Manor House Life - Issue 3

# H A P P YA N D H E A LT H Y F e a t u r e : We l l b e i n g a n d S p o r t

#AC ADEMICE XCELLENCE

F o c u s o n G C S E R e s u l t s , M a t h s a n d G i f t e d a n d Ta l e n t e d

# C R E AT I V E A N D C O L L A B O R AT I V E T h e R e t u r n o f ‘ R o c k a n d P o p’

Ye a r 3 :

Tr i p s :

NEW FOUNDERS’ SCHOL ARSHIPS for Academic Achievement & Music

Disneyland Paris, I c e l a n d a n d t h e S k i Tr i p

ISSUE 3

Autumn 2019 @ManorHseSchool

manorhousesch

www.manorhouseschool.org

CONTENTS

8

20

27

HEAD’S MESSAGE

1

GCSE RESULTS

2

YEAR 11 PROM

3

FOCUS ON MATHEMATICS

4

FOCUS ON SCIENCE OUTSIDE OF THE CURRICULUM

5

GIFTED AND TALENTED REVIEW

6

EARLY YEARS - RECEPTION, NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN

7

YEARS 1 & 2

12

YEAR 3

14

YEAR 4

16

YEAR 5

17

YEAR 6

18

PREP DRAMA

19

ART & DESIGN

20

LAMDA 23 SENIOR DRAMA

24

MUSIC 26 SPORT 28 TRIPS 32 THEME WEEK

34

FOMHS 35

34

FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT 36

WELCOME

HEAD’S MESSAGE As we look back on another successful year at Manor House School, I am delighted by all we have achieved.

A necessary focus on the imminent ISI inspection forced us to examine paperwork, policies and procedures during the early part of the year to ensure that all was in hand when we received the call. This we duly did and when we finally received notification of our inspection in May, we were well prepared to receive the visitors and dare I even say, slightly enjoyed the process! Our very positive report reflects the wonderful ethos and atmosphere which prevails here on a day to day basis and the team approach adopted by our staff and students.

We have embraced opportunities to open up the world to our students, whether it has been discovering the wonder of science, the enjoyment of music, the thrill of competition or the pleasure and pride of overcoming a challenge. I am immensely proud of the way pupils and staff have thrown themselves into new encounters and experiences over the last year.

Beyond the beautiful grounds of Manor House, we realised that not everyone is as fortunate as we are and in the words of ISI, ‘students have a strong moral consciousness that stems from the school’s ethos and high expectations.’ As a result, we have raised over £4500 for local charities and students have engaged enthusiastically in many enterprising events to support the wider community.

The joy of teaching is in observing young people grow and transform into the brilliant young adults they become and I am reminded of the lines from Louis Armstrong’s famous song, ‘I see children born, I watch them grow, they will know much more, than I ever know.” From Nursery through to the Preps and into Seniors, we have certainly seen our pupils grow and flourish over the year.

The school is filled with energy and passion on a day-to-day basis and as you enjoy reading through this magazine, I am sure that you too will be impressed with the range of talent, ambition and courage shown by our students and staff.

#FutureLeaders

Tracy Fantham As we approach the next academic year, we look forward to planning events and activities to mark 100 years of history at Manor House School. I am sure that Miss Green and Miss Wheeler would be very proud of their legacy.

TRACEY FANTHAM BA (HONS) MA NPQH, HEADTEACHER

Our newly appointed Core Prefect Team in Year 11. (Left to right: Isabella, Rosie, Chelsea and Elanor), MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 1

SCHOOL NEWS

GREAT GCSE RESULTS ALL ROUND! Amongst the rest and relaxation that the long summer break affords, the penultimate Wednesday in August is always a night of fitful sleep for many youngsters, parents and teachers up and down the country. Knowing that the next morning there will be envelopes to collect that shape lives and determine futures, is never conducive to a good night’s rest! And so it was on 22 August, when staff arrived early and with trepidation, to ready themselves for GCSE Results Day 2019.

Any foreboding quickly turned to joy by a growing realisation, as the all-important numbers downloaded, that it was a day of great results for our pupils.

Of all grades, 15% were at the highest level of 9, compared to just 4.5% nationally, demonstrating true ‘#Academic Excellence’.

Emma became one of less than 500 candidates across the country

who, from over 5 million entries, gained 7 or more grade 9s.

Candice with an A* attained in Year 9, also joined this elite group.

Moreover, well over half of all the girls’ grades were 9-7, or A*-A in ‘old money’.

In Biology, over half of the year achieved a grade 9 and every single girl left Manor House with a Science GCSE. Performance was strong in English where 61% gained a 9-7 in Literature, compared to 26.5% for girls nationally. In a further eight subjects, over three quarters of the year achieved a 9-7 grade - a fantastic achievement!

Behind the myriad of measures and statistics however, the most important feature of the results was that they once again showed the progress that girls at Manor House make. Each of our Year 11 leavers had their own ‘#Individual Challenge’ to meet, with the pathway to the summit of GCSEs being steeper for some than for others. However, the Class of 2019 achieved on average almost a grade higher in each of their subjects than girls of a similar ability nationally. This is something of which they can be justly proud!

It is one of the great privileges of teaching to witness the moment when those envelopes are opened and to see the expressions of joy, happiness and sometimes disbelief across the faces of our leavers. Well done to all those in the Class of 2019 as we wish them well at their future sixth form destinations.

For information on academic results, visit www.manorhouseschool.org/academic-results/gcse-results/ MR S HILLIER, BSC (HONS) PGCE NPQH, DEPUTY HEADTEACHER

#AcademicExcellence

2 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

SCHOOL NEWS

YEAR 11 PROM Here we remember our Year 11 leavers on their Prom Night.

#FutureLeaders

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 3

MATHS FEATURE

Focus On MATHEMATICS Meet Head of Mathematics, Mr Paul O’Neill, who talks strategies for enhancing pupils’ mathematical ability in the Senior School.

Throughout the year in the Mathematics Department, girls in the Senior School have been working hard to build confidence, resilience and ability - in a multitude of topics.

Having new schemes of learning in place, dedicated year-specific timelines and multiple drop-in and support sessions, means that all girls from Years 7 to 11 have been given the tools to enhance their mathematical ability and their love of learning as each term passes.

Regular assessments have helped identify areas that girls have found difficult and this year, building time into the curriculum to review these gaps, has helped secure students’ understanding in trickier areas.

