ACHIEVE
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THE MIDLANDS
ISSUE 3 AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 ÂŁ3.50
DAY VS BOARDING
Achieve looks at the pros and cons of both boarding and day schools to help you make the decision of which is best for your child
EXPERT PROFILE
Achieve talks to number one best selling author Darren Shan
HEALTHY LIVING How to take the right steps to ensure your children lead a healthy lifestyle
CHILDRENS FASHION We look at winter fashion for boys and girls
PRIVATE HEALTH
A look at cash back health care schemes
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AN INDEPENDENT GUIDE TO PRIVATE EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE MIDLANDS
Your skills
benefitting state schools School Governors put in place the frameworks to ensure all children receive a quality education. Join the team and help a local school.
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WELCOME... Each edition of Achieve provides our readers with informative features covering a range of topics including finance, healthcare, technology, university reviews, children’s literature and fashion, family friendly holiday destinations and debates on relevant educational issues; this edition is no different… Following the success of Team GB in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, more young people than ever before are being inspired to take up sport. With this in mind we thought it only right to find out more about the variety of Olympic sports available for the next generation of athletes to take part in and how children can benefit from getting involved. For parents of children who are making the big step from prep school to senior, we know that the leap can seem daunting for both parent and child. So to help with this important transition we have a helpful guide to help you choose the right senior school for your child. We also look at the pros and cons of boarding versus day schools, another big decision for most parents. Being a parent is expensive and the financial cost is always going to be a factor when making decisions about your child’s education. With the rising cost of university tuition we have spoken to Kevin Edwards, a Chartered Financial Planner at Midland Financial Solutions, to give us
some expert advice on how parents can prepare themselves, and their bank accounts, to successfully fund their children’s university education. On a lighter note, Achieve has also taken a look at this autumns top book releases, and for teen horror fans we have a fascinating interview with ‘The Master of Children’s Horror’ Darren Shan. Darren tells us about his latest 12-book series Zom-B, which combines brain-eating zombies with breath-taking twists, fast-paced action and thought-provoking moral questions. And if it is escapism you are after, take a look at our guide to the familyfriendly safari experience. We find out how Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa provide a fantastic opportunity for both parents and children to enjoy an unforgettable and educational adventure-of-a-lifetime. And with winter approaching we also have the latest children’s fashion trends, from cosy knits to Christmas party outfits. Don’t forget to take a look at our news pages which provide the latest trends and topics from this year’s anti-bullying week to the latest collectable craze to hit the school playground. On a final note, we are always interested to hear any news, views or feature ideas you may have. You can contact our editorial team on 01782 644456 or alternatively email features@staffsmedia.com You can visit www.staffsmedia.com for more information on our portfolio of titles.
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HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Swansway Garages, a family-owned business with over 45 years experience in motor retailing and an enviable reputation for providing the highest levels of customer service are proud to be the new owners of Stafford Land Rover. We’re here to make a difference, combining our unique brand of customer care with one of the most exciting, innovative and dynamic collections of vehicles in the market today. So if your looking to buy a new or approved used Land Rover or Range Rover, if your existing vehicle needs a service or you’re just after some friendly advice make sure you call Stafford Land Rover ....you’ll notice the difference.
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CONTENTS 8 .................................... MUSIC DEVELOPMENT Getting children involved in the arts
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ACHIEVE THE MIDLANDS
12 .............................................HEALTHY LIVING How to take the right steps to ensure your children lead a healthy lifestyle 16 ............................................. EXPERT PROFILE Achieve talks to number one best selling author Darren Shan 18 ........ CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY Achieve looks at six of the top universities in the UK and the degree courses they offer 22 .......................................6TH FORM SCHOOLS 18
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EDITORIAL Danielle Bourne, Libby Wilkinson features@staffsmedia.com
GROUP SALES MANAGER David Mellenchip sales@staffsmedia.com
DESIGN Martin Beech, Jemma McNicholas, Ben Stanley print@staffsmedia.com
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Sarah Evison, Julie Watson, Amanda Peach, Jane Darbo GROUP OPERATIONS MANAGER Cheryl Osborne accounts@staffsmedia.com
ARTWORK CO-ORDINATOR & SUBSCRIPTIONS Tracy Harrison marketing@staffsmedia.com
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ACCOUNTS Amy Clarke info@staffsmedia.com
24 ...........................................DAY VS BOARDING Achieve looks at the pros and cons of both boarding and day schools to help you make the decision of which is best for your child
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26 ..................................... CHILDRENS FASHION We look at winter fashion for boys and girls 28 .................................................FAMILY SAFARI Your guide to safari holidays for families looking for something different to the typical beach holiday 33
Staffordshire
MEDIA
30 ...................................................TECHNOLOGY A roundup of the latest educational technology to bring a sense of fun to learning 33 .............................................PRIVATE HEALTH A look at cash back health care schemes 30
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34 ...................................................................SPORT A look at how sport can help build the foundations for a healthy lifestyle 36 ..............................................................FINANCE Chartered Financial Planner and Director of Midland Financial Solutions, Kevin Edwards looks at the rising cost of tuition fees 38 ................................................ BOOK REVIEWS A look at 8 books released this year for a variety of age ranges
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40 ........................CHOOSING SENIOR SCHOOL Tips for helping you choose the right Senior School for your child
The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice Trust For Staffordshire and South Cheshire Reg Charity No. 1075597 ‘ Where every moment counts’
While every care has been taken during the preparation of this magazine, Staffordshire Media cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or any consequences arising from it. The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights reserved. 5
ACHIEVE
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The parenting website Netmums and the charity Kids Company have joined forces to try to raise more than £1m to feed hungry and vulnerable children. They are asking parents to donate their old, abandoned or even broken mobile phones to raise money to feed a London child. A single mobile can provide a child with nutritious meal for a month. New research from The Kids Company and Netmums found that: •
One million UK children are living with ‘food insecurity’ – not knowing where their next meal is coming from.
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Half of UK teachers report having to feed hungry children themselves.
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There is a 233% increase in children turning to charity to be fed in the last 12 months.
In a survey of 1,116 parents, Netmums found one in four (24%) knew of a child in their area who may be going hungry. Just under a third (29%) said they had seen a rise in children suffering ‘food insecurity’ over the past two years. Celebs that are supporting the Mobiles for Meals campaign by donating their old mobile phones include presenter Kate Thornton, Chef Phil Vickery and ex-Eastenders actress Natalie Cassidy. Donate your mobile and add a message, then share it on Facebook to encourage your friends to do the same! If you want to support the Netmums and Kids Company’s appeal take your old mobiles to any T-Mobile or Orange shop. But first, why not take a photo of yourself with your mobile, upload it to the Netmums website and share it on Facebook to encourage others to do he same! For more information visit
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ANTI-BULLYING This year’s Anti-Bullying Week will take place on the 19th to 23rd November. The theme this year is - ‘We’re better without bullying’ and its aim is to shine a light on bullying and its effect on achievement. The campaign’s goal is to make it clear that bullying is not acceptable in our schools, clubs and teams. They wish to create environments where all children can develop their skills and talents safely and without fear of bullying. The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), part of leading charity the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), co-ordinates the week. Founded in 2002 by NSPCC and National Children’s Bureau, the Anti-Bullying Alliance brings organisations, local authorities, schools and colleges into one network. They look to develop a consensus around how to stop and prevent bullying, influence policy and develop best practice. Nick Gibb MP, Minister for Schools, says: “I am pleased to offer my continuing support to the Anti-Bullying Alliance and its members - the ABA plays a vital role in keeping antibullying high on the national agenda through Anti-Bullying Week. I particularly welcome this year’s theme of ‘We’re better without bullying.” What can parents and carers do to help? Although schools have a key role to play, it is hugely important that those closest to your children are able to help and support them. Below are some sources of further support and advice from the Anti-Bullying Alliance: •
Family Lives (previously Parentline Plus) 0808 800 2222 - Immediate support and advice for parents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Kidscape: 08451 205 204 - A helpline for parents and carers of bullied children is available Monday - Tuesday: 10am to 8pm; Wednesday - Friday: 10am to 4pm.
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Advisory Centre for Education: 0808 800 5793 - Advice for parents and children on all school matters. An advisor can be contacted 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
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Children’s Legal Centre: 01206 873820 - Free legal advice on all aspects of the law affecting children and young people.
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The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) - Provides help and advice on cyberbullying, the Centre maintains a website for children and young people, and parents and carers about staying safe online.
For more information visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
ACHIEVE
SUPPORT FOR TRAINEE TEACHERS Trainee teachers need better training in managing pupils’ behaviour and ensuring discipline according to Charlie Taylor, the Government’s expert adviser on behaviour. Highlighting that there are some cases where trainees receive little more than a single lecture, Charlie Taylor calls for more practical training for trainees. This includes knowing how to vary the tone and volume of their voice to teach effectively and manage behaviour, as well as how to use posture in order to be an authoritative presence in the classroom. Charlie Taylor, who from September 2012 will become the chief executive of the Teaching Agency, has carried out a review of what trainees are currently taught. It found differences in the quality of training on behaviour management. The best ITT providers take considerable time and thought to produce programmes that mean trainees leave with a range of practical skills, knowledge and understanding. It allows them to feel confident to manage behaviour when they begin to teach. However, there are some cases where trainees receive little more than a single lecture and limited support from a tutor if things start to go wrong. Some providers are not always aware of what is good training on behaviour and this means they continue to train inadequately. A survey, published June 2012, revealed how more than two-fifths (41%) of teachers rated their initial teacher training (ITT) in managing behaviour as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. This includes teachers who may have been in the profession for a number of years. Improving teacher training for behaviour has been developed to complement the new Teachers’ Standards that all teachers have to demonstrate from September 2012. It also reflects the new Ofsted inspection framework for ITT providers, which will come into effect at the same time. It has been produced taking on board the practice from some of the outstanding teacher training providers, Ofsted and some of the best schools who train teachers. For more information visit www.education.gov.uk
Dear Zoo
QUALIFICATIONS ARE KEY Equipping staff with the right skills is the key to ensuring better quality early years education – this is the finding of Professor Cathy Nutbrown’s independent Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications, which was published in June. In her independent report, ‘Foundations for Quality’, Professor Nutbrown sets out 19 recommendations to improve the skills and knowledge of those who work with young children. The report’s other recommendations include: • Improving qualifications to make them more rigorous and demanding, with a stronger focus on child development. • A focus on improving the delivery of qualifications so that tutors have the support to improve their skills and maintain the current experience of the sector. • Asking the early years sector to lead on mentoring new staff, to support them as they enter work and make sure students learn from good practice. • Build on progress to encourage graduate leadership in the sector, through Early Years Professional Status, as part of the move towards more teachers in the early years. • That the Government should not impose a licensing system for the sector at this stage. Professor Cathy Nutbrown says: “I have seen many inspirational examples of dedicated staff providing the best environment for playing and learning. I want more young children to benefit from this. “Every child deserves excellent early education and care, and every parent should be confident that their child is getting the best. Early education and care needs to support babies’ and young children’s all round well-being and development. That is why I want the workforce to really understand child development, the importance of play, and have good English and maths skills.” The report shows that high quality early years provision narrows the gap between disadvantaged children and others, and that staff qualifications improve quality. The Government will now carefully consider Professor Nutbrown’s recommendations before publishing a response later this year. For more information visit www.education.gov.uk
BACK TO SCHOOL To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic children’s book, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell a range of back to school products have been launched. From backpacks and lunch bags, through to aprons for crafts and cooking. New for 2012, the bright and bold Dear Zoo children’s backpack features the cheeky monkey and the other animals from the book written by Rod Campbell (£10.00), there is also a cute yellow Dear Zoo children’s mini PVC tote bag is perfect for taking books to school and features the pet puppy character from the story (£8.99). And a lovely bright red Dear Zoo drawstring bag with fierce Lion design, which makes the perfect PE or gym kit bag (£7.00). The Dear Zoo lunch bag features the Elephant from the story on the front of the bag with other animals from the book around the sides (£10.00). For Arts, crafts and cooking there is a wipe-clean and waterproof Dear Zoo apron with many of the animals from the book featured on the front (£7.00). For fans of the book and stylish pupils, the Dear Zoo back to school range is on sale now from www.dearzooshop.co.uk
CHILDREN’S
FASHION
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ACHIEVE
get involved in
the arts Developing an interest in music, singing and the theatre at a young age can not only open up your child to a whole host of experiences, it can also be of educational value. Achieve takes a look at how learning to play an instrument, singing in a choir or taking part in a theatre group can help your child to become an all-round better student, by improving their confidence, developing communication skills and teaching them self-discipline and organisational skills to name just a few...
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Music plays such a big part in most people’s lives, even those who cannot play often love to listen to music, whether by going to see concerts and gigs or just simply listening to their favourite album on their MP3 Player. There are so many different styles and genres of music available, music is universal but enjoyment of it is dependent on individual taste. So whether you prefer classical to pop or folk to dance music, there is something for everybody. Many children who love listening to music may wish to take it a step further by learning to play an instrument. Again there is such a wide variety of instruments to choose from that all children should be able to find the one that suits them. Dependent on the choice of instrument costs can be quite expensive; the initial purchase of the instrument, its upkeep (for example new strings) and lessons. However instruments can sometimes
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be hired if you want to see if your child takes to the instrument and sticks at it. Learning any new skill takes time, effort and patience, so it is important for parents to encourage their children to keep going and praise their efforts with positive feedback.
WHY MUSIC ROCKS Learning to play a musical instrument requires patience, commitment, time and effort but the rewards are that the skill is a lasting pleasure which will stay with them into adulthood. Children will need to put in a lot of hard work, practice and rehearsal time, but the reward will be achieving their goal, whether it is the first time they are able to play a tune, making it into the school band or orchestra or performing for the first time in front of an audience. With music there is always room for improvement or a new song or tune to learn, so it is a skill that they can continue to enjoy and carry on learning from for years to come. Playing music can be a way of effectively relieving the stresses of school work and can help children to relax and calm their overworked minds. Music can be a great medium for children to express themselves and help them to connect with others and the world around them. It can also be a lot of fun and enable children to mix with others who share their musical tastes and make lasting friendships through common experiences.
Learning an instrument requires self-discipline and organisational skills, both of which help them to also be a better all-round student. To enable a child to progress with an instrument they need to have high standards when it comes to their work as they learn what constitutes as good and what is mediocre. This can also be applied to their other studies, helping them to stretch themselves and demand new levels of excellence in their own work. Being part of a band or orchestra requires teamwork as in order for them to sound good as a whole all players have to work together harmoniously. Children learn how to cooperate with the rest of their group and the importance of communicating with each other to solve problems. All of which have educational value. Perhaps most importantly, playing a musical instrument requires creativity, nurtures self-expression and encourages talent. Some children have a natural ability and talent for music, which if encouraged and properly channelled could see them becoming a professional musician! Obviously not every child that takes up an instrument will become a professional, but they will acquire a long lasting skill that can benefit them in lots of different ways.
ACHIEVE
five top tips on how to ecourage your
budding musician
1.
Stay positive. Listening to someone practising an instrument when they first start is not always a pleasant experience but try not to comment when they miss a note because you could affect their confidence.
2.
Try and give your child some space and quiet to practise, for example in their bedroom or in the dining room with the doors closed. They will feel more relaxed without an audience. Keep practice times down to about 20 minutes, so they don’t get too tired.
3.
Don’t force practice. Accept that some days your child will be feeling tired or under the weather and really won’t feel like practising. Agree they can have a day off now and again so they don’t feel too pressured.
4.
Remember to praise them for the effort they put in, even if they are in the early stages of learning. It is easy to lose confidence when learning an instrument so it helps if you can be generous with your encouragement.
5.
Don’t focus too much on music exams. While it’s rewarding for you and your child to progress up the grade levels, playing an instrument is about far more than that. It is important only to enter your child for the next grade level when they are ready.
THE CHOIR Being part of a choir has never been so in fashion, thanks to talent shows like BBC One’s Last Choir Standing, BBC Two’s The Choir, the great success the Military Wives had with their Christmas number one single, and also American TV shows like Glee. Thanks to the popularity of these shows an increasing number of choirs are popping up all over the UK. One of the main advantages of singing, (over other performing arts), is that there is no need for specialist equipment all that is required is a place to rehearse and a singing coach. Choirs may sometimes specialise in certain types of music such as classical, but an increasing number are also experimenting with different styles such as jazz, pop and folk music. There are choirs to suit all levels of ability so if your child is nervous it may be worth trying to find them a beginners group.
WHY IT’S GOOD TO SING Singing has many physical benefits to a child’s health; it exercises the major muscle groups in the upper body and as an aerobic activity it improves the efficiency of your cardiovascular system and encourages you to take in more oxygen, which in turn makes you more alert. It also aids the development or motor control and coordination.
the choir Singing as part of a choir provides your child with the ‘feel good factor’ by supporting a sense of being part of and belonging to a group. Being part of a team can help your child to mix with others, foster connections and make friends. Being able to perform in front of others will also help to improve confidence and self-esteem. Becoming a member of a choir involves practice and attending rehearsals and concerts, children therefore learn how to manage their time effectively. It also teaches them that achieving team success can only be attained through a positive contribution from the whole group and that their personal achievements benefit the choir as a whole. Children will learn how to read and interpret music, and they will improve through selfreflection and feedback. By following direction and practicing they will be able to achieve a better sound, providing them with a positive reward for their efforts. Being a member of a choir is about so much more than just singing, providing children with the opportunity to explore and develop any talent within this area. It also enables them to express themselves creatively and can also be a great stress reliever.
To find a choir near you visit the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain at www.nycgb.net
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHOIR Classical concert choirs and choral societies These are often large choirs which put on several concerts through the year, sometimes with an orchestra. Church choirs If you like religious music, singing in church might appeal to you. Many church choirs do traditional sacred music; other churches prefer a Gospel style. Community choirs and other singing groups There is now a wider range of choirs than ever before such as gospel, rock, church and barbershop. You can find choirs who do popular chart hits arranged for choir, songs from the shows, or traditional folk music.
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ACHIEVE
There are a variety of different ways a child can take part in drama, from simply attending drama classes at a local drama club or theatre to choosing an independent school that specialises in theatre or performing arts. The choice will depend on where they hope to go with their qualifications. If they are after professional serious acting as a career then stage school followed by drama school may appear more credible to future employers, whereas a more practical college course may work better if they are hoping to work as a camera operator or only wish to act part-time or for enjoyment. There are a variety of theatre clubs and stagecoaches who offer the opportunity for children to pursue a career in the arts or simply just to learn some new skills to share with friends and family. Drama schools offer accredited vocational courses and training, specialising in preprofessional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration and related subjects. The courses offered by drama schools are heavily based on practical work and their aim is to train students as professional actors for stage and camera work. Students are required to be enthusiastic and motivated in order to meet the demands offered by the course. At the beginning of the final year most drama schools stage a series of performances throughout the academic year, to which agents and casting directors are invited. This helps to build the future of the graduates and serves as a showcase. In the UK the Conference of Drama Schools comprises of Britain’s 22 leading Drama Schools. CDS exists in order to strengthen the voice of the member schools, to set and maintain the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector, and to make it easier for prospective students to understand the range of courses on offer and the application process. Founded in 1969, the 22 member schools offer courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing and Technical Theatre training. Graduates of CDS courses are currently working on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in theatres and studios across Britain. Funding varies from drama school to drama school, historically drama schools were not
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part of the mainstream academic system, and therefore were not funded on the same basis as universities. Some drama schools are now part of a university and tend to charge a similar tuition fee but Student loans, drama awards and scholarships may help to provide their funding. The most prominent funding scheme for performing arts education in the UK is the Dance and Drama Awards. This is a government scheme which subsidises the training offered at a selection of the leading performing arts schools in the fields of dance, drama, musical theatre and stage management.
WHY CHOOSE THE THEATRE Acting can help to improve a child’s use of language and their communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. Most adults fear public speaking; however through drama children can overcome this from an early age, in a safe environment. They learn how to express themselves better and with more style, along with learning how to project their voices, which can have the positive effect of allowing them to advocate for themselves. Learning lines and stage directions also helps to improve memory. Drama can foster creativity in children by inspiring and stimulating their imagination. Role play enables them to consider new ideas and express opinions; they are able to challenge preconceptions in the safe environment of the theatre group. It gives children the opportunity to explore moods and feelings and to make sense of their own emotions. Being more creative can also aid problem solving and teach them how to think ‘outside the box’. Performing on stage in front of an audience can be daunting at any age, but can be achieved through positive encouragement and practice. It helps to build self-belief and enhance their confidence and self-esteem. Taking part in drama can also develop children’s control, coordination and concentration as they have to learn whole scenes, lines, stage directions and possibly songs and dances. Acting can help to improve cognitive skills, encouraging children to interpret, question and respond to everything they are asked to process.
The educational benefits of drama will become clear as they grow older being able to deal with situations such as interviews, presentations and speeches. Some children may find that they have a talent for acting or that it is something they really enjoy and wish to continue as an adult. Many universities have drama clubs and most areas have amateur dramatics groups. There is of course more to putting on a show than just its actors, every production also needs someone to build and paint the sets, design and make the costumes, write the play, compose the music and design the lighting and sound system. So even if your child is not a budding star they can still get involved in the theatre and make a valuable contribution to every show.
What is Equity? Equity is the trade union which represents those who work in the entertainment and arts industries. It represents not only actors but also dancers, singers, choreographers, backstage artists such as stage managers, designers and directors as well as walk-on and supporting artists and stunt performers. Equity is not political but it is affiliated to the Trades Unions Congress as a means of bringing performers’ issues to a wider audience. The main function of Equity is to negotiate minimum terms and conditions of employment throughout the world of entertainment, including new and emerging technologies which affect performers satellite, digital television, and new media and so on. An Equity card is still regarded by many to be a proof of commitment and professionalism, and if you are a member you can often negotiate a better rate of pay than a non-Equity member. Many employers still choose Equity performers over nonEquity, although a card is not essential for some areas of performance or working in the arts industry.
ACHIEVE
After a very tense four weeks of public voting, Lovedbyparents.com has announced the winners of their hugely popular parenting awards.
kee p
me safe ki
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The press was buzzing during the summer with the news that David and Samantha Cameron accidently left their eightyear-old daughter, Nancy at the pub. Parents everywhere can sympathise with the Cameron Family - and perhaps also feeling a little relieved that these things really can happen to anyone. As the story broke, it was revealed that the landlord of the pub was intent on calling the Camerons but he didn’t have their phone number. The Keep Me Safe Kids sticker has been designed to allows parents to quickly and easily ‘label their little ones’ with a mobile phone number when they are out and about. The brainchild and mum-of-two Gemma Deering, 29, has made the stickers bright, colourful and eye-catching as well as being splash-proof, hard-wearing and super-sticky.
