NBH Senior Hampstead Prospectus

North Bridge House Senior Hampstead

Parents these days see ‘success’ slightly differently for their children, recognising that each child needs to fulfil their potential in a unique and individual way. Which is why, from day one, North Bridge House is on a constant journey of getting to know and understand every learner as a rounded and unique individual. It is our specialist expertise – from early childhood through to the teenage years – that will make sure every pupil finds and realises their true academic and personal potential – so they are set on a clear journey, to find their True North, that will be fulfilled through their time at North Bridge House and beyond.

History Founded in 1939, North Bridge House offers an independent, mixed ability co-education, challenging and inspiring girls and boys throughout every stage of their school career. Across six North London school sites, we successfully prepare happy pupils for every milestone, with specialist expertise at each school stage – from the important early years through to the more challenging teenage ones.

All staff members across the North Bridge House group are dedicated to our three vision pillars: 1. Knowing the individual 2. Fostering academic excellence 3. Cultivating character and promoting wellbeing.

At whichever school stage families join North Bridge House, we pride ourselves on really getting to know each individual pupil on their journey from Nursery through to Sixth Form. It is only through knowing the individual that we can truly help each child to achieve their full potential, both academically and personally.

3

Welcome Welcome to North Bridge House Senior Hampstead, where we passionately believe in the importance of celebrating every child as an individual.

I am proud to be part of such a wonderful school community where it is clear that developing each pupil’s individuality and maximising their strengths is at the core of everything.

Through a wide and exciting range of activities in a vibrant co-educational environment, North Bridge House encourages pupils to be confident, motivated and proud of their achievements, in order to reach their full potential.

I very much enjoy working with the teachers at North Bridge House (NBH) Senior Hampstead to keep improving each and every day, exploring new ways we can continue to inspire children’s love of learning.

I have been fortunate to work across three excellent independent schools over the last twenty-two years: Colfe’s School in SE London, Shiplake College and Long Close School, where I took up my first headship in 2013 and worked to improve academic results to record levels year on year, whilst maintaining family values and a compassionate and caring learning environment. As a father of four, I am also able to bring my experience as a parent; the many challenges and joys this brings, I am sure, will resonate with you all.

As the head teacher of both of North Bridge House’s senior schools: Hampstead and Canonbury, from September 2019, I will be looking to implement best practice across our schools. Students will benefit from the comfort of their local school whilst also being able to enjoy the benefits of a wider senior school community, from the learning opportunities extending to A Level at Canonbury to sporting events.

From within the classroom to throughout the whole school, I am a head teacher who passionately believes in the power of happy children. If our pupils are not happy, they will not learn well. This does not mean of course that all pupils will be smiling all day long, but with our focus firmly on the whole child, their whole environment, and their well-being, then I truly believe that we can make a big difference to their outcomes at school. Happy children learn well.

Ensuring we have happy children and removing all barriers to learning possible will give the children their best possible life chances.

What makes NBH Senior Hampstead so special is its dedicated team of subject-specialist teachers who aim to inspire a life-long love of learning and enjoyment of their subject. Every pupil benefits from the widest range of subject experience. From the core academic subjects of Maths, English and Science, a choice of three Modern Foreign Languages and Latin for all, to Drama, Textiles, Ceramics, Food Technology and Resistant Materials, we ensure that our pupils are able to make the most informed and personalised choices as they select their GCSE options for Key Stage 4.

I very much look forward to welcoming you to one of our open events, where you will find a very happy, industrious and purposeful place of learning.

Brendan Pavey Head Teacher, North Bridge House Senior Hampstead

4

The curriculum is outstanding and it successfully achieves the school’s aims to foster a love of learning and an independent spirit of enquiry.

School Inspection Service, 2015

North Bridge House has become my second home and I’ve been supported the whole way through my studies.

The advice I’ve been given by my teachers has really helped me to prepare for my GCSEs and for Sixth Form.

Year 11 student at North Bridge House Senior Hampstead

About Us Nestled above Hampstead’s bustling High Street, North Bridge House Senior Hampstead, is in the heart of London’s most famous village. In close proximity to the historic Burgh House, Kenwood House and Keat’s House, teachers and students are inspired on a daily basis by the local heritage.

Artists such as John Constable, Lucien Freud, Henry Moore; writers such as D.H. Lawrence, John Keats, Evelyn Waugh, Katherine Mansfield and T.S. Eliot; musicians and composers such as Edward Elgar, Yehudi Menuhin and Cecil Sharp; and the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, to name but a few, called Hampstead their home. Hampstead remains to this day, the home of choice for many of the world’s leading artists, actors, politicians and writers.

