Life Magazines Independent Schools Guide March 2020

INDEPENDENT

SCHOOLS GUIDE – The finest independent schools in the UK – i m ag e : P O RT L A N D P L AC E S C H O O L

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

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 the inspirational museums along 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.

Alison Melrose, Headmistress, told The Life Magazines about their exciting plans to renovate four Victorian townhouses at 10-13 Prince’s Gardens. “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

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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.

Details about the plans will be shared at an information event on Monday 4th May on the premises of the Royal Geographical Society.

Go to www.princesgardensprep.co.uk to reserve a place at one of these events.

“A tremendous opportunity, which places the school firmly in the academic hub of London”

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WITH EXAM PREPARATION FOR GCSE’S AND A LEVELS UNDERWAY IS TUTORING THE ANSWER? words Anastasia Hatvany,

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here are strong views surrounding the benefits and disadvantages of taking on a tutor to help students prepare for these important exams.

Does tutoring improve academic performance, or would the student get more benefit from having time to relax or play sport? Does tutoring help build confidence or make students miserable?

Tutoring is best used to help a student who is not up to speed in a specific subject or has missed lessons and needs to catch up. In some cases, a tutor is taken on to stretch a bright student’s exceptional abilities in their best subjects. So, what’s not to like?

However, there are some simple guidelines when employing the services of a tutor to ensure the experience does not lead to more stress and become counter-productive.

Choosing the right tutor is paramount - a good tutoring company will carefully match the personality of the tutor to that of the student.

Do they share a love of music or a sport?

Communication and empathy are key to getting the best out of the time spent together.

Once a tutor is selected, a tailored plan with clearly defined goals should then be agreed.

Be sure to engage a tutor who has recent experience of teaching the chosen subject/s. It is important that they understand the body of work required to pass the exam and are therefore able to offer the right level of tuition.

Talk to the school or college about your child’s progress to understand fully where, and if, there are areas in which they could do with some help. You are not trying to work against the school or college but with them to ensure the best end-result for the student.

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Consultant at Gabbitas

Carefully timetable to ensure you are not overloading their work schedule and be sure to add fun family activities to counter balance the time spent studying. Do not make the sessions too long.

Forty minutes for a subject is about the right level and there needs to be a break between subjects if you are looking for help in more than one area One to one support can help solve gaps in a student’s knowledge giving them more confidence to proceed in their chosen subjects.

The benefits of tutoring are indisputable. For struggling students, it can boost confidence and academic performance. For the very bright, it can expand their horizons.

Objections to tutoring arise when it’s used excessively, when a child is stuck at home with the tutor every day of the week, while their peers play sport or video games, or go to the cinema with their friends. But, that essentially is not a problem of tutoring, but of parental choice. As with all good things in life - moderation is key! www.gabbitas.com

“Choosing the right tutor is paramount - a good tutoring company will carefully match the personality of the tutor to that of the student”

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Where happiness gets great results “W e’re seeing a quiet movement away from hothousing,” says David Bradbury, Headmaster at Portland Place School, an independent co-educational school for children aged 10-16. “Parents want their children to get great results, but not at the expense of their wellbeing.”

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“The happier a child is, the more receptive they are to new ideas. So we don’t test them left, right and centre. We give them space to discover their passions; small class sizes allow us to see every child’s potential and set it free.”

The Good Schools Guide describes Portland Place as “a haven for creativity”. But this isn’t just about putting on plays at the Shaw Theatre or giving free music tuition and instrument loans to every Year 7 student.

The school is creative in many ways. For example, children regularly practise their still life drawing skills at the Natural History Museum. Meanwhile, the school’s ‘Strive’ programme gives children the freedom to explore their favourite subjects by “reading, watching, listening, seeing and doing”, stretching learning far beyond traditional bookbased study.

Children at Portland Place quickly develop a sense of independence, making the most of their central London location by playing sport in Regent’s Park and visiting the world-class galleries and museums on their doorstep.

Further afield, the school has recently taken trips to the Azores, New York and Tanzania, where pupils carried out community work to renovate classrooms for a local school.

