Noticed Magazine Winter 2017 from School Notices

WINTER 2017

RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS

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BACKCHAT WITH

Jack Whitehall

Miranda Hart ON BOOKS, BANTER

& BOARDING

EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE WORLD-FAMOUS

YOUR

ultimate CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL

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OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS

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CONTENTS

Winter issue 2017

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Welcome

Winter has come! The autumn term has flown by here at School Notices as we’ve been busy compiling our latest issue.

It’s all about creativity and is packed full of inspiring interviews with talented artists and performers.

Hilarious former Downe House girl Miranda Hart shares her pearls of wisdom on fame and friendship; literary legend Michael Morpurgo tells us about life as an author and his charity, Farms for City Children; and we have a laugh with comic genius and old Marlburian Jack Whitehall.

Plus find out how we get on at The Royal Ballet School, where we are given an exclusive look at some of the worldfamous school’s most gifted students in action. Finally, there are lots of festive treats within, including our cracking gift guide to get the whole family in the spirit.

Raising funds for member schools is at the heart of what we do by donating 25% of advertising revenues back to the schools for charitable initiatives, all thanks to you.

We hope you enjoy the magazine as much as we have enjoyed putting it together and we wish you all a very happy holiday.

The School Notices Team Follow us on

Just kidding!

Q: Who might be cooking Christmas dinner at Number 10 this year?

A: Theresa May

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35

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Christmas Crackers Gift ideas for the whole family Winter Reads Our picks to cosy up with Seriously Funny Miranda Hart shares her advice on fame and friendship The Art of Perfection We go behind the scenes at The Royal Ballet School Our African Adventure A family safari with a difference Jack The Lad Catch up with comedian and actor Jack Whitehall Force of Nature Author Michael Morpurgo on his farm-based children’s charity The Power of Two A look at Boodles’ collaboration with The Royal Ballet Pig Out With TV chef Harry Eastwood House Style Meet designer Susie Atkinson Top Table How to make a wow centrepiece Make or Break Downe House Headmistress on creativity

News 49 Our School Notices round-up Facts 53 Fun Have a laugh this festive season!

Space 54 Head With Bede’s head Peter Goodyer

WINTER 2017

RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS

FREE!

Join us @ www.schoolnotices.co.uk

Publisher Annabella Ward Editor-at-large Susannah Warren Artistic Director Ruth Ellis Design Reid Creative Cover photograph Millie Pilkington Printed by London Print

BACKCHAT WITH

Jack Whitehall

Miranda Hart ON BOOKS, BANTER

& BOARDING

EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE WORLD-FAMOUS

YOUR

ultimate

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL

Co-Founder, Managing Director Clare Reid Co-Founder, Managing Director Gordon Dawson Head of Advertising Tracy Hoar Head of Marketing Katie Wiggin Head of Schools Tia May For advertising and general enquires, please email info@schoolnotices.co.uk or call us on 01256 223 060

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 3

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PROMOTION

Stop THE NOISE

Does your child work hard at school without success?

Psychologist Sarah Warley of The Key Clinic explains why this might be and how you can unlock their potential Alex always tried his hardest to sit still in class and listen, but could not help getting distracted. He would try to focus his eyes when reading, but the words would jump, or he’d miss a line. Alex’s parents could feel his frustration and sadness. The worst part was that he was beginning to think he must be stupid.

“Alex is smart, he tries so hard and he is at a great school, so I just don’t get it,” — his mother, Charlotte

First, Alex had a hearing test. Previous tests had only looked for hearing loss. This more detailed test showed Alex had hypersensitive hearing, making it virtually impossible for him to block out background noises. Nor could he hear every word clearly, and some words were being heard back Sarah, clinical director at The Key Clinic explained:

“A CHILD MAY BE PERFECTLY SMART BUT UNABLE TO ACCESS THAT INTELLIGENCE, AS SOMETHING IS LITERALLY BLOCKING THE WAY. IT’S OUR JOB TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BLOCKAGES ARE AND REMOVE THEM.”

to front. No wonder he was distracted!

Alex carried out a 10-day course of Bérard Auditory Integration Training (AIT) at The Key Clinic, listening to modulated music through headphones. A final hearing test showed his hearing had normalised and the hypersensitivity was gone.

Further physical tests revealed Alex also still had some ‘primitive’ reflexes locked in place. These normally inhibit by a child’s first birthday, but sometimes they persist, making many tasks extremely difficult. This is why Alex’s eyes struggled to read without skipping over words, why he would fidget, why catching a ball or getting dressed was a challenge and why his handwriting was so messy.

Daily neurodevelopmental movements were carried out with Alex over a few months to get rid of the blockages that were tripping him up, giving his nervous system a second chance to develop.

His mother was thrilled with the results: “On returning to school, Alex gained an average 20 per cent increase in his exam results across the board – we could not believe it!” Perhaps most importantly, Alex now has self-belief.

Alex — “I never really knew how it felt to be able to concentrate before now.”

For an assessment, call 01635 761565, email admin@thekeyclinic.co.uk or visit www.thekeyclinic.co.uk and fill in the screening questionnaire

8 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ WINTER 17

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SoundMoovz Band, £57.95 www.harrods.com WINT ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 9

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WINT ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 11

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Award-winning Metamorphosis Orthodontics provides a range of bespoke and cutting-edge treatments for children and adults from braces (fixed and non), Invisalign, teeth whitening and a state of the art 3D sports mouthguard scanning clinic. Lead by Dr Neil Counihan and his team of experts, School Notices families have direct access to their daily teeth trauma clinic for school-aged children.

BOOKS

WINTER READS As the nights draw in, it’s time to cosy up together on the sofa with a really good book. Here’s are our favourites Early readers THE BEST BEAR IN ALL THE WORLD

by Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeanne Willis and Kate Saunders Celebrate over 90 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Best Bear in All the World.

The official sequel to the classic children’s stories by AA Milne, it features new stories from some of the most beloved children’s authors writing today: Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Kate Saunders and Jeanne Willis. Each will transport you back into the Hundred Acre Wood for more adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh and the gang. £14.99 Hardback, Egmont

Young adult fiction Middle grade

THE CREAKERS

by Tom Fletcher

It’s time to meet the monsters we’ve always feared might live under the bed in this darkly magical new story from bestselling author Tom Fletcher. One morning, Lucy discovers that all the grown-ups have disappeared. For most kids it’s great, but Lucy lost her dad not long ago, and she’s determined not to lose her mum, too. She’s going to get her back – and nothing is going to stop her… except maybe the Creakers. Readers are sure to love Lucy Dungston – and they might even find they like the smelly, bumbling and muttering Creakers, too. £12.99 Hardback, Penguin

TWENTY QUESTIONS FOR GLORIA

by Martyn Bedford When a mysterious boy bent on breaking the rules strolls into her classroom, Gloria is ready to fall under his spell.

