INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
Summer 2015 | independentschoolparent.com
Win!
A LUXURY HOLIDAY
SENIOR EDITION
FREE FOR PARENTS AND PUPILS
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
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Pupils get a taste of politics
THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER
TRAVEL
TUSCANY WITH TEENS DON’T MISS • STAR ALUMNI • BEHIND THE SCENES AT STONYHURST • LATEST BOOKS AND APPS
UNIVERSITY.
CHOOSING A COURSE
Hooked on
CLASSICS
HOW THE ANCIENT WORLD HOLDS THE KEY TO MODERN TIMES
EDITOR’S LETTER
CLAUDIA DUDMAN Editor
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
HELPING YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR YOUR CHILDREN
CNP Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Tel (020) 7349 3700 Fax (020) 7349 3701 Email editor@independentschoolparent.com For website and subscriptions, please visit: independentschoolparent.com/register EDITORIAL Editor Claudia Dudman Senior Sub Editor Natalie Milner Editorial Assistant Eleanor Doughty Editorial Assistant Flora Hughes-Onslow Senior Art Editor Chloë Collyer Senior Designer Emily Weller Designer Maria Sagun PUBLISHING Publisher & Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross Commercial Director Vicki Gavin Media Manager James Dobson Subscriptions Manager Will Delmont 020 7349 3710 will.delmont@chelseamagazines.com Production www.allpointsmedia.co.uk Printed in England by William Gibbons ADVERTISING Client Development Manager Lesley McDiarmid Group Advertisement Manager Freddy Halliday Sales Executive William Bernard DISTRIBUTION Independent School Parent magazine is for parents of children educated in Prep and Senior independent schools across the UK. The prep and senior issues are published termly. Parents can subscribe for a free issue at: independentschoolparent.com/register Independent School Parent also publishes The Guide to Independent Schools biannually to help you choose the right school.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK
© CNP Ltd 2015. 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 magazine 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.
WELC ME… This issue, our curriculum feature, Hooked on Classics, looks at the value of studying the ancient subject (page 12). Writer Harry Mount, fresh from tracing the steps of Odysseus for his new book, New Odyssey, discusses how classics trains the mind and offers invaluable lessons on the structure of English and modern foreign languages like French and Spanish. How do you teach someone to be interesting? Oundle School’s Trivium course aims to do just that. In What is Trivium? (page 27) we find out that “Triv” has no syllabus and no prescribed content. Instead, it is a chance for Year Nine pupils to learn without assessment. The teachers’ brief is: to educate, to introduce pupils to ideas and culture, to sow seeds and to broaden the educational experience. Following the general election, Eleanor Doughty looks at how schools offered a taste of politics, with mock elections aplenty (page 35). Plus we have a fantastic new competition for you to enter (page 74), where you can win a luxury family break to the value of £3,000! Enter at: independentschoolparent.com/win. Claudia Dudman, Editor
Independent School Parent, independentschoolparent.com COVER: Godolphin School, Wiltshire
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WHAT’S INSIDE? Issue 18 Summer 2015 • independentschoolparent.com
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News Our round-up of hot topics
Hooked on Classics
your child plan for the next step
46
Harry Mount explains how classics holds the key to translating our modern world
21
Heads-Up Friends’ School speaks switch to
23
a smartphone-free zone
28
Holiday Hideaways Thinking of buying a second home?
27
why university is worth every penny
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32
What is Trivium?
Dramatic History
Year Nine pupils making GCSE choices
Take Care John Attwater explains how to look
did to prepare for the general election
40
School Hero
60
A Taste of Italy Claudia Dudman escapes to a 12thcentury castle in the Tuscan countryside
64 69
45
72 74 77
Home Alone
On the cover...
Download our free app to read the magazine on your phone or tablet...
Competition Win a luxury holiday worth £3,000!
keeps brains ticking over the summer
to give your child some independence?
Heads on the Move Which headmaster is going where?