Our assessments this past year have been cumulatively building as more and more topics are taught. Every one of our examinations has used past GCSE questions to expose girls to the style of questioning now being used and prepare them from a young age for what’s ahead, as they strive for #AcademicExcellence.

One new aspect of assessment this year has been to use Question Level Analysis (QLA) sheets when giving feedback. These provide direct feedback on each topic, giving girls an idea of what they have mastered and what could still do with some work.

Outside of the usual GCSE curriculum, girls have had exposure to other aspects of mathematics. The Junior and Intermediate UKMT Mathematics Challenges have been entered by girls and we have had quite a bit of success with many pupils receiving certificates, even as young as Year 6!

As a final note, I thought it would be interesting to give parents an insight as to what an iGCSE mathematics question looks like these days.

The following are two questions which appear in papers from 2017 and 2018 respectively:

This coming academic year, we will be delivering content to some Year 10 girls from the AQA Further Mathematics course, with the hope to enter those that wish into it, alongside sitting the rest of the GCSE Examinations. The AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics course provides a great stepping stone for girls seeking to study mathematics when they leave for sixth form colleges and will only add to their understanding moving forward.

2017 Paper 4H

2018 Paper 2H Answers to: poneill@manorhouseschool.org MR PAUL O’NEILL BSC (HONS), QTS poneill@manorhouseschool.org

#AcademicExcellence 4 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

SCIENCE FEATURE

Focus On SCIENCE OUTSIDE OF

THE CURRICULUM This year the introduction of a STEM club for Years 5 and 6 has seen the Prep School students buzzing with excitement about using the Senior School Laboratories. As a focus, the girls have been working towards their British Science Association Superstars certificate. To complete the course, they were required to participate in a series of challenges which are recorded in their CREST Superstars passport.

Their investigative skills were tested to the full through activities like ‘bouncing bubbles’, ‘cheese making’ and ‘tumbling toast’. Although they probably have not truly answered the question of why your toast always lands buttered side down, at least they have the evidence to prove it does!

‘A hole in my bucket’ saw them researching the properties of materials and whether they were suitable for fixing a leaky bucket.

There may have even been a little singing going on to accompany the task. It was wonderful watching them discuss their findings so analytically and really delve into the details of product efficacy.

While looking at ‘a sticky problem’ they created different types of glue. For many, it was the first time they realised many of the items used in everyday life can have alternative purposes. We do have to admit however, that glue made from vinegar and milk was not the greatest smelling product ever invented. The key Chemistry concept of ‘reactions to make new products’ was learnt about in a fun, engaging and unbelievably messy way!

The KS3 STEM club faced a bigger challenge as they had to research, develop and trial a product of their choice. Initially toothpaste seemed like a great idea, however after the first tasting session there were some dubious faces! The slightly scary realisation came when they saw just how much flavouring and sugar, yes you did read sugar, were needed to make it a bearable taste.

Our clubs are now well embedded and will expand to include more year groups in the future with the help of our newly appointed STEM prefects, Millie and Kirsten, who are bursting with exciting initiatives. Girls are still not as well represented in Science subjects as boys when you look at further education courses and employment. Here at Manor House, we are as determined as ever to close that gap and we believe that learning outside of the standard curriculum is crucial to engage and inspire the next generation of female scientists.

MRS R WATERHOUSE BSC (HONS), PGCE, MA ED rwaterhouse@manorhouseschool.org

#ALoveofLearning MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 5

SENIOR FEATURE

Review GIFTED & TALENTED This last academic year saw the official introduction of the school’s new Gifted & Talented Policy, along with the Gifted & Talented Programme. The programme was targeted at a select group of senior girls from Years 7 to 11 and the intention was to offer additional academic inspiration to those who required it, as well as curricular and cross-curricular enrichment opportunities.

During the course of the year, the group met for workshops on a variety of topics, aimed at supporting and improving the girls’ learning experiences. The group enjoyed looking at the characteristics of different learning styles and taking a quiz to find out their own learning style. The girls benefited from tips and guidance arising from the outcome of the quizzes, which they could then apply in their lessons.

Then the focus moved onto promoting STEM, and where interests in STEM could lead in terms of career prospects. The culmination of this topic was a visit to Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands at the end of the Autumn term. There, the girls received a very interesting tour, learning about female pioneers in the early days of the car industry. The girls also received an insight into some cutting-edge future technology, and the types of job roles that qualifications in STEM subjects can lead to.

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In the spring term, the group met for workshops on the topic of higher education. Girls discovered the options open to them, in particular further study at university. The group visited the University of Surrey for a tour and Q&A session with some current students. The girls came away from this visit with a fascinating new perspective on the university and student experience.

The group enjoyed learning about online research skills; the pitfalls of Wikipedia and why it is an unreliable source, as well as how to more effectively look up and use information found on the internet for their own work.

I look forward to welcoming new members to the group in 2019-20, and leading and supporting the girls through a new set of academic enrichment opportunities.

MR T JONES, GIFTED AND TALENTED LEADER tjones@manorhouseschool.org

#AcademicExcellence

EARLY YEARS

E a r l y Ye a r s R E C E P T I O N , N U R S E R Y AND KINDERGARTEN Ne w A p p o i n t m e n t s MISS K MACKAY BEd (HONS) QTS Having recently studied BEd (Hons) Primary Education at the University of Winchester, Ms Mackay, our new Reception Teacher, is thrilled to be working in the Early Years Department at Manor House. As well as a passion and enthusiasm for Early Years teaching, Miss Mackay brings an energy for involvement in school life and a keen interest in learning adult ballet!

As a newly qualified teacher, I look forward to creating an engaging learning space for Reception Class that will be language rich and include lots of opportunities for different types of learning to take place. I am a real advocate for having all types of learning on offer, such as visual and kinaesthetic. All children learn differently and this will be reflected in the classroom environment.

During University, Ms MacKay completed her dissertation on the notion of social interactions being enhanced through play.

In my spare time I enjoy reading and I hope to pass on my passion for reading to the children in my class and the wider school. There will be a designated book corner and sharing texts will be an active part of the school day.

Mrs L Argent

MRS L ARGENT BA (HONS) QTS After graduating from Warwick University 15 years ago, Louisa Argent (pictured left) began her teaching career in London in the Early Years Department and her love for the profession has never left her.

Working with children and helping them to grow as individuals is such a privilege. Throughout my career, I have been lucky enough to teach Early Years along with Key Stage 1 at both state and independent schools. I continue to be fascinated with the development of children and how they progress, not only academically but also socially and emotionally. I am very excited to return to teaching in the Early Years and be a part of such a fantastic and dedicated team at Manor House.