As for results, in 2019 pupils celebrated a 27% overall GCSE pass rate at 9-7. “Although we’re nonselective, we excel in helping children to progress,” says Bradbury.

“Our aim is for children to achieve personally, socially and academically,” he concludes. “We’re open-minded about what success looks like because it’s different for every child.” www.portland-place.co.uk

The Good Schools Guide describes Portland Place as “a haven for creativity”

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Championing Sports & Wellbeing with Queen Ethelburga’s

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ecently recognised by the Tes Independent School Awards 2020, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate is demonstrating its commitment to excellence and participation in sport, and promoting health and wellbeing with its students, through an innovative approach.

The Collegiate, based in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, promotes healthy lifestyle choices within a specially developed curriculum and co-curricular opportunities. Students develop their levels of responsibility, resilience and leadership through sports participation and are challenged to achieve at the highest level.

The curriculum is supported by an experienced and dedicated team of 30 sports staff and coaches, catering to all abilities and encouraging students

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“The Collegiate, based in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, promotes healthy lifestyle choices within a specially developed curriculum and co-curricular opportunities”

to engage with the many and varied opportunities on offer, such as: archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cheerleading, cricket, cycling, dance, fencing, fitness, football, gymnastics, hockey, martial arts, netball, rounders, rugby, spinning, swimming, table tennis, tennis, trampolining, volleyball and wrestling.

The Collegiate’s THRIVE@QE programme has been similarly developed, with the aim of improving mental health amongst students.

A key aspect of the Pastoral Care provision at QE, THRIVE@QE consists of a range of sessions, activities and workshops all aimed at promoting and supporting the well-being of its students.

The programme is delivered from a purpose built centralised Pastoral Care area, which offers a comfortable and welcoming space, open seven days a week, where students can receive support or have time-out.

Steven Jandrell, Principal of the Collegiate said: “Our great commitment to students’ health and well-being is supported by a specifically developed curriculum to ensure that every child is introduced to a wide variety of activities. All of our students are encouraged to be active and understand the benefits of healthy pursuits, such as sport and exercise, to their wellbeing. Participation is key and we are very proud of the level of commitment we inspire across all areas.”

The Collegiate is an ‘Excellent’ rated, vibrant and supportive school community, welcoming day students from 3 months to 19 years and boarders from 6 years to 19 years. www.qe.org

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Kensington Park School 6th Form

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eighbouring the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, KPS Sixth Form’s location is unique. What truly sets the school apart, however, is the learning experience they offer their students.

Their approach blends the best elements of established Sixth Form schooling with the characteristics of a college environment to create a bridge between school and university.

Small class sizes help focus students’ learning in lessons that are delivered by some of the finest teachers in London. Their pastoral system, based on the Oxbridge tutorial model, is something that drew praise from Ofsted (in October 2018). Students have weekly one-to-one meetings with their tutors, who have oversight of their progress and wellbeing.

Parents receive a weekly report from tutors with an update on their personal development.

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The location encourages students and teachers to take learning out of the classroom and ground it in practical research. They have close links with Imperial College, where students enjoy their lunch and benefit from access to gym and sports facilities.

Experiences such as these provide a valuable taste of university life, helping students mature and ensuring they are well-equipped to hit the ground running when they take the step up to university.

For families interested requiring boarding, the state-of-the-art boarding house, situated in a prime location is truly ‘home to a 21st Century experience’. Boarders have the unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s greatest cities – predominantly on foot!

Last year, students have been on a real smorgasbord of trips, providing a mix of cultural enlightenment, sporting entertainment and good old-fashioned fun. On the entertainment front, the common room provides a relaxing place to wind down every evening to cinematic film nights or friendly foosball matches. Boarders also frequently praise the team of onsite caterers, who ensures that the dining menu is inviting and fresh!

More than anything, being a new school has enabled Kensington Park School to put their students in the centre of what they do. Many schools talk of an approach focused on the individual but at KPS they have this running through the veins of the school. The students thrive under their care and in the space of this one year, they have demonstrated this through resilience, kindness and passion for learning.

