Independent Schools Guide

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE APRIL 2019

THE FINEST SCHOOLS IN your area

EDUC ATION

A new look for Cranleigh School C

ranleigh’s dedicated boarding community is enjoying a period of new building and refurbishment across all ages, enhancing the boarding facilities across both campus. The Prep School’s beautiful new academic building, Townsend, houses Design, Art and Food Tech facilities and the boarding houses will soon be enhanced and expanded to meet increased demand. More dormitory spaces will be added and a refurbishment programme will create leisure and social spaces for pupils to enjoy together.

Last year the senior school opened a new girls’ boarding house, Rhodes, and work is well underway on the fourth girls’ house, Martlet, which opens in August. The School will achieve co-educational balance with four boys’ and four girls’ houses and is working towards a community of even numbers across the sexes. This continued development and investment in boarding facilities underlines Cranleigh’s position as Surrey’s most mature co-

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“This continued development and investment in boarding facilities underlines Cranleigh’s position as Surrey’s most mature coeducational boarding environment”

educational boarding environment.

A new academic building, the van Hasselt Centre, opened this year. Named after a former headmaster, the van Hasselt Centre is a multi-million pound investment in teaching of the humanities that includes classrooms, social and collaborative learning spaces, an English library and a sixth form centre that we have named Cranleigh Futures.

A large glass-roofed café space provides an area for social activities and collaborative learning and seminars.

The van Hasselt Centre is more than a building.

It’s a commitment to teaching of liberal arts at a time when their place on the curriculum is being questioned by policy makers. It’s also a statement of investment in our pupils and their futures, and celebrates all that the humanities and liberal arts can bring to their lives as culturally aware global citizens, now and in the future. www.cranleigh.org

EDUC ATION

Get the ArtsEd Experience with a range of exciting Scholarships…

W ith a wide range of part-time courses on offer for all ages, ArtsEd is once again teaming up with The Stage to offer 15 free

places this year.

Following the success of last year’s association with The Stage Scholarships, ArtsEd will be offering a series of scholarship places for 2019 across a selection of its part-time courses for ages 7 – 18+!

This year, they will be offering two places on the ArtsEd Part-Time Foundation Courses; one on the Musical Theatre course, and another on the Acting course, aimed at ages 17+. These courses run over three evenings a week for six months, and focus on building confidence, developing performance skills and getting audition-ready for drama school and the industry.

The other scholarship places will be on the ArtsEd Summer School, for ages 7 – 18+ aimed at developing skills in audition technique, making your own movie, putting on a play, or learning real West End choreography – the options are endless!

The total value of the courses available with The Stage Scholarships from ArtsEd is £12,000.

Jonathan Goodwin, director of ArtsEd Extra, introduced a selection of courses to The Stage Scholarships in 2018, and managed to fill the places

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several times over.

“Last year, we had between one and three scholarship students on every course in the summer.

Once we hit our target, we said: ‘Okay, let’s make this bigger’ “We had more applications than we originally had places, but we tried to facilitate as many as possible by offering a 70% discount. Some students who did the summer courses are now coming to audition at ArtsEd for the Day School, Sixth Form or threeyear BA (Hons) courses.”

All Summer courses offer professional training from industry professionals and ArtsEd alumni in West End shows. Over one week, ArtsEd offers the real drama school experience, developing performance skills, while making friends and most importantly, having fun!

This year, ArtsEd will be taking their Summer courses on the road! Due to major building works at ArtsEd’s headquarters in Chiswick, they will be carrying out their Summer School at venues in Richmond, Acton and Catford.

Find out more and apply on the ArtsEd Wesbite: www.artsed.co.uk @ArtsEdLondon

“Some students who did the summer courses are now coming to audition at ArtsEd for the Day School, Sixth Form or three-year BA (Hons) courses”

EDUC ATION

DLD COLLEGE: MAKING ITS MARK

BTEC courses may be less familiar to many students and parents considering further study, but they have been established for nearly 30 years and are recognised both nationally and internationally at higher education level.

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LD College London is really making its mark on the capital’s educational scene.

The College is set in the heart of the city, minutes from the London Eye on the South Bank, and the Houses of Parliament sit just across the river Thames. The College occupies a purpose-built building with contemporary and cutting-edge facilities which reflect the ethos and ambition of its staff and students.

The College offers a range of courses and programmes including A Levels, BTEC and GCSEs. Students can study up to nine GCSEs over two years including Art, Drama and Music. A friendly and flexible approach to learning helps students build confidence in their own abilities.

DLD offers 29 A Levels and we are flexible when it comes to subject combinations. This is discussed at interview to ensure students can progress to their preferred university course. For those ambitious students, the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is an excellent way to improve their UCAS applications. We welcome tops students and also offer a range of scholarships.

