Wetherby-Pembridge School in New York - Information Booklet

About Wetherby-Pembridge School New York What is Wetherby-Pembridge School New York?

Wetherby-Pembridge New York is an exciting new school opening in September 2017 that will be located on the Upper East Side, in a superb building next to Central Park on East 96th Street. The school will be part of the prestigious Alpha Plus Group. It will bring to New York the rich traditions and academic excellence that are at the heart of its thriving UK schools Wetherby Group, Pembridge Hall School and The Minors Nursery School.

Students will enter the school for up to two years in preschool in a co-educational setting, which will be based on The Minors Nursery School in London. They will then progress to Kindergarten and be entered into a separate form of boys and girls, which will run initially to Grade 5. The boys’ form will be called Wetherby and the girls’ form will be called Pembridge Hall.

The school will have a capacity of approximately 280 students growing organically with the first intake into Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten in September 2017.

Why have you decided to create a new school at this time?

We believe there is a great demand in New York for the Gold Standard of education Alpha Plus Group provides and are reputed for, and are thrilled at the opportunity to expand our family of schools. We have confidence that the new school will provide welcome choice to many families. We recognise the ever-growing demand for schools that prepare students with the well-rounded skills and academic edge to approach a now international choice of on-going educational options.

Families from our schools often move around the globe and want reassurance that their children are developing transferable and competitive academic strengths. WetherbyPembridge School New York will give focused attention to preparing students for the educational path that they aspire towards, whether that be in London, New York or beyond.

Why are you using these two UK School brands?

The Wetherby family of boys’ schools and Pembridge Hall School for Girls are well-established and thriving learning environments in the London school community. Their ethos of educational excellence, holistic curriculum and rich traditions has allowed them to develop enviable international reputations. The balance of warmth and rigour in these institutions aligns with the high standards that characterize the top independent New York City schools. We are delighted to bring our tried and tested approach to a city that shares our passion for educational excellence.

What is your vision & philosophy for the new school?

Our school vision is to awaken curiosity, cultivate high standards, celebrate success and encourage children to continually question and create in the world around them.

At the heart of our vision is the understanding that a careful balance of nurturing and discipline brings out the very best in young minds. Wetherby-Pembridge School will develop all aspects of a child’s intellectual, social and emotional intelligences, with the ultimate goal of readiness in competing in the next phases of their educational journey.

We feel strongly that children build a sense of good citizenship early in their learning. Our unique emphasis on impeccable manners, speaking confidently, social awareness and courtesy enable our students to stand out and apply all of their talents to achieve individual success. Developing positive interpersonal relationships and respect for others will be a core standard of learning.

Finally, our philosophy is that success begets success. Every parent knows that a child’s sense of accomplishment makes them more self-assured and gives them the momentum to step further and higher. Children achieve in different ways every day and thrive best when these are noticed and celebrated. For this reason, we uphold many traditions around celebrating accomplishments such as awarding Housepoints, Head Teacher’s Good Shows and Weekly Achievement Awards for citizenship, learning and extracurricular talents, all of which are recognised in Weekly School Assemblies.

What is your ethos as a school group?

Throughout all of our schools and colleges we embed educational excellence though the Alpha Plus Gold Standard.

We are committed to maintaining and improving this level of quality and whilst each school is encouraged to retain its own individual ethos and identity, all of our schools and colleges have a number of common characteristics that enable them to maintain and enhance the Gold Standard.

These include: •

High aspirations and expectations for all students and staff

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Outstanding leadership at all levels and effective resource management

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Working in partnership with parents

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A focus upon and a passion for high quality teaching and learning

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A commitment to self-review and continuous improvement that is underpinned by the celebration of success

Education & Curriculum What curriculum will the school follow?

Will the curriculum be suitable for British or American students?

It will be suitable for both. The curriculum will be based on the English National Curriculum and, like our schools in the UK, will ensure that all students have access to the best onward schools - in the UK, the US and internationally.

How will the school incorporate the academic excellence from its partner schools in the UK? Wetherby and Pembridge Hall schools are renowned for academic excellence built from our own bespoke curriculum.

Our curriculum will marry the rigour that distinguishes British educational institutions with the forward thinking and student-centred teaching approach that characterises the best New York City Schools.