Hundreds of products were entered into each category and over 44,000 people voted for their favourite products and brands. All products were tested by a group of real parents and shortlisted before opening the final decision to the public votes. Winners were provided with a prestigious Gold, Silver or Bronze Lovedbyparents Award badge. Gold Winners included Mamas & Papas for Best Pushchair Design, BabyBjorn for ‘Best Highchair’, Little Tikes for ‘Best Activity Toy 0-1 years’ and Ocado for ‘Supermarket Of The Year’. Special award winners included Amanda Jenner of My Carry Potty who scooped the ‘Fab Woman of the Year’ Award. An award that was created to celebrate women who have been inspired to create a business as a direct result of becoming a mother. Jo Middleton, who writes www.slummysinglemummy.wordpress. com also fended off fierce competition to win Blogger of the Year 2012 which was sponsored by Virgin Balloon Flights. Tina Summers Editor of Lovedbyparents says: “We have had a very successful second year of parenting awards. Our prestigious awards honour those products that are truly Lovedbyparents and this is reflected in the public voting.” For more information visit
She says: “I came up with the idea for Keep Me Safe Kids following a family outing to a local farm park. It was a hot, sunny day so the farm was really busy, with children running here, there and everywhere. “I came up with the idea of having a sticker on which parents can write their mobile number and stick onto the child: meaning if they are lost, the parent can be quickly and easily contacted, saving lots of time and worry for everyone involved.” Knowing your little one is labelled up with your number will help to keep the panic to an absolute minimum, whilst helping to re-unite you and your child quickly and easily: perfect for festivals, days out at the park, farm, indoor play centre or museum, and of course your holidays. In fact, just about anywhere children like to be! The Keep Me Safe Kids stickers are £1.20 each or £7.20 for a ‘holiday pack of seven. For more information or to buy the stickers online visit
Moshi Monsters are the latest craze of collectables to hit the market, starting life as an obscure internet game for five to 12-year-olds, and developed by British gaming company Mind Candy. Four years on and it has millions of users in 150 countries and one in two British children having adopted their own online Moshi Monster. Visitors to their site can adopt their very own pet Monster, give it a name and design its colour scheme. Each Monster has its own personality that develops the more it is played with. Monster owners can nurture their pet by solving daily puzzle games to earn Rox, the in-game currency. Rox can be used to buy weird and wonderful things in the virtual shop to keep Monsters healthy and happy. The site has been called Facebook for kids as monster owners can make new friends and connect with existing friends through a wide variety of safe social networking features such as Monster blogs, Newsfeeds, pin boards and buddy lists. The company has now branched out into toys, video games, apps, magazines and trading cards. The first dedicated Moshi Monsters pop-up shop also opened last year in west London, with extra security drafted in to manage the crowds. The toy monsters come in a huge variety of characters, in all shapes and sizes, some more rare and collectable than others. For more information visit
101+ Things to Do with Glitter is the ultimate guide to creating your own sparkling creations, using classic spray-on glitter. The book has easy to follow instructions, with lots of illustrations and a huge range of projects and sources of inspiration for children of all ages. The author presents over 101 projects which encourage readers to use their imagination, and their glitter pots, to adapt, re-use and recycle disused items from around the house. The versatility and creative potential of glitter is demonstrated in the creation of chocolate truffles, vintage-inspired plates, lampshades and shimmery bath soak, and much more. The book also gives an insight into the uses of glitter through the decades, showing how glitter has become integral not only to crafts and design, but to the beauty industry, pop culture and limited edition ranges, such as Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fragile fragrance. The author also provides an A-Z of Crafting Inspiration, giving readers some insight into sourcing objects for future projects and suggesting places for creative stimulation. 101+ Things to Do with Glitter by Momtaz Begum-Hossain is priced at £14.95 and is available from all good bookstores from September.
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Be proACTIVE As a parent you want your children to be as healthy and happy as possible and there are plenty of things you can do to help them to be more active. October is Walk to School Month, which aims to increase the number of children walking to school. This is just one small change that you can make to ensure your children lead a more active lifestyle. To stay healthy or to improve health, children and young people need to do three types of physical activity each week: aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activity. According to the NHS guidelines in order to maintain a basic level of health, children and young people aged 5-18 need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, which should be a mix of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as fast walking, and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity such as running. Three days a week, these activities should involve muscle-strengthening activities such as push-ups and bone-strengthening activities, such as running. Many vigorous-intensity aerobic activities can help your children to meet their weekly muscle and bone-strengthening requirements, such as running, skipping, gymnastics, martial arts and football. The recommended levels of activity can be achieved either by doing all the daily activity in one session, or through several shorter bouts of activity of 10 minutes or more. This can be physical activity or structured exercise, or a combination of both. Activity does not have to cost anything. It needn’t mean joining a gym or sports club, as going outside is free and fun. So remember, any kind of activity counts towards your children’s 60 active minutes.
DON’T SIT FOR TOO LONG The trouble is, in this modern world children have got so many other things to do and plenty of reasons not to go outside to play or run around. Even at school they’re sitting for much of the day being inactive. Between lessons and homework and leisure time activities like reading, playing computer games and chatting with friends on Facebook, it can be difficult. So, it is important that children and young people minimise the amount of time they spend sitting and get involved in activities that involve walking and exercise.
THE FIRST STEP Walking to school rather than taking the car is one of the simplest and best ways of helping your children to become more active. Walk to School is a national campaign that was launched in 1995 to encourage all parents and children to make walking to school part of their daily routine. The campaign ran by Living Streets, the national charity which stands up for pedestrians, now has over 6,400 schools and 1.6 million children taking part. Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets says: “Walking to school is a brilliant way to get some physical activity and some fresh air into your child’s day. When children are bundled from front door to car door they miss out on the opportunity to socialise with friends, get to know their community, and burn off some energy before getting their heads down in their books. During October, we’re urging families up and down the country to give walking a go as part of Walk to School Month. We think you’ll be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you. It’s free, green and easy and above all, it works. “Whilst we appreciate that not everyone can walk the whole way, Living Streets urges schools and parents to think about setting up park and stride schemes away from the school gates to encourage people to incorporate walking into their journey to school. Just ten minutes walk on the way to school can contribute to a child’s recommended 60 minutes of activity a day and can even help reduce congestion around the school gates. We believe that walking to school shouldn’t be a chore filled with obstacles, but a great way to see the community, socialise with friends and get some fresh air into your day. It’s also a nice chance to spend quality time with your children and to teach them the importance of a healthy lifestyle.” As October is Walk to School Month why not take that first step to a healthier lifestyle. One great way to encourage your children to walk is with Living Street’s WoW (Walk Once a Week) scheme, which rewards children for walking with collectable pin badges. You can order a brand new Parents Pack online from www.walktoschool.org.uk and receive a whole year’s worth of badges and a wall chart to record your child’s walking at home.
“Walking to school is a brilliant way to get some physical activity and some fresh air into your child’s day. “ Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets.
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Here are a few more ideas to help you make your children’s lives more active… CHANGE4LIFE Change4life is an NHS campaign to help adults and children to eat well, move more and live longer. Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Public Health says: “Our survey shows that kids just aren’t getting up and about as much as they should. If we’re going to cut obesity levels our children need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. “Families up and down the country are getting tailor made action plans from Change4Life. By eating better and moving more, we can all live longer and healthier lives. With continued support from Change4Life this can be a reality for every family in England.”
CHANGE4LIFE � ONE YEAR ON �
Change4Life has loads of small, easy steps you can make to help put you and your family happily on your way to a healthier lifestyle. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/change4life
HELPING HAND Get your children to help around the house and garden, not only will it give them some responsibility and teach them valuable life lessons, it counts towards their 60 minutes. Let them help by washing the car, mowing the lawn or weeding the garden, and running the vacuum cleaner around the house.
SPLASH ABOUT Another fun way of getting 60 active minutes is going swimming - or simply having fun in the water. It uses every muscle group and is great for cardiovascular fitness. Whether it’s lengths of the pool, or having a good splash about, children love having fun in the water. You could get them to play tag or fishy-in-the-middle (like piggy-in-the-middle but in the water).
LET’S DANCE Dancing is great exercise, improves coordination and can also build confidence. It does not have to be at a dance class, you and your children can dance to the radio, or in front of the TV, all you need is a great tune and you and your children can have fun dancing anywhere.
ON YOUR BIKE Cycling, whether it’s a day to day activity, or an occasional adventure, is a great way to help keep you and the rest of the family healthy. Getting on our bikes more often can help you on the way to making the small changes that can bring short and long term benefits to your health, the environment and your purse. Cycling is something that really is so simple. All you need is a roadworthy bike and some basic safety gear and then all it just takes a little bit of practice.
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“If we’re going to cut obesity levels our children need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.” Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Public Health.
EAT WELL
It’s important to remember to eat the right foods as well as being active. Foods and snacks that give children energy are great.
Here are just a few tips from the NHS on healthy eating and making better life choices: 1
Base your meals on starchy foods
Starchy foods include potatoes, cereals, pasta, rice and bread. Choose wholegrain varieties when you can as they contain more fibre, and can make you feel full for longer. Starchy foods should make up around one third of the foods you eat. Try to include at least one starchy food with each main meal. Some people think starchy foods are fattening, but gram for gram they contain fewer than half the calories of fat. 2
Eat lots of fruit and vegetables
It is still really important that you and your family eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Fruit and veg are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fibre which may help reduce the risk of nasty diseases like cancer and heart disease. So it’s important for children to eat a variety of at least five portions of fruit and veg every day. It can be easier than you think to give children five portions of fruit and veg a day. Canned, frozen, 100% juice and dried fruit and veg all count towards 5 A DAY as well as fresh produce. You can keep the costs down too by buying canned and frozen fruit and veg which doesn’t go off as quickly and buying fresh fruit and veg when it’s in season is usually cheaper. There are so many ways of getting to five portions a day, try adding vegetables to favourite foods such as spaghetti bolognaise or mixing them into a sauce to give it more colour and flavour, or give them a handful of tasty raisins as a treat. 3
Eat more fish
Fish is a good source of protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Aim for at least two portions a week, including at least one portion of oily fish. Oily fish is high in omega-3 fats, which may help to prevent heart disease. You can choose from fresh, frozen and canned; but remember that canned and smoked fish can be high in salt. Oily fish include salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, fresh tuna, sardines and pilchards. Non-oily fish include haddock, plaice, cod, tinned tuna, skate and hake. Anyone who regularly eats a lot of fish should try to choose as wide a variety as possible. 4
Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
We all need some fat in our diet, but it is important to pay attention to the amount and type of fat we’re eating. There are two main types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Too much saturated fat can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases your risk of developing heart disease. Saturated fat is found in many foods, such as hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, sausages, cream, butter, lard and pies. Try to cut down, and choose foods that contain unsaturated rather than saturated fats, such as vegetable oils, oily fish and avocados. Most people in eat and drink too much sugar. Sugary foods and drinks are often high in calories, and could contribute to weight gain. They can also cause tooth decay, especially if eaten between meals. Cut down on sugary fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits and pastries, which contain added sugars: this is the kind of sugar we should be cutting down on rather than sugars that are found naturally in foods such as fruit and milk. Food labels can help; use them to check how much sugar foods contain. More than 15g of sugar per 100g means that the food is high in sugar. 5
Eat less salt
Even if you don’t add salt to your food, you may still be eating too much. About three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, such as breakfast cereals, soups, breads and sauces. Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. Use food labels to help you cut down. More than 1.5g of salt per 100g means the food is high in salt. Adults and children over 11 should eat no more than 6g of salt a day. Younger children should have even less. 6
Don’t get thirsty
We need to drink about 1.2 litres of fluid every day to stop us getting dehydrated. This is in addition to the fluid we get from the food we eat. All nonalcoholic drinks count, but water, milk and fruit juices are the healthiest. Try to avoid sugary soft and fizzy drinks that are high in added sugars and can be high in calories and bad for teeth. When the weather is warm, or when we get active, we may need more. 7
Don’t skip breakfast
Some people skip breakfast because they think it will help them lose weight. In fact, research shows that eating breakfast can help people control their weight. A healthy breakfast is an important part of a balanced diet, and provides some of the vitamins and minerals we need for good health. Wholemeal cereal, with fruit sliced over the top is a tasty and nutritious breakfast.
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NEWS
The Carnegie Children’s Book Award, which was featured in the first edition of Achieve, has announced the winner for 2012. In an historic announcement, which marked a unique moment in the 75 year history of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book award, the CILIP Carnegie Medal was awarded to Patrick Ness for his novel A Monster Calls (Walker Books). Not only is this the second consecutive Carnegie Medal for Patrick Ness (a feat only achieved once before, in 1979 & 1980 by Peter Dickinson); but for the first time ever, the same book has also won the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - sister award to the Carnegie Medal - with Jim Kay taking the prize for his haunting illustrations for A Monster Calls.
Leading gap year specialist Quest Overseas has introduced two new summer gap year itineraries to Rwanda and Uganda to its 2013 portfolio of South American and Sub-Saharan Africa placements, to meet the increasing demand for shorter summer volunteering experiences. The new five week itineraries will run in July and August 2013 enabling school leavers and further education students to join shorter volunteer projects during the school/university holidays, but that are still part of Quest Overseas long-term development programmes, ensuring a tangible impact on the developing world issues they tackle.
Rachel Levy, Children’s Library Services Manager for Sutton Libraries and chair of the 2012 CILIP Carnegie judging panel says: “A Monster Calls is an exquisite piece of writing. It is a beautifully economical, structurally brilliant and lyrically descriptive account of a challenging episode in one child’s life. One of our judges - bereaved at a young age - said she wished that she’d had the novel to read then, because while it describes the nature of grief with an extraordinary clarity it also fills the reader with a spirit of hopefulness and a love for life that is profound and lasting. We’d go so far as to say that this is one of the defining books of its generation”. The Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is available now in hardback priced £8.99 or in paperback from September 6th priced £6.99.
Volunteering is as popular as ever amongst young people looking to broaden their horizons and contribute to a worthwhile cause, as well as for employers who see real value in the transferable skills, aptitude and character that an overseas volunteer placement can add to a potential employees’ CV. For more information on any of Quest Overseas gap and snap gap itineraries visit www.questoverseas.com
Official figures have revealed that the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has fallen for the first time in the exam’s history. Top GCSE results have fallen for the first time in their history with the proportion of English GCSE entries achieving a good pass dropping by 1.5 percentage points, amid increasing concern from schools that thousands of children have been unfairly and harshly graded this year. The drop follows the introduction of a revised English exam and pressure on examiners from the exams regulator Ofqual, supported by the education secretary, Michael Gove, to curb grade inflation. Exam boards also say there has been a shift in the pattern of entry for English, with fewer candidates entering early, in winter.
ng cordi es, ac from t a u d ra ta, aths g the da s are ving m his claim, te e a i u h d c a a t Despite the fall in grades and following the publication of the high- upport of e maths gr lf years y b d s e v a r, staff Agency. In st one in fi ree and a h GCSE results in the UK by the Joint Council for Qualifications, e v e th than eaching lmo Schools Minister Nick Gibb commented: “Tens of thousands of that a s, surveyed more T , s e ls s w a h a o t e l uate are n sed from nd-c o rev d o s ls a c young people are today reaping the rewards of their hard work a r e m , s g o t i a r s lassro s rele uppe training al Un math over the last two years. It is right that we congratulate students have Our c test figure n Statistic 18.5% of g s r n i e r h e la at tio e teac duates ent e on their results and thank the inspirational heads, teachers and to the her Educa it shows th teaching. n i a r to ig s; s gra aths t the H ng teacher se to go in support staff that have helped them succeed. They can all be ng ew m on of math ree years. i t n c f a o o i r h st th re att to raise r half e proporti a e becom duating, c ju proud of their achievements.” e v n o w i , ra 1% t th ime that help after g first t shows tha % to 5 e fact s and will 4 e 4 h Th t “ m r : a at fro , fo new said The d risen dition ency, ellent In ad , or better. better has ng Ag oom is exc i h c a s r , with e e o mber ly to train the T classr degre :1 degree Septe ive of ts into the 2 s t pp i a u a h c t d h e t wi aths hould ef ex ialis ies an g in m teaching s pportunit n, chi s spec ols. a n h i g t i n a i n a m o in r tr d in on o Lin H igh quality in our sch eache ereste gressi hs ,h start t People int career pro o t g more ent in mat n . ost , i ilable pects m main the m . e for attain ces re 20,000 ava ment pros c ys a i l o o j p h to £ tly en lar c ploy a few popu ng curren rs when e are of up f great em r s ly e e g i r n Th i i a “ rs eo reas caree teach ee bu antag an inc cts which ly in their tax-fr d take adv g salary.” ng is r i e a h p e s c n i n a s o t a r e nt p hat t sition now etitive star loyme ement po firm t p g s con good emp a e a com r n u a g ain m ese fi cting the to att e her, th s. Toget duates, refl ice as likely graduate w a w r t lo g l e o able eir f e als ers ar y of th Teach ed to man ar comp
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Darren Shan is the number-one bestselling author of two hugely popular series for children, The Saga of Darren Shan and The Demonata, which have been read by millions of people around the world in over twenty different languages. It was his epic Demonata series that cemented Darren’s place as The Master of Children’s Horror. Darren’s latest series for children is the 12-book series Zom-B, a teen horror combining brain-eating zombies with breath-taking twists, fast-paced action and thought-provoking moral questions. The London-born writer now lives in Limerick, Ireland. Achieve caught up with Darren for a quick Q&A to find out why he loves writing children’s books… Q. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? A. Since the age of 5 or 6. I’ve always loved writing, and graduated from short stories for schoolwork to short stories written just for myself, to longer stories, then novels. I decided when I was about 13 or 14 that I was definitely going to pursue this as a career, and began investigating what that involved, which mostly meant checking out the info in The Writers and Artists Yearbook and following their guidelines. Q. You started off writing for adults, why did you decide to write for children? A. I’ve always been fascinated by children’s books. I kept reading them throughout my teens and into my twenties. I thought it might be fun to one day try to write a children’s book, though I had no intention of focusing on it as a career. When I started Cirque Du Freak, it was a fun side-project. I hoped it would get published, but didn’t think it would be the game-changer that it turned out to be. I enjoyed writing the book, and luckily fans enjoyed reading it and everything followed from there. Q. Have you had to change your style of writing to adapt it for young readers? And what do you love about writing children’s books? A. I haven’t had to change it in any major way because my children’s books are darker than a lot of adult books! The main things I have to be careful with are sexual scenes and swearing – if a story needs those, then I generally tailor it towards an adult market. Q. You have been referred to as ‘The Master of Children’s Horror’, how do you feel about this title? A. I’m a big horror fan, so I’m very happy with that title. Although having said that, I do feel that I need to point out to those who might not have read my books that most of them aren’t actually horror books at all. The Saga of Darren Shan is an actionadventure series more than anything else, The Thin Executioner is a fantasy book and The Saga of Larten Crepsley is like a Shakespearean tragedy. I’ve never seen myself as a one-genre writer, and am forever experimenting and taking my stories off in different directions. Q. Why do you think children are so drawn to horror stories, what is the fascination? A. We all love a good scare! But apart from that, horror is a good way for us to confront our fears, and I think it can help us to cope with them. It can be a hard world, and we need to toughen up if we’re to deal with it, and exploring our fears by reading a horror book is a safe way for us to do that.
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Q&A with
DARREN SHAN
ACHIEVE
Q. Your Saga of Darren Shan novels are all about vampires, in a long history of vampires in gothic fiction, how do you think your stories compare? A. My vampires are very different to the stereotypes, and I think they’re more realistic than most. I studied sociology at university, and I approached the series almost like an anthropologist – I wanted to create a credible society of nightdwelling, blood-sucking, long-living creatures, rather than just play around with the established vampire myths. I brought in elements of real tribes like the Masai Mara, the Samurai, and the Ancient Celts. Q. What is your opinion of the Twilight books? A. I haven’t read them, I saw the first movie and didn’t like it so haven’t ventured any further, and don’t plan to. But I’m by no means anti-Twilight; I like it when genre books do well and crossover into the mainstream. Q. From vampires to demons and now zombies are your books pure escapism or do you still aim to make them relevant to the lives of teenagers? A. They’re a mix, and it very much depends on what an individual reader is looking to get out of them. If you want to read my books and only focus on the thrills, the twists and the gore, then yes they can be read as pure escapism. But they’re also about the difficulties we face as we come of age and the troubles we can have with family, friends and enemies. They’re about the war in Iraq and the state of the world post 9/11. They’re also about how we cope when we lose someone we love in unexpected circumstances. Q. Your latest series, Zom-B, is described as bloody with a high body count, is this because that’s what your readers crave? A. No. I never consider my readers when I write as I think it’s a dangerous path to start down. I always write for myself, stories that I think I would like if I was reading them, then I keep my fingers crossed that other people will enjoy them as much as me. Zom-B needed to be especially fast-paced and bloody because it deals with brain-munching monsters. I wanted to explore a fallen world where the undead have taken over and the remnants of the living are teetering on the edge. There was no quiet, subdued way of doing that – it had to be full-on.
Q. How will readers relate to your teenage protagonist, B Smith? A. While B’s situation is extreme; I think that many of them are going to find that they have a lot in common with B. And I hope that’s going to scare and intrigue them in equal measures. Q. Where do you get your ideas from? Are you already thinking about your next series of books? A. The ideas can come from anywhere, any time. Zom-B evolved very slowly, over the space of several years, as I tried to find an exciting way to write a political story. I had an idea last year, while crossing a bridge in London, for what might be my next series. I’m working on it inside my head at the moment, but it’s still too early to tell if it’s going to come together or not. Q. How important do you think an interest in reading books is for young people and their education? A. It has lots of benefits – it teases the brain, stimulates the imagination, expands one’s vocabulary. But I also think that movies, video games and comics can be beneficial too. The difference is, all those mediums are recognised first and foremost as being part of the entertainment industry. Books, sadly, have been branded with an educational mark, and I think a lot of reluctant readers ended up that way because they have been taught to equate reading with schoolwork. Reading teaches you secrets that your parents and teachers don’t want you to know, a good book will leave you gasping with delight or dread. Don’t read a book because you’ve been told that reading is good for you, read a book because it will rock your world and freak you out. Q. How would you inspire children to take up creative writing? And what advice would you give to budding writers? A. Have fun with it. Write the sort of stories you know your teachers would hate – just be careful not to show the stories to those teachers, or you might get into trouble, as I occasionally did! Zom-B is the first book in the 12-part series and will be available from 27th September 2012, with the final book due out in 2015.
Q. What else can readers expect from the 12-book Zom-B series? A. A lot more than zombies. I actually find zombies quite dull. I think you have to work very hard to write an interesting story about zombies, you have to make sure it focuses on more than just people being chased around by the undead. For me, the key to this series is the racist angle. I wanted to write about racism and the clash of cultures, and look at how certain people in authority abuse their power and use our fears to gain control over us. I wanted to look at what it might be like to come from a family of racists, exploring how you would stand up to your parents if they were violent bullies. There are lots of conspiracies in this series, lots of unexpected twists and turns. It’s a study of how children must take everything they are told with a pinch of salt, how they must observe and think and make up their own minds.
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Leeds University
FINDING THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY Choosing the right degree subject can be a difficult prospect and even when students have a clear idea of which course they wish to enroll, they still have the daunting task of deciding which university to choose. The Complete University Guide (www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk) ranks UK universities by assessing their performance in nine quality factors and are compiled by independent consultants. The subject league tables take into consideration entry standards, student satisfaction, research assessment and graduate prospects to gain an overall score. Achieve have chosen to focus on six of the most highly ranking universities in the UK for Art and Design, Food Science, Education, Civil and Building Engineering, Architecture and Veterinary medicine. Art and design at Lancaster University
What else Lancaster has to offer…
Lancaster University ranks number two for Art and Design in The Complete University Guide’s league table and achieves a consistently high ranking in the UK league tables being a centre for excellence in teaching and research. Lancaster is now one of only six collegiate universities in England. Each college has its own distinctive character, community and support network and all boast small close-knit communities in which students live and work for the duration of their studies at Lancaster, providing a friendly, safe and secure environment for all students. The campus is located a short distance from the vibrant and historic city of Lancaster and on the edge of the Lake District.
Most of the city is pedestrianized so walking and cycling is encouraged. The local bus service is efficient and the city has good road and rail links. Lancaster University has full sporting facilities including a climbing wall, plus local sports centres. Lancaster has several nightclubs, including the Sugarhouse, owned and operated by Lancaster University Students' Union. There are many pubs and a good selection of cafes and restaurants. Lancaster has two shopping centres, with all the usual high street names, located in the city centre.
Fine Art BA Honours Taught by academic staff, who are themselves practicing artists, historians and theorists, students are able to study the Fine Art disciplines separately or through interdisciplinary practice. Every Lancaster Art student has their own dedicated studio space from day one, accessible 24/7, day and night. Their aim from the beginning is for students to become an informed art practitioner with clear creative aspirations and ambition. This is achieved through the integration of studio-based professional practice and the study of both art theory and history. Getting seen is crucial for those who want to pursue careers in Fine Art. With this in mind, their degree programme ends with both a solo and group show for each student. Entry Requirements A-level: AAB including one subject outside Art and Design.
