ACCESS ALL AREAS
Schools
by Claire Atherton
THE HEAD
Andrew Reid
THOUGHT PIECE
Victoria has these tips for parents feeling the prep school pressure: 1. Keep an open mind. There are so many schools to choose from. And sometimes, the one you aspire to for your child isn’t where they’ll flourish. 2. Look for evidence that a school will tailor the curriculum to your child’s individual needs. Ask how they deal with SEN children as well as gifted ones, and check out their teacher:child ratio. (Ours is 1:10.) 3. Work with the teachers to understand your child’s strengths and what they need to develop, so they’re well rounded when they take the assessment. 4. Be open with your child. Talk about what the assessment will involve and how they feel about it. Explain that it’s a chance to show off what they’ve learnt, not an exam. And emphasise that they’re choosing the school as much as it’s choosing them. 5. Don’t be tempted to hire a tutor. A good pre-prep will do what’s needed. Tutors also focus on the academic side, when assessments (and careers) are increasingly about ‘softer’ skills like critical thinking and creativity. 6. Stay calm! If you’re stressed, your child will be stressed. Do what you can to prepare them, then accept that the outcome is out of your hands. mulberryhouseschool.com; educationadvisers.co.uk
How to relieve the prep school pressure
M
apping out your child’s education when they’re two years old may seem extreme. But according to Victoria Playford, head at The Mulberry House School, it’s increasingly common. “We place 100 per cent of our children in selective prep schools, including St Paul’s, UCS, North London Collegiate and Haberdashers’ Aske’s,” says Victoria. “As assessments for these schools become more competitive, we’ve seen parents become more anxious about getting their children in. So they’ve begun to plan earlier.” Part of that anxiety is because the prep school a child goes to will influence which senior school they attend. But for Sioban O’Connor, of Education Advisers, this shouldn’t be the only consideration. “The ‘right’ school will bring out the best in your child,” she says. “That means giving them the confidence to meet challenges head on, to try new things and to recognise that the sweetest successes are those we have to work for.”
The shortlist: Belsize Park Lyndhurst House Preparatory School Independent pre-prep and prep school for boys aged 4 to 13 years (020 7435 4936; lyndhursthouse.co.uk) The Village School Independent prep day school for girls aged
3 to 11 years (020 7485 4673; thevillageschool. org.uk) Hampstead Hill School Independent nursery and pre-prep school for pupils aged 2 to 7+ years (020 7435 6262; hampstead hillschool.co.uk)
Fine Arts College 4 to 13 years (020 7722 Independent co-ed day 5456/020 7722 1700; school for pupils hallschool.co.uk) aged 13 to 19 years (020 7586 0312; hampsteadfinearts.com) The Hall School Independent junior, middle and senior day schools for boys aged
Lyndhurst House Preparatory School What attracted you to the school? The friendly and welcoming nature of everyone in it. Lyndhurst House was founded in 1952, and before my arrival there had only been four headmasters, reflecting the stability and strong history of the school. How would you sum it up in a sentence? A high-achieving and happy school where pupils understand the importance of tolerance, respect for others and, above all, kindness. What makes it different? The small class sizes and the individual attention to all pupils. The fact that the school is non-denominational also means that it reflects the cultural mix of north west London. How would you describe the atmosphere? Friendly and hardworking, and one where the boys are allowed to express themselves. The school really feels like a family. How do you look after the wellbeing of your pupils? All form teachers have the responsibility to care for their pupils and teach them a range of topics relating to mental wellbeing through weekly PHSE lessons. Pupils and parents are given guidance on the amount of time that’s healthy for a young person to spend on digital devices. We also hold regular workshops with outside speakers on a range of topics, such as using the internet and staying safe in both a physical and a digital world. Lyndhurst House Preparatory School, 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, NW3 (020 7435 4936; lyndhursthouse.co.uk)
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