SCHOOL SNAPS

Boarding school education has always been a proud feature of British independent schools, with its rich cultural heritage and history. In Britain, the earliest UK independent boarding schools, such as Kings Canterbury (597 AD), can be traced back to approximately 1500. Other schools of similar age are York Minster School (627 AD) and Kings Rochester (604 AD). The boarding schools gradually evolved to become a recognised standard for highquality education. As part of its standard provision for all pupils, Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong offers to guide its parents through the entire process of finding the most suitable secondary education opportunity for their children. The school’s Secondary and Boarding School Guidance Programme is ideal for those who are interested in gaining access to the top senior schools. Prior to that, children can obtain a high-quality prep school education at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong in preparation for their secondary education.

Founded in 1896, Wycombe Abbey is consistently ranked amongst the very top schools based on academic results at A-Level. Approximately one-third of Wycombe Abbey’s graduates receive offers at Oxford and Cambridge every year, with others going on to top universities around the world.

Founded in 1853, Cheltenham Ladies’ College was established to provide “a sound academic education for girls”. In the 2021 List of British Private Schools, it is ranked as “the best private school in southwest England”.

Roedean School, a well-known girls’ school built on the White Cliffs of the English south coast, aims to cultivate talents with all-round development for independent and confident women.

Rugby School is recognised as one of the top senior schools in the UK for boys and girls. In 1823, William Webb Ellis, a student of the school at that time, invented the sport and named it after the school.

The City of London School for girls was founded in 1894 and is known for its progress in women’s education, with excellent academic results and dedication to the arts. Its students in the city’s art scene, while visiting local theatres, art galleries, and museums. Students will receive an outstanding secondary education at these high-quality schools with their long-standing history and reputation. The benefits of attending these schools allow children to learn in a first-class immersive environment, with personalised teachings ensuring students to develop social skills and resilience, while making lifelong friends during their secondary years.

Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong will prepare your child for entry to the finest UK independent schools, senior schools in Hong Kong or anywhere else in the world.

Developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori, Montessori is a method of education that is rooted in self-directed activity with hands-on learning at its core.

The approach emphasises the importance of fostering independence with the assumption that children are naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a structured environment. Classes follow a scientifically designed curriculum, tailored to individual interests and abilities with a focus on the whole child.

But the Montessori curriculum doesn’t just start from school, parents can adopt the principles of Montessori from birth and at home. Maria Montessori believed that the first 24-years of life are crucial to support children in becoming well-adjusted citizens and must begin from birth.

Before a child learns how to walk, they learn how to engage their muscles and coordinate their body that gets them to a place where they can use their legs like the adults around them do. The Montessori program believes babies are wired to learn through their senses: the scent of a parent, the sound of the birds, the sight of bright lights and the touch of grass.

Babies are biologically wired to adapt to their surroundings by acting on these drives that help them make sense of the world. To better understand what babies are capable of, the Montessori curriculum acknowledges the human tendencies and natural drives we all have, including orientation, association with others, communication and exploration.

From extensive research, Montessori discovered two distinct abilities of early childhood that work in tandem with these natural drives. The absorbent mind and sensitive periods.

Infants and young children share a time-sensitive “absorbent mind,” where the capacity to learn is as effortless as it will ever be. Often compared to a sponge, babies can soak up knowledge around them just by being in their environment. Conscious learning doesn’t kick in until around age three and before that, they are “unconscious learners.” They can’t remember learning during this time, but they are building the foundations for future learning.

These are times of intense interest in acquiring particular skills, like language, order, movement, and social relations. During these windows, babies and young children are intrinsically driven to master related skills. If they overreach with their agendas or miss these windows, it can make learning – and parenting – harder than it needs to be.

With these abilities in mind, Guidepost Montessori will be hosting a series of Parenting Workshops over the coming months that aims to support families as they navigate parenthood to make the most out of those crucial learning years.

1-2 Floor 554-560 Queen’s Road West Sai Wan Tel: 3619 1136 Email: kennedytown@ guidepostmontessori.com www.guidepostmontessori.com/ kennedy-town

Kindergarten, Harmony Garden, 9 Siu Sai Wan Road, Siu Sai Wan Tel: 2866 8260 Email: chaiwan@guidepostmontessori.com www.guidepostmontessori.com/chai-wan

Guidepost Montessori is the world’s largest global Montessori network, with over 90 campuses across the US, Europe and Asia. The schools in Hong Kong can be found in Kennedy Town and Chai Wan, serving children from six months to six years old. They offer year-round dual language (English and Mandarin) for all programs and rolling admissions to meet the needs of families.