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Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Day is taking place on Saturday 22nd September 2012, to book a place visit www.lancs.ac.uk Food Science at Leeds University Leeds University ranks number two for Food Science in The Complete University Guide’s league table. The School of Food Science and Nutrition is the longest established centre teaching Food Science subjects. being twice awarded the prestigious top Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) rating for research, making the School unique among UK institutions. The Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire Moors and the Vale of York are within easy reach of Leeds University. BSc Food Science Food Science is a far-reaching discipline, with opportunities available in many diverse areas. Food Scientists can be found in science-related positions, quality assurance, product development, research,
technical services as well as enjoying careers in government agencies, consumer education and advertising. There is a mixture of lectures, tutorials, seminars, individual and group project work and practical classes. There is also the option to do a four year industrial option where students spend their third year working full time, before they return to the university for their final year. Entry Requirements A-level: BBB to include two science subjects (preferred Science subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics). Interviews are held between December and March. What else Leeds has to Offer… Leeds is friendly and lively, and the cost of living is generally low. Buses provide a cheap and efficient method of transport and a very reasonably priced student Metrocard is available. There are 160 tennis courts in the city's parks as well as pitches for rugby, football, cricket and hockey. The city also boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool along with a skateboard park. Music lovers are well provided for with chamber music, jazz, classical and rock at live venues across the city. The Hyde Park Picture House offers a unique cinema experience and there is a dazzling array of bars and clubs. The recently developed Waterfront is now a dining quarter and restaurants, cafés and bars also surround the Millennium Square. Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Day is taking place on Saturday 13th October 2012, to book a place visit www.leeds.ac.uk
ACHIEVE
Edinburgh University
city, while Princes Street Gardens and the castle sometimes play host to bigger acts. And they also have the world famous Edinburgh Festival, which takes place every August. Princes Street is the main shopping area in the city with most national chains as well as Edinburgh institutions, such as Jenners. There are three major golf courses, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a sports stadium and the largest artificial ski slope in Europe. Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Day is taking place on Saturday 22nd September 2012, to book a place visit www.ed.ac.uk Civil & Building Engineering at Loughborough University Loughborough University boats internationally acclaimed research and outstanding teaching quality and secured the prestigious Sunday Times ‘2008/2009 University of the Year’ award. The university was ranked number two for Building in The Complete University Guide’s league table. It is one of the largest single-site campuses in the country with over 437 acres of land. The School of Civil & Building Engineering aims to develop and nurture the skills required to face the challenges of our increasingly complex built environment. MENg Civil Engineering
Loughborough University
Education at The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ranks number three for Education in The Complete University Guide’s league table. As well as the four-year degree in Primary Education their school of Education also offers a four-year degree in Physical Education - which trains students to be Physical Education teachers at secondary school level, degrees in Applied Sports Science, Sport and Recreation Management and Community Education and a part-time degree in Childhood Practice. BEd Primary Education This honours course is a four-year degree programme in Primary Education, which prepares students to teach children aged 3-12. As well as lectures on a range of subjects, including Health and Well-being, Social Studies and Expressive Art, all students will complete school placements. In the final year students write a dissertation based on a piece of research undertaken during their final school placement. Entry Requirements A-Level: BBB to include English or Mathematics. What else Edinburgh has to Offer… Edinburgh is one of the most sought-after cities by students, but living costs can be expensive. The nightclub scene is vibrant; with venues hosting a combination of regular clubs by international DJs. Edinburgh is also a regular stopping point on tours for both major and upcoming artists and has a lively local music scene. You can catch gigs at tiny, old school venues dotted throughout the
In the School of Civil & Building Engineering, which is one of the largest of its type in the UK, the staff have considerable research and professional experience which ensures that the teaching is both up-to-date and relevant to the needs of the Construction and Transport industries. The MEng programme in Civil Engineering is offered as a full-time course of four years or as a five-year sandwich course incorporating a year of industrial training to gain the Diploma in Industrial Studies. Entry Requirements A-level: A*AA What else Loughborough has to Offer… The university is located on the edge of the market town of Loughborough and the cities of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby are easily accessible. It is a safe, single-site campus and provides plenty of open space, gardens and sports areas interspersed with academic buildings and student accommodation. Loughborough railway station is 2 miles away; the M1 is 1 mile and East Midlands Airport 9 miles. A shuttle bus operates between campus and the town/railway station. The university is the UK's premier university for sport and its underpinning disciplines, with one of the best integrated sports development environment in the world. Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Days are taking place on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st September 2012, to book a place visit www.lboro.ac.uk
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Veterinary Medicine at The University of Nottingham
Architecture at The University of Bath The University of Bath is a campus university only one mile from the city of Bath. It ranks number one for Architecture in The Complete University Guide’s league table and offers a wide range of single and joint honours courses in Science, Engineering, Languages, Social Sciences and Management. BSc Architecture
Entry Requirements
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A-level: AAB including one subject outside Art and Design. Professor Tim Ibell, Head of the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering says: “The architecture degree at Bath is uniquely taught alongside civil engineering, giving students access to the expertise and teaching skills of leading academics and practitioners in the field of structural and environmental engineering, as well as architecture. What else Bath has to Offer…
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There is a reliable network of buses. The city boundaries are made up of walkways and cycle paths, which are pleasant and user friendly. The River Avon runs through the centre of Bath and it is possible to hire punts and canoes from Bath Boating Station, 10 minutes from the city centre. There are 10 golf courses in the local area and the University Sports Training Village has a 50-metre pool. Walking, cycling and tennis are all popular. Bath is steeped in history with the Roman Baths being the main attraction, but there are also a range of museums from the American Museum to the Jane Austen Centre. Bath has a bustling nightlife with over 150 restaurants and pubs, bars and a good standard of live entertainment, and it is also home to the International Music Festival in early summer.
Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Day is taking place on Saturday 15th September 2012, to book a place visit www.bath.ac.uk Veterinary Medicine at The University of Nottingham Nottingham is one of the UK's most cosmopolitan cities; its compact city centre combines proud heritage and history with cutting-edge culture, shopping, sport and nightlife. The University of Nottingham ranks number two for Veterinary Medicine in The Complete University Guide’s league table. Nottingham is a multi-campus university, and each campus has its own distinct character and identity. The innovative degree course offered by The University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science has helped to change the way veterinary medicine is taught in Britain. It was given the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon’s highest possible accolade when it was awarded full recognition last June. Ranked as the best vet school in the country in the latest National Student Survey (NSS) the first cohort of students graduated last summer. Bvmbvs Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Surgery This course comprises basic veterinary sciences and clinical subjects, delivered progressively in a clinically integrated programme, using a problemoriented approach and providing students with animal experience from day one. The majority of educational experience is provided in body systembased modules each covering all of the Bath University
common domestic, wildlife and exotic species. This allows students to gain an overall picture of the body system by integrating more traditional subjects, such as anatomy and physiology, and takes a problem-oriented approach which uses clinical material to inform them of the clinical relevance of basic veterinary sciences. Entry Requirements
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Bath’s undergraduate programme in Architecture offers a structure of architectural education unique among UK Universities. Whereas the traditional pattern of undergraduate education is made up of three years of full-time study followed by a year of practical experience, the Bath course embeds the Placement in Practice year within a four-year programme. The third year of the programme at Bath includes a European exchange option, this gives students the opportunity to study at several of Europe’s leading Schools of Architecture. Those students who choose to stay in Bath are joined by students from each of these European Schools, which creates a diverse, international flavour to the year’s studies.
A-level: AAB including grade A in Chemistry and Biology. Professor Gary England, Foundation Dean of The University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, says: “I think that students like the programme at Nottingham because our curriculum is really exciting. We teach practical skills and use clinical case scenarios right from the beginning of the course. It’s a very dynamic learning environment that stimulates and inspires the students. “In year 3 all students undertake an integrated research degree and in the final year the students work in a variety of different clinical environments to develop their clinical, professional and business skills. We have been fortunate in being able to plan the curriculum from a blank piece of paper to make sure that it’s really fit for purpose.
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What else Nottingham has to Offer…
The University of Nottingham provides a free bus services that runs from University Park Campus to Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington Campus and King's Meadow Campus. A Unilink bus service also runs from the city centre to the university. Nottingham is easily accessible by road and rail. The National Ice Centre has two Olympic-sized rinks, whilst the National Water sport Centre offers white-water rafting, rowing, canoeing and water skiing. It is also equipped with ample leisure centres and swimming pools. Nottingham has a thriving nightlife, from venues such as Rock City, the Rescue Rooms and the Marcus Garvey Centre catering for most musical tastes, to a good selection of clubs. The small and compact city centre offers the full range of high-street brands and designer names. Open Days The next available Undergraduate Visit Days are taking place on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th September 2012, to book a place visit
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ACHIEVE
The first children’s fashion collection from Jools Oliver has hit the shelves of Mothercare as the company attempts to emulate the success of its best-selling ‘Baby K’ collection designed by celebrity mum Myleene Klass launched in 2007. Jools Oliver is the wife of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the 37-year-old is a model and mum of four and has now turned business woman and fashion designer. She has created the Little Bird collection, comprising of newborn and children’s clothes, nursery bedding and accessories and gifts, which is exclusive to Mothercare and is available nationwide. Jools, Jamie and their children Poppy, Daisy, Petal and Buddy were first in line to buy the new collection at the Mothercare store on Oxford Street, London. Jools Oliver comments: “I have such a passion for the design of children’s clothes, so to have this opportunity to work with Mothercare is just amazing. My mother dressed us in Mothercare clothes and I have done the same with my children, it always been part of my life.
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“My designs combine both quirky and classic style inspired by my childhood memories. The collection features nostalgic, classic pieces, sprinkled with unique touches and playful attention to detail. The entire collection has been lovingly put together and accessibly priced for parents. I cannot wait to see the reaction to it.” Mothercare chief executive Simon Calver adds: “We are delighted to have Jools on-board and add the Little Bird collection to our stores. The new product range offers exceptional quality and style at an affordable price, which reflects exactly what our customers tell us they want from Mothercare.” For more information on the Jools Oliver Little Bird collection visit
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ACHIEVE
The venture into further education from senior school is a significant milestone in the life of a child and ushers in a time of transition and adjustment on both the parts of the student and the parents. Moving up to sixth form represents a significant step towards adulthood. Whether the student lives at home or boards at sixth form, the move represents an emotional separation for both parent and child. For the most, the end of senior school marks the symbolic end of childhood. It is a move towards the future and will shape decisions when considering university. The impact on the student Sixth form is a time of socially recognised independence; it marks a time when the student is asked to make their own decisions, relatively free from rules and restrictions on their education. It is a sanctioned move towards self-government and maturity but it is only achieved because the child has to practise how to think for themselves and take responsibility for their actions. Challenges This realisation of independence can be difficult for the first-year sixth former. Suddenly they are expected to make informed decisions regarding the opportunities they are presented with. This can leave the student confronted with abundant pressures as they worry about picking a career path and plan for their academic future. This pressure can lead to anxiety and even depression. In times of such austerity, we are constantly reading and hearing about the high number of unemployed young people so the strain to make the correct choices can be considerably taxing on the minds of young students. Balancing socialising and academic study can also be daunting as college life offers an assortment of opportunities for advancement as well as distraction. There is the potential of new friendships, things to do and places to go and students may find it hard not knowing what direction is best while not wanting to miss out on any of these new experiences. Fitting in any new situation is initially intimidating even for the most outgoing child. For those moving to an entirely new establishment, it can be scary leaving the security of a familiar social group to then have to accommodate and learn about new social behaviours. Familiarising yourself with so many new faces can be difficult to settle into as can analysing new social norms.
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ACHIEVE
VENTURING FROM SENIOR SCHOOL TO SIXTH FORM Recognising when help is needed is another problem for students moving to sixth form. The pressure to be acknowledged as a young and capable adult means that sometimes even despite their best efforts the ability to handle the increased amount of coursework can lead to some falling behind in their studies. Thankfully, most establishments offer guidance counselling and extra tuition classes if teachers or students feel they might need a little extra help. This should always be encouraged to prevent problems from snowballing. Public High School to Private College Moving to a private sixth form after attending a state school can open doors for students, not only in an academic sense but it is also a great way to network and develop future relationships. Of course, moving into any new institution can at first seem daunting; the change can be both challenging and exciting for new students. The desire to fit in and social pressure on young adults however, can put a lot of pressure on students who are already overwhelmed by the recent change. Many parents consider sending their children to private colleges to increase the chance of their child attending the country’s top universities. Parents are choosing independent sixth forms because year on year it is recorded that these pupils are achieving outstanding results at A-level and equivalent. Private School to Public Sixth Form Over the past two years the increase in applications to state funded sixth forms from previous private students has in some cases quadrupled. A growing number of teenagers from private schools are applying to top comprehensives to study for their A-levels because arguably many families
now believe that state schools provide as good an education as their nearby private counterparts. In many ways Ofsted – the school inspectorate – has done a great job of identifying the good schools being run by the state. Single sex or co-education at sixth form? It has often been said that girls and boys do better academically if taught separately. Such a case, however, is misleading and dangerous as evidence suggests it really has no bearing on educational outcome. On the other hand, there is some evidence that states children do better socially if they are educated in mixed groups. This goes beyond co-ed schools with separate sex classes, because valuable interaction occurs in lesson time as well. Girls and boys learn about male and female perspectives and they learn to understand and respect the different views and opinions of their classmates. This kind of interaction in school makes the transition into a mixed sex college that much easier for a new student. Being familiar with the opposite sex can prove vital as they learn to settle into a new environment and interact with new social groups. Obviously, in the final analysis, a far more important factor than single sex or co-education is the quality of the sixth form, the leadership and the teaching. There are many outstanding single-sex schools offering sixth form facilities in the UK, both state and independent, and of course there are some awful co-educational schools. When taking this argument into consideration, parents and students should consider that an excellent single sex school is better than a bad coeducational one Tips for students moving to sixth form Explore new interests and meet new people, get to know other students through experiencing different things. Participate but prioritise. Remember getting an education should remain the foremost purpose of college but finding or perusing an existing hobby can be an exciting aspect of college life and lead to new friendships. Students who take responsibility for their education by seeking out help from particular teachers often have the best experience. Getting to know tutors
will personalise college and help the student feel connected to an institution that may seem impersonal. Be patient. It takes time to understand the rhythm of a new academic life and for students to develop a personal learning/studying style. Some surprises and disappointments are inevitable. Adjusting to an increased work load and rethinking subjects is not uncommon, assess how your expectations meet the reality and if different from what was anticipated, seek guidance and explore options. Never ignore a problem. Both academic and emotional challenges are best managed when help is sought. No matter how big or small, help is always on hand. Almost all colleges provide a counselling or wellness centre where students can seek confidential guidance and advice from a variety of sources. Tips for Parents Speak to children about their goals and support the choices they want to make. Guide rather than pressure. Communicating educational goals and expectations should be done in a manner respectful of the young person’s own style and interests. Students need to be encouraged to pursue their own passions. Address individual needs. Parents should investigate and inquire about available resources and arrange for necessary services for students with learning disabilities or physical conditions. College staff are specially trained to work with students of this type and these specialists should be identified prior to arrival. In the event of a crisis, it is preferable to support the student's own coping and problem-solving abilities rather than to rush in as saviour. Allow for mistakes. Parents must accept the child's ability to make independent decisions. Both the college student and the parents must realize mistakes will be made along the way – it is called life experience and students must adapt to learning from mistakes Children will always need parents but the relationship may become more peer-like during the transition to college. Accepting that young adults want more privacy in certain areas of their lives is part of this process.
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ACHIEVE
TO BOARD OR NOT TO BOARD? Secret night-time meetings, honours and rivalries between houses and lashings of ginger ale at the annual lacrosse match. These things have long become synonymous with the romantic idea of boarding. But in today’s century, what are the benefits of children attending privately run educational establishments? Are they really poles apart from the Hollywood image of havens for children or do modern boarding schools provide a diverse and varied education like so many of them promise? Achieve looks at the pros and cons of boarding versus day schools to find out.
boarders having more time at their disposal. This also means more hours spent on homework, with an average of 17 hours a week spent on extra study compared to eight hours for public school children. As the evening draws nearer the boarding school comes alive with tutors giving extra time to lessons after 7pm.
There are currently around 700 schools in the UK to offer boarding. Of the pupils in schools who are members of the Independent Schools Council, 442,000 are day pupils and 67,000 are boarders. Most are over the age of 11 with the biggest group being sixth formers.
And of course, boarders have the benefit of not having to endure the slog of the daily commute. Their days are given structure and routine with more time available for extended activities and making the most of the facilities after normal school hours.
Boarding
Of course it’s not all socials; societies and study, there are some draw backs to boarding full time. Pupils are not granted the same level of privacy than if they were to live at home. The boarding environment is not for everyone and can be quite irksome for older pupils who find the loss of freedom difficult to deal with.
Boarding schools often have a strong sense of community. Close-knit camaraderie and rubbing shoulders with children from varied backgrounds and countries creates and nurtures companionship. The vibrant mix has healthy, positive and farreaching effects on the school community with friendships forged during the years spent boarding enduring throughout the years. Boarding with pupils from all over the world is an education in itself as pupils get to know people from all walks of life and cultures. A wide range of extra-curricular activities is on offer in terms of sport, music or drama with
The standard of pastoral care is often outstanding – and for teenagers particularly, the quality of social life is often far brighter than that of pupils in other establishments.
Boarding schools are wonderful for the active and outgoing pupil but the importance of extracurricular activity can be less ideal for more timid students or those not interested in sport. With an average termly fee of around £7500, boarding is expensive. For many families this cost is described as life-changing as sacrifices often need to be made in order to pay the fees. However many
schools will argue that a family does not have to be wealthy for their children to attend their institution with less-well-off parents encouraged to apply for grants, bursaries and financial assistance. Finally, despite acres of secure land to run around in and an ample choice of activities to occupy young minds, even with the best pastoral care on offer some children will still suffer with homesickness. In many ways boarding can be seen to be a natural extension to the inevitability of breaking away from parents and stepping towards independence and maturity, but for some, being away from home for long periods of time can have an impact on their well being. The separation can also be difficult for parents to manage as they find themselves dealing with feelings of guilt as well as getting used to the loss around the house. Day School Many parents desire the ethos of private schools without having to survive the long terms without seeing their beloved off-spring, if you live in an area which has several day schools to choose from and you have the time to commit to full-time parenting then this could be a serious option to consider. Cost is a huge factor to take into account when deciding what type of school is best suited. Day schools are sometimes preferred as they are less expensive than boarding as the tuition fees are cheaper. Many day schools in Britain offer a first rate education for less than £10K per year. Inevitably boarding schools cost more than day schools, but parents do save money on food, laundry, electricity and transport during term time.
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ACHIEVE
Also, you will inevitably miss out on major mile stones in a child’s life and development if they become full-time boarders. This, for some parents, is going to be difficult to sidestep if work takes them oversees and full-time boarding is the only option, however, for those who want the benefit of private education for their child without having to miss out on nurturing their maturity, day school seems like the ideal solution. Flexi-boarding (an alternative option) Boarding is a lot more flexible than it once was. Full boarding, where children live at school for the full week during term is just one option, however, many schools now offer weekly and flexi-boarding to fit around unforeseen changes in the schedules of busy parents. A weekly boarder lives at school during the week but returns home for the weekend. This option is ideal if the school is a short distance from your home as it overcomes the heavy amount of time spent in a car or travelling to and from school on a daily basis. Coming home at the weekend will help deal with separation whilst allowing children to enjoy the full benefits of fulltime boarding without having the distraction of homesickness. A flexi-boarder may only stay at school a few nights a week dependant on the parents’ circumstances. This may also help if a sudden change in schedule occurs and no other arrangements can be made for the child, so having the option there just in case is always a comfort to parents. Ultimately, there is little difference in the academic achievements of full-time boarders and day school attendees. The choice between boarding school and day school depends on a variety of factors including the maturity of the child. Varying factors should be taken into consideration when the time comes to consider your child’s education. If your price range is slightly lower you can find a wealth of boarding schools that offer day schooling that offer a superb all-round education minus the sting in the wallet. For parents who wish to have closer supervision of their child, day schools enable constant parentteacher contact which allows them to be able to monitor their child’s progress in academics and other subjects more closely. Parents are also on hand to offer moral guidance to their children during those turbulent teenage years. This can help children immeasurably as they make their transition into adulthood. After all, living at home is an education in itself and parents will forever take the role of the teacher. If children are used to the freedom and comforts they encounter at home then learning to survive in a boarding school can be difficult. Day schools allow students to take a slightly more relaxed approach to their learning than if they were living to the hectic timetable a boarding school affords. Whilst the advantages of cost and closer supervision can seem appealing, there are other factors to weigh up when considering which school is best for your child. Whilst day schools come with the added advantage of lower costs, they also come with an equal dose of added strain on parents. The daily commute to and from school every day is obviously going to pose some difficulties especially if you live some distance from the school. This can add more to the cost of fuel and take away your child’s free time that could be spent pursuing extracurricular activities.
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ACHIEVE
CHILDREN’S FASHION The autumn term is here, which means it’s time to pack away the sandals and shorts (if you even had chance to take them out this summer!) And replace them with knitted jumpers and wooly hats…
CHRISTMAS PARTY OUTFITS
Ditch the jeans for their Christmas party and think pretty dresses and sparkle for girls and super smart shirt, tie and waistcoat sets for the boys.
Heritage quilted jacket, £24. Next
Boys
Leopard dese
rt boot, £26.
Chinos, from £6. F&
istcoat, shirt J by Jasper Conran wa hams ben De 3. -£2 & tie set, £21
F at Tesco
Next
Ballerina pumps, £22. Monsoon
Black sparkl
e coat, £32.
Girls
Faux fur gillet, £22-£24. Butterfly by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams
Next
Playtime essentials call for a spot of warmth and practicality…with added style! And remember denim doesn’t need to be restricted to jeans; we love this boy’s denim shirt from Debenhams.
£20, Brantano ga trainers, £18-
Osa
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ker
Boys
ker by Ted Baker
Bluezoo denim shirt, £13-£17. Debe
Baker by Ted Ba
PLAYTIME CASUALS
Trousers, £20-£22. Ba nhams
Jumper, £8. F&F at Tesco
Jeans, from £10. F&F at Tesco
Dress, £31-£35.
Boys Hoodie,
from £4. F&F
at Tesco
Girls Wellies, £14. Brantano
Backpack, £12. Brantano
ACHIEVE
STAY WARM
Our summer was a bit of a wash out, but be prepared for winter with the latest coats, hats and boots for girls and boys.
Boys
.
Gloves, Boy London Novelty on £10. Monso
Boys Boots, from £14 F&F at Tesco
Jack Stripe Nepal,
Union £12. Monsoon
. Boys Jacket, from £16 F&F at Tesco
Girls
co
Jumper, £8. F&F at Tes
Roseline Check Coat, £60. Monsoon
Knitwear is no longer just that jumper your aunty knits you for Christmas; the latest knits come in a variety of styles and trends…from jumpers and cardigans to ponchos. This tribal wrap cardigan from Monsoon is one of our favourites as it continues the tribal trend into autumn/ winter.
co Jumper, £5, F&F at Tes
. Brantano
Feet Street Boots, £22
r, Bluezoo leopard trappe s ham ben De 4. -£1 £13
COSY KNITWEAR
Boys -£20. Bluezoo cardigan, £16 s Debenham
Cardigan, Baker by Ted Baker s ham ben De 8. -£2 £26
Girls Native Poncho, £32.
Monsoon
nald Jumper, Star by Julien Macdo s ham ben De £18-£19.
