C E L E B R AT I N G T H E V E R Y B E S T I N E D U C AT I O N
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT F R E E | P R E P E D I T I O N | S P R I N G 2 0 24 | i n d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l p a re n t .co m
A fresh approach
Traditional learning takes a new direction
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PARENTING How to tackle sibling conflict
HAVING IT ALL The merits of flexi-boarding
AT THE TOUCH OF THEIR FINGERTIPS Coding at Brighton Girls’ Prep THE NEXT GENERATION
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Dulwich Senior DulwichPrep Prep &&Senior
New Senior Section Coming Soon! Register for Year 9 Entry Now Contact our Admissions team to book a tour on 020 8766 5525 or email admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org
INSIDE
WELCOME
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT • PREP EDITION • SPRING 2024 North Yorkshire’s Highfield Prep encourages its pupils to discover and develop their individual talents
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In brief All the latest independent school news
13 Made in Chelsea
As Francis Holland Junior School moves to SW3, staff prepares pupils for this adjustment
15 Digging deep
Why instilling critical-thinking skills during prep years is essential in today’s world
16 Common decency
Core values such as kindness and respect are still vital aspects of a modern education
18 Beside the seaside
From mindfulness to eco-awareness, there are many benefits of beach-based learning
22 Making peace
Expert tips on how parents can approach the thorny issue of sibling rivalry and conflict
28 In five pictures...
A look inside the small Buckinghamshire boys’ prep school, Caldicott School
30 A fresh approach
Greenhouse learning reduces stress and is often more effective in the long term
36 The world at their fingertips
W
elcome to the spring 2024 prep schools edition of Independent School Parent. At the Independent Schools Show held in London in November, Suzie Longstaff, the Principal of the new London Park Schools (LPS) group and former head of Putney High School GDST, talked to me about how LPS is adopting a different approach to entry to education. The group aims to offer an alternative to the ultra-competitive, “hothouse” teaching that’s sometimes associated with London schools. It also doesn’t have entrance exams, and offers pupils a more creative, cross-curricular experience. And it’s an attitude that’s spreading beyond the capital – find out more on page 30. Waterside experiences are a running theme this issue too, with Tracey Davies recreating her childhood Lake District holidays on page 70, while we visit Brighton College Prep’s Beach School to learn about the many benefits of taking the classroom to the coastline. On page 63, Eagle House Prep in Berkshire talks to us about rolling out artificial intelligence across its prep curriculum, and if you’re looking for an exciting half term or Easter excursion for the family, head to our calendar roundup on page 75, where you can fill your diary with lots of things to do. There’s also a fantastic five-star holiday competition to enter on page 81 – find out more at independentschoolparent.com/win Happy reading! @ISParent @IndependentSchoolParent
CLAUDIA DUDMAN, EDITOR
@independentschoolparent
Visit our schools directory where you can find details of hundreds of pre-prep, prep and senior schools across the UK
INDEPENDENTSCHOOLPARENT.COM/DIRECTORY
With tech set to dominate the future career landscape it’s never too early to learn coding
38 Learning together without limits Bursary awards enrich both the lives of talented students and school communities
46 Expert advice
How can parents maximise their child’s free time outside of school hours?
50 Best of both worlds
How flexi-boarding benefits the whole family
57 Better together
A spotlight on how St Dunstan’s College’s outreach initiatives helps the whole borough
63 Data ready
How artificial intelligence literacy is being woven into Eagle House Prep’s curriculum
66 Movers and makers
From pro golfers to entrepreneurs, independentschool alumni are making their mark in the world
70 Adventure awaits...
From active pursuits to literary attractions, the Lake District is ideal for half-term fun
75 Diary dates
A roundup of seasonal events and activities
81 Competition
Win a luxury family holiday to the Maldives
82 My school days
Olympian Ollie Cook recalls Abingdon School
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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Finding the brilliance in every child
Brighton Road, Burgh Heath, Surrey KT20 6AJ
www.aberdourschool.co.uk www.aberdourschool.co.uk www.aberdourschool.co.uk www.aberdourschool.co.uk
+44 (0)1737 354 119 / enquiries@aberdourschool.co.uk / @aberdourschool Brighton Road, Burgh Heath, Surrey KT20 6AJ
WHO’S WHO
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT EDITORIAL Editor Claudia Dudman Sub Editor Laura Sutherland DESIGN Designer Barbara Stanley ADVERTISING Group Sales Director Catherine Chapman catherine.chapman@chelseamagazines.com Head of Sales Operations Greg Witham Acting Portfolio Manager Nicholas Gavigan nicholas.gavigan@chelseamagazines.com Advertisement Manager Andrew Mackenzie andrew.mackenzie@chelseamagazines.com DIGITAL Head of Digital Chris Jefferies Email & Digital Creative Manager Rob Payne Digital Content Writer Amber-Rose Hurst PUBLISHING Managing Director James Dobson Chief Financial Officer Vicki Gavin Publisher Caroline Paton-Philip Publishing Executive Annabelle Lee PUBLISHED BY The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT Tel 020 7349 3700 Email editor@independentschoolparent.com DISTRIBUTION Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel: 020 7429 4000 | Fax: 020 7429 4001 Production All Points Media. Printed in England by William Gibbons. Independent School Parent is for parents of children at prep and senior independent schools. Independent School Parent magazine prep and senior issues is published termly. Parents can subscribe for a free issue at: independentschoolparent.com/register
© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2024, part of the Telegraph Media Group. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The information contained in Independent School Parent has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. All liability for loss, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded.
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Meet the experts sharing their years of educational experience
COLIN BELL is CEO of COBIS, which works with and supports students, teachers, leaders, support staff and governors from high-quality British international schools in more than 80 countries around the world. ALISON FLEMING has been Headmistress at Newton Prep in Battersea since September 2013. Educated at grammar school herself, she started out her impressive teaching career honing her classroom craft in state schools. AILEEN KANE is the Boarding Schools’ Association’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing media, marketing, sponsorship, finance and HR facilities. Aileen is a member of BSA’s senior leadership team. RACHEL KERR is Communications Manager for AMCIS, the association for Admissions, Marketing and Communications in Independent Schools. Previously, she led communications for the
Girls’ Schools Association and has been director of external relations for a large independent school. DAVID MONCRIEFF is a publisher specialising in education and heritage, having previously worked as Director of Marketing at Mayfield School, and for more than 12 years as Director of Marketing Services at the British Tourist Authority. SIR ANTHONY SELDON is a contemporary historian and political author. He’s the Emeritus Professor of the University of Buckingham and was the 13th Master of Wellington College in Berkshire from 2006 to 2015. He’s currently the 15th Head at Epsom College, Surrey. MARK STRETTON joined the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) as Communications Manager in 2017, bringing with him more than 15 years’ experience in education sector communications. BEN VESSEY joined Canford in 2013 as
Headmaster from Christ’s Hospital, where he was Senior Deputy Head. He’s currently Vice-Chair of the HMC’s Professional Development sub-committee. SUE WOODROOFE has been a Head for 12 years, first at The British School of Brussels, and now at The Grammar School at Leeds. She has a particular interest in the three-to18-years educational journey, as well as the benefits of multicultural and international learning environments for children. DR HELEN WRIGHT is a former President of the Girls’ Schools Association and Vice-Chair of ISC, with three major headships under her belt. Since 2014, she has worked in international education and advises, recruits and coaches senior leaders in schools all over the world. PETER YOUNG is an independent school governor, as well as the Chairman of the Business Marketing Awards.
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Colin Bell, COBIS Alison Fleming, Newton Prep, Battersea Aileen Kane, Boarding Schools’ Association Rachel Kerr, AMCIS David Moncrieff, Chairman Sir Anthony Seldon, Epsom College, Surrey Mark Stretton, HMC Ben Vessey, Canford School, Dorset Sue Woodroofe, The Grammar School at Leeds Helen Wright, Educational consultant Peter Young, Marketing/Brand Consultant
COVER: DORSET HOUSE SCHOOL, WEST SUSSEX
Ursuline Prep, Brentwood, Essex
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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THE LYCEUM. AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 4–11
Discover a unique prep school in the heart of the City of London. Preparing your children for life today, tomorrow and the future. www.lyceumschool.co.uk
SCHOOL NEWS
IN BRIEF
Davina McCall gave the keynote speech at the school’s first Women and Wellness Conference
Let’s get loud
Benenden, Kent Davina McCall – TV personality and women’s health advocate – encouraged young women to “stand up and make noise” at the school’s inaugural Women and Wellness Conference. Davina opened the conference, which saw speakers discuss topics such as the menopause, pensions, investing, nutrition, and digital safety, with a keynote speech and Q&A session. Her speech touched on her experience with the menopause, and what it means to be a woman. She said: “I wouldn’t change being a woman for anything: all of the things we go through make us the most resilient people ever. There are so many crosses to bear but also so many benefits.” Around 200 students and members of the local community were in attendance to learn more about the issues that matter to women in the 21st century, with Davina encouraging the engaged audience of students to go after what they want, saying: “I cannot encourage you more to hustle. If you think you don’t have a voice, get someone’s email address and make a noise. If you wait for someone to come to you, it’s not going to happen.” Benenden’s first Women and Wellness Conference was designed to inform and empower young women to influence real change for generations to come. It comes hot on the heels of the school’s recent global conference, entitled Inspiring Future Female Leaders, which saw inspirational alumnae – including HRH The Princess Royal and HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan – energise students from more than 120 schools across the globe. Other speakers included Anna Lane, President of the Social Enterprise, Renee McGregor, leading sports dietician, and Charlotte and Emma Roberts, Founders of Digital Awareness UK.
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY: BENENDEN
WORDS: LAURA SUTHERLAND
STUDENT SUCCESSES • EXTRACURRICULAR EXCELLENCE • INSPIRING INITIATIVES • NEW HEADTEACHERS
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SCHOOL NEWS
BEST OF THE REST • JOINING FORCES Copthorne Prep, Surrey
The highly-regarded Surrey prep has confirmed that it will join the award-winning Caterham School group with immediate effect. The family of schools encompasses Caterham Prep and Caterham Senior School – which also launched the East Surrey Learning Partnership – and now, Copthorne Prep.
• A WORTHY WEEK Solihull Prep, West Midlands
Fresh faced
Hodder House, Lancashire 2024 marks a remarkable 20 years of successful nursery education at the award-winning Hodder House. This follows a major refurbishment at the Stonyhurst pre-prep last summer, which saw the creation of a number of large, bright open-plan classrooms, a new playroom and a designated art and design area. The unveiling of this refresh has augmented Stonyhurst’s renowned all-through social, educational and facilities provision as Hodder House enters its third decade.
The co-ed prep’s Charity Week fundraising drive, held in October 2023, has raised more than £10,000. Over five days of charitable fun, from tuckshop takeovers and talent shows to a staff dodgeball match, the community raised five figures to help a Sri Lankan hospital’s paediatric wing.
• SEASON OF GIVING Ursuline Prep, Essex
Pupils took part in a ‘reverse advent calendar’ in the leadup to Christmas, by bringing in one item each day to donate to the Community Embrace Food Bank Project in Harlow. Food, domestic cleaning products, hygiene products, gloves, scarves and hot-water bottles went to the worthy cause.
Highfield & Brookham, Hampshire The school has once again been named as a thriving centre for cricket. This latest endorsement comes from The Cricketer Schools Guide 2024, which named the Liphook school among its top 50 UK preps (state-funded and private) for the fifth successive year. All entries were judged against an extensive set of criteria.
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Figure it out
NSPCC, Nationwide The charity’s annual Number Day has garnered the support of TV presenter and celebrated mathematician Johnny Ball and financial expert Emmanuel Asuquo. The pair will visit schools to encourage youngsters to foster a love of maths. Alongside this, children will Dress up for Digits (wear numbered clothing) and enjoy maths-based fun.
independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2024
At piste
Bolton School, Greater Manchester Year-five pupil Jasper Daniels, has made an impressive start to the 2024 Alpine ski season. Competing in the Jan Keller Cup, he put down two brilliant runs to take first place. Jasper then followed this up by placing first in the Champéry Cup Slalom, the AngloScottish Cup Slalom and the Les Crosets Cup Pro Slalom.
• TAKE A BOW Taunton School, Somerset
Senior student and violinist Anthony Knight represented the school at the Westminster Abbey carol service, where he met Princess Catherine of Wales. He was given the privilege in recognition of his extraordinary fundraising concerts to help children in conflict zones around the world.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ABI OSHODI
Right off the bat
SCHOOL NEWS
CHANGING PLACES Headteachers on the move
Hannah Hellier will take over as Headmistress of St Mary’s School, Cambridge in September.
Cranleigh Prep, Surrey will welcome Will Newman as its new Head.
Joe Silvester will be Head of St Alban’s School, Hertfordshire at the start of the next academic year.
Expanding equality
Aysgarth School, North Yorkshire From September the boys’ school – a beacon of academic excellence for more than 150 years – will welcome female pupils for year groups four-to-eight, marking a new chapter for Aysgarth. The decision follows 30 years of the school’s pre-prep (nursery to year three) following a successful co-educational model. Headmaster Jonathon Anderson says, “This decision is about making our best even better.”
Emma Károlyi will join St George’s Windsor Castle, Berkshire as Head in the autumn term.
Lisa Kerr will take over as Head of George Watson’s College, Edinburgh.
Another string to his bow
Haberdashers’ Monmouth Prep, Monmouthshire Year-eight pupil Oliver Maunder has secured a position in the National Children’s Orchestra for the second year in a row. A dedicated double bassist, he will undergo intensive training during the Easter holidays, culminating in a public concert at the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole. A second course in the summer will be followed by a performance in Bristol.
Giving back
Sherborne Prep, Dorset On the first Saturday of the new year, pupils were ‘challenged for charity’. Split into groups, the children were thrown into a variety of activities, from swimming 21 miles (the English Channel) to a non-stop danceathon and continuous ping-pong. Throughout the morning, the school’s spirit shone through, as they raised donations for the Sherborne Community Kitchen and Crisis Homeless Charity.
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY: BB STRATUS LTD; ANGUS BENSON-BLAIR; HABS MONMOUTH
Haileybury, Hertfordshire has appointed Eugene du Toit as its new Head, effective of September.
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Curiosity Courage
Collaboration Creativity Compassion
An independent school for girls aged 4 - 11 in Marylebone www.qcps.org.uk | admissions@qcps.org.uk | 020 7291 0660
SCHOOL NEWS
BEST OF THE REST • WOMAN TO WOMAN St Margaret’s, Aberdeenshire
In January, a group of pupils had the honour of meeting Her Majesty Queen Camilla at the opening of a domestic abuse safe space at Aberdeen Art Gallery. The three senior students were invited after having represented Grampian Women’s Aid in their Youth Philanthropy Initiative presentations.
