershire All-Stars team made up of 15 of the top competitors from across Gloucestershire, following a number of qualifier events before Christmas. Overall, the team scored 431 points placing them 4th, just 8 points behind the 3rd place score.
In January, Year 5 and 6 girls took part in a fantastic coaching session led by Ella Powell Davies from Severn Stars Netball. It was a great session focussing on a number of essential skills for successful game play.