,
Tribal Wrap Cardigan £24-£26. Monsoon
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KENYA The Kenya safari experience offers a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy an educational holiday. With 74 National Parks & Game Reserves, Kenya is one of the few places on earth where lions, leopards and cheetahs live in close proximity to one another. The Maasai Mara National Park is a truly spectacular setting for a family safari, stretching across 1,672 sq. kilometres it is one of Kenya’s best-loved reserves. The Maasai Mara is also home to the wildebeest migration, one of the most spectacular natural events in the world. The family holiday market is ever-increasing in Kenya and the destination is now leading the way for other African nations. The Samburu landscape in Kenya’s dry north, is stunning for its dramatic range of landscapes – the dry plains, river and mountains. It is also great country to see the Samburu special five – the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisa Oryx and the long necked antelope, the Gerenuk. The Safari Collection – Feed a giraffe, ride a camel, track a rhino and meet the locals with the Safari Collection who offer four very different properties showcasing Kenya’s animal magic to adventurous families. A popular property with children is Giraffe Manor in Nairobi – home to a breeding and education programme for the rare Rothschild Giraffe. This exclusive boutique hotel has rooms named after the giraffes and children of all ages are wowed by the resident giraffes that poke their heads through the front door, dining room windows and even bedrooms. The Safari Collection offers a seven night family safari trip with one night at Giraffe Manor, three nights at Sasaab and three nights at Sala’s, staying in 4* accommodation on an all-inclusive basis including all meals, local drinks, game drives, park and conservation fees internal flights, transfers and AMREF flying doc registration. Prices start at £3,121 per adult and £1,962 per child based on 2012s high season rates with a family of 2 adults and 2 children sharing 2 rooms or our family units. International flights not included in the price. For more information or to request prices visit www.thesafaricollection.com
ZAMBIA Watch hippos and elephants stroll past your tent as they drink from the nearby watering holes, follow in the footsteps of lions and leopards with a bushwalking safari, or discover big game from the comfort of luxury viewing platforms. True adventurists can even ‘return to the wild’ with a night camping out under the stars in the midst of the African plains. Experienced guides are on hand to point out animal tracks and lead fishing challenges or act as an MC in wildlife quizzes. Games of football with local schoolchildren, cooking lessons and learning to play traditional Zambian drums can also be arranged. Enjoy a 7-night family safari holiday at Norman Carr Safaris including 4 nights at Kapani Lodge and 3 nights at Kakuli bush camp. Prices start from £12,540 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children over 8) and inclusive of international economy-class flights, internal flights and transfers, all meals, house drinks, laundry, park fees, game drives, night drives and walking safaris. For more information contact Aardvark Safaris on 01980 849 160 or mail@aardvarksafaris.com
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TAKE A WALK ON THE
WILD SIDE
Families who want more from their holiday than just sitting on a beach may wish to consider a family-friendly safari experience. Spotting Africa’s big five animals – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo in their natural habitat and exploring the unspoilt natural wilderness is a fantastic opportunity for both parents and children to enjoy an unforgettable and educational adventure-of-a-lifetime.
TANZANIA Experience an unparalleled safari and beach experience in southern Tanzania across two camps and a resort. From the unspoilt natural wilderness of the Jongomero Camp, the only retreat found in the south-western sector of the Ruaha National Park, to the beach-front cottages at Ras Kutani, families can truly relax and enjoy themselves. The private 4x4 Land Rover safaris at both Jongomero and Selous Safari Camp offer a great vantage point from which to take in the sights and sounds of the African bush. In addition, boat and walking safaris are available which offer a unique opportunity to spot wildlife in their natural habitat, from hippos and crocodiles in Lake Nzerakera to the elusive wild dogs found in the Ruaha National Park. Ras Kutani on the southern Tanzania coast, perched on top of the hill, the family house boasts plenty of privacy, space and stunning views of the Indian Ocean. Comprising two cottages and constructed of natural materials and furnishings this familyfriendly retreat offers luxury in a picture perfect location. Ras Kutani is the perfect hideaway for families seeking a Robinson Crusoe adventure, with the chance to see colourful fish, dolphins, whales, turtles hatching (in season) and even a shipwreck.
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The beach retreat on the relatively undiscovered Tanzanian coast boasts a deserted beach, fresh water lagoon and warm blue sea. For the junior explorer, there’s a mini-trek through the tropical, coastal forest behind the lodge, which houses 132 different types of tree and in turn four species of monkey, including the spectacular black-and-white colobus. The Selous Safari Company and Expert Africa is offering a nine-night safari and beach adventure from £3,618 per person (saving £1,024 per person). The itinerary includes three nights on safari at Jongomero Camp, three nights at the Selous Safari Camp, plus a further three nights at the exclusive beach retreat of Ras Kutani on a full-board basis. Also included are flights from Heathrow with British Airways, internal transfers, game viewing drives in open sided 4x4 vehicles, walking safaris and boat safaris at Selous Safari Camp, as well as concession and park entrance fees, taxes and surcharges. For more information visit www.expertafrica.com or call them on 020 8232 9777.
SOUTH AFRICA Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is an unspoilt part of Africa, perfectly integrated with the adjacent Kruger National Park. There are four luxury safari lodges and home-cooked cuisine is served on the decks built over the riverbed. Other facilities include a spa, library, art gallery, meditation garden and private butlers. Guests can opt for jeep tours, walking tours or a combination of the two. Experienced rangers will guide these tours and will tell captivating stories about the wildlife and the area along the way. The Elefun centre has recently opened within the lodge area, which fosters children's awareness and appreciation of nature. The activity centre will offer interesting and entertaining activities for children in two age categories: the Junior Tracker Programme for 4 to 8 year olds and the Junior Ranger Programme for children between the ages of 9 to 12. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is a member of Great Hotels of the World's Luxury Collection. For more information or to request prices, please visit www.ghotw.com/sabi-sabi or call 020 7380 3658.
Something a little bit different… Why not try one of these alternatives to the African Safari: • A ‘micro safari’ at Frégate Island Private, a highly exclusive natural haven in the Seychelles. While it doesn’t boast the traditional ‘big five’, it does offer children the chance to really explore nature in a safe and secure environment. Get up close and personal with a whole host of exotic and rare species, from hundred-year old Giant Aldabra Tortoises and Hawksbill Turtles to Seychelles Magpie Robins and creepy crawlies such as Giant Millipedes, and the island’s most precious inhabitants the Frégate beetle and the Enid Snail, neither of which can be found in the wild anywhere else on Earth! For more information visit www.scottdunn.com •
Consider a family safari to see tigers in India, designed for wildlife enthusiasts who long to see a tiger in the jungle, by visiting two of the finest parks in Central India on a 9-day tour. Visit Bandhavgarh National Park in the undulating Vindhya Hills, home to tiger, leopard, spotted deer, wild boar, sloth bear, and an abundance of birdlife for a couple of days’ jungle activity. Then families move on to visit Kanha, one of the largest parks in the country and inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book. Families have the opportunity to spot the elusive tiger, among other mammals: commonly sighted are the spotted deer, swamp deer, langur, wild boar and jackal. Less commonly seen are the tiger, Indian hare, wild dog and gaur. For more information visit www.transindus.co.uk
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Visit a monkey sanctuary and an orang-utan rehabilitation centre on the Borneo Family Adventure. Spend a night camping out in the jungle and head out in a longboat to try to spot Borneo's famous wildlife, including macaques, proboscis monkeys and crocodiles. Includes a cooking class, visits to hot springs and a day relaxing on an island getaway. For more information visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk/family
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ACHIEVE’S ROUNDUP OF THE LATEST IN
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Modern technology advances at an extraordinary speed and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. In the spring issue we explored the increasing use of social networks, iPhone applications, eBooks and online games being used for educational purposes. Following on from this we have collated a few examples of the latest advancements in technology to help your child have fun and also improve their communication skills, literacy and problem solving…
The Kobo Vox Colour eReader - £149.99 With a seven-inch, FFS+ multimedia touchscreen, the Kobo Vox colour eReader is perfect for families who multitask. Not only can people enjoy a best-in-class reading experience with access to latest eBook titles in vivid colour, but the Kobo Vox expands the experience by letting users send email, browse their favourite websites, listen to music or watch videos, and much more. But most importantly, it’s also a great tool for getting children to interact with reading. The Kobo Vox includes a Read Along feature that connects highlighted words to instructive audio. The Kobo Vox also brings children’s picture books in colour giving the feel of reading a physical book. There are numerous visual / audio books becoming available to help children understand reading. Light and compact enough to take anywhere, the Kobo Vox lets families embrace eReading. It offers a dynamic reading experience in vivid colour, with a multi-touch screen optimized for outdoor reading and an extra-wide viewing angle ideal for shared reading. It also boasts one of the world’s largest eBook libraries, with millions of titles, including many popular children’s books in full-colour. Available from WHSmiths.
Miffy’s Garden iPhone and iPad app - £2.99 Dick Bruna’s iconic white bunny, Miffy, now has her very own App for iPad, offering a great new way for parents with young children to share the delights of this classic storybook character. The App brings to life the story of when Miffy first discovers the joys of gardening with her parents: she learns to turn over the soil, plant seeds and watch her crop of carrots grow. Children can get stuck in too, by ‘digging’, ‘raking’, ‘sowing’ and ‘watering’ the garden, using simple stroke, swipe or tap actions on the Ipad screen. They even get to ‘harvest’ Miffy’s carrots at the end. Interactive, educational and fun, the Miffy App includes the story read out loud feature, with lively animation which responds to a child’s touch. This facility allows parents or children to have fun recording their own voice reading the story. A friendly voice gives explanations, encouragement and rewards. The app is suitable for children aged 2+ Available from www.itunes.apple.com/gb/app/miffys-garden/id495662581?mt=8
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C-pen digital highlighter – prices start from £79 The C-Pen digital highlighter is designed primarily for students and can be used for collecting information, note taking, revision and for those students learning a foreign language or translating text. The C-Pen enables the user to scan printed text and have it translated and spoken out loud with instant text-to-speech features. Text can also be sent to any portable device (Smartphone, tablet, notebook etc.) where it can be stored for future reference. The C-Pen is perfect for any students who have Dyslexia or other Special Education Needs which affect communication, reading and writing skills, or for those who have an auditory learning preference.
The Dube – prices start from £190
Created by footballer Dion Dublin, this stylish cube percussion instrument has an internal microphone for volume control and comes in a range of colours and sizes. The feedback has so far been that The Dube is great for teaching musical elements such as rhythm and timing, and also the different sizes lend themselves to teamwork exercises. A Dube is extremely versatile as a teaching tool, as it can be modified to simply include, for example, colours or numbers on each side which then correspond with the differing tones and sounds produced. It can also help to develop rhythm and co-ordination. It is suitable for children aged 11+ Available from www.thedube.com
Carol Vorderman Maths Made Easy Dictionary - £3.99 Rory’s Story Cubes iPhone app - £1.49 Designed for the iPad, Carol Vorderman’s Maths Made Easy Dictionary Multi-Touch eBook includes 130 interactive pages with over 500 mathematical entries covering words, phrases, shapes, measurements, concepts, calculations and much more. There are also 25 galleries showing mathematical examples and 85 audio clips spoken by Carol herself so children can learn the correct pronunciation of mathematical terms. Other features include: 20 moving 3D images, over 300 colour images, 2 Videos and step-by-step explanations. Aimed at children of all ages up to the first years of secondary school, Carol Vorderman’s Maths Made Easy Multi-Touch eBook provides all the tools needed to understand maths in a fun and exciting way. It’s also great for parents who need a hand when helping out with homework. Available from www.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/carol-vorderman-maths-made/ id523596401?mt=11
Just ‘roll’ the nine dice on the screen by shaking your iPhone and nine different images will appear. Children then have to link the images to tell a story. It’s a lot of fun and really encourages little ones to think outside the box. This app is especially good for those who struggle to sit down and just write a story off the top of their head. This app can be used to encourage speaking and listening, as a creative problem solving tool and to build confidence in your child’s creative ability. Although the app is aimed at children aged 6+ it can be a fun activity for older children and adults too. Available from: www.itunes.com and www.storycubes.com
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PARENTING BLOGS September sees the winner of the 2012 Mum and Dad Blog Awards being announced. The third annual awards, in association with Parentdish.co.uk, are the UK’s biggest award for parenting blogs and this year they received more than 100,000 nominations and votes.
The five finalists are:
Adventures of an Unfit Mother
Emma writes about the funny side of life as she desperately tries to raise five children in the countryside of Northern Ireland. She writes to try and hold tight to her sanity and hopes to also make her followers laugh along the way. Read Emma’s adventures at www.adventuresofanunfitmother.blogspot.co.uk
One woman’s journey to pay off her mortgage, drastically reduce consumption and live a simpler life. Frugal Queen’s blog is full of quilt making, recipes, shopping and cleaning tips and is a great resource for anyone wanting to live fugally.
Frugal in Cornwall
Read Frugal Queen’s advice at www.frugalincornwall.blogspot.co.uk
Northern Mum
Jane is a Northern mum with Southern children; her blogs are usually funny stories about her life with three small children, a husband and a dog. Find out the latest on Northern mum at www.northernmum.com
Merry records the life and times of her mostly home educated family, living with the loss of a beloved child and the new arrival of the adorable Ben. Merry blogs about family life, crafts, reading and also her small business selling educational and fun toys.
Patch of Puddles
Check out her blog today at www.patchofpuddles.co.uk
Slugs on the Refrigerator
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Kat charts her children’s childhoods and her experiences of motherhood in Scotland. Her blog is full of her children, crochet and knitting patterns and tutorials for beginners. Catch up with Kat at www.slugsontherefrigerator.com
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PRIVATE HEALTHCARE Deciding to go privately for your families healthcare can be a costly business. However, parents can cover dental, optical, alternative treatments and medical costs for just a few pounds a month through a range of private healthcare schemes. Better still, they can potentially pay back five times what they cost. Achieve has provided a step-by-step guide to healthcare cash-back schemes, to help parents work out which is the right one for their family. Cash Plan Schemes Cash plan schemes are insurance policies which pay out when you or your family incur healthcare costs. You pay a monthly payment – called a premium - and then when you lay out your own cash for a treatment, you are able to reclaim a percentage of the costs back, up to a pre-determined amount. For example: Spend £100 on private or NHS healthcare, then send in your receipt to the cash plan and they will typically send you 75% of that back, so you would receive £75. There are lots of different levels of cover available, through a variety of companies, and each plan differs on what's covered, the maximum amount you can claim per treatment, and the percentage of money paid back. Though even on cheaper policies, they pay out on a broad range of things including chiropody, inpatient stays, and complementary health. A Typical Cash Plan Will Cover: • Dentist: check-ups and dental treatments. • Optician: sight tests and prescription glasses or contact lenses. Some providers exclude disposable contact lenses. • Chiropody: foot treatment and advice.
• Physiotherapy or osteopathy. • Maternity payments: cash, paid when a child is born. • Complementary health: osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy and acupuncture by a registered practitioner. • Hospital inpatient: a cash allowance paid for each night spent in hospital. • Hospital parental stay: a cash allowance paid when a parent spends the night in hospital with a sick child. • Special consultation: repayment of fees paid towards a consultant physician or surgeon. • Personal accident, death and funeral benefits: cash grants paid out in the event of accident or death. • Health screening: schemes will pay for an annual health screening. These are just an example of the type of treatments covered; it is important to find out exactly what is and is not covered with your chosen plan. Cash plan schemes are an alternative to Private Medical Insurance, which effectively provides a full-service alternative to the NHS, so that if you are ill or have a problem, the check-ups and treatments are all automatically paid for. However, Private Medical Insurance can be costly, so cash plans are a cost-effective alternative for some families. They operate separately from the provision of treatment and simply allow you to reclaim some of the cost of the private healthcare you need.
what you can claim back. Children are usually covered free of charge on their parents plans. When choosing a cash plan the aim is to find a policy with a range of cover and a good pay-out rate. Always check the cover levels suit you and your family’s needs before buying. Family schemes are the top payers overall, with potential returns slightly higher than even the competitive single parent schemes. Most plans have qualifying periods, where you cannot claim for the first few months, it is important to check with your plan is it could be anything from one month to six months. Also, be sure to send your treatment receipts into the plan in plenty of time, as some plans will have a cut-off point. Most of the cheaper policies exclude claims on preexisting conditions, except for dental and optical, so it is really important to check this if you do have a medical condition. Some companies offer cash plans for their employees, so make sure that your check with your employer before taking out a policy. Once you have compared the cash plans on offer from a variety of providers and have chosen the plan, tariff and level of cover that suits you and your family, don’t forget to make use of your plan by ensuring you send in all of your treatment receipts. Many people forget to do this, or get distracted by other things. This forgetfulness is how the providers make their money!
The Small Print When you make a claim with your provider, you'll either be able to claim all of the cost back, or only a percentage. Most providers usually have a range of tariffs. Increasing the amount you pay increases
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ON YOUR MARKS,
GET SET, GO… Following the success of the London 2012 Olympics more young people than ever before are being inspired to take up sport. No matter what their age, ability or previous experience, boys and girls are aspiring to take part in a variety of sporting activities. It is recommended that all children are active for one hour every day and there is no better way to achieve this than through sport. With a generation of children fighting obesity, getting involved in sport not only keeps children fit, healthy and active, it also builds their confidence and social skills. Making positive long-term changes to healthy eating for all the family, and getting your child involved in sport or exercise, can make a big difference. Sport England have invested over £1 billion of National Lottery and Exchequer funding in attempting to get people involved in sport and make it a habit for life, rather than a passing phase. Their five year Youth and Community strategy was launched in January 2012 and £40 million has been invested in working with national governing bodies of sport, of which 60% will benefit 14-25 year olds. Through the strategy, Sport England has also set up new funding schemes for sporting facilities and has invested in local areas, striving to reach the heart of communities. Their ambition is to increase the number of people, especially children, who play sport regularly and reduce the number of young people who stop playing sport when they have finished school. According to the London 2012 Olympic committee: • The London Olympics have inspired 500,000 people to choose sport. • Over 100,000 children from over 12,000 schools were involved in the School Games, which took place in May in the Olympic Park venues. • £135 million has been invested into 1,500 facilities, clubs, playing fields and participation programmes across the country. • Over 2 million young people are involved in the ‘Get Set’ education programme, in 25,000 schools and colleges. • 175,000 schoolchildren and accompanying adults were given the opportunity to go to the Games for free. • Over 4 million young people took part in each of the last two Lloyds TSB National Schools Sports Weeks.
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Physical Benefits Children are becoming increasingly less active, in the UK, around 27% of children are now overweight and research suggests the main problem is a continual reduction in the amount of exercise children take. Overweight children are more likely to develop diabetes or heart disease in later life and are also more likely to become obese as adults. Regular exercise reduces body fat, strengthens bones, improves stamina and concentration and aids co-ordination, balance and flexibility. It can also help to fight depression and anxiety. Social Benefits Getting involved in team sports can be a great way of improving social skills as being part of a team can give a child a sense of belonging. It also challenges them to work in a group and encourages them to think about the team as a whole and be happy for their teammate’s successes, understanding that it benefits the team as a whole. Being part of a team sport requires a lot of commitment and children are able to prove to themselves and others that they can turn up for practice as well as to matches or competitions. For most children it takes time, effort and persistence to enable them to become good at their chosen sport. Also in team sports children have to learn to take their turn, requiring them to learn patience. All are valuable life lessons. So, Which Sport? This year’s Olympic Games had 26 different sports and 39 disciplines, everything from archery and athletics to water polo and wrestling, with 10,490 athletes competing at the highest level for the greatest goal. Obviously not every child who gets involved in sport will attain this level, but sport can also be a lot of fun and a great way of blowing off steam! Most schools will have a varied amount of sporting activities for your children to get involved in. Sport England have been inspired by London 2012 to produce a guide to sport, www.thegamesandbeyond. com which helps you to find out about how to take part in each of the 26 sports, wherever you live in the UK and no matter what your age or ability. Sport does not have to be limited to just the usual activities, like football, netball or swimming, there are loads of different sporting activities your children can get involved in. It’s just about finding the sport that suits them best. Here are just a few of the Olympic sports on offer around the UK:
Athletics The competition requires athletes to run faster, throw further, jump higher and leap longer than their rivals. With 2,000 athletes competing in 47 events, Athletics is the largest single sport at the Games. There are four main strands to the Athletics competition: 1. Track events can be divided into sprints, middle distance and long distance events, as well as those that include obstacles such as the hurdles and steeplechase. The track also hosts men’s and women’s relays. 2. Field events can be divided into throwing (for example, Shot Put) and jumping (High Jump). 3. Combined events are a combination of both track and field. These are the Decathlon for men (10 events) and the Heptathlon for women (seven events). 4. Road events include Marathon and Race Walks. The Benefits… Running can help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes. It can also boost your mood and keep your weight under control.
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The Benefits… Taekwondo can help to improve strength, flexibility, stamina, agility and reflexes. The sport can also higher confidence, reduce stress and improve levels of concentration and discipline. Handball Rowing The Rowing competition at the London 2012 Games featured extraordinary displays of power and passion on the world-class waters at Eton Dorney. Interest in the sport began to increase after Oxford and Cambridge Universities began their rivalry on the Thames in 1829, a rivalry that continues today in the shape of the annual Boat Race. Today’s sport is renowned for its competitors’ legendary displays of strength and stamina, as athletes push themselves through the pain barrier in an attempt to win Olympic gold. Rowing events are head-to-head races, ranging from Single Sculls to the Eight, contested by teams of eight rowers with a cox. There are also lightweight events, where there are weight limits on the athletes in each boat. The Benefits… Whether chasing an Olympic gold or simply rowing for pleasure, learning to row is a fun and sociable activity. Rowing can increase your health-related fitness by helping to burn excess fat and improving your cardio-respiratory fitness. Taekwondo This Korean martial art involves powerful kicks and punches, which offers tension, drama and plenty of action. The object of Taekwondo is to land kicks and punches on the opponent’s scoring zones: one point is awarded for a valid attack to the trunk protector, two points for a valid turning kick to the trunk protector, three points for a valid kick to the head, and four points for a valid turning kick to the head. Each contest is made up of three two-minute rounds. Over their standard white uniform, known as a dobok, competitors wear coloured protective equipment. The competitor wearing blue is referred to as chung, while the competitor in red is hong.
Speed, skill and stamina are key attributes for competitors in Handball, a quick and exhilarating team sport. Developed in Denmark, Sweden and Germany in the late 19th century, it was originally played outdoors as field handball. It first appeared at the Olympics at the Berlin 1936 Games. Played on the largest court of any indoor ball sport, Handball features two teams of seven players passing and dribbling (bouncing) a small ball with their hands. The aim is to throw the ball into the opposition’s goal, which happens often: it is not uncommon to see 50 goals or more in a single match. The goal is protected by a goalkeeper. Only the goalkeeper is allowed in the goal area in front of each goal. However, players may jump into this area when attempting a shot at goal but must release the ball before landing. Matches consist of two 30-minute halves, with the team scoring the most goals the winners. Handball is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with schools, colleges and universities having taster sessions, then coaching sessions, and ultimately starting their own clubs. The Benefits… It’s been described as a sport that combines all the best elements of basketball, water polo and football, with a little bit of rugby thrown in. Handball mixes high-speed action, gymnastic agility, sleight of hand and tremendous power with spectacular shots on goal. It helps to improve strength, flexibility, stamina, agility and reflexes. So, What Are You Waiting For? If your children have been inspired by the 10,480 athletes who took part in London 2012, then help them to find the sport that’s right for them. Whether it is just for fun, getting fit or nurturing a hidden talent, it is proven that sport is a great way of improving children’s confidence and social skills. And who knows they could be encouraged to be the next Jessica Ennis or Mo Farrah!