On a major scale
Truro School, Cornwall A transformative initiative, the Truro School Music Project, has been announced. Scheduled for completion in early 2026, it will be a state-of-the-art musical education hub for pupils and the wider community. Aligned with the school’s rich musical tradition, this space will provide more bespoke practice rooms, orchestra rehearsal space and expanded classrooms to enhance music education from Key Stage 3 to A-level.
• A LITTLE SPARKLE Stroud School, Hampshire
The Christmas spirit was kept alive at the end of last term with the exceptional nursery and pre-prep nativities for families. Having rehearsed very hard, the Early Years youngsters gave a wonderful performance of The Twinkly Nativity, while the preprep class opted to tell the traditional story.
• THAT’S A WRAP! Stonyhurst, Lancashire
At auditions for a part in the upcoming TV dramatisation of the William Golding novel, Lord of the Flies, 26 budding actors from the school took to the stage. The casting director behind Paddington and The Crown came to Stonyhurst in their quest to find a young actor perfect for the role of Ralph. Best of luck, boys!
• FILLED WITH CARE
PHOTOGRAPHY: TATE + CO
Danes Hill, Surrey
Pupils and teachers from the prep school joined with St Andrew’s Church Youth Group and Oasis Children’s Charity to organise the Christmas Hamper Appeal, which supports more than 250 families. While £65,082 was raised through JustGiving, the school’s efforts included a sponsored Santa Dash.
A happy tail
Beaudesert Park School, Gloucestershire The school’s annual charity fair raised £10,000 for Guide Dogs, allowing the community to name a puppy. Miles Northwood from Guide Dogs said “We’d like to thank everyone at the school. It costs approximately £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement, so we rely on donations to keep services running.” Next the school is holding a competition to name the puppy.
In perfect harmony
Worksop College, Nottinghamshire The college was filled with melodies, as year-four pupils from six local primary schools joined acclaimed vocal group Apollo 5 for a fun-filled day of music workshops. This outreach programme is part of the renowned VOCES8 Foundation, which aims to enrich the musical education of young learners, as well as foster a love of singing and collaboration.
Blonde ambition
St Joseph’s College, Ipswich Senior students and sixth formers put on four electric performances of musical Legally Blonde at DanceEast. Following months of rehearsals, the cast’s talent and excellent choreography delighted the packed houses each evening. The college’s partnership with Arts International showed in the production’s professionalism, while all students are encouraged to ‘give drama a go’.
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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Independent Day School for Girls and Boys aged 3-13 in Ealing, West London
Outstanding education in an inclusive, warm and dynamic environment preparing pupils for the most prestigious senior schools in London and beyond. Open Days: • Saturday 24 February • Friday 26 April • Saturday 18 May Register: durstonhouse.org 020 8991 6532
Where opening minds, opens doors
Private Tours are also available throughout the year. To arrange a visit, please contact 020 8991 6532
NEW Pre-School for children aged 3+
COMMENT
MADE IN CHELSEA Francis Holland Junior School in Belgravia is relocating to a new premises in SW3 – it’s also getting a new name. Suzy Dixon explains the move, as well as the rich educational provision the school will continue to offer
A
t Francis Holland Schools, we believe that when girls feel truly known, loved, supported, and valued for their individuality rather than achievements, they go on to achieve extraordinary things. During the first crucial seven years of a child’s education, it’s essential that they have the strong sense of belonging that comes from working together as a community. As Head of Francis Holland Junior School, I’ve had the privilege of leading one such community of 170 four-to-11-year-old girls in Belgravia for the past five years. From September, our junior school will be relocated to an iconic Victorian Grade II-listed building, just off the King’s Road, and renamed
scoot!) into school every day in eager anticipation of interesting lessons, taught by inspiring teachers. A prep school’s promise is surely to take a four-year old’s natural curiosity and feed it with fundamental foundations and lively learning that enable every pupil to transition into secondary education; arriving there with a deep love of learning and a still-growing imagination, not thwarted by examination preparation. Preparing pupils for any change is incredibly important. Human beings are at their most vulnerable during periods of transition; most people feel discomfort, and some upset, at change, particularly if it’s change they cannot control. Pupils have sometimes been lucky enough to be at their prep school for so long that they can hardly
Suzy Dixon is Headmistress of Francis Holland Junior School in Belgravia, London
THE CONSTANT CORE IS HAPPINESS: SCHOOL MUST BE A PLACE
where a child’s curiosity is inspired, nurtured and nourished; where they
RUN (OR SCOOT!) INTO SCHOOL EVERY DAY IN EAGER ANTICIPATION Francis Holland Preparatory School. Francis Holland Prep will take over the impressive 20,000 sq ft site, which is currently the home of The Hampshire School, Chelsea at 15 Manresa Road, SW3 6NB. The building, which dates back to 1890, combines heritage with modern learning spaces. Its wealth of impressive facilities includes the old Chelsea library, a spacious school hall with staging, a specialist science lab, an art room, and an extensive outdoor play area. The prep will maintain its close relationship with FHS Sloane Square Senior School, and specialist staff will continue to teach at both. The new location provides an outstanding platform for entry into FHS Sloane Square and other leading senior schools, including FHS Regent’s Park. Moving a school to new premises oscillates the mind between the most pragmatic of decisions to wonder at the richness of education. Ours is a strong community that loves to work together, but which needs careful, conscientious passage to the new site. Curiously enough, the more queries that arise about the move, the more focused I become on the pupils, their education and our ethos. The constant core is happiness: school must be a happy place where a child’s curiosity is inspired, nurtured and nourished; where they run (or
remember how they came to belong there – they just do! It’s their comfortable happy place. At school and home, we can make a difference by helping children build resilience; giving them challenges; developing their organisation skills – all of which is excellent preparation for their transition to senior school. However, what’s most important is meeting these young people’s emotional needs at a time when they’re not really sure how to tell you what those are, or even how to recognise them themselves. Parents must be vigilant; willing to delve gently into whatever might create anxiety; ready to listen patiently; and remaining alert to any changes in behaviour. Try to minimise any other changes in their lives and, while your pre-teen needs to be able to develop independence in their walk to school or journey on the school bus, they also need the same protective comfort of that adult they know best. They may wish to appear too cool to need your reassurance and protection, but they do. This is a transition that’s essential to get right, because it will be this transition that enables them to cope with future changes that come along later on. Perhaps this is why so many people find change tough. Let’s work together on getting it right. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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Independent Day & Boarding School Ages 9-19
Award winning education set in a 30 acre Tudor Estate, nestled between Snowdonia / Eryri National Park and the North Wales coastline
JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN DAYS 24th Februray 2024 11th May 2024 For more information, scan this QR code or visit
STDAVIDSCOLLEGE.CO.UK GLODDAETH HALL, LLANDUDNO LL30 1RD | ADMISSIONS@STDAVIDSCOLLEGE.CO.UK | TEL: +44 (0)1492 875974
COMMENT
DIGGING DEEP Teaching critical-thinking skills is imperative, so that pupils are able to navigate an ever-increasingly complex and divided world, says Henry Keighley-Elstub
I
n an era dominated by soundbites and social media posts, the fallacy persists that life’s profound questions can be neatly encapsulated on a billboard or a tweet. Yet, as the head of a distinguished prep school, I contend that the intricacies of life demand a depth of understanding that transcends simplistic slogans and binary thinking. The essence of critical thinking lies in navigating the complexity and nuance that define our existence – a skillset that extends far beyond the brevity of a catchy phrase or a fleeting social media moment. I find myself grappling with the question of how to prepare our students, not only for academic success, but also for the complex challenges they’ll inevitably face as future leaders.
serves as a gateway to discussions encompassing perspectives from various members of society from peasants to nobility. For nobles, the desire is often for a king adept at triumphing in warfare. Unravelling further, we delve into the reasons behind this, establishing that military prowess translates to territorial expansion. This, in turn, prompts the question of why land acquisition holds significance, leading students to recognise its correlation with increased agricultural productivity and subsequent prosperity. Following this historical journey, students are then guided to contemplate contemporary notions of wealth. Drawing parallels to figures like Elon Musk, they’re encouraged to discern whether land holds comparable importance in the modern
Henry Keighley-Elstub is Head of Devonshire House Preparatory School in Hampstead
AT PREP LEVEL, CHILDREN ARE INHERENTLY CAPABLE OF
nuanced engagement with complex topics. Views are open and varied,
PROVIDING FERTILE GROUND FOR THE CULTIVATION OF DEEP THINKING Critical thinking, in its essence, is the ability to analyse a diverse range of materials and arrive at a reasoned judgement dispassionately. It involves understanding that emotional responses can act as barriers to reasoned thinking – a realisation that’s increasingly relevant when navigating topics rooted in differing value systems. Across the broader system, critical thinking isn’t always valued, as it demands uncomfortable, open conversations. The national curriculum, while comprehensive in many aspects, often falls short in placing emphasis on this crucial skill. But how do we teach critical thinking? It begins with a deliberate focus on study skills, especially in humanities. Our approach involves integrating study skills into various aspects of the curriculum, including personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education and current affairs. From an early age, children are encouraged to understand the concept of service and question their own roles within a broader societal context. The teaching process involves posing challenging questions that require students to think beyond surface-level responses. For example, within a medieval history class examining Edward I, students are prompted to evaluate the merits of his reign. This inquiry
context. Does Musk place significance on land, and if not, what distinguishes this contemporary perspective from medieval times? This layered exploration is an exercise in connecting historical lessons with present-day realities, fostering a holistic understanding of the factors influencing societal perceptions of wealth and power. At prep level, children are inherently capable of nuanced engagement with complex topics. Views are open and varied, providing fertile ground for the cultivation of deep thinking. However, the challenge lies in aligning academic success with the needs of the workforce. Our educational system must undergo a re-evaluation. It’s not just about accumulating knowledge, but using it to make informed decisions. Success should be measured not only by academic achievements but also by the development of reasoning, resilience, and emotional intelligence – qualities that are increasingly valued in the modern workplace. Critical thinking isn’t just for the classroom; it’s a lifelong asset that equips our future leaders to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Education, at its core, should be about preparing individuals to thrive in a world that demands not just what to think, but also how to think. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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COMMENT
COMMON DECENCY Alexander Thomas explains why timeless values, such as kindness, tolerance, respect, joy and a pleasant disposition, continue to be an integral part of a modern education
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ne Monday last year, a yearsix boy arrived for school at St Philip’s clutching a parcel containing a whole fresh trout. He had caught it the previous day and wrapped it in the weekend’s newpaper and was delivering it to me – knowing that I enjoyed fishing and cooking – because he thought I might ‘appreciate it’. In that moment, the problems lurking in my in-tray suddenly became easier to tackle. The day and week was off to a flying start. Where did this boy’s kindness come from? Aside from a naturally pleasant disposition, it came from home, of course, and the values instilled in him by his parents. We’re blessed
to receive hand-written notes, for example, and are more likely to write thank-you cards in later life if they receive them in childhood. St Philip Neri is the patron saint of St Philip’s – and, rather appropriately, also the patron saint of laughter and joy – and he’s our model here. ‘In dealing with our neighbour,’ he said, ‘we must assume as much pleasantness of manner as we can, and by this affability will win him to the way of virtue.’ After schools like St Philip’s, children move on to senior schools to progress to the next stage of their development. They’re certain to be confronted with all manner of challenging situations in their senior-school years. This is normal. It’s the fate for all children as their
Alexander Thomas is Head Master of St Philip’s School in South Kensington, West London
IF THEY’RE TO NAVIGATE THESE WONDEROUS BUT CHALLENGING
at St Philip’s to be endowed with fantastic families who have passed on strong values to their children, and it’s no surprise that those same families have supported the school, an independent charitable trust, to an astonishing extent over the past year, as it embarked and exceeded on an ambitious capital campaign; to open up a reception class for the very first time in its long history. It’s no coincidence that most schools emphasise their values so clearly to such parents. At St Philip’s, we hope to reflect our parents’ wish to encourage their boys to act ‘with joyfulness and kindness’ every day in every situation. We urge the boys to make the most of their talents and take responsibility for their words and actions, and we seek to create a culture of kindness by living according to those values every day, modelling and promoting them consistently. Developing this culture takes time and patience, but is important work, and not only is this more authentic than any red-letter awareness day, it’s also more effective. Children notice kindness and appreciate it, and if they benefit from it, they’re more likely to treat others in a similar way. They’re grateful
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bodies and minds develop with great speed – and quite often not in a conveniently parallel way – in the ageless transition from childhood to adulthood via adolescence. If they’re to navigate these wondrous but challenging years with any degree of success, they’ll need to call upon their stong values and make wise choices along the way; they’ll need to take appropriate responsibility for their actions and the affect that they have on others, and this will need to be second nature. It’s interesting that the solutions to modern problems were being discussed by men like St Philip in the 1500s. This is because the values he promoted – such as kindness, tolerance and respect for others’ views – are timeless classics and the ideal foundation upon which healthy personal relationships are built. It’s not overstating things at all to say that they’re the bedrocks upon which healthy civilisations are founded and developed, and as such, they must be preserved. Marcus Aurelius was more efficient with his words than St Philip but was delivering the same message 1,500 years earlier. ‘Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be,’ he said. ‘Be one.’
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALICE_DUNHILL
years with any degree of success, they’ll need to call upon their strong values AND MAKE WISE DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY
A SUPER HIGHWAY TO 7+ EXAMS
Since 1897, Eaton House Belgravia has been an academic super highway for boys aged 2-11. We are Westminster, St Paul’s and King’s College Wimbledon feeders, amongst many top schools. In 2023, 18 boys out of a cohort of 33 achieved offers to these three schools in 7+ and 8+ examinations. We aim to provide our pupils with a golden happy childhood within an energetic, forward thinking community. Finding the potential in each child truly is our passion. If you would like to speak to our Head of Admissions, Miss Sam Feilding, about your child’s Eaton House Belgravia journey call 020 3917 5050 during school hours.
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PREP
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW HASSON; BRIGHTON PICTURES
Pupils in every year group take part in regular beach cleans, learning the importance of taking care of nature
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PREP
BESIDE THE SEASIDE From art lessons and mindfulness sessions to caring for the environment, there’s much to be learned on the coast, says Ant Falkus, Head of Brighton College Prep in East Sussex
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PREP
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Brighton College Prep’s Beach School curriculum has been built on holistic learning principles
righton College Prep School’s Beach School is an innovative approach to learning that offers pupils much more than just a day out by the sea. This holistic approach provides an opportunity for pupils to experience the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of learning in a coastal environment. The Beach School’s curriculum focuses on holistic learning, offering a wide range of hands-on experiences that promote curiosity, inquisitiveness, and team-building exercises. From the smallest cohort in nursery to our ambassadors in year eight, pupils participate in all that’s on offer at the beach. Activities include yoga classes, breathwork sessions, and mindfulness techniques that help them manage their emotions. They also participate in regular beach cleans that educate them on the importance of protecting the environment. Studying in a coastal environment has numerous benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Research has shown that being close to the sea lowers stress levels, promotes relaxation, and positively impacts mental health.