Recent destinations and courses of DLD A Level students include:

Recent Destinations King’s College London UCL Bartlett School of Architecture Royal Holloway LSE Durham University Brighton and Sussex Medical School Bournemouth SOAS Warwick 100 APRIL 2019

Course History Architecture Physics Politics Accounting and Finance Medicine Film Production Japanese Studies and Economics Mathematics

DLD offers three paths in BTEC: • Business • Digital Media Production • Music Technology Here are just a few examples of universities that our BTEC students have gone on to attend: Business Birmingham

Media Production Bournemouth

Goldsmiths

Bristol

York

Emerson College

Nottingham UCL

Leeds Ravensbourne

Music Technology Academy of Contemporary Music British and Irish Modern Music Institute The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance Point Blank SAE Institute

The College is relatively small – so it is not just a school but a community – and as the students come from many countries, they learn to respect different opinions, cultures and backgrounds. DLD is rated by the Good Schools’ Guide as being the top London School for TLC (Tender, Loving, Care).

Small class sizes (ranging from six to 10) allow for dedicated and focused student-staff contact.

Students are treated as individuals and learning is pupil-centred. This respect for the student is reflected in many pupil-led initiatives such as the recent Summer Ball at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the College’s inaugural Graduation Ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.

Principal, Mr Irfan Latif, who has a wealth of experience in both the state and independent sectors, has ambitions to build on DLD College’s success academically and as a community. His priority though is to nurture self-confident and responsible young people who are full of character and creativity and are well equipped to meet future challenges. www.dldcollege.co.uk

EDUC ATION

The GOLD Standard

Fairley House School, described by the Sunday Times as the ‘Gold Standard’, is London’s leading day school for children with Specific Learning Difficulties

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ddressing the needs of children from the age of five, who require assistance due to dyslexia and dyspraxia, the school has a staff/ pupil ratio of 1:3.5 and the average stay at the school is between two to three years.

Children then return to mainstream schooling with a new ‘can do’ attitude. Fairley House now offers Key Stage 4. This enables pupils to carry on their education in an environment that ensures that their

needs are fully met. While our intention is to enable your child to re-join mainstream education as quickly as possible, our provision now offers the possibility of remaining in our school to undertake the first major examinations that a pupil will face.

Many of our alumni have enjoyed great success at GCSE and A-Level and they have progressed to top universities and have successful careers in a range of professions.

London’s leading day school for for specific learning difficulties 020 7976 5456 fairleyhouse.org.uk APRIL 2019 103

EDUC ATION

Good mental health and wellbeing for pupils is paramount Mike Lamb, Director of Staff and Pupil Wellbeing/Head of Year 9 at Hurst College tells us how good mental health and wellbeing for pupils is paramount, especially around the key transition periods

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ost people would agree that good mental health and wellbeing is the basis for a happy and successful life at school and beyond. At Hurst this is at the core of what they do and which they consider is especially important around the key transition times.

Moving schools can be a challenging experience for pupils and it is important for schools to work closely together to ensure a successful transition.

This process begins at Hurst well before a pupil joins them. They invite key staff from their feeder prep schools to witness first-hand how they teach the key subjects and to share ideas and best practice – they also work closely with the respective heads to determine how best to support each pupil when they join. In addition, current pupils return to their prep schools to share their experiences about what it was like when they joined.

Hurst hosts a special two-day event, with an overnight for boarders, in the March before Year 9 pupils join, and they take part in a variety of activities and challenges to acquire a real taste for life at Hurst. It is a fantastic experience which helps pupils to familiarise themselves with their new school, make new friends and meet their teachers.

New Year 9 pupils start the school year before any other year groups for a three-day induction programme. This allows staff to focus on supporting new pupils before the school is full again and helps with orientation and a sense of belonging.

This is not - and should not - be the end of supporting the transition. There are a number of teambuilding and bonding experiences in the first few weeks, such as a multi-activity day, which involves abseiling, zip wire, pot-holing and the like.

Hurst believes that a busy, challenging, engaging and rewarding day and weekly timetable is vital in order for a pupil to successfully settle. The school day is packed with learning and activities - plus there is the opportunity to exercise during three 104 APRIL 2019

games sessions each week, either through team sports such as rugby and netball, or alternatives such as climbing, gym or triathlon. All Year 9 pupils also take part in drama, dance, PE and there is an activities afternoon each Tuesday – with everything from football to shooting - plus enrichment activities later in the week, which could involve dismantling a Dyson vacuum, developing travel writing skills or learning Mandarin Chinese.

The recently developed Year 9 wellbeing programme was designed to provide pupils with a quieter moment in the middle of the week.

On a carousel over the year, pupils are able to develop some mindfulness techniques, practice yoga and also spend time on the college farm, plus they learn how to make fires and shelters in the surrounding woods.