Uman can whisk her away from the life she loathes and show her a more exciting one, in which the only limits are her own boldness. But Uman is not all he seems…

Alluring and mysterious in equal measure, this gripping tale has a Sherlock Holmes feel to it that’s sure to appeal to teenage readers. £12.48 Hardback, Blackwell’s

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 13

INTERVIEW

SERIOUSLYf unny Miranda Hart is every bit as serious as she is funny. The actor and comedian tells School Notices about her debut children’s novel, the importance of being yourself and why fame is thoroughly overrated What you were like as a child?

I was quite a serious child. I used to eavesdrop and soak up people’s conversations – my mother had to stop me staring at people with my mouth open – and if I went to the theatre or watched a comedy I would be completely serious-faced and then say at the end: “That was hilarious!”

Who inspired you and made you laugh growing up?

All the greats of the 1970s and ’80s, particularly Morecambe and Wise.

When did you first realise you could get a laugh?

I remember when I came home from school one day and did an impression of my headmaster to my mother, who fell about laughing, and I thought: “Wow, that felt good!”

And did you always want to be famous?

I think there was a time I was intrigued by fame and felt that it might solve any feelings of insecurity, but as I got older it was just about wanting to be a jobbing actor. Fame doesn’t provide anything you think it might. You have to love the work you are doing and that is what your job needs to be about, not about any trappings that come with it.

You went to Downe House aged 11. How formative was your schooling?

I have certainly used my schooling and some of the people in my work – or exaggerated versions of them. I think as a writer you absorb things, knowingly or not, throughout your life. I adored school so my main focus was just having fun there.

What advice would you give your schoolgirl self ?

Just be yourself, don’t be swayed by peer pressure and stop worrying, it all turns out fine.

And those wanting a career in showbusiness?

I would ask them: ‘Why?’ If the answer was because they love to act; they want to tell good stories; they adore to sing; or direct; or whatever role in the arts they love, they can’t imagine not doing it, and they want to move audiences, then go for it!

Because if you have real desire and a real purpose then that’s what’s fulfilling and that’s what will keep you going. The rest is just vacuous noise. And it’s a hard job. It’s a very real job. The arts are a vital business. Don’t let anyone tell you they are second to anything, because where would we be without them?

You’ve done radio, TV, the West End, Hollywood, comedy, drama. Which do you enjoy the most?

It depends on the part, and the people around it. I loved doing the Hollywood film Spy because some of my favourite performers were involved in it, and we filmed on location in Budapest so I got to travel, too. The West End was wonderful because the show got such a great response every night. And my sitcom was probably the hardest work and most stressful job, but the reward of people liking it gave me huge pleasure.

Which has been your favourite character to play?

That is actually impossible to call. They all gave me different challenges and characteristics I love. ››

“YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND THAT IS WHAT YOUR JOB NEEDS TO BE ABOUT”

14 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ WINTER 17

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INTERVIEW

I learnt the most playing Miss Hannigan [Annie], but probably Miranda has to be my favourite for all within it I can do. I can get laughs, dance, sing, be silly and share the journey of what it is like to be a woman coming into their own. She goes on some feminist rants – she’s got it all!

What prompted you to write The Girl with the Lost Smile?

The story sort of landed in my lap. I just saw this little girl who had lost her smile at her bedroom window feeling a bit desperate for what to do, and suddenly imagined some creatures coming to visit her and take her on magical adventures to get it back.

My imagination fired up in a way it hadn’t before.

Do you write for yourself or your audience?

It’s always important to have the answer to why you are writing something. With The Girl with the Lost Smile, it was about the importance of sharing how you are feeling with your friends. But then you just have to write, because if you start thinking what people might think of it, you won’t be free to write what you need, or focus on your unique story and style.

How did the idea for the book come about?

It was about the notion of a young girl who was the cheery one, the funny one, the positive one at school who, through some difficult circumstances, lost her smile, and then how that would play out. I wanted younger readers who were perhaps going through a tricky time to know that they weren’t alone, and that there are ways to feel better. Chloe, the heroine, goes through a number of life lessons to learn ways to make her feel stronger and safer.

Tell us about the creative process.

It’s just a disciplined daily grind really. I wonder if

most writers would agree that the joy of finishing a book outweighs the doing of it!

Your book celebrates friendship. What do you value in a friendship?

I read a wonderful quote the other day saying friendship is simply about being truly known. Truly known for who you are. You suddenly realise there are very few people you can wholly be yourself with and who really know you.

Those are your friends, that’s the thing to value.

What are the distinctions between you and the Miranda of your sitcom?

Wow, these are some big, deep questions! Sitcom Miranda is my clown, she is my alter ego, she is where I express some of my attitudes to life in a comedic way, but she is very different really. It’s a role. Her life is totally different. And with a clown alter ego you don’t see the serious, pensive, reflective or shy side to someone’s persona.

Do you feel the pressure to be funny and ‘on’ all the time?

Not at all. I am just who I am. Sometimes that is me being silly and funny, and sometimes that’s someone who is tired, or feeling pensive, or wanting to have a deep and meaningful conversation – or just getting on with work. We are all human and go through every emotion and I am no different. If I was on all the time, I don’t think I would be very real.

PHOTOGRAPHY: © RACHELL SMITH

“FRIENDSHIP IS SIMPLY ABOUT BEING TRULY KNOWN. TRULY KNOWN FOR WHO YOU ARE. THAT’S THE THING TO VALUE”

The Girl with the Lost Smile Hodder and Stoughton Hardback £12.99

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 17

PROFILE

The Art of PERFECTION Photography by Millie Pilkington

Granted exclusive access into The Royal Ballet School’s inner sanctum, Susannah Warren gets a rare taste of what life is like for the young dancers training at the world-famous Covent Garden site

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larity and focus please girls. You are performers.

This is your job.” Nicola Tranah is taking the morning technical class for the 14 first-year girls at The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School – and she means business. “Look like you want to be here – you are here!”

Here, at one of the world’s greatest centres of dance training, that is. Here, where dreams are made.

The walls everywhere confirm it, adorned as they are

with stunning images of the school’s most famous exports: Darcey Bussell, Anthony Dowell, Margot Fonteyn, to name but a few.

This year’s intake are in their sixth week at the Floral Street institution, and it’s been a baptism of fire. “It’s very hard,” says Maddison Pritchard, a tall 16-year-old from Manchester who dreams of joining The Royal Ballet “like everyone else”.