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CONFRONTING RISING UNIVERSITY FEES Saving for your Children’s University Education
Being a parent is an expensive business, with the Centre for Economics and Business Research putting the cost of raising one child until the age of 21 at a staggering £218,000, up an inflation-busting 5% since 2011. What’s scarier still is that the report’s findings show that parents could end up shelling out as much as £17,459 a year during any offspring’s university education. However, we’ve asked Chartered Financial Planner and Director of Midland Financial Solutions, Kevin Edwards, to give us some expert advice on how parents can prepare themselves, and their bank accounts, to successfully fund their children’s university education... The facts: What it will cost From September of this year tuition fees can rise to a maximum of £9,000 per year for a full-time course and, unfortunately, the cost of university doesn’t just involve tuition fees. If your child will be going away to university, accommodation costs, even outside London, could easily be another £6-8,000 per year. This means a three year course studying away from home could cost you around £50,000. If you have more than one child, particularly if they are likely to attend university at the same time or if your children may want to continue study and undertake a post-graduate course or second degree, then the figures become more daunting. However, you and your children may have access to funding streams that could ease the financial pressure. Financial aid: Is it available? Under current Government policy, there may be several avenues open to you: Tuition fee loans for the full amount of the fees incurred are available to every student. Your child would start repaying the loan once they started earning £21,000 p.a. (at 9% of income p.a. over £21k), and they could repay the loans early without penalty, should they have a windfall. The interest rate on these loans is inflation +3% whilst studying (which is currently equal to around 6% interest) and after the student has finished university the interest varies between inflation and inflation +3% p.a., depending on earnings. At 6% interest the amount of the debt would double every 12 years if not repaid. Tuition fee loans are written off after 30 years. Maintenance loans are available to help towards accommodation and living costs. The maximum available if your child is studying away from home is £5,500 p.a. outside London (£7.675 in London) - although if you have a homebody, they can still apply for up to £4,375 p.a. Maintenance grants are available to households on lower incomes. If household income is less than £42,600 p.a., a grant of between £50 and £3,250 could be available. For a particularly talented student, you may be able to access scholarships or bursaries and there are several sources of financial support for those students with disabilities and those with dependents.
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Tuition fee loans: Warning! Taking out a tuition fee loan might seems like a sensible option to take the pressure off trying to find the funds, however, take a look at the example below that outlines the real costs. You might want to think again... Take 6% p.a. interest on a £27,000 tuition fee loan (this assumes a £9,000 loan each year for three years). This equates to £1,620 p.a. of interest. If you earn less than £39,000 p.a. you won’t even repay the interest on the loan. If you earned exactly £42,000 p.a. for the rest of your working life you would have repaid £56,700 by the time the loan is written off! (This is the highest total repayment figure at 6% p.a. interest). Someone earning £50k p.a. would take around 16 years to repay the loan at 6% p.a. interest and would have repaid £41,760 in total. The reality of these figures is shocking, even more so when you consider that this is a time when inflation is relatively low. Finding the money: Where to start Step one: Establish how much you’re going to need. I’d suggest assuming a minimum of £40,000 per child for a three year course. Step two: Check what you’ve got already. Consider how you might be able to find the necessary funds. For example, do you already have savings you could use? Are you looking to build up a lump sum over time? Do you have a high enough disposable income that it could be used to fund some or all of the costs on an ongoing basis? Step three: Analyse your expenditure. Are there savings you could make to free up extra disposable income? An extra £200 pm over 10 years equates to £24,000 (without any interest or growth). Step four: Review your existing savings and investments. Are you getting the best possible interest rate on deposit accounts? Are your investments growing at the rate needed to provide the required lump sum? Do you know how much investment risk your investments are exposed to? Are your savings and investments as tax efficient as possible? Step five: Check your tax situation. Maximise your ISA allowances and, for couples particularly, ensure that your Income Tax situation is as efficient as possible. For example, is one of you paying a higher rate of tax than the other? If so, you’ve probably got
scope to reallocate assets between you to save tax. Any tax saved is extra money for your fund. Step six: How much time do you have before the funds are needed? The timescales that you are working to will have an impact on how you should invest, however, as a general rule, the more time you have the better. If growth can be compounded over longer periods of time, your money works harder. For example, £100 in an account earning 4% p.a. interest would grow by 22% over 5 years, but by 48% over 10 years and 80% over 15 years. Longevity is equally important if you’re talking about investing in stocks and shares, because time moderates investment volatility. If you consider the FTSE100 returns over the last five calendar years (to 31st Dec 2011), statistically you have around a 40% chance of suffering a capital loss by investing in the FTSE100 over just one year. For each additional year you remain invested, the risk of suffering an overall capital loss decreases. Step seven: Be realistic about your attitude to investment risk. Get good, independent, financial advice and invest in a way that makes you comfortable. Always understand the risks you are taking before you commit to investing – as you can lose money as well as make it. Step eight: Plan for the worst. Planning for your child’s future education can’t be faulted; however, it’s important to consider other factors that may affect your family’s financial wellbeing. For example, are you protected financially if something unexpected happens?
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What if you die unexpectedly, or are unable to work due to long-term illness or incapacity? If such an event would impact on your ability to save the necessary amounts and you have not got adequate financial protection in place, then this will leave a large hole in your planning. Investment strategies: The options Deciding on an investment strategy will depend very much on the timescales you have available, your own attitude to investment risk, whether you are investing a lump sum and/or regular amounts and how important it is to you that the objective be met. Saving for less than five years: You would be well advised to stick to deposit accounts that have no risk to capital and to try and squeeze the best possible rate of interest (providing you are within the FSCS limits of £85k per person per FSA registered institution you are protected if the Bank or Building Society defaults). You may have to accept that inflation could erode the real value of your money a little. Saving for between five and ten years: In this situation it will depend on your attitude to investment risk as to whether a deposit account approach or a more adventurous approach is appropriate. There are also some
investments that have the potential for inflation matched returns but that offer some form of capital guarantee.
deposit accounts to Unit Trusts/OEICs, ISAs, Investment Trusts, Investment Bonds and Structured Products. There’s a long list!
Saving for ten years or more: Investments such as stocks and shares and property have the potential to provide above inflation returns over longer periods of time. When investing in ‘real assets’ like property, spreading the risk is the key. Diversification across different types of assets and geographic regions is proven to reduce the overall level of investment risk within a portfolio.
Deciding which of these products will be the most suitable for your requirements depends very much on the type of underlying assets you want to invest into, costs and charges, tax considerations, any specific risks associated with a particular product and the level of investor protection offered by each product. The best advice I can give here is to seek professional advice from an Independent Financial Adviser who will be able to discuss your individual situation in detail.
TIP: If you are saving regular amounts then volatility can be your friend through what’s termed as ‘Pound Cost Averaging’. If you are saving £250 per month into a fund that invests into the FTSE100 and the price of the units is £1 per unit, then each month you buy 250 units. If the FTSE100 falls by 30%, then the unit price is 70p and you would now buy 357 units. If you have a suitably long timescale then you can take advantage of this in the early years, with a view to reducing the amount of investment risk you take as you approach your target date. Investments: Products available Once you’re happy with your overall investment strategy, there are numerous different products that may be suitable to meet your objectives. From straightforward
Kevin Edwards is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Director at Midland Financial Solutions. For more expert advice, log on to www.midlandfinancialsolutions.co.uk, email info@midlandfinancialsolutions.co.uk or call 01332 345370.
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HEAD IN THE BOOKS 2012 NEW BOOK RELEASES
The start of a new Autumn/Winter term means a selection of new books to read. From spy adventures and blood thirsty zombies, to interactive toys that read along with you and embarrassing mums who sign up for reality TV, Achieve has the latest book releases for children of all ages.
BIGSBY’S BEST FRIEND Publisher: Hallmark’s Story Buddy range
Price: £19.99 (including toy Bigsby)
Released: September 2012
Age: 3+
Bigsby is an adorable furry creature that comes with his very own story book and can actually speak and join in as you read aloud. He joins a cuddly gang, which includes Abigail the Bunny, Watson the Racoon, Cooper the Bear and Jingle the Husky Dog. Bigsby is a very shy, giant furry creature that lives in the forest. The book tells the tale about Bigsby meeting Sam, who has just moved to town, and how they become best friends sharing lots of fun and adventures. Ideal for boys and girls over three years old, children will adore listening to the lovable creature join in with the imaginative story. Additional books featuring the exciting adventures of Bigsby are also available.
BADGER THE MYSTICAL MUTT AND THE BARKING BOOGIE
By McNicol & Jackson
Publisher: The Lunicorn Press
Price: £5.99
Released: Out now
Age: 5-9
A mysterious and extremely whiffy smell has caused the Pong Police to close the lane. Now, Cheryl with a C, the dancing diva who put the wah-wah in Chihuahua, has nowhere to practise for Anton Du Bark’s Hotpaws Barking Boogie, and she needs a partner. Newly appointed leader of the gang, Dodgy Dave, has a secret he’s not keen to share. Can the Alley Cats help bring the lane back to life, and can Buddy Bites get Cheryl off spicy fajitas for ever? With his haphazard magic, an appetite for toast, and his Wim-Wim for a Wowser, will Badger the Mystical Mutt save the day? This is the second in a series of illustrated children’s books addressing issues such as bullying, disability and prejudice.
SEBASTIAN DARKE: PRINCE OF SPIES Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
Price: £9.99
Released: 27th September
Age: 9-11
By Philip Caveney
A perilous journey across vast ice fields, dodging ravenous vulpins, is only the beginning of Sebastian Darke’s final adventure. He, Cornelius and Max are on their way to Golmira, Cornelius’s beloved home kingdom, on a rescue mission, for Golmira has been invaded by the cruel Tannisians and its people cast out of the city into the frozen Badlands. What madcap scheme can the three friends come up with this time? They will become spies, enter the city in disguise and find a way to drive out the Tannisians. Sebastian must brush off his jesting skills, Cornelius take on the challenge of his life and Max – if he can ever stop moaning – will need all his strength if they are to pull off their most daring plan ever. This is the fourth and final book in the hugely successful series.
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ACHIEVE
THE GRIMM LEGACY By Polly Shulman Publisher: Oxford University Press
Price: £6.99
Released: 6th September
Age: Teens
In downtown Manhattan there is a very special place. It might not look like much from the outside but if you enter and make your way to the basement, you will find something so amazing you won’t believe your eyes. The Grimm Collection. It’s mysterious and powerful and in the wrong hands could be devastating. The story combines the buzz of modern New York life with a dash of fairy-tale magic.
THE WITCHER KEYS By Ian Johnson Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
Price: £15.99
Released: 25th October
Age: Teens
Victoria Featherstone is still mourning the mysterious death of her mother when tragedy strikes again and a failed kidnap attempt leaves her baby sister Elspeth in a coma. But these are no ordinary intruders, and a hideous calling card reveals their despicable nature. What have they done to her sister? What is the meaning of the strange dagger they left behind? And why did they take one of her mother’s old keys? Mark Walker, her childhood friend, seems to be the only person brave enough to help her unravel the mystery. The two teenagers are drawn into an epic struggle between the forces of the unseen world. There they meet allies and foes, coming face to face with light and dark elves, spriggans and hobgoblins, and an evil terror that stalks the North York Moors. Their friendship and courage will be tested, and they must learn how to fight – and fast!
SEEKING CRYSTAL By Joss Stirling Publisher: Oxford University Press
Price: £9.99
Released: 4th October
Age: Teens
When fate throws Crystal Brook into the path of Xav Benedict, the personality clash is explosive. It is hate at first sight. As their families gather in Venice, a powerful seizes the opportunity to attack. Xav and Crystal must unite to save their lovedones, discovering a secret that entwines them forever… This story is a mix of spine-tingling romance and nail-biting action.
CAMP GOLD: RUNNING STARS By Christine Ohuruogu Publisher: Random House
Price: £5.99
Released: Out now
Age: 9-11
Maxine is crazy about sports! She's thrilled to be going to Camp Gold, an elite sports summer camp. She's nervous too - will she be good enough? At the camp she meets good friends, cute boys and, best of all; she discovers her hidden talent running. Soon she's training for the Nationals, which will be watched by Olympic champions. It's tough but it'll be worth it if she wins. Then the pranks start and her things go missing . . . someone is out to sabotage her chance of winning. Can she stop them before it's too late?
POLLY PRICE’S TOTALLY SECRET DIARY: REALITY TV NIGHTMARE By Dee Shulman Publisher: Red Fox
Price: £5.99
Released: Available now
Age: 7-9
Polly Price didn't think it was possible for her actress mother, Arabella Diamonte, to be any more embarrassing than on the trip to San Francisco last summer. That is until she agrees to take part in a television programme called Celebrity Home Watch and a camera crew arrives at their home to film. Her mother lacks volume control at the best of times, so this is truly a reality TV nightmare - with no escape for Polly!
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THE TRANSITION TO SENIOR SCHOOL For parents of children who are making the big step from prep school to senior, the leap can seem daunting for both parent and child. Parents have to come to term with the fact that their son or daughter is growing up and the child progresses into early adolescence and has to start making their own decisions. Comparing senior schools can be a hard task and a long process. In the Midlands alone, independent senior schools range from schools which hold nearly 2000 pupils to more modest schools that hold less than 400 pupils. Every school will be completely different and have something to offer than makes it stand out from the rest. Before you start to panic about the task in hand, it is important to be clear in your mind exactly what you and your child want from their senior school. Weigh Up The Options Some of the most basic, yet essential, decisions to make are: Do you want them to board or attend a day school? Do you require a single-sex school or a co-ed? Is the religious denomination of the school important to you. Many parents opt for a boarding school rather than a day school because of location. If after careful consideration you have found the ideal school but it is over 20 miles away from home, then boarding seems the logical option. However, do not rule out the schools close to home, as you may find the perfect school is literally on your doorstep. If you would like more help in weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of boarding versus day schools, check out our helpful guide on page. Choosing whether to send your child to a single-sex or co-ed school can be a tricky decision, with both options having their own pros and cons. Ultimately, parents need to consider their child’s personality, their friendship groups and how they work best. If you have a particular religious denomination which you would like your child to follow, then it is important to check that the school welcomes your faith and that the schools beliefs and practices do not contradict your religion. Of course another big consideration when choosing a school is the financial cost, so it is essential to work out your budget to ensure that your school of choice is an affordable option. Don’t just take into consideration the fees, also think about the other costs such as extra-curricular activities, uniforms, gym kit, books and stationery…to name just a few! Once these big questions have been answered you will be able to narrow down your search and make the task seem much more manageable. How Do They Compare? Some parents and school bodies do not agree with using league tables to determine the standard of a
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school, mainly due to how they are compiled and what information is omitted. However, from this year changes have been made to how the league tables are out together and as a result they now pride parents with more information and give a wider view of the school. School league tables can be a good way of comparing a school’s academic standard, ability and progress. League tables for independent senior schools are published by a number of different resources. The tables take into consideration the results from recent examinations, such as Key Stage 2, GCSE, AS and A2 Levels. Many of the league tables also consider factors such as staff turnover and how they spend their money. League tables are just a snapshot and can be a useful guide when you start to do your research, they may also generate questions you may wish to ask when you visit the school for an open day. THE TRANSITION TO SENIOR SCHOOL Be Prepared Open days are a great way of getting the feel of a school, allowing your child to immerse themselves into the school setting and mix with the other pupils. They are also an ideal opportunity to ask questions, clarify information from their brochure or website and speak to the teachers. You need to make sure that the school is a good fit for your child, so go armed with pen and paper (or your blackberry or iPad!) and a checklist of exactly what topics you wish to cover. Here are a few ideas to get your check list started: • Speak to the head and find out the school’s values and their aspirations for their pupils. Also if you have any queries over facts, figures or statistics (possibly some that have been highlighted on the league tables) now is the time to get clarification and answers. • Make sure you observe the other pupils as this will provide you with an insight into their work ethic, behaviour, appearance and accomplishments. • Also try to take in the atmosphere of the school and class room environment. Is it positive and do the children look happy and enthusiastic? • The school should provide you with their reports detailing the facts and figures for the school’s academic standards. • Check the schools policy on discipline and whether this matches with your own methods. • View the school’s sporting facilities and what modern technology they have to offer. • Do they offer any specialist subjects or sporting activities that your child is particularly interested in? • Find out what the school’s safety policy is to dispel any concerns you may have over security.
Decision Time After all that you may feel exhausted and overloaded with information. Take a step back and break down the information into categories as this will help you to make your comparisons. And don’t forget the importance of including your child on the decision as it is them who will be spending the next few years of their life there. Have a family meeting and draw up the positives and negatives of each school, but be prepared that the ultimate decision may simply come down to gut feeling or the fact that you got a good vibe from the school and teachers. Once the decision is made, make sure you book your place fast, as places can be snapped up quite quickly! Top Tips On How To Help Your Child Settle In At School • Settling in well is all about self-esteem so it is important for parents to try and build their child’s confidence. Children with high self-esteem are less likely to be bullied, or to bully, or belong to gangs and are more likely to gather a wide circle of friends. So tell them how great they are and give them a real boost! • Listen to their fears. Your child is possibly anxious and also afraid their concerns will appear trivial to others if they say them out loud. Talk through their worries and help to come up with solutions to problems and allay fears. • Making friends is an important step in feeling like they belong. Be encouraging if they want to invite friends home and suggest it if they don't. • Have a trial run of the route, especially if they walk or cycle. If they miss a school bus home you need to talk through what they will do, especially if you are working and can't pick them up straight away. • Make sure they have emergency money and credit on their mobile phone – if it is allowed in school. • Think about any changes you might need to make at home so they have the time, space and energy for homework. If they are struggling to manage their time, sit down with them and help them to make a study timetable. • Encourage them to join lunchtime or after-school clubs. They are a great way to make friends. If after half a term they really don't enjoy it, they can drop it.
ACHIEVE
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A guide to independent Schools in
Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire
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STAFFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SMALL CLASSES BIG IDEAS BETTER RESULTS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE, COME AND BE A PART OF IT Open Morning - Saturday 20th October 2012 www.staffordgrammar.co.uk
01785 249752 headsec@staffordgrammar.co.uk
STAFFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL Stafford Grammar School offers an exceptional education with an outstanding level of pastoral care providing the encouragement and support necessary to enable every individual to fulfil his or her potential. It is our belief that everyone can be successful in some sphere of educational activity, given the appropriate conditions. Our ethos of traditional values aims to teach our pupils the value of hard work and discipline whilst providing a happy environment for all. The School has built a formidable academic reputation and is now an established centre of excellence at all levels including admission to top universities. DfE league tables recently placed Stafford Grammar School first in Staffordshire and within the top 5% of schools in the UK. In summer 2011, 53% of GCSE results were A*/A; 65% of AS were A/B grades and 74% of A2 results were A*/B grades; 100% of GCSE students achieved 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE including Mathematics and English. Academic excellence is not our sole aim: our students excel in sport, music, drama and all other extra-curricular activities. A wide variety of sports is taught at Stafford Grammar School. Pupils play matches against both local maintained schools and schools in the independent sector. Our teams and individuals enjoy success at district, county and national levels. Our students excel at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, each year achieving more Silver and Gold Awards than all the other schools in the area. Currently we have over 30 pupils doing their Gold award, nearly 60 doing their Silver and almost all of our Year 9 year group are participating in the Bronze Award. We have a flourishing concert band, choirs, instrumental groups and orchestra. Music concerts are held regularly at school and at various external venues and the concert band has received several bookings for private functions. In 2010 our concert band took part in a musical tour of Paris, culminating with a concert at Euro Disney. Students in the music department performed on a professionally produced CD. This year the concert band will be performing at several venues in Rome. Stafford Grammar School continues its remarkable success without losing sight of its original ideal as a caring community for individuals, enabling all pupils to reach their full potential.
Chase Academy an Aspirational Environment In the middle of May as the rain battered the blossom on the trees and bizarrely we were still in the middle of a drought, we found ourselves tiptoeing across the car park trying to avoid the puddles, the mud and the cobbles. The diggers were in and there were trenches everywhere. Someone once described what we hope to achieve as an ‘aspirational environment’ and it is true that a few weeks can make a tremendous difference. As the work progressed the team of workmen had begun to turn Chase Academy into a beautifully landscaped oasis. The long term plans are vibrant and exciting. There is no doubt that it will look fabulous and will become a well thought out, welcoming and stylish environment complete with extra seating areas and beautiful new trees and shrubs. So what has taken us so long to sort out this landscaping. Probably the most important reason is that for us the priority has been the education of our children. We have been working hard to get this right. We have made sure that the curriculum meets the needs of each student and that each student achieves the very best that they can. And when all is said and done the old adage that ‘Beauty is only skin deep’ is true. You cannot always see what lies below the surface and it is easy to be dazzled by the showy exterior. So it has been our priority to get the core of the education that lies below the exterior as right as it can be. When parents choose to send their children to our school, of course they would like to see a beautiful, well cared for environment. But what they are really interested in is the teaching and the care that their child will receive. We have paid particular attention to this. Even now the landscaping, and after that the planting, will take time to become established. But we know that one day we will be beautiful and we will have that attractive exterior. More importantly we already know that, as far as educating your child is concerned, we know what we are doing and we get it right.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Junior School
Nursery • Junior School • Senior School • Sixth Form
Open Morning Saturday 20 October 10 am to 1 pm
• 77.2% A*, A and B Grades, A‐level, Summer 2011
Newcastle-under-Lyme Junior School is, quite rightly, very proud of its recent ISI report, which acknowledges the School’s many strengths and its outstanding Early Years classes in Nursery and Reception. Small classes throughout the School allow individual attention according to the child's specific needs. Enthusiastic, inspiring and well qualified staff provide the right environment for children to grow in confidence and to learn effectively. Literacy and numeracy are highly regarded, as well as music, the arts, ICT, humanities and languages. The curriculum and range of activities in the Junior School adapts to meet each child’s needs with emphasis given to English, mathematics and science as core subjects, but not at the expense of exploring other curriculum opportunities. The School prides itself on going above and beyond the National Curriculum requirements, adding a diverse range of clubs, sports, societies and other extra curricular activities to the children's programme of learning. Children are motivated to take up hobbies and interests in the wider life of the School, according to their own interests. These include, to name but a few of the 52 clubs on offer, musical instruments, swimming, netball, football, hockey, dance, chess and French, which helps them to develop into well rounded, confident and capable individuals. The happy, family atmosphere of the Junior School complements the varied and well balanced curriculum provided for each child. Communication between home and school is one of the School's major strengths. The strong working relationship between parents and the School ensures the best start in life for every child.
• “Outstanding” Pastoral Care, Inspection Report
• “Outstanding” outcomes at the EYFS
• Transport: Stone, Eccleshall, Nantwich, Leek, Congleton, Market Drayton and Uttoxeter
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ST5 1DB 01782 631197 achieve advert:135 x 93mm 25/6/12
Making weekends the big thing! At a time when many schools are increasingly moving towards weekly boarding, Moor Park is trying to buck the trend. Even with a new boarding team in place, newly refurbished dormitories and rapidly growing boarder numbers, the question was still ‘What do we do about the weekends?” The answer was “make them BIG’
The first was relatively simple with an ‘outdoor theme’. Over sixty children took part in a ‘three legged treasure hunt’ around the 85 acre site, following on with outdoor dodgeball, and a BBQ to round off the evening Three more hugely successful weekends have followed with themes of The Cube, Masterchef and the Wild West. All have proved hugely enjoyable and more and more children have joined in.
B OA R D I N G A N D DAY P R E PA R AT O RY S C H O O L
Boys and Girls from 3 to 13 years
For the best years of a child's life
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 4DZ 01584 876061 | head@moorpark.org.uk www.moorpark.org.uk
OPEN MORNING Friday 5th October | 9am - 12 noon
For more details please give call 01584 876061 or visit us on our Open Morning on Friday 5th October.
St Joseph’s Preparatory School Come and visit us to experience just what it is that makes our school so special. • Independent Catholic School for ages 3-11 years, welcoming all faiths. • Before and After school care, 7.45am to 5.50pm. • Open 50 weeks of the year through the provision of a “Holiday Club”. • Early years funding available for all 3 and 4 year olds. • Every day is an open day, please call to make an appointment.
The journey starts here Academic excellence will always be at the heart of St Joseph’s Preparatory School, but we know that you also want your child to feel happy and to enjoy an education which will inspire and excite them, draw out unique abilities and open their eyes to an exciting world of wonder and discovery. Our school aims to provide a caring Christian community with an ethos which brings the Gospel message alive, a place in which individuals can develop fully, contributing as happy and caring members of a school community which values their unique talents, whilst learning to live as well-mannered, self-disciplined and tolerant individuals. St Joseph’s Preparatory School is a special place, where imagination comes alive, talents are nurtured and friendships are fostered. It is a happy vibrant place where the days are filled with fun and laughter. To arrange an appointment to visit us, or to receive a prospectus please contact the school secretary on 01782 417533.
St Joseph’s Preparatory School, Rookery Lane, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent. ST4 5RF.