Spreading positivity
The sound of waves, the smell of saltwater, and the sensation of sand between your toes all contribute to peace and wellbeing. Learning by the sea offers unique opportunities that can pique pupils’ curiosity and inquisitiveness, such as observing marine life, identifying different types of shells and rocks, and exploring tide pools. The Beach School initiative fosters community and kindness among pupils. Pupils make ‘kindness rocks’ with inspirational messages painted on to pebbles left behind for others to collect,
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT BEING
close to the sea lowers stress levels, promotes relaxation AND POSITIVELY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH Prep classes take the classroom to the coast, learning to read, write and count in the sea air
spreading positivity and joy. Learning on the coast enhances physical activity as pupils engage in beach walks, paddling, and collaborative beach games. The Beach School also promotes safety awareness, as specialist teachers provide a stimulating environment for children to explore and, at the same time, ensure their wellbeing.
Beach School has been a successful project since its inception. It assists in providing an immersive learning experience that allows pupils to connect with nature and improve their mental and physical wellbeing, while encouraging them to develop a greater appreciation of the environment and the role they can play in preserving it. It incorporates the use of technology in the learning process too. Using cameras and iPads, pupils can capture and document their experiences, creating a digital portfolio of their learning journey, which pupils can then journal about. They love taking their art lessons to the sea, as it provides them with a unique and inspiring environment to express their creativity. Packed with their art supplies, they walk to the beach and create beautiful watercolour paintings, chalk drawings on pebbles, and even make recycled art from plastic they’ve found on the shore. This not only enhances their artistic skills but also teaches them about the importance
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PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIGHTON PICTURES
Coastal creativity
PREP
THE BEACH SCHOOL HAS HELPED PUPILS DEVELOP
an appreciation for the natural world and its beauty,
ESSENTIAL IN TODAY’S WORLD WHERE CHILDREN ARE OFTEN DISCONNECTED FROM NATURE
IT’S A SHORE THING...
of recycling and taking care of the environment. The beach provides a perfect backdrop for these art lessons, with its natural beauty and calming atmosphere inspiring our pupils’ creativity and imagination. One of the key benefits of the Beach School initiative is that it has positively impacted pupils and the local community. The programme has also helped pupils develop essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. In addition, the Beach School initiative has provided pupils with a unique opportunity to learn in a way that is different from traditional classroom learning. It has allowed pupils to learn in an experiential, educational, enjoyable, and fun environment. The Beach School has helped pupils develop an appreciation for the natural world and its beauty, essential in today’s world, where children are often disconnected from nature.
Alfresco academia
The Beach School initiative at Brighton College Prep School incorporates all academic subjects as well as holistic learning. The pupils learn their spellings by writing them in the sand and then reading them aloud, while maths lessons use shells, pebbles, and other natural materials found on the beach to assist with counting. This unique approach to learning helps pupils engage with academic material in a more hands-on and interactive way.
The benefits of learning by the sea: * Exposure to nature: It’s a unique opportunity for children to be immersed in nature, which can improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall wellbeing. * Boosts creativity: The sea can inspire imagination, which is beneficial for children who enjoy exploring new ideas and concepts. * Develops social skills: It can foster social interaction, teamwork, and collaboration. * Enhances physical activity: Activities such as paddling, scavenger hunts and teambuilding activities by the sea can help children to stay active and healthy. * Improves cognitive development: It can enhance memory, focus and attention. * Develops environmental awareness: It can help children develop an appreciation for the environment and an understanding of conserving natural resources. * Reduces anxiety and stress: The calming waves, along with practices such as yoga and breathwork can reduce anxiety and stress, leading to improved mental health. * Provides opportunities for experiential learning: The sea provides a unique opportunity for hands-on learning, helping children apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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PARENTING
In her new book, How to be the Grown-up, clinical psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado addresses honesty, attachment, boundaries, and daily parenting challenges. In this extract, she covers sibling conflict….
Conflict between siblings can offer children positive opportunities to learn how to resolve differences with others in the future
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PARENTING
Making peace P
art of building a relationship means experiencing conflict, and sibling relationships are fertile ground to learn skills for conflict resolution. Rather than thinking of conflict as ‘bad’, reframe conflict as part of the necessary learning process of being in relationships with others. Depending on whether you’re ‘conflict confident’ or ‘conflict avoidant’, you may find this useful or perhaps triggering. If you tend to avoid or distract from having a conflict with others, take a moment to be curious about why. Who told you conflict was bad, scary or dangerous? When you avoid speaking up about your needs, wants or wishes to avoid a conflict, does it bring you closer to the other person or further apart? Your thoughts and emotions will shape the responses you have when you witness conflict around your child.
Consider what the conflict is communicating: • Is it a bid for connection and affection (before they know how to do it another way)? • It is because of forced requests to share? (Do they need your protection?) • Is there a need for personal space? (Is being in the car for an hour too much?) • Are there basic unmet needs? (How can you pre-empt these in the future?) • Is it rivalry? (Due to winning or losing, or does one of them not want to compete?) • Is it a misunderstanding? (What communication skills are missing?) • Is it teasing and winding-up? (Is it bullying or the need for assertiveness skills?)
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PHOTOGRAPHY: FREEPIK
Assessing the root of conflict
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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PARENTING
A lot of arguments between young siblings are about gaining attention and connection
DISAGREEMENTS ARE OFTEN DIFFERENCES IN OPINION, PERSPECTIVE OR KNOWLEDGE, and not anything to do with the intrinsic value of another person. TEACHING THIS TO CHILDREN MEANS PLACING THE HIGHEST VALUE ON THE RELATIONSHIP
Rather than ending the interaction, focus on the opportunity to support and grow your children’s relationship with each other by focusing on their skills gaps and unmet needs. If this feels like a gargantuan task, I have two ideas to get you started:
By not refereeing, you give children control in finding solutions to the issue at hand
Keep the conflict separate from the sibling relationship
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Disagreements are often differences in opinion, perspective or knowledge, and not anything to do with the intrinsic value of another person. Teaching this to children means placing the highest value on the relationship, not on the argument at hand. • Name the behaviour, idea or thought, separate to the identity of a child. • Offer control by asking children questions that prompt them to think of solutions. This builds problem-solving skills. • Invite children to do something to nurture their relationship. Instead of: “Your brother’s being mean to you. Of course you’re upset. Come here.” Try: “Your brother doesn’t want to play with
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An ‘excellent’ school that nurtures each individual child. A family-based school for boys and girls from ages 3 to 11, where pupils enjoy small class sizes. Self-expression and creativity are encouraged at every stage of a child’s development, by offering a range of opportunities within a broad and varied curriculum, enabling them to discover new interests and talents, all within our beautiful 30-acre setting, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Set your child on an educational adventure at The Croft Preparatory School.
“The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent.”
“We could not have wished for a better experience. We value the small class sizes, the family feel, the exposure to different sports and extra-curricular opportunities.”
“The quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent.”
Current Parent
“Pupils feel safe in school and there is a strong culture of listening and support. There is always a staff member to whom they can talk should they have any worries or concerns. They also say that the staff will respond swiftly and appropriately to support their wellbeing.”
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“I just cannot praise the quality of the teachers enough... so caring and thoughtful!” Current Parent
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PARENTING
CHILDREN TEND TO USE CONFLICT AS
a bid for attention and connection. They haven’t yet mastered the skill of openly asking
SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM you, and that hurts, I understand. Maybe if we find something fun for you to do, he might want to join in with you later. What do you think?’ Instead of: “Stop winding up your sister. Did you hear me? Leave her alone!” Try: “Hey, come here . . . You’re not in trouble. If you want to get your sister’s attention, you can just say: ‘Hey, let’s play’ and she might be up for some fun with you.” Children tend to use conflict as a bid for attention and connection. They haven’t yet mastered the skill of openly asking someone to play or do something with them. You can support your child in getting their needs met by teaching them useful communication skills, such as saying, “I want attention. Please can we play?” or “I’m bored. Can we do something?” If reading this has landed a little uncomfortably with you because you have an idea that asking for attention is ‘bad’, think about what this means for you as an adult. When you need to vent to someone, want to have fun or feel sad and need to talk, how do you say to someone else, “Hey, I need some attention”? Do you use your behaviour, or do you use your words? Thinking about how you
communicate your needs as a grown-up may give you an insight into what you’re modelling to your children.
Place their relationship at higher value than the conflict
Often, when disagreements show up but there’s no risk of physical or emotional harm, the best thing to do as an adult is to keep a close eye on the situation, but not interfere. Ground yourself for a moment and remember ‘My children’s relationship is their own, not mine. I trust that they can find a way through this.’ When you ‘referee’ your child’s interactions, you instinctively tell them who’s right and who is wrong in each instance. This only makes sibling rivalry grow. Instead, become like Switzerland and stay neutral. Siblings don’t just ‘get on’, they learn to be in a relationship with each other over time, with conscious effort that nurtures their individuality and the value of coming together. As a parent, your job is to see each of your children as unique individuals, give them individual time to feel secure in your relationship with them, and focus on consciously nurturing.
TOP TIPS FOR SIBLING CONFLICT 1. Set clear ground rules for acceptable behaviour in your home. (e.g. no hitting, swearing, or name-calling). 2. Only step in if there’s danger of physical harm. 3. Don’t referee the fights, it runs the risk that one child always gets “protected”, fostering resentment. 4. Listen to both sides and let children work things out together when possible. 5. Set up a win-win situation. For example, set up a game of catch rather than football. 6. When things escalate put conflict on “pause” and only talk once emotions have fizzled. 7. Sometimes the safest thing to do is to separate children. Let them know “no one’s in trouble” but everyone needs alone time. 8. Protect children’s space and time to play without a sibling tagging along, or to enjoy activities without having to share. 9. Sibling bickering is hard to witness. Move away for short bursts, to gift yourself a moment of silence. 10. Children often fight for your attention. Plan fun family activities that can help over time to reduce conflict.
Siblings learn to get along by developing their individual identities and learning the value of coming together to have fun
Extracted from How to Be the Grown-Up: Why good parenting starts with you by Dr Martha Deiros Collado, published by Bantam. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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PREP
In 5 pictures…
CALDICOTT SCHOOL
This small all-boys’ prep in South Buckinghamshire prides itself on its inclusive holistic educational provision
Caldicott is a prep school for boys aged from seven to 13 years, which offers an educational experience based on traditional foundations, preparing boys for the demands of the modern world. By inspiring its pupils through hands-on academia, a healthy amount of sport, and an abundance of additional extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities, Caldicott has, and continues to, nurture resilient boys with good character, who are prepared for the future.
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PREP
Teachers use kinaesthetic learning to engage boys in the curriculum: think lots of science experiments with Ma’am Naidoo, re-enactments of the Battle of Hastings and the Caldicott Ring of Fire, a volcano-making competition.
Staff here are pastoral care experts. The weekly Wellbeing Survey is an example of this: it can be used to ‘flag’ individual case and schoolwide happiness levels. This data and tutor-tutee relationships allow for proactive intervention.
The idyllic grounds, totalling more than 40 acres, are embedded into school life, which suits the boys perfectly. Just a 40-minute minibus ride away from London’s city centre, Caldicott’s community has the best of both worlds.
Sport plays a massive role at the school and Caldicott’s proud of its success in this area. However, the department’s philosophy is ‘sports for all’, as seen each term with a Grand Final in either football, rugby or cricket, which excludes the A teams.
DID YOU KNOW? A strong boarding ethos prevails here, with enriching activities that help boys flourish. However, it’s important that boys board when they’re ready. For this reason, Caldicott has removed the word ‘compulsory’ from its boarding model for years seven and eight, introducing day-plus (two nights a week) as a third option, alongside weekly and full boarding.
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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A FRESH
approach
With children’s mental health now in the spotlight, some schools are increasingly turning away from a traditional learning model to offer something a little different, writes Elizabeth Ivens
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WELLBEING
FROM ABOLISHING entrance examinations to
introducing more creative, practical cross-curricular work SCHOOLS ARE FREQUENTLY LOOKING AT
DIFFERENT PATHS FOR THEIR STUDENTS
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ften dubbed “hothouse” schools, highly academic schools have long been celebrated for helping generations of children to achieve the highest exam results. But many heads, even in London where thousands of children have long competed for places at the most academically rigorous schools, now believe that a more relaxed approach can work just as well. From abolishing entrance examinations to introducing more creative and practical cross-curricular work and a move away from traditional exams, schools are frequently looking at different paths for their students. Schools themselves have sometimes referred to this new approach as “greenhouse rather than hothouse”.
Hilary Phillips, Head at all-girls’ prep Hanford in Dorset, a proponent of the “greenhouse style”, explained: “With a hothouse, you have a target, you know where you’re going and you know what you’ve to do to get there and you measure how far along you are in getting to that target. But with the greenhouse style, it’s more a case of looking at what you’ve got and working out how to make the best of that child. “It’s much easier for a school to be a hothouse, because their pupils are all much of a muchness, and are all working towards the same target.” In London, Suzie Longstaff was Head at one of the capital’s highly competitive schools – Putney High School GDST – for eight years and is now Principal of the new London Park Schools group. She believes this competition in the capital’s
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PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/HALFPOINT
Adjusting targets
SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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WELLBEING
marketplace increases stress on pupils and parents “exponentially” and was keen to look at a different approach. LPS, which currently has three schools in Clapham, Mayfair and Belgravia, doesn’t have entrance exams and aim to educate children with an “experiential and inter-disciplinary” approach. Suzie Longstaff, adds: “We’re blowing a breath of fresh air through the education market in London. We have the experience to find out how children will thrive without the need for entrance exams. “I led a wonderful and very successful school in Putney, but like all schools around there, it got larger and larger and more selective, and therefore the stress on children and on parents increased. I think there needed to be a reset and a rethink.” ACS Cobham in Surrey, a co-ed school for ages two to 18 years, is also bucking the trend of potentially stressful entrance exams and looking at a more holistic style of learning.