Talking Heads
Glynis Kozma asks: when’s the right time
Book Club Latest reads and top apps
Headteachers offer words of wisdom to
43
Best for Family... Islands Smith & Family give their favourite spots
out for good pastoral care in schools Eleanor Doughty finds out what schools
59
Felsted’s director of cricket Jason Gallian
35
The Right Fit
Democracy in Action
Ones to Watch Alumni success stories
Giulia Rhodes offers advice for
35
What to Pack? The ultimate first-year packing list
56
Behind the scenes at Stonyhurst College
32
Spot the Difference Charlotte Phillips chats to students and compares courses across universities
54
no exams – it’s learning for its own sake
31
Why Uni? Sam Haysom gives you the low-down on
Oundle’s new course has no syllabus and
28
Higher Education Our brand new section to help you and
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64 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Moncrieff, Chairman Tor Down, Parent James Durant, UCAS Andrew Fleck, Sedbergh School Tory Gillingham, AMDIS Rachel Kerr, Girls’ Schools Association Glynis Kozma, Education journalist Zoe MacDougall, Teacher Heidi Salmons, The Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference Elaine Stallard, Elaine Stallard Consulting The Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP, Chairman of the Education Select Committee Sheila Thompson, Boarding Schools’ Association Ben Vessey, Canford School David Wellesley-Wesley, Independent Schools Show Peter Young, Marketing/Brand Consultant Sir Anthony Seldon, Wellington College
Author Harry Mount on why classics is still relevant today (p.12)
Calendar Our top dates for your diary
82
School Memories Television presenter Ben Fogle
x + y2 = 4 Let us know what you think Tweet us @ISParent
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SUMMER 2015 | independentschoolparent.com
5
DONALD WATT
property and operations director, The Hideaways Club
HOLIDAY HIDEAWAYS
Considering a holiday home? Donald Watt suggests an alternative that’s perfect for families
Villa Ombak on the island of Nusa Lembongan, off Bali
PROPERTY
A
s I have four sons ranging in age from 16 to 25, I understand the importance of family holidays after the stresses and strains of the school term. Family time is really precious and it’s not surprising that many parents feel it’s a lottery searching for the perfect holiday, with certain locations inevitably providing better experiences than others. This can ultimately lead you to the conclusion that it’s time to buy your very own home abroad in your favourite family-holiday location, so you remain in control and know what to expect. However, there’s then the difficult decision on what sort of property to buy and the ongoing hassle of property maintenance. Most importantly, you need to be sure that your chosen location will appeal to all family members and that there is enough to entertain the children as they grow up. Also, what if you love skiing as well as beach holidays and can’t decide on a chalet or a beachfront home?
Try Something Different Fortunately there is an alternative. The Hideaways Club is an exclusive shared ownership club allowing members to invest in, and holiday in, exquisite luxury homes in fantastic locations across the globe. The club is perfect for those looking to invest in a second home, but who want the flexibility of travelling to different locations. In my role at The Hideaways Club, I am responsible for purchasing properties and maintaining them to the highest standards all around the world. We have a huge variety of homes to choose from, ranging from 12th-century
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| SUMMER 2015
Tuscan farmhouses deep in the olive groves and beachfront villas on paradise islands, to beautiful ski chalets in the Alps. Membership is supported by a first-class concierge service, which is really useful for families as it can help organise transfers, stock the fridge in advance, arrange holiday itineraries, dinner reservations, babysitting and sightseeing. The Hideaways Club offers two funds, which members can buy into at a level to suit their lifestyle and holiday needs.
The Classic Collection The first fund is The Classic Collection. There’s the choice of 42 stunning villas and chalets owned by The Hideaways Club in beautiful locations across the world, such as France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mauritius, South Africa and Southeast Asia. Members also have access to a further portfolio of over 200 luxury villas through reciprocal agreements with other destination clubs. The properties are typically for eight to 10 guests. Entry-level price for The Classic Collection starts with a Lifestyle Associate membership at £88,000.