Miss K Mackay MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 7

EARLY YEARS

S p e c i a l D a y s a n d Ev e n t s Learning in our Early Years Department is very creative, as children learn best when they are active and having fun. Looking back over the past year, we reflect on the special days and events the children enjoyed.

GRUFFALO DAY

TEDDY BEARS PICNIC

The children enjoyed a Gruffalo Day as part of their “Into the woods� topic. They followed a trail of numbered paw prints, which had clues written on the back. When they solved the clues they found the story book of the Gruffalo, which they stopped and read. The children continued their journey to The Dell where they took part in a range of activities such as finding jigsaw pieces that made a giant Gruffalo and making Guffalo houses.

At the beginning of the school year, the children and their families had a Teddy Bears Picnic in the Orchard Garden. It was a lovely occasion where everybody could come together and enjoy being part of the school. Children picnicked under the trees and took part in a range of teddy bear games and activities. They finished the day by catching bubbles from a Bubble machine.

8 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

EARLY YEARS

PIRATE DAY

AN ALIEN EGG LANDED AT SCHOOL The children came in one morning to discover a large egg in the Early Years Garden. After much discussion, they decided it must be a dinosaur egg! It hatched a few days later and out popped three tiny Aliens. Each class adopted one and gave it a name and the children took turns to take them home and teach the aliens about life on Earth. They then shared their adventures with their class, which helped develop their speaking and listening skills. It was a wonderful start to a topic on Space.

To celebrate receiving the new Pirate ship in the Orchard Garden the children and staff came to school dressed as Pirates. They had great fun taking part in activities such as walking the plank, talking like a Pirate and going on a treasure hunt. It was certainly a day where memories were made!

THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR The children had been learning about Life cycles as part of the curriculum and had enjoyed the experience of hatching out chicks and butterflies. To embed their learning, Reception and Kindergarten children went to see a performance of The Hungry Caterpillar at G live in Guildford.

They loved travelling on the minibus and enjoyed the show, which was a mixture of puppets and actors retelling stories written

by Eric Carle.

FAMILY CELEBRATIONS We helped the children to thank their families for all their support, by hosting a Grandparents Afternoon, Mother’s Day Tea and our new event, a Father’s Day Breakfast.

The children enjoyed making picture frames with their Grandparents, performing songs and poems for Mummy and performing a play for their Daddy, followed by a breakfast.

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 9

EARLY YEARS

E x p e r t Te a c h i n g i n S u b j e c t s The children in Reception, Kindergarten and Nursery classes have a creative curriculum both with their own class teachers and with other specialist teachers within the school, who use their knowledge and skills to develop the children’s learning.

FOREST SCHOOL Each week the children go down to The Dell to take part in a Forest School lesson led by Mrs Russo. There is always a buzz of excitement in the air as they change into waterproof trousers and Wellington boots! The Dell is a magical part of the school that has been developed to give the children the opportunity to learn outside. It now boasts an outdoor classroom, a mud kitchen and a pond. There are also rope swings and trees to climb.

The children love the creative activities which have included making a bug house, making leaf kebabs, going on a treasure hunt and making clay faces, to name but a few. They enjoyed climbing to the top of The Dell or playing on the rope swing. They also experienced using the Mud Kitchen to make potions and pies. All of these activities encouraged the children to develop their risk taking skills, creativity and ability to work in a team. Moving a log to make a den certainly takes teamwork when you are five and under! In the winter, they loved finishing their lesson in front of a fire drinking hot chocolate.

10 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

EARLY YEARS

FRENCH At Manor House, children take part in a weekly French lesson with Madame Davies. Reception, Nursery and Kindergarten have separate lessons for their specific age group. The lessons allow the children to learn in a way that appeals to their learning style.

Madame Davies always brings across Lucie Lapin her rabbit puppet who explains what they are going to learn that week.

Last year they loved using playdoh to learn the names of colours, listened to French stories and sang Old Macdonald in French to learn the names of animals.

PE The children have a variety of types of PE lessons as the year progresses with both Early Years staff and specialist PE teachers.

They began with sessions of Write Dance to help them to develop their large and fine motor skills and then moved onto Yoga, ball skills, gymnastics and athletics. In Reception, the girls enjoyed a weekly swimming lesson. They loved going on the mini bus to a nearby swimming facility, which has a shallow pool for their lesson with the swimming teacher.

MUSIC In addition to the singing that takes place during the week to embed the children’s learning, they have a lesson with one of the schools’ specialist Music teachers. They follow a planned syllabus to develop their knowledge of pulse and rhythm through songs and rhyme. The children have enjoyed using a variety of percussion instruments and games to embed their learning. In Reception, the children learnt to play the violin and performed a short piece in the Christmas Nativity play and the Summer Showcase.

PERFORMING ARTS Children love their lessons with Mr Edmeades. His creative approach to drama, dance and movement encourages younger children to join in with enthusiasm and confidence. They learnt the songs and actions for the Christmas Nativity play which they took part in with Years 1 and 2. In June, all of the children were involved in an amazing Early Years production of “The Gingerbread Man.” Our youngest children performed all the parts on their own without the older girls to support them. Kindergarten and Reception children also had a ballet lesson each week, learning the more traditional steps.

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 11

PREP SCHOOL

YEARS 1 AND 2 The Year 1 and 2 classrooms are a happy, vibrant and busy place to be. Most days begin with the teaching of core subjects, English and Mathematics.

Creative extended writing is taught through exciting texts by significant authors. Display work and small world play reflect the books studied and give the girls an opportunity to immerse themselves in the themes and characters, with artwork and role-play.

Reading is highly valued, and our aim is for Key Stage 1 pupils to develop a love of reading for pleasure and to be able to read a wide range of genres. We encouraged the girls to enjoy the lovely, inviting class book corners to the full! There was a big emphasis on spelling and grammar and joined-up writing was mastered in Year 2.

The Abacus Mathematics programme is used to deliver a spiral curriculum, revising key concepts and consolidating learning throughout the year. The foundations of place value and the four mathematical operations are established and girls move into Key Stage 2 secure and confident in this subject. Last year, two girls represented 12 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

Manor House in the Primary Mathematics Challenge, competing with other very able Mathematicians across Surrey.

Specialist teachers in subjects such as Art, Music, PE and Performing Arts ensured a high level of teaching and attainment. Many girls chose to learn musical instruments and most took LAMDA lessons (from Year 1 in 2019), achieving Distinctions in Public Speaking.

