4to18
A FREE MAGAZINE FOR ALL PARENTS BIGGEST
EVER
EDITION
Autumn 2010
THE SACRED COW
But is school milk past its sell-by date?
BILLION $ BABIES Inside the world’s most expensive school
CRASH LANDING The harm caused by overprotective parents
AND MORE... A quality magazine full of news, features and opinion...for all parents
A student *
How Danielle Hope went from Sixth Form to the West End and what to do if you have a talented teenager...from the woman who knows best
4to18 Autumn 2010
News
Inside 4
Local and national round-up
Peasant and correct
23
Education in medieval times
Batting for education 21 England captain at top school
The sacred cow
22
Is school milk past its sell-by date?
Billion $ Babies
24
Welcome.. Urmston schoolgirl Danielle Hope’s life changed forever this year when she won the BBC’s Over the Rainbow competition to find a Dorothy for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End blockbuster Wizard of Oz. Had things been different the Knutsford High School would be preparing for her first year at drama school but instead she’s in London preparing for her opening night. Nobody would question her talent but what most people don’t know is that her big break has come as a result of years of single-minded toil. She is special, says her drama teacher, but she’s also the hardest-working child I have ever met. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Danielle and her teacher plus loads of other news and features in our biggest-ever edition. See you in December!
Jane
The world’s most expensive school
Sport for all, forever
36
You don’t have to be good to win
Crash landings
41
The harm helicoper parents can do
Off the beaten track
43
Family holidays in France
A star is born
46
How to help another Dorothy bloom
Features
51
Books, Toys Theatres & Columnists
Headlines
59
A question of International GCSEs
Advertising Director
Editor Features Editor Commercial Director
Publisher
Advertising Editorial
Sarah Longley 0791 772 5335 sarah@4to18.com Jane Field jane@4to18.com Nicki Thornhill nicki@4to18.com Mark Harris 0791 890 5619 mark@4to18.com Graeme Alderson 07801 462 141 graeme@4to18.com 0161 610 2620/0791 7725 335 graeme@4to18.com
In our day we didn’t need screens in IT ...we sent the information direct to the printer
4to18 magazine is published by Atticus Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publishers. Views expressed in 4to18 magazine are not necessarily those of Atticus Media Ltd. Atticus Media Ltd is a registered company. Information and pictures for some articles have been gathered from various sources and these, together with the advertisements are published in good faith, without responsibility on the part of the publishers or authors for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action, as a result of any views expressed therein. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we cannot take responsibility for publishing errors, however caused. Special thanks to the organisations that have provided us with information and photographs
The Manchester Grammar School A name recognised internationally
Whatever profession... business, the law, medicine, the media, the arts or sport `V\ ^PSS Ă„ UK MVYTLY 4.: IV`Z at the very top
Open Events :H[\YKH` 4VUKH` 6J[VILY 4.: Âś [OL ZJOVVS VM Ă„ YZ[ choice for boys aged 7 to 18 Mike Atherton Former England Cricket Captain, Author & Chief Cricket Correspondent for the Times
Contact Kath Heathcote
0161 224 7201 ext 234
Old Hall Lane, Manchester M13 0XT
Full details at mgs.org 4
NEWS
MHSG AWARDED IB WORLD SCHOOL STATUS
M
anchester High School for Girls celebrated being awarded International Baccalaureate (IB) World School status by welcoming guests from the business, political, media and education sectors to a seminar on The Importance of Manchester as an International City: Beyond 2010. An experienced panel, which included Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, highlighted to the audience how much Manchester has progressed during their time working and living in the city and how developments, including the teaching of the IB Diploma are set to mould Manchester in the coming years to further confirm its status as a truly international city. MHSG is the first girls’ school in Greater Manchester to offer the globally-recognised IB Diploma. Head Mistress, Mrs Claire Hewitt, said: “We are delighted to have been authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to teach the IB Diploma from September 2010. The IB Diploma is an intellectually challenging international qualification offered in over 190 countries worldwide and accepted by UK and international universities. It gives students a broad education as they are required to study world literature in their own language, a second language, a social science subject, a science and mathematics. The final subject can be art or music, or an additional language, science or social science. The qualification is independent of governments or national education systems.
JUNK FOOD LINK TO ALLERGIES
C
hildren who have a lot of junk food in their diet are not just at greater risk of obesity, they are also more prone to allergies, a new study has revealed. Youngsters from a rural African village who had diets rich in fibre were compared to another group living in Florence in Italy and scientists found a dramatic difference. The African children had less obesity-linked bacteria and a greater abundance of fatty acids which protect against inflammation causing asthma, eczema and other allergic reactions. The diet of the children living in the small village of Boulon in Burkina Faso was similar to that of people living in the modern Western world thousands of years ago, shortly after
the birth of agriculture, mainly cereals, beans, nuts and vegetables. But the Italian children ate higher quantities of meat, fat and sugar and only those who were still breastfeeding had the bacteria resembling the African children's. The trillions of microbes that inhabit the human gut are considered an essential ‘organ’ that helps to digest food, protect against diseasecausing bugs and limit inflammation. Paediatrician Dr Paolo Lionetti, of Florence University, and colleagues said children in industrialised countries who eat low-fibre, highsugar ‘Western’ diets may reduce microbial richness - potentially contributing to a rise in allergic and inflammatory diseases in the last half-century.
HULME HALL TWINS GOT TALENT Hulme Hall Grammar School’s talented twins Connor and Myles Ryan, 13, made it to the Britain’s Got Talent final with their boy band Connected. Initially Simon Cowell believed they were “out of date,” but was quick to change his mind when they performed Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and received a standing ovation from the audience.
For the bandmates it was an exciting first step on their road to fame. “Our dream for Connected is to be the boy band of the new decade,” said Connor. Head of Music, Mrs Bevan said: “Myles and Connor are superb musicians and a credit to the school. We have a strong performing arts tradition and the boys have given the other pupils a real boost.” 5
NEWS
LEARNING ENGLISH WITH A BOLTON ACCENT
G
irls at Bolton School are helping a Maasai tribe to speak English! The Year 9 girls have been video recording one another speaking in
basic and clear English and the tapes will be used to supplement other teaching materials and sent out to rural Tanzania. The project has come about after pupils linked up with the African tribe via a Skype video connection during a Geography lesson earlier in the year. The girls had quizzed the Maasai on how they were being affected by tourism and they, in turn, had been keen to learn about life in Bolton. The Maasai are currently learning English through Twiga English books
STOCKPORT FOUNDED IN 1487
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
An independent school for girls and boys from 3 to 18 years Bursaries available at 11+ and 16+
Lighting the spark in every child OPEN EVENTS Nursery and Junior School Saturday 20th November 2010 9.30-11.30am Saturday 7th May 2011 9.30-11.30am Senior School Thursday 14th October 2010 7.00-9.00pm Saturday 20th November 2010 9.30-11.30am Entrance Exam Tuesday 18th January 2011 Sixth Form Evening Monday 8th November 2010 7.00-9.00pm
Extensive school bus routes including NEW Altrincham route from Sept 2011
Regular school day visits available throughout the year
Call 0161 456 9000 to arrange a visit or request a prospectus www.stockportgrammar.co.uk
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and the girls’ video footage will accompany the books and help bring the learning of English to life. The girls will also prepare material about living in Bolton, including some typical English recipes, in response to some of the questions that were raised during their earlier discussion. Elizabeth Moore, aged 14, had enjoyed the morning and said: “We've had great fun creating the English videos the Maasai. “It was harder than I first thought, in that you have to create the right tone, not too serious and not too giggly. “It is nice to think of a little piece of Tanzania developing where the locals speak English with a Bolton accent. “At least we should be able to understand one another when we go out to visit them next summer!"
A Star-Studded Year of Success Stockport Grammar School pupils had plenty to celebrate as they collected another record-breaking set of exam results. 71% of GCSE entries were awarded A* and A grades and 87% of A Level entries received A* to B grades. Excellent pastoral guidance, superb facilities and over a hundred clubs and activities make life at SGS a happy and exciting experience for girls and boys from 3 to 18 years. The school is an Independent Operating Authority for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and has recently celebrated its 1000th Award. A separate Junior School and Nursery on the same site provides younger children with a caring and stimulating environment in which to learn, whilst enjoying the benefits of strong links with the Senior School. SGS is easy to reach with extensive school bus routes and close proximity to two railway stations. A new service from Sale, Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale and Hale Barns starts in September 2011. Means-tested bursaries are available at 11+ and 16+, and music scholarships at 11+. The Senior School has an Open Evening on the 14th October and a Sixth Form Evening on the 8th November. An Open Morning for both the Junior and Senior Schools will be held on the 20th November. Parents and children are also warmly welcomed to regular school day visits throughout the year.
A caring ethos to nurture & challenge Stretford Grammar School is a coeducational foundation grammar school with a rich and diverse ethnic, cultural and social intake. The school has a real sense of community where individuals are encouraged to succeed within a supportive, disciplined environment. The school seeks to nurture and challenge all students to achieve their potential within a caring ethos where relationships between staff and pupils are strong and built on mutual respect. We expect that when our students leave us they do so feeling valued and prepared to take their place in the wider community. Stretford Grammar is an improving school where according to Ofsted inspectors (2010) “Attainment remains high, and students consistently reach standards that overall are significantly above average by the end of Key Stage 4.” We are proud of these achievements and those of our sixth formers which regularly
places them within the top 10% of schools nationally(ALPs 2009). As a result of these achievements, Ofsted recently judged the Sixth Form to be 'good' overall. In March 2010 the school was removed from ‘special measures’ in less than a year due to the ‘rapid improvements made since the last inspection’. In part, this has been due to the school developing a clear and shared vision, and the consequence of effective leadership and management, higher expectations and greater accountability at all levels. During their time at Stretford Grammar School pupils are able to access a broad range of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities which seek to develop their learning opportunities. We are a small school and as a result students quickly settle in to school, fostering lasting friendships and feeling valued by their teachers.
Stretford Grammar School
Specialist Science College
INVITATION TO OUR OPEN EVENING 2011
You are warmly invited to attend
our Open Evening on Wednesday 6th July 2011 6pm-8pm Come along and visit our High Achieving School
Entrance Examination 8 October 2011 for entry September 2012 (Closing date for applications is 4pm on 23 September 2011)
More detailed information is available from our Admissions Officer, Sharon Campbell Tel: 0161 866 0130 Fax: 0161 866 9938 E-mail: admissions@stretfordgrammar.com
Granby Road, Stretford, Manchester Tel: 0161 865 2293 www.stretfordgrammar.com
7
“An Outstanding School” According to the Independent Schools Inspectorate we are an outstanding school, but please don’t take their word for it. Visit one of our Open Days and experience for yourself what makes Cheadle Hulme School so special.
Senior School Open Morning Saturday 2nd October 9.30am -12.30pm Sixth Form Information Evening Monday 11th October 7.00pm Whole School Open Morning Saturday 13th November 9.30am -12.30pm For information about Music Scholarships and Bursaries of up to full fees please contact the Registrar, Viv Gray, on 0161 488 3345
HMC Co-educational Day School for 4 – 18 year olds (Registered Charity No. 1077017)
CHEADLE HULME SCHOOL Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, SK8 6EF
www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk 8
NEWS
MANCHESTER KEY STAGE 2 SLUMP Standards in Manchester primary schools have slumped to the second lowest in the country, according to Department of Education statistics. But children in Trafford and Stockport fared among the best in the country – finishing second and third respectively in the average points table. The figures reveal average SATs scores for 11-year-olds in Manchester are at the lowest level for five years and Manchester has fallen to second lowest in England – from 22 places off the bottom in 2009. Only Derby fared worse in the key stage two assessments. But council officers questioned the reliability of the figures, saying almost half of the city’s schools did not take the tests and results from 20
other authorities across the country – including Salford – were omitted because too many of their schools boycotted the tests. The figures show more than a quarter of children in Manchester did not reach the expected level for English - the joint third worst result in the country. One in five pupils were below this level for reading, the joint
fifth lowest performance. Only 63 per cent of children achieved the expected standard in writing, putting the city joint fourth from bottom in the schools table. The percentage of children achieving the expected level for reading in Stockport was joint best in the country – with nine out of 10 making the grade. Stockport children’s services spokesman Coun Mark Weldon said: “These are outstanding results and something that pupils, staff, governors and parents can be very proud of.” Trafford ranked first in Greater Manchester overall and was consistently among the best in the country for each subject. Coun John Holden said: “These results do not just happen. They are achieved through the hard work and determination of pupils, commitment of teachers and school staff and the support of family. I extend my congratulations to everyone.” Salford, which saw around half of its school shun the tests, was the only area in Greater Manchester to be left out.
Kumon offers two-week free trial to new students Kumon, one of the leading providers of after school maths and English programmes, is running a two week free trial until October 20. This is an opportunity to experience Kumon’s unique method of instruction, which is tailored to the individual needs of each child and parents will also gain an insight into how the classes develop students’ independent study skills which can enhance their academic progress and build confidence. The offer applies to English and/or maths and is open to families who are new to Kumon, siblings of current students and those already on the programme who are considering a second subject. On completion of the free trial the family can choose to keep their child enrolled in Kumon or if they discontinue, no charge is made. Should they decide to continue, registration and monthly subject fees are payable from the 15th day of study. Alyson Smith mother of Kumon students, Leanne and Olivia says: “Kumon has become an integral part of our lives because of it’s positive, lasting effect on the girls. We have really seen their academic and personal skills develop since starting their Kumon study. Their confidence has also grown and they aren’t afraid to work hard; now they persevere with exercises until the task is completed. As we all know, this is a key skill in adulthood too and one that will help them to lead successful and fulfilling lives.” The Kumon method of learning was developed in 1954 by Toru Kumon, both a parent and gifted teacher from Japan. Like any parent, Toru wanted the best education for his son and began devising a teaching method using worksheets in the core subject of maths. Soon word spread of his successful method and now in 2010, there are approximately 63,000 students studying Kumon at more than 600 study centres across the UK and Ireland. To enrol on the Free Trial or to speak to your local Kumon Instructor, please contact: your local Instructor. Alternatively, please call the freephone number on 0800 854714 or visit kumon.co.uk
Begin your Kumon journey Kumon’s maths and English study programmes provide your child with the foundations to improve their skill set, inspiring a passion for lifelong learning and building the self-confidence to succeed both in and outside the classroom.
Contact your local study centre today
Cheadle Hulme 0161 488 4988 Knutsford 01565 621 142 Urmston 0161 864 4157 Didsbury 0161 439 3946 Hazel Grove 0161 292 8421
Developing independent learners
kumon.co.uk
*Terms & conditions apply. Visit kumon.co.uk for more details. Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.
9
Tomorrow’s Decision Makers
Boys and Girls aged 2-16 years
OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER Hulme Hall Grammar School
9.30 am until 12.00 noon Hulme Hall Road, Cheadle Hulme. SK8 6LA
Tel: 0161 485 3524 or 4638 www.hulmehallschool.org
A Co-educational independent Grammar School ISA Administered by Hulme Educational Trust. Charity NO. 525931
10
NEWS
YOUNG DESIGNERS’ CHARITY CATWALK Sixth Form students at Alderley Edge School for Girls showed off their creativity and held a fashion show to raise funds for The Samburu Women’s Empowerment Group in Kenya. The charity supports the women of Samburu through the development of training schemes, marketing assistance for the products they produce and it allows the community to become more self-sufficient. The evening began with Year 11 pupil Amy Francis playing the saxophone to over 120 guests before the girls demonstrated their own catwalk creations. So far, over £800 has been collected. Post show, refreshments were served in the style of a Samburu market.