It’s not impossible. Seven of last year’s graduates did join the company. And, astonishingly, for the 11th consecutive year, every single graduating dancer secured a contract with either a national ››

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 19

or international company. “This is the dream,” Tobias de Gromoboy, a 17-year-old second year from Bournemouth, tells me after his class.

Only those with exceptional artistic talent and potential get the chance to train here, though.

Each year, around 750 young dancers audition for just 24 places at White Lodge, the school’s base in Richmond Park for 11- to 16-year-olds, and up to 30 places at the Upper School here in central London, for those aged 16-19.

Contrary to what you might presume for such a rarefied art form, though, the school’s students rarely come from privileged backgrounds, as artistic director Christopher Powney explains: “Admission really is ‘needs blind’ and almost 90 per cent of our students rely on bursaries.”

The sponsorship and bursary programme relies heavily on philanthropic, arts-loving members of the public, according to Powney. “We are indebted to our supporters and ensure they have the pleasure of seeing the students progress through the school onto the world stage.”

Tranah knows exactly what it takes to make it on the world stage as she spent 19 years with The Royal Ballet, predominantly as First Soloist. She expertly demonstrates what she wants them to do each time, with her sing-song voice accompanying the movements: “Ja ja jum, pa pa pum, one, two three and four.”

The morning class is a chance to strengthen the body and practise the component parts of the art form. Although rigorous about perfecting every movement they make, constantly pointing out flaws in their exercise and correcting them – “Pull it down!

No! Not high, low” – Tranah is full of encouragement when the girls get things right. “Oh yes, Lucy, look at that foot. That’s incredible! Yes Maddie! Yes all of you!

Can you see the difference girls? Whoa! That’s it!”

Joy is key, Tranah tells the class. “I need the whole class to be electric. Our audience should be pulled

“I need the whole class to be electric. Our audience should be pulled in because of the joy that you’re bringing to the exercise, that is fundamental.”

PROFILE

in because of the joy that you’re bringing to the exercise, that is fundamental.”

Although the training is extraordinarily intense, there seems a real duty of care for these young girls.

They look happy and healthy and the atmosphere is convivial between dances. It’s something the school takes very seriously, hence the recent launch of its Healthy Dancer Programme, which sees a dedicated team of physios, nutritionists, counsellors and Pilates coaches on hand to look after their health.

Staying injury free is one of the biggest challenges, explains Tobias. “It does happen; everyone has a weak point. We do a lot of work to prevent it. We have a great sports science team who do profiling to assess the strengths and deficits in our body and address them with a customised programme.”

Unsurprisingly, the girls tend to suffer most from issues with their feet and ankles. As Maddison swaps her ballet shoes for a pointe shoe, the agony these girls go through is laid bare: bruised, battered, purpling flesh punctuated by blisters and bunions.

One look at these feet and you see the struggle, the passion, the hopes and the fears these girls go through to achieve their dreams. “They pretty much hurt all the time,” says Maddie.

“Commitment isn’t obviously something that we struggle with,” adds Tobias, “but it’s sometimes difficult to get up when you’ve had a long, difficult day and everything hurts.”

After an hour spent intently watching the girls, I see the second-year boys in action under the tutelage of former English National Ballet soloist Paul Lewis, also an RBS alumnus. And what action!

Their athleticism is formidable as they leap and jump and twist and turn round and round the studio, Paul prompting them with one French term after another. The problem with such physical effort, of course, is that it’s hard to make it look easy. “Just conceal it,” says Paul. “Conceal the effort.” ››

“One look at these feet and you see the struggle, the passion, the hopes and the fears these girls have to go through to achieve their dreams”

Opposite: Students from all around the globe come to train at the famed school This page: Nicola Tranah teaches the first-year girls the importance of bringing joy to the exercise

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 21

PROFILE

QUESTION TIME

PHOTOGRAPHY: © MILLIE PILKINGTON

Dream part?

Maddison Odette in Swan Lake Tobias Spartacus is really cool.

Favourite movement?

M Anything with my arms, port de bras T Allegro, anything with bravado and accents Ballet hero?

M Marianela Núñez.

T Ivan Vasiliev Best advice?

M “Go for it. Smile and enjoy every day. And listen.”

T “Ask yourself what you want from each class. Don’t just go through the motions.”

Above: The boys relish perfecting a movement Below: Girls and boys mostly train separately

There are 15 boys in the class, which is a revelation.

To think that 20 years ago 89 per cent of the school’s students were girls! Now the ratio is always around 50-50. And there is a huge mix of nationalities, too.

Why RBS, I ask Brazilian second year Davi Ramos?

“Because it’s the best school in the world,” he says.

“My teacher recommended it because it has an amazing healthcare team, which will hopefully help me to dance longer.”

The first and second years all live together in a boarding house in Pimlico, but girls and boys train separately for the most part. Academics are important, too. They start every day with two hours in the classroom and all students now do a BA in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, the school’s new degree programme. “They think smart intelligent dancers are an important thing to have,” says Tobias. “Even our ballet teachers ask us how our academics are going.”

This brings to mind a quote I saw on the stairs as I came in, from the school’s former Artistic Director, the late Gailene Stock: “We aim not only to produce dancers of excellence but also dedicated, balanced, wellmannered, thinking individuals who will be an asset to any

community and in any environment – not only a joy to watch but a pleasure to know.”

These young dancers have certainly been a pleasure to get to know, but with academics and training to contend with, I wonder if there’s any time left for fun? “We’re all too tired after class,” says Tobias. But the weekends are different. “Then we get to relax and let go,” says Maddie.

It seems the school has struck just the right balance for these young stars. “Sometimes it does feel like we’re being looked after a lot for our age but we appreciate it because we can get the training standard we want.”

This is borne out in class. Paul is a hard taskmaster, but the boys relish it, practising every spare second in between the music to perfect, perfect, perfect. As with Tranah, there’s always a reminder that this is the final frontier, the launchpad from which their careers will rocket. “People are going to be paying a lot of money to watch you dance.”

Is the weight of expectation a problem? “It’s difficult watching how amazing people are,” says Tobias. “I feel like you’ve got to let it inspire you, though, not deter you. You just have to watch it and say, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’’’

For more information on how to support The Royal Ballet School (Registered Charity No. 214364), please email development@royalballetschool.org.uk

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 23

OUR AFRICAN adventure

Cheam pupils Harry and Tom Miners tell School Notices about their life-changing trip to experience the real Malawi If you worry your kids are overindulged, then you’re not alone. Concerned their boys, Harry, 10, and Tom, 8, were living in “a cloistered, privileged bubble”, Jennie and Stuart Miners decided to organise a half-term trip with a difference to Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest countries. The idea of the trip, organised by social enterprise tour operator The Responsible Safari Company, was to expand their horizons and open their eyes to a totally different way of life, where the basic need to provide food, water and health are a priority and where education is not a given, but a privilege.