Telephone: 01782 417533 www.stjosephsprepschool.co.uk
Traditional values foundation for academic success Set in the historic Cathedral Close, Lichfield Cathedral School provides independent education for girls and boys aged 3-18. Class sizes are kept small and specialist teaching is provided from an early age. The school offers a broad curriculum, combined with traditional values and first class teaching. Primarily a day school, boarding is only available for the boy choristers of the Lichfield Cathedral Choir. While internationally renowned for its music, plenty of sport, art and extra-curricular opportunities ensure that pupils are typically well-rounded, dynamic and ambitious. A range of scholarships are offered in music, performing arts, sports and academic subjects. To book a personal tour, contact the Registrar, Lesley Bannister, on 01543 306168 or email lesley.bannister@ lichfieldcathedralschool.com
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All tutors with Fleet Tutors are fully qualified. They must have the minimum of a degree in the subjects they teach and/or teaching qualifications and outstanding references. Fleet Tutors is recommended by The Good Schools Guide and has been featured in the national media. Its 2010 survey showed that over 80% of students tutored by Fleet Tutors improved their performance by at least one grade after only ten hours of tuition. Tel: 0845 644 5452 Web: www.fleet-tutors.co.uk
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All Time Dude specialises in fashion for teenage boys aged 11 to 18 years and retails Redskins, Duke, D555, Split Star and Red Soul brands. We also offer our own brand of Hoodies and T-shirts. We stock polo shirts, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, shorts and accessories.
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Our main home is online but All Time Dude will also party plan in your own home with 3 or more friends where the boys can also try the styles if they wish. All Time Dude offers a friendly and personal service. A great way to shop for teen boys. All Time Dude is also available for fundraising and corporate events.
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Composite St Dominic’s Priory School, Stone - An outstanding school for your children
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. Give them the best possible start in life, and join us here at St Dominic’s Priory School in Stone, Staffordshire. St Dominic’s Priory School is an outstanding independent day school educating girls from 18 months to 18 years and boys to 11 years. From January 2013, we will also be providing boarding for girls aged from 13 years. Our school Nursery operates 51 weeks of the year, and benefits from being part of an independent school. Our Reception and Primary children have been busy putting into practice their classroom teaching – including building an Eco Garden, presenting their Olympic themed play, visiting Chester Zoo and enjoying lots of sport (we came second out of twenty two schools at the recent Midlands Independent Schools Junior Athletic Championships)! Our Senior and Sixth Form girls have been studying hard for their exams, as well as participating in industry days with local businesses, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and showcasing their talent at a Performing Arts Evening. We are very proud of our students’ exceptional GCSE and A Level results. The most recent ISI Inspection rated us as ‘Excellent’, with an unprecedented 25 ‘excellent’ judgements. St Dominic’s students are given the best possible start - leaving school with excellent academic grades, self-confidence and friends for life. Over the last 10 years every pupil who continued their education into the Sixth Form went to their university of choice. Alongside our creative and engaging curriculum, we offer a full and varied range of extra-curricular activities and sports. We are delighted with our Artsmark Gold Award for Arts Education, and our pupils enjoy participating in art exhibitions, music concerts, school productions and dance groups. Join us at our Open Days on 13 October 2012, 9 March 2013 and 11 May 2013 or book a taster day at your convenience. We would love to share our school with you. Please visit www.stdominicspriory.co.uk for more information or call 01785 814 181
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Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to unlock your child’s potential, building their confidence and independent study skills. Take advantage of our Free Assessment and see how Kumon can benefit your child. To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a Free Assessment: Arnold Dorridge Sherwood Wolverhampton West
0115 822 4711 01564 829 732 0115 875 1271 01543 262 054
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0800 854 714 kumon.co.uk
Birmingham Kumon study centres offer Free Assessment!
Kumon is the country’s leading supplementary education provider, with over four million students worldwide. Whatever your child’s age or ability, Kumon can help them to excel academically, develop their capacity for learning independently and boost their confidence in all areas of life. Kumon’s unique method of learning focuses on each child as an individual, providing them with transferable study skills and ensuring they progress at a level that is right for them. Students attend their local Kumon centre once or twice a week for around half an hour and have daily worksheets to complete at home. Before enrolling, your child will benefit from a Free Assessment. This will determine where on the programs they will begin and will ensure that their Kumon study is individualised to their needs from the outset. Once enrolled, your child will start on the programs at a level they are comfortable with. This ensures that they establish a daily study habit and that there are no gaps in their understanding of the subject before moving on. By completing easier work in the initial stages of study your child will also experience success from the start, building confidence from a solid foundation. Once they have filled in any gaps and mastered the topic, the Instructor will set new and eventually unfamiliar work, challenging the student to learn for themselves. The essence of this support is guidance rather than explanation; helping students to apply what they have already learned to solve work they have never seen before. It is through this ongoing experience that the seeds of self-confidence are sown and children feel able to discover and succeed by themselves. Kumon focuses on long-term learning and achievement. As well as building speed and accuracy, Kumon’s maths and English programmes develop abilities such as concentration and independent learning, time management and problem-solving: abilities which will prepare students for the future. There are currently more than 67,000 students studying with Kumon at over 630 study centres across the UK.
For details of your local Kumon study centre and to book a Free Assessment, call 0800 854 714 or visit www.kumon.co.uk.
S T. D O M I N I C ’ S P R E P S C H O O L
Girls’ school Headteacher
@ ST. DOMINIC’S HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Pre-Preparatory | Preparatory | Senior | Sixth Form
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ISI 2011 COME AND SEE OUR HAPPY LEARNERS!
Working Open Day
Friday 9th November 2012 Open Day
Saturday 10th November 2012 Call 01902 850248 enquiries@stdominicsschool.co.uk ST. DOMINIC’S HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Bargate Street, Brewood, South Staffordshire ST19 9BA
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Outcomes for children are outstanding. ‘Teaching is excellent & often inspirational.
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St. Dominic’s High School for Girls, in Brewood, South Staffordshire is thrilled to have appointed their new Headteacher, Mr Harvey Trump, as its first ever male Headteacher. The school, which welcomed its first pupils in 1920 has always been under the caring guidance of female headmistresses, who in the early years of the school’s history were Catholic Nuns. Now non-denominational, welcoming children from all faiths or none, the school’s warm and caring ethos was one of the first things Harvey noticed about the school. “As soon as you come through the school gates there’s a welcoming smile from everyon e you meet; the kitchen staff, grou n ds team, teachers, admin staff, cleaners, our fleet of bus drivers and p erh ap s m ost importantly from our girls” he said. “I want to retain this wonderful caring ethos the school has developed and build upon the strengths of what is an exceptional school, as well as maintaining its active role in the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA). I want St. Dominic’s High School for Girls to be an exceptional and dynamic school where all pupils find it a rewarding and positive environment, which prepares them for life ahead”. St. Dominic’s High School for Girls, the leading independent girls’ school in Staffordshire is proud of its consistent academic excellence but Harvey is also keen to focus on the huge number of unquantifiable activities that happen outside the classroom. “Drama, Music, Dance and Singing all play a vitally important role at St. Dominic’s High School for Girls. Our Performing Arts department is renowned for its musical and dramatic excellence and is frequently approached by companies for our pupils to audition in local productions. They reinforce the values of the school and help to build confidence and develop team spirit” he said. Harvey, an ex professional cricketer looks forward to supporting the numerous teams and individuals across a wide discipline of sports who compete successfully at high levels within and outside our County; perhaps St. Dominic’s High School for Girls first cricket team might be just around the corner…..
Abbotsholme Abbotsholme an education for life
an education for life
surroundings, is an independent Set inAbbotsholme beautiful, rural surroundings, Abbotsholme is an independent ing and day school for ages and 4-18, co-educational boarding day with school additional for ages 4-18, with additional s a schoolnursery unlike any other. provision. It is a school unlike any other.
excellence and achievement; • Individual academic excellence and achievement; ound 15), •enabling and support; Small class individual sizes (around attention 15), enabling individual attention and support; ol facilities,• Separate with access to all senior Prep school facilities, withschool access tofacilities; all senior school facilities; oor Education programme with indoor climbing wall climbing wall • Outstanding Outdoor Education programme with indoor urgh's Award to GoldAward level;Scheme to Gold level; andScheme Duke of Edinburgh's with key •focus on hockey, rugby andoncricket; Sporting excellence with key focus hockey, rugby and cricket; rm and BHS • 70approved acre workingEquestrian farm and BHS Centre; approved Equestrian Centre; h form centre independent learning; • New for dedicated sixth form centre for independent learning; for music, •art Firstand classdrama; facilities for music, art and drama; rces bursaries available. • Scholarships and forces bursaries available.
O OUR NEXT OPENTO EVENT COME ALONG OUR NEXT OPEN EVENT NE, 5-7PMFRIDAY SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER, 22ND JUNE, 5-7PM FROM 10AM
on 01889 594 Jessica 265 or Contact Ashvisit on 01889 594 265 or visit .co.uk www.abbotsholme.co.uk
, Rocester,Abbotsholme Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 Staffordshire, 5BS School, Rocester, Uttoxeter, ST14 5BS
Abbotsholme An Abbotsholme education is an education for life. Abbotsholme is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for ages 4-18, with additional nursery provision. It’s a wonderful place in which to learn and develop, where each child’s contribution is properly valued and encouraged throughout. Pupils are high achievers and leave Abbotsholme confident, independent and adaptable. We provide a stimulating and balanced learning environment in deliberately small class sizes of a maximum 15 in the senior school, where individual academic excellence and achievement is in evidence every day. With 170 acres of copses, fields, dingles and games pitches, and science, art and languages taught by specialist teachers from the senior school, our Prep school pupils enjoy unique access to all the facilities that the senior pupils use. Our senior school develops pupil’s learning with a deliberately wide curriculum including all the usual academic subjects as well as life skills lessons and a variety of outdoor education activities. At sixth form, there is a lot more freedom and independence for our eldest pupils. With their own sixth form centre to encourage independent learning from a wide range of subjects at A-Level, as well as a log cabin village for our boarders, Abbotsholme creates the best preparation for life. We have outstanding facilities including an indoor climbing centre, BHS approved equestrian centre, working farm, theatre, music centre, art studio and extensive playing fields. There are opportunities to do den building, kayaking for the Prep school and Duke of Edinburgh, overseas trips, electric car racing and help with lambing at the senior school. If Abbotsholme is the school you have been looking for, contact Jessica Ash in the Admissions Office for more information on 01889 594 265 or email Jessica.ash@abbotsholme.co.uk. You can also find out more information by visiting our website www.abbotsholme.co.uk
Our next Open Event is on Saturday, 29th September from 10am.
opportunity for you to learn more about how The Ryley your child achieve impressive personal goals, through teaching and unrivalled extra-curricular support. providing a perfectly rounded education for children You don’t just choose your child’s school.You choose
“Children are the world's
most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” John F. Kennedy
Girls & Boys Preparatory School
For further please call The Best Education Allinformation Round
01625 583241 or visit www.theryleys.com
Open Morning: Saturday 6th October,10am -12noon Choosing the best school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will face as a parent. Our Open Morning is an opportunity for you to learn more about how The Ryleys could help your child achieve impressive personal goals, through outstanding teaching and unrivalled extra-curricular support. The Ryleys, providing a perfectly rounded education for children aged 3 - 13. You don’t just choose your child’s school.You choose their future.
In the sporting arena, pupils have reached the national schools finals in swimming, been selected for national schools teams in rugby and football and competed in the national schools biathlon championships! The best way to sample the unique ‘Ryleys’ atmosphere is to come and visit us, and see for yourself why The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the School as ‘Outstanding’ in EVERY category in last year’s inspection. Call 01625 583241 or visit www.theryleys.com for more information.
Judge
Girls & Boys Preparatory School
For further information please call 01625 583241 or visit www.theryleys.com
Outstandd ing in EVERY
by the Ind category Schools In ependent spec October 2 torate, 011
The Ryleys,Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge SK9 7UY
Abbots Bromley School At Abbots Bromley School, there is so much on offer to suit a wide variety of individuals.
Roch House Preparatory School Co-educational 3-11 Abbots Bromley School Girls 11-18. Girls Boarding 8-18 • • • • • •
Flourishing full, weekly and flexi boarding High success rates in academic subjects Outstanding professional dance and musical theatre facilities On-site equestrian centre, heated indoor swimming pool and excellent sporting facilities Wide range of extra curricular activities Small class sizes Please come and see for yourself all that Abbots Bromley has to offer.
Open Morning
Saturday 6th October 2012 10.00am – 12.30 pm
T: 01283 840232 E: enquiries@abbotsbromley.net www.abbotsbromley.net
in EV by th School Oct
The Ryleys School in Alderley Edge has a well-deserved reputation for The Ryleys,Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge SK9 7UY excellence, but it’s not just about academic success at this established and friendly school. The key to its success lies in providing a rounded education, covering sport, art, drama and music in addition to studies in the classroom. The School’s recent success in the Alderley Edge Music, Speech & Drama Festival is testament to this aim, with 19 First Places achieved by the talented youngsters. In addition, the Choir completed a tour of South Africa during the Easter break, raising over £4,000 for disadvantaged local children with a talent for music.
This flourishing boarding and day school offers an exceptionally rounded education for pupils aged 3 to 18. In Roch House Preparatory School, we educate boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 6. This co-educational school sits within the main site and offers its own dedicated facilities. In the Senior School, we offer a girls-only programme from the age of 11. Whilst pupils are expected to work hard and focus carefully on their academic studies, we also offer numerous extra-curricular opportunities including riding, dance, sports, music and theatre. Our friendly boarding community caters for weekly, flexi, full or occasional boarding. If you would like to come and see what we have to offer, we can provide individual tailored visits or you are welcome to join us at our Open Morning on 6th October 2012. Our programme of events for the morning will include a presentation by the Headmistress, music, dance, equestrian, sport, STEM club and Language Café activities. For further information, please contact admissions on: 01283 840232 www.abbotsbromley.net
Ou
Contact us for more information
Just under 14,000 sq ft of exciting indoor play! Bespoke timber frame is designed to bring the outdoors, indoors. * * * *
Climb timber towers * Crawl through tunnels * Cross rope bridges * Whizz down the Mega 4 lane * astra slide *
Chill out in the nest swing Big Fun in the ball blast area Run ‘The Gauntlet’ Bounce on the trampoline Get sporty on the sports court
A pleasurable experience for the parent too… Healthy eating café with free wi-fi access, newspapers and magazines Enquire about our children’s parties in private rooms overlooking the play area. Free parking right on the doorstep T. 01785 286882 / E. info@comeintoplay.co.uk Come Into Play. Unit A, Whitebridge Estate, Stone Staffordshire, ST15 8LQ
www.comeintoplay.co.uk
Smallwood Manor PREPARATORY AND NURSERY SCHOOL
SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Thursday 20th September 2012, 10am
Personal tours available on request
Mon-Fri - 9.30am - 6.30pm (except bank holidays – 10.30am-4.30pm) Sat - 10.00am - 6.30pm Sun - 10.00am - 5.30pm
School celebrates the true meaning of the Olympics Last term, children at Smallwood Manor Preparatory School competed in a series of sporting challenges to learn about the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship as well as peace and fairness. Pupils decorated the school with an Olympic theme and the challenge opened with an Olympic Truce Assembly, where pupils discussed the Olympics’ true meaning of peace and fairness. Pupils then completed five contests, one for each of the Olympic rings. Three of the contests – a cross-country competition, a triathlon consisting of running, swimming and welly wanging, and a foam javelin contest – took place at the school. The other two tasks were completed at home and were chosen by the children themselves. The challenge closed with a medal ceremony. Teacher Lee Woodward said: “The challenge celebrated London’s hosting of the 2012 games. By participating in the Olympic Challenge and its ceremonies, pupils were inspired by sport, appreciate and respect the differences in the world and how we’re all equals.” For further information or to request a prospectus, telephone 01889 562083 or visit www.smallwoodmanor.co.uk.
• ‘Home from home’ atmosphere • Small class sizes • Open 8am to 6pm
Uttoxeter ST14 8NS
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Packwood Haugh
Thevery best of school boarding Packwood Haugh pupils regularly secure places at senior schools including Cheltenham Ladies, Downe House, Eton, Gordonstoun, Harrow, Malvern, Oundle, Radley, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Uppingham, Winchester, Wycombe Abbey... bell-ringing – all under the guidance of Packwood’s energetic and committed staff. As one child said, “It’s great always to have your friends around you to play with. The teachers are really good fun at the weekends and we have a brilliant time.”
Packwood Haugh has always been nationally renowned for excellence, so it was no surprise when a recent inspection report praised the school for its “outstanding sense of community”. A caring environment and great family spirit is at the heart of this thriving traditional school that nurtures skills and values that will be the foundations of a great future. Packwood is a full boarding school with a lively and refreshing attitude and exceptional academic performance focused on unlocking potential. A rich variety of pursuits – whether on the sports field, in the arts, or the extensive calendar of activities, trips and events – makes boarding at Packwood the envy of day pupils. Every evening and at weekends boarders are able to make use of the unrivalled school facilities and extensive grounds. The stateof-the-art sports complex is home to
numerous clubs including basketball, badminton and fencing and is even transformed into a venue for the perenially popular ballroom dancing. Packwood’s new Headmaster, Clive SmithLangridge says, “Our ethos at Packwood is to provide the children with a happy, supportive environment in which they can have fun and flourish educationally and socially. Nowhere is this more important than in the busy boarding houses where they enjoy a warm and friendly atmosphere and first-class pastoral care, support and stability”. Boarders also enjoy regular outings at weekends with trips ranging from walks in the Shropshire hills and visits to special events to frequent adventure activity outings including white water rafting and indoor climbing, and even
For more information visit our website or contact Packwood Haugh School Park Bank, Ruyton XI Towns, Shrewsbury SY4 1HX Telephone 01939 260217
www.packwood-haugh.co.uk Scholarships, means-tested and services bursaries are available.
The full boarding experience at Packwood means children stay at weekends, although many boarders build up to this over a transitional period to allow them, and their parents, the chance to adjust to being away from home. There are regular exeat weekends throughout the term and Packwood staff escort children on the train to and from London. As the Headmaster says “Boarding is a uniquely rewarding and enriching experience that equips children with great self-confidence, resourcefulness, independence and the invaluable ability to get along with others. Our boarders leave us having made friends for life.“
OPEN DAY Saturday 13th October
Please contact us to reserve your place
LEXUS RX
Amazing. It’s in designing the world’s first ever luxury SUV. It’s in subjecting it to a gruelling 1800 final tests before it is allowed to leave us. It’s in developing a V6 full-hybrid engine capable of 44.8 mpg while delivering 299 BHP. And, it’s in making the Lexus RX available as an exhilarating F SPORT model for the very first time. At Lexus we don’t stop until we create amazing.
Lexus Connect Contract Hire – Business users only
Model
Initial rental
Followed by 35 monthly rentals of
RX 450h F SPORT
£3,888.00 + VAT
£648.00 + VAT†
Experience the RX F SPORT at:
LEXUS STOKE Gordon Banks Drive, Trentham Lakes North, Stoke On Trent ST4 4FD 01782 585 191
www.stoke.lexus.co.uk
RX 450h prices start from £44,571 OTR. Model shown is RX F SPORT at £52,605 including metallic paint at £610. Price correct at time of going to press and includes VAT, delivery, number plates, full tank of fuel, one year’s road fund licence and £55 first registration fee. †Available on new sales of Lexus RX F SPORT when ordered, registered and financed between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012, through Lexus Financial Services on Lexus Connect Contract Hire. At participating Lexus Centres. Advertised rental is based on a 3 year non-maintained contract at 10,000 miles per annum. For Business users only. Excess mileage charges apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. Terms and conditions apply. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only. Lexus Financial Services, Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Subject to availability. Lexus Centres are independent of Lexus Financial Services.
RX 450h F SPORT fuel consumption figures (MY12): urban 43.5 mpg (6.5 l/100km), extra-urban 47.1 mpg (6.0 l/100km), combined 44.8 mpg (6.3 l/100km). CO2 emissions combined 145g/km.
A guide to independent Schools in
Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
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FOR BOYS & GIRLS, 11-18
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 3-11 YEARS
DAY & BOARDING FOR BOYS & GIRLS, 11-18
NURSERY & JUNIOR SCHOOL TO TRENT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 3-11 YEARS
A Thorough Preparation for Life Situated in beautiful grounds on the Notts and Derbyshire border, our vibrant community is flourishing, building upon a rich heritage while embracing the challenges of the 21st century. We can offer an excellent education for your child, every step of the way, from ages 0-18.
• • • • • •
Achieving consistently high academic standards A wealth of extra-curricular opportunities Purpose built sites for each age group, from Nursery to Sixth Form Superb facilities for Sport, Music and the Arts Full and weekly boarding from 11-18 Years A rich and diverse co-educational community
Scholarships & Assisted Places We offer a wide range of scholarships from Year 7 to recognise excellence. Also our means-tested Assisted Places Scheme and our Duke of Devonshire Scholarships can offer substantial fee reductions.
Tours and Open Days We host a number of Open Days & Events throughout the year along with one-to-one visits and tours to ensure parents and children gain a personal insight into the opportunities we have to offer. Please contact us to find out more. Trent College, Long Eaton, Nottingham Admissions Manager | T: 0115 849 4950 E: admissions@trentcollege.net www.trentcollege.net
The Elms, Long Eaton, Nottingham Admissions Manager | T: 0115 849 4940 E: elmsadmissions@trentcollege.net www.elmsschool.net
All Round Education from 3 to 18 Co-Educational Boarding School in the Heart of the Midlands
�-�� OPEN MORNING
OPEN MORNINGS
REPTON PREPAR ATORY SCHOOL - Saturday 6th October 2012
SIX TH FORM - Saturday 22nd September 2012 13+ OPEN MORNING - Saturday 29th September 2012
01283 707100 www.foremarke.org.uk
01283 559222 www.repton.org.uk
A Rich Diverse Community - essential to a well-rounded education “A rich, diverse community is essential to the education of children as they mature into happy, confident and well-adjusted young adults” says Magnus Cowie, Pastoral Deputy Head at Trent College.
a caring, friendly, stable home-away-from-home environment, in which enduring friendships blossom and essential life skills, such as independence, self-reliance and the ability to live in a community, thrive.
That is why Trent College, the flourishing HMC independent day and boarding school on the border of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, is so fiercely loyal to, and proud of, its dedication to delivering successful co-education from Years 7 to 13.
The boarding capacity at Trent College has increased recently, as more students look to take advantage of the opportunities and unique facilities that being a full-time member of the Trent College boarding community brings.
Trent College’s driving ethos is to provide students with a thorough, wellrounded preparation for life, including cooperating and supporting others from different genders, faiths, cultures and backgrounds. This positive approach to co-education is ingrained in everyday Trent College life, visible everywhere from the classroom, to the sports arenas, through to the school’s creative and performance arts. Mr Cowie believes one visit to Trent College tells someone all they need to know about the benefits of a co-educational experience, as the students mix freely in a respectful, friendly manner in academic, extra-curricular and more relaxed social situations. He insists that for young people to be fully and appropriately prepared for life after school, boys and girls should be able to form the kind of natural friendships and relationships inherent in any adult community. Mr Cowie said: “The different attributes of the sexes makes for a richer, more diverse and more innovative environment in which to educate young people. Natural competitiveness of boys and girls creates a healthy dynamic in the classroom, in the sporting arena, on stage, in concerts and in general school life.”