NURSERY No 4 FOR JENNIE Work is well underway on the 4th Kids Allowed childcare Centre, due to open in January in Macclesfield . The centres are the brainchild of Jennie Johnson, whose aim it was to
create a nursery which offers an innovative, family-centric and holistic approach to childcare. Jennie says: “As a working professional mum I became aware of the lack of flexible quality childcare. “ We have responded to this with a comprehensive range of services and superb facilities to match the real needs and expectations of today’s families.”
Hulme Hall Grammar School: We Go That Extra Mile At Hulme Hall, we believe in nurturing every child so that, regardless of ability, each realises their true potential. How will we achieve this? Firstly, we will settle your child into a small class (average size of 15 pupils per class in the Senior School and never greater than 20) of like–minded children. We guarantee that they will be taught by a team of experienced and highly skilled teachers who are able to adapt their teaching strategy to suit the particular learning style of each child. Our approach is based upon catering for the needs of the individual; it’s somewhat akin to the difference between a tailored suit and one that’s ‘off the peg’. As the leader in the field of learning support provision within the regional independent sector, those children with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, will benefit from the outstanding multi-sensory support delivered by our own team of resident specialist teachers. Many children join us with low selfesteem. The School offers a wide range of extra curricular activities and
opportunities to improve confidence by involvement in the performing arts. For most children, the re-building of confidence and self-belief provides the springboard for development both within and beyond the classroom. At this time of the year, parents and children often become very worried about the looming prospects of entrance examinations. Hulme Hall is a non-selective school. Our entrance assessment is holistic and diagnostic in nature and is designed to identify the child’s current level of attainment in the key skill areas. The emphasis is very much upon identifying potential and understanding the child, rather than crossing an arbitrary pass mark on the day. Our approach to offering places is therefore, much like that of buying a house, namely, recognising potential which, with the appropriate investment of time and expertise, can be brought to fruition. Year on year, the School achieves outstanding GCSE examination results in relation to its ability profile. In 2009, 90% of pupils gained 5 or more A*-C grades including Mathematics, English
and Science. This success is due to small class sizes, a high quality teaching/learning environment and the commitment of the students. However, academic achievement is not the only measure by which a school should judge its success. When we say farewell to our pupils, we take pride in the fact that in addition to their qualifications, they are well-rounded individuals who are confident, content and ready to make a valuable contribution to society. At Hulme Hall, we recognise that in considering independent education, you are making a considerable financial investment in your child’s future. Our fees are very competitive and we even operate our own fleet of coaches, offering parents that all important peace of mind. If you feel that your child would benefit from the Hulme Hall approach, why not take a look for yourself? You can book a tour or arrange a Taster Day for your child. Please contact the Admissions Secretary on 0161 485 3524 or view our website at www.hulmehallschool.org 11
“OUTSTANDING” (OFSTED 2008)
The Staff and Pupils of Altrincham College have pleasure in inviting you to our Open Evening on Thursday 30th September from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The Headteacher will address prospective parents at 5:45pm and 6:45pm. Ɣ 2010 - Our best ever GCSE results 76% 5+ A*-C grades Ɣ Outstanding pupil progress for 7 consecutive years Ɣ “Excellent teaching and an emphasis on encouraging students to believe in themselves result in outstanding academic progress across the school” (OFSTED 2008) Ɣ “Care, support and guidance is outstanding” (OFSTED 2008) Ɣ “The school is alive with activity” (OFSTED 2008)
Artists impression of our proposed new sixth form block
To visit the school at any time please contact the admissions team on 0161 980 7173 An 16-18 foundation school
www.altrinchamcollege.com ALTRINCHAM COLLEGE OF ARTS, GREEN LANE, TIMPERLEY, ALTRINCHAM, CHESHIRE, WA15 8QW TELEPHONE: 0161 980 7173
12
METROLINK
NEWS
TOP SCHOOLS BID FOR ACADEMY STATUS Two leading state schools in the region have taken up a government offer to break free from council control....and there’s more to follow. Urmston Grammar School, Fallibroome High School in Macclesfield and Audenshaw School in Tameside have been given academy status, two of 32 schools in England which have been given immediate leave to set their own lessons, decide staff pay, and buy in extra services – without having to ask their local education . Top-rated schools were invited to apply for academy status before the summer break. Initially, The Department of Education said more than 1,500 schools had expressed interest in splitting from their councils. But
ultimately only a handful decided to take the plunge. However, another120 schools say they plan to switch their status in the next 12-months. Among their number are Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Wellington School, Wellacre Technology College, and Park Road Primary, all in Trafford, The Blue Coat School in Oldham, Cheetham Hill Primary in Manchester, Lever Edge and St Bede’s primary schools in Bolton. Academy schools were first devised by New Labour as a way of improving failing inner-city schools by teaming them up with private sponsors. But Conservative education secretary Michael Gove sparked a free-for-all when he invited all schools which were ranked ‘outstanding’ by
Ofsted to become academies. Governors at Audenshaw School, which was independent from the council during the 90s when it was directly-funded, backed the move following talks with parents. Headteacher Steve Turner said the new powers would help the school run more efficiently: "The new status will give us greater financial freedom and more powers to set our curriculum – and to a certain extent will allow us to make decisions more quickly. "However, we are not carving a path in the wilderness. We are still part of the community and serving the people of Audenshaw, Denton and east Manchester." Pay and conditions for the school’s teachers and staff would not be changed, he added.
Altrincham College of Arts Altrincham College of Arts was judged to be an ‘Outstanding and fully inclusive school’ in its most recent Ofsted report in February 2008. In addition to this, the school has been listed by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust as a High Performing Specialist School for 4 consecutive years, 2007-2010. As a result of nine years of continuously improving results, the school is very popular and over -subscribed in all year groups. In 2010 the GCSE results achieved were the best ever, with 76% achieving the government benchmark of 5 or more A*-C passes at GCSE or equivalent. The true measure of a school’s success is the individual progress made by pupils from their entry aged 11 through to their achievements aged 16. This Value Added pupil progress measure places Altrincham College in the top 8% of all schools nationally for pupil progress with the school never out of the top 20% for 7 consecutive years. In addition, Mathematics results for 2009 place the school in the top 2% of all schools nationally and English results in the top 10%. The school’s main specialism is the Visual and Creative Arts, but in addition to this, and due to Altrincham College’s status as a high performing school, the government have asked the school to adopt further specialisms in Maths and Computing and Applied Learning. The main specialism was chosen because the school believes passionately in developing childrens’ creative talents, in addition to achieving their true academic potential, supporting the Every Child Matters commitment to a well rounded whole education. Finally, Altrincham College is about much more than the pursuit of academic excellence. The school has an outstanding reputation for the care, guidance and support of its students along with a very welcoming and friendly ethos. Children spend much of their young lives in school and at Altrincham College they endeavour to offer opportunities and exciting enrichment activities that make that time enjoyable and rewarding. Sports, arts, drama, music, enterprise, science, outdoor education and residential experiences home and abroad all play a major part in the life of the school.
The school to choose if you want small class sizes, happy, confident children and affordable independent education.
"Independent education for children aged 3 to 11 years" OPEN DAYS : THURSDAY 14 OCT 4PM TO 6PM TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER 1PM TO 3PM
Call 0161 432 0532 to arrange a visit or request a prospectus or come to one of our Open Days. STELLA MARIS SCHOOL St John’s Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, SK4 3BR E-mail office@stellamarisschool.co.uk Registered Charitable Trust Number 505848
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NINE YEARS AND OVER 1,000 BOYS ...THE ULTIMATE TECH CHALLENGE
May 2009 and is regularly utilised for week-long trips by Year 8 boys and Year 8 girls, as well as by Sixth Formers as part of their Duke of Edinburgh training. Pupils learn about hands-on-deck work, trimming the sails, navigating the boat, handling the mooring wraps, keeping things shipshape below, operating a dinghy and on-board catering whilst developing their teamworking and self-discipline skills. The boat is run by Patterdale Hall, Bolton School's Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the Lake District. Headmaster of Bolton School Boys' Division, Mr Philip Britton, said: “We have always prided ourselves on offering an incredibly diverse range of activities at Bolton School but this really does add another dimension to our extra-curricular provision.” Tenacity of Bolton is also available for hire for weekends or longer and offers a chance for team building or celebrations - it was recently used by a hen party! She comes with a crew so the hirees can get involved with the sailing side as much or as little as they desire. The boat can comfortably accommodate 6 or 7 adults, plus 2 or 3 sailing crew. The cost of £700 + VAT for a 24 hour period includes a sailing crew, food, fuel and marina fees - plus Further details: enquiries@tenacityofbolton.org.uk
B av urs ai ar la ie bl s e
My kak-handed attempts at a jewellery box and wallpaper scraper were still the pinnacle of my wood and metalworking school career but over 1,000 boys at Bolton School will be able to look back on the part they played in the creation of something slightly more significant. Tenacity of Bolton is a magnificent 60-foot sailing ketch, built over a period of nine years, which is now being used by students and available for hire. The project began in 1998 as the Technology Department strove for an original concept to celebrate the millennium. Head of Technology at the time and Project Coordinator, Mike Whitmarsh said: “We wanted to offer something to the boys that stretched them beyond the confines of the curriculum and this project certainly did that!
“The boat is built to the highest specification and her construction was overseen by a Lloyds appointed surveyor. Besides all the hard work put in by the boys, the successful building of the boat also came about through the hard work of teachers, parents and friends of the school. It was a real community effort and without the largesse of local companies – both material and in terms of labour – the boat would never have been completed. The experience of the project created opportunities for pupils, way beyond the normal curriculum of the school. “Manufacturing a hull, cabins, fittings, systems and components gave a different dimension to Technology lessons where students could deal with problems and calculations in a real life situation, in the full knowledge that they were creating something which would benefit themselves and many others in the years ahead.” The build took longer than expected and it was not until 2007 that she was ready to be transported to Glasson Basin Marina, near Lancaster. The School held a launch party and the boat was officially named by the Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP. After undergoing rigorous sea trials, the boat came “on timetable” in
SUCCESS IN THE MAKING We are one of the only independent all-girls preparatory schools in the area and pride ourselves in laying down solid educational foundations in a caring, creative environment. Pupils, aged 2½ to 11 years old, are encouraged and inspired to achieve their best and attain results well beyond national expectations.
OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 7TH OCTOBER 4PM -6PM For more information please call 01625 524246 or email secretary@wilmslowprep.co.uk
WILMSLOW PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Grove Avenue, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5EG Tel: 01625 524246 Web: www.wilmslowprep.co.uk
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The youngest pupils at Wilmslow Prep School, aged 2 ½ to 5 years old, dressed up as pirates to raise £440 for Barnardo’s. Having spent the morning in full pirate costume the girls were joined by siblings and parents in the afternoon to take part in a sponsored walk around the playground. After two laps on a particularly hot day, the children retired for a well deserved drink. Head of Early Years, Christa Rodwell said: “Our playground is always a
PIRATES ON PARADE colourful place but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it looking quite so dramatic, we even had a turquoise and yellow parrot with us for the day (a soft toy I hasten to add). The girls and their families had a super time and we were all very impressed by their fundraising efforts.”
NEWS
LORETO PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Celebrating a century of excellence and looking to the future Loreto Preparatory School Loreto Preparatory School is an independent, Catholic primary school for girls from the age of three to 11 and boys from three to seven. Our children ourish in a loving, happy and disciplined environment. We work in partnership with parents and encourage all children to work hard to reach their full potential and develop their own special attributes, skills and gifts. Our facilities are modern and purpose-built, but more importantly our teachers are experienced and dedicated professionals who love their work. Loreto Prep has recently completed a major new extension, creating two new, purpose-designed classrooms with an additional extensive work area for the sciences, arts and craft. The development programme has in turn facilitated a further expansion of our ICT facilities. Though we are not selective at Infant level, academic results are consistently outstanding. If you would like to arrange a personal guided tour please contact our Headmistress Mrs Rosemary Hedger on 0161 928 8310.
0161 928 8310 www.loretoprep.co.uk 15
Academic, Enjoyable, Inspiring and Affordable Education from 3 to 11 years
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Coffee mornings: Tuesday 12th Oct ‘10 Thursday 9th Nov ‘10 Tuesday 10th May ‘11 Thursday 9th June ‘11 All from 10.30am to 11.30am
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Open Day: 12th March 2011 from 1.30 to 4.00pm
St James Stockport is an extraordinary school. For parents who want a wonderfully happy and calm environment, combined with the highest academic rigour, there is no better choice. Our School is purposely small, so that all children get the best level of personal attention and support. But don’t take our word for it, (or even Ofsted’s), come over and discover something a little off the beaten track and positively unique.
St James Independent School, Belmont Street, Stockport SK4 1TG 0161 480 4586 info@stjamesschool.org.uk www.stjamesschool.org.uk
THE BURY GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
Working together for a great future
VISIT OUR OPEN EVENTS
Saturday 2nd October
Thursday 7th October
10.00 am – 1.00 pm Kindergarten
6.30 pm – 9.00 pm Girls’ Senior School & Sixth Form
(3-7 years co ed)
10.00 am – 2.00 pm Boys’ Junior & Senior Schools & Sixth Form
(11-18 years)
(7-18 years)
Saturday Wednesday 9th October 24th November 10.00 am – 1.00 pm Kindergarten (3-7 years co ed)
Girls’ Junior & Senior Schools & Sixth Form
7.00 pm – 9.00 pm Boys’ & Girls’ Sixth Forms (16-18 years)
(7-18 years)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US TODAY BOYS’ SCHOOLS T: 0161 797 2700 E: registrar@bgsboys.co.uk W: www.bgsboys.co.uk
GIRLS’ SCHOOLS AND CO ED KINDERGARTEN T: 0161 797 2808 E: registrar@bgsg.bury.sch.uk W: www.bgsg.bury.sch.uk FROM
3-18 YEARS The Bury Grammar Schools are a registered charity (No. 526622) for educational purposes
Bursaries Available-
DEDICATED TO CARE ... DETERMINED TO CHALLENGE 16
NEWS
BULLIED FOR HOW THEY LOOK
M
ore than half of girls are bullied at school because of how they look, according to a report by the youth charity Rathbone. And some youngsters miss months of education to avoid their tormentors, according to the survey. Researchers spoke to girls in England and Wales, between the ages of 15 and 22. They found 56% were abused verbally, physically or online because of their weight, height or hair colour. Only one in five said they were personally happy with their appearance, and 53% said they had since gone on a diet, said the survey. Charity spokesman Peter Gibson said: “All bullies are cowards, but persecuting the weakest takes a special kind of nastiness. “It was heartbreaking to learn that young women had been punched and kicked simply because they couldn't afford the best clothes, or humiliated
on the internet due to their size.” Manchester said: “Even if Peter Andre Just over half of young women who walked into the room and told me I were bullied said they played truant was gorgeous, I still wouldn't believe from school, with one girl missing six it.” months of education and her SAT Encouragingly, the Rathbone report exams. found 60% of those who were abused The main reason for bullying was because of their appearance thought weight, followed by hair colour they could turn to a friend, relative or almost entirely girls with red hair. teacher for help. Other reasons included height, For more information go to clothing and racism. www.rathboneuk.org About 40% said they missed meals to get thinner, and 17% said they had been on a diet since the An Independent School For Boys & Girls age of 12 or younger. More than 60 young women were surveyed. Of these six said they had either taken laxative pills or made themselves sick to keep their weight down. Bullied girls refused to believe nice things said about them. Although 91% said their families and friends called them beautiful, one 17-year-old girl from Greater
Forest Preparatory School "Family values and discipline are important codes of practice at Forest Preparatory School, which has an excellent reputation for preparing the children for secondary school assessment and independent grammar school entrance. There is 'before and after' school care provided for the working parent and a comprehensive list of after school activities offered to the children.