Here, the boys recount their inspiring week setting up solar power and mosquito nets in a school on Lake Malawi and reflect on what the experience in the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ taught them:

DAY 1 We landed in Blantyre and drove through town.

All the houses The boys are small, in poor condition and have tin roofs. Many are unfinished. There are boreholes along the roads for people to collect their water daily. We saw ladies carrying heavy piles of firewood on their heads and men with machetes trying to catch mice they can eat.

DAY 2 Last night we slept under mosquito nets. This morning we made recycled paper by hand. Lots

TRAVEL

of children gathered to watch – they had not seen many tourists. Then we hiked to the top of Thyolo Mountain. It was stunning and we were so proud to reach the top.

is water and maize flour. We didn’t like the look of it!

Pumping water at school

DAY 3 We drove to Liwonde National Park. We are staying in a safari lodge with solar power. We saw animals, including elephants, baboons, buffalo, impala, antelope, mongoose, jackals, warthogs, porcupines and an owl.

DAY 4 We got up at 5am for a safari. We saw a dazzle of zebra, 200 buffalo and some beautiful elephants. We then went on the River Shire and saw hippos and crocodiles. After a twohour drive we arrived at our thatched lodge on Lake Malawi, which was powered by generators.

DAY 5 We went to the Rainbow Hope School. It was so different to Cheam with just two buildings and four tiny classrooms. We saw the solar equipment we had arranged for them. This will let the children use computers and stay and do their homework after dark. We joined a lesson on agriculture and how to grow better crops. We showed the students how to use a mosquito net.

They had a debate on the advantages of sleeping under a net (no malaria) against using them to fish, protect crops or build fences. We gave every student and teacher a net, and they were so happy. Then we joined The Book Bus to give English lessons. As the sun went down we played football with some local children and visited their home, which had no electricity and where all five children slept in one bed. We saw the mummy cook dinner on an open fire for her children. It is called nsima, which

DAY 6

We went to another school and took part in two English lessons. There were 50 children sitting on the floor, most with dirty clothes and no shoes.

When we left we gave the children exercise books, pencils, pens and sweets.

Malawi football Back at Rainbow Hope we gave footballs, netballs, rugby balls and a talk about how to play rugby. The headmaster thanked us for the solar power and a girl read a poem about how her sister and brother had died from malaria, but now the net protects her. We ended the day playing a game of tag rugby.

COMING HOME Malawi is known as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ and everyone was very friendly. Even though they are poor, they are educated, happy and work so hard for a better life.

The children wore old clothes and no shoes but they spoke English. Our visit to Malawi made us ons English less realise how lucky we are to have the simple things in life like food, water and electricity. This experience has been life-changing and we hope to return in the future.

The Miners travelled with Orbis Expeditions and The Responsible Safari Company www.orbis-expeditions.com www.responsiblesafaricompany.com

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 25

INTERVIEW

JACK The Lad Jack Whitehall is flying high. As the Netflix special of his stand-up tour and new Sky series hit our screens, the award-winning comedian, writer and actor tells School Notices how he made it and why the grass is greener on the other side When did you first realise you were funny?

Probably when I started doing sketch shows at Marlborough.

They went down a storm as it was me in front of all my friends.

Then you go out into the real world and get a nasty shock when it’s actual punters and they don’t laugh.

How did your school years influence your career?

Hugely. Not only has my background been a source of huge amounts of material but I also met like-minded people, many of whom I still work with - like Freddy Syborn, who was in my boarding house. We still write together to this day.

When did you get your first big break?

Getting a solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was definitely the moment that people in the industry started taking notice of me.

Brits love to bash posh people.

How did you make your accent work for you?

I think I owned the fact that everyone loves a bit of posh ››

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 27

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INTERVIEW

“IF POSHNESS NEEDS TO BE BASHED A BIT, WHICH IT PROBABLY DOES, THEN WHY DON’T I DO THE BASHING” bashing. If poshness needs to be bashed a bit, which it probably does, then why don’t I do the bashing?

Tell us what you’re up to at the moment.

I’ve just released my latest stand-up special on Netflix.

It’s a great company to work for and it feels exciting to be doing something at a place that’s always evolving and growing across the world. People will be able to see my stand-up on every corner of the globe.

You do such a variety of stuff.

What work gives you the biggest buzz?

Whatever I’m not doing, that’s what I miss the most. As in, if I’m doing a long tour, I yearn to be on set acting or in a room doing some writing, but then whenever I’m doing either of the latter I start getting the itch to be on stage again. I’ll never be happy!

You’ve collaborated with your dad several times. Tell us a bit about him and why you ended up working together.

I used to talk about him loads on stage and finally got to the point where I was like: ‘I need to stop making jokes about him.’ That coincided with my producer suggesting we do a chat show together. We did it at Edinburgh

initially and only planned to do a couple of shows. But I’ve woken a monster. I can’t stop him now.

How was it travelling with him for your Netflix series?

Long. We did six weeks on the road. That’s a long time to spend with anyone… but your dad?! We did have some great moments, though, and he does genuinely make me laugh a lot.

If anyone’s thinking of taking a gap year reading this, take a parent. They get all the bills.

What was the funniest moment on your travels?

Probably seeing my dad get a henna tattoo. I’m gutted it came off.

Which work are you most proud of, and why?

Probably [Paul Pennyfeather in the adaption of Evelyn Waugh’s] Decline and Fall that I did for the BBC. It was something completely different for me and I think we did a really classy job.

What advice do you have for kids wanting to do comedy?

Develop some thick skin.

Tell us a joke.

This question.

What next?

Singing career.

Jack Whitehall: At Large and Travels With My Father are both available on Netflix now Bounty Hunters is also available now on Sky One

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 29

PROMOTION

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For those unfamiliar with it, code is the language of technology, the way the next generation will create and control the world around us.

Cypher’s innovative curriculum features intriguing creative themes, including fashion,

architecture and Minecraft, so kids are engaged from the moment they arrive.

Elizabeth adds: “The brilliant Cypher teachers combine child-focused practice and expert knowledge in computer science. The combination of our creative approach plus the best teaching methods enables students to build on their natural curiosity and enthusiasm whilst genuinely equipping themselves for a more confident and successful future.

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“We also ensure that each child’s learning progression is tailored to their interests and abilities. Cypher goes beyond the national curriculum for computing and exceeds expectations on what’s possible with technology.”

“What’s more, the kids love the snacks and their personalised code passports.”

For more information and to see if Cypher is available at your child’s school, contact hi@cyphercoders.com

INTERVIEW

Force of NATURE

More than 40 years after he set up Farms for City Children, prolific children’s author Michael Morpurgo tells Susannah Warren how the charity has shaped his work and life and what a difference it’s still making

T

hey say everyone has a book in them.