As Gill Dixon, Head of Trent College, explains: “A good boarding school offers a rare experience of community living, which builds an awareness of the needs of others and a tolerance of difference and diversity which is invaluable in later life. We cherish the fact we are a co-educational and a family school, and the full week boarding ethos we offer crucially underpins the depth of care and commitment we can give to each individual. “We continue working hard to bond our whole community even more tightly so that Trent College and our Junior School, The Elms, work as one school, with the same ethos and seamless curriculum, providing a continuum in education.” Trent College’s new Lower School boarding house, which has opened this September for Years 7 and 8 is a co-ed facility, while the four senior boarding houses, although single sex, are located within close proximity of each other on campus to enhance the boarding community. For more information visit www.trentcollege.net
Leaning together
No more so is this sense of ‘family’ reflected than amongst Trent College’s boarding community. Trent College has provided boarding school education since the school was founded in 1866 and the school fully appreciates its responsibility in fostering
Sixth Form prefects lead by example
Busy grounds at lunch
Spratton Hall GRACE DIEU MANOR SCHOOL A Catholic Independent Day School
OPEN MORNING Friday 28th September 2012, 10am – 12noon
Prospective parents and pupils are invited to view the school and meet the Head Master • Co-educational independent IAPS Preparatory School • 400+ pupils aged 4-13 • Reception entry for the Pre Prep School • Year 3 entry for the Prep School “This is an extraordinary School” – GSG An “excellent” and “outstanding” School in all areas -ISI Inspection Report. Smith Street, Spratton, Northampton NN6 8HP Please contact The Registrar, Mrs Amanda Fleming-Jones Tel: 01604 847292 Email: afj@sprattonhall.com
Welcoming boys and girls from 3-13 years of all denominations and faiths
OFSTED rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ Individual care in small classes TASTER DAYS Available Excellent results at Key Stage 1 & 2 Wonderful facilities for sport & the arts Regular scholarships to Senior Schools Extended day care from 8am to 6pm School holiday activities available Morning transport service
Sow the Seeds
To Grow
your Business PR • Marketing • Print • Design Branding • Events • Commercial Photography Email: jade@purple-sprout.co.uk • Tel: 01782 658524 • Fax: 01782 657411
COME AND VISIT US!
SEPTEMBER 2012 OPEN DAYS Saturday 22nd 9.30-12pm & Thursday 27th 10-3pm Visitors welcome at other times by appointment
registrar@gracedieu.com 01530 222276 www.gracedieu.com We are located on the A512 between Ashby and Loughborough
15 min from: Ashby, Kegworth, Quorn, Loughborough, Markfield, Measham 20 min from: Birstall, Melbourne, Kirby Muxloe, Market Bosworth, Wymeswold
GRACE DIEU, THRINGSTONE, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE67 5UG
OPEN EVENING
OLCS INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL (3–18) Legis Plenitudo Caritas
Thursday, 4th October 6pm to 8.30pm
EDUCATION AND FULFILMENT THROUGH CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT We are an independent co-educational Nursery and Primary School (3 – 11) and a girls only Senior and Sixth form (11 – 18). Established on this site since 1850 we are centrally based in Loughborough. We believe in traditional values and academic achievement nurtured within a happy family atmosphere and we guarantee small classes. Mrs P Hawley, our Headteacher, staff and students would like to invite you to join us at a range of events in the coming year, where you will be assured of a warm welcome.
Open Events Personalised guided tours, no appointment necessary. Talk to our Headteacher and staff and see at first hand the enriched curriculum we offer. Hear what our students have to say about life at OLCS. Thursday, 4th October 2012, 6pm to 8.30pm Wednesday, 14th November 2012, 9.30am to 12 noon Thursday, 7th March 2013, 9.30am to 12 noon Saturday, 11th May 2013, 9.30am to 12 noon Entrance Exams for September 2013 Admission Wednesday, 16th January 2013, Year 7 Thursday, 17th January 2013, Years 9 and 10
Our Lady’s Convent School, Gray Street, Loughborough LE11 2DZ Telephone: 01509 263901 Web: www.OLCS.leics.sch.uk Member of ISA
Spratton Hall Spratton Hall is a co-educational independent day prep school situated in 50 acres of beautiful countryside seven miles outside Northampton. Spratton Hall places a strong focus on academic achievement but this is supplemented by a wide range of extra-curricular activities which enhances the education the pupils receive providing them with a true preparation for the next stage. Spratton Hall’s successes and dedication to its pupils were confirmed by an ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’ school inspection report in every respect by the Independent School’s Inspectorate. Spratton Hall continues to develop and grow. In this academic year the Hunter Hall has been completely refurbished to produce a new Performing Arts Centre which compliments perfectly the excellent sporting facilities and state of the art technology in the classrooms. Please see our website www.sprattonhall.com for a better understanding of all that Spratton Hall has to offer and contact the Registrar on afj@sprattonhall.com to organise a visit to the school.
Abberley Hall School Pupils race ahead
Pupils from a Worcestershire school are racing ahead in their bid to be ‘Soap Box Derby’ winners. The children from Abberley Hall School in Great Witley have helped to design and build their own racing car and plan to compete in regular competitions. James Abbott, who heads design and technology at Abberley Hall, ably assisted by Jordan Scott, explained that they had recently taken part in the annual Richard’s Castle Soap Box Derby. “The cars do not have engines but race along a 550 metre downhill track in the village. We were the youngest team by three years in the junior section and reached speeds of up to 56k an hour. “It’s the most fun you can have on four wheels without an engine and our boys and girls thoroughly enjoyed using their design skills and creativity to build their car and then race it. “Successive classes will now modify the vehicle with the aim of winning the Richard’s Castle race eventually!”
Girls Choir wins top accolade at international Eisteddfod. Hereford Cathedral School’s Cantabile Girls Choir has won the Senior Children’s Choir section at the 66th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, with a score of 95.6 marks out of 100 from three judges. Competing against 17 other choirs from across the globe, they were conducted by Jo Williamson. The 23 school pupils are aged from 12 to 18. To view their performance please visit: http://llangollen.tv/en/clip/cantabile-girls-choir/ The success follows on from The Cathedral School Choir being semifinalists in the 2012 BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition and winning their class in the 2012 Herefordshire Festival. Jo Williamson, Hereford Cathedral School’s Music Department and Vocal Coach said: “We are all still stunned by winning our international section, the standard was so high.” “The girls gave everything they had to give, and sang beautifully. I am extremely proud. The sound they produced on stage was simply amazing.”
Abberley Hall
Open Morning Saturday 10th November
Contact Mrs G Portsmouth, Registrar, Abberley Hall, Worcestershire WR6 6DD admissions@abberleyhall.co.uk
www.abberleyhall.co.uk
Co-educational Boarding and Day School 8 – 13 years. Outstanding academic record in preparing pupils for all public and senior schools. 90 acre grounds Sports hall Astroturf Exceptional facilities Rifle range Riding stables New science complex Art & DT centre Modern language laboratory Indoor swimming pool Large music suite French alpine chalet We also offer a wide range of evening and weekend activities from calligraphy to abseiling.
A guide to independent Schools in
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BROMSGROVE SCHOOL FOUNDED 1553
Open Mornings Senior School (13+): Saturday, September 29th
Prep School, entry into Years 6, 7 & 8: Saturday, October 6th Prep School, entry into Years 3, 4 & 5: Saturday, October 13th Sixth Form: Saturday, November 10th Bromsgrove School offers academic excellence coupled with a wealth of sporting and extra-curricular opportunities. International Baccalaureate and A levels offered. Massive investment in sports facilities. Weekly Boarding from £5,585* per term, including transport on Monday morning and Friday afternoon (existing routes). *at age 11+ Impressive new boarding facilities completed for September 2012. Taster sessions available for Prep boarding. Co-educational, Day and Boarding. 220 pupils aged 3 - 7, 500 pupils aged 7 - 13, 900 pupils aged 13 - 18
www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk
telephone: telephone:01527 01527579679 579679
email: email:admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Bromsgrove School is ancient, but its golden age is now. After over 450 years of being a successful but relatively small School, Bromsgrove has, in the last few years, become one of Britain’s largest independents with 1,600 day and boarding pupils aged 2 to 18. That growth in pupil numbers has now been wedded to a build programme of titanic scope. The passion, vision and flair that transformed the School intellectually, culturally and on the games fields is now manifest in Bromsgrove’s latest facilities. Hard on the heels of eighteen new Science laboratories (opened in 2011), come two new residential buildings for Senior girls (all en-suite), a new Prep School boarding house for pupils aged 7-13, an immense sports arena, a fitness suite, dance studios, a spectacular hospitality suite with dining facilities, a cafe for parents and pupils. The new residential accommodation gives weekly boarding options for local pupils aged 7 to 18. So, for those who might find the School run just a little too much, some of Britain’s finest boarding facilities are on hand to help. Despite the grandeur of all these developments to the physical site, Bromsgrove remains driven by values. Knock all those wonderful buildings down and the essence remains: we are committed to nurturing moral young people who make a difference for the better. OFSTED continues to rate Prep and Senior School “Outstanding” and The Good Schools Guide says Bromsgrove “inhabits the academic stratosphere.” But it also says Bromsgrove pupils are “refreshingly free from false sophistication.”
Malvern St James (MSJ) – The Boarding and Day School for Girls aged 4 – 18 Malvern St James is a school which gives every girl the opportunity to explore and develop her unique potential. By raising her expectations and extending her personal horizons, girls grow in self-belief, self-esteem and confidence; they leave the Sixth Form poised and articulate, with the aspiration and skills to achieve in the challenging world which exists beyond School. The recent ISI Inspection praised MSJ for its ‘high academic achievements’, illustrated by consistently high GCSE results and with the majority of ‘A’ level students gaining places at their first choice university. Girls benefit from a wealth of opportunities to enhance and broaden their personal understanding and experiences. The Sixth Form Enrichment Programme, for example, offers subjects including Critical Thinking, EPQ and the Community Sports Leader Award; taught, unusually, within the core curriculum. This year four Girls have received offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, studying Geography, Engineering and Natural Sciences; two girls are awaiting confirmation of their American University places. In an ever-increasingly competitive market this is a brilliant achievement and continues to position MSJ as an outstanding School for Girls. To see this wonderful School in action, join us for the whole School Open Morning on Saturday 13 October, or the Preparatory Department Open Afternoon on Wednesday 14 November, For further information, please contact the Registrar on 01684 584624, registrar@malvernstjames.co.uk
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Little Trinity - Kindergarten - Preparatory School - Senior School - Sixth Form
Join us at our weekly ‘Open Fridays’ 8.45am until 12 noon. No appointment necessary - families welcome! An international school in the heart of Worcestershire
Tel: 01562 822929 or email: office@holytrinity.co.uk website: www.holytrinity.co.uk www.iesedu.com Holy Trinity International School, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 2BY Registered as a Charity No: 517893
Nursery pupil Rose makes her own happiness chart A three year old kindergarten pupil from Holy Trinity International School’s nursery was so taken by her class activity that she decided to record pupil happiness results by making her own clipboard chart. Nursery pupil Rose Leek went around fellow classmates asking if they felt happy, sad or angry, before then collating the results on to her handmade clipboard chart, with the children’s resounding result being ‘happy’! Nursery Assistant, Miss Joanne Potter, stated: “As part of our Early Years personal, social and emotional development activities we’d given the children a chart, asking them to mark how they and their friends felt that day, with all the results added to a final tally chart to show the pupils’ overall happiness levels. “Rose, using her initiative, created a personal class activity chart and proceeded to ask the other nursery children and staff, as well as a visiting parent, how they felt, before finally marking correctly her results on her clipboard. It was wonderful to see her personal confidence, and the concentration and focus she displayed as she completed her survey.” A school for over 100 years, Holy Trinity International School is a through co-educational school from Kindergarten to Sixth Form. One of several schools under the trusteeship of IES, (International Education Systems), there are schools throughout Europe, America and South Africa. Catering for all age groups inherently means that by the time students enter the school’s Sixth Form, many have been at Holy Trinity International since Prep, which helps with continuity of teaching and retention of important friendships. Visiting students offer further insight and curriculum benefits across studies and extensive curriculum activities, virtual interaction, Homestay and Exchange Programmes giving further breadth to an essentially ‘family school’ which believes in personal progression being as important as academic achievement, with education being about student realisation of personal potential; active participants rather than passive recipients in their education. As well as Rose, around 30 children in all took part in the group activity, ranging in age from 3 to 4 years of age. Holy Trinity International School t: +44 (0)1562 822929 e: contact@holytrinity.co.uk www.holytrinity.co.uk Twitter: @followHTIS
Happily collating her survey results on to her chart, 3-year old Rose Leek.
A guide to independent Schools in
The West Midlands
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At Wolverhampton Grammar School we believe your school days should leave a legacy that lasts a lifetime. A legacy not only of excellent exam results, incredible experiences and new and exciting challenges, but one that provides a treasure-trove of lasting memories... and for generations of our students, we don’t seem to have disappointed.
Memories waiting to be made be OPEN DAY Saturday 6th October 10.00am - 2.00pm
www.wgjs.co.uk. Wolverhampton Grammar School Compton Road, WV3 9RB. 01902 422939. www.wgs.org.uk.
Wolverhampton Grammar School: Celebrating the past, building for the future This year has been a tremendously exciting one for Wolverhampton Grammar School being the 500th anniversary of its founding. “Sir Stephen Jenyns who was knighted by King Henry VIII founded a school in his home town in 1512,” explains Vincent Darby, Head of WGS. “That school is now a highly successful, co-educational school,” continues Mr. Darby. “Examination success is clearly important here, but we are aiming for much more than that - we want our students to flourish in mind, body and spirit.” This anniversary year has already been a remarkable one for WGS: a year which began with the launch of 500 balloons continued with a weekend of celebration when the school hosted a gala dinner for 450 alumni at which the Governor of the Bank of England – Sir Mervyn King was the guest speaker. Other highlights included a summer garden party; the premiere of a specially commissioned piece of music; the design of a new school crest and the re-introduction of junior education after a gap of 67 years. All in all, 2012 has provided a fitting platform on which to build a whole new legacy for WGS. “These events have been a wonderful way to celebrate our heritage, but the future is even more important,” explains Vincent Darby. “We have already introduced three new scholarships for 2012, but we want to go even further and are already looking at ways to significantly develop our scholarship programme so that looking ahead, no-one is denied a place at WGS on the basis of financial need. “We have a way to go to achieve this, but these new scholarships signify another exciting step along the way,” concludes Mr. Darby. Along with its new scholarships, WGS is also launching an exciting capital development programme in order for the school to continue to meet the needs of students as it embarks on its next 500 years. So, proud of its history and traditions, but dynamic and forward looking, WGS is an inspirational, inclusive community that, after 500 years, still places excellence at the heart of everything it does. For details of WGS’s exciting new scholarship programme go to www.wgs.org.uk.
October is the month to come and visit Bilton Grange
Open Morning
Co-educational prep school near Rugby
Saturday 6th October
Bilton Grange, which offers day and boarding education for boys and girls aged between 4 to 13, is set in 100 acres of parkland just outside Rugby, and prospective parents and their children are encouraged to come and have look around the school at the beginning of October. Saturday 6th October is school Open Morning, where Year 8 and Year 3 children will take on the role of tour guides for the morning, and show prospective parents all around the school and grounds. Come and see the school in action, meet staff, parents and children and perhaps even get the chance to toast a marshmallow over a campfire in the Outdoor Classroom.
For further information and to register attendance please call the Registrar, Rebecca Bantoft on 01788 818249 or email rlb@biltongrange.co.uk
For further information please contact Rebecca Bantoft on 01788 818249 or rlb@biltongrange.co.uk
Joy comes from using your potential . . .
...the smiles are real, the success tangible! Open Day Open Morning
Friday, 21st September, 10am to 3pm Saturday, 22th September, 10am to 1pm
Independent Day & Boarding for Boys & Girls from 6 weeks to 18 years of age (boarding from 10 - 18 years)
The Royal Wolverhampton School
Developing the Individual
Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV3 0EG Tel 01902 341230 Fax 01902 344496 Admissions: mo@royal.wolverhampton.sch.uk Full details available on our website: www.theroyalschool.co.uk
Norfolk House School is an independent school for children aged between 3 and 11 years
Norfolk House Nursery is a day nursery for children aged between 3 months and 4 years
TUITION CLASSES AVAILABLE ON SATURDAYS 11+AND SATS PREPARATION NORFOLK HOUSE SCHOOL 4 Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3PS Tel: 0121 454 7021 Email: info@norfolkhouseschool.co.uk www.norfolkhouseschool.co.uk
NORFOLK HOUSE NURSERY 3 Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3PS Tel: 0121 452 1485 Email: enquiries@norfolkhouseschool.co.uk www.norfolkhouseschool.co.uk
Preparation for a range of 11+ examinations and the success of gaining places at local grammar schools and prestigious independent schools are an integral part of the education offered at Norfolk House School in Edgbaston. This small, independent school has pupils between the ages of 3 and 11 years, with a maximum of 21 children per class allowing a high degree of individual attention. In the last academic year over 78% of the children gained places to grammar schools and some have also won scholarships to local independent schools. Combining high academic standards with some of the most competitive fees of any independent school in Birmingham, is a real bonus for parents in today’s challenging economic climate. Extra 11+ and SATS tuition is also available on Saturdays during term time. Next door to the school, in a fully renovated Victorian building is Norfolk House Nursery. Opened in the Autumn of 2009, the nursery quickly gained an excellent reputation. It accommodates 52 children and is registered for full and sessional day care, accepting children from 3 months to 4 years of age. During a recent Independent Schools Inspection, the Early Years departments of the school and the nursery achieved a well-deserved ‘outstanding’ judgement. ‘Children enjoy their learning and achieve extremely well and develop excellent personal and social skills’ - (ISI Report March 2012) The inspection report for the school was also excellent and contained a great many positive statements regarding the quality of the pupil’s achievements and learning, the contribution of teaching throughout the school and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural welfare of the pupils. ‘The personal development of the pupils is good. The school is successful at achieving its aim for pupils to become self-confident and self-disciplined. The strength of the pupils’ personal development contributes significantly to their readiness for the next stage of their education.’ - (ISI Report March 2012). However, outstanding judgements, excellent examination results and position in league tables only provide a tiny insight into school life. Other factors, including cost, ethos and class sizes are important too. Visit the school and nursery, talk to the staff, observe the children and then make your choice – you won’t be disappointed. Helen Maresca (Headmistress)
Investing in your children’s future? Here’s why you need an ‘intelligent investment strategy’ for yours You’ve achieved because you pushed that bit harder. And you want your children to achieve. A noble aim, but who is making your investments achieve? Are they taking a back seat, perhaps managed at a distance by people climbing their own ladder? But you want your money to work as hard as you do. And you want people who work as hard - and care - as much as you do. And you need a strategy. Not one that follows the latest investment fads and loses you sleep worrying. Not one that’s off the shelf. One that allows for your views, your unique situation and attitude to risk. You want something intelligent, based on clear, coherent thinking. Ours is underpinned by 5 proven principles we believe any sensible investor should follow. We build wealth for all types of professionals and businesses. Why not see if our thinking fits in with yours? Send for our free guide now. Why not make it the very next thing you do?
To get your free guide call us now on 0121 355 4455 or go to oaklandswealth.com/achieve
Straight talking, sound advice.
To get your free guide call us now on 0121 355 4455 or go to oaklandswealth.com/achieve
Open days Saturday 29th September 2012 09.45 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 noon Saturday 19th January 2013 9.45 to 12 noon
KEHS KING EDWARD VI
HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2UB Telephone 0121 472 1834
www.kehs.co.uk
Providing a leading education to young women King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) provides an intellectually stimulating environment for girls of strong academic ability. The school has a consistent record of excellence in university entrance, external exam results, extra-curricular activities and pastoral support. At KEHS the development of the girl as a whole is fundamental to the ethos of the school. An individual approach is taken to each girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic needs and their particular interests and talents are nurtured. Girls are encouraged to be challenging, critical and creative within a stimulating and supportive environment for learning. Girls consistently achieve excellent results and the school is regularly placed amongst the top UK schools in league tables. Science and mathematics results are outstanding and around half the girls each year go to top universities to read science or maths related subjects. Virtually 100% of the girls every year go on to distinguished universities. There is a generous teacher to pupil ratio and teaching staff are highly-qualified in their area of expertise. Pastoral support ensures that girls are steered through the emotional journey of adolescence as well as the academic journey of school life, and girls leave the school as well-rounded young women prepared for their personal and professional next steps. The extra-curricular life of the school is rich and there are outstanding facilities to support activities, including a new Performing Arts Centre complete with 400-seater auditorium, 120-seater drama studio and state-of-the-art dance and rehearsal rooms. With over 70 out-of-class activities on offer each week, girls excel at team and individual sports and can find enjoyment and satisfaction in a huge range of options. To find out more about the school and get a real feel for KEHS, prospective parents and pupils are invited to the next open evening on Saturday, 29th September 2012 from 9.45 a.m. to 12 noon. There will be the opportunity to tour the school, view facilities, and meet staff and current girls. For more information tel: 0121 472 1834, email: jw@kehs.co.ukor visit: www.kehs.org.uk
People
PREPARATORY & SENIOR SCHOOL
OPEN DAYS
FRIDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 9.30AM - 3.30PM SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 10.00AM – 2.00PM Scholarships & Bursaries available
Tettenhall College Inspirational
Intellectual
Individual
For more information regarding our open days please contact Annabelle Addison on 01902 793002 or 01902 751119. Find us on Facebook
www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk
Open Days at Tettenhall College Visit Tettenhall College to see why pupils, ranging from age 2 to 18, thrive in the positive environment that is created. By taking full advantage of the opportunities on offer and becoming involved in every aspect of school they develop a confidence for life in addition to academic success. Individual attention and support within small classes coupled with outstanding pastoral care enables all of our pupils to develop their own talents and abilities. Each and every pupil is encouraged to achieve their best. For some pupils this has resulted in gaining a place to read engineering at Cambridge, achieving national recognition as part of the UK Hockey Team, singing in the National Youth Choir and working as an illustrator on a number of children’s books. Other pupils have met their own personal targets, which may be more modest but are just as important and celebrated with equal pride. Tettenhall College is built on strong academic, sporting and cultural foundations and in 2013 we look forward to celebrating our 150th Anniversary. A century and a half of quality education rests on these foundations and as the school has moved through the generations the facilities and opportunities provided have continued to grow. We are holding an exciting range of events throughout 2013 to commemorate past success, celebrate present achievement and to look towards an exciting future. We hope that you will join us on our Open Days on:Friday 28th September, 9.30am - 3.30pm Saturday 29th September, 10.00am – 2.00pm This is a fabulous opportunity to view the school in action, meet the dedicated teaching staff and our happy and successful pupils. As well as being amongst the best schools in the country in terms of pupils exceeding expected results in GCSE examinations Tettenhall College also has a strong tradition of excellence in art, music, drama and sport. Academic scholarships are therefore supported by a number of scholarships for art, music, drama and sport. In addition to our Open Days, we also offer families the opportunity to have a personal tour of the school throughout the term. If you would like to take advantage of a tour or require further information about the Open Day then please contact Annabelle Addison in our Admissions Office on (01902) 793002 or (01902) 751119.
You’re making money. But are you building wealth? You and I have never met. But if you’re reading this magazine, I am pretty sure I know something about you. You’re a realist. You’re a realist about your children’s chances in life. You know those chances start with education. You probably know some of the statistics. You probably know that over half of Oxbridge students are privately educated.
Helen Blackburn, ISO 22222 Certified Financial Planner, Managing Director, Oaklands Wealth
And 7% of our population is privately educated, but they get 60% of the top jobs.
WHERE YOUR INTELLIGENT INVESTMENT STRATEGY BEGINS
But you also know that private education - and most other worthwhile things in life - don’t come cheap.
Here’s 3 ideas for a start:
You need money. You need to make money. You need to keep money. And you need to make that money work. You need to build wealth. But there is a conspiracy. A conspiracy to prevent you. It is called the tax system. Every year HM Revenue and Customs, bless them, find more and more ingenious ways to take more and more of your money off you. Then the Government find more and more astonishing ways to spend it. The highest-earning 1 per cent of Britons pay almost 30% of all income tax. The 3.7 million people who pay 40% tax hand the Treasury another £57 billion, 34% of the total UK tax revenue. Do you know your marginal rate of tax - how much you pay in taxes allowing for national insurance and personal tax allowances? The U.K.’s top marginal rate of income tax is the highest in the developed world. It’s all very well ranting about tax, but what should you do? Start by finding intelligent ways to plan so you don’t pay a penny more than you must.
1. Set up a family investment portfolio for yourself, grandparents and children, using a mix of investments to balance risk and projected return according to when you need to take money out. This should include channelling your surplus income into a collective investment portfolio using your Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance each year (£10,600 in 2012/13) to make withdrawals without paying further tax. More adventurous? Why not add Venture Capital Trusts to give you immediate 30% tax relief set against any income tax liability you have paid at basic or higher rate?
Plough in contributions each year. The Government adds 20% if you are paying personally and you save corporation tax if you run your own business. And claim additional tax relief via your self-assessment if you’re a higher rate taxpayer. How does this help? You can take 25% out, completely tax free, from age 55, which you can use sensibly to fund your children’s education. The remainder will feather your nest so you continue to enjoy the things you do now in retirement. Many are so busy making money they don’t build wealth as fast as they could. If you’re already benefiting from these ideas – fine; but as Einstein said “Never stop asking questions.” Here are 3 vital ones:
2. Establish a Trust Fund to ring-fence money for children’s education.
Is your money working as hard as it should? Are you sure? What can you lose by finding out?
(Very popular if you want to give grandchildren a helping hand while saving tax and retaining control of the investments).
We are not a big City firm with hot and cold running executives. We are here in the Midlands. Modest in size, offering personal service - yet working with some surprisingly big names. And keen as mustard.
You can give away up to £325,000 of assets without incurring an inheritance tax (IHT) charge, so long as you have not made significant gifts in the previous seven years. 3. Use the flexibility of a SIPP – they are not just for the longer term.
Why not send for one of our free guides and see if we can help? To get one, simply visit our website: www.oaklandswealth.com/achieve or call us on 0121 355 4455
ACHIEVE THE MIDLANDS
Staffordshire
Abbots Bromley School for Girls School of St Mary St Anne, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, WS15 3BW Tel: 01283 840232 www.abbotsbromley.staffs.sch.uk Abbotsholme School Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5BS Tel: 01889 590217 www.abbotsholme.co.uk Aidenswood 47 Liverpool Rd East, Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, SY10 9DD Tel: 01782 777998 Birchfield School Albrighton Nr Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV7 3AF Tel. 01902 372534 www.birchfieldschool.co.uk Bladon House School Newton Solney, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE15 0TA Tel: 01283 563787 Brooklands School 167 Eccleshall Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 1PD Tel: 01785 251399 www.brooklandsschool.com Chase Academy St John's Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 3UR Tel: 01543 501800 www.chaseacademy.com Denstone College Denstone, Staffordshire, ST14 5HN Tel: 01889 590484 www.denstonecollege.org Drive Preparatory School Wood Road, Tettenhall Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 8SE Tel: 01902-751125 Edenhurst Preparatory School Westlands Avenue, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2PU Tel: 01782 619348 www.edenhurst.co.uk Howitt House School Hanbury, Staffordshire, DE13 8TG Tel: 01283 820236 Hydesville Tower School 25 Broadway North, Walsall, Staffordshire, WS1 2QG Tel: 01922 624374 www.hydesville.com Lichfield Cathedral School The Palace, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7LH Tel: 01543 306170 www.lichfieldcathedralschool.co.uk Maple Hayes Hall School for Dyslexics Abnalls Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 8BL Tel: 01543 264387 www.dyslexia.gb.com Mayfield Prep School Sutton Road, Walsall, Staffordshire, WS1 2PD Tel: 01922 624107 www.mayfieldprep.co.uk Newbridge Preparatory School 51 Newbridge Crescent, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 0LH Tel: 01902 751088 www.newbridgeprepschool.org.uk
INDEX OF SCHOOLS
Newcastle-under-Lyme School Mount Pleasant, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DB Tel: 01782 631197 www.nuls.org.uk Roaches School Tunstall Road, Knypersley Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST8 7AB Tel: 01782 523479 www.roachesschool.co.uk Royal Wolverhampton School Penn Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV3 0EG Tel: 01902 341230 www.theroyalschool.co.uk Smallwood Manor Preparatory School Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 8NS Tel: 01889 562083 www.smallwoodmanor.co.uk St Bede's School Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 0XN Tel: 01889 881277 www.saintbedes.co.uk St Dominic's Priory School 21 Station Road, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8EN Tel: 01785 814181 www.stdominicspriory.co.uk St Dominic's School 32 Bargate Street, Brewood, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, ST19 9BA Tel: 01902 850248 www.stdominicsschool.co.uk St Joseph's Preparatory School London Road, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 5RF Tel: 01782 417533 www.stjosephsprepschool.co.uk Stafford Grammar School Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 9AT Tel: 01785 249752 www.staffordgrammar.co.uk Tettenhall College Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 8QX Tel: 01902 751119 www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk Vernon Lodge Preparatory School Stretton, near Brewood, Staffordshire, ST19 9LJ Tel: 01902 850568 www.vernonlodge.co.uk Wolverhampton Grammar School Compton Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV3 9RB Tel: 01902 421326 www.wolverhamptongrammarschool.com Yarlet School Yarlet, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 9SU Tel: 01785 286568 www.yarletschool.org
Cheshire Abbey Gate College Saighton Grange, Saighton, Cheshire, CH3 6EG Tel: 01244 332077 www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk Abbey Gate School Clare Avenue, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 3HR Tel: 01244 319649 www.abbeygateschool.org.uk
Alderley Edge School for Girls Wilmslow Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7QE Tel: 01625 583028 www.aesg.info
Hammond School Mannings Lane, Hoole Chester, Cheshire, CH2 2PB Tel: 01244 305350 www.thehammondschool.co.uk
Stella Maris Junior School St Johns Road, Heaton Mersey Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 3BR Tel: 0161 432 0532 www.stellamarisschool.co.uk
Altrincham Prep School Marlborough Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2RR Tel: 0161 928 3366 www.altprep.co.uk
Hillcrest Grammar School Beech Avenue, Stockport Cheshire, SK3 8HB Tel: 0161 480 0329 www.hillcrest.stockport.sch.uk
Stockport Grammar Junior School Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 7AF Tel: 0161 419 2405 www.stockportgrammar.co.uk
Beech Hall School Beech Hall Drive, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2EG Tel: 01625 422192 www.beechhallschool.org
Hulme Hall Grammar School 75 Hulme Hall Road, Cheadle Hulme Cheshire, SK8 6LA Tel: 0161 485 3524 www.hulmehallschool.org
Stockport Grammar School Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 7AF Tel: 0161 456 9000 www.stockportgrammar.co.uk
Bowdon Preparatory School for Girls 48 Stamford Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2JP Tel: 0161 928 0678 www.bowdonprep.org.uk
King's School Chester, Cheshire, CH4 7QL Tel: 01244 689553 www.kingschester.co.uk
Terra Nova School Jodrell Bank, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, CW4 8BT Tel: 01477 571251 www.terranovaschool.co.uk
Brabyns Preparatory School 34/36 Arkwright Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 7DB Tel: 0161 427 2395 www.brabynsprepschool.co.uk Chaigeley School Lymm Road, Thelwall, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 2TE Tel: 01925 752357 www.chaigeley.org.uk Cheadle Hulme School Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, SK8 6EF Tel: 0161 488 3330 www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk Cransley School Belmont Hall, Great Budworth, Cheshire, CW9 6HN Tel: 01606 891747 www.cransleyschool.co.uk
The King's School Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 1DA Tel: 01625 260000 www.kingsmac.co.uk Lady Barn House School Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 1JE Tel: 0161 428 2912 www.ladybarnhouse.stockport.sch.uk Loreto Preparatory School Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4AH Tel: 0161 928 8310 www.loretoprep.org.uk Merton House School Downswood Drive, West Bank off Abbott's Drive, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 4BD Tel: 01244 377165 www.mertonhousechester.co.uk
Culcheth Hall Ashley Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2LT Tel: 0161 928 1862 www.culcheth-hall.org.uk
Norfolk House Preparatory & Kids Corner Nursery 120 Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1HF Tel: 01270 759257 www.kidscornernursery.co.uk
Delamere Forest School Blakemere Lane, Norley, Frodsham Warrington, Cheshire, WA6 6NP Tel: 0161 703 2490 www.delamereschool.org.uk
North Cestrian Grammar School Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4AJ Tel: 0161 928 1856 www.ncgs.co.uk
The Firs School 45 Newton Lane, Chester Cheshire, CH2 2HJ Tel: 01244 322443 www.firsschool.net
Oriel Bank High School Devonshire Park Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 6JP Tel: 01614 832935
Footprints Day Nursery 154 Cumberland Street, Macclesfield Cheshire, SK10 1BP Tel: 0800 0328 200 www.footprintnurseries.co.uk Forest School Moss Lane, Timperley Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 6LJ Tel: 0161 980 4075 www.forestschool.co.uk The Grange School Bradburns Lane, Northwich Cheshire, CW8 1LU Tel: 01606 74007 www.grange.org.uk Greenbank School Heathbank Road, Cheadle Cheshire, SK8 6HU Tel: 0161 485 3724 www.greenbankschool.co.uk Hale Prep School Ltd Broomfield Lane, Hale Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 9AS Tel: 0161 928 2386 www.haleprepschool.com
Pownall Hall School Carrwood Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5DW Tel: 01625 523141 www.pownallhall.cheshire.sch.uk The Queen's School City Walls Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2NN Tel: 01244 312078 www.queens.cheshire.sch.uk Ramillies Hall Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 7AJ Tel: 0161 485 3804 www.ramillieshall.co.uk The Ryleys Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7UY Tel: 01625 583241 www.theryleys.com St Ambrose Preparatory School Hale Barns, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 0HE Tel: 0161 903 9193 www.stambroseprep.org St Peter's Nursery School Chapel Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4AB Tel: 01260 549045
Trinity School Birbeck Street, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 1SH Tel: 0161 303 0674 www.trinityschool.org.uk Wilmslow Prep School Grove Avenue, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5EG Tel: 01625 524246 www.wilmslowprep.co.uk Woodford Prep & Nursery School Chester Road, Woodford, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 1PS Tel: 0161 439 9302 Yorston Lodge School 18 St John's Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0DP Tel: 01565 633177 www.yorstonlodge.com
Shropshire
Adams Grammar School High Street, Newport Shropshire, TF10 7BD Tel: 01952 386300 www.adamsgs.org.uk Adcote School for Girls Little Ness, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 2JY Tel: 01939 260202 www.adcoteschool.org.uk Bedstone College Bucknell, Shropshire, SY7 0BG Tel: 01547 530303 www.bedstone.org Bellan House Preparatory School Bellan House, Church Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2ST Tel: 01691 653453 www.oswestryschool.org.uk Castle House School Chetwynd End, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7JE Tel: 01952 811035 www.castlehouseschool.co.uk Concord College Acton Burnell Hall, Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 7PF Tel: 01694 731631 www.concordcollegeuk.com Ellesmere College Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 9AB Tel: 01691 622321 www.ellesmere.com Helen Clarke Heath Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 2AA Tel: 01948 662730 Higford College Higford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 9ET Tel: 01952 632110
Highlea School Astbury Lane, Chelmarsh, Bridgenorth, Shropshire, WV16 6AX Tel: 01746 862423 Moor Park School Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 4DZ Tel: 01584 876061 www.moorpark.org.uk Moreton Hall School Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 3EW Tel: 01691 773671 www.moretonhallschool.com The Old Hall School Stanley Road, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 3LB Tel: 01952 223117 www.oldhall.co.uk Oswestry School Upper Brook Street, Oswestry Shropshire, SY11 2TL Tel: 01691 655711 www.oswestryschool.org.uk Overley Hall School Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF6 5HE Tel: 01952 740262 www.overleyhall.com Packwood Haugh Ruyton XI Towns, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1HX Tel: 01939 260217 www.packwood-haugh.co.uk Prestfelde School Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6NZ Tel: 01743 245400 www.prestfelde.co.uk Shrewsbury High Prep at Kingsland Grange, Old Roman Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9AH Tel: 01743 494200 www.shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net Shrewsbury High School GDST 32 Town Walls, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1TN Tel: 01743 494000 www.shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net Shrewsbury School The Schools, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 7BA Tel: 01743 280500 www.shrewsbury.org.uk
Bromsgrove Pre-Preparatory and Nursery School Avoncroft House, Hanbury Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JS Tel: 01527 579679 www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk Bromsgrove School Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 7DU Tel: 01527 579679 www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk Dodderhill School Crutch Lane Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 0BE Tel: 01905 778290 www.dodderhill.co.uk The Downs School Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6EY Tel: 01684 544100 www.thedowns.malcol.org The Elms Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6EF Tel: 01684 540344 www.theelmsschool-colwall.co.uk Hartlebury School The Village, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY11 7TE Tel: 01299 250258 Heathfield School Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 3QE Tel: 01562 850204 www.heathfieldschool.co.uk Holy Trinity School Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 2BY Tel: 01562 822929 www.holytrinity.co.uk King's Hawford Junior School Hawford Lock Lane, Claines, Worcester, WR3 7SE Tel: 01905 451292 www.ksw.org.uk The King's School 5 College Green, Worcester, WR1 2LL Tel: 01905 721700 www.ksw.org.uk Kings St. Alban's School Mill Street, Worcester, WR1 2NJ Tel: 01905 354906 www.ksw.org.uk
St Winefride's Jnr School Belmont, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1TE Tel: 01743 369883 www.stwinefrides.weebly.com
The Knoll School Manor Avenue, Kidderminster Worcestershire, DY11 6EA Tel: 01562 822622 www.knollschool.co.uk
Wrekin College Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 3BG Tel: 01952 265600 www.wrekincollege.ac.uk
Malvern College College Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3DF Tel: 01684 581500 www.malcol.org
Young Options College Lamledge Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8SD Tel: 01952 468220 www.optionsgroup.co.uk
Malvern St James 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3BA Tel: 01684 892288 www.malvernstjames.co.uk
Worcestershire
Moffats School Kinlet Hall, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 3AY Tel: 01299 841230 www.moffats.co.uk
Abberley Hall Great Witley, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR6 6DD Tel: 01299 896275 www.abberleyhall.co.uk The Abbey College 253 Wells Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4JF Tel: 01684 892300 www.abbeycollege.co.uk Bowbrook House School Peopleton Nr, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2EE Tel: 01905 841242 www.bowbrookhouseschool.co.uk Bromsgrove Preparatory School Old Station Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 2BU Tel: 01527 579679 www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk
The Mount School Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 0EP Tel: 01527 877772 RGS Springfield Worcester, Britannia Square, Worcester, WR1 3DL Tel: 01905 24999 www.rgsw.org.uk RGS The Grange Worcester, Grange Lane, Claines, Worcester, WR3 7RR Tel: 01905 451205 www.rgsw.org.uk
RGS Worcester Upper Tything, Worcester, WR1 1HP Tel: 01905 613391 www.rgsw.org.uk River School Oakfield House, Droitwich Road, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR3 7ST Tel: 01905 457047 www.river-school.co.uk St Mary's Convent School Mount Battenhall, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 2HP Tel: 01905 357786 www.stmarys.org.uk St Michael's College Oldwood Road, St Michael's, Tenbury, Wells, Worcestershire, WR15 8PH Tel: 01584 811300 www.st-michaels.uk.com Sunfield School Clent Grove, Woodman Lane, Clent, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, DY9 9PB Tel: 01562 882253 Sunnyside School Barbourne Terrace, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 3JR Tel: 01905 23973 Winterfold House Chaddesley Corbet, Worcestershire, DY10 4PL Tel: 01562 777234 www.winterfoldhouse.co.uk
West Midlands Abbey College Birmingham 10 St Pauls Square,Birmingham West Midlands, B3 1QU Tel: 0121 236 7474 www.abbeybirmingham.co.uk Al Hijrah School Cherrywood Centre, Burbridge Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B9 4US Tel: 0121 773 7979 www.alhijrahschool.co.uk Al-Burhan Grammar School 28A George Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 9RG Tel: 0121 440 5454 www.alburhan.org.uk Bilton Grange Rugby Road, Dunchurch Warwickshire, CV22 6QU Tel: 01788 818249 www.biltongrange.co.uk Birchfield Independent Girls School 30 Beacon Hill, Aston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B6 6JU Tel: 0121 327 7707 www.bigs.org.uk The Blue Coat School Somerset Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B17 0HR Tel: 0121 410 6800 www.bluecoat.bham.sch.uk Darul Uloom Islamic High School & College 521-527 Coventry Road, Smallheath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B10 0LL Tel: 0121 772 6408 www.darululoom.org.uk Edgbaston High School for Girls Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 3TS Tel: 0121 454 5831 www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk Elmhurst School for Dance 247-249 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 7UH Tel: 0121 472 6655 www.elmhurstdance.co.uk Hallfield School 48 Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 3SJ Tel: 0121 454 1496 Harper Bell School 29 Ravenhurst Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 0EJ Tel: 0121 693 7742
Highclare School 10 Sutton Road, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, B23 6QL Tel: 0121 373 7400 www.highclareschool.co.uk
Coteswood House School 19 Thackeray's Lane, Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4HT Tel: 0115 967 6551 www.coteswoodhouseschool.co.uk
Honeybourne School 621 Fox Hollies Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B28 9DW Tel: 0121 777 3778
Dagfa School Nottingham 57 Broadgate, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2FU Tel: 0115 913 8330 www.dagfaschool.notts.sch.uk
King Edward VI High Sch for Girls Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2UB Tel: 0121 472 1834 www.kehs.org.uk
Edgehill School Main Street, Edingley, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8BE Tel: 01623 882936
King Edward's School Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2UA Tel: 0121 472 1672 www.kes.org.uk Lambs Christian School 113 Soho Hill, Hockley, Birmingham, West Midlands, B19 1AY Tel: 0121 554 3790 Mander Portman Woodward 17-18 Greenfield Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AU Tel: 0121 454 9637 www.mpw.co.uk National Institute of Conductive Education Cannon Hill House, Russell Road, Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 8RD Tel: 0121 442 5556 www.conductive-education.org.uk Norfolk House School Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham West Midlands, B15 3PS Tel: 0121 454 7021 norfolkhouseschool.co.uk Priory School Sir Harry's Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2UR Tel: 0121 440 4103 www.prioryschool.net Rathvilly School 119 Bunbury Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 2NB Tel: 0121 475 1509 Rosslyn School 1597 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B28 9JB Tel: 0121 744 2743 www.rosslynschool.co.uk Saint Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School Malvern Hall Brueton Avenue Solihull West Midlands B91 3EN Tel: 0121 705 1265 www.saintmartins-school.com The Shrubbery School Walmly Ash Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B76 1HY Tel: 0121 351 1582 www.shrubberyschool.co.uk St George's School - Edgbaston 31 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 1RX Tel: 0121 625 0398 www.sgse.co.uk West House School 24 St. James's Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2NX Tel: 0121 440 4097 www.westhouseprep.com Woodstock Girls' School 11-15 Woodstock Road, Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 9BB Tel: 0121 449 6690
Nottinghamshire Bramcote Lorne School Gamston, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 0QQ Tel: 01777 838636
Greenholme School 392 Derby Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 2DX Tel: 0115 978 7329 www.greenholmeschool.co.uk Grosvenor School 218 Melton Road, Edwalton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG12 4BS Tel: 0115 923 1184 www.grosvenorschool.co.uk Hazel Hurst School 400 Westdale Lane, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 6DG Tel: 0115 960 6759 www.hazelhurstschool.co.uk Highfields School London Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 3AL Tel: 01636 704103 www.highfieldsschool.co.uk Hollygirt School Elm Avenue, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 4GF Tel: 0115 958 0596 www.hollygirt.co.uk I CAN's Dawn House School Helmsley Road, Rainworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG21 0DQ Tel: 01623 795361 www.ican.org.uk The King's School Collygate Road, The Meadows Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 2EJ Tel: 0115 953 9194 www.thekingsschool.info Lammas School Lammas Rd, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 2AD Tel: 01623 516879 Mansfield Preparatory School Welbeck Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, NG19 9LA Tel: 0162 342 0940 Mountford House School 373 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 2DA Tel: 0115 960 5676 www.mountfordhousenursery.co.uk Nottingham High Junior School Waverley Mount, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 4ED T: 0115 845 2214 www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk Nottingham High School Waverley Mount, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 4ED Tel: 0115 978 6056 www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk Nottingham High School for Girls GDST Arboretum Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 4JB Tel: 0115 941 7663 www.nottinghamgirlshigh.gdst.net Plumtree School Church Hill, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5ND Tel: 0115 937 5859 www.plumtreeschool.co.uk Portland College Nottingham Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4TJ Tel: 01623 499111 www.portland.ac.uk
Salterford House School Salterford Lane, Calverton Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG14 6NZ Tel: 0115 965 2127 www.salterfordhouseschool.co.uk Saville House School 11 Church Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, NG19 8AH Tel: 01623 625068 www.savillehouse.co.uk St Joseph’s School 33 Derby Road, Nottingham Nottinghamshire, NG1 5AW Tel: 0115 941 8356 www.st-josephs.nottingham.sch.uk Trent College Long Eaton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG10 4AD Tel: 0115 849 4950 www.trentcollege.net Wellow House School Wellow, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0EA Tel: 01623 861054 www.wellowhouse.notts.sch.uk Worksop College Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3AP Tel: 01909 537100 www.worksopcollege.notts.sch.uk
Northamptonshire Beachborough School Westbury Brackley Northamptonshire NN13 5LB Tel: 01280 700071 www.beachborough.com Bosworth Independent College Nazareth House, Barrack Road Northampton Northamptonshire NN2 6AF Tel: 01604 239995 www.bosworthcollege.com Great Houghton Preparatory School Great Houghton Hall Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 7AG Tel: 01604 761907 www.ghschool.net Hinwick Hall College of Further Education Hinwick Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN29 7JD Tel: 01933 312470 www.livability.org.uk Kirkstone House School Main Street, Baston Peterborough Northamptonshire PE6 9PA Tel: 01778 560350 www.kirkstonehouseschool.co.uk Laxton School North Street Oundle Northamptonshire PE8 4AR Tel: 01832 277275 www.laxtonjunior.org.uk Maidwell Hall Maidwell Northampton Northamptonshire NN6 9JG Tel: 01604 686234 www.maidwellhall.co.uk Northampton Christian School The Parish Rooms, Park Avenue North Northampton Northamptonshire NN3 2HT Tel: 01604 715900
Northampton High School Newport Pagnell Road, Hardingstone Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 6UU Tel: 01604 667979 www.gdst.net/northamptonhigh Northamptonshire Grammar School Pitsford Road Northamptonshire NN6 9AX Tel: 01604 880306 www.ngs-school.com Oundle School The Great Hall, New Street, Oundle Peterborough Northamptonshire PE8 4GH Tel: 01832 277122 www.oundleschool.org.uk Overstone Park School Overstone Park, Overstone Northampton Northamptonshire NN6 0DT Tel: 01604 643787 www.overstoneparkschool.co.uk Potterspury Lodge School Towcester Northamptonshire NN12 7LL Tel: 01908 542912 www.potterspurylodge.co.uk Quinton House School Upton Hall Northampton Northamptonshire NN5 4UX Tel: 01604 752050 www.quintonhouseschool.co.uk Slapton Pre-Preparatory School Chapel Lane, Slapton Towcester Northamptonshire NN12 8PE Tel: 01327 860158 www.slaptonpreprep.org Solden Hill House Banbury Road, Byfield Daventry Northamptonshire NN11 6UA Tel: 01327 260234 www.soldenhillhouse.co.uk Spratton Hall School Spratton Northampton Northamptonshire NN6 8HP Tel: 01604 847292 www.sprattonhall.co.uk St Matthews School 100 Park Avenue North Northampton Northamptonshire NN3 2JB Tel: 01604 712647 www.stmatthewsnursery.co.uk St Peter’s Independent School Lingswood Park, Blackthorn Northamptonshire NN3 8TA Tel. 01604 411745 www.stpetersindependentschool.co.uk St. Peter’s School 52 Headlands Kettering Northamptonshire NN15 6DJ Tel: 01536 512066 www.st-peters.org.uk Wellingborough School Irthlingborough Road Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 2BX Tel: 01933 222427 www.wellingboroughschool.org Weston Favell Montessori Nursery School 473 Wellingborough Road Northampton Northamptonshire NN3 3HN Tel: 01604 712098
Winchester House School Pre-Prep 70 Manor Road Brackley Northamptonshire NN13 6EE Tel: 