What is going to be taught to which age groups?

The Minors Nursery School Our Preschool Program for 3’s and 4’s will follow that of The Minors Nursery School in London. The curriculum is founded on the principle that a child’s first experiences in education are crucial in how they view school life for years to come. Therefore, we will operate as a positive and nurturing environment in which productive play will be overlaid with the children’s first structured lessons in Literacy, Numeracy and Natural Science. Child initiated explorations will remain at the heart of learning at this Early Foundation stage.

Wetherby and Pembridge Hall Upon completion of our co-educational preschool program, students who continue will enter boys’ and girls’ forms, called Wetherby and Pembridge Hall. These programs will be tailored to maximise the undeniable benefits of single-sex classes following the well-tested models of Wetherby and Pembridge Hall Schools in London. Our teachers understand the different learning styles that promote confidence and success in single sex classrooms, while also understanding that each child is an individual. Classes in English, Mathematics and

Science will follow the English National Curriculum, whose standards are high when viewed through an international lens.

The core curriculum will be complemented by enrichment classes in History, Geography, Art, Music, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Physical Education.

An abundant range of sporting, musical and extracurricular activities will also be offered during and after regular school hours in the form of tuition and clubs.

Wetherby and Pembridge Hall forms will also have the advantage of carefully chosen elements of co-education as they enjoy classes such as Art and Music in an integrated setting.

They will also share dining facilities, collaborate in performing arts events, gather for weekly school assemblies and take part in whole school field days, celebrations and sporting events.

Staff & Management Who will be appointed as the new Headteacher?

We are beginning a recruitment process for a Headteacher for the new school. We hope to make this appointment later on this year so that the Head can be in post in New York by January 2017, with staff being appointed during the spring term, in readiness for the opening in September of the same year.

Will the school be managed from London?

The school will be managed by its Headteacher in New York, who will report to our Head Office in London. This will enable the school to develop its own ethos and character, whilst benefiting from Alpha Plus’ broad education experience.

Admissions Will the new school be selective?

What will its admissions policy be?

The school will be non-selective and will give priority to siblings.

What will the fees be?

It is expected that school fees will be determined by October this year and we can assure you that our fees will of course be competitive, whilst also reflecting the Gold Standard of education we provide at all Alpha Plus schools.

What will the school uniform be and will it be similar in design to the existing Wetherby and Pembridge Hall uniform?

There will be no uniform for the Preschool children.

Children in Wetherby and Pembridge classes will wear a uniform similar in design to the existing Wetherby School and Pembridge Hall uniform.

How do I enrol my child?

Please contact Alpha Plus Group Head Office on +44 (0) 207 487 6000 or email enquiries@alphaplusgroup.co.uk to request a pre-registration form.

The Building & Facilities Will the existing building be refurbished?

Yes, this Ogden Codman designed Beaux-Arts mansion, which dates back to 1912, will undergo a comprehensive multi-million dollar refurbishment and re-configuration tailored to our specific needs and to the highest standards. The refurbishment works will commence at the beginning of June with a design practice - Montroy Anderson DeMarco where we have worked very closely together to deliver an optimum learning environment for the students of Wetherby-Pembridge School New York. The landlord (who is undertaking the works on our building this summer) will have everything complete in good time for opening September 2017.

Does it need planning permission or other consents?

The building has all the correct certificates required for its use. It was previously occupied by an educational institution that is moving to larger premises. The necessary private school registrations are being applied for and will be completed as required, including the British Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and International Schools section accreditation.

When the school opens how many classrooms and what facilities will you provide?

There will be 16 classroom and teaching spaces, including a science laboratory, a multi-use hall, dining facilities and enclosed and secure outside courtyard play space. The new school will provide outstanding facilities in line with that of the Wetherby Group and Pembridge Hall School in London.

What sporting facilities will be offered and where are these likely to take place?

We will provide sporting facilities through using high-quality external providers. We are in the process of agreeing gym and swimming facilities together with the use of basketball and tennis courts nearby and additionally general Central Park space will be readily available given the extremely close proximity to the park. Further details will be announced later.

Tel: +44 (0) 207 487 6000 | Twitter: @Alpha_PlusGroup wetherby-pembridge.org | alphaplusgroup.co.uk