Well, Michael Morpurgo is not everyone.

The best-selling children’s author has written so many he’s almost lost count - about 150 in total.

The latest, Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz, has just been released and retells the magical story through Dorothy’s dog’s eyes. “Dorothy

we know and love, but we never know what her little dog thinks of all that is going on,” says the former Children’s Laureate.

Animals have often taken centre stage in his books – most famously in his much-acclaimed bestseller War Horse – and he never grows tired of exploring how humans interact with them.

“I think [animals] often bring out the best in us because they listen without passing judgement and accept us for who we are

without prejudice.”

This was part of the thought process behind he and wife Clare’s decision over four decades ago to set up Farms for City Children, a charity aiming to expand the horizons of urban children through living and working on farms. As young primary school teachers, the pair felt that “at best only half of the children were benefitting from their education. The other half were failing, and we were ››

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 31

failing them as teachers.”

“These children seemed to be on a road to nowhere, and most of them were beginning to know it, beginning to resent school, beginning to give up. There had to be another way.”

To their minds, self-worth was the key: “Get children to feel good about themselves and that their contribution was valued, then maybe, maybe, things could change.”

And so it was, in Devon in 1976, that the couple, together with the neighbouring farmers, the Ward family, pioneered a

Above: Children who visit the farms learn to work in a team and also start thinking for themselves

programme of work designed to extend children physically, mentally, emotionally, intellectually. “They would become the farmers, work alongside their teachers and the Ward family, and me, and Clare, so that they could be involved in every aspect of the farm. It is hard work, real work, and they know their work is essential, that it matters to the animals, to the farm, that it simply matters. They matter.”

A lot has changed since the first lot of pupils, from Chivenor Primary School in Birmingham, came to stay with the Morpurgos. There are now three farms – the original one in Devon, another in Wales and a third in Gloucestershire – and more than 3,200 primary school children now visit every year.

PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK

Struggling to get your child to enjoy reading?

Follow Michael’s advice…

“Don’t force it. The main thing as a parent is to try and pass on a passion for stories to our children. When you read a story you love to a child or that the child loves, you hold hands through an adventure, have a tiger for tea, go for a walk in the woods together with a Gruffalo, find out together what the ugly duckling really is. You live the story together and imagine it together.”

But the concept remains almost exactly the same. The children do everything that is important to the farm. “They get up at the crack of dawn to feed the animals, take part in the milking, see lambs being born, dig the vegetables and mend fences, collect the eggs and clean out the stables,” explains Michael, who has an MBE for services to youth, as well as literature.

What are the most valuable lessons children take away from the experience, I wonder? “They learn to work in a team and look after one another. They also become more independent and start thinking for themselves. It’s often surprising to the teachers to see that pupils who aren’t very good at school are the ones who really blossom and thrive.”

Michael experienced both city and country life as a child, having grown up near Bradwell in Suffolk, “where I would watch the sea-birds diving and dipping,” and also in Earl’s Court in London, where he went to school and remembers “playing in bombsites just after the war.”

The children who visit the farms often find the differences in the environment strange, though, according to Michael.

“Because [the countryside] smells so different. It’s so quiet at night when the wind blows and the owls hoot. The darkness of the lanes

INTERVIEW

walking down in winter evenings can be frightening.”

“But it all opens their eyes to a totally different world, a real world. They often go back with a stronger sense of where their food comes from and the importance of looking after the natural world but, we hope, also a sense of belonging.”

There are no screens at the farm, either.

“It is extraordinary,” reveals Michael, “but really none of them miss their gadgets. They learn to communicate with each other without them.”

As a master storyteller, it’s something Michael is passionate about. “I think it is

Above: The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the charity’s many influential supporters Left: Children do real, hard work on the farm

vital that children spend time just thinking or dreaming or making something. This is where creativity comes from.”

Time away from devices is something the charity encourages beyond the farm, too. It recently launched an UNPLUG for the day campaign to help raise funds for the charity, which has to raise 1.2m every year for its work. Luckily, it has a glut of influential

supporters to help achieve this.

Michael always had a vivid imagination, something that was fostered by his mother. “I did love having stories read to me. Listening to her voice as she acted out the characters really brought the stories and poetry that she loved to life for me. It was a huge influence.”

Indeed, it was telling stories to his pupils during his time as a primary school teacher in Kent that actually led him to become an author. “I could see that the story I was reading my class of year 6s was really boring them.

I went home that night and my wife suggested that I tell them one of my own stories. I went in the next day, took a deep breath and started to tell them my story.

Slowly, they started to listen, and then intently on the edge of their seats, and by the time the bell went for the end of school, I had them in the palm of my hand.

It was a great feeling and I have really never looked back.” And thank goodness for us that the prolific author, now 74, never has.

Find out how to support the charity at farmsforcitychildren.org

Toto The DogGone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz Harper Collins Hardcover £14.99

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 33

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DESIGN

The Power of TWO Head of design at Boodles, Rebecca Hawkins, tells us about its Royal Ballet collaboration

How did Boodles’ Royal Ballet-inspired collection, Pas de Deux, come about?

During discussions to sponsor a performance, it became clear how much the two companies had in common, and the idea to collaborate on a new high-jewellery collection was born.

It’s a departure from Boodles’ usual approach to design. How so?

There is a greater sense of geometry and sharper angles than we would traditionally include to bring the feeling of choreography and dynamic movement.

What parallels did you discover between the two art forms?

The high regard for artistry and production values that we both share; that jewellery, like dance, is evocative, emotional and expressive; and that both art forms seek to create the illusion of lightness and delicacy when, in reality, incredible strength is required.

Tell us about the artistic process?

My first step was to visit the Royal Opera House. I was able to watch the dancers in rehearsal, to view the archives, the costumes, set designs and to get a general feel for all the elements involved. I asked questions like: what makes the perfect dance partnership? What makes

ballet different from other forms of dance? What is unique about the Royal Ballet? It was the answers to these questions that formed the foundation of the collection. The process took nearly two years.

Why the pas de deux theme?

Everything seemed to lead towards the idea of ‘two’ being the key. The equal importance of the physical and emotional side, the classical technique paired with the ability to tell a story and take the audience on a journey. The perfect dance partnership: an intuitive understanding of the other, ability to mirror, complementary physicality. Two art forms, two companies. And so the collection itself has two halves: jewels that represent the physical side and jewels that add emotion and narrative.

How did you apply what you experienced at the Royal Opera House to the tangible pieces?

I translated the dancers into shapes, tracing a line from the tip of a toe to the dancer’s head or fingertip, adding an arch or elongating the shape to illustrate the extension.

Explain your use of diamonds.