Twice a year, North Bridge House joins forces with the local community and the tens of thousands of people amongst hundreds of stalls for the Summer and Winter festivals. Here, North Bridge House pupils have the chance to perform in front of the crowds, a real chance to showcase everything from our school choir to our jazz bands and incredible soloists.

Our parent body, work tirelessly to organise events and fundraisers, bringing parents, teachers and students together, often raising generous donations to local charities and organisations including the nearby Whittington Hospital.

A modern building with stunning views across London, the school continues to evolve with the needs of its students. From state-of-the-art science laboratories, to an impressive food technology room with purpose built kitchens, a vibrant textiles room, not to mention the photography dark room, it also houses an impressive sports hall with indoor badminton and basketball courts, cricket nets, a 5-a-side football pitch and an outdoor gym and table tennis tables.

7

Curriculum Key Stage 3 offers a rich and varied range of academic and creative subjects to develop curiosity and a genuine love of learning. At Key Stage 4, pupils study for their GCSEs and emphasis is placed, first and foremost, on an academically sound core of subjects. All classes are taught by dedicated secondary subject specialists, with a focus on differentiation and a variety of inspiring teaching approaches.

Key Stage 3 – Years 7, 8 & 9 take:

Key Stage 4 – Years 10 & 11 take:

English

English Literature

Latin

English Language

French (Year 7)

French, German, Spanish

German or Spanish (Year 8 and 9)

Mathematics

Mathematics

Double Science GCSEs (Core Science and

Science

Additional Science)

History Geography

Key Stage 4 – Years 10 & 11 choose 3 from:

Art

Further Additional Science (Triple Science)

Design Technology

French, German, Latin, Spanish

I.T.

Classics

Music

History

Drama

Geography

PSHE

Design Technology: Food and Nutrition

PE In addition: • Year 7 pupils take part in a weekly Choir session • Year 8 pupils take part in a weekly Musical Theatre Session

Design Technology: Resistant Materials, Textiles Art, Photography, Media Studies Computer Science, Information Technology

Sport and Exercise All year groups participate in weekly sport and exercise. A wide variety of sports are on offer using local community providers, as well as our indoor state-of-the-art Sports Hall. Students with a natural interest and ability in sport are actively encouraged to join extra-curricular teams school competitions, such as, Football, Tennis and Netball Tournaments and Camden and London Schools Athletics.

8

An exceptional aspect of the curriculum is the high quality of enrichment experiences and the wide range of extra-curricular activities that are an integral part of the students’ learning.

School Inspection Service, 2015

Sport Pupils enjoy a wide array of sporting opportunities at North Bridge House, with a wide variety of sports on offer, making full use of our spacious sports hall as well as the great outdoor facilities in our prime North London location, including Hampstead Heath, Allianz Park, Regent’s Park and Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.

PE and Games feature weekly on the curriculum and allow pupils to develop their physical fitness, strength and teamwork in sports which include: Athletics • Badminton • Basketball • Benchball • Cricket • Dance • Dodgeball • Football • Gymnastics • Handball • Indoor Climbing • Netball • Rounders • Rugby • Squash • Table Tennis • Tennis • Volleyball PE and Games lessons are supplemented by a number of sports clubs – available before and after school as well as at break and lunch times – to develop pupils’ interests at a more advanced or competitive level. These clubs include dance, personal fitness and badminton, as well as regular squad training.

The PE Department was nominated and reached the top 3 out of 500 Independent School Association (ISA) schools for Sports Provision in the academic year 2018/19. The school continues to enter many ISA tournaments and has had success in football, netball, swimming, athletics, cross country, tennis and badminton. We are proud to say that our teams compete in local, national and also international tournaments, venturing from London to the Home Counties and Europe.

In keeping with our aims, we aspire to offer all pupils the best chance to develop important life skills, promoting self-discipline and determination whilst enjoying a healthy lifestyle and responsible sense of competition.

11

Beyond Academics Extra-Curricular, Enrichment and Clubs We truly believe in the importance of educating the whole child so that his or her true potential can be fulfilled. With academic work and self-discipline at the centre of school life, we focus on providing a breadth of learning experience that takes pupils much further than the curriculum itself.

These extra-curricular activities running at lunch time and after school include a popular Cartography Club, where pupils are invited to study the Science behind maps, and a Classics Club where pupils have participated in role-play activities to develop their understanding of ancient civilisations. The Pride and Diversity Council meet every half term, whilst Computer Coding, Chess, and Ceramics clubs are just some of the many other opportunities open to pupils at the school, proving that there is something for everyone at NBH. The English department promote debating as students are invited to attend after school competitions and debates against other schools in London.

