WELCOME

7 In brief

All of the latest news and developments

13 Leading the way

Why girls must be helped to develop leadership skills in the modern world

15 Country life

What to think about if you’re considering a move from the city to the countryside

16 Community spirit

Vertigal integration is key to helping pupils thrive at Broomfield School

18 Soaking up life lessons

Experiencing a range of activities fosters curiosity, making children active learners

20 Starstruck!

Studying the night sky fires up childrens’ imaginations and interest in the universe

24 Too much too young

Downtime is important – don’t try to keep children constantly busy and stimulated

32 Apply some pressure

How to navigate the senior school admissions process

38 In five pictures...

Welcome to this spring prep schools edition of Independent School Parent !

Forest School, where children are instilled with a love of the outdoors and the world around them, has become an intrinsic part of pre-prep learning provision across schools in the UK. Newcastle-under-Lyme Prep School in Sta ordshire has taken this to a whole new level, with its outdoor pursuits programme, Prep Adventures. Borne out of a combination of Forest School, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and elements of Combined Cadet Force (CCF), its aim is to provide adventure, instil self-belief and encourage ambition in prep-aged children, and you can read all about it on page 46.

Stargazing and astronomy are part of the STEM curriculum at St Margaret’s Junior School in Hertfordshire, and on page 20, Head Emma Gray explains the benefits of learning about what’s going on in our night skies. Who would have thought…?

If you’re looking for something to do for a weekend or a few days away, and which combines culture with a bit of fun, why not explore the city of Amsterdam? On page 72, Tracey Davies and her daughter Lola discover hidden gems in the Netherlands’ capital.

There’s also a competition to enter on page 81, where you can win a night’s stay for your family at The Grand, York: find out more at independentschoolparent.com/win

Channing School in North London

40 Nothing ventured nothing gained

If a school is right for your child, a bursary could make it happen

46 Into the wild

Newcastle-under-Lyme School has a fantastic bespoke Prep Adventures scheme

50 Ask the experts

Post-pandemic, how can schools reinforce a sense of fun and belonging?

54 Pulling together

Pupils undertake partnership projects with the local community at Blundell’s School

60 Work in progress

The importance of encouraging children to think about careers at an early age

64 Just giving

Helping others is a positive way to promote wellbeing and boost self-esteem

68 Movers and makers

Successful independent school alumni

72 Double Dutch

An educational and enjoyable city break in the Netherlands

75 Calendar

Spring fun for half-term and beyond

81 Competition

Win a luxury family night away and cookery lesson at The Grand in York

82 School memories

Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp remembers Bedales School in Hampshire