Kite-shape diamonds were chosen to represent the dancers in abstract form and the sense of balance and alignment.

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 35

FOOD

PIG OUT

TV chef and author Harry Eastwood shares a real crowd-pleaser from her latest cookbook, which celebrates meat in all its glory If you don’t have one of her cookbooks, you might remember British chef Harry Eastwood from her stint presenting primetime Channel 4 series Cook Yourself Thin.

Unexpectedly for a former vegetarian, her latest cookbook, Carneval, is a celebration of meat. It explains how to get the best out of the whole animal and focuses on easy and reliable recipes.

Brought up in France, “where being passionate about food was considered legitimate, even noble”, Harry’s food philosophy is simple: “Hunger is an opportunity for something magical to happen; for pleasure and joy. I don’t like to waste it on a soggy petrol station sandwich.

I cook and eat simple food (no cheffy squiggles or emulsions), with a strong emphasis on quality ingredients.”

Here, she shares one of her favourite recipes: “The crackling is so crispy and the meat is silky and surrendered underneath. And it’s super easy, too. You put it in the oven and pretty much forget about it.”

What’s not to love?

Carneval: A celebration of meat, in recipes Penguin Books, £25

36 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ WINTER 17

Garlic and Fennel Crispy Pork Belly Serves 6, or 4 with leftovers Ingredients • 1.6kg pork belly, with skin on (I prefer a slightly fattier belly but this works just as well with lean) • salt flakes For the rub • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced • 1 tsp light muscovado sugar • ½ tsp salt • 1 tbsp fennel seeds, smashed in a mortar and pestle • 1 tbsp coriander seeds, smashed in a mortar and pestle • 1 tbsp sunflower oil • a small pinch cayenne pepper or red chilli flakes (smashed in a mortar and pestle) Instructions 1. Mix the rub ingredients together to form a paste. Slather this all over the meat, avoiding the skin side, which you should just score and sprinkle with salt – please go for flakes, if you can, as this will draw out the moisture without over-salting the skin. The easiest tool to score a belly of pork is a Stanley knife and I like my score lines to be close together to give the best possible crackling.

2. Line an ovenproof dish roughly the same size as the belly with baking paper and lay the marinated meat (skin side up) on top. Place in the fridge uncovered (this is very important) overnight.

3. The next day, take the meat out of the fridge, wipe away

the moisture from the skin with kitchen paper and sprinkle again with salt. This is to extract as much moisture from the skin as possible. Leave at room temperature for 2 hours before cooking (so 6 hours before serving).

4. Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan 150°C/gas mark 3–4 – this works best with a fan setting.

5. Wipe the surface of the skin again and repeat the sprinkling of the salt flakes. Scrape the marinade ingredients away from the flesh and put the meat back into the dish skin side up. Cook for 2 hours, then turn the temperature of the oven down to 150°C/fan 130°C/gas mark 2 – now it is best without the fan. Cook for another 1½ hours.

6. Once the meat has had a total of 3½ hours cooking, set the oven to grill mode. Prop up the meat with a scrunched-up piece of tin foil, if necessary, so that the crackling surface is more or less level and place the dish at the bottom of the oven to prevent burning. You want to keep an eye on it at this stage as the crackling will puff up like popcorn and can catch. Once the whole of the top is bubbly and crackled up, remove from the oven and rest in the oven dish for 10 minutes.

7. Cut the meat into medium slices and serve with celeriac mash, crispy seaweed (find recipe in Carneval) and a little heated up hoisin sauce or Dijon mustard.

COOK’S TIP If you have any meat left over, you can warm it up and use it to make the most gorgeous Asian twist on a bacon buttie. Warm a plain white roll and slather some hoisin on one side and a tiny bit of Sriracha (chilli sauce) on the other. Put the warm pork in the bun and top with thinly sliced spring onions and cucumber. It is frankly amazing!

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INTERIORS

House STYLE

Interiors guru Susie Atkinson tells us about her work with Soho House, why she loves her job and what’s hot in design How did you get into design?

I went to the Inchbald School of Design for three months and was very lucky to get a job as a trainee with Chester Jones.

Who has inspired and influenced you most?

I am very influenced by Chester.

I’ve always looked to him for the traditional ways of decorating. But when I started to work for Soho House, it was quite nice to break out of and not follow convention.

How would you describe your design style?

My ambition is to create an environment that feels welcoming the moment you step through the door.

Tell us a bit about your work with Soho House.

I finished off Shoreditch House.

From there I did Dean Street, Soho House Berlin,

Babington. Babington was supposed to be a country house to escape to, but with an edge.

It was huge fun to do while it lasted.

What makes Soho House interiors so admired?

It’s a home from home. The remit for me was to create something that feels ›› Above: One of 42 bedrooms at Soho House Berlin Left: Red fabric dining chair, made by artisans especially for Studio Atkinson

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 39

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INTERIORS

homely, so when you arrive you feel like you can kick your shoes off and totally relax. Understated glamour, really.

Who are your go-to product designers at the moment?

I very much like Nicky Haslam’s new collection. It’s got a lot of rattan and wicker. Also Howe London in Pimlico.

What’s hot right now?

Bolder colours and prints; indoor plants; rattan, cane and bamboo furniture; and graphic prints. I still think mixing family heirlooms with more modern pieces is current.

Why do you love your job?

No two days are the same. I could be on a building site up a ladder with a hard hat on, out sourcing fabrics, at an auction or antiques fair, in the office doing schemes, or with clients looking for accessories. I never get bored of doing schemes because there’s always something new. No two sites are the same and that’s what gets the creative juices flowing.

Our studio is quite unique in that we focus on bespoke pieces.

What advice do you have for teenagers wanting to design?

Work experience in a design studio is a very good way to learn

SUSIE’ S HOTLIST Owen Lounge Chair, £4,540 Paolo Moschino for Nicky Haslam; Terracotta Large Bowl, £35 and Terracotta Medium Shallow Bowl, £240 both by Silvia K Ceramics, The New Craftsmen; Joy fabric in pink ochre

by Mimi Pickard, £98 a metre

Clockwise from left: Farleigh morning room; Soho House Berlin; Babington House and the bar in the newly finished Beaverbrook Hotel

on the job. It is vital to research designers and makers that appeal to you. I’ve always got a hunger to learn more and am constantly searching for new inspiration. It’s about expressing yourself – that’s how it should be in a creative environment.

Which project are you most proud of ?

Probably Soho House Berlin and Beaverbrook [a new luxury country house hotel in Surrey].

Berlin was a hugely challenging project. It was effectively like turning Selfridges into a hotel.

Dream project?

A beach house or hotel would be the cherry on top. I love going to the Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall.