The Mathematics department encourage talented mathematicians to participate in UKMT challenges and selected students represent the school in Mathematics Olympiads. The 2018/19 record of 123 Maths awards has certainly put NBH on the map with the best schools, not only in London but also in the UK. Computer Science students also compete in the UK BEBRAS Computing Challenges.

There are an an average of 50 extra-curricular off-site visits each year. There are local reward trips for commended pupils to the ice rink, bowling lanes and a footgolf course, as well as trips with academic links to museums, galleries, theatres and the zoo. Classics students travel to Italy, whilst Historians venture to sites of interest in Germany as well as the Battlefields of Belgium where a wreath is laid at the Menin Gate each year.

12

All pupils participate in a residential Bushcraft trip and a water sports visit where they develop new skills out of their comfort zones. In Year 9, over 90% have enrolled on the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award scheme for the past three consecutive years. 30% of Year 10 pupils participate in the Silver award. Whilst on the expedition pupils develop their leadership, teamwork, communication, resilience and navigation skills as well as learning invaluable independence and cooking skills. Pupils are encouraged to volunteer within the school, as well as out of school, taking on additional lunch duties and assisting in the library, they are also encouraged to make use of the enrichment programme and additional clubs offered to fulfil the skills and physical activity components of the scheme. Upon completing their GCSE’s, intrepid Year 11 pupils have the opportunity to backpack around Malawi. Pupils complete community work as well as hiking, kayaking and enjoying a safari. This is a self-funded expedition as the pupils fundraise throughout Years 10 and 11 with a weekly tuck shop, Christmas jumper days and a ‘splurge the teachers’ event.

All pupils participate in an ‘enrichment programme’ once a week. Pupils complete a rotation of three activities every year, from a selection of over 20 enriching activities to choose from. These include Self-Defence classes, Zumba and Yoga in school whilst others take advantage of opportunities in the local area; a Historical Hampstead walk is offered as well as Orienteering on Hampstead Heath. By the end of Year 11 all pupils at the school will have completed an extensive range of learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

13

Why choose North Bridge House Senior Hampstead?

We are co-educational We believe in boys and girls learning together, men and women working together, because after all, real life is co-ed. We develop confident and determined boys and girls. Girls who are not afraid to put up their hands in class and ask questions, boys who will stand up and read in front of their peers. When you focus on the individual as we do here, we move away from stereotypes. Every child is given the same opportunity, the same chance to shine, be it boy or girl.

We are a mixed ability school with outstanding academic results We assess rather than test every child as part of our admissions process. We want to ensure that we are able to get the best out of your child. Whether it is taking your child from B to A, or taking students who require additional support, above their expected levels of progress, we will continue to strive to be the best at getting better.

Through outstanding assessment procedures and an internal referral process, students who require additional help are quickly identified and reassured with a rolling programme of personalised support.

We are more than academic We are continually exploring ways to give our students more than an academic education. Everything from extra-curricular activities to enrichment to school trips. Our students leave as articulate, confident, determined, young people, proud to be themselves.

14

We care I am proud to say that each and every one of my staff cares about each and every student they teach. We have dedicated school counsellors and a Head of Pastoral. We don’t just provide people for our pupils to talk to, we provide people they want to talk to. We address issues sensitively and swiftly.

Our door, so to speak, is always open.

We understand We are focused on guiding our pupils on the, not always smooth, journey from pre-teen to young adult. Just one of the ways we are doing this is by using evidence-based research, we have implemented later start times for teens, which reflect the current findings regarding the teenage brain and, in particular, teenage sleeping patterns.

We are a local school with a global mindset Situated just above Hampstead’s bustling High Street, we are a local school, with over 80% of our students being less than 20 minutes away from us and many just a walk or bike ride away.

At the same time, many of our families are European or International. Many of our staff not only bring teaching experience but ‘world’ experience, through employment and travel. Our school trips reflect our desire to expand our students’ horizons beyond their learning in the classroom, preparing them, when the day comes, for the highly competitive international job market.

15

Outcomes North Bridge House Senior School pupils continue to achieve impressive grades at GCSE level year after year. We celebrated an impressive 54% of all 2019 GCSE grades at Grade 7 and above. Once again, a remarkable number of top grades were gained in the sciences: 85% of grades in Chemistry at Grade 7 and above, 95% of grades in Biology at Grade 7 and above and 90% at Grade 7 and above in Physics.