The greenhouse attitude to teaching works on the belief that time is key to developing potential
Take your time
“WITH THE GREENHOUSE STYLE, IT’S MORE a case of looking at what you’ve got and working OUT HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF THAT CHILD”
By linking subjects through practical exercises, children gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum
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some of the leading senior schools in the country. Hilary Phillips thinks estimating pupils’ potential at a young age is not just “an inexact science but an impossible science” and believes the key to developing potential is simply “time”. “Anything good needs time. You can’t measure how much time a child is going to need and what you put in at the right time. “It’s so hard to assess a child at a young age, as development plays a huge part and you assess one child aged six and another aged six and one may be streets ahead of the other in the things you assess but – a year later – the one who was “behind” has gone through the next developmental stage and is suddenly voraciously devouring books.” Similarly, Suzie Longstaff believes that learning through experiences is more effective than repeated testing and knowledge cramming for tests. LPS students learn about marine conservation when they’re taken on a tour ship in Spain and “practical, empathetic skills” are
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/HALFPOINT
Head Barnaby Sandow said the school didn’t ask potential pupils to sit any of the traditional entrance exams, such as 11+ or 13+, explaining: “We don’t do entrance exams at all. We look at the references from your last school because we want to find out whether you’re going to bring more joy into our classroom. “There’s a whole lot of stress for children in preparing for those exams, so we like to find out instead ‘what have you done that will add to our community?’ ‘Are you interested in the world around you?’ ‘Are you curious?’ ‘Do you want to find out more and do you want to make a difference?’” Meanwhile, Hanford is strategically nonselective but its pupils routinely achieve places at
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WELLBEING
learnt through practical programmes, such as a link-up with the University of Cambridge to study special gloves made for arthritis sufferers and how they work. “They’re developing tech skills alongside very human ones, such as empathy and problem solving,” she explains. Subject teaching is also linked to enabling students to understand the rich and various connections between subjects such as history, humanities, English, RS and philosophy. Suzie Longstaff adds: “This means that when they move from lesson to lesson, they don’t need to reset their minds.” “When they progress to KS4 and GCSEs and need to understand the context – this interdisciplinary approach and breaking down the silos of subjects helps them to make sense of it and helps them to join up the dots in a very complicated world.”
SUBJECT TEACHING IS LINKED TO ENABLING
students to understand the rich and various connections between subjects SUCH AS HISTORY, HUMANITIES, ENGLISH, RS AND PHILOSOPHY
HANDS ON AT HANFORD Practical, outdoor learning is key to the Dorset school’s holistic learning ethos
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A cross-curricular approach to learning sets children up for success by giving them a broader knowledge base
A broader perspective
At ACS, children study the International Baccalaureate (IB) rather than A-levels, which Sandow believes complements the school’s approach to learning. “Our holistic approach starts quite young. From a younger age, for example, we focus on a real-world application of mathematical skills. “The biggest difference with IB is that children study the theory of knowledge, how we know what we know, and can relate that across six subjects, which gives them a wider perspective, which enables them to discuss things. That’s the kind of skill that really sets children up to be successful.” Hilary Phillips believes an emphasis on cross-curricular learning and practical application is central to Hanford’s ethos. Girls are encouraged to develop practical skills through hands-on learning, such as planting herbs and vegetables in the school’s
kitchen garden or helping to care for the school’s ponies. “All sorts of learning are important and have value, and that’s something that they can take a lesson from it. Think about the skills required for planting potatoes – they include maths, science and reading. “We do a lot of this practical learning and we’re gradually doing more and more – Hanford has always done a reasonable amount – but I’m a huge believer in the theory that is how children learn best: through hands-on processes that they find interesting.” In London, Suzie Longstaff believes that Covid marked a sea change in how parents looked at their child’s education. “A focus solely on academic results in this day and age is simply not a true measure of a young person’s future potential. We all know that and I think it will change. I think the tide is now turning.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/HALFPOINT
This includes kitchen-garden work, where many girls have their own plots. Head Hilary Phillips says that a yearfour potato-planting project uses maths, science, English and geography skills, and starts conversations about crop rotation and battery farming: “It starts with basic maths: using a ruler and division. They work out the number of potatoes, the size of the flowerbed and how much space each needs. “Reading skills are used to follow the instructions and find out how many they can plant in, and how far apart and they measure the bed to peg it out. “They also plant them deliberately close together to analyse what the yield was against the cost of the seed packet, eventually working out the cost of each potato, to talk about battery farming. “They plant some in the greenhouse, some under cloche and some under the elements. They plant some 10 days apart so that they can talk about crop rotation and harvesting. “They may plant some where there’s more shade, bringing some science into it. The girls can then see that all subjects and life is connected.”
CODING
The world at their fingertips With the working world growing ever more technologically sophisticated, learning how to code starts early at Brighton Girls’ Prep, writes the school’s coding specialist Jayne Meadows
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n this technological age, we want to make sure every girl is given the opportunity to develop their logical and computational thinking, embedding it into the school curriculum, right from reception. We also offer four after-school clubs dedicated to coding and physical computing, including an advanced coding club for those more comfortable with basic coding logic. From reception through to year two, the girls are given the opportunity to develop their computational skills through the use of apps such as ScratchJr, the physical coding app BeeBot and a range of digital literacy-focused activities. In year three through to year six, they’re all taught Scratch, which embeds that all-important coding logic, and then they create physical coding projects involving Lego SPIKE Prime, Crumble Kits and Micro:Bit coding.
Trial and error As the girls move up the school, and by the time they reach year six, it’s great to see some of them coding in Python, one of the world’s most popular real-world languages used by professional programmers. The coding curriculum is very much focused on developing the girls’ confidence, logical thinking and computational skills, so to support this we have exciting plans to include cross-curricular opportunities for the girls with DT and science. Coding provides opportunities for our girls to practise a range of transferable skills, including problem solving, where they learn to break down
complex obstacles into smaller, more manageable tasks. This is an area that requires you to repeatedly try and fail until you arrive upon a solution. This sort of persistence is something which is hugely valued at Brighton Girls, and fundamental to successful learning. The girls are regularly nudged out of their comfort zone, and I’ve noticed a big improvement in their confidence to explore, work independently and make mistakes. Girls typically don’t like to fail in the classroom and tend to be risk-averse, so I’ve made it a core part of my teaching to encourage experimentation, even if mistakes are made. I don’t want the girls to be embarrassed if they make a mistake, but to embrace it and to believe it will make them better coders
Brighton Girls’ Prep has four after-school clubs dedicated to coding and computational skills
GIRLS TYPICALLY DON’T LIKE TO FAIL
in the classroom and tend to be risk-averse, SO
I’VE MADE IT A CORE PART OF MY TEACHING TO ENCOURAGE EXPERIMENTATION
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CODING
Coding prepares girls for the future working world and helps them let go of their fear of failure
I’VE TAUGHT SO MANY GIRLS WHO HAVE FOUND many academic subjects difficult, but have a real talent for coding. THEY CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND EXPERIMENT – THAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE and logical thinkers. Girls can often feel they must be totally sure of an answer before putting their hand up. So it has been great to see their self-belief and confidence build as the girls look back at the solutions they’ve logically reached and realise that they are more than capable. They can do it. We see this especially in STEM subjects, where girls who have been using problem-solving skills learned through coding, apply these in the lab or in design technology and the result is a real confidence in their abilities. Then, the outcome is that girls who have been coding since the age of five become inoculated against the traditional reticence that female teens choosing their options statistically feel towards STEM subjects.
PHOTOGRAPHY: DANNY FITZPATRICK
Building confidence On top of all these benefits, we’ve also seen that coding is a very inclusive subject. We’ve found that girls with hyperfocus, who may have a neurodiversity like dyslexia or autism, particularly love coding. This is a subject where they don’t need to be good at reading or history or maths. It’s about experimentation, trial and error, problem solving and refining what you’re doing until you find a solution. I’ve taught so many girls who have found many academic subjects difficult, but have a real talent for coding. They can make mistakes and experiment and I see how that builds their confidence. It’s such a privilege to watch those girls flourish at coding.
WHY TEACH CODING EARLY? • To empower pupils with valuable skills such as problem solving, logical thinking and creativity from the very start of their school life. • To encourage pupils to feel comfortable making mistakes and to introduce them to code debugging, which builds resilience. • To build and instil confidence before the teenage years kick in. • To make coding seem as natural a subject as any other on the curriculum, rather than something unusual, or a niche extracurricular. • To ensure children have a comfortable relationship with technology right from the start. • To provide youngsters with as many opportunities as possible that’ll enable them to leave school well-prepared to participate in and shape the digital landscape.
Brighton Girls’ Prep is an all-through school offering a caring learning environment for ages four to 18
Whether or not the girls choose to go into a career that involves coding or computer programming, the confidence and persistence they will have developed at Brighton Girls’ Prep will provide very strong scaffolding for them to attain not only their career goals but their life ones too. I feel extremely fortunate to have been appointed coding specialist in such a dynamic forward thinking school, and to see girls thrive. I’ve taught computing since 2001, and it is just wonderful to watch the young girls of Brighton Girls code, and to do it with confidence and enthusiasm. I’m always praising them for their amazing work, but to them, it is just what they do nothing special. They can just code. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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One in seven pupils attend Durham School on means-tested bursaries
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PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK WILKINSON
BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Learning together
without limits Kieran McLaughlin, Principal of Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, explains how transformational bursaries are helping build a more equitable society giving every child the chance to thrive
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and the support of a nurturing school community – a community that’s a true reflection of the real world; a place where collaboration, understanding, and empathy thrive. The foundation has transformed the lives of 420 families through bursaries, diversifying the senior school pupil-body and giving more young people from across our region and beyond the opportunity to flourish, both academically and personally. Today, one in seven pupils at Durham School attend on means-tested bursaries. The level of financial support ranges from a five-per-cent reduction on fees to a full, 100-percent bursary, with additional support for associated school costs. While the scholarship and bursary programmes are aligned, it’s crucial that they remain significantly different in their criteria and purpose. Scholarships are merit-based, awarded as a form of recognition for a student’s outstanding performance, exceptional achievements or bubbling potential in a specific field or area of expertise, be it in the
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n the ever-evolving educational landscape, a parent’s desire to find an enriching education for their child remains unwavering. As we navigate paradigm shifts and redefine our roles as educators, Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation recognises that inclusivity must stand as a cornerstone within the bedrock of its charitable objectives. With a scholarship programme that dates back to 1541 and a bursary provision that has become part of the DNA of the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, we’ve long made efforts to bridge socioeconomic gaps and provide equitable access to education to a more diverse student body. As Principal of the foundation I’m privileged to witness the transformative power of education every day. Our commitment to excellence is not only reflected in academic achievements, but in our belief that education should be a beacon of opportunity for every deserving student. One of the most gratifying aspects of our scholarship and bursary programme is the diverse array of talents it brings to the school community. By providing access to students from various socioeconomic backgrounds, we enrich our learning environment with a wealth of experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. Beyond the academic realm, our bursary recipients help foster a culture of resilience and determination, and they very often exhibit a tenacity that goes beyond the curriculum. They become ambassadors of the school and, while grasping these life-changing opportunities, they embody our core MARK values of Moral Integrity, Ambition, Responsibility and Kindness. They also provide inspiration for their peers, demonstrating that obstacles can be surmounted through hard work, dedication,
The King’s scholarships were established during King Henry VIII’s rule
BEYOND THE ACADEMIC REALM,
our bursary recipients help foster a culture of RESILIENCE
AND DETERMINATION
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BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Founded in 1414, Durham School has a rich history and long-standing tradition of academic excellence
SOME 200 DYNAMIC YOUNG PEOPLE FROM across the region have entered Durham School in year 12 ON A BURKITT SCHOLARSHIP, A FIXED AWARD OF £1,000 PER YEAR, WHICH CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED have entered Durham School in year 12 on a Burkitt scholarship, a fixed award of £1,000 per year, which can be supplemented by a means-tested bursary of up to 100-per-cent fee remission. The legacy of the Burkitt award dates back to the mid-1980s, when Lieutenant Colonel Henry Gale Stewart Burkitt, an illustrious alumnus of Durham School, who was educated at Cambridge University before joining the Indian Army, made a bequest of more than £400,000 to be invested in bursaries. The Burkitt fund is tailored to support ambitious teenagers whose potential for achievement has faced undue challenges. In our dedicated effort to expand opportunities, we’re fostering strategic partnerships with regional secondary schools and colleges, such as Castle View Enterprise Academy in Sunderland and High Tunstall College of Science in Hartlepool. This underscores our firm commitment to broadening access to the Burkitt award, ensuring that its transformative benefits reach an even wider pool of talent. Despite the challenges we may face navigating an evolving educational landscape, DCSF remains committed to its bursary programme. It is not just a financial initiative – it reflects the foundation’s ethos, a commitment to equity, and a recognition of the potential that resides within every student. My advice to any parent who believes their child might thrive in an independent setting would be to explore the school’s website for comprehensive information on bursaries, contact the admissions office, and attend an open morning to gain a valuable insight into its financial aid programmes and application process. It could well be the most life-changing path your child takes!
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classroom, on the sports fields or in the arts. Scholarships at Durham School are highly competitive and students will have to meet certain standards to qualify. Academic King’s scholarships, available to candidates at 11+ and 13+, entering years seven and nine, date back to the time of King Henry VIII. Originating from the monarch’s keen interest in sustaining Durham School following the reformation, historical records reveal that the crown generously funded an annual grant dedicated to the education of the prestigious King’s scholars. Today, these scholarships have evolved into a beacon of academic excellence and span the entire duration of a student’s academic journey, with a value of £1,000 per year. Alongside academic scholarships, the foundation offers a limited number of awards at 11+, 13+ and 16+ in a range of disciplines, such as art, drama, design and technology, music and sport. Successful applicants are awarded a £1,000 reduction in school fees each year. Aligned with DCSF’s scholarship offering, its bursary provision is intended to provide financial assistance to students facing economic challenges and is means-tested to determine a family’s eligibility. While financial need is the primary consideration, the foundation takes a holistic approach, considering personal circumstances and family background to ensure students from diverse backgrounds, each with their unique strengths and needs, are afforded equal opportunities to flourish alongside peers. While all bursaries can be transformational, we most often see their true impact when students join in the sixth form on life-changing Burkitt awards. Some 200 dynamic young people from across the region
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BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
CASE STUDY
HOW I DID IT
Rachel West, 13, is a King’s scholar and received her bursary when she joined the school in year seven. Here she shares the story of her application process When did you apply? When I was in year six at my primary school, we looked at what options were available at Durham School to put myself forward for an academic scholarship and a bursary. I sat an entrance exam, was awarded a King’s Scholarship and we then applied for the financial support needed to allow me to join the school.
entrance exams or when you take part in assessments linked to scholarships in sport, music and the arts. What checks does the school make to ensure that you’re a worthy candidate? The whole process was very open, we chatted a lot to the Director of Admissions, and I had an interview with the Principal when I was being considered for the awards.
Can you give a rough timeline of your bursary application process?