PREP SCHOOL

Forest School was a great character building, bonding activity – a favourite with the Key Stage 1 girls!

A highlight of the year was performing in class assemblies, Christmas plays, summer productions and at Grandparents’ Day. Last year, Year 2 performed a wonderful assembly about our school trip to Windsor Castle, where we found out about the royal home of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Other trips included Painshill Park to enrich the Science curriculum and explore pond habitats, and a trip to The Lyceum Theatre in the West End to see The Lion King.

All girls chose to participate in lunchtime or after-school clubs ranging from Storytime, Art and Craft, Gardening, Puzzles and Games and many more.

We are extremely proud of what our Year 1 and 2 girls achieved during the course of the year, the way they collaborated with one-another and excelled to reach their potential.

For further information, visit: www.manorhouseschool.org/year-1/ or www.manorhouseschool.org/year-2/

#UnforgettableExperiences MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 13

PREP SCHOOL

YEAR 3 The transition from Year 2 into Year 3 was truly amazing. The girls were excited to take on new challenges in the main house, having become part of the Upper Prep School.

In Year 3, the class teacher instructs the main core subjects, English and Mathematics, in the mornings.

We continue to follow the Abacus Mathematics Scheme of work with lots of online challenges and programmes, to develop and expand learning.

In English, girls used some exciting and varied texts, to broaden their knowledge and creativity and the ability to express themselves and their views.

The children’s work was imaginatively expressed in various ways with art, drama and creative writing.

Specialist teachers taught French, Music, Art, PE, RE and Performing Arts and many children took on various clubs in and out of school.

The highlight of the year were the different Humanities school trips. Year 3 visited Fishbourne Roman Palace in the Autumn term, to complement their study

14 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

of Celts and Romans. In the Spring term, they went to the British Museum where they had the wonderful opportunity of viewing the amazing excavations of Anglo-Saxon artefacts found at SuttonHoo. The highlight of the year was the residential trip to Juniper Hall.

PREP SCHOOL

Girls did mammal trapping and managed to catch a variety of small mammals, which they then released back into the woods.

They studied invertebrates and located amazing creatures, which pupils carefully brought back to the classroom and examined under a microscope.

Girls visited the River Tillingbourne to race rafts and then had the amazing experience of ‘pond dipping’.

Girls made their own beds and in the morning after breakfast, made sandwiches to take on the walk up Box Hill. The evening ended with a campfire, songs, stories and toasting marshmallows.

Year 3 learnt to be independent and confident, sharing their many talents with their peers and forging caring, healthy friendships.

For further information, visit: www. manorhouseschool.org/year-3/

#HappyandHealthy

NEW FOUNDERS’ SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YEAR 3 In recognition of our Centenary Year, we are launching two Founders’ Scholarships – one Academic and one Music - in memory of Founders, Elizabeth Green and Lillian Wheeler, applicable for girls joining Year 3 in September 2020.

Applications must be received

by Friday 15 November 2019 email: admissions@ manorhouseschool.org

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 15

PREP SCHOOL

YEAR 4 Year 4 of the Prep School are widely referred to as ‘Team 4D’. Under the skilled guidance of Mrs Darlington, Year 4 Teacher, our girls worked with purpose, creativity and a determination to do their best, and displayed a high degree of interdependence as a team.

Rev Mandy vi

sit

From writing books about taking a risk in their lives, to designing and developing an assembly performance about The Tudors, and achieving significant progress in core subjects, Year 4 had a wonderful year - as the following gallery of images demonstrates: For further information, visit: www. manorhouseschool.org/year-4/

Year 4 Netball team

Year 4 on the train to

Portsmouth

#ALoveofLearning

urt

g at Hooke Co

Team buildin

Comic relief Day

Y4 on Founders Day

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Wonderful work abo

ut our class text

Ellie G cooking

PREP SCHOOL

YEAR 5 In Year 5, the girls are offered a variety of opportunities whether it be sporting, academic or musical to push themselves and achieve their own #IndividualChallenge. The curriculum also widens, with the introduction of a second Modern Foreign Language, Spanish and their computer literacy developed through coding and graphic designing. Girls are also expected to take more ownership and responsibility for their learning and personal organisation and enjoy an action packed 3 days of PGL activities to enhance confidence, independence and resilience in an environment where many new challenges are faced.

Some of the many opportunities that the girls were given last year were chances to enter academic competitions in Maths, Writing and General Knowledge, creating and making cam toys - understanding mechanical mechanisms using creative ideas from cross-curricular learning. Food based technology investigating different types of pastry including short crust and puff pastry and as part of Book Week last year; they put together a film based on the classic text, ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Bikeability

Flying high on the gia

nt swing

Making a bu

ggy at PGL

The girls enjoyed trips such as; a Science based one to an awesome planetarium in Winchester and the Victorian School Room in Guildford.

For further information, visit: www. manorhouseschool.org/year-5/

#IndividualChallenge

Completed CAM toy based on Goth Girl

Having fun at

Grating cheese for cheese straw making

ium

the Planetar

Victorian classroom

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 17

PREP SCHOOL

YEAR 6 Year 6 is a busy year full of many unforgettable experiences. Alongside the hard work expected of the girls at the end of their Key Stage, each day is varied and full of opportunities for creativity and fun.

Specialist teaching is very common to help the girls prepare for Senior School life. The focus is on organisation and independence to further ease this transition.

At the beginning of the year, the girls began their Humanities topic with a geographical field study investigating the River Tillingbourne. A History trip to Bletchley Park in the Spring term was also thoroughly enjoyed at the end of their World War II project. The children found out what life was like for some women during the war and had a taster of code-breaking using the Enigma machine.

Some girls were part of a G&T Maths group, focusing on much higher level mathematical thinking. These girls were entered in to the UKMT Maths Challenge with Years 7 and 8, with one Year 6 pupil achieving the highest score in the school!

Specialist teachers delivered Music and Drama lessons, and the girls valued the fantastic experience of singing at the O2.

The girls had the opportunity to participate in numerous match fixtures across the year in many different sports, including cricket.

They were also given the opportunity to take a course on Bikeability in the Autumn term.

The girls developed skills and confidence in Design Technology, learning how to edit and amend their plans to overcome any problems during construction.

Although using a variety of different tools can be daunting, they were successfully accomplished, allowing the girls to make meals, fairground rides and slippers.