Forest has great expectations and, as a result, the aspirations of the children are high, with great achievements occurring both inside and outside of the classroom. The pupils are renowned for the standards that they achieve and their polite and well mannered behaviour when taking part in a myriad of out of school activities and events."
FOREST pREparaTORy SchOOl Moss Lane Timperley WA15 6LJ
www.forestschool.co.uk 0161 980 4075 17
A-Level results soar at Trafford College Trafford College students are once again celebrating another successful year of A Level results with an exceptional pass rate of 98% and a 100% pass rate in 14 subjects including Sociology, English Literature, History, Law, Business Studies, and Geography. The College, which has recently been awarded Beacon Status - placing it in the top 8% of Colleges in the country- has an impressive track record of students progressing to university, and this year is no exception. Celebrating the start of her journey to university life this year is one of the College’s highest achievers, Emilia Sliz. Despite only moving to the UK three years ago from Poland, the 18-year-old from Wythenshawe sailed though her exams and opened her envelope to reveal three straight-A and A* passes in English Language, Sociology and Communication and Culture, securing her place at Manchester University and taking her one step closer to her dream career in Teaching. Emilia said: “Although I did speak English quite well when I lived in Poland, it was a completely new
MAKE MA KE IITT H HAPPEN APPEN W WITH ITH
TRAFFORD TRAFFORD CCOLLEGE OLLEGE
thing coming over to the UK and having all your lessons in English. Everything you learn you translate in your head and then have to translate back into English when writing, so it can be quite a struggle. I’m absolutely thrilled with my results and I’m sure my parents are be very proud of me.” Joining Emilia in the celebrations this morning were good friends Naila Missous, 18, from Altrincham. Naila,
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TECHNOLOGY TECHNO T ECHNOLOGY CENTRE C ENTRE Mos s R Moss Road, oad, Stretford, Str e t f o r d , Manchester, M32 0AZ M anchester, M 32 0 AZ
TALBOT T TA AL LBO BOT ROAD RO OA AD
Thurs T hurs 11 11 Nov Nov 2010, 2010, 5–7pm 5–7pm
Talbot Road, Talbot Road, S Stretford, tr e t f o r d , Manchester, Manchester, M M32 32 0XH 0X H
Thurs T hurs 11 11 Nov Nov 2010, 2010, 5–7pm 5–7pm
ALTRINCHAM A AL LTR LT RINCHA INCHAM HA AM MANCHESTER MANCHESTER MUSIC MUS M USIC US IC BASE BAS SE E 77 7 7N Newton ew ton Street, Str e e t , M Manchester, anchester, M M1 11 1EX EX
Thurs T hurs 18 18 Nov, Nov, 11–4pm 11–4pm
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who studied A-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Communication & Culture, was thrilled with her straight A and A* passes, securing her place at Manchester University where she will study Literature and Linguistics. She said: “I’m thrilled with my A-Level results, especially the A*, and I’m really excited and relieved to have my place at university. I’ve had the best time at College and I’m really sad to be leaving, but very enthusiastic about the new journey ahead.” Principal Sir Bill Moorcroft said of the results: “Once again the commitment and dedication of both our staff and students has been reflected in the College's A-Level results. I am delighted for everybody involved in these remarkable achievements and I am especially thrilled that so many of our students have successfully progressed onto HE, despite the ongoing crisis with University places. I would like to pass on my congratulations to all the students at the College, and wish them well in the future.”
Manchester Road, Manchester Road, West West T Timperley, imperley, A Altrincham, l t r in c h a m , C Cheshire, h e s h ir e , W WA14 A14 5PQ 5P Q
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NEWS
PHYSICS FOR THE COMMUNITY Bolton School has become the first school and only the second academic institution in the country to employ an Ogden Physics Teaching Fellow. Mark Ormerod has been appointed from a highly competitive field and will began work this term. Mr Ormerod was Head of ICT at Bacup and Rawtenstall and, more recently, has been coordinating Key Stage 3 physics at the Grammar School at Leeds. This innovative role will focus on nurturing physics students and teachers at local schools and widening the participation in and uptake of Physics at A Level. The teaching fellow will be a full member of staff at Bolton School based in the Physics Department but will spend roughly four days per week working with local schools and children, based on an existing Ogden Trust partnership and in collaboration with the local authority and through the Institute of Physics’ Stimulating Physics Network. Mr Ormerod will also teach Physics at Bolton School for one day a week. Mr Ormerod said: “Physics is a fascinating subject which underpins advances in technology and helps us to understand the world in which we live. I am looking forward to getting out into the local Bolton community and to inspiring pupils and teachers alike with the wonder of physics!” Philip Britton, Headmaster of Bolton School Boys' Division, was awarded an MBE in the New Year's honours list for services to physics.
Students Amanda Cave and Charlie Gledhill-Flynn with some of their new friends at the Good Samaritan School
UGANDAN ADVENTURE Students from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Blackburn have spent their summer working on community projects in Uganda. The students first spent time at the Good Samaritan Orphan and Needy School in Bunabumali, just outside the capital, Kampala where they helped in the classrooms and distributed a large amount of clothing that had been generously donated by companies in Lancashire. They also visited McKay Memorial High School and took part with the pupils in a debate. The group then travelled west to Kabale, one of the poorest areas of Uganda, where they undertook renovation work and painted a mural at a girls’ school that aims to help
TWO BROTHERS, TWO CALL-UPS Twins Will and Mike Keane have been called up for national duty...one for England and the other for the Republic of Ireland. Both are on the books for Manchester United but while striker Will has signed professional terms, defender Mike opted to stay at St Bede’s College to complete his A Level
through education to enable children to escape the cycle of poverty and disease. After Kabale the group enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, where they saw lions, elephants, hippos and buffalo during their safari. Head of Sixth Form at Queen Elizabeth’s, Andrew Priory, said the trip, which followed a similar visit to a South African township two years previously, had been a great success. “We met some wonderful people, and were made very welcome throughout our stay,” he said. “The QEGS students who had saved up and raised money in various ways to fund the visit, found it an enjoyable and also a humbling experience. I think we managed to make a difference with the work we did and the friendships we made, even in a relatively short time, and I hope that we will be able to keep in touch with the schools there.”
studies on an extended part-time scholarship. Will, who is following in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes by winning the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year Award,has made his mark in the academy team and has appeared a number of times for the reserves and was called up for the England U17 team. Mike, who has also appeared in United reserve games, was called up for the U17 Republic of Ireland squad and took part in this year’s European Championships against Finland and Austria, helping to secure two impressive victories. 19
T
he country’s leading independent schools do not appoint their heads on a whim. So one can only imagine the time, the thought and, perhaps, the courage needed by the governors of Cheadle Hulme School as they reached the decision to appoint Lucy Pearson as their first female headteacher. Cheadle Hulme School is one of the leading co-educational schools in Britain. In 2005 it celebrated its 150th anniversary. From the original pupil body of six ‘orphans and necessitous children’, it has grown to a school of over 1400 pupils and 100 teachers. From day one, the School was to be ‘founded and conducted on the most liberal principles and be open for the reception of both sexes’. Not only is new Head Lucy Pearson a woman, she is also remarkably young, at 38, to have been handed such a prestigious position. But you don’t have to spend too much time in the company of Lucy Pearson to see what led the govenors to make the appointment. The former spearhead of the England women’s cricket bowling attack for the best part of a decade, Lucy is an impressive figure. As England’s leading wicket-taker in recent years, she became only the second woman in over 70 years of Test cricket - and the first for nearly 50 years - to take 11 wickets in a Test against Australia, at The Bankstown Oval in February 2003, with 7 for 51 in the first innings and 11 for 107 in the match. She carries her six feet two inch figure with ease and speaks with passion and persuasion about her hopes and plans for Cheadle Hulme School. “I was really pleased to get the phone call from Philip (Philip Johnson, Chair of Governors) telling me they’d thought long and hard about it and finally decided to offer me the post!” Lucy is a fierce advocate of coeducation. She explained: “Co-education for me is the only area of education that I’m comfortable in. I have no issue with single sex schools but for me this is what I was brought up with. I feel there is an enormous benefit in pupils learning together. Co-education just feels right, it feels more natural. “Of course, I recognise that there are differences between the genders and the school has a responsibility to provide space for children to be with who they want to be, when they want to be but I think we should learn together. “I would rather deal with the issues that co-education brings up, which it inevitably does. “I was educated at a prep school that had just gone co-ed with 100 boys and eight girls. I liked those odds! With 20
the exception of my senior school, Oakham, I have always been involved with schools that were just about to go or had just become co-ed. “So Cheadle Hulme presents an extraordinary change for me as it is so fundamentally co-ed. “It was one of the things that first struck me, that this felt entirely natural. It did not feel like it was a boys’ school that at some point had had girls added to it. “The governors and the staff may think that the appointment of a female head is an important thing but for me gender is not an issue. However I accept it is a significant step for a co-educational school that hasn’t previously had a female head in 155 years. But it will not influence the way I run the school.” Lucy read English at Keble College, Oxford. She spent three and a half years as Head of Sixth Form at
Solihull School and in 2006, took up a post as Deputy Head of Wellington College. There is certainly no suggestion that Lucy favours the status quo when it comes to education. She has strongly-held beliefs about what schools should be offering their pupils. “I feel we have a responsibility to look at what schools are doing and that’s been the case for me throughout my teaching career,” she says. “I have to ask: Is Cheadle Hulme School delivering the outstanding education that children are going to need to flourish and contribute positively to adult life? “And that’s really the big question for me. We offer A Levels, GCSEs, our music, our sport, our drama and, of course, we will develop those areas further still, but I’m also interested in some of the bigger questions. Is
First class Former Ashes heroine Lucy Pearson, is the first female Head of Cheadle Hulme School. She talks to Mark Harris about her hopes and ambitions what we’re providing fundamentally right? “I want us to look at a 10-year plan. Are we enslaved to the exam system? I do wonder whether education needs to change radically. I’m not saying I’m a revolutionary but I do believe in change. How we can better prepare pupils? We can get very hooked on A Level results simply because they’re a way of getting into university. And schools that are only interested in their university profile are, in my view, very short-sighted. What actually matters is whether that child has learned the skills to be a positive adult; that’s far more important for me than university. “University is not necessarily right for all pupils. I think that’s gone horribly wrong in the last 10 years. The notion that every child should go to university ignores the value of vocational training, ignores apprenticeships.
EDUCATION “I’d love to see the independent sector embrace vocational studies. It’s time to broaden education out a little bit. What do we want our old boys and girls to say in thirty years time? ‘Wow, my school taught me adapatability, the ability to think on my feet and to deal positively with life.’ “Speaking to the pupils this morning in assembly, I told them that academic work really matters. Irrespective of what model one ends up with at the core of it is learning and the development of skill. “Academic work matters enormously to me and I want the staff to provide the kind of educational experience through which pupils will flourish and then they’ll achieve.” Parents sending their children to Cheadle Hulme School will be happy in the knowledge that Lucy welcomes a breadth of pupils. She adds: “We want to have diversity. We might have a brilliant musician or a brilliant scientist but then we might have a child who’s a jack of all trades, master of none but is the person who keeps a year group together by the manner of who they are. “We want to be a microcosm of what pupils will find when they go out of the school gates. I know that many independent schools are trying to deal with how you get to that point.” But Lucy is very aware of the responsibilities that come with being handed the custodianship of an institution like Cheadle Hulme School. She explains: “No head can afford to ignore what’s gone before. What I’ve been learning over the past month has further proven to me that the school has many strengths. “My job is to consider some of the bigger questions. I’ve got a remit to develop the school, to grow the school. I don’t see a need for root and branch change. It’s evolution not revolution. Some aspects of that evolution need to happen faster. But much of that is minutiae. “When you become a head you are a guardian of that school and you have a responsibility to pass it on in good health so I wouldn’t want to put it on a path where it centres around me. It has to be what the staff want and is right for the pupils. Whatever we do will be because it’s what the school community needs.” Using a cricketing analogy, in fielding terms, you wouldn’t call Lucy a safe pair of hands. You’d be more likely to find her at cover or point where her enthusiasm and passion would be right in the thick of the action. To have acheived so much in two fields, cricket and education, it’s clear that Cheadle Hulme School has found itself a Head who will take the school forward on an exciting and thoughtprovoking path. 21
98% of our students go on to study a wide variety of degrees, including Law, Medicine and Dentistry Sixth form students benefit from state-of-the- art ICT facilities, Learning Resource Centre and brand new 6th form centre Wide range of extra curricular opportunities are available in Sport, Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Music, Drama, Caring community with expert professional advice, guidance and support
For further details please contact the Registrar on 0161 2262054 William Hulme's Grammar School Spring Bridge Road Manchester M16 8PR 0161 232 5526 www.whgsacademy.org.uk 22
SHOWTIME William Hulme’s Grammar School William Hulme’s Grammar School has provided a high quality education for all of its students since its doors opened in 1887. 120 years later the school took the exciting step of becoming a United Learning Trust Academy and since then all of our students have enjoyed the benefits of learning in state-of-the-art facilities whilst being part of a school with a proud history of academic excellence. Our curriculum is designed to bring out ‘the best in everyone’ and emphasises core subjects such as Maths, English and Science (one of our Specialist areas) with a range of options that can be tailored to suit all our students’ needs. Similarly, our pastoral care system focuses on encouraging and supporting individuals in a safe and disciplined environment. We have an enviable reputation for promoting learning beyond the classroom thanks to our Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and our own outdoor pursuits centre Harris House, Hardraw, as well as a wide range of sports, music and drama activities. We also have a variety of clubs and societies. Our House system enables our students to take part in and enjoy activities in the spirit of healthy competition and friendship. We are a multi-cultural community and value highly the harmony, tolerance and understanding that we promote. This is enhanced by our Languages Specialism and, as an International School, we provide exciting opportunities and links for our students all around the world. William Hulme’s is committed to building on the success we have achi eved so far. We welcome involvement from many different members of the local community such as the Parents’ Association, Friends of the School and the Old Hulmeians’ Association. Together we can continue to be a school of which students, teachers, parents, governors and the local community can be proud.
WIZARD OF OZ
Terra Nova School
Pupils in Year 3 and 4 performed 'The Wizard of Oz' for their parents in the Performing Arts CentreThere were some wonderful performances from all the children, but special mention must go the lead characters: Dorothy who remained beautifully calm throughout; the Scarecrow who appeared not to have a brain, but did; the Lion was most cowardly; the Tin Man was rusty with a big heart and Toto with his amusing wit. The Wicked Witch had the most evil cackle, while the Good Witch was generous and kind. Well done to all the children who were involved.
