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I will if I can

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Boys are encouraged to enjoy collaborating on creative art projects, such as drama productions

By instilling traditional values of manners, teamwork and kindness and embracing kinesthetic teaching, Northcote Lodge School ensures that its boys learn with confidence and achieve their very best

Helping boys achieve their best is what Northcote Lodge is all about. Its motto, ‘Si Je Puis’ (I will if I can), exemplifies its teachers’ desire to give boys the confidence to know that, by trying their best, they’ll reap the rewards of personal satisfaction and achievement. Northcote Lodge’s teaching staff do this by embracing the best of traditional prep school values: manners, teamwork, kindness – while tailoring our curriculum to the kinesthetic learning style best suited to boys (which is learning by doing).

The value of competition

The school takes full advantage of boys’ natural competitiveness with singing competitions, charity collections, art and science competitions, debating, public speaking, poetry competitions – and of course sport. Sport not only helps with health, but pays dividends through learning the values of camaraderie and good sportsmanship and bringing self-esteem back into the classroom. The power of competition is also embraced in English. The Millionaire’s Reading Club rewards boys who have read more than a million words with cake! By introducing an element of competition and reward – and by enabling boys to track progress – teachers have seen even reluctant readers become avid readers. More importantly the impact of this can be seen across the curriculum in all aspects of learning.

… and collaboration

There’s also reward for effort and collaboration – particularly in music and drama. Boys have the space and opportunity to take on creative arts that have traditionally been the domain of girls and play all sorts of roles in drama, with the most recent production being Moana. s

Learning by doing (also known as kinesthetic learning) is the Northcote Lodge ethos

The Millionaire’s Reading Club is a popular initiative at the school

Teaching is tailored to each child’s needs

HARMONY IN HAMPSTEAD

WIth exceptional facilities and enriched learning, The Village Prep School in North London provides an outstanding education for every pupil

The Village Prep School believes that every child should achieve their full potential through exceptional teaching tailored to individual needs. e school o ers 2.5 to 11-year-old girls meaningful and exciting learning experiences that go well beyond the curriculum, and take advantage of its fantastic outdoor space right in the heart of Belsize Park. Village Prep girls achieve fantastic results, and 2021 saw its best-ever year six results, with 16 scholarships to an impressive range of leading London day schools. e new Head Morven MacDonald, who joined the school in September a er seven years at Garden House in Chelsea, would be delighted to welcome you to the school and give you a tour of its spacious Edwardian building and the outdoor space. is includes a full-sized oodlit netball court, a large grassed area, an adventure playground, an outdoor classroom and fruit trees and herb gardens. Beyond this space, there’s a well-equipped theatre used for a wide array of indoor sports, as well as the girls’ fantastic theatrical productions. Morven is a dynamic young headteacher, whose passion for nurturing a love of learning is evident in every area of school life.

Sport is an important part of life at e Village Prep, and as a partner school of Saracens Rugby Club and associate school of Saracens Mavericks Netball Club, the girls have the opportunity to see top-class sport and gain coaching tips from experienced professionals. As part of the Chatsworth Schools group, e Village Prep also bene ts from invaluable expertise by being part of a family of schools.

Beyond reading, homework isn’t regularly set for girls to complete at home. Instead, the girls in KS2 are given independent study homework slots during the school day. Teaching sta believe this helps the girls develop excellent independent study skills and understand how to approach independent learning tasks e ectively. Moreover, they leave school at 4.30pm having completed their homework, attended an extracurricular club and therefore, home time is for family discussions, reading and play!

At e Village Prep, teachers nurture a commitment to protect the planet. is is re ected across the school from the hessian backing on the display boards to the school’s work with a local social enterprise group, and the way in which girls are made aware of the impact of their food choices, by highlighting the carbon footprint of the di erent food options served at lunchtime. An eco-approach is an important part of the school’s ethos.

As the girls reach their last year at the school seeks to make every moment count through enrichment and responsibility, as well as exam preparation. ere is a bespoke approach to the 11+ and in their nal year, girls complete weekly practice examinations tailored to their individual needs and enjoy art appreciation lessons, which teach them how to form ideas and how to share them. Each pupil receives the support and input they need to demonstrate their full potential.

Visit thevillageprepschool.com, or contact the admissions team via 020 7485 4673 or admin@thevillageschool.org.uk

BOYS HAVE THE SPACE and opportunity to take on the creative arts that traditionally HAVE BEEN THE DOMAIN OF GIRLS AND PLAY ALL SORTS OF ROLES

Traditional prep school values such as manners are embraced at Northcote Lodge School

Boys are encouraged to relish challenges and competitions

Risk and reward

Boys are encouraged to take risks and to embrace challenges that go beyond everyday classroom life. Each year, (Covid-19 restrictions permitting!), the school runs action-packed trips where boys can confront new challenges, know the satisfaction of overcoming fears and reinforce the importance of working collaboratively too.

The Northcote Way: a mantra for life

Alongside, and as part of all that the school does, the Northcote Way provides boys with a clear set of boundaries and emphasises the so er, but crucial skills that boys will carry with them for life: teamwork, kindness, compassion, communication, creativity, independence, and resilience. Teachers award house points to boys exemplifying these values to reinforce this behaviour and way of life.

It’s this combination of risk and reward, learning through doing and clear moral and behavioural guidelines that enables boys to leave Northcote as happy, well-rounded individuals who move on to the next stage with the con dence to make the most of the opportunities ahead. In the words of one parent, “Northcote Lodge School really understands boys”.

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES: TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS

The Northcote Way is not just a set of rules for school, but for everyone at all times. Boys, sta – and parents – are encouraged to embrace them and lead by example

Do your best to be your best self

Show children that you value e ort – not just the result.

Listen

Be an active listener – really take the time to hear what your child is telling you. Make time to talk – put down your phones. Find a neutral space, for example, in a car or on a walk. Boys fi nd it easier to talk when side-byside or ‘doing’ something than sitting down to discuss.

Share

Spend quality time with your children. Take time to do things together: a walk, a game, cooking. Notice and praise their generosity.

Forgive

Don’t hold grudges; try to think about the other person’s point of view and acknowledge the issue – and then move on.

Be Helpful

Encourage your children to help at home or o er to do something for other people, perhaps a neighbour. Thank them for helping with daily tasks such as shopping or laying the table.

Be kind

Notice when your child is kind and praise them for it. Give clear and descriptive praise. Not just “Well done for tidying your room”, but “I really like the way you’ve found a spot for everything in your room.”

Be truthful

Be honest in your praise and feedback, focusing on e orts and progress made.

Treat others as you would like to be treated

By showing children that what happens to others is in their power – and getting them to think about and empathise with others – they will start to recognise the value of being a communityminded, compassionate member of society.

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