Fine tuning

The school’s proximity to esteemed institutions, such as the Royal College of Music, gives its pupils a unique, exclusive and refined learning experience when it comes studying music, writes Alison Melrose

What should a 21st century musical education look like? Planning for the opening of Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School, an independent school for boys and girls aged three to 11 in the heart of Kensington, allowed for a unique opportunity to blend academic tradition with some of the best current trends in education.

Our school ethos, ‘Prepared for everything’, really does sum up what a preparatory school education should be about. While we give children the strongest possible grounding in their core subjects, preparatory education should also be a ‘shop window’ of the many other facets of school life that pupils will encounter once they move on to senior school.

All too often, piano lessons can be seen as a

quick fix in order to list a musical instrument as part of a child’s application to senior school. But, does this really set them up to thrive when they move into the next stage of their education? Visit any of the established high profile senior schools and you will see (and hear) music as a communal activity. Whether that's a rousing hymn performed at morning chapel or the uplifting sounds of the school orchestra, music, and more specifically, making music as a group, is a cornerstone of our country’s finest schools.

To prepare our young learners to flourish in this world, we’ve developed an exciting music curriculum that places instrument learning and singing at the heart of the classroom journey.

Our youngest learners in pre-reception and reception are gently introduced to the selfregulation required to learn an instrument through accessible lessons on the chime bars and the ukulele. Children in years one and two then progress through a two-year violin programme, which additionally sets them up for future study on other string instruments such as the cello or guitar. Children in years three and four follow a two-year recorder curriculum, covering the fundamentals of playing wind instruments and reading from notation. These foundations are then developed in years five and six, where children spend a year learning the saxophone and the trumpet. A generous amount of lesson time is also dedicated to singing.

An important part of the Prince’s Gardens experience is making the most of our proximity to some of London’s most prestigious institutions. The nearby world-famous Royal College of Music means pupils benefit from the school’s developing links with this prestigious institution. All of the visiting music tutors, who offer specialist tuition

on a wide range of instruments, are recent RCM graduates. Not only do they bring expertise in teaching, but they’re also exciting players forging professional careers and pupils have regular opportunities to hear inspirational performances from these accomplished musicians.

An exciting new development for the next school year is the launch of the Prince’s Gardens Music Scholarship Programme, which will be available to children keen to join the school in years four or five who show excellent potential in and commitment to music. Mark Batten, Head of Music states: “We're looking for children who will be able to make a positive contribution to both the school orchestra and choir. We do not necessarily expect children to have completed a large number of graded exams at this age, and regard potential, commitment and evidence of a genuine interest in music as being of primary importance.”

Alison Melrose is Headteacher of Prince’s Gardens Prep School in London

ALL OF THE VISITING MUSIC TUTORS, WHO OFFER specialist tuition on a wide range of instruments, ARE RECENT RCM GRADUATES. NOT ONLY DO THEY BRING EXPERTISE IN TEACHING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO EXCITING PLAYERS FORGING PROFESSIONAL CAREERS

A FRESH START

In April, Abbot’s Hill Prep School will welcome Katherine Bluck as its new Headteacher. Here, she discusses how excited she is to be joining the Hertfordshire school

There are spaces in years one to four Abbot’s Hill Prep offers prospective families In Action days as tasters

Miss Bluck is currently Head of the Junior School at Frensham Heights, an independent school in Surrey for ages three to 18. She was previously Head of the Lower School at Lambrook Prep near Ascot and Deputy Head of the Junior School at the Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridge.

After attending Berkhamsted Girls’ School, Katherine Bluck studied for an MA in Education Studies and Geography at the University of Cambridge.

Commenting on her appointment, the experienced headteacher says: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the amazing team at Abbot’s Hill in April. Having spent most of the first 25 years of my life in Berkhamsted, I know both the school and the area well. I’m privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the prep school forwards into its future.”

We’re delighted to be welcoming Miss Bluck to the Abbot’s Hill School community.

“I KNOW BOTH THE SCHOOL AND THE AREA WELL. I’M I’m privileged to be given the opportunity TO LEAD THE PREP SCHOOL INTO THE FUTURE”

PREP SCHOOL OPEN DAYS 2022

We are delighted to announce that Katherine will be joining the Prep Open Morning on Friday 11 March, please do come along to meet the new Head of Abbot’s Hill Prep School. • Friday 11 March, 9.30 – 11.30am • Friday 10 June, 9.30am – 11.30am

PREP SCHOOL IN ACTION

The school’s In Action events give you the chance to experience the prep school on a typical school day. • Thursday 19 May – Prep School in Action, 9.30am – 11am

All Open Events are bookable here: abbotshill.herts.sch.uk/admissions/

Katherine Bluck comes to Abbot’s Hill Prep from Frensham Heights