Through their diverse and varied curriculum, Hurst believes pupils will thrive and develop the life skills they need to achieve their personal bests.

Combined with a robust tutorial programme this helps develop other attributes such as effective study skills, an understanding of the world around them and how to maintain good relationships with others, which stands them in good stead for life beyond Hurst. Tutors meet regularly with the pupils in their care, to identify the type of support required, and the school works closely with parents to help pupils achieve their potential.

Later this year, Hurst will be launching their inaugural Wellbeing Conference when local schools will be invited to join them for presentations and discussions about good mental health and transition between schools. www.hppc.co.uk

“Pupils are able to develop some mindfulness techniques, practice yoga and also spend time on the college farm”

EDUC ATION

Step into the most exciting school in England “We have had four children through the public school system and I think that Hurtwood House is the only one which has really delivered what it promised”

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lthough it has all the facilities of a typical public school, Hurtwood House specialises exclusively in the sixth form and the age range 16-18. Changing schools at 16 opens up a whole new world of fresh experiences and challenges and provides the perfect steppingstone between school and university.

Hurtwood House is young, exciting and dynamic and, most importantly of all, it is exceptionally creative with drama, media, art, textiles, dance, music and singing to die for.

Famous former students include Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer (music for Gladiator, Rain Main, Lion King) and Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Gideon’s Daughter) and watch out for Hollywood hot-tip Jack Huston (Factory Girl). Zara Brownless (winner of the first Young Apprentice). But marvellous as the performing and creative arts are, this school is definitely not a one-trick pony. It also caters for the budding entrepreneur, doctor, lawyer, architect, etc etc etc with a range of subjects which, though less eyecatching, are no less successful and inspirational.

Small wonder, then, that the world is beating a path to Hurtwood’s door, and one of the first things to strike visitors is that it has a completely different “campus” feel about it – not like school at all. That’s because there are no juniors – everybody here is 16+ and they all join after they have taken their GCSE’s.

In many ways, it defies definition - more public school than sixth form college, but smaller and less institutional – more boutique than department store.

At the moment it’s in a class of its own but one suspects that one day soon there will be more schools like this, because five years is a long time 106 APRIL 2019

to be in one public school, and so many boys and girls are now ready at 16 for a fresh challenge and a more stimulating life. A lot of parents agree wholeheartedly. As one satisfied customer puts it: “We have had four children through the public school system and I think that Hurtwood House is the only one which has really delivered what it promised.”

Indeed, Hurtwood has a file of letters as thick as your arm from grateful parents, and clearly what they appreciate most is that Hurtwood has given their children the confidence to cope with anything in life and has fired up their enthusiasm. “Her mind was turned on,” says one, “and her appetite for learning is voracious. I want you to know that you lit the fuse.”

Who could ask for anything more?

THE DETAILS Hurtwood House, Holmbury St Mary, Nr Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NU Tel: 01483 279000 www.hurtwoodhouse.com

OPEN MORNING ON 2ND MAY 2019

EDUC ATION

A Creative

Approach

to Exam

Preparation

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ompetition for limited places at top London schools has led to tutoring becoming the acceptable norm with families often choosing to supplement expensive education to secure their child a school place.

Many recognise such harmful pressure on children is not sustainable and thus welcomed the well documented ‘creative assessment’ introduced by the London 11+ Consortium earlier this year.

The logic behind the new innovative testing is to avoid children being taught restrictive exam techniques and instead allows them to obtain a clear well rounded picture of a child’s academic potential

rather than their ability to obtain knowledge.

Yellowbird Education have long identified the need to introduce creativity into school admission processes. Their hugely popular holiday workshops are carefully designed with a fun but educational approach acknowledging that exam preparation needs to adapt to both encourage and inspire children to think creatively during assessments.

During lengthy school holidays, Yellowbird offers small group workshops for children of all abilities that are interactive and forward thinking. Their innovative fresh approach equips children with key skills whilst building vital confidence to think

differently. As such, creative writing becomes an enjoyable lifelong skill rather than a means to passing grueling exams – a valuable asset on any educational journey. Exam practice is vital, but if structured well, can be a fun and dynamic exercise allowing children to learn whilst making new friends.

So whilst admissions processes are undoubtedly changing, exam preparation in all it’s many guises still has a role to play ensuring children have the creative skills with which to shine!

Yellowbird education – Holiday Workshops.

Now available in North London. www.yellowbirdeducation.com

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EDUC ATION

A record breaking year at Rosemead Prep School & Nursery I t gives me great pleasure to announce the final offers from this year’s 11+ Senior School Entrance results. We are extremely proud to say that this year is the best set of results on record for number of offers and also for the number of scholarship offers.