Sixth Form We believe that our Sixth Form offers a unique educational experience. With over 200 students we have the critical mass to offer a broad range of academic opportunities, high quality sports teams and an exceptional enrichment programme. However, the Sixth Form is also small enough numerically for every student to be known, respected and supported as an individual. Our students are a lively and diverse group of people. All new students quickly become integrated into the school community and make strong, lasting friendships. We take great pride in our reputation Our students develop a range of skills and personal qualities through participation in the school’s sporting programme and enrichment activities. There are some exciting opportunities here to take part in extra curricular activities and extend cultural, linguistic and musical interests. We recognise that the transition to Sixth Form life and then University can be a challenging time. In consequence, our pastoral care system based on close tutorial relationships, is geared to ensure each student’s academic success and well being. For further details please see the website www.whgs-academy.org or contact the school on 0161 2262054 enquiries@whgs-academy.org
ANNIE
Pownall Hall School
The theatre at Wilmslow’s Pownall Hall School has been packed to the rafters for three consecutive evenings as Sarah Barron, 11, took the lead role, ably supported byEmily Herbert as the evil Miss Hannigan and Danielle Siddall as Grace Farrell, Holly Henry as Lilly St Regis, Peter Garside as Rooster Hannigan and George Smith as ‘Daddy’ Warbucks.
SHOWTIME We’ll be featuring school plays and shows in each edition of 4to18 magazine. To be included please call Graeme on 0161 610 2620 23
A Passion for Excellence...
From Nursery to the Sixth Form, our ethos is constant as we seek to fully develop the potential of each pupil.
FREE Se
ni School or Pla We awaken expectations through a rich and stimulating Availab ces le* educational experience which encompasses academic, extra-curricular and social activities.
Students leave as self-confident young people equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes that will allow them to lead a happy and fulfilled life and to make a difference for good. They carry with them a passion for learning and excellence that remains with them throughout their lives. To learn more, including details of our 22 coach routes, contact us to receive a prospectus or visit us on:
Open Morning
Saturday 16 October, 9.30am-1.00pm
The whole campus will be open (Nursery, new Infants’ School, new Junior Girls’ School, refurbished Junior Boys’ School and our Senior Schools)
We look forward to welcoming you! 24
* Starting in Year 7 in September 2011. Dependent upon academic ability and parental income.
Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4PA t: 01204 840201 e: info@boltonschool.org www.boltonschool.org Registered Charity No. 1110703
Xaverian leads the way to “e-maturity” Most parents and students will be aware of Xaverian’s long established academic reputation, and many will know that we are a very popular Beacon College, praised by OFSTED inspectors for being “Outstanding” in every aspect of College life. But did you know that we are also a National Exemplar College, or even what that might mean? It all started eight years ago when we realised that it was all very well spending a fortune on PCs and IT provision but were we really making use of what new technology could do for our students? The answer was “no” but nor did anyone else seem to have
the answer either. We set out on a journey to develop an Intranet system that would really help our students succeed by giving them everything that they could need to support their studies. This would mean their subject resources and learning materials, online exercises, timetables, target grades, exam details, attendance figures, on-line reviews, and so much more – all at the touch of a button, available both in College and from home, and all through a single portal. Even parents can now use it! We call this “personalisation” and it means that every student gets a totally
individual intranet experience designed purely for them. The effect on their results has been stunning. In popular jargon, we have been declared “e-mature” and it is because of this pioneering work that we were presented with the Next Generation Learning Award for 2010 and also asked to lead a national network, working with 127 other colleges to bring them up to a similar standard. The Government now sponsors us to travel the country sharing our expertise with others, helping their students to benefit as much as ours have. And that is what an Exemplar College is!
Xaverian College ‘In Harmony Small Things Grow’
Xaverian is a highly successful Sixth Form College based in Victoria Park, Manchester. The heart of our work is to create a caring, supportive and academically excellent environment for every student. The college is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors, receiving grade 1s in all areas. We offer prospective students: A wide range of A-Levels and other courses Consistently excellent exam results Support delivered through a strong pastoral system, with daily tutorial contact A strong programme of extra-curricular activities and other enrichment An outstanding record of progression to university
OPEN DAYS saturday October 9 10.30am – 2.00pm sunday October 17 12.30pm – 4.00pm
Xaverian College Lower Park Road Manchester M14 5RB www.xaverian.ac.uk
college@xaverian.ac.uk
0161 224 1781 25
ENTRANCE
EXAMINATION for admission into Year 7 in September 2011
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25 at 9:15am Completed applications forms must be received in school by Friday, September 10 at 3pm
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One vision for one hundred years A hundred years of educating girls and
young women in the Altrincham area and Loreto Grammar School still has the best to come. The girls’ Catholic school, on Dunham Road, is proud of its century of tradition and heritage which it marked with a special celebratory open-air mass for alumnae and former staff in July. More than 1000 visitors, students, staff and Governors, past and present, enjoyed the service, hosted by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Rev Brian Noble, in glorious sunshine on the school’s picturesque front lawn. The guests were treated to music, singing and dance by the school’s talented choir, orchestra and performing arts students before enjoying an afternoon of reminiscing and relaxation as they had the opportunity to tour their old classrooms. Headteacher Jane Beever, who is the first lay head of the school founded by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – commonly called the Sisters of Loreto – was delighted with the centenary
celebrations. “We have been inundated with cards, phone calls and emails from Old Girls thanking us for the chance to revisit their school days. Many memories where shared and stories told – not least into our video cameras to allow us to build a living history archive of the Loreto community, “ said Mrs Beever. The honoured guests at the school delighted in seeing the many changes to buildings and rooms since their days wearing the School’s distinctive stripy blazer, and enjoyed cream teas, a hog roast and tours by the pupils in the event, organised by Assistant Headteacher, Frances McGee. Today the School has more than 1,000 girls in attendance and is heavily oversubscribed, having scored two consecutive ‘Outstanding’ ratings from School Inspection Body, Ofsted. But one thing that had not changed is the spirit and ethos of the school, rooted as it is in the vision of the foundress of the Loreto order Mary Ward, more than 400 years ago.
Mrs Beever said: “We stand strongly for our mission statement and our five core values of freedom, sincerity, truth, justice and joy.” “They are present in our teaching and learning, of course, but our school is so much more than formal lessons. We believe wholeheartedly in the wider Catholic family and embrace the whole child as we offer a wide array of extra curricular activities and interests, from residential trips to our position as a specialist maths and science college working in the community.” She added: “We affirmed our belief in this by immediately following our Centenary Mass with a special school day for all students where lessons were suspended in favour of more than 20 activities reflecting our values, ranging from creating a celebratory Centenary garden to a day of outdoor challenges including archery and a high ropes course, as well as a visit to the Bar Convent in York where the foundress of the Loreto sisters, Teresa Ball, began the Loreto story. 27
Your top performing Sixth Form College in the area Come and find out more at our open evenings on: x Tuesday 19th October 2010 x Monday 15th November 2010 x Monday 21st March 2011 6:00pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;8:30pm Wide range of courses available: x AS/A Levels x BTEC Level 3 National Diplomas x BTEC Level 2 First Diplomas x BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diplomas For more information Visit our website - www.bolton-sfc.ac.uk or call 0800 052 1460
Town Centre Campus, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5BG Farnworth Campus, Queen Street, Farnworth BL4 7DX
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Bolton Sixth Form College
Jobs for the grads Have a look at the folowing popular undergraduate degree courses and then the percentage of students who find jobs in their field. The figures have been released by the Higher Education Statistics Authority. It makes gloomy reading for those studying computer science and IT - they have the lowest employment rate for any area of study.
With the opening of Bolton Sixth Form College’s brand new Town Centre Campus, students from the town, and beyond, have another facility worthy of the exceptional standard of education offered therein. The Town Centre Campus is part of the development programme for a vibrant education quarter in Bolton. The Sixth Form College Campus provides exceptional facilities including a specialist multi-purpose sports facility, a performing arts theatre and completes a major development programme that began with the opening of the new Farnworth Campus that opened two years ago. The new building is designed to be contemporary and modern in appearance and is made completely from recyclable materials with all timber selected from sustainable sources. The key feature of the design is a large central atrium with a glass dome, making it an airy and modern space. At the base of the atrium there is a contemporary café bar where students can meet friends and have refreshments. Both facilities provide high quality education for 16-19 year old students who wish to study within the context & ethos of a sixth form college, where learning mentor and pastoral care schemes are at the heart of the College. The inclusive open access College is the outstanding value-added provider in the Bolton area and offers a wide range of courses including AS/A Levels, BTEC Level 3 National Diplomas, BTEC Level 2 First Diplomas, BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diplomas and Sports Academies offering girls’ & boys’ football and boys’ cricket. The College prides itself on meeting the needs of the multi cultural, multi faith student body it services across the Bolton area and achieved the AOC Beacon Award for Racial Equality which endorses its long standing commitment to equality and diversity. Extra curricular enrichment activities play an important role in the education of all the students and help them to develop social and personal skills. There are plenty of activities on offer ranging from competitive and recreational sports to dance, to fundraising, to developing new skills and improving self confidence. “This is a superb development which will provide high quality education, training and extra curricular activities in one of the best equipped College’s in the country. The Sixth Form College Campus will provide students with a top class facility with great transport links throughout the borough”, said Steve Wetton, Principal of Bolton Sixth Form College.
Population Medicine & dentistry and veterinary science Subjects allied to medicine Biological sciences Agriculture & related subjects Physical sciences Mathematical sciences Computer sciences Engineering & technology Architecture, building, and planning Social studies Law Business & administrative studies Mass communications & documentation Languages Historical & philosophical studies Creative arts & design Education Combined subjects All subjects
Subject % 7,330 99.3 15,905 95.0 19,680 90.6 1,335 89.3 9,195 88.8 3,630 88.9 7,330 81.8 9,360 85.9 4,280 86.3 17,970 89.8 8,505 93.3 20,200 88.4 5,795 85.3 13,225 90.4 10,290 89.3 21,485 86.8 9,265 95.2 535 90.0 185,310 89.9
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Experimental TV teaching doubles speed of learning Children taught in an experimental classroom for a BBC documentary appear to have learned at twice the speed of their peers. Banning grades, stopping children from putting their hands up and PE at the beginning of every day contribute to greater educational success, the project suggested. The Classroom Experiment - to be broadcast in September - allowed Dylan Wiliam, deputy director of London University’s Institute of Education, to trial his ideas on a Year 8 class at Hertswood School in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. “The changes we made gave the quieter children confidence, made all pupils know they are expected to participate and created a more supportive atmosphere - nobody laughs any more if someone gets something wrong”, said Prof Wiliam.
30
New for September
B
uilders have been working hard at Alderley Edge School for Girls over the summer period to ensure that the development of the nursery was ready for the start of the new term. The development provides access to a new facility which includes a canopy to provide an all-weather outdoor provision, a new kitchen area and a shared cloakroom for the children in the Nursery and Reception classes.
Mr Lawrence Groves, Headmaster of the Junior School said: “Our school takes girls on an educational journey from 3 years old all the way through to A Levels at 18 in our Sixth Form Centre. “We feel the improvements that have been made to our nursery will give our girls the very best start to learning life.It’s an exciting development and our youngest children will really benefit from the new provision.”
HEALTH
Is school milk past its sell-by date? W
hen the Prime Minister stepped in to wave away plans to scrap school milk for under fives, most of us thought: “Yeah, nice one, Dave. You tell, ’em.” Cameron rejected the idea despite Health Minister Anne Milton insisting the policy was “outdated”, “ineffective” and too expensive. For the Prime Minister, it should save him being labelled a “milksnatcher” like his predecessor Margaret Thatcher. But is this political move based on sound science? The Nursery Milk scheme, which allows children in approved day care to receive 189ml or a third of a pint of milk free each day up until their fifth birthday, dates back to the wartime years of 1940. The idea was to give children an extra nutritional boost at a time when food was in short supply and rationed. But today, food is in plentiful supply and childhood obesity is on the rise. Ms Milton has said there is “no good evidence” that free school milk improves the health of our nation's children. She believes the £50m scheme should be scrapped and instead low-income families should be given extra vouchers to buy not just milk, but fruit and vegetables too. But why is milk deemed so important for children? Part of the reason is that it is what experts call “a nutrient dense food”, which means it provides a large amount of nutrients essential for growth, yet with relatively few calories. Milk is a good source of protein, zinc and vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin) and B12, and makes a valuable contribution to the intake of iodine, niacin and B6. It is also rich in calcium, which children need for strong bones. A third
As Cameron steps in to save free milk for under the fives, Jane Field asks whether our well-fed children really need it anymore?
of a pint of milk provides half the daily recommended amount of calcium a child aged four to six years needs. But dairy foods are not the only sources of calcium. White bread, fish, leafy green vegetables, dried fruit and nuts, and seeds provide it too. The challenge, however, is getting children to eat enough of the right foods to get the nutrients. Bridget Benelam of the British Nutrition Foundation said: “It can be difficult for parents to get their children to eat lots of green, leafy veg. “While other foods such as tofu, soya beans and green leafy vegetables also provide calcium, it is more difficult for the body to absorb and it may be difficult for young children to consume enough of these foods to provide all the calcium they need.” With one child in three in Britain going to school without breakfast, a glass of milk in the morning can provide a much-needed boost, says the School Milk Campaign. But milk also contains saturated fat, which is linked to weight gain and
heart disease. Experts still recommend whole milk for children between the ages of one and two years but they say from two years onwards semi-skimmed milk can be gradually introduced. Skimmed and 1% milks are not suitable for children until they are at least five years old because they have less vitamin A and are lower in calories. However, not all children will like or be able to tolerate milk. A small number of children - 2-3% of UK infants - are allergic and will need to avoid it completely, says the Dairy Council. And some people as they get older have difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found naturally in milk. It is estimated that about 5% of the UK population - mainly people from Asia, Africa, India and the Middle East - has lactose intolerance. For them, drinking milk causes bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. So while it may not be the best policy for some, experts tend to agree that it may be the best option for most. 31
Specialist Performing Arts College OFSTED
‘Care, guidance and support are outstanding. students benefit from excellent personal support from Form tutors and Heads of Houses’ ‘A great deal of attention is paid to providing a suitable curriculum for each individual and this is much appreciated by the students, their parents and carers’ 2010 has been a memorable year for all at Lostock College, not least the students whose results were up by a massive 28% on last year. At GCSE, 39% got A* or A (well over the Government target of 30%) while 79% got 5 A*-C. No child left the College unqualified and more students than ever are moving on to sit A Levels. It’s a tribute to the students, their parents, the local community and the staff that these results have been achieved in what has been a difficult year. Academy status is something we are still working towards but in the meantime we shall continue to do the best we can for the children in our care. If we become an Academy our students are perfectly prepared to manage the change but if not, we are committed to improving and building on what we have for the benefit of the children, the staff and the wider community. We are a community school, though we welcome children from all over Greater Manchester, and we are very proud of our pastoral and curricular achievements, as recognised by Ofsted in their most recent inspection. Lostock College is a supportive and caring environment in which every child matters. Visit our open evening to find out more.
OPEN EVENING Thursday September 30 5:00pm to 7:30pm
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS As a specialist Performing Arts College we are delighted to report a 100% pass rate in Music and Performing Arts
STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES BRIGHT FUTURES this pioneering project sends Year 10/11 students into top firms like seimens, M&s and the Co-Operative where they thrive, grow in confidence and learn valuable practical skills
Selby Road Stretford M32 9PL
0161 864 5700 www.lostock.trafford.sch.uk school@lostock.trafford.sch.uk 32
Arts theatre specialist recording studio dedicated music technology suites dance studio ICt suite Interactive whiteboards in every classroom
EDUCATION
Exam results: the big picture
A
nother year, another set of bestever results at GCSE and A Level...and another mountain of bewildering statistics. Well, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve trawled through data from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) to extract the important stuff.