The City Collection There are 13 beautiful city centre apartments in The City Collection in some of the most iconic spots of the world, including New York, Prague, Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, Bangkok and Dubai, with a further choice of 12 homes available through reciprocal agreements, giving a total of 25 luxury city homes to choose from. The apartments typically accommodate four to six guests. Entrylevel price for an Associate membership starts at £69,500. All The Hideaways Club properties are worth more than £1.2 million, and are handpicked to ensure they are exceptional places to stay and are furnished and equipped to the highest standards. We also
Above, La Retraite, La Rouret, Provence, France below, Villa Hibiscus, Bel Ombre, Mauritius
consult members on where they would like us to purchase new properties. Our members are making a clear lifestyle choice when they join The Hideaways Club. They love the wide choice of luxury homes to stay in, all with very different characters, as well as the attention to detail and convenience of our concierge service. This is underpinned with the knowledge that they are investing in properties across different countries and are therefore less exposed to the vagaries of any particular country’s property market, plus they will benefit from lifelong memories and great experiences along the way. With the property market improving, now is the perfect time to invest in The Hideaways Club. ISP
For more information visit: thehideawaysclub.com
PROPERTY
SNAPSHOT LA RETRAITE, LE ROURET, FRANCE Near to St Tropez, Nice, Monte Carlo, Grasse and Cannes, this beautifully restored Provençal-style stone villa (above) sleeps eight in four bedrooms. It is situated in a secluded location next to extensive woodland, so it is a fantastic bolthole for relaxing holidays. Families love the large pool and deck area and there’s a flat screen TV, iPod music system and Nintendo Wii game console. La Retraite is 40 minutes from Nice airport. HIBISCUS, BEL OMBRE, MAURITIUS This stunning house (below), part of the Domaine de Bel Ombre, a former 18thcentury sugar plantation, is on the south coast of Mauritius on the Villas Valriche Estate development, and sleeps eight in four bedrooms. The villa wraps around an infinity pool on three sides and has ocean views. The estate has a tennis club, beach club and a championship golf course, while the private beach offers water sports, including kayaking, snorkelling, windsurfing and sailing. The Valriche Nature Reserve, home to deer and monkeys, is within easy walking distance. Hibiscus is 40 minutes from Mauritius International Airport.
ON THE
THE BIOLOGIST DR HUW WILLIAMS (housemaster) WESTMINSTER > (second master) TONBRIDGE
Our indispensable guide to who’s going where next term…
THE CLASSICS BUFF CHRIS TOWNSEND (deputy head) FELSTED > (head) FELSTED
FOOTBALL CRAZY CERI JONES (second master) TONBRIDGE > (head) CATERHAM
KEEN HIKER DR MIKE WALKER (head) FELSTED > (RETIRING)
THE EXPLORER JULIAN THOMAS (head) CATERHAM > (head) WELLINGTON
CV: SIR ANTHONY SELDON WELLINGTON COLLEGE > UNIVERSITY OF BUCKINGHAM The ever-present Sir Anthony, author of over 25 books, and friend of the newspapers, is retiring to spend more time with his family. Oh, and to become vice-chancellor of The University of Buckingham, the UK’s first private university. Educated at Tonbridge School before Worcester College, Oxford, Sir Anthony has given a few schools the “Seldon effect”... 1983: Whitgift School 1989: Tonbridge School 1993: St Dunstan’s School 1997: Brighton College 2006: Wellington College
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
ITALIAN-SPEAKING DR CHRIS STEVENS (second master) MARLBOROUGH > (head) BRADFIELD HISTORY NUT SIMON HENDERSON (head) BRADFIELD > (head) ETON TRY-SCORING BILL NICHOLAS (house master) MARLBOROUGH > (second master) MARLBOROUGH
CV: TONY LITTLE ETON > GEMS
HAPPY TWEETER MARK STEED (head) BERKHAMSTED > (DUBAI EDUCATION)
After years of inspiring boys at the world’s most famous school, OE headmaster Tony Little is off to Dubai . The new gig? Chief education officer of school trust Gems. Educated at Eton College, before Corpus Christi, and Homerton College, Cambridge, he’s certainly seen schools inside and out... 1977: Tonbridge 1983: Brentwood School 1990: Chigwell School 1997: Oakham School 2001: Eton College
(OTHER) HEADS
PHOTOGRAPHY: FREEPIC, SHUTTERSTOCK
THE LITERATURE LOVER STUART MCPHERSON (house master) ETON > (head) WORTH
ON THE MOVE • SARAH KERR-DINEEN is to become OUNDLE’S first female head in September • ALASTAIR LAND moves from HARROW to be headmaster of REPTON • MARK SEMMENCE moves from RUGBY to MOUNT KELLY ASPIRING ARTIST GINO CARMINATI (head) WORTH SCHOOL > (RETIRING)
• At ARDVRECK SCHOOL DAN DAVEY will become headmaster in September
SPRING 2015 | independentschoolparent.com
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