BURSARIES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS LINKED TO SCHOLARSHIPS, so you have to show you’re a worthy candidate when you SIT YOUR ENTRANCE EXAMS OR TAKE PART IN ASSESSMENTS My parents made it clear from the start that for me to attend, it would have to be with bursary funding, so as soon as I was offered a scholarship place we filled in all the bursary forms and the Director of Admissions was really supportive. How much did you know about bursaries? We weren’t in a position to consider an independent school without financial support, so we’d done lots of research online before applying. My local secondary school had been rated ‘inadequate’ and ‘requires improvement’ for years and I really wanted to go to a school where I could focus on my studies and do well, so
applying for a bursary was an important factor when looking at my next steps after primary. Did you apply for a bursary at another school, or just to Durham School? I sat the entrance exams for another independent school, but it was just as a backup because all I wanted was to go to Durham School! How difficult was it to secure the bursary? My mum and dad went through all the paperwork, it seemed a little daunting at first as there was a lot of information to fill in, but it was pretty straightforward. The school was aware of my homelife – my two brothers
are at special schools and my dad is their full-time carer – so the admissions team and bursar were so supportive of my application from day one. Do you have bursary provision for the entirety of your school life? My scholarship is for the entirety of my school life and worth £1,000 off my fees, whereas the bursary is reviewed annually in case our financial circumstances change at all. What qualities do you have to have to consider applying for a bursary? Bursaries are almost always linked to scholarships, so you have to show you’re a worthy candidate when you sit your
Which members of staff know that you have a bursary and do the other pupils know? King’s scholars are known around the school and I’m proud of my scholarship. I talk less about my bursary, but I’m really grateful for the opportunity, so it’s not something I wouldn’t discuss if asked! What impact has receiving a bursary had on you? Huge! I would never have been able to consider Durham School without one and I love it here, it has a real family feel. I’ve made amazing friends, I’m doing so many sports and activities, and I love the house system. My homelife is complex with my brothers’ needs, so this school gives me the perfect environment to be me and really thrive. Do you have any tips for potential candidates hoping to apply for a bursary at their chosen school? Go for it! Be yourself, be honest and try your best. s
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“A very special school. It demands high standards from the children, but is characterful and friendly at the same time”. Voice of the parent survey 2023
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A co-educational independent school for pupils aged nine months to 18 years
www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk
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06/02/2024 10:00
BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
CASE STUDY
OARSOME OPPORTUNITY
Rower Ed Dando, 17, attends Durham School to compete for its renowned boat club and study towards a future in law, thanks to a transformational scholarship Ed is now coached alongside some of the strongest competitive rowers at Durham School Boat Club (DSBC), having been awarded a sixth form place at school through its Burkitt scholarship programme. The teenager, who travels most days by school bus and also makes use of the flexible boarding facilities when training before school hours, said the move gave him the confidence to row at a more senior level. He now trains up
FOUNDED IN 1847, DSBC IS ONE OF the oldest
clubs on the River Wear, located near Prebends Bridge. PUPILS HAVE GONE ON TO REPRESENT
GREAT BRITAIN AT OLYMPIC REGATTAS to six days a week, both on the river and in the school’s fitness suite. “I started rowing about three years ago, but I knew I wanted to take it more competitively and at Durham the coaching is really good,” said Ed. “When I first joined, I thought I wouldn’t be able to keep up with rowers at such a high level, but the coaching staff constantly encourage me and have given me confidence in my ability. While I’m not physically the strongest, they’ve taught me to focus on the strengths I have to improve.” Founded in 1847, DSBC is one of the oldest clubs on the River Wear, located near
Prebends Bridge. Pupils have gone on to represent Great Britain at Junior, University and Senior World Championships, as well as Commonwealth and Olympic regattas. Recent successes include Junior 16 pair Jannik Fachat and Nikkels Pieper, who collected bronze medals at both the British Championship and the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, and Alice Bradley, who last year was awarded a full scholarship to row at Michigan State University. Former pupils Charlotte Von Bockelmann, Henning Koencke, and Johanna Debus, from Germany, have
all gone on to represent their home country in international rowing competitions, as has Old Dunelmian Valentin Suter, from Switzerland. Eddie Bryant, Durham School’s Director of Rowing, said Ed trains alongside some of the region’s top rowers. “He has really grasped the opportunity to further his rowing potential, and is training up to six days a week in preparation for a
busy fixture list of regattas and competitions,” he added. “His commitment to the sport is truly admirable.” Ed is taking A-levels in geography, business and economics and aspires to be a lawyer. He’s a trained Peer Mentor, providing support to other pupils across the wider Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation (DCSF), which is made up of Chorister School and Durham School. “It’s nice to be able give something back to the school by helping others,” said Ed. “Durham School has really developed me as a person… it’s a community here.” Ed is one of more than 200 young people from across the north – from Northumberland down to North Yorkshire – who have been given the chance to study at Durham School’s Sixth Form on a Burkitt Scholarship, which offers support of up to 100 per cent fee remission. The Burkitt Award made the school accessible to Ed’s family. His mother, Lisa Dando, says: “He’s thoroughly embracing the school ethos and values, and getting involved in many aspects of the school life.”
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EXPERT ADVICE
At Stonyhurst, sport and play are thoughtfully woven into the pupils’ daily schedule
ASK THE EXPERTS
How can parents maximise their child’s free time outside of school hours, during the evenings and weekends? We ask five educationalists their advice… 46
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EXPERT ADVICE
Bolton School has a vast range of extracurricular activities for children to enjoy
OUR EXPERTS Fr Christopher Cann STONYHURST ST MARY’S HALL
Heather Cavanagh BURGESS HILL GIRLS
Kate Enright
HIGHFIELD PREP SCHOOL
Sue Faulkner
BOLTON SCHOOL
Pauline Wilson, MBE
URSULINE PREP SCHOOL
Sue Faulkner, Head of Primary Division at Bolton School, Greater Manchester There’s no question that access to a range of activities can be beneficial and enjoyable for youngsters, however when it’s punctuated with stressful journeys across town and snatched meals, those benefits are quickly eroded. Agree what your child enjoys and is manageable, making sure that at least two nights a week are activity free to allow time and space to relax together as a family. Taking an interest in your child’s day is important, however picking over every detail can create pressure. Instead, ask what they enjoyed and listen without judgement or demand and allow them space to think it through for themselves. Finally, clear and calm bedtime routines should always be a priority as it is during sleep that children’s brains and bodies are able to process the day and recover, setting them up in a positive mood for the new day ahead.
MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST
two nights a week are activity free
TO ALLOW TIME AND SPACE TO RELAX TOGETHER AS A FAMILY Heather Cavanagh, Head of Prep, Burgess Hill Girls, West Sussex
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Outside of the classroom, Burgess Hill pupils spend time with school dog, Jasper
A tip for parents is to park farther from school during drop-off or pick-up times and take a short walk together, even if walking the entire way isn’t always possible. This brief stroll can create valuable moments for preparation or relaxation before or after school, fostering a relaxed environment for children to share personal thoughts. While after-school and weekend clubs are excellent opportunities for advancing your child’s skill development and to cultivate a healthy lifestyle, I particularly recommend clubs like Beavers, Brownies, Girl Guides, and Scouts. These offer vital opportunities for social and life-skill enhancement in a less competitive, more relaxed setting than some sports or dance clubs. Lastly, Burgess Hill Girls consistently emphasises the benefits of outdoor time, promoting physical and mental health, as well as providing a refreshing break from daily demands, regardless of the weather.
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EXPERT ADVICE
Highfield Prep’s pupils are encouraged to unwind and enjoy unstructured outdoor play
FOR CHILDREN OVERWHELMED BY THE pressures of the school day, practising some mindfulness activities IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP THEM DECOMPRESS
Kate Enright, Deputy Head, Highfield Prep School, Harrogate, North Yorkshire Let them play. Let them relax. And, above all, give them the time and space to be bored. It’s so tempting to fi ll your child’s evenings with a variety of activities and to keep them as busy as possible at all times. But children, just like adults, need time to relax and recalibrate in the evenings. Giving children time to explore unstructured play allows them the opportunity to learn and practise social skills, problem solving and resilience. For children who feel overwhelmed by the pressures of the school day, practising some mindfulness activities is a great way to help them decompress. Blow bubbles together, colour in a picture or just quietly list the five best things about their day. Clearing their heads and giving them the space to relax will pay huge dividends when they’re calmer and readier to face the challenges of the next day. Read them stories, talk about their day and let them get bored!
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Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall timetables plenty of field-day action to keep children engaged
EXPERT ADVICE
Pauline Wilson MBE, Principal, Ursuline Prep School, Brentwood, Essex
WE ENCOURAGE DAY FAMILIES TO follow our boarding routines of limited screen time IN THE EVENING, READING AND SET BEDTIMES
We’ve always enjoyed clear communication with our parents. And from the children’s first days with us, we’ve encouraged activities out of school that complement the work and pastimes they undertake here. It’s a vital part of the children’s wellbeing and development that we work as a partnership with our children’s families to support the child here in school and at home (through) the parents as necessary. Reading is an integral part of our expectation when it comes to children’s evening pursuits. This not only improves their reading ability but their communication, vocabulary skills and imagination. It gives both children and their parents time to sit quietly together, and to contemplate the day. This is proven to encourage good mental health and wellbeing. We afford the children a wide range of timetabled activities, as well as extracurricular ones, and many of our children continue these pursuits in the evenings and during the weekends. Many even represent clubs regionally and nationally. We appreciate the positive outcomes that we attain because of the continued mental stimulation and enrichment the children have while not in school.
Dance is a popular after-school pursuit at Ursuline Prep
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER TARRY/THE SUNDAY TIMES
Fr Christopher Cann, Headmaster, Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall (SMH), Lancashire The days are long at SMH, but we ensure that the breaktimes are also long for all age groups. We’ve recently had a focus on Positive Play initiatives to help children to learn how to play, i.e. role play, traditional playground skipping, and ball games, with older children taking the lead in being playtime friends to younger children. We’ve extended sessions of outdoor learning either in our outdoor classroom in the Mission Garden or in our extensive woodland grounds. Most of us love being outside! Our daily offering of sport and a very rich activities programme interwoven into the formal classroom lessons timetable ensures that the day is full of variety in learning experiences and pastoral times with bags of
fresh Lancashire air! Our activities programme is designed to be interesting and broaden pupils’ horizons and allow for hours of fun at the end of the day. Examples include: archery, chess, French role play, horse riding, drama, musical theatre, tennis, swimming, and NFL football, and all the traditional sports. Crucial to maintaining strong mental health, we believe, is our rule in having no phones. We encourage day children to stay for activities, “studies” (homework), and supper at school to ensure they have free time with family in the evening. We encourage day families to follow our boarding routines of limited screen time in the evening, reading and set bedtimes. Equally, however, we ensure that pick-up times are flexible and individualised, so that pupils can be collected straight after the end of lessons, if so desired. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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FLEXI-BOARDING
St Margaret’s Junior School provides flexiboarding both to build children’s resilience and provide families with added support
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FLEXI-BOARDING
BEST OF
both worlds
How do you know if flexi-boarding is right for your child? Emma Gray, Head at St Margaret’s Junior School in Hertfordshire outlines the many benefits ▲
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FLEXI-BOARDING
Students enjoy sociable evenings in the school’s welcoming boarding house
F
lexi-boarding is a popular boarding option that allows children to spend some nights at school and some at home, while still maintaining their family home life. The flexibility of boarding on an occasional basis provides numerous benefits for children because it offers a balance between the structure and support of an enriching boarding-school life and the comfort and familiarity of being at home. For parents, exploring the advantages of flexi-boarding for children can be a useful exercise, especially when attempting to determine if it’s the right choice for your child. Flexi-boarding offers a range of benefits for children, both academically and personally. One of the key advantages is the opportunity for increased independence and self-reliance. By spending time away from home, children learn to manage their own routines, organise their belongings, and take responsibility for their own personal needs. This fosters the
FLEXI-BOARDING OFFERS A CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE for collaborative learning, as students can ENGAGE IN GROUP STUDY SESSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR PEERS development of essential life skills, such as time management, decision-making, and problem-solving, which are crucial for their future success and growth as a young adult.
Collaborative learning
Likewise, flexi-boarding provides a carefully structured environment that promotes academic progress. In the right boarding environment, children will have access to dedicated study spaces, may be supported with supervised homework sessions, and additional academic support will also be available outside of regular school hours. This allows them to focus on their studies without distractions and receive guidance from teachers when needed. Flexi-boarding also offers a conducive atmosphere for collaborative learning, as students can engage in group study sessions and discussions with their peers. Building strong friendships with peers is another significant benefit of flexi-boarding, as
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FLEXI-BOARDING
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is the opportunity for children to participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities. Boarding schools like St Margaret’s often offer an extensive array of clubs, sports teams, and cultural programmes that aren’t always available in day schools. By staying overnight, children can fully immerse themselves in these activities, develop their talents, and explore new interests while still sharing their experiences with their families at home. This not only enhances their personal and social growth, but also provides a well-rounded education that goes far beyond the realms of traditional academic study. For families with busy schedules or parents who travel frequently, flexi-boarding can be a life saver. It provides a reliable and secure environment for children when their parents are unable to be at home. Boarding at school in a safe and secure environment ensures that children are well cared for and have access to the best support and supervision, even SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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FLEXI-BOARDING
CASE STUDY
WHY I DO IT
Karen Hastings’ son Constantine has been a flexi-boarder at St Margaret’s for over a year. Here, she explains when and how often her son boards at the school Constantine is a year-eight pupil at St Margaret’s School in Bushey, and a keen flexiboarder. He began his flexiboarding experience back in year seven, and believes that it has given him the best of both worlds. Constantine really loves flexi-boarding at St Margaret’s. There’s always something fun happening in the boarding house and he enjoys getting to spend more time with his friends socially, eating lots of yummy food and having that extra
SINCE CONSTANTINE BEGAN HIS FLEXIBOARDING JOURNEY, he has grown in confidence and independence and is MUCH BETTER AT ORGANISING HIMSELF independence of being away from home. As a parent, I’ve also found that flexi-boarding can be a life saver when I need that bit of extra support juggling my work commitments, if
I’m working longer hours, or I’m travelling for work, it’s reassuring to know that I can pop him into flexiboarding for one or two nights as and when I need to, and I’m reassured that
when their parents are away. In many cases, it can also alleviate the stress and guilt that parents may feel when juggling a raft of work commitments and family responsibilities.