There’s so much I’d love to do on that. I’m currently pitching on a project on a lake in America, and that comes a close second.

How do you go about designing for tweens and teens?

It’s a collaboration. [It’s] absolutely key to get into their mindset. We guide them so their eyes are opened to things they might not see anywhere else. www.susieatkinson.com

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 41

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ENTERTAINING

TOP TABLE

Want to go all out this Christmas? Florist Susie Babington shows you how to create a super-stylish centrepiece that’ll last for the whole season

Christmas is the perfect time to flex your creative muscle and make your own festive decorations.

The whole family can be involved in this project. Foraging for the greenery is one of my children’s favourite pastimes and poking bits of foliage into foam is surprisingly fun. Here, I show you how to create a table centre that can be watered and therefore kept fresh throughout the whole festive season. ››

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 43

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ENTERTAINING

Christmas Table Centrepiece You will need: • enough Oasis foam blocks to cover the length of approximately three-fifths of your table • an Oasis tray to hold the wet foam • floristry wire • a mat or mirror to protect your table • enough greenery and accessories to cover the foam – try using fir, eucalyptus and holly for greenery; pine cones, dried fruit, berries and thistles as accessories • miniature potted plants – I have used cyclamen • candles Instructions: 1. Soak the Oasis foam in cold water for 10 minutes.

2. Cut the greenery into equal lengths (approximately 10-15cm) and remove any leaves from the bottom inch of each piece, leaving a bare stem. This is the part you will poke into the foam.

3. Next, wire your dried pine cones, fruit etc. Wrap the wire around the belly of the pine cone, like a belt, and then pull the wire horizontally down, away from the cone, to create a spike. You will use this spike to fix the cone into the foam. If wiring dried fruit, push the wire through the centre of the fruit and bend it in half to create a spike.

4. Place your potted plants, evenly spaced, into the Oasis tray and surround with the wet Oasis foam.

5. Create a ‘skirt’ of greenery around the bottom of the foam, covering the tray, using alternate foliage to mix up the colours. Cover the foam from the bottom up and start including the accessories.

Continue until all of the foam is covered and there are no holes.

6. Place the centrepiece on your table (don’t forget to put the matt or mirror underneath to protect your table) and surround with candles. I added miniature olive trees to give height, finished off with fairy lights. Use the remaining foliage to decorate your place settings.

7. Pour a little water into the tray every three to four days.

8. Alternatively, just order your decorations, sit back and relax!

SUSIE’ S TIP Get your kids involved.

They will love hunting for foliage outside and sticking the greenery in the foam, so look out for fir, holly and pine cones on your next outing

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WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 45

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SPOTLIGHT

MAKE or BREAK

Creative subjects have never been more important and will help pupils thrive in today’s fast-changing world, writes Head of Downe House Emma McKendrick It is very hard for us to be sure what the working environment will be like for our pupils.

What is clear is that the pace of change and the speed with which technology advances will not slow down. To thrive, our young people will need to be creative, adaptable, resilient and able to express themselves effectively.

The place of creative subjects – Art, Drama, Dance, Music, Textiles, Design and Technology – has therefore never been more important, and is an area of the curriculum that is extremely important at Downe. One of our pupils expressed recently to an inspector that studying Art “gave her a window into the beauty of the world”. It made her stop,

look at the world thoughtfully and with care; it helped her to interpret it and appreciate it.

It also enabled others to see it through her eyes. She, in turn, could appreciate others’ views.

These subjects also provide an outlet for self-expression and enable problem-solving skills, perseverance and resilience to be developed – the wooden box that does not quite close will require the right solution to be found to make it work. Effective teamwork will be found at the heart of every successful dance routine, play, orchestral or choral piece, and each individual involved will have to have the humility to enable and encourage others to shine.

Girls study all of the creative and performing arts during Years 7 to 9; they can then choose whether to follow any for GCSE or beyond. They can also join a creative club, take individual lessons or participate in the popular House Competitions.

I have no doubt that Downe is a kinder, healthier, more interesting and more generousspirited community as a result of all that these subjects teach our pupils. I am equally sure pupils are better prepared for their world as a result of the creativity that is encouraged, and that the sense of awe and wonder about the world that will have been gained will be a precious gift that will last a lifetime.

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 47

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NEWS

OUR news

The mission to raise funds using our eyeballs, rather than our wallets, is officially working!

Founders Clare Reid & Gordon Dawson

SCHOOL NOTICES

BY NUMBERS: PAGE VIEWS

774,509 MEMBER SCHOOLS

125

It’s been a fantastic term of growth for School Notices, with more of the top schools in the country joining our already illustrious ranks. This term we welcomed the parents and alumni of Marlborough College, Abingdon and St Hugh’s, amongst others, and the number of new members is growing faster than ever.

We have expanded further overseas with our launch of School Notices Oz in Australia, as well as into the state sector here in the UK with Academy Notices, so the fundraising ball is well and truly rolling! All this is only possible because of the many free notices you are posting to each other, so a huge thank you to all those who have joined us online.

Many of our schools have elected to put the funds raised through School Notices towards bursaries to help children attend their schools. If you have not already joined us, please do! It is painless, completely free and every new member helps us in our effort to raise money for some incredible causes.

In return for joining our fundraising mission, you’ll have access to some amazing offers from brilliant businesses keen to attract your attention.

A world of fabulous buying and selling, talented alumni looking for jobs and more will be at your fingertips. The power of our community is huge.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a magical Christmas and a very happy New Year!

USERS

89,806

Clare Reid, Co-founder

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 49

PROMOTION

Protecting

WHAT MATTERS Introducing School Fees Insurance It’s not unusual for parents to begin the search for the perfect school even before their child is born. It may take them months, even years, of careful planning, visits and research to select the right place.

Many factors go into the decision-making process academic excellence, outstanding facilities, inspiring surroundings to name but a few. A school is far more than just a place to learn; it is where a child will make friends, explore new activities, form ideas and opinions. In short, it will shape the rest of their lives and become like a second family.

Once a child is really settled in a school, losing all that it provides can be truly devastating.

It makes sense to protect something so precious.

No one likes to think about serious illness or death. We all assume it won’t happen to us. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to

good health. According to Child Bereavement UK, unfortunately, one in 29 school age children will be bereaved of a parent. If this was to happen to you or your partner, could you continue to pay the school fees?

Julie West, who had two children at Warwick Prep School, sadly lost her husband in 2012 when they were just six and five years old. She was forced to move to a small flat, in a different area, uprooting her children from familiar surroundings.

Fortunately, when her children

“WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM UNDUE LOSS AND TRAUMA? JUST AS WE ARE REQUIRED TO INSURE OUR CARS, SURELY IT IS OUR ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO INSURE OUR CHILDREN AGAINST LOSS TOO.”

had begun their education she and her husband had taken out School Fees Insurance. This paid a pre-selected sum of money directly to the school each term following the untimely death of her husband.

