Braeside prospectus

Founded in 1944 Braeside School is a small Independent Day School providing a complete education for girls from 3 to16.

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Junior School Christmas Concert

Special moments

Early Ye ar

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S7 BondingTrip to Gilwell Park

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Community Tea

Junior Sc h

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and the memories they provide...

S9 Enh a

Residential Trip to France

I have spent all my professional life in teaching, with over 20 years working in the state sector before transferring into Independent education with my appointment at Braeside in 2002. As a mother of boys, working in a girls only school was both revealing and rewarding. It soon became clear to me that boys and girls have different attitudes to learning and require different teaching and learning experiences, if they are to achieve their potential.

Many people feel that co-education is more reflective of society; I feel it is positively advantageous to teach young people in single-sex schools where their learning needs can be addressed more specifically. I do not find it surprising that many of the top performing schools, which consistently produce excellent results, are girls only schools. My experiences at Braeside have made me an even greater advocate for single-sex education.

When the opportunity arose to apply to become Head Teacher of Braeside in 2008, I did so with a real sense of purpose and with a clear vision to carry forward the aspirations of our founder, Marjorie Wakefield. She championed educational partnership between home and school, reflecting the Parents National Education Union principles which had underpinned her own training as a teacher; and set up Braeside School in 1944.

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Le Touquet Beach French Res idential Trip

Welcome to Braeside School

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I believe that leading and supporting girls through their educational experience from 316 years of age is a privilege and immensely rewarding. At Braeside, everyone helps to develop our community so that the girls feel secure, valued and able to reach their own potential.

For me, girls are special, and whilst the modern world gives them enormous opportunity to develop rewarding professional lives, it also poses difficulties in creating a workable home/life balance. We try to equip all our pupils with the ability and confidence to make informed choices about their lives at every stage of the learning process.

If you feel that your daughter deserves a unique educational experience, in a school with her best interests at heart, then I would urge you to visit Braeside School. You will be assured of a very warm welcome whenever you decide to call.

Gillian Haddon, Headteacher

Welcome to Braeside School I have spent all my professional life in teaching, with over 20 years working in the state sector before transferring into Independent education with my appointment at Braeside in 2002. As a mother of boys, working in a girls only school was both revealing and rewarding. It soon became clear to me that boys and girls have different attitudes to learning and require different teaching and learning experiences, if they are to achieve their potential.

Many people feel that co-education is more reflective of society; I feel it is positively advantageous to teach young people in single-sex schools where their learning needs can be addressed more specifically. I do not find it surprising that many of the top performing schools, which consistently produce excellent results, are girls only schools. My experiences at Braeside have made me an even greater advocate for single-sex education.

When the opportunity arose to apply to become Head Teacher of Braeside in 2008, I did so with a real sense of purpose and with a clear vision to carry forward the aspirations of our founder, Marjorie Wakefield. She championed educational partnership between home and school, reflecting the Parents National Education Union principles which had underpinned her own training as a teacher; and set up Braeside School in 1944.

I believe that leading and supporting girls through their educational experience from 316 years of age is a privilege and immensely rewarding. At Braeside, everyone helps to develop our community so that the girls feel secure, valued and able to reach their own potential.

For me, girls are special, and whilst the modern world gives them enormous opportunity to develop rewarding professional lives, it also poses difficulties in creating a workable home/life balance. We try to equip all our pupils with the ability and confidence to make informed choices about their lives at every stage of the learning process.

If you feel that your daughter deserves a unique educational experience, in a school with her best interests at heart, then I would urge you to visit Braeside School. You will be assured of a very warm welcome whenever you decide to call.

Gillian Haddon, Headteacher

Early Years Department The current Early Years Foundation Stage for children is governed by the Department for Education and requires those working with children of this age to observe and record many different aspects of their development.

At this age many learning opportunities are created through play and the use of the outdoor environment. Opportunities need to be stimulating, engaging and enjoyable for every child and need to reflect their strengths and personalities.

Braeside provides a lively, friendly, happy and secure environment for the girls within its care. Our experienced team encourage creativity and work ceaselessly to develop our home/school partnership. We encourage parents to observe and talk to us about their daughter’s progress in order to assist us as we develop a record of their learning journey.

Skills developed at this early age are the foundations which underpin all of the work that we build on as the girls grow up.

When asked about what they enjoyed most during their school day, our current Early Years pupils expressed a love of the following opportunities:

“Gardening” “Reading” “Painting” “Playtime” “Playing with sand” “Toytime” “Working” Their bright faces and engaging comments were spontaneous, demonstrating their confidence and enjoyment in facing each new day.

Infants and Junior Departments There is no doubt that traditional strong foundations in literacy and numeracy underpin all children’s learning. Without these in place at an early age children cannot access and enjoy the wider opportunities that the curriculum has to offer. We place huge emphasis on making our pupils feel secure in these key areas - enriching their learning through exposing them to interesting subjects and topics as they grow.

We stimulate them through visits to places of interest and take pleasure in watching them realise their potential and develop confidence.

Pupils undertake the full range of National Curriculum subjects and make rapid progress because of our modest class sizes and continuity of care.

Each of our girls feels secure and valued and is encouraged to participate in all areas of school life.

The Senior School Senior School life for all young people presents a range of challenges and opportunities to grow. As our pupils move through this phase of their education they gain knowledge and develop an increasing sense of maturity. They are guided by a strong pastoral team and because of the size of the school quickly become part of our established community.

We look to tap into their enthusiasms and set them on a determined and dedicated course to achieve their potential.

However, education in a rounded sense, is about creating an ethos where the individual is valued, enabling them to grow securely and develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. We always strive to achieve this for our pupils and many testify to this personal growth as they leave to follow individual Sixth Form programmes of study.

We believe and demonstrate on a daily basis, that education and enhanced opportunities through visits, workshops and residential experiences empower our pupils to make informed choices about how they eventually progress to the world of work.

Moving On At the age of sixteen Braeside girls are fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Applications to join local state Sixth Forms, Independent Co-Educational Schools or local FE Colleges are warmly welcomed, as our girls have proven worth, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to succeed.

The vast majority of our pupils eventually take up university places and in recent years we have had a roll call of former pupils undertaking a myriad of subjects ranging from Arts to Science.

Braesidians provide a professional legacy in many walks of life both in the United Kingdom and abroad. The School is proud of the contribution it has made to their education and personal development.

‘Traditional but not old fashioned, a truly wonderful learning experience’ Current parent and Old Braesidian

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Independent Day School for Girls aged 3 to16

Junior School 82 Palmerston Road Buckhurst Hill Essex IG9 5LG

Senior School 130 High Road Buckhurst Hill Essex IG9 5SD

t: 020 8504 0021 f: 020 8559 1246 e: juniorschool@braesideschool.co.uk

t: 020 8504 1133 f: 080 8505 6675 e: enquiries@braesideschool.co.uk

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