Developing relationships
The question is, should you consider flexiboarding for your child? Firstly, if your child expresses an interest in boarding but isn’t ready for full-time boarding, flexi-boarding can be a great option. It gives children the chance to dip their toes into the water and to experience the benefits of boarding life while still retaining that all-important connection with their home and family. Additionally, if your child has a demanding academic or extracurricular
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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2024
he’ll also have a great time. Plus, I care for my elderly mother who unfortunately had a fall recently. Thankfully, I was able to arrange for Constantine to flexi-board at very short notice so that
schedule, flexi-boarding can provide the necessary support and structure to help them manage their commitments effectively. From a behavioural perspective, some children may find flexi-boarding helps them to develop more cohesive relationships with their peers. To determine if flexi-boarding is the right choice, it’s essential to consider the child’s personality, preferences, and needs. Some children thrive in a structured and communal environment, while others may find it challenging to adapt to the routines and culture of boarding life. It’s crucial to have open and honest conversations with your child about their feelings and expectations regarding flexi-boarding. Visiting the school, talking
I could go and care for her. Flexi-boarding can be invaluable when unexpected emergencies crop up, knowing that Constantine was being well looked after and spending time with his friends made it that much easier to manage. Since Constantine began his flexi-boarding journey, he has grown in confidence and independence and is much better at organising himself. I would definitely recommend the experience to other parents who have children that are interested in boarding, but don’t want to be away from home for prolonged periods. The great thing about flexi-boarding is being able to stay away from home a day at a time, so that it doesn’t feel like you’re away for long periods; it’s the perfect balance. I also liked the fact that Constantine could try flexi-boarding out for the first time and then build up gradually in a way that suits him.
to current flexi-boarding students and their parents can also provide valuable insights into whether this option aligns with your child’s needs and aspirations. In summary, outside of the obvious academic and co-curricular benefits, flexiboarding provides a reliable care option for busy families. It’s a flexible alternative to full-time boarding that allows children to experience the advantages of boarding school life while retaining strong connections at home. For parents, open communication is key to making the right choice for their child’s education and personal growth, as is seeking guidance from the school to help make an informed decision that works for all parties.
Independent Day & Boarding Education for Boys & Girls Aged 4 - 18 years
Open Morning Saturday 16th March 2024
01874 615440 | admissions@christcollegebrecon.com | www.christcollegebrecon.com
Where every child truly shines Currently taking applications for 2025 entry
Join our Nursery (January 2025 entry) Application deadline 13 September 2024
Nursery, 7+ and occasional places
(September 2025 entry) Application deadline 1 November 2024
Discover the many benefits of a Blackheath Prep education blackheathprep.co.uk/admissions @blackheathprep Follow us #BeBlackheathPrep
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First ever Reception class opening in September 2024
WEBSITE
‘Exceptional’ London prep school for boys aged 4 to 13 OPEN DAYS
6 Wetherby Place SW7 4NE
Learning Learning EVERYDAY
FOR LIFE EVERYDAY
FOR LIFE
Girls and boys from age 3 to 13 To book your place on one of our Open Days,
Girlsuse and from age 3 to 13 please theboys QR code www.eaglehouseschool.com To book your place on one of our Open Days,
please use the QR code 56
www.eaglehouseschool.com independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2024
PARTNERSHIPS
STRONGER TOGETHER St Dunstan’s College in south-east London is passionate about making life-changing partnerships with its local community The college hosts the Youth Mental Health Summit for students across the country annually
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to the realities of life, staving off gender stereotypes, and creating well-balanced, grounded young people.” St Dunstan’s believes in a broader educational purpose that supports the ongoing aspirations of Lewisham and its residents and knows that such work entirely aligns with the original educational aims of the foundation. Working with local partners, the school seeks to provide life-enhancing opportunities to local people that seek to promote social mobility, engender wellbeing, and improve the community to responding to local needs and events. “I’m a firm believer that independent schools must be active participants in the broader societal journey and a collective endeavour towards a more inclusive society,” Nick adds. “We can and must do more to erode any perception that we’re bastions of institutional privilege. As one of the only
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t Dunstan’s College, Catford, south London, is an ambitious, forward-thinking community that champions individuality through a broad, liberal, and academically exciting education. The award-winning school supports and inspires individuals to find their own way, make their own mark, and discover who they are; becoming comfortable with their emerging identity and the diversity of life that surrounds them, while also being unashamedly ambitious for themself and their community. St Dunstan’s is ideally suited to enlivening this narrative. St Dunstan’s Head, Nick Hewlett explains: “Our vibrant corner of south-east London presents us with a diversity we embrace and celebrate, allowing for all manner of cultures, views and styles. Our co-ed setting also introduces pupils
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PARTNERSHIPS
Through its partnership with St Dunstan’s, Chelsea FC Foundation aims to offer football coaching for young people across Lewisham
CHELSEA FC FOUNDATION WILL ALSO SUPPORT St Dunstan’s with Lewisham sporting events, coaching sessions AND SUPPORTING STATE SCHOOLS WITH SPORTS DAYS
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As well as speakers and seminars, the Youth Mental Health Summit hosts engaging workshops
FC Foundation. As part of the partnership, Chelsea FC Foundation has two full-time officers based at the school to develop the programme, working closely with the college’s team to reach out and build relationships across Lewisham. Speaking about the announcement, St Dunstan’s Head, Nick Hewlett said: “We’re delighted to announce this new partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation. Sport at St Dunstan’s has been on an incredible journey in recent years, and this is the next exciting chapter in our history. “We’re passionate about our community, and I’m pleased that this new partnership will not only benefit our pupils, but young people across the borough. It really does have the potential to transform football across south-east London.”
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independent schools in the borough of Lewisham, the school community realises that we hold a fortunate position. It’s vital that this can be of benefit to, and be enhanced by, the communities that extend beyond our college gates.” In 2021, St Dunstan’s announced a unique partnership with Lewisham Council and the Westside Young Leaders Academy (WYLA) to create the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy (LYLA). Establishing the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy has provided young black Caribbean and dual heritage (black Caribbean and white) people with opportunities they might not otherwise have had access to. Weekend classes are designed to develop 12 leadership traits in its young attendees: bearing, courage, decisiveness, enthusiasm, initiative, integrity, judgement, knowledge, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility and selflessness. Many paths in life are determined by the influence and inspiration of the learning environment. LYLA is such a place. It has created a zone of magical realism, channelling energy and ambition into productive pursuits unlocking the true potential in each young person. The academy works with partners and parents to motivate and encourage students to go beyond their personal best. This includes workshops and seminars utilising a bespoke leadership curriculum. The academy also provides trips, work experience, and other opportunities which enhance young people’s learning. This January, St Dunstan’s announced another ground-breaking partnership, this time with Chelsea
Girls enjoying success “The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent...The school successfully meets its ambition to empower pupils to become independent thinkers and fearless learners.” ISI Inspection Report 2022
Visit our website to find out more:
www.channing.co.uk INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 4-18
The Bank, Highgate, N6 5HF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT Combined Jan 2023 .indd 1
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An independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 2-18 years near Bath
Thinks Differently Where ambition takes flight...
Book your visit to Monkton on our website www.monktoncombeschool.com |
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@MonktonBath
PARTNERSHIPS
The college hosts many community-unifying events, such as art exhibitions
TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGE’S COMMUNITY OUTREACH, Head Nick Hewlett created the Wren Committee, bringing together KEY STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE ORGANISATION The college also hosts a concert as part of the twoweek St Dunstan’s Festival
Daniel Jacquart, Head of Football Development at Chelsea FC Foundation, says: “We’re thrilled to be working with St Dunstan’s College, offering bespoke football opportunities for pupils and the local community. “Chelsea FC Foundation’s highly qualified and experienced coaching will enable players of all levels to develop and enhance their footballing ability and skills within a first-class environment.’ The partnership will see a calendar of events take place across the year including experiences not just for schools, but for the wider community. Chelsea FC Foundation will also support St Dunstan’s with Lewisham sporting events, coaching sessions, and supporting state schools with sports days. The foundation will also deliver coaching for St Dunstan’s pupils from Monday to Thursday, and facilitate students visiting the club’s training ground in Cobham. To support the college’s community outreach, Head Nick Hewlett created the Wren Committee, bringing together key stakeholders from across the organisation. The committee works closely with local partners, who are driving through change and empowering others within the borough. This has included unique partnerships; Lewisham Council and Westside Young Leaders Academy for the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy (LYLA); XLP for an empowering sporting partnership which provides coaching and mentoring to young people; and local state schools, including Bonus Pastor Catholic College, Conisborough
College and St Matthew’s Academy. This collaboration has included students being part of regular master classes, career events and St Dunstan’s Festival, which takes place over a fortnight at the end of each academic year. It features more than 160 events, and students from these schools have contributed to the festival concert, five-day production and its International Evening, which celebrated different religions and cultures. “Learning from service to others and involvement in wider communities, both local and beyond, is of equal importance in shaping compassionate and confident young people, keen to make positive choices in their pathways through life,” Nick concludes. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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We believe that every child has immense potential that, in the right environment, can be uncovered, nurtured and realised.
wellingtoncollege.org.uk
15th M ay
Scan to book a visit
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Day school | Girls & boys, aged 2-13
Private Tours Available
admissions@pennthorpe.com
01403 822391
independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2024
Horsham, Sussex
www.pennthorpe.com
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Co-educational excellence in the heart of Berkshire.
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AI
DATA
ready Head of Eagle House Prep School in Berkshire Ed Venables explains how the teaching staff are preparing pupils for an AI-dependent future
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Eagle House Prep is committed to keeping children ahead of the curve when it comes to digital learning
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AI
I
t’s a cliché to start by saying that the world is changing very fast. However, we at Eagle House are working on the premise that the world of work that a current prep school child will emerge into hasn’t been as uncertain in form as it is now for many generations. A child leaving senior school over the next couple of years who isn’t completely comfortable with AI, and who hasn’t mastered the basic practical application of ‘prompt engineering’ for AI, will be at a severe disadvantage when it comes to competing for the best jobs. Extending that logic, a child leaving prep school who isn’t equipped to learn
with, and about, AI at senior school will find themselves behind the curve. At Eagle House, we see two distinct ways in which we’re preparing children to be leaders in working with AI at their future senior schools.
The tools of the trade
Firstly, our children need to become used to using AI to enhance their current learning. This might be a new way of learning and embedding the understanding of standard content in lessons. It might also be the way in which genuine differentiation and personalised learning is achieved in the classroom. Our Director of Digital Learning, Alice Gisborne,
introduces new tools to our staff on an almost weekly basis at the moment. We’ve adopted, text-to-image tools in art lessons, Canva for for creativity and design education, TextFX from Google’s Lab Sessions to enhance writing skills, and Microsoft’s Reading Progress tools this year alone. These tools are woven into our standard curriculum and will, quite swiftly I expect, move from being used for a small percentage of learning time in each subject to a much more significant portion. Our curriculum doesn’t need to change per se, but much of our staff’s professional development time and budget will be now focused on allowing our teachers to work on how they
A child leaving prep school needs to be equipped for learning with and about AI at their next stage of education
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PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/ASLYSUN
WE’VE ADOPTED TEXT-TO-IMAGE TOOLS IN ART LESSONS, Canva for creativity and design education, TextFX from Google’s Lab Sessions TO ENHANCE WRITING SKILLS, AND MICROSOFT’S READING PROGRESS TOOLS
AI
Regardless of the complexity of the future world, interpersonal skills will always be vital
WE MUST STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN
harnessing the benefits of AI and preserving the importance of THE INTERPERSONAL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL LIFE
AI education begins with children asking Alexa questions
improve the rigour and effectiveness of their lessons using AI tools.
Understanding AI
Secondly, how we teach children about AI will instil confidence in using it. Our standalone digital curriculum lessons begin in September. This is a new strand, in addition to the coding and robotics lessons that have existed for some time. This starts in nursery with questions for Alexa, and in year one with conversations about what AI can do. In year three, children will learn that data’s used to train AI (much as we’re teaching them!). Then in year four, they’ll learn how increasing the data input will make the results more accurate. Beyond year five, with the basics in place, they’ll be taught about the importance of the quality of the data for machine learning, the danger of bias, and
many of the ethical considerations that will be so central in the formal assessment context of their lives beyond prep. One discussion that we’ve started centres around understanding the importance of being the ‘human in the loop’ – a phrase that underscores their role in critically evaluating and adjusting AIgenerated outputs. We’re aware, of course, that as we introduce this new technology, we must strike a balance between harnessing the benefits of AI and preserving the importance of the interpersonal aspects of school life. We believe that the skills acquired outside the prep classroom not only prepare the children to flourish at senior school, but, critically, they’ll form the basis of the empathetic skills that will allow employees in the decades ahead to flourish in the workplace. Employees will, in our opinion,
need to understand AI fully to do their jobs as efficiently as possible but they’ll never not need the skills of proactivity, resilience, empathy and persuasion either.
A work in progress
There are so many caveats that we’ll continue to grapple with as we develop further: do we continue to teach handwriting skills (yes…), do the children need to learn to touch-type (probably for a few more years), how often should we be reviewing this curriculum (annually at a minimum) and so on. At Eagle House, we enjoy being able to change aspects of the curriculum regularly and we’re lucky to have the ability to experiment with new ways of teaching and with new technologies. We feel strongly that we owe it to the children to embrace new developments in technology. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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ALUMNI
Movers and MAKERS
From pro golfers and footballers to accomplished vets and healthy-eating entrepreneurs, these alumni are set to make a huge impact in their industries DR THOMAS RATCLIFFE, 26
THOMAS RATCLIFFE
Large Animal Surgical Resident, Cornell University, USA Denstone College, Staffordshire I attended Denstone College between 2010 and 2015. Having been brought up in rural surroundings, I’d always enjoyed working with farm animals and our own small animals and chickens. Denstone provided a supportive and encouraging environment, keen to ensure that you followed your instincts and fully explored your abilities and potential. I knew I wanted to go to vet school. Denstone provided superb academic support, but also encouraged the important balance with my extracurricular activities, enabling me to develop the skills to survive in the modern international world. I studied Veterinary Medicine at Edinburgh University, had a tremendous equine internship at Hambleton Equine Hospital in Yorkshire, followed by 18 months as a Junior Equine Vet at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. I’m now undertaking a three-year large animal surgical residency at Cornell University in New York. I’m so grateful for the platform that Denstone College provided.
ESME HAMILTON, 24
ESME HAMILTON
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Professional golfer Loughborough High School Having completed a five-year golf scholarship, graduating with a degree and postgraduate certificate from the University of Kansas, I’m excited to have returned home to play professionally on the Ladies European Access Tour. During my time at Loughborough High School, I developed a work ethic and time management skill set that allowed me to balance school work with junior golf. Aided by the introduction of the school’s Elite Athlete programme, I was allowed PE and CCF afternoons to devote to golf. With the time demands of college golf, I’m grateful that the academic expectations at LHS prepared me to graduate with both Magna Cum Laude honours and achieve golfing success. At this point in time, the Loughborough Schools Foundation continue to help me, by raising my golf profile while I’m on the hunt for 2024 tour season sponsorship. The diverse alumni association offers great support for young professionals.