A Levels ď ŽGirls outperform boys at A* â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8.3 per cent of grades (38,098 grades) issued to girls were A* compared to 7.9 per cent of grades (31,204 grades) issued to boys. ď ŽThe cumulative percentage of Alevel grades A-E has increased by 0.1 percentage points from 97.5 per cent to 97.6 per cent. The results also show an increase of 0.3 percentage points (from 26.7 per cent in 2009 to 27.0 per cent in 2010) at grade A ď ŽThere were 853,933 grades published
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;St Bedeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College students celebrate success
for A-level this year, which is a 0.8 per cent increase on the figure of 846,977 in 2009. ď Ž Maths and further maths showed an increase in exams taken: 4,526 for mathematics (6.2 per cent) and 1,209 entries for further mathematics (11.5 per cent). ď ŽTraditional subjects remain the most popular with English, maths, biology, psychology and history being the top five subject choices in 2010 ď ŽEntries for Spanish are up (4.0 per cent), entries for French and German are down (3.4 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively)
GCSEs This year's GCSE results show a record pass rate for the 23rd year in succession, with a pass rate at grades A* to C of 69.1%. ď ŽOverall, performance improved by
1% at grades A*-A (to 22.6%) and 2% at grades A*-C (to 69.1%). ď ŽAfter Maths, English and Science, the most popular GCSEs are Design & Technology, History and Geography. ď ŽUptake in foreign languages continues to decline, with French down by 5.9% and German down by 4.5%. ď ŽWhile French remains the most popular choice, several of the less popular languages show increases Chinese is up by 5.2%, Portuguese by 9.% and Polish by 12%. ď ŽSingle sciences saw a rise in popularity, with gains in Chemistry (up 32.2%), Physics (32.1%) and Biology (28.3%). ď Ž The number choosing Religious Studies also rose, by 3.5%. ď ŽInformation and communication technology saw a decline of 17%, and Design and Technology a fall of 5.9%.
Sunday Times Parent Power
Independent Secondary School of the Year 2009/10
In 2009: s /VER OF '#3% GRADES AWARDED ! OR ! s /VER OF ! ,EVEL GRADES AWARDED ! OR " 'IRLS ALSO CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN s 3CIENCE /LYMPIADS s $EBATING s 9OUNG %NTERPRISE s -ODEL 5NITED .ATIONS s $ OF % !WARDS s 3PORT s -USIC AND $RAMA s #HARITY FUNDRAISING
2010 OPEN DAYS Junior and Senior School
&OR GIRLS AGED AND Thursday 11th November PM TO PM Saturday 13th November AM TO NOON
Sixth Form
&OR GIRLS AGED Tuesday 2nd November PM TO PM
Meanstested bursaries available from Year 7
For further information please call 0161 224 1077 www.withington.manchester.sch.uk Wellington Rd, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL
33
EDUCATING GIRLS FROM AGE 4 TO 18
MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS OPEN EVENTS 2010 Wednesday 10th November 6.30pm to 8.30pm (Sixth Form only)
Students joining the Sixth Form can now choose to study A Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Thursday 14th October 6.00pm to 8.30pm (Senior School) Friday 15th October 10.00am to 12.30pm (Whole School) Saturday 6th November 10.00am to 12.30pm (Whole School) Entrance Examination Tuesday 11th January 2011 For further information please contact Mrs Linda Hughes on 0161 224 0447 or registrar@mhsg.manchester.sch.uk www.manchesterhigh.co.uk (Charity Registration No: 532295)
34
EDUCATION
Learning to be billionaires Inside the most expensive school in the world
R
olle is a small town, located on the shore of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. At first glance it looks like another mountain tourist destination but Rolle hosts Institut Le Rosey, a private boarding school considered one of the most prestigious in the world and sometimes referred to as the “school of kings”. Since 1981, the Guinness Book of World Records has listed Le Rosey as the most expensive school in the world. Apart from heirs and royalty, the school attracts the children of the international jet set, the sons and daughters of business and industrial tycoons, world leaders and legendary celebrities. The reception of the school is located in Chateau du Rosey, a chateau that goes back to Middle Ages. The school was established by Paul-Emile Carnal in 1880 and Le Rosey’s campus
Le Rosey Gstaad campus circa 1965
takes over 28 hectares and offers a big variety of academic, sports and arts facilities. In the winter, the school’s students and academic staff decant to the school’s second campus, a ski resort in Gstaad. The school has a 10% quota on the nationality of entrants. This means that at any given time, no more than 10% of the students may come from one country or one language group. All lessons are bilingual and student life includes lessons as much as sports, arts and community service. These are not just the common drama and sports activities offered in most schools, but anything from airplane flying lessons, sailing and karting to mountain expeditions and weekend visits to other countries. The school encourages students to participate in humanitarian projects such as the Habitat for Humanity and missions in India and Mali. Le Rosey is currently in the planning stages of constructing the CHF 45 million (estimated $38 million USD) Carnal Hall, an Arts and Performance Centre scheduled for completion in 2012. The annual fee
starts at $82, 000, but uniforms, insurance, books, transport, exams and activities that are both optional and mandatory are paid extra and easily push the fees over $100,000. So it is no surprise that the school’s history boasts some of the world most well-known names. The royal families who choose Le Rosey include the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt, the House of Glücksburg of Greece and the House of Savoy of Italy. Then there’s the Shah of Iran, Prince Rainier of Monaco, King Albert II of Belgium, the Aga Khan IV and the Harrods late heir Dodi Al-Fayed. Dynasties like the Rothchilds, Niarchos, Benetton, and the Rockefellers and children and grandchildren of legends like Onassis and Churchill have all passed through the school as have the offspring of Elizabeth Taylor, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Roger Moore and Diana Ross. Strokes musicians Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond, Jr. met at Le Rosey. But alongside them, one might also find children of notorious oligarchs and arms dealers. According to Philippe Gudin, the general director of the school in an interview to Edmund F. Brown, IV: “We do not put the sins of the parents or the family on the child. “We don’t care what the parents did or do. As long as the parents share the vision and values of Le Rosey, and what we are trying to do, their child is welcome.” 35
Sport for all, for all time... Whether they’re good at sport or not, PE’s a subject that will bring life-long benefits, says headmaster Jonathan Hall
T
he popular myth when it comes to school sports is that there’s those that do, and those that just endure. But as parents, how seriously do we really take it? As a youngster, Jonathan Hall competed at a high level and now he believes it’s a crucial factor in any well-rounded education with benefits that can be enjoyed long after the final sports lesson. Jonathan, Headmaster of Wilmslow’s Pownall Hall School, can reflect on a first 12 months in which his influence has been brought to bear in a number of areas, with sport in
Mr Hall with Pownall Hall pupils particular having been considered a priority from the minute he walked through the doors. He has a keen sense of team spirit and values the various physiological benefits can bring. He explains: “I’ve always enjoyed sport and have always seen its importance within the curriculum. “In addition to helping them realise their academic potential, the overall aim of education is to see the children develop and become well-rounded young people, capable of achieving whatever potential they have.
“Not everybody can go on to become a powerful business executive or a high-powered lawyer, but for those individuals who have a particular athletic talent, sport can make a huge difference. As teachers, we have an obligation to maximise that potential whilst, at the same time, encouraging all children to participate so they can both enjoy it and reap the associated health benefits.” “Playing team games can only lead to an enhanced sense of co-operation and at times, an initial understanding of tactics which can also be called upon in other areas of life as we grow. “From there, it is important to facilitate the development of exceptionally talented individuals whilst also encouraging others to take part in sport to both enjoy the activity and become fitter. “Offering a breadth of sporting activity is also important; so not only mainstream sports such as football, hockey, rugby and cricket. Less commonly-played sports such as tennis and judo can also be beneficial, fostering respect for discipline and each other as well as co-ordination and timing. “Encouraging a true balance between academic and sporting development is vital. It is important to encourage participation right across the curriculum and to give
Proud of our past, committed to the future As Cheshire’s leading co-educational independent preparatory school, Wilmslow’s Pownall Hall School offers holistic experiential learning for children between the ages of two and eleven. In addition to the school’s outstanding reputation for academic success, Pownall Hall is also widely acclaimed for its sporting, musical and theatrical achievements. Under the guidance of Headmaster, Jonathan Hall, Pownall Hall is recognised as a school where traditional values are blended with an intrinsically modern approach to foster a positive educational environment for its pupils.
Carrwood Road, Pownall Park, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5DW Tel: (01625) 523141 www. pownallhall.cheshire.sch.uk 36
HEALTH
children the opportunity to enjoy sport to whatever level they like, depending on their innate talent. Aside from the well-documented health benefits, Jonathan sees the sports arena as a good preparation ground for later life: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sport promotes teamwork as well as strategic and tactical understanding, so it can give children a good platform for taking responsibility and for working with others in both social and professional environments later in life,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On a practical level, my ethos is to see girls and boys play both
independently of one another in samesex teams and also, where appropriate and possible, in mixed teams, as we do at Pownall Hall in both hockey and cricket. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Socially, sport can give children friends for life and when encouraged in the right spirit and coached properly, it can go a long way towards giving them additional confidence, making them well-rounded individuals. Ever-mindful of the inevitable different levels of natural ability and personal aptitude from child to child, the inclusion of sport in
the curriculum is both beneficial to the individual and potentially, to business and to society as a whole in future years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So with improved physical and mental fitness allied to the development of key social skills, can come enhanced self-esteem and the emergence of individuals with enhanced leadership qualities and both tactical and strategic awareness which can only benefit those individuals in later life, which after all, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become any less competitive.â&#x20AC;?
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callers to report abuse, it added. Ms Rantzen said: “These are the children that know our number and ring us, but what about the many, many thousands of children who aren't, alas, familiar with ChildLine's work and who might be fearful of ringing us?” She added: “I am, in a sense, imploring those people who work with children to be alert to the possibility that the silent, friendless child... may have trouble at home created by alcohol and drug problems.”
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ore than 100 children a week are contacting the ChildLine helpline with worries about their parents' drinking or drug use, according to the NSPCC. It said in the year to March, 5,700 children had called, but founder Esther Rantzen told the BBC there were likely to be many more too afraid to do so. Two-thirds of callers had mentioned their parents' drinking. Children calling about that issue were also more likely than other child
* *
Bridgewater School is an independent, coeducational school for pupils aged 3 to 18. Our reputation has been built on treating everyone as an individual. We don’t try to mould anyone into the ‘Bridgewater Way’ – there is always room to breathe. Our pupils flourish because our close knit family environment allows them to develop their full potential, both academic and personal. This year marks the start of an exciting new era for Bridgewater School with the appointment of a new Head Teacher, Mrs Judy Nairn. Whilst in some ways a new beginning, the traditional values of the school will remain. Judy has worked at Bridgewater school for 26 years holding positions of Deputy Head and Head of the Preparatory Department. September will also mark the start of Bridgewater’s 60th Anniversary year with celebrations starting at the school prize giving event to be held at Bridgewater Hall. A new EYFS unit will open in September 2010 providing a spacious, purpose created area for our nursery and reception classes. The school will also benefit from a new Independent Learning Centre housing a bright and modern library and IT facility. For more information, please see our advert on the back page of this magazine, contact the office on 0161 794 1163 or go to www.bridgewater–school.co.uk
CAREERS
A new approach to careers advice Psychometric testing may give students fresh insight into future directions
A
lmost everyone has a story about the careers advice that they were given at school: the entrepreneur who was told she could be a legal secretary, the building surveyor who was told he could be a customs officer. Indeed, the difficulties of providing appropriate careers guidance to young people are nothing new. Earlier this year, Dr Deirdre Hughes, president of the Institute of Career Guidance said: “we have a generation coming through university now that have not had an experience of high-quality careers education”. To this statement, one social commentator in The Independent added, “Only a generation? I'm amazed.” Well, rather than just complaining or simply contemplating change, The Grange School at Hartford in Cheshire decided to do something positive about it and last year pioneered an entirely new approach partnering with Manchester firm, Potential Directions. Together with the aid of best-in-class commercial psychometric tools, they have piloted careers guidance sessions with an increased student-centred approach. Instead of using lists of possible careers as the starting point, Potential Directions puts the student at the heart of the process by helping them to learn more about their own individual interests, preferences, aspirations and motivations. To make
this relevant, they worked with students, either in groups or on an individual basis, at times when they were facing critical choices, such as AS Levels, or Degree course choices. “The current rate of change in the global job market has meant that, on average, people change career 3-5 times in their lifetime. Selfknowledge is therefore arguably far more valuable than simply being informed that you could be, for example, a librarian. Even the role of a librarian has changed dramatically in recent years,” says Abi Parker, director, Potential Directions. The Year 11 students took part in two one-and-a-half-hour group sessions after school, covering interests, aspirations and motivations. The Lower Sixth students completed two one-hour oneto-one sessions covering interests, personality preferences and aspirations. The students completed the actual psychometric assessments that today’s employers use for recruitment and development. Consequently, students are now getting an early insight into who they are as opposed to what one job they could do. Participants on these programmes have left their sessions knowing more about the occupational groups that could be a good fit for them or, for example, how persuasive, innovative, decisive, vigorous or teambased they are compared to others. Potential Direction’s facilitators are
all highly experienced in the real world of work and because of this they were able to add a very healthy dose of reality to the proceedings. Deputy Headteacher Guy Rands has been very impressed with the feedback to date. “We’ve always taken a whole child perspective at The Grange School. Our careers and higher education guidance has been excellent because it has drawn on our knowledge of the individual gained over a period of time. Potential Directions has been able to build on this past success and work with us so that our students are given additional information about themselves as individuals with a scientific approach. “ Importantly, we’ve also been able to bring commercial reality into the classroom. For example, the students really valued the information that they were given about what employers were actually looking for as opposed to just focussing on different jobs.” We’ll have to re-visit this story at some point in the future for the true test of its success but, in the meantime, what did the students think of their immediate results? One Year 11 student said: “I especially liked the way we could find links between the results of the psychometric assessment and our motivations and aspirations”. 100% of the pilot group found the sessions valuable or very valuable and 96% said they would recommend it to Jane Field others. 39
40
PARENTING
Crash landing helicopters How overprotective parents can create neurotic children
O
verly protective parents might be leaving a lasting impact on their child's personality, and not in a good way, a new study finds. The results show having so-called "helicopter parents" was associated with being dependent, neurotic and less open, a slew of personality traits that are generally thought of as undesirable. The study of new university students is one of the first to try to define exactly what helicopter parenting is, and measure it. The term was originally coined by college admissions personnel when they started to notice a change in parents of prospective students — parents would call the admissions office and try to intervene in a process that had previously just been between the student and the college, said psychologist Neil Montgomery. It is now widely used by teachers to describe the parents of children from four to 18. While the findings are only preliminary, and more studies are needed to back up the results, the study suggests this type of overparenting might lead to children who are ultimately not ready to leave the nest. “I think what the helicopter parents did is they decided, ‘OK we know what good parenting looks like, we're just going to ratchet it up to a new level, and our kids are going to be even better,’” Montgomery said. “The problem is, when they ratcheted it up, they went too far, and in fact, caused an expansion of childhood or adolescence.” Montgomery and his colleagues at Keene State College in New Hampshire, surveyed about 300 freshmen with a questionnaire the researchers specifically designed to assess helicopter parenting. They focused on university students, because it is a “crisis point” in the relationship between the helicopter parent and the child, Montgomery said. At this stage, the parents no longer have control over their child's life and can't keep track of them like in the past. Participants had to rate their level of agreement with statements such as, “My parents have contacted a school official on my behalf to solve problems for me,” “On my college move-in day, my parents stayed the night in town to make sure I was adjusted,” and “If two days go by without contact, my parents would contact me.”