In addition to French, the girls studied Spanish and Latin. Foreign languages

The text-based English lessons fostered a real love for reading. Many genre were taught within these lessons, and writing was taught in greater depth alongside the chosen books. A group of girls represented Manor House School admirably at a public speaking competition.

In Mathematics, both sets made great progress with the Abacus scheme, with a focus on problem solving and reasoning in the higher set. All of the girls in this set participated in the Primary Maths Challenge, with some pleasing results.

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were delivered in our new language laboratory, offering Prep girls the same superb opportunities as Senior girls. In the Summer term, an overseas residential trip to France concluded the girls’ time in the Prep School, whilst giving them the opportunity to practise their linguistical skills and participate in cultural activities.

As the girls were at the end of their Prep School life, they had the opportunity to increase their leadership roles further.

House Leaders in the Prep School assisted in assemblies with House rewards and worked alongside the Senior School House Captains to develop House events and activities and to further the House identity.

A trip to a Junior Citizens event in the Spring term helped the girls to develop their responsibility and educated them on potentially hazardous situations.

For further information, visit: www. manorhouseschool.org/year-6/

#FutureLeaders #UnforgettableExperiences

PREP SCHOOL

PREP SCHOOL DRAMA

“A l a d d i n J R” In the summer term, Prep School pupils in Years 3 to 6 performed the colourful and captivating theatre musical ‘Aladdin JR’, adapted from the 1992 Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Aladdin. Breathtaking!

#CreativeandCollaborative

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 19

GCSE ART & DESIGN

GCSE ART AND DESIGN Pupils in the Prep and Senior Schools benefit from many opportunities in the creative and expressive arts and Art is a popular subject. Manor House School offers four extra-curricular art clubs – two for Preps, one for Seniors and one for GCSE students.

Art Scholarships are available to girls joining Year 7 of the Senior School who show a promising level of flair, skill and enthusiasm for the subject and have the ability to produce work to a mature standard. Scholarship assessments take place in the November preceding September entry (when girls are in Year 6) and application forms are available from admissions@manorhouseschool.org Here are representative samples of Year 11 GCSE work displayed at our annual Private View Art and Design Exhibition in June. www.manorhouseschool.org/seniorschool/senior-curriculum/art/

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GCSE ART & DESIGN

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 21

GCSE ART & DESIGN

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LAMDA

LAMDA Almost a third of pupils at Manor House now take LAMDA as a co-curricular activity, with outstanding results in the last academic year.

We caught up with Elisa-Marie Fairbank Hamer (pictured), Director of Stagestars UK, to discuss what LAMDA is all about and how students benefit …

I started delivering LAMDA tuition at Manor House School in September 2008. Over the years, the numbers have steadily grown with nearly a third of the school now having tuition. LAMDA is now offered from Year 1 all the way up to Year 11. I even tutor some girls after they have left Manor House as many are keen to continue with the examinations, finish all of the grades or want assistance with audition pieces.

Examinations take place every year in the Spring term and all the girls are very successful - this year over 80% of candidates achieved Distinction with the rest gaining high Merits. I always say, no matter what the result is they have confidently entered the exam room, presented their pieces and held a discussion with an external examiner. That is an achievement in itself, something many adults would find terrifying to do.

Elisa Hamer

The examination is almost like an interview - the girls go in and perform their piece, having memorised all the text precisely and then are asked questions by the examiner about their piece and the creative process. I feel this is a very valuable experience as these examinations prepare them for interviews later on in life.

Instead of entering the room as a bundle of nerves, they can enter with confidence having years of practice taking LAMDA exams.

LAMDA isn’t just about results, it’s also about the girls gaining confidence in themselves to perform in front of others, work with their peers, improve their speaking and listening skills and learn about poetry and a variety of playwrights. Not forgetting about having fun along the way!

Sometimes I take on the quietest and shyest of girls that really blossom over the year and finally find the inner confidence to believe in themselves. For one pupil it was finding the confidence to read aloud in class, something that she always dreaded, but LAMDA tuition helped her feel she was able to present herself and gave her the confidence to put her hand up in class and be heard.

LAMDA tuition has many benefits and regardless of the girls’ path in life, the skills that they learn will last them a lifetime. www.stagestarsuk.com

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 23

SENIOR SCHOOL DRAMA

S h a k e s p e a re Fe s t i v a l Girls studying on the GCSE course performed in the annual and national Shakespeare Festival last November. This is a noncompetitive event, but requires them to perform an abridged version of a Shakespeare play, at a professional theatre. Girls performed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Leatherhead Theatre.

24 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

SENIOR SCHOOL DRAMA

“ B a r n u m” Last year’s Senior School production was the fabulous musical ‘Barnum’, based on the life of circus showman P.T. Barnum which inspired the recent film, The Greatest Showman. The drama was staged in the period 1835 through to 1880 and involved around two-thirds of the senior school in back-stage, acting, singing, sounddesk, scenery and orchestral roles. The circus extravaganza included 33 musical numbers and almost 400 costume changes in total! www.manorhouseschool.org/senior-school/senior-curriculum/ drama/

#CreativeandCollaborative

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 25

MUSIC

“ROCK AND POP” CONCERT 2019 saw the return of the much loved ‘Rock and Pop Concert’. Mrs Harman and Mr Lucas teamed up again to create a relaxed and enjoyable evening full of great music. Girls from Years 3 to Year 11 took part alongside staff and parents, demonstrating again the community aspect of the Music Department.

The evening began with a two part arrangement of ‘A Million Dreams’ from the Greatest Showman sung by all the choirs - Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Senior Vocal Ensemble, Parent Choir and Staff Choir. Solos and band items followed, interspersed with more choir items.

Junior Choir sang ‘Something Just Like This’ by Chainsmokers and Coldplay and demonstrated a mix of choreography that they had chosen themselves with the help of Mr Edmeades.

26 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

Senior Choir performed ‘Shallow’ by Lady Gaga from the film A Star is Born and ‘Dancing With a Stranger’ by Sam Smith in an arrangement by Sam Tsui.

Senior Vocal Ensemble and Parent Choir joined forces with performances of ‘California Dreamin’ and ‘Lean on Me’. All the choirs performed together again at the start of the second half with an energetic Glee mashup of ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ and ‘One Way or Another’.

The Rock Concert would be nothing without the student bands and Mr Lucas had rehearsed workshops with many students arranging songs to suit their abilities and interests. The bands included girls from Year 5 to Year 11 and a range of styles. The Year 11 band had managed to rehearse despite the constraints of GCSEs and performed ‘Hard Times’ by Paramore.