Our Year 6 pupils have once again excelled and have gained places at some of the area’s most prestigious schools. There is a great range of schools that have offered places to our pupils, showing how far and wide the consideration of Senior schools has become. With 190 offers across the year group (which is more than 3 per pupil), the children have achieved great things through a balance of outstanding teaching, hard work, commitment to opportunity and willingness to explore new experiences.

The number of scholarships awarded is truly astounding and again a new record for Rosemead this year. Ranging from Music, Sport, Art and Drama, as well as an extremely high number of Academic awards, these 67 scholarships really do show how we are providing for, and nurturing, children with a range of different talents and interests. Also, the number of all-round scholarships is particularly pleasing as we celebrate the balance of our education here at Rosemead.

I hope that this also shows that the 11+ entrance process should not be seen as one that should be avoided as, at Rosemead, you have the best chance of gaining the school place that is right for your child, with an extremely high chance of them being rewarded for their talents, abilities and interests. No

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“The number of scholarships awarded is truly astounding and again a new record for Rosemead this year” other school in Dulwich will have the 11+ results to rival us this year.

Congratulations to all the pupils for their hard work and dedication, also to the staff involved for their advice, pastoral care and teaching over the years, which starts as soon as they join Rosemead and the effect continues long after they have left us.

We look forward to celebrating their success through the remainder of this term.

– Phil Soutar, Headmaster Rosemead Preparatory School & Nursery, 70 Thurlow Park Road, Dulwich, SE21 8HZ. Tel: 0208 670 5865. www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk

EDUC ATION

OPTIMUS LAUDUM With ‘Felices Erimus’ as its motto, happiness is at the heart of the philosophy at St John’s Wood Pre-Preparatory School and it works

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ducating 3-7 year-old boys and girls in a friendly and caring environment for over 35 years is its strength.

Principal & Proprietor Adrian Ellis believes that the excellent ratio of staff to pupils allows each child to reach their full potential. “Of course, together with parents, we look to recognise each child’s unique qualities and particular talents and aim to develop them as fully as possible,” says Mr Ellis. “We want our children to move on to the right schools for them. As a result, St John’s Wood Pre-Preparatory has been since 1982 a ‘feeder’ to many of London’s top preparatory schools, including St Paul’s Juniors, Highgate, South Hampstead High School, University College School and Westminster Under School.

“The sense of a whole-school community is evident in this small school, we become an extension of home and family” adds Mr Ellis. Size matters to St John’s Wood Pre-Prep. By limiting

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its numbers, most children know the rest of their fellow pupils throughout the school – an important element in building confidence and developing social skills.”

There is never a time when prospective parents aren’t welcome and there are frequent tours bookable via the website.

Latest Leavers List: The Year 2 class of 11 pupils joined the following schools in September 2018: 2 girls to City of London School for Girls and 1 girl to South Hampstead High School, 2 Boys to St Paul’s Juniors; 2 boys to Westminster Under School; 4 boys to University College School For more details visit www.sjwpre-prep.org.uk Tel 020 7722 7149 or email info@sjwpre-prep.org.uk. St John’s Hall, Lord’s Roundabout, London, NW8 7NE

“We want our children to move on to the right schools for them. As a result, St John’s Wood Pre-Preparatory has been since 1982 a ‘feeder’ to many of London’s top preparatory schools”

EDUC ATION

Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School announces its opening in September 2020

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estled in the heart of Kensington, a stone’s throw from some of London’s most acclaimed institutions, Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School for children 3-11, is due to open its doors in September 2020.

Jill Walker, Headmistress, told Life Magazines about their exciting plans to renovate four Georgian townhouses at 10-13 Prince’s Gardens.

State-of-the-art science laboratories, music and art studios and an amazing ‘maker space’ are some of the innovative redevelopments underway for the project; highlighting the school’s commitment to academic excellence and character development.

The school will also have direct access to both a wonderful garden space to the rear and Hyde Park, surrounded by inspirational Exhibition Road.

It demonstrates the emphasis of the school’s teachers for nurturing a global perspective in their pupils and preparing them for the exciting challenges that life can offer through a myriad of activities.

Jill Walker said: “This is such a tremendous opportunity, which places the school firmly in the academic hub of London. We want our pupils to relish all that school life has to offer so that they leave us confident and excited about their future.”

The rigorous and wide-ranging curriculum draws on the school’s access to London’s museums and outdoor spaces which serve as fantastic stimuli for collaborative learning projects and creating the next generation of independent, curious children.

Due to the scope of the project and building renovations over the forthcoming months, Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School will open its doors in September 2020.

Details about the plans will be held at a launch event on Thursday 27th June at 7pm at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA. See the school website here:princesgardensprep.co.uk/London

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“State-of-the-art science laboratories, music and art studios and an amazing ‘maker space’”