About 10% of the participants had helicopter parents. The rate was higher in girls than in boys, with 13% of the females being helicoptered compared with just 5% of males. And it was mainly mothers doing the hovering, Montgomery said. Students with helicopter parents tended to be less open to new ideas and actions, as well as more vulnerable, anxious and selfconsciousness, among other factors, compared with their counterparts with more distant parents. “We have a person who is dependent, who is vulnerable, who is self-
conscious, who is anxious, who is impulsive, not open to new actions or ideas; is that going to make a successful college student?” Montgomery said. “No, not exactly, it's really a horrible story at the end of the day.” On the other hand, in nonhelicoptered students who were given responsibility and not constantly monitored by their parents — socalled “free rangers” — the effects were reversed, Montgomery said. Montgomery notes that the findings only show an association,
and not a direct cause-effect link, meaning all children with helicopter parents don't necessarily turn out this way. However, he thinks the research should encourage parents to think about what they are doing as they raise their children, and be aware that there is such a thing as over-parenting. He hopes the work leads to more research in the area,
including large studies on different populations of children, such as highschool and middle-school students. Future studies will hopefully bring about a clearer picture of helicopter parenting, Montgomery said. “People keep talking about it like everyone knows what it is,” Montgomery said. “and it's not clear that anyone really knows what it is, other than the people they know personally who are doing these things.” Jane Field 41
LAW
Babies behind bars What to do if your children get in trouble with the law
C
hildren have a habit of surprising their parents so who’s to say that one of these days we’re not going to get a call from the police informing us our little darling has finally done something that can’t be passed off as youthful high jinx. Of course, we hope it never happens but in the event that it does what would you do and where yould you and your child stand legally? Hopefully, this might give you some idea: If your child's under 17, the police must contact you as soon as possible after he or she is brought to a police station. Like an adult, a child under arrest has the right to speak to a solicitor in private, free of charge, no matter what
42
the financial circumstances of your family. Officers should not begin to question your child until you're there, unless a delay would put people or property at risk. This isn't the case with legal aid to pay for a lawyer in any court case that may follow. You'll need to get guidance on whether your child's eligible. If it's a first offence, and/or relatively minor, it may well be dealt with outside the court system. If you live in England or Wales, the Youth Justice Board website gives full details of the possibilities. The Youth Justice section of the Scottish Government website has information for parents in Scotland, and parents
in Northern Ireland should visit the Youth Justice Agency website. If charges are brought, your child will almost certainly appear in a youth court. This is often in the same building as the adult magistrates' court, but usually less formal and not open to the public or the press. A defendant under 18 may be sent to an adult magistrates' court if he or she is being tried with an adult. If the maximum sentence for the alleged crime is more than six months in prison, the magistrates must refer the case on to the Crown Court, regardless of the age of the defendant. Children under ten cannot be charged as they are below the age of criminal responsibility.
TRAVEL
Only you and Le Loir Venturing off the beaten track to the “other Loire”, Graeme Alderson and his family explore a region rich in history and culture that still offers plenty for the kids to enjoy
O
ur guide, M. Albert was explaining the difference between La Loire and Le Loir through the international language of signing. His description of the feminine LA Loire employed flamboyant arm gestures to depict curves last seen in a Reubens office party. My son and I grinned in encouragement, enjoying the exchange, while my wife and
Photographs: Stevan Lira
daughter smiled stoically. His description of the masculine LE of Loir involved rather smaller gestures but none the less graphic. My wife and daughter looked for somewhere to hide. Our guide was typical of the welcome we received in the Loir valley, open, warm and enthusiastic and not at all weary of bright-eyed English families with scarcely-
remembered O Level command of the lingo. And like many residents of Le Loir he is rightly proud of their region that sits slightly to the south of the tourist hotspots along La Loire river. There’s the history, the châteaux and the vineyards but somehow, it’s all on a smaller scale and as a visitor you often feel as if you’re the only tourist there. Continues over
43
The slogan for the local tourist board is apt: Only You. Simple, captivating and genuine, the Loir valley offers a little something extra while at first glance offering less. It’s impossible not to fall for the beauty of its hillsides carpeted with vineyards, its ancient forests and its genuine French flavour..in the sights, in the food ,in the air.. FromVendome in the east, Le Loir river meanders slowly westward to where it joins La Sarthe. It’s all easily manageable in a day, as is Orleans to the east and Le Mans to the north. Base yourself somewhere centrally and nothing is much more than an hour away so you can enjoy a day sightseeing and still make it back for a couple of hours in the pool before dinner. Vendome, set in woodland countryside, boasts a medieval castle and abbey church and some stunning architecture. Hire a boat and explore it from its canals. Lavardin is one of the most beautiful villages in all of France and its dramatic castle ruins offer superb panoramic views though plenty of water and sun hats are advised for the steep walk up to its wooden footbridge. Below, is the Romaneque church with its remarkable frescoes. Remnants of Henry IV are all over the Loir valley, not least in La Fleche which boasts his heart! Home of the Prytanee National Military Academy, the town is perfect for an afternoon stroll though picturesque streets. The restored Italianate theatre is also remarkable and worth a visit, as is the impressive zoo. But is it a holiday for the whole family? Well, unless your children are fiends for culture and fine dining, maybe not. But why not do what we did. Spend a week or so here and then when everyone’s had their fill of the finer things in life, make a dash for the west coast where mum and dad can relax and catch up on their reading while the youngsters catch up on ...all the things that are important to them. For the history buff or wine aficionado there’s plenty to keep them occupied, but what’s there for the family? Not the model family with a shared interest in culture and the finer things in life, but the normal family with parents and children looking for very different things; as parents we want happy children, relaxation, a few good books, a couple of decent meals all leavened by a bit of culture and a few new experiences whereas our beloved offspring are looking for places to spend their money, swimming pools, internet access and other children who speak the same language. Le Loir offers all of the above except for the last one. You can go for days without hearing another English 44
voice. True, there are plenty of Le Loir residents who can speak very good English but even more who speak none at all so it may be helpful if at least one of your party is able to parley Franglais. Whatever else you do, try to see at least a couple of chateaux during your visit. the Château of King René in Baugé is a beauty and don’t miss the amazing 17th century Apothicairerie on whose Louis XII style oak shelves stand 650 pots, pillboxes and jars, most of them still holding medicines from an age in which sickness was treated with “billy goat’s blood”, powdered woodlice, crayfish eyes or mummified human fingers. Accomadation is as rich and varied as the rest of this region. We were lucky to stay at the farmhouse home of Jean-Paul and Françoise Cordier, in the hamlet of St Vincent du Lorouer. a high-vaulted barn
conversion with a mezzanine level for the kids’ beds. Breakfast was a treat as Françoise served up fresh loaves and lashings of her own preserves made from fruit that hung heavily from the trees that shaded the pool area from the worst of the sun. From this traditional setting we moved to the forest village of Jupilles and tree-swathed Les Tropes gite complex. When the builders completed their work would have left a site of a dozen or so modern concrete, steel and wood units. Modern, comfortable and very ugly. But then the magic happened. Each unit was given an overcoat of trees, planted close to the walls and then fixed so they totally envelop the buildings. These tree walls are then extended beyond the building to create and lovely shaded area in which to barbeque and to dine. On the evenings where we craved a
TRAVEL
More than just the mouse
disneyland boasts over 12m visitors a day but does it the best theme park in europe? 4to18 is on a mission to find some better ones...
#1 Le Grand Parc, Puy du Fou www.puydufou.com
little more than a glass of wine, fresh from a local producer, and platter of cheese and bread the choice was as enormous as our apetites. The Auberge du Cheval Blanc in the sleepy village of Beaumont Pied de Bœuf was remarkable as was the troglodite dwelling now L’Auberge de l’Escotais serving stunning local specialities. It was a truly memorable week in a magical place and one I would recommend to any family of Francophiles. Just don’t forget the phrasebook.
FACTFILE For more information on the Loir visit www.vallee-du-loir.com Other useful information www.gites-les-tropes.com www.chateau-bauge.fr
Le Grand Parc at Puy Du Fou is the theme park by which all other must be judged. It’s huge, it’s mad and it’s very French! It’s theme park without any rides. Even with translation headsets it still doesn’t always make sense but that’s part of its charm. And did I mention it’s on a rather large scale? Fancy a show with 1,500 performers? Stick around till after the sun sets and you’ve got it! OK, there’s some queuing in high season but as some of the the attractions seat a crowd that would turn most Championship chairman green with envy it’s never for long. And once you’re seated the next hour it taken up with spectacles that will leave even the most cynical teenager openmouthed. A couple of days at Le Grand Parc is unlike anything you have ever seen before...just don’t try to understand it all! You’ll spend your days wandering between the major attractions and on the way taking in a variety historical recreations but it’s the five biggies you need to see. You can just about manage them all in a day if you get there early and go straight from one to the next but to properly appreciate all that’s on offer, a leisurely two days is recommended. The sheer scale and ambition of the attractions is epitomised in the evening show, La Cinescenie, which comes at a premium but is well worth every cent. Where else can you see a cast of over 1,200 (that’s just the human cast ...add to that another few hundred horses and other animals, domestic and exotic), lasers, explosions and fireworks on a stage that’s too large to see all at once. The “story” is the history of the region from the middle ages to the First World War but it really doesn’t matter. Just sit back and enjoy as ever greater set pieces unfold before your eyes. During daylight hours the must-see attractions are: Richelieu's Musketeers This is the only indoor experience with sword fighting, flamenco dancing and dressage and is, like all the shows at the park, a marvel of effects, especially the flooding stage.
Gladiators The Roman arena is almost worth the price of admission alone. There’s comedy, romance and even a little gore in a storyline which may take liberty with history but who cares as this is a proper crowd pleaser, with a parade of exotic animals, a bloody fight, and a 16-horse chariot race. The Secret of The Lance This is the park's new/revamped medieval show with jousting, trick riding and full-sized moving castle. Jeanne D’Arc also makes an appearance. Why? No idea. The Vikings This one has the best tricks, a longboat slowly rises from the depths of the lake manned by ghostly Vikings... how do they hold their breath? And how does the Bishop just disappear in in full view of the audience? The Ball of the Phantom Birds I was least excited about this because I've seen so many bird of prey shows, but this really has no match. Having huge vultures flying just inches above our heads is something I will never forget. The kids loved it because there was always something to see and we felt we hadn’t spent the majority of the day in a queue. Le Grande Parc the second biggest attraction in France (after the House of Mouse ) but it’s not so well known over here. It’s our loss because but any family holidaying in La Loire or the Vendee should make it a mustsee....and don’t miss out on the Cinescenie...sure, it’ll be a late night but you can always lie in the next day...you’re on holiday after all! Graeme Alderson45
Nicki Thornhill meets the teacher mentor of Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope and asks, can my child be the next star?
Should you put your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington? A
ll parents have experienced the sheer pleasure of seeing their offspring perform on stage and I’m sure we would all agree that there is a pure and simple joy in seeing our child participate. Regardless of whether she is cast as the Virgin Mary or the Third Lobster in the nativity play and regardless of whether she remembers her lines or where she’s supposed to stand or not – we only have eyes for her and can’t wait to tell her how well she did afterwards. Similarly, all pupils benefit from drama lessons at school in a discipline offering unparalleled opportunities for the development of confidence and creative expression in a group environment, even if only a handful of these students ever consider a career in the theatre. But, (leaving aside the horrors of those parents who are living their dreams through their children and youngsters with unrealistic ideas about their dramatic ability), if you sense your child has a genuinely
special talent, how do you encourage them? Or, given the notoriously precarious nature of “show business”, should a responsible parent be encouraging them at all? I recently met with a woman who seems well-placed to deal with such questions. Helen Mayne’s passion for her work is self evident in the enthusiasm in which she shares the details of her punishing workload which would normally elicit great swathes of sympathy from her audience. But with a dozen or so students either performing in the West End, or en route to do so, Helen is a teacher who knows how to point her charges in the right direction. It’s worth mentioning that one of those charges is BBC’s Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope, recently chosen by the public to be Dorothy in Lloyd Webber’s up-coming production of The Wizard of Oz. I felt pretty confident Helen would be the right person to ask about how parents can identify and encourage
Brink of stardom: Helen and Danielle in London, August 2010 46
their children’s dramatic talents. She stresses how Knutsford High School student Danielle’s success is a deviation from her initial intention to try for drama school and that, whilst it may appear as if Danielle stumbled accidentally on a fast track to fame, the truth is that the public never got to appreciate the years of hard graft the girl put in from a tender age. She credits Danielle with an unusually mature and well developed work ethic which brings us to the first point – does your child have the passion and commitment to put in the hours necessary for the perfection of whatever skills they possess? If you ever find yourself applying gentle pressure on your child to attend extra dance lessons or to participate in the school play, then it’s unlikely they will ever cut it in the theatre world. Secondly, how do you know if your child is talented enough? Helen believes that while good teaching can nurture every child’s skills, pure talent is essentially an innate quality which marries a unique creative genius with the over-riding desire to devote time to the mastery of performance skills. The pursuit of fame is a distraction; in fact Helen confides that Danielle is slightly nervous about the prospect of losing her privacy once Oz opens. She dreamed of working on stage, not being a household name, which might explain just why she has been so successful. So, just because your child gets the lead role in the school play every year (bear in mind the concept of “big fish in a small pond”), it doesn’t necessarily follow that he or she has a rare talent. Listen to what your child’s drama teacher has to say too – they will have worked with many talented young people over the years and should be well placed to spot clear potential. You’ll notice all of this seems dependent on the drive of the child –
EDUCATION
and this is the key. Helen says: “A developing performer should be sponge-like, soaking up and assimilating a whole range of theatrical experience”. So as parents, we can encourage our talented children by supporting them if they wish to attend regular drama and/or dance classes, summer schools and auditions for local or national theatre groups. Also we should make a point of taking them to the theatre regularly to see a range of productions – not just blockbuster musicals - to help them develop an original imaginative flair and a real sense of theatre. Another choice a parent can make is
to send their child to a secondary school where there is a healthy dose of exposure to drama both within the curriculum and outside of it. For instance, at Knutsford High School where Helen is head of drama, all Year 7 and 8 pupils receive lessons in drama and dance and can choose to join the school’s Performing Arts Academy as a timetabled option from Year 9. After GCSEs, students can choose from a range of BTEC and A-Level drama / performing arts options. Mayne thinks it particularly important that aspiring actors take A-Level Drama: “ It’s really advantageous for students to embrace the academic challenge of getting to
know the language, dramatic structure and characterisation of challenging texts and using techniques from practitioners they have studied in class or work seen in the theatre to create their own artistic visions of these texts”. This provides an excellent grounding in what Helen calls “theatrical intelligence” for those hoping to attend drama school or planning to take a drama degree as good actors do have to be good readers and interpreters. Post 18, things do get a bit complicated. Some students have their heart set on one of the wellknown drama schools and are 47
sometimes prepared to audition repeatedly over two or three years until they succeed, especially if the school feels the student needs more â&#x20AC;&#x153;life experienceâ&#x20AC;? before they can start working with them. Problem: you cannot get grants to attend these schools unless you win a bursary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as a DADA award* so parents can expect to have to find ÂŁ15,000 per year in tuition fees on top of living and accommodation costs. Another route is for students to do a degree first of all and then do a post-grad course at drama school. It is very important to get to drama school one way or another as these schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; end-of-year showcases for agents and casting directors are really vital in helping young performers on the first rung of the theatrical ladder. For younger students, another avenue worth exploring is getting on the books of an agency attached to your son/daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekend performing arts lessons. This has the advantage of the teachers who know the children well being able to put them forward for suitable parts they have a chance of actually getting. One caveat here is that whilst it is undoubtedly advantageous for a youngster to do a season in a local professional production of say, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, not all parents have the time and money to drop everything for frequent auditions, rehearsals and performances in
London . Helen is also sceptical about the notion of sending children away to specialist drama boarding schools before the age of 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whilst she acknowledges these schools do deliver a balanced core curriculum alongside performance aspects, she questions whether by â&#x20AC;&#x153;putting all the eggs in one basketâ&#x20AC;? you could be storing up disappointment at a vulnerable age if the promised showbiz career fails to materialise. She is also quick to point out the limitations of students involved in paid â&#x20AC;&#x153;extra â&#x20AC;&#x153; work which she sees as â&#x20AC;&#x153;no more beneficial than attaining a modelling contractâ&#x20AC;? as far as developing performance skills is concerned. Furthermore, studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; education could suffer if they take on part time jobs outside school. It has often been said that a career treading the boards should only be embarked upon by those for whom there is no alternative career. So it never really was a question of Mrs Worthington, Ms Mayne or indeed Danielleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mum â&#x20AC;&#x153;putting their daughters on the stageâ&#x20AC;?. If theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serious about a career in the theatre theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to want to do it, and that means REALLY want to do it for themselves! *Dance and Drama Awards are available for most major dance and drama schools which are awarded on merit and cover most of the fees. Connie Fisher of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mariaâ&#x20AC;? fame is one well-known recipient. See direct.gov.co.uk for more information.