Georgia W, Music Scholar, performed on drums alongside Marianne E on vocals and Jessica F and Ellen McC-T on guitar.

Beginning their band journey were Sophie and Jocelyn B and Emily F in Year 5 with their guitar and vocal performance of ‘I Can See Clearly Now’.

Year 6 girls, Hattie S (keys), Natasha W (drums), Bethany S (guitar and vocals) and Music Scholar, Katarina V (guitar and vocals) performed ‘I Feel Good’ and ‘Count on Me’. The Year 7 band comprised Georgie A (vocals), Laila E (guitar), Jessie S (keys) and Emma D (lead guitar). They performed the Ed Sheeran song ‘Perfect’. The Year 9 Band performed ‘Valerie’ with Savannah P on lead vocal, Chloe M and Isobel C on guitar, Emily H on bass and Alicia P on keys.

Accompanying the choirs and soloists was the staff band with Mr Lucas on guitar,

MUSIC

HANSEL AND GRETEL

Vic Cox on bass, our new Drum Teacher Mr Wills on drums and Mrs Harman on keyboard. From practising songs with just a piano accompaniment for months it is always a ‘wow’ moment when the choirs and soloists rehearse for the first time with the live band and feel the music come alive!

Auditions were held in May and girls from Years 4 to 10 signed up with the hope of being chosen to sing a solo on the night.

The girls chose a broad mix of songs and the majority of these were then performed on the night. They included Eloise S with ‘A Thousand Years’, Asha M with ‘Famous’

by Lady Antebellum, Cassie C who played guitar and sang ‘Rolling in the Deep’, Miah H with ‘Walk Me Home’ and Ruby H with ‘Rip Tide’. Our youngest soloists of the evening were Rosa G, Charlotte R and Seren P-J with ‘Attention’ by Charlie Puth.

All the girls performed brilliantly and with every performance the hall was filled with a sense of pride and support from the audience.

Seven of the girls who auditioned were selected to sing solos in the final medley of the evening. The final medley is a Manor House tradition and this year the artist/ band celebrated was Queen. Following the success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody and the school’s performance, a couple of years ago, of ‘We Will Rock You’ it was a popular choice. The medley included a trio performance of ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’

by Poppy W, Olivia C and Isabelle S, ‘I Want to Break Free’ by Jessie S, ‘Hammer to Fall’

by Elanor T and Louise T and ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ by Bethany S. The audience and choirs joined on the final numbers – ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, ‘Those Were the Days of Our Lives’ and ‘We Will Rock You’.

I was lucky enough to be invited to go to Grange Park Opera with Mrs Harman, Director of Music and the Arts Scholars. When I first heard we were going to an opera, I wasn’t so sure, as I’d never seen an opera before, but I’m so glad I went because it was a fantastic experience.

Not long after we arrived at the opera and dropped our things off at our pavilion, the bell rang to tell everyone that Act One was starting soon. Mrs Harman had given us a synopsis of what each Act was about because the opera was sung in German. The cast was nearly all female, which was inspiring for us attending an all-girls’ school. The singing was amazing, but having the subtitles at the top of the stage definitely helped us keep track of what was being said!

The evening was a huge success and we look forward to the next one! Massive thanks have to go to M Lucas for all his hard work and inspiration, Mrs Hawksley for rehearsing Parent Choir and Senior Vocal Ensemble, Sam Diaz for the sound and Jessica F and Ellen McC-T on lighting and all the support staff who make these events possible.

The interval was quite long to give everyone time to have dinner. The grounds were stunning, and all around there were little pavilions for people to have their picnics, as well as tents that sold food and drinks. It is a very big site; there was a rose garden, a pond, a croquet lawn and many more features.

Thank you so much for organising what was a very special event, packed with talent. Katarina thoroughly enjoyed the chance to perform in front of the audience. It’s such a confidence booster and I was very proud to see her up on stage.

After dinner we explored the grounds. The opera house itself was built with lots of detail on the outside, and the auditorium looked wonderful with leaf projections everywhere. I would definitely go again if I had the chance!

PARENT OF KATARINA, YEAR 7 MUSIC SCHOLAR

FELICITY W, YEAR 9

#CreativeandCollaborative

www.manorhouseschool.org/seniorschool/senior-curriculum/music/

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 27

SPORT

NETBALL TOUR TO DISNEYLAND PARIS Members of our Year 9, 10 & 11 netball teams had the opportunity to go on a Netball Tour in Disneyland Paris organised by Sports Experiences.

The itinary included three mornings exploring the Disneyland Park and three afternoons of netball. They played in a Round Robin Tournament on the afternoon of the first day. Our U15 team played in the Showdown competition which included the highest standard of teams there. Our mixed team of U14 & U16 played in the Challenger Cup. Our U15 team won all their matches on the first day and the U14/16 team only lost one!

The next day, after spending the morning enjoying Disneyland, they took part in an afternoon of coaching run by Super-League Netball players and coaches. They gained some valuable tips and enjoyed the variety of activities.

On the last day, the teams were put into the Cup or Plate competition based on the first day results. Both of our teams were in the Cup competition. The U14/16 team came 6th overall in the Challenger Cup. The U15 team came 4th overall in the Showdown Cup. The girls had a fantastic experience and played some excellent netball. They will have surely made memories for life.

#UnforgettableExperiences

28 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

SPORT

SPORTS DAY

#IndividualChallenge MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 29

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2

82

3 Key Stage

73

#HappyandHealthy

Not represented

Not represented

87

Represented

92

13

Representing

8

4

62

U12 GHS Cross country

% of Students representing MHS in fixtures

U12 District XC

U13 District Hockey

U12 & U15 District Netball

U15 District Athletics

U12 District Hockey

66 Teams

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1

37

41

U14A

59

1

37

U15A

62

Netball results

U10A

62

8 New Extra-curricular clubs introduced

256 Fixtures

Competed in 11 different sports

M AN OR H OU S E S CHO O L S PO R T S TATIS TICS

% Year 7’s % Year 6’s represented MSH represented MHS

% of Students

Lost

Drew

Won

SPORT FEATURE

T HE E F FECT S OF EXE RCI S E O N WELLBEI N G A N D S TRA T EG IES AT M ANO R HO US E Mental health conditions are on the rise in both young people and adults in the UK according to data released by the NHS earlier this year.