ALUMNI
LIA KUNIS, 19 Award-winning film studies student King’s Ely, Cambridge As I was a student from overseas, I joined the international programme at King’s Ely in year 11. I then stayed for sixth form to study A-levels in photography, film studies, and psychology. In September 2023, I gained a place at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in the US to study film and television. I have just learned that a film I wrote and directed while in sixth form has been Highly Commended at the Moving Image Awards. My film, Davey’s Bad Day, was recognised in the short-film category, placing me in the top-nine student producers in the UK! Since joining SCAD, I’ve had many opportunities, from participating in all-day filming workshops at a professional studio to volunteering at the Savannah Film Festival for pre-screenings, including Maestro. I can’t wait to continue pursuing my passion and developing new connections in this industry. My three years at King’s were an amazing experience for me – I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to join the school at that point in my life.
LIA KUNIS
SHAWN RICHARDSON, 19
SHAWN RICHARDSON
Football player, student Rossall School, Lancashire I joined Rossall School in September 2020 for the school’s topclass football programme, the ability to use their superb training facilities and to study a BTEC in sport and a biology A-level. I’m from Thailand, and the quality of football in the UK is much better, so it was exciting to attend an excellent sporting school. I progressed hugely at Rossall – physically, technically and tactically. It was a great environment to develop my skills, and being immersed in the school’s football culture constantly pushed me to be the best I could be. After leaving Rossall School, I signed for the team Bangkok FC on an academy contract, playing for the first team, as well as for the academy. In the autumn, I’m joining D’Youville University in Buffalo, New York, on a sporting scholarship to play football in the US. I’m really excited about what the next stage in my football career holds – I really can’t wait.
PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM BRICE PHOTOGRAPHY
EMILY WARBURTON-ADAMS, 29
EMILY WARBURTON-ADAMS
Entrepreneur Queen’s College, London Queen’s was the first school that I attended where I was really encouraged to think outside the box and explore different, lesser-explored horizons for my future career. While there, I flourished academically and my confidence was nurtured. Pursuing Oxbridge, I won the A-level psychology essay competition with Newnham College, University of Cambridge, and while I didn’t end up accepting my university places after all, I embarked on a different and incredibly fulfilling career path. First, working on superyachts across the globe and I’ve since studied as a health coach and in business sustainability management. Then, in 2018, I co-founded the first BCorp certified, femalefounded catering and healthy meal delivery companies in the UK - Pow Food and Pow At Home. I’m certainly grateful for my time at Queen’s, and Eastbourne before that for influencing my vocational journey. SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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TIME TOGETHER
Is it even a proper celebration without Meri Meri trimmings?! The party supplies company is renowned for its vibrant, whimsical approach to decorative flourishes. And this season, the minds behind the brand have outdone themselves, with Meri Meri’s signature colourful paper pom poms and balloons being complemented with circusthemed garlands, tableware and costumes: everything needed to dress a birthday big top. Priced from £3.75, merimeri.co.uk
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TIME TOGETHER
ENJOY THE SEASON
FAMILY LIFE
PHOTOGRAPHY: MERI MERI
From fun tips for half-term to Easter break inspiration, and even a chance to win a luxury Maldives getaway, we have spring covered...
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Keen to recreate her own happy childhood holidays, Tracey Davies opted for a Swallows and Amazonsinspired half-term escape in the Lake District
H
ome to England’s highest mountain and deepest lake, the Lake District is prime adventure country for families. Perhaps most famously, it’s the backdrop to Arthur Ransome’s 1930s novel, Swallows and Amazons, which followed the piratical exploits of the Walker and Blackett children and their war against Captain Flint. I adored their exploits on Wild Cat Island – fishing, camping and generally mischievousness – making the Lake District seem like the ultimate holiday destination. My children – Angus, 14, and 10-year-old twins, Nancy and Lola – were equally as enamoured, albeit by the 2016
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film adaptation rather than the novels, which was filmed around Coniston Water. Even though it’s mid-February and there’s a dusting of snow on the hills, the Lake District is a great place for a halfterm adventure. It’s much quieter than the busy summer months, but most places are open and there’s always a cosy tea shop to warm up in over a hot chocolate. A big highlight of the trip was kayaking over to Wild Cat Island with Adam McCluskey from Joint Adventures, an outdoor adventure company in Coniston. After a safety briefing, I paired up with Lola and we paddled our way through inky black waters over to Peel Island, the tiny wooded islet that the fictional Wild Cat
Island was based on, while Captain Adam lead a rousing chorus of The Grand Old Duke of York. We moored up on the Secret Harbour (smaller than my 11-year old imagination remembered) and my trio of pirates abandoned ship and scattered like thieves to investigate. Adam explained that Peel Island now belongs to the National Trust, so you can’t camp here or build a fire, but it’s still a great place to explore. He then taught the kids bushcraft skills, such as knife work and how to build a camp using tarpaulin and sticks. While the kids would happily bunk down under tarpaulin sustained only by a bottle of grog (ginger beer) and pemmican
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/PHOTO.FYLDEPHOTOS; TRACEY DAVIES
Adventure awaits...
FAMILY TRAVEL
I’M MORE OF A FAIRWEATHER PIRATE THESE DAYS, and prefer to stay at the Low Wood Bay Hotel on the banks of Windermere, WHICH HAS A SPA WITH A POOL AND AN OUTDOOR HOT TUB
The fifth-largest (by area) of the Lake District’s lakes, there are a number of ways to travel across Coniston Water
Coniston Water’s Peel Island was the inspiration for Swallows and Amazons’ Wild Cat Island
The family spent a morning perusing ‘anti-stately home’ Wray Castle in Ambleside
(corned-beef sandwiches) – in the true spirit of Swallows and Amazons – I’m more of a fairweather pirate these days, and prefer to stay at the Low Wood Bay Hotel on the banks of Windermere, which has a spa with a pool and an outdoor hot tub. Swallows and Amazons adventures aside, the Lakes offer plenty of activities for kids. We spent a rainy morning at Wray Castle, a Victorian mock-gothic pile overlooking the fells of Ambleside. Devoid of antiques, heirlooms and oil paintings – it’s more of an anti-stately home – the twins bundled around its empty halls dressed in the regal couture they discovered in the dressing room, while the teenager played pool with his dad in SPRING 2024 | independentschoolparent.com
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FAMILY TRAVEL
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS IN THE LAKE DISTRICT All the fun to be had together
• Kayaking on Coniston Water • Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead
nationaltrust.org.uk • Peter Rabbit’s garden at Hill Top
nationaltrust.org.uk • Underground tour of Honister Slate Mine honister.com • Treetop course at Brockhole
brockhole.co.uk • Talk to the animals at the Lake District Wildlife Park in Keswick,
lakedistrictwildlifepark.co.uk • Ride the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam engine ravenglass-railway.co.uk • Romp around Wray Castle in Ambleside nationaltrust.org.uk • Visit the Lakeland Motor Museum
lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk • Take an alpaca for a stroll around the dramatic Lingholm Estate Adrenaline junkies should take on the challenges at Brockhole on Windermere
thelingholmestate.co.uk
Beatrix Potter fans will find many attractions dedicated to the author in the Lake District
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the billiards hall. I, meanwhile, scoured the grounds in search of the castle’s famous mulberry tree, planted by famous local poet William Wordsworth. Drawn by the literary appeal of the Lakes, it’s easy to see why its rolling hills and tarns inspired artists, poets, authors like Wordsworth, Ransome and Beatrix Potter through the centuries. Both the children and I grew up with the tales of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Peter Rabbit, so we were all enthralled by Hill Top, Potter’s rambling 17th-century farmhouse in Near Sawrey. Especially the walled cabbage garden which her bobtailed hero, Peter Rabbit regularly plundered. We spent our last afternoon at Brockhole on Windermere treetop adventure park in Ecclerigg, which overlooks Lake Windermere. Never
happier than when up a tree, the kids – for once kitted out in full safety harnesses – navigated the dizzyingly high treetop obstacles, swinging through the trees on hanging buoys, gliding across highwires on crude, wooden skateboards and wobbling over narrow rope bridges before launching themselves down a 250-metrelong zip-wire towards the lake, delirious with joy. Swallows and Amazons forever.
Getting there: Half-day Wild Cat Island kayaking adventure, priced from £50 per person
jointadventures.co.uk Brockhole Treetop Trek, priced from £27 per person brockhole.co.uk Family rooms at Low Wood Bay Hotel & Spa, priced from £224 englishlakes.co.uk;
visitcumbria.com
PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVEN BARBER/© THE WORLD OF BEATRIX POTTER
DRAWN BY THE LITERARY APPEAL OF THE LAKES, it’s easy to see why its rolling hills and tarns inspired ARTISTS, POETS AND AUTHORS THROUGH THE CENTURIES
A perfect blend of highly nurturing, personalised education with outstanding academic results. Open morning Friday 1st March 2024
24 – 26 Cumberland Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3HQ www.kewcollegeprep.com
Open Days in November , February and May
Discover more
godstowe.org
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Courage | Confidence | Character An independent school for boys aged 2 – 13 years, with co-educational, year round nursery. Set in 45 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside with school bus routes including to SW London.
Open Event Friday 8 March 2024
To see us in action, please e-mail admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 862749
parkside-school.co.uk
Coworth Flexlands Prep School & Nursery Chertsey Road, Chobham, GU24 8TE
Ludgrove Head Teacher: Nicola Cowell Admissions: Charlotte Tomkinson registrar@coworthflexlands.co.uk 01276 855 707 GENDER/AGES: Boys and girls, 2 1/2 - 11 years TOTAL PUPILS: 125, boys 25, girls 100 TYPE: Day FEES: Nursery – Daily from £66, Weekly from £330. Pre-Prep – from £4,080 to
£4,269 per term. Prep – from £5,199 to £5,498 per term ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective school, places offered following taster
sessions RATED EXCELLENT
School philosophy: Inspiring Minds and Nurturing Spirit is at the heart of the
School’s approach, which results in every pupil reaching and growing a pace that is right for them. Coworth Flexlands prides itself on nurturing pupils with a focus on finding what makes them happy and inspires them to thrive. Happier children are healthier, learn better and display more emotional literacy which makes a huge difference to a child’s wellbeing and achievement. Coworth Flexlands is a Prep School where happiness gets results!
Open Day: Friday 1 March www.coworthflexlands.co.uk
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• Boys’ fortnightly boarding prep school • Excellent pastoral and academic record • Bursaries available • New Exploration Centre • 130 acres of grounds • Finalist in the Independent School of the Year Awards 2023 • Rated ‘excellent’ by the ISI Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AB · 0118 978 9881 registrar@ludgroveschool.co.uk · www.ludgrove.net
Ludgrove_Advert_2023_99x129_v4.indd 1
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DIARY DATES
CALENDAR
WORDS: LAURA SUTHERLAND. PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID COTSWORTH
Fun and inspiring events, exhibitions, and activities to check out this spring
Spill the tea UNTIL MAY London
EVERY THURSDAY UNTIL 14 MARCH Surrey
Cranleigh Cricket Club is once again running its GoCricket Academy at the facilities of Glebelands School Indoor Nets. The small group sessions that take place each Thursday evening will allow budding batsmen, bowlers and wicketkeepers to get one-on-one feedback. Priced £17 per day, per child, sessions can be booked individually or in blocks. Head over to the revamped website for details about the forthcoming Easter and summer camps. egocricket.co.uk s
Dine like Lady Whistledown with your young charge at The Lanesborough’s Bridgerton-inspired spread, the Queen Charlotte afternoon tea. The latest in the luxury hotel’s seasonal afternoon teas, the limited edition menu pays homage to the Regency era – a time of elegant balls, high-end revelry, grand dinners and opulent style – all with a contemporary twist. Taking place in The Lanesborough’s richly decorated dining room, naturally illuminated by its glass domed roof, the tea’s menu pays tribute to the whimsical characters in Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Pastel-hued pastries named ‘Danbury Delight’ and ‘King George – Dreams of Venus’ are served alongside more traditional sandwiches and scones. These heavenly treats can be washed down with an exhaustive selection of tea or a mocktail for younger diners, and with a signature gin punch for those who fancy something a little stronger. oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough
Off the bat
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DIARY DATES
Springtime spree 6-7 APRIL Norfolk
Pure imagination UNTIL 17 FEBRUARY London
The largest festival of its kind in the UK, the Southbank Centre’s Imagine Children’s Festival returns to the Thames riverside this February. From poetry and comedy to music and dance and everything in between, there’s something for children and pre-teens of all ages and tastes, with anticipated highlights including shows from CBeebies star and saxophonist, YolanDa’s Band Jam & Friends, as well as the sensory-led Sticky Dance, a tactile movement performance for younger children. Visitors will also find lots of interactive fun and games on site, with a wealth of free performances and showings to drop into. southbankcentre.co.uk
Let’s get physical FROM 25 MARCH Portugal
Looking for an Easter or summer getaway that’ll tear the kids away from their tablets? Set in the heart of the Algarve, Quinta do Lago introduces a fresh array of sports camps for the new year. Esteemed athletes, including Ashley Williams in partnership with Football Escapes, are set to return to the resort, hosting week-long camps during the spring and summer seasons. Welcoming families with children of all ages, the sun-soaked resort invites young guests to engage in golf, tennis, dance and football at the multi-sports hub, The Campus, guided by top-tier players and coaches. Football Escape Camp prices start from £550 per week. quintadolago.com
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Blooming lovely UNTIL 25 FEBRUARY Edinburgh
Learn about the changing seasons and say goodbye to winter in style on one of the Royal Botanic Garden’s Snowdrop and Spring Interest walks. Tickets are £10. rbge.org.uk
PHOTOGRAPHY: CBEEBIES; VISIT SCOTLAND; HOLKHAM ESTATE; QUINTO DO LAGO; SANYA SM; KAREN LEGG/NATIONAL TRUST; RONNIE REX; BRITISH MUSEUM
Held in the magnificent Holkham House’s Lady Elizabeth Wing, the estate’s Easter Market is a seasonal fair showcasing the very best produce, gifts, and crafts from more than 50 local artisan producers and suppliers. As well as charming handmade and exquisitely crafted homeware, jewellery and decorative pieces that will make excellent presents for loved ones, there will be delicious jams, chutneys, bread and cakes to sample, alongside refreshing beers, ciders and spirits. Bring the whole family to enjoy the jolly atmosphere and make the most of the occasion with a ramble around the dreamy north Norfolk estate (if the weather allows), and perhaps take a stroll along Holkham Beach. holkham.co.uk
DIARY DATES
Walk it out UNTIL 25 FEBRUARY Nationwide
This February, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is calling upon nature-lovers to both connect with and protect the wildlife around them this season with its Big Winter Wander campaign, a fundraising initiative to raise vital funds to protect and restore nature in the UK and around the world. Open to adults and children, the charitable organisation is challenging people to walk either five or 10km between 12 and 25 February. Whether you plan to complete the stroll in your local park, woodlands or a beauty spot, WWF will provide you with all the resources needed to plan the event, and to help you spot nature on her doorstep, which might include starlings, robins, snowdrops and ash trees. wwf.org
An egg-cellent day out
The sound of rebellion
23 MARCH – 14 APRIL Hampshire
2 MARCH Manchester
Calling all revolting children – and their parents – it’s time to get your tickets to join in with the fun at Sing-a-Long Matilda. At this screening at Manchester’s Opera House, the host will help you have a ‘holiday in your head’ by teaching you some dance moves, showing you how to use your free prop bags and encourage you to boo the villains (Mrs Trunchbull and Matilda’s parents) and cheer for your heroine and Miss Honey. How often do you get to be the star when you go to the cinema? Rules don’t apply, fancy dress is encouraged, and audience participation is essential. Tickets are priced from £18.25. atgtickets.com
A Tudor powerhouse turned 17th century manor in Basingstoke, The Vyne is a rural idyll, complete with gardens, woodland and wetlands. Which makes it the ideal setting for an Easter egg hunt. Don bunny ears, follow the trail and enjoy nature-inspired activities. Entry is £3. nationaltrust.org
Jurassic jaunt 30-31 MARCH Kent
I, Claudius UNTIL 16 FEBRUARY London
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This year, for the first time, the British Museum is collaborating with the Horrible Histories book series as it prepares to engage children in its upcoming exhibition Legion: Life in the Roman Army. Through a specially designed Horrible Histories-themed trail of the curated installations, and with a variety of interactive stations dotted along the way, children of all ages will learn about Roman legion life and the path to becoming a soldier 2,000 years ago, led by the book series’ muchbeloved character Rattus, who has been renamed as Claudius Terrattus especially for this occasion. His story mirrors the overarching themes of the exhibition, giving a ‘rat’s eye view’ of history. britishmuseum.org
First seen on Britain’s Got Talent in 2022, Ranger Chris offers an interactive dinosaur entertainment provider, and he will be bringing his prehistoric pals on tour around the UK this year. Over Easter weekend, Dinomania Live will arrive at Maidstone Leisure Centre to spellbind budding palaeontologists and Jurassic World fans alike. Watch dinosaurs stalk through the audience, pet a baby triceratops and come face to face with a spinosaurus. Like a travelling museum and suspenseful stage show in one, there’s no reason learning shouldn’t be this fun. dinomania.com
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Ballard School Fernhill Lane, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 5SU
OPEN DAYS 26th 26th March March 2024 2024 6th June 2024 6th June 2024 9th 9th October October 2024 2024
Head Teacher: Mr Andrew McCleave Admissions: The Registrar registrar@ballardschool.co.uk 01425 626900 GENDER/AGES: Boys and girls, 2-16 years
*TO BOOK, PLEASE *TO BOOK,THE PLEASE CONTACT CONTACTOFFICE THE SCHOOL SCHOOL ON 01476OFFICE 593293 ON 01476 593293 admission.grantham@ admission.grantham@ iesmail.com iesmail.com
TOTAL PUPILS: 472 (excluding Nursery & Kindergarten), boys 252, girls 220 TYPE: Day FEES: Nursery from £54.20 including lunch per day, Pre-Prep from £3,290
per term, Prep (Year 3 – Year 8) from £4,950 – £5,755 per term, Senior £6,055 per term ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Please see our website for details and also for more details on our academic, pastoral and co-curricular strengths.