First steps on the road to fame
4to18 talks to Danielle about school drama and the hard wor k that goes into becoming an overnight success 4to18: How has educational drama benefitted you? Danielle: I wasn't the most confident of people and drama gave me the socia l skills and confidence necessary both in performance and day to day life. How does drama help with personal skills and awareness? You become very aware of your body as well as your mind. You can explore yourself as a person. What makes drama in school enjoya ble? A lot of the time it doesn't feel like work because it's a break in the normal scho ol day involving working in a different kind of environment. What advice would you give to young people wanting to break into the theatre world? Learn as much about your art and the industry as possible, read plays, listen to musical theatre, if that's the field you'r e interested in, but most importantly go and watch live theatre. Performing is a talen t but also a skill and it's not something that arrives overnight, it takes time and pract ice to develop. You are in control of how much you do and don't rely on someone tellin g you what you should do.
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Curtain Call Theatre for the whole family
dr Faustus
Royal Exchange, Manchester September 8 – October 9 This new production of Marlowe’s classic feature s a sumptuous set, spectacular stage illusions and one of the bigges t groups of performers ever seen on the Exchange stage - a 12-strong cast plus an ensemble of 24 drama students. The play tells the compelling story of eminent scholar Faustus. Weary of academic study, his insatiable appetite for knowledge and power leads him to sign a pact in his own blood with the Devil. He is granted everything he desires for 24 years but is followed by the shadow of his infernal bargain as the clock ticks down to his final damnation. A must for English Literature students aged 14+.
A streetcar named desire
Octagon Theatre, Bolton September 16 - October 9 The Octagon presents another masterpiece of Ameri can theatre with Tennessee Williams' most famous play: the extrao rdinarily moving and lyrical A Streetcar Named Desire.Blanche DuBoi s arrives unexpectedly on the doorstep of her sister, Stella, in a vibrant corner of post-war New Orleans. A fading Southern belle with apparently refined and delicate sensibilities, Blanche immediately clashes with Stella's volatile husband Stanley. But when he starts to delve into his sister-i n-law's past, he makes shocking discoveries that set them on a violent collision course. As the sound of jazz music from the local bars penetrates the night air, Blanche's hold on reality begins to fade, along with her chance s of finding the love she craves. Suited to age 14+.
david Copperfield
Octagon Theatre, Bolton November 19 – Januar y 15 Dickens’s favourite amongst all his works, David Copperfield features some of his best loved characters including the big-hearted Mr Micawber, the kindly Peggotty and the villainous Uriah Heep. Dickens’s world will be brought to life in a vibrant production includ ing wonderful original songs performed live by a cast of professional actors alongside a team of talented local young people. Suitable for ages 5+.
WIn FAMILY tHeAtRe tICKets
HORRIBLe sCIenCe From the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories comes the seriously squishy world premiere HORRIBLE SCIENCE (Palace Theatre, Manchester, 19 – 23 October) suitable for families with children aged 6 and above. Why don't penguins get spots? Could picking your nose be dangerous? Why doesn't the moon wander off? Could a 10-million-volt battery float over your head? And how long would it take for your heart to pump enough blood to fill the theatre? Billy Miller has no idea what's in store when he enters the crazy, awesome world of HORRIBLE SCIENCE and soon he is under attack from beastly bacteria, vicious volts and foul fluids! Will he regain control before it's too late?! Using actors and jaw-dropping 3D Bogglevision, this astounding show has the awful answers guaranteed to thrill you and your children.
COMPetItIOn You can get your tickets by contacting the Box Office on 0844 847 2484 but if you would like to be in with a chance of winning one of three family tickets(four seats including at least one for a child) for HORRIBLE SCIENCE at 7pm on Tuesday 19th October, simply answer the following question: What substance is represented by the chemical equation H2O? Send your answer along with a daytime phone number to Horrible Science Competition, 4 to 18 Magazine, 3 Fairlands Road, Sale M33 4AX or email your answer to info@4to18.com with “Horrible Science” in the subject line. Closing date for entries is October 7, 2010. Winners will be notified and names published in the next edition of 4to18.
snow White and the seven dwarfs
Opera House, Manchester December 4 – Januar y 2 Coronation Street and Waterloo Road favourite Tina O’Brien (Sarah Louise Platt) will take the title role of Snow White . Also just announced and making his Manchester panto debut, is Andy Devine, best known as Shadrack Dingle in Emmerdale. Andy will play the part of the Queen’s Henchman. Joining Tina and Andy will be Tam Ryan as Muddles and Jonathan Shotton as The Queen’s Magician. Snow White is the enchanting story of the girl with skin as white as snow and lips that are ruby red, doomed by her beauty. Her evil stepm other, the Queen, plots her death, when her magic mirror declares that Snow White is “the fairest of them all”. Freed by the Henchman (Andy Devin e) sent to cut out her heart, Snow White flees to the forest where she finds sanctuary with Seven Dwarfs. Will Snow White remain safe and undisc overed, and what of the ruby red apple she is offered by a ‘kindly old lady’ - will she take “just one bite”? Suitable for ages 5+.
We Will Rock You
Palace Theatre, Manchester December 3 – Januar y 15 Spectacular and loud, the return of this show featuri ng much-loved rock numbers by Queen promises to keep families with older children entertained.
Peter Pan
The Lowry, Salford Quays December 8 – Januar y 1 A musical version of the J M Barrie’s classic which promises a heartwarming and exciting adventure accompanied by a 14 piece orchestra with stunning scenery, swashbuckling sword fights and breathtaking flying. For all ages.
A CHRIstMAs CAROL Thank goodness the closure of the Central Library building and its basement theatre has not meant the end of those fabulous family shows which for many of us have always heralded the start of the festive season. In case you don’t know, the Library Theatre Co. has temporarily de-camped to The Lowry where Rachel O’Riordan ,whose invigorating and highly inventive Grimm Tales won great critical acclaim last year, has been wooed back again to direct A CHRISTMAS CAROL (3 December – 8 January). The story is the familiar one of the world’s most notorious miser being transformed through his ghostly experiences but you can bet that O’Riordan will bring something exciting and magical to her re-telling of the original Dickens tale suitable for young people aged 6+ and their families.
COMPetItIOn This promises to be the “must see” of the season and early booking on 0843 208 6000 is strongly advised. Here’s how you can win one of two family tickets (four seats including at least one child). The question: Q: Who wrote the original story of A CHRISTMAS CAROL? Send your answer along with a daytime phone number to A Christmas Carol Competition, 4 to 18 Magazine, 3 Fairlands Road, Sale M33 4AX or email your answer to info@4to18.com with “Christmas” in the subject line. Closing date for entries is November 19, 2010. Winners will be notified and names published in the next edition of 4to18.
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We would like to invite you and your family to visit Terra Nova â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an established co-educational school with an outstanding inspection report. Our philosophy is refreshingly simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; children deserve encouragement and attention to inspire them to meet their full potential and face the future with knowledge and confidence. We feel certain that any child will be happy and thrive in our first class learning environment. You need only look at our record of success to see the benefits for yourself.
more than just a school more than just an open day Terra Nova School Open Day Saturday 9th October 2010 10.00-12.30pm Call the Registrar on 01477 571261 Terra Nova School. A co-educational 3-13 prep school. Call 01477 571261 or visit www.terranovaschool.co.uk for more details. Email: registrar@terranovaschool.co.uk Jodrell Bank, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, CW4 8BT. Charitable Trust Reg. No. 525919 50
H
anging suspended over a sixfoot deep workman’s trench is not a place where a 13-year-old schoolboy wants to find himself in a busy town centre. But there I was, clinging one-handed from a steel barrier looking down at a puddle of mud – at least that’s what I hoped it was. If I fell I wasn’t going to hurt myself but I would have looked an even bigger idiot to the crowd of school friends and acquaintances that had assembled to guffaw at my plight. Of course, I didn’t find myself swinging inches above a sticky end to my school day by accident. I was there because my mate Rick Jones had seen fit to push me from behind, without warning, as I walked past the filthy pit. As it was, I managed to lever myself out, red-faced but without a liberal coating of mucky water. This wasn’t the first time Rick had pulled such a stunt. On another occasion he’d leapt on my back from behind and I’d stumbled and rolled through another puddle of mud. I was coated and Rick and the rest of my mates thought it was the funniest thing they’d ever seen. Rick was bigger than me, a clever lad from our village council estate who had been educated at the school of hard knocks so a stunt that terrified the rest of us was the stuff of everyday japes to him. Today Rick’s antics would be classified as bullying. But the question of where bullying starts and boys-willbe-boys behaviour and taking the micky ends? It’s a tricky one. As a teenager I never really minded my peers making me the butt of a joke but there were boys in my class who would burst into tears if you so much as suggested that by bringing a packed lunch to school they were ‘batting for the other side’. The truth is that schoolboy humour – and I suspect schoolgirl humour – can be extremely funny but it is often extremely cruel. I still remember laughing to the point of collapse when, while waiting to go into the O Level exam hall, I spotted that one of my friends had added a speech bubble to a police poster asking for information about a missing child. The bubble coming from the unfortunate lad’s mouth simply said: “Good luck with your exams”. The boy was found safe and sound so I need make no apologies for finding it hysterically funny then...and still amusing today. My school days were littered with such incidents. Another classic involved Chris Hardy pelting, from the top deck of the bus, an unsuspecting passer-by in the street with a ham sandwich. It hit the man squarely in
MARK
HARRIS
I N B L A C K & W H I T E
the face and stuck there. We laughed as if we were never going to stop. Today – and even then, to be fair – that would have been considered loutish behaviour worthy of a hauling over the coals by a head teacher. But I still look back on the incident with fondness and no guilt whatsoever. And then there was the time I set fire to an old horsehair sofa in the sixth form common room. The thing smouldered for an age and never actually burst into flames. But it did produce liberal amounts of smoke that permeated the ceiling and caused widespread panic in an Upper Sixth Latin class. On that occasion I was caught out and with the coals glowing red hot I was duly hauled over them by the head. He was particularly outraged by my actions because I was a prefect and was expected to set an example. But from my point of view the mistake was all their’s for appointing me in the first place. I was never one of the bad lads but I was certainly one of the daft ones. The evidence was there for all to see.
Even in my primary school days I could be counted on to embark on escapades so stupid as to beggar belief. Take, for example, the time I used my pocket money to buy a box of fireworks. “Watch this,” I said to my group of wide-eyed friends. I duly found a glass Coca-Cola bottle and emptied all the gunpowder from the fireworks into it. I then lay it on its side before lighting the small trail of powder that was to act as a fuse. We duly retreated a ‘safe’ distance although six feet is hardly a safe distance when your eyes are fixed on a device, details of the construction of which you might find in an Al Quaeda training pamphlet. The saving grace was that I had not sealed the top of the bottle and so, rather than shattering the glass and scarring for life six 10-year-olds, an impressive roaring flame shot the bottle a couple of feet forward and that was it. I only plucked up the courage to tell my parents about that particular stunt some three decades later but I can still remembering watching the colour drain from my mother’s face while my father tried to suppress his laughter. That was probably because my father was 10 in 1940 and that kind of stunt would be regularly performed with hand grenade detonators with at least one of the neighbourhood lads losing a hand as a result. I’m certain that my eldest son, just turned 20, has some similar tales to tell and I’m equally certain that my 14month-old son will commit some horror stunts of his own. As a father who’s old enough to know better all I will probably say is: “That’s my boy!” 51
Providing a perfectly rounded education The Ryleys has a proven track record of providing an outstanding education to children between the ages of 3 and 13 across many years. But it offers so much more than the best possible academic achievement for its pupils. Each child is known personally and the school works together with parents to help to fulfil their son or daughter’s promise. It is this extended family atmosphere that is evident from the moment you step through the door. The warm and
friendly environment helps the children feel safe, happy and secure, and encourages them to achieve their full potential. Each child has individual abilities and talents, which are identified and maximised by the highly qualified and experienced teaching staff. Small class sizes allow each child to receive the encouragement and individual attention necessary to inspire and motivate them. In addition, The Ryleys provides:
The best possible teaching and support in non-academic subjects, with particular strengths in Music and Sport. Emphasis on the core values of respect, good manners, a positive attitude and consideration for others. An enjoyable experience for all; a school where children can thrive. See for yourself what makes The Ryleys different. To arrange a personal tour at any time call 01625 583241 or for more information visit www.theryleys.com
Open Morning Saturday 2nd October 2010
10am - 12noon
Choosing the best school for your son or daughter is one of the most important decisions a parent faces. At the Ryleys, we offer an outstanding education combining excellent academic standards with opportunities to discover talents and interests outside of the classroom. Come along to our Open Morning and sample the unique Ryleys atmosphere for yourself. For further information or to arrange a personal tour please call:
01625 583241 or visit our website at www.theryleys.com
The Ryleys School, Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7UY 52
Books
4to18 rounds up the latest must-read children’s books
Play the Shape Game
Anthony Browne Take a shape and transform it into something new...Top names, including Jo Brand, Quentin Blake, Jacqueline Wilson, Phillip Pullman, Imelda Staunton, Anthony Horowitz, Sir Peter Blake, Linford Christie and Andrew Motion, have played Anthony Browne's Shape Game and left a new shape behind for children to turn into whatever they want. This simple drawing game is the perfect way to encourage children to use their imaginations.
and the dangerous land of the stompy dinosaurs. There’s lots of looking to do in this attractive and busy picture book. It’s definitely a book to return to time and time again and parent and child together will become thoroughly hooked.