At Manor House School we are committed to putting student’s welfare at the forefront of everything we do. We acknowledge and appreciate the rising pressures and stresses that our girls face and will continue to be challenged with; both in school and throughout their adult lives in a society where social media is growing and young people are becoming increasingly addicted to life in front of a screen. We aim to help each one of our girls learn to identify these pressures and teach them tools to help manage their mental wellbeing.

We all know the positive effects that regular exercise can have physically on our bodies; these can include increased cardiovascular fitness, lower resting heart rate and lower blood pressure, to name just a few. But it is also important that we understand the huge impact that regular exercise can have on our mental wellbeing.

Research shows that regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on anxiety and depression. It can act as a mood enhancer, a memory booster, increase productivity and strengthen our focus.

A Mood Enhancer – Taking part in exercise releases serotonin. This is a chemical nerve cells produce which affects our mood. It is known as a ‘feel good hormone’. Exercise also helps to release endorphins and dopamine which all help to increase our mood.

A Memory Booster – As your heart rate increases during exercise, so does blood flow to the brain. As blood flow increases, your brain is exposed to more oxygen and nutrients. Exercise also induces the release of beneficial proteins to the brain. These keep brain cells healthy and promote growth of new neurons.

Increased Productivity – Regular exercise increases the productivity of ATP in the body over time. This gives us more energy, not only to exert ourselves physically, but it also means more energy for our brain, boosting our mental output; meaning we can focus for longer and work more efficiently.

Stress and Anxiety Relief – Physical activity can increase self-esteem and reduce depression, stress and anxiety in young people. The endorphins produced during exercise help to relieve stress. Ali Oliver, Chief executive of Youth sports trust suggests that ‘When we play, life gets better’. This rule applies to adults as well as children!

So, what do we do at Manor House to support such positive impacts?

We aim to: • Offer both competitive and recreational sport.

• Provide up to 3 hours a week of Physical Education in curriculum time.

• Promote a broad range of physical activities to meet the needs of every individual.

• Take an approach to PE that promotes ‘something for everyone’ - ensuring students leave our School having found a sport they enjoy.

• Teach lessons that make physical activity fun.

• Continuously introduce new physical activities to our students. This past year this has included the introduction of trampolining, yoga, cricket, rugby and poomsae taekwondo.

• Encourage our pupils to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle through continuous education.

• Inspire physical activity as a part of pupils’ everyday routines.

• Help girls to use sports as a method of stress relief.

MRS H TAUBER BEd, HEAD OF SPORT htauber@manorhouseschool.org

#HappyandHealthy

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 31

EDUCATIONAL TRIPS

SKI TRIP In February of this year, the departure day finally arrived for the much anticipated ski trip to Switzerland. Fifty girls and six staff boarded the coach for Luton airport and beyond! The weather was perfect; sunshine, blue skies and excellent snow, which enabled all groups (from beginner to advanced) to make fantastic progress on skis. By the end of the week, the beginners were skiing from the top of the mountain and the advanced and intermediates were exploring the whole region, including a trip over to Lenzerheide.

The hotel was wonderful and everyone enjoyed making new friends across year groups, trying out other snow sports in the evening and finishing the week with an energetic disco. We were sad to say farewell to Arosa and the mountains but look forward to returning in the future.

Eleanor F experienced skiing for the first time and has shared her thoughts below.

“This year I was lucky enough to go on the school ski trip to Arosa, Switzerland. It was an amazing experience!

I was nervous about skiing because I hadn’t been before, but the instructors were so friendly and by the end of the week, the whole beginners group felt Olympians (even if we tumbled down the slopes just a few times). The trip also allowed me to discover a sport which I would never have expected to enjoy - it forced me to try new things and test myself which is something I now feel inspired to keep doing.

The beginners, intermediates and advanced groups all benefited from the trip, whether it was on the slopes or by making friends with other year groups. It’s safe to say there was never a dull moment during the trip; each night there was a new activity to do, like tobogganing, ice skating and curling which were set up by the teachers, who worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves. The town of Arosa was very picturesque, especially with the mountains overlooking the town and snow covering all the rooftops. At the hotel, my room was lucky enough to have a balcony with a mountain right in front of us. We could have sat out there for hours; the scenery was unlike anything we had seen before and definitely beats the dusting of snow we occasionally get in England. Overall, the trip was amazing and we all hope one day we can have the opportunity to do something like it again.”

ELEANOR F, YEAR 10

32 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

EDUCATIONAL TRIPS

ICELAND - GEOGRAPHY VISIT With a very early morning start, eighteen Year 10 and 11 students flew off to a cold and snow covered Iceland for a Geography Field trip.

Our first destination as we drove across the snow-covered lavafields was the iconic spa and Iceland most-visited tourist attration – the Blue Lagoon. Here, as the snow showers gave way to sunshine, the girls relaxed in steaming, milky hot water and covered their faces with age-defying mud masks – both the by-product of natural geothermal energy production. Iceland is able to provide hot water, heating and even heated pavements to melt the snow from their renewable geothermal energy sources , and we were able to learn more about this, the next day at an incredibly clean and shiny power station.

The next day we enjoyed the famous Golden Circle Tour which encompasses frozen waterfalls, a regularly erupting geyser, mudpools and the rift valley. At Thingvelllir, we walked through the rift where Iceland is moving apart at 4mm/year, constructing more volcanic landmass. Many images from here have since been applied to Year 11 Art exam pieces.

Our evening meals out in local restaurants allowed us to navigate the streets of Reykjavik and experience a variety of meals from healthfoods to Indian meals and burgers, as well as the popular evening meeting point of an Ice Cream Parlour.

The third day excursion was along the South Shore of Iceland, stopping first at a hands-on interactive display of Iceland’s volcanic activity at the recently opened Lava Centre. Then we risked the icy spray from water tumbling down a waterfall, to walk behind the cascade into a cave from an ancient shoreline. At another waterfall, Skogarfoss, we climbed 370 steps to look out over the top and across an aweinspiring view to the sea and volcanoes in the surrounding landscape.

The volcanic nature of Iceland gives rise to black sand beaches and beautiful hexagonal columns in the basalt cliffs and caves, which some of the girls demonstrated their low-level rockclimbing abilities. As the weather got worse, we headed for the Solheimajokull glacier, walking a short way up a valley past piles of glacial moraines, meltwater lakes and towards walls of blue ice at the snout of the glacier. On the morning we left, there was a thick blizzard that would have ground the M25 to a halt, but was of no consequence to the hardy Icelandic commuters we passed en route to the airport.