Our pupils are welcomed into a range of successful Sixth Forms, including our own North Bridge House Senior School & Sixth Form Canonbury, as well as the Sixth Forms of some of the major London Day Schools, including: Camden School for Girls, Highgate, UCS and City of London School.

North Bridge House Senior Canonbury is the fifth addition to our long-standing and successful group of schools, allowing students to complete their A-Levels and thus their school journey at North Bridge House. NBH Senior Canonbury offers a broad range of A-Level subjects, which are taught combining innovative and traditional approaches to inspire students and provide them with a unique learning experience. Small class sizes allow teachers to work closely with each individual pupil, and one-to-one tutorials together with expert UCAS and careers advice prepare students for university and the world of work. The Sixth Form continues to offer extensive enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities, providing students with the skills and experiences that aid their university entry and prime them for the demands of adult life.

16

North Bridge House Senior School provides many opportunities for all students to grow into well-educated, rounded individuals, ready for the next stage of their lives.

School Inspection Service, 2015

Apply Now For September 2020 Admissions Please submit your application form online at: www.northbridgehouse.com/register-for-a-place Deadline to Apply: Friday 6th December 2019

Internal applications (North Bridge House Prep pupils*): No formal assessment is required.

Offers will be made in February 2020, following a review of the pupil’s academic achievement and receipt of a successful reference from the Head of the Prep school.

External applications: Assessments and interviews will take place between Saturday 11th and Saturday 18th January 2020.

You will receive confirmation of assessment and interview times in December 2020.

Offer letters will be sent out in February 2020.

Places will be offered subject to the receipt of a successful reference at the Head Teacher of the Senior School’s discretion.

Priority places will be awarded to existing North Bridge House pupils and siblings of existing North Bridge House pupils.

Contact: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com * Pupils who have joined North Bridge House Prep after the start (September) of Year 5 will be considered as external applicants.

Occasional Places During the academic year we do have occasional places and we would urge you to contact our Admissions team in the first instance.

Places will be offered in accordance with the criteria stated above.

19

North Bridge House Senior Hampstead

AD

RE ET

MPSTEAD HEATH

H I GH

PR

IN

CE

AR

GR

E EN

STRE ET

HILL

65 ROSSLYN HILL

BELSIZE PARK

FIN CH LE Y

AD RO

NETH

ENUE HN’S AV ZJO FIT

HI LL

LL ERHA

LK

STE

RO AD

LN

D’ SW

’S

ER

RI N

S HE

LO W

ST

Finchley Road & Frognal: 0.7 miles

R PE

UR

Belsize Park: 0.6 miles

L

NW3 5UD

HA MP

PH

Hampstead Heath: 0.5 miles

HAMPSTEAD HEATH

VA NE C

London

HAMPSTEAD

RD

Hampstead: 0.2 miles

H E AT H

65 Rosslyn Hill

UR

TEAD HEATH

Public Transport

TH

Our Location

TH

HAMPSTEAD RO HEATH SS LY N HI LL BELSIZE PARK

S

GDN

FINCHLEY ROAD & FROGNAL

FINCHLEY ROAD

SWISS COTTAGE

PRE-PREP SCHOOL

SENIOR SCHOOL

When your classroom is the world, ‘thinking big’ comes naturally.

Cognita is an extraordinary family of diverse yet connected schools, spanning eight different countries.

We share one common purpose: to create an inspiring world of education that builds self-belief and empowers individuals to succeed.

Together, we provide a uniquely global education that goes beyond grades to develop all-round academic excellence – building resilient minds and encouraging positive, international perspectives. We do this by sharing expertise, insights and best practice across the world – and by collaborating to develop rich learning environments in every school.

We equip young people with the confidence and resourcefulness that prepares them to grow, thrive and find their success in a fast-changing world.

22

THE CO G

OUR STORY

T NI

WHY

THE CO G

WHAT? SE URPO P TA NI

To create an inspiring world of education

We deliver Academic Excellence

Energised Leadership

We develop Character

Personalised Learning

We nurture a Global Perspective

People Growth Community Innovation Brilliant Basics

WHY?

19

WAY

that c ng

HOW? NITA OG EC TH

ies. ing owers

COGNITA EDUC E H AT T IO N

A Cognita School.

Registered in England: Cognita Schools Limited No. 2313425.

North Bridge House Senior Hampstead 65 Rosslyn Hill Hampstead London NW3 5UD Tel: 020 7428 1520 Email: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com

Registered Office: Seebeck House, One Seebeck Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes MK5 8FR, UK.

Search for ‘North Bridge House School’

www.northbridgehouse.com