Troubadour
Adventures of Ook & Gluk, Kungfu Cavemen from the Future
Cave Baby Julia Donaldson Best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has teamed up with prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett to create a wonderfully witty story about a cheeky little Cave Baby. When the Cave Baby scribbles on the walls of his cave he is in trouble - as all babies are! Luckily, the hairy mammoth sweeps the Cave Baby off on a scary moonlit adventure.
Dav Pilkey From the creators of the massively successful Captain Underpants series comes a terrific blend of past and future featuring Flintstone style cavemen but set in the future. The characters Ook and Gluk are past masters at martial arts as well as being completely wacky and very funny. Laughs on every page.
Find Chaffy
Mary Hoffman There’s romance, intrigue, religion and bloodshed all tightly interwoven in this historical thriller. Rather than marrying the old nobleman her father has chosen for her, Elinor determines to run away with Bertran the Troubadour. As the witness to a brutal murder for which the allpowerful Pope is bound to seek revenge, Bertran is on a mission to warn all other heretics of the terrible dangers which are pressing in around him.
The Maze Runner
Whisper My Name
Jamie Smart Join in the search for the missing Chaffies! Ten loveable Chaffies have wandered off into the world and someone needs to set out and find where they are hiding! Join in the search for these delightful creatures among a graveyard of scaredy ghosts, some very, very hungry pigs
successful and brilliantly reviewed.
Jane Eagland This is an incredibly eerie and chilling story of 16 year old Meriel Garland who is trapped in her grandfather’s strict regime of study and silence. It’s a narrow, solitary existence, yet Meriel doesn’t always feel alone for someone is reaching out to her from beyond the grave…This deliciously atmospheric tale of a young girl in Victorian London hides a terrible secret and as Meriel begins to search for the truth about her past she uncovers something too terrible to contemplate and realizes there is no one she can really trust…dead or alive. Jane Eagland’s first novel, Wildthorn, which was inspired by true stories of women who were incarcerated in asylums in the nineteenth century was hugely
James Dashner A cracking sci-fi post-apocalyptic adventure thriller for 11+ year olds that has already taken the US by storm and is set to achieve similar success globally. When Thomas wakes up, walks out of the lift he’s in he finds himself in a walled encampment – the Glade surrounded by a maze alongside lots of boys. He wonders how he got there but no one knows. All they all know is that every 30 days a new boy arrives and every morning the big wall comes down between the Glade and the world inhabited by the terrifying Grievers, part-animal, part machine, and the boys will risk everything, to find out why they’re there and every evening the wall goes up again. Adrenalin pumping reading that fans of Michael Grant’s Gone series, The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies will love. 53
What makes a good school? In today’s league-table obsessed market, parents, teachers and educational gurus pore through the wide variety of data available in order to place schools in some kind of meaningful rank order, whilst the pundits’ plaudits somehow perpetuate the veneer that this data represents. As Einstein once said
Watch your child grow in confidence with the right education
Open Day
Telephone: 0161 624 4497 Email: admin@ohgs.co.uk Boys and girls from age 3-18
Saturday 9th October 2010 9.30am - 12.30pm See our website for more details www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk Modern education with traditional values Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered Number: 6125927. Registered Charity No: 526636
54
however, “not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Yes data is important, but in isolation can be misinterpreted and lead to a distorted picture of what a school actually represents. At Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools, our results are excellent. With an overall 93% A*-C at GCSE and 100% pass rate at A-level, this mirrors our grammar school tradition. Are these exceptional results? Of course not. Could we do better? Of course we can and will. But these results are meaningless without a flavour of what our school represents and how its culture and ethos permeate every child that is educated here. Hulme has its roots back in 1611 when the school was first founded. It has undergone several transformations since then and now provides modern education but still has embedded within this our traditional values for ages from 3 through to 18. Ethnically and socially diverse, we are one of few “diamond structure” schools where at the nursery and sixth form ends of the spectrum, education is fully co-ed, whereas in between, the pupils are single sex educated yet mix outside of the classroom. All round education is an important mantra of ours. Unlike some establishments, we are not a “hot house”, rather we take the child and nurture them to fulfill their true potential. Just a cursory look at some of our notable alumni shows a rich mix of varied talent: Professor Brian Cox (physicist); John Stapleton (TV presenter); Sarah Lancashire (actress); David Nott (MSF surgeon); Nedum Onuoha (premiership footballer); and Nicola White (full England hockey) to name a few. We believe we are responsive to our pupils and engage in a proper dialogue to understand their needs and aspirations, whilst maintaining our high standards. It is no accident that we recently introduced A-level Dance due to student demand and this is now flourishing as a subject at sixth form. So, to answer the question – what makes a good school? If you take a look around our school, you will find the usual mix of new and old buildings. Our buildings are dated and our corridors narrow. Yet there is a magical atmosphere and generosity of spirit which can only be appreciated by being here. Our numbers are good but our values are even better. Come and take a look for yourselves!
toys
Nicola Shields of specialist toy shop Monkey Puzzle suggests some new releases guaranteed to keep them occupied for more than half an hour
r o f n u dr o o g A y e n o your m
Monkey Puzzle Toys 93 Manchester Road Chorlton M21 9GA 0161 862 0100 www.monkeypuzzletoys.com
monkey puzzle
drilla f Qua n ge o ure to be a a r s u s lo arvel uns is ’re The m n Marble R mas. They t e s d i ll r i h w C Woo d s le an t thi big hi ade, durab 3years m m o l r l f e ay of n w reat w hildre suit c ds.. It’s a g tion skills c r upwa g constru tic energy e in build lies on kin bles alon g r e r a d m n e a el th p s. o y r a p w n to wn r u o r u yo
TOYS
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ent so differ e and g n i h m omet ach ti does s rent run e ren to play k c o l e b e d Each uild a diff es for chil oks provid will bo an b ugh piec you n t o a i t h c t you c n ’s eno instru ce to a toy ildren add o there er. Great idan h your ch ws you to for u h g t e d g t i an ns llo to n ge a ation play w rge gestio inspir ly want to but the ra eat for sug s have a la rs 0 l r y 4 de a g o r T o e g l actu start at £ 0 so it is n z uz aki Sets tle as £3.5 . Monkey P and are t se. ea ts tr y lit l n e s o e r t a s 2 r e u 2 r o fo r p embe e for y tmas Chris set instor for a Sept
hether science s your thing...
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Independent education for girls aged 3-16 and boys 3-5 years FREE Nursery places through SureStart Excellent academic reputation and outstanding facilities Means-tested Bursaries available
Open Days on Thursday 30 September Wednesday 6 October
Culcheth Hall School Ashley Road, Altrincham 0161 928 1862 www.culcheth-hall.org.uk admin@culcheth-hall.org.uk
Inspiring individuals since 1891 56
4to18 tutORs name Kumon Educational UK Locations: throughout the UK. Please visit kumon.co.uk to find your nearest centre subjects: Maths and English study programmes About us: Give your child a head start with Kumon’s maths and English study programmes. We tailor our programmes to develop your child’s individual abilities ensuring their steady progress. Kumon centres provide your child with the foundations to improve their skill set, inspiring a passion for lifelong learning and building the self-confidence to succeed both in and outside the classroom. Contact: 0800 854 714 or visit kumon.co.uk
Kumon centres in region Altrincham Study Centre 0161 969 2734 Bramhall Study Centre 0161 440 0861 Cheadle Study Centre 0161 286 0791 Cheadle Hulme Study Centre 0161 488 4988 Chorlton Study Centre 0161 434 4579 Didsbury Study Centre 0161 439 3946 Hazel Grove Study Centre 0161 292 8421 Heald Green Study Centre 0161 428 2496 Heaton Moor Study Centre 0161 432 1721 Levenshulme Study Centre 0161 225 4307 Prestwich Study Centre 0161 265 8259
classifieds
Romiley Study Centre 0161 406 9137 Timperley Study Centre 0161 980 0851 Urmston Study Centre 0161 864 4157 Worsley Study Centre 0161 793 4638 Knutsford Study Centre 01565 621 142 Wilmslow Study Centre 01625 532 529 Macclesfield Study Centre 01270 821 430
name Anu Verma Location Manchester, Whalley Range, willing to travel in and around Manchester, up to 10 miles radius subjects GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Maths, English and Sciences for ages 6- 13 yrs old. I also specialise in 11+ exams. Price £18- 22 depending on level and distance to travel About Me BSc honours in Biological Sciences and MSc in Sports Science and TEFL Qualified. Experienced tutor with 6 years experience and wide knowledge of exam specifications and proven record of exam success. Full CRB checked. I have a friendly approach with my students with good relationships built. I pay emphasis on confidence building and on making lessons fun. Tuition tailored to the needs of the student. Contact 07931 252012 avcahro@yahoo.co.uk name Trafford Tutorials Location Trafford and all nearby areas covered subjects All
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Price £21 to £26 (travel included in price.) About us We are DoE licensed. Established in 1989. We cover all subjects, primary to A Level, 11+, Grammar and Independent School entry. We only use qualified and vetted teachers as tutors, CRB checked. All tuition is one-to-one, tailored to individual needs (no tutor lists) and in the pupil’s home. We receive many recommendations from local schools, parents and pupils. New tutors (PGCE qualified) always welcome. We are happy to discuss your needs over the phone without obligation Contact 0161 748 9485 www.traffordtutorials.com
nuRseRIes Bright eyes Child Care Activity Centre Alexandra Park, M16 Day nursery, out of school and holiday club plus toddler group. 0161 226 8080 info@brighteyes.org.uk www.brighteyes.org.uk
Bright Horizons at trafford Old Trafford Bright Horizons at Trafford is a 70 place community nursery. 0161 848 5880 trafford@brighthorizons.com www.brighthorizons.co.uk
Busy Bees Altrincham 0161 928 9203 altrincham@busybees.com
Copper Beeches day nursery Sale 0161 973 8829 play@copperbeeches.co.uk www.copperbeeches.co.uk
Honeybear nursery info@honeybearnurseries.co.uk www.honeybearnurseries.co.uk Altrincham 0161 929 6989 Whalley Range 0161 226 3779
narnia day nursery Altrincham 0161 929 1307 karen@narniadaynursery.com www.narniadaynursery.com
Joy Nicholson Studios tHeAtRe
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We’re new . . . we’re unique! We hope youre enjoying your copy of 4to18 magazine. As far as we know, it’s the only one like it in the UK. We aim to offer a platform for the best of education across the region as well as plenty of news and features that should be of interest to all parents We’re free because of the support of our lovely advertisers so if you respond to any of them or visit any of the great schools in here please be sure to mention you heard about them in 4to18 57
HEADLINES
Up for the challenge
Dr Ray with MGS sixth formers
For the most able students, the rigors of the International GCSE is the best preparation for A Levels and beyond... uring the last four years there has been a marked increase in the number of independent schools deciding to adopt International GCSEs, especially, but certainly not only for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics; and during the last year this trend appears to have accelerated. Designed as a secondary school qualification for pupils overseas, the IGCSE is now being adopted by an increasing number of independent schools, in preference to the standard GCSE, the attraction being that it is seen as a more rigorous preparation for A-levels. In a recent survey completed by 127 members of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), 85 schools reported that at least one IGCSE is now offered, with many of these offering four or more. Under the Labour administration, state-maintained schools were effectively prevented from offering IGCSEs. Ed Balls, the former Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS), and his officials in that department argued (in the teeth of the evidence) that the qualification was not as rigorous as the home-based GCSE. Michael Gove, the new Secretary of State for Education, does not agree and has endorsed IGCSEs, saying that state
D
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schools will be able to offer IGCSEs should they so choose. Ofqual, the qualification ‘watchdog’, notes with some concern the apparent ‘dumbing down’ of science at this level. Many eminent mathematicians have been concerned about the absence of sets and differential calculus together with the presence of light-weight topics in the home-based GCSE: students proceeding to advanced work are too often unprepared for the kind of challenge with which they would have to cope: success at GCSE gives too many a false sense of security. However, home-based GCSEs have either changed or are in the process of changing. New specifications and modes of assessment have now been introduced for most subjects. Coursework has disappeared from the majority of subjects, replaced by controlled assessments, to be done under supervision within schools, aiming amongst other things to deal with the problem of plagiarism. Subjects are now typically examined in discrete units taken in stages during the GCSE years rather than at the end of the course. Many independent schools like MGS have viewed these changes with dismay. Nothing appears to have been done about the lack of challenge for the more able; and, whilst many do
not regret the passing of coursework for the able child, the introduction of controlled assessments lasting up to six hours for each subject taken have prompted the question: ‘When will we have time to teach?” IGCSE subjects are typically coursework-free zones. ‘Terminal’ examinations are the normal order of the day. There is a greater emphasis upon extended answers and less upon bite-size chunks. And there is a greater willingness to include more challenging material. Many academic schools have found that the proportion of the top A* grades achieved significantly increases and that fewer low grades are awarded. This might seem paradoxical. But able pupils respond positively to greater challenges: they raise their game when the game becomes more difficult. The DCFS was locked into a “one size fits all mentality”, it was hard for it to see the advantages of different courses for different students. Every child does matter. But sometimes it was forgotten that (however great the similarities might be), every child is different. Let’s hope that our new political masters understand this. Dr Christopher Ray High Master, The Manchester Grammar School Chairman, HMC Academic Policy Sub-Committee
BRIDGEWATER SCHOOL
Wee are an Independent School W ffor or bo ys and girls gir ls aged 3 – 18 boys yyears, ear s, located in a delightful semi-rural semi-r ural setting in Worsley. Wor sley sley.. Bridgewater is a school which cherishes the Bridgewater individuality of each child and is naturall naturallyy the right choice for for so man children. Whatever Whatever manyy children. yyour our child’s child’s talents and inter ests we we can build on interests those and help them to aappreciate ppreciate their talents as w ell aappreciating ppreciating and aapplauding pplauding others. well W ways wa ys delighted to show show our genuinely genuinely Wee ar aree al always caring and n urturing environment. environment. We We also offer offer nurturing a br oad range of School Bus routes routes providing providing a pro broad safee and secur saf environment to transport transport your your securee environment child to and from from school. moree information FFor or mor information please visit our new new website www.bridgewater-school.co.uk w ebsite www.bridge www .bridgewater water-school.co -school.co.uk arrange or call 0161 794 1463 to ar range a personal tour. tour.
Bridgewater B ridgewater School, Drywood Drywood Hall, Hall, W Worsley, orsley,, M orsley Manchester. anchester. M28 2WQ 2WQ
www.bridgewater-school.co.uk
Charity No 1105547
ST BEDE’S C O L L E G E
& P R E P A R AT O R Y S C H O O L
A GRAMMAR sCHOOL FOR BOYs & GIRLs FROM 4 tO 18
Catholic Independent Co-educational
ResuLts
A Level
OPen eVents
College 11+ Tuesday October 5 and Tuesday October 12 6.00 — 8.30pm
telephone 0161 226 3323 fax 0161 226 3813 enquiries@stbedescollege.co.uk
100% Pass Rate for third consecutive year 70% A* to B and 16% A* All Oxbridge offers met
11+/16+ Saturday November 6 9.30am — 12.30pm 16+ Monday November 15 6.00 — 8.30pm Entrance Exam Saturday January 8 2011 9.30am — 12.30pm
Prep
Saturday November 6 9.30am — 12.30pm Saturday January 15 2011 9.30am — 12.30pm Entrance Exam Saturday January 22 2011 9.30am — 12.30pm
www.stbedesprep.co.uk
www.stbedescollege.co.uk
Alexandra Park Whalley Range Manchester M16 8HX