WHAT COMES NEXT?
Head of Old Vicarage School, Richmond, Clare Strickland, shares a programme designed to prepare students who are on the threshold of senior school for the next stage
An educator’s purpose is to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills required for success long after they depart from their familiar school halls. lt is the ‘kindling of the flame, not the filling of a vessel’, as Socrates wisely stated.
Yet, when parents look for prep schools for their children, they often focus on the 11+ results. With competitive London senior schools receiving more than 1,000 applicants for 100 places, it’s understandable that parents seek out tutoring, believing it will lead to successful entry.
As a broadly non-selective school, Old Vicarage carefully guides parents and students through this step change, offering reassurance and expert recommendations through what can be a stressful
period. Preparation across the curriculum is foundational, but what truly sets us apart is our commitment to nurturing each girl’s self-belief, so confidence shines through in the interview process. Our approach has yielded remarkable results: 100+ offers this year, with all 30 of our year-six girls receiving offers from their firstchoice schools, including 16 scholarships. But what happens next? Once the offers are accepted, futures assured, and the milestones deservedly celebrated – is our mission fulfilled?
At Old Vicarage, we believe there’s yet more to do.
The post-exam period offers an opportunity to deepen learning through a dynamic enrichment experience capturing the essence of education and reflecting our school ethos of curiosity, ambition, resilience, and empathy.
Last March, we partnered with CATALYST
by Winchester College to deliver its innovative programme to our girls. Rooted in Winchester College’s ‘div’ lessons, CATALYST is an active, hands-on process of essential skill development, preparing students to confidently tackle realworld challenges. The educational model is designed for relevance, encouraging students to explore unconventional subjects such as technology and Al, the philosophy of the self, and ethical decision making. Students are challenged to think critically, to synthesise ideas from a broad spectrum of disciplines, and to communicate effectively; in essence, to prepare them for success beyond the exams of today, to the unknowns of tomorrow.
CATALYST educators, led by Justin Pinnells, the Academic Director, and former Winchester don, created resources and trained the Old Vicarage staff to deliver two of their modules, alongside a Capstone Change Project, which culminated in a presentation to parents and peers on the last day – a memorable highlight!
Diving headfirst into black-ball technology, the girls considered the development of technology, including social media, drones, and Al. Exploring the positives and potential dangers, they discussed the need for collective responsibility. One of the girls finished the session and said, “I always thought my brother’s drone was just a toy, I now know it has far greater capabilities!” ln a keynote session, Justin brought the development of language to life, focusing on Al. He challenged
the girls with a Turing Test – and although they failed to uncloak its true nature – they enjoyed trying to expose its weak points and probing its linguistic capabilities.
Throughout the week, sessions focused on the placement of value on life, economy, and culture.
The girls considered the complexities of ethical decision-making and their consequences through a detailed examination of the Trolley Problem.
A simple game of Top Trumps translated into economies of countries, prompted the girls into deeper thinking: one observed that the “UK has a bigger debt than Nigeria but its GDP per capita is far greater.” However, placing value on their cultural heritage was far more challenging. When tasked with selecting a limited number of items to exhibit in a museum, they vociferously engaged in debate, realising the importance of negotiation as time slipped away.
Alongside the interdisciplinary lessons, the girls worked on their Capstone Change project. First, they selected a global issue and considered how to address it at a local level. Topics included food waste, air pollution, plastic ocean, and littering. Applying their newfound knowledge and skills, the girls used a series of interactive
A YEAR-SIX PARENT:
“The CATALYST programme was an enterprising initiative that challenged my daughter to think outside the box. I thought it was a refreshingly relevant week of workshops, that faced some of the deeprooted challenges we face as a society head-on, encouraging an empathetic, creative, and solution-driven mindset. I really valued the confidence it gave Lily to develop her own ideas and trust her own inner voice, an invaluable experience.”
Nell Hensby
YEAR-SIX GIRLS:
“You would love to do the CATALYST programme because you’ll get to learn about AI and how it can trick you!” (Immy)
digital white boards to define and analyse their chosen issue, then worked towards a solution. Ideas included using ocean bins in the Thames to collect rubbish as they do in Australia.
On the final day, each project was displayed on a board in the school hall and parents were invited to hear their daughters’ pitches. The girls delivered confident overviews of global conundrums and proposed local solutions. Parents were amazed at their daughter’s knowledge and skills, with one wistfully commenting, “if only my staff were so adept at critical thinking and problem solving”.
ln CATALYST x OVS, the girls learned how to think, collaborate, and deliver a message with clarity and confidence. Crucial skills were developed, and a love of learning ignited. The defining moment of the week came from the girls themselves, as they proudly claimed, “we can make a difference, however small to the world... and who knows we might be the leaders of the next generation”.
As their educators, we can confidently say that judging by their presentations, there’s no doubt this will be the case and we feel reassured that the future is bright in the hands of these girls!
“You should do the CATALYST programme because you participate in fun activities like the Marshmallow Challenge, and try to find a solution to a big-world problem. I recommend this fun, unforgettable experience.’ (Katie)
“You should definitely do the CATALYST programme because you learn so many new things and visiting speakers come to give you a fun challenge. There was the Marshmallow Challenge and the Trolley Problem. I had so much fun and I’ll never forget it.” (Azra)
The girls presented their Capstone Change project solutions to an audience made up of their parents
Students are given the confidence to engage more with technology
Through the programme, girls have the opportunity to explore unconventional subjects such as AI