School philosophy: At Ballard, we encourage everybody to be the best version of themselves, now and in the future, preparing children for the world beyond Ballard. We inspire and challenge children, building a lifelong love of learning and nurturing them so they are confident, balanced, happy, kind and resilient. We offer so many opportunities, children can find their passion. Our holistic, values-led education and inspiring, inclusive community allow children to be themselves, think of others and positively contribute to making the world a better place.
www.tgps.co.uk www.tgps.co.uk
Give them a balanced heart of childhood
Academic record: Another record-breaking year, bucking the national trend!
With a 14.3% increase in the number of Grade 9s achieved, 40.7% of all grades achieved were grades 9 to 7, almost double the national average. Our grade 9 to 4 level was also up 6% to 94.7%, nearly 30% more than the national average.
Extra-curricular: 120+ activities and GCSE “Raising Attainment” sessions a week, Ballard’s co-curricular programme is designed to give pupils of all ages a breadth of opportunities, from Archaeology to Zumba! Whatever their individual strengths or curiosities, there is something for everyone. Notable achievements and alumni: This academic year alone Ballard was a finalist for both Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts (ISOTY) and Excellence and Innovation in Art and Design (ISA); Highly Commended for Outstanding Sport (ISA); and shortlisted for Co-Educational Independent School of the Year (ISOTY). Last year we were awarded the Eco Schools Green Flag Award and were shortlisted for Wilder School and the Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing as well as Co-Educational Independent School of the Year (ISOTY). As well as team success, individual pupils have succeeded in Sport and the Performing Arts to a high level and our alumni include world champions and Olympic medallists as well as an international opera star, pop bands and a harpist who plays for the Royal Family. Open Days: Termly and visitors welcome at any time by appointment. www.ballardschool.co.uk
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Setting: 125 acre green oasis in South West London, cared for by National Trust. Education: Bespoke, friendly and personal, supported by robust academics. Approach: Blend of mainstream and alternative approaches, including forest school and craft-based learning. Ages: 3-9 years here at Morden Cottage, 10-18 years at sister school Hall School Wimbledon.
www.thelondonacornschool.co.uk A proud member of the Chatsworth Schools family
DIARY DATES
The bloom is back NOW – 3 MARCH London
PHOTOGRAPHY: JEFF EDEN; SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE; RUBY LDN; TOSHIKO KURATA
Get set to welcome the return of Orchids, Kew Gardens’ much-loved annual fair. Inspired this year by the beauty and diversity of Madagascar, Orchids 2024 is a vibrant celebration of a biodiverse land full of contrasts. From spiny forests to succulent woodlands and a menagerie of some of the world’s rarest wildlife, this African island country’s vibrant flora and fauna will brighten up the winter months for you and your youngsters. Spend a wonderful afternoon taking in the central horticultural display in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the island’s native Malagasy orchids, sample popular local dishes such as coconut chicken, butternut squash stew and samosas. And whatever you do, don’t miss the giraffe weevils! kew.org
Come rain or shine
Love-hate relationship
UNTIL 25 FEBRUARY Liverpool
19 MARCH – 13 APRIL London
Weathered, a free Tate Liverpool workshop, invites families to come along and make art, using weather and nature as your muse. Divide the light and make a rainbow, draw a picture and let the rain transform it, or maybe you can make a sculpture that demonstrates how the wind moves? Inspired by artists in the Tate Collection who invite the weather into their creative process, like Olafur Eliasson’s giant sun in the Tate Modern and Jessica Warboys’ Sea Painting, made using the waves outside Tate St Ives, this fun, open-ended activity invites creative young minds to follow their own path. tate.org.uk
Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank returns to the iconic, open-air Globe Theatre with a spellbinding production of Romeo and Juliet. Coming in at a tight 90 minutes, this gripping retelling has been created especially for young people and designed to support the English curriculum. Set in 2024, the contemporary teenagers Romeo and Juliet connect across enemy lines in a broken society, in search of hope for a different future. Public performances will run alongside the schools’ project supported by Deutsche Bank as part of its global youth engagement programme, Born to Be. shakespearesglobe.com
Here come the girls
Know when to fold them 14-16 FEBRUARY London
A session aimed at families with children aged four and above, the Young V&A’s Origami Moving Theatre workshop will teach you and your youngsters specialist origami techniques so that you can make your own paper monsters, inspired by yokai of Japan with the assistance of artist Toshiko Kurata. From here you’ll go on to make your character’s habitat, so that you can move your origami around within a scene. Booking tickets (priced £12 each) in advance is essential, as this is set to book up fast. vam.ac.uk
12 MARCH London
The first-ever Wow Girls Festival – in a partnership with BBC’s Children in Need – will end in March, and to mark this, the festival bus will park up at Buckingham Palace for a special event – fittingly in the same week as International Women’s Day. Wow’s President, Her Majesty, the Queen, will join in the festivities, meeting many of the young people involved in the inspiring contemporary feminist initiative’s six-month tour. Girl power indeed. thewowfoundation.com
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Where Children Thrive
New SW London school bus route
Available from September 2024
Putney
Wimbledon Southfields
We e will be launching a new South-West London school bus route for pupils in Years 3-8.
Where Children Thrive
Location: Pick-ups & drop-offs in the Putney, Southfields & Wimbledon areas. Email: Emily at admissions@ewellcastle.co.uk for details.
Open Events
Friday 8th March 2024 - Whole School Open Morning Wednesday 24 April 2024 - Prep School Open Morning Through School 3-18: Nursery, Reception, Prep, Senior & Sixth Form
Ewell Village, Epsom, Surrey
www.ewellcastle.co.uk
Leading boy’s only prep school in the North West of England
Igniting curiosity in boys aged 2-11 Rated excellent in all areas’ (ISI report) 0161 928 3366 | admissions@altprep.co.uk To find out more, view our virtual tours or book an in person visit, head to altprep.co.uk
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COMPETITION
The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is located in the heart of the Raa Atoll
Parents will enjoy poolside relaxing at The Retreat
Children can embrace the Maldives through the Planet Trekkers programme
WIN a luxury family holiday in the Maldives
One lucky reader will enjoy a four-night stay at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
T
he InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is offering one lucky reader a fournight family stay in the idyllic Maldives! InterContinental Maldives comprises a total of 81 beach, lagoon or overwater villas at the resort. Each one is beautifully designed with their colourful, contemporary interiors reflecting the free-spirited nature and traditional crafts of Maldivian style. There’s a range of one- or two-bedroom villas, as well as a collection of two- and three-bedroom residences for ultimate privacy, allowing families to enjoy a perfect holiday together. In all of the villas and residences, guests are provided with luxury Byredo toiletries. There are six restaurants and bars for guests to enjoy during their stay. The Lighthouse has a 360-degree view of the resort and sparkling aqua Indian Ocean below, while the Fish Market affords spectacular sunset views alongside a seafood menu. The relaxed Café Umi is ideal
for family dining in the evening, with its extensive menu and teppanyaki counter, while adults-only The Retreat is a fabulous lazy-lunch option with private cabanas and an infinity pool. The Collective offers pizza and gelato, meanwhile the Sunset and Pool Bar offer hand-crafted cocktails, essential for sipping at as the sun goes down. For budding marine biologists, the Planet Trekkers programme, for youngsters aged four to 12, showcases the wonders of the Indian Ocean through arts, crafts and mini expeditions. While children are exploring this Maldivian paradise, adults can head to the adults-only enclave, The Retreat for ultimate relaxation. The winner will also be able to take full advantage of the Club InterContinental benefits, which includes everything from a buffet breakfast with à la carte menu to afternoon tea and an tantalising evening aperitif, plus perks, such as free use of island bicycles and snorkelling equipment. maldives.intercontinental.com
PRIZE • A four-night stay for two adults and two children in a Family Beach Pool Villa at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort on a halfboard basis, including seaplane tickets. TERMS & CONDITIONS: • Subject to availability. • Blackout dates: bank holidays & festive period. • 12-month validity.
HOW TO ENTER
Please answer the following question and enter at the website address below:
What’s the name of the ocean that surrounds the Maldives? a) Pacific Ocean b) Indian Ocean c) Atlantic Ocean
independentschoolparent.com/win CLOSING DATE IS 21 FEBRUARY 2024
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INTERVIEW
MY SCHOOL DAYS
OLLIE COOK
The former Olympic rower, who now works for the University of Oxford’s SDG Impact Lab, shares tales of his Abingdon School exploits Your school in three words? Cerise not pink.
Harry enjoyed his fair share of detentions for trips to the bookmakers
Who was your best mate? I‘ve always struggled to pick one as I had a fair few really close friends. However, I was best man for a friend from school at his wedding, so he’d be the one if I had to choose!
Win any prizes? I wasn’t ever in the serious running for academic prizes, although I did at one point win the history prize, but I won the school renaissance prize, reading prize and, much to the astonishment of everyone, one of the school art prizes.
What did you want to be when you grew up? Torn between becoming an Egyptologist or running a surf shop in California. Most embarrassing moment? I had a French oral exam and I was also learning Spanish, and being terrible at both, I found myself only able to speak Spanish in the French oral exam, and for some reason far better than usual. I could understand He has fond memories every question that of his time spent at was asked in French Abingdon School (something also new) but then could only reply in Spanish.
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All-star sports captain or outside field lingerer? I did like to be in the thick of the action, so probably not on the outside field.
Ollie rowed as part of Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Who was your favourite teacher at school? The head of my prep school, St John’s Beaumont was called Dermot Gogarty and his legacy is one I still try to emulate today. He carried himself with gravitas, knew when to be tough and when to be soft, had a wicked and incredible sense of humour, would dress up for Shrove
ONCE, I WAS PUT IN DETENTION on the very
same day – and time – that I was meant to be the prefect on duty. AN IRONY THAT WASN’T
Let’s talk about the canteen food… I learnt a very valuable lesson – perhaps my most valuable – that some of the most important people you come across in life work in catering, because that’s where extra portions come from.
memories were after coming back from either rowing or rugby, showering and slouching out on the sofas while eating a pizza and watching Shipwrecked.
Favourite place at school to hang out with friends? For me it was often the boarding house common room – some of my favourite
Teacher’s pet or always in the detention room? Once, I was put in detention on the very same day – and time – that I was meant to be
LOST ON THE DEPUTY HEADMASTER
independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2024
the prefect on duty. An irony that certainly wasn’t lost on the deputy headmaster at the time. Lone wolf or a team player? I was always a team player! I loved playing rugby, rowing and taking part in all of the school drama productions, often just for the fun of messing around backstage.
Tuesday in the most hilarious outfits, knew everyone’s names, and his reputation for having led a student protest in Apartheid South Africa and being exiled was legendary. What advice would you offer your school-age self? Work harder, aim higher and always take what you do seriously.
DANES HILL SCHOOL
Co-ed Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep School • Situated in 55 acres of landscaped ground in the heart of Oxshott Village, Surrey. Passion • Courage • Growth • Respect
Come and Visit us
Join us at our upcoming Open Morning on Friday 3 May or book a private tour with our Registrar, Claire Walsh.
...To
e Best I Can Be
over 100 enrichment clubs
220-acre rural estate
excellent facilities & clubs
From Where I Am...
queen ethelburga’s collegiate, york
students from 3 months to 19 years
open morning: 27th april 2024
admissions@qe.org - 01423 333333