MISS C GRINDROD BSC (HONS) PGCE cgrindrod@manorhouseschool.org www.manorhouseschool.org/senior-school/ senior-curriculum/humanities/

#UnforgettableExperiences MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 33

SCHOOL EVENTS

“AROUND THE WORLD IN FOUR DAYS” During the last four days of the Summer term, pupils went ‘off timetable’ in a bid to learn more about climate change, the effect on our environment and global culture in general. External workshops and events were mixed with in-house activities from each department, including language sessions, world music, and media, street food stalls, Chinese dance, collectively swimming the English Channel, Mexican and Aboriginal art, Amazon workshops and much more…

Girls worked on a Collaborative Sculpture Workshop creating a piece inspired by global warming and greenhouse gases and the negative impact of excessive air travel on our planet.

‘Green Up Your Act’, who provide eco workshops, ran an ‘Up-cycling’ workshop. This addressed the issue of reducing waste to have a positive impact on our world, using the Tetra-Pak-to-wallet design, to demonstrate a meaningful transformation of an object we regard as rubbish.

The final day of term concluded with a British Garden Fete on the front lawn, organised by Year 10. This was a charity based event raising money for the Oluti Mixed Secondary School in Kenya and a London based charity.

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FUNDRAISING AND THE COMMUNITY

THE FRIENDS OF MANOR HOUSE SCHOOL FAMILY FUN DAY AND CAMP OUT The sun shone on the first weekend of July and lots of families and friends turned out for the Family Fun Day, organised by the Friends of Manor House School. Many families chose to also stay for an overnight camp and early morning swim in the pool on the Sunday. The event was a big success and huge thanks to the organising committee and the amazing Mrs Quirk, Chairperson.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2019/20 • Saturday 16 November – Traditional Christmas Fayre.

• Thursday 28 November – Mums’ Christmas Dinner.

• 1 February 2020 – Quiz/Comedy Night.

The Friends raise funds for charity, as well as for school developments, equipment and donations towards end of year parties, school trips and the Year 11 Prom night. Recent larger school items that the FOMHS have funded, include a new Apple iMac Suite and a pirate ship for the Prep School in the Orchard Garden.

In the past year, the Friends have supported ‘Our Sanctuary’, a community outreach service for men and women experiencing domestic abuse in Surrey and The Oluti Mixed Secondary School in Kenya to help raise money for much needed water supplies.

Visit: www.manorhouseschool.org/support-us/friends-of-mhs/ Email: friends@manorhouseschool.org

MANOR HOUSE LIFE | 35

SCHOOL FEATURE

WHAT IS ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT? Mrs Michelle Hinkley, Head of Academic Advancement at Manor House School, holds the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination, has a Masters of Arts in Human Rights specialising in the Right to Education, is a Specialist Dyslexia Teacher and is currently working towards a Masters Level Certificate in Assessing and Diagnosing Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties. Her passion lies with inclusion and ensuring all children learn in an inclusive environment that fosters a love of learning and inquisitiveness so that they can reach their true potential. Here, we talk to her about her Department’s work…

WHAT IS ‘ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT’ AND WHY DO WE NEED IT? All children develop at different rates and have different strengths.

The Academic Advancement Department works closely with all teaching staff and teaching assistants to ensure that children’s individual learning needs are met within the classroom on a day to day basis. This ensures that they can make good progress and that teaching, using a graduated approach, takes into account their learning styles, strengths and interests. For some children who have specific difficulties that need more support, such as, literacy or maths difficulties, or speech and language, the Academic Advancement Department provides support and training for staff in how to deliver the best individual education to those that may be experiencing such difficulties and, when required, provides 1:1 lessons to pupils during the school day.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT? The aim of the Academic Advancement Department is that the learning support needs that a girl may require at any point in time, are delivered as part of the normal classroom practice through careful differentiation and writing outcomes for the girls that they can work towards across subjects. The department aims to be as fluid as possible, giving feedback to teachers regularly on the progress of the girls and works closely with teachers and support staff to ensure that learning is embedded within the classroom.

WHAT DIFFERENCES HAVE YOU INTRODUCED TO THE DEPARTMENT SINCE JOINING LAST YEAR AND WHY? There have been many changes in monitoring provision, progress and use of resources throughout the year. However, two areas that have made a particular impact to the school are class provision maps and multisensory learning.

Class provision maps have been put in place for all classes in the Prep school. This allows teachers to monitor closely the provision of extra support that some children may require on the class provision map which reflects our graduated approach. Girls will spend more time within their classes working on their individual targets and all class teachers are expected to monitor their progress weekly towards the targets using a traffic light system.

This is a highly effective, quick visual method to monitor progress, which we would like to introduce to the Senior School.

Lessons that take place in Academic Advancement are as multi36 | MANOR HOUSE LIFE

sensory as possible. It has been well documented that we form longer lasting memories when we use three or more senses at the same time. Therefore, we encourage all lessons to engage the girls with at least three of their senses e.g. sight, sound and touch.

The girls throughout the school have benefitted greatly from this approach this past year and we hope to embed this learning within individual classes. We have been fortunate to have been supported in this important area of development by the Friends of Manor House who have donated height-adjustable white board tables, chairs and multi-sensory resources to be used to enhance the girls’ learning. The girls will be able to collaborate and use the resources to supplement their studies in a variety of subjects across the age ranges in school.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT? We would like to see the multisensory approach to learning embedded throughout the Prep and Senior Schools as much as possible. The department is also keen to continue following innovation in the education and curriculum fields to ensure that we keep abreast of important developments and not be afraid to try new ideas for the benefit of our pupils. mhinkley@manorhouseschool.org For more information, visit https://www.manorhouseschool.org/ parent-info/academic-advancement/

Founded in 1920 and soon to be celebrating its’ 100-Year anniversary, Manor House School is known for providing girls with a happy and nurturing smaller school environment and achieving excellent academic results through an individual approach to teaching and learning.

Calling All Alumni!

We are looking to reconnect with as many past pupils and staff as possible to join us in marking our 100-Year anniversary.

If you are in contact with any former pupils or staff, or you attended Manor House School, please connect via https://www.manorhouseschool.org/ support-us/alumni/ or email: smilton@manorhouseschool.org

Celebrating 100 Years in 2020-21 Manor House School, Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, Surrey KT23 4EN | www.manorhouseschool.org admin@manorhouseschool.org | Admin Tel: 01372 458538 admissions@manorhouseschool.org | Admissions Tel: 01372 457077

A SELECTIVE INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 4-16 WITH CO-EDUCATIONAL NURSERY @ManorHseSchool

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