School was the one constant the children had left in their lives and Julie’s School Fees Insurance means their education is protected until the end of the school year in which they turn 18. “My children’s social and educational lives were maintained and sustained” says Julie. “Losing a father is traumatic and life-altering enough, but to lose a child’s friends, teachers and routine would only have significantly added to their loss.”

School Fees Insurance is a unique product, that from as little as £20 a month can protect the most important years of a child’s life. It is easy and simple to take out as no medical underwriting is required.

As payments go directly to the school, they will not be taxed or delayed by probate.

To find out more about School Fees Insurance and how it could protect your child’s future go to SFS-group.co.uk

50 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ WINTER 17

Our member SCHOOLS

Raising funds for over 100 schools and growing fast!

If your school is not on the list and you’d like to join School Notices, contact us on info@schoolnotices.co.uk UK SCHOOL NOTICE S Abingdon Prep Abingdon School Aldro Ashdown House Beachborough Beaudesert Park Berkhampstead School Bradfield College Brambletye Brockhurst & Marlston House School Broomwood Hall Bruern Abbey Chafyn Grove Chandlings Cheam Cheltenham Ladies College Clifton Hall Cothill Cottesmore Craigclowan Cumnor House Dorset House Downe House Eaton Square Upper School Eaton Square School Elstree Farleigh Finton House Fulham Prep Godstowe

Great Walstead Hanford Harriet House Hawley Place School Horris Hill Hyde Park School Junior King’s School, Canterbury Kilgraston Kitebrook House Laxton Junior School Leweston Little Crickets Nursery Lucton School Ludgrove Maidwell Hall Marlborough College Marlborough House Merlin School Miss Daisy’s Nurseries x 3 Moulsford Mount Kelly Mowden Hall Northcote Lodge Papplewick Pinewood School Pippa Pop-ins x 4 Polwhele House Port Regis Redcliffe School Rupert House Sancton Wood School Sandroyd

Sherborne Girls Sherborne Preparatory School Sherfield School Shrewsbury House & Lodge St Andrew’s School, Pangbourne St Hugh’s School St Edward’s, Oxford St George’s Ascot St Ronan’s School Summer Fields Sunningdale The Eaton House Group x 7 The Harrodian School The King’s School, Canterbury The Lyceum School The Marist Schools x 3 The Pilgrims’ School The Study School Thomas’s, Battersea Thomas’s, Fulham Wellesley House Westbourne House School Westonbirt School Windlesham Woodcote House Young England Kindergarten

ASIA SCHOOL NOTICE S Dulwich College, Singapore Marlborough College Malaysia Tanglin Trust School Singapore American School

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FUN FACTS For every human on Earth there are

1.6 million ants

A 6ft Christmas tree grows for around

eight years

before it’s sold

Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition and lost

Saudi Arabia imports CAMELS from Australia

PEANUTS are one of the ingredients used in DYNAMITE

Jingle Bells is the only Christmas song that doesn’t mention Christmas, Jesus or the Nativity

James Bond’s code “007” was inspired by a Canterbury to London bus route taken by author Ian Fleming

Hamsters run up to 8 MILES PER NIGHT on a wheel

You’ll NEVER guess what?

We’ve rounded up our favourite festive facts and more for you to quiz your friends with this winter

PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK

France was still executing people by guillotine when the first Star Wars film came out

It rains DIAMONDS on Jupiter

ALMONDS come from the same family as the PEACH

27%

of families sit down to watch the Queen’s Speech on Christmas Day e e n te c h n i c

There are over

30,000

Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig’s head and mustard.

Some pirates wore earrings because they believed it improved their eyesight and cured seasickness

Mammoths

people with the name John Smith in England

a l l y i l l e g a l t o e at m i n c e p i e s o n

were alive when the

Great Pyramid was built

and finally… Ith’seb17th century when Oliver Cromwell banned anhyrtistmas Day in England since t

C

h i n g to d o w i t h g l u t to n y

WINTER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 53

HEAD SPACE

What or who inspired you to teach?

Probably my schooling experience in South Africa, but most notably it was my dedicated and inspiring English teacher, Miss Baws.

What would be your act on Britain’s Got Talent?

If it were allowed, my talent would have to be barbecuing. I love outdoor eating.

HEAD space We chat to Peter Goodyer, Bede’s head, about his formative years in South Africa and what makes him tick at school and beyond

What is your favourite piece of music?

I thoroughly enjoy a wide range of musical genres.

However, for my wife and me our favourite is Ludovico Einaudi’s Melodia Africana III. Favourite Shakespeare play and why?

Macbeth, as a result of my inspirational English teacher.

What is your personal motto for life?

Do all you can in the time you can, and have fun.

54 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ WINTER 17

If you could only bring three things with you to a desert island, what would they be?

My family (my wife, Laura, and son, Seb), a lighter and a tent.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

I would say it has to be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Who would you most like to be for the day?

Having grown up in South Africa, I

Mount Kilimanja

ro

What is your biggest achievement?

It’s got to be being the headmaster of Bede’s, and personally, having a wonderful family.

Why is your school the best?

We nurture distinction in all our pupils, and we give them the opportunity to develop their own skills and interests. We believe it’s important to put the interest of the pupils first.

What three things do you need to be a successful headmaster?

Compassion, integrity and a good sense of humour.

What is the best advice you’d give a school leaver?

Never undersell yourself. Strive to be the best version of yourself and never underestimate your abilities in achieving your goals.

PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK, PIXABAY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

All-time favourite book?

The joy of getting lost in a book is something I genuinely value.

Rian Malan’s book, My Traitor’s Heart, a journalist’s harrowing narrative about attempting to understand apartheid in South Africa, is definitely my favourite.

would love to spend a day as a game ranger in the African bush in the presence of some majestic wildlife.

Alina Lower Sixth Artist

You are warmly invited to our

Senior School Open Morning Saturday 10 March 2018 9.30am to noon (Entry at 13 and 16) HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding Boys and girls 13 to 18

To register please contact: admissions@bedes.org T 01323 843252 or online at bedes.org Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker East Sussex BN27 3QH

JOIN MINI HARRODS FOR FUN AND REWARDS Mini Harrods is all about making Harrods even more fun for our tiniest visitors.

Membership is free and includes invitations to fun events in-store, exciting competitions, an e-newsletter and a 10%-off day during your child’s birthday week.* Join today at harrods.com/miniharrods to receive a welcome gift.*

*Terms and conditions apply; for full details of this offer, please contact the Customer Loyalty team at rewards@harrods.com or 033 3300 1234.