THE DETAILS Kensington Park School Sixth Form, 59 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London, SW7 5JP, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7225 0577 www.kps.co.uk admissions@kps.co.uk

We believe that tuition is best led by professionals.

That is why all of our personal tutors are experienced and qualified teachers, who plan each tutorial with the care and attention of a lesson.

We offer a range of support from school entrance examinations through to GCSEs and A levels. As subject specialists you can rest assured that our teachers not only have expert subject knowledge, but also detailed examination experience.

In addition, we run popular revision seminars for a range of ages and subjects to help our students achieve their potential.

Visit argenteducation.co.uk to find out more

What our parents say: “Argent are a young talented group who provide excellent tutoring over a wide range of subjects to all ages and instil confidence in both students and parents alike” Peter

“My daughter attended an 11+ revision seminar and really enjoyed the day. She came away feeling much more confident and with a clearer understanding in the areas she was having problems with” Ninya

“Great tuition to prepare for the scholarship exams in Harrow and Eton. Enriching and fun classes in Philosophy and applied ethics. Online works perfectly” Ksenia

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And breathe…

how pupils can benefit from meditation

Common symptoms of overstimulation are the inability to sit still, racing thoughts, headaches, eye strain, insomnia and even depression.

Meditation has huge benefits: it can produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates our mood and alleviates anxiety, increase wellbeing and focus while reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Research has also highlighted outcomes of increased self-knowledge and self-acceptance through meditation.

In making regular space for meditation, St Benedict’s hope to help their young pupils to recharge, mentally; to be aware of their feelings and practise the vital skill of switching off the constant noise of 21st century life.

Melissa Comins: Economics and Business Studies teacher at St Benedict’s, and member of the Chaplaincy team. www.stbenedicts.org.uk

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he candle is lit, the lights are dimmed. As another busy school day begins, pupils in year 7 close their eyes, focus on their breathing and let their thoughts drift

away….

St Benedict’s has recently introduced 20 minutes of meditation each week for all pupils in year 7, and this will eventually be offered to other year groups.

Children in the Junior School are also offered a mindfulness session each week after school.

This is to support pupils’ mental health, by encouraging them to recognise how they are, emotionally, and to teach them the value of living in the present. Guided by form tutors, meditation provides young people with a valuable oasis of stillness and silence in school life.

Feedback has been very positive, with pupils finding meditation relaxing, calming and a good way to focus and to be self-aware. Every day children are constantly bombarded with information, spending most of their energy in their ‘thinking’ brain, losing connection with how they actually feel.

Most of us have fallen prey to sensory overload: just look around a train carriage, and note how many people are on their screens – catching up with email, or skimming through social media. We are almost constantly informed, entertained, petitioned, pestered and diverted.

Overstimulation creates excess dopamine in the brain – the neurotransmitter tied to the reward and pleasure centres of the brain. While this makes us feel good, the more we have, the more we need.

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“St Benedict’s has recently introduced 20 minutes of meditation each week”

Confident Creative Ambitious Established in 1862, Haileybury is a top co-educational boarding and day school for 11–18 year olds on an historic 500 acre campus in Hertfordshire, just 20 miles north of London.

Confident Creative Ambitious

2020 Open Events: Saturday 14 March (11+ & 13+); Wednesday 13 May (11+ & 13+); Thursday 18 June (16+).

Visit haileybury.com or contact admissions@haileybury.com 01992 706 353

HaileyburyUK

Established in 1862, Haileybury is a top co-educational boarding and day school for 11–18 year olds on an historic 500 acre campus in Hertfordshire, just 20 miles north of London.

2020 Open Events: Saturday 14 March (11+ & 13+); Wednesday 13 May (11+ & 13+); Thursday 18 June (16+).

Visit haileybury.com or contact admissions@haileybury.com 01992 706 353 HaileyburyUK

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Don’t miss the opportunity to arrange a visit

Contact Nicky Carter or Viki Cryer via admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org if you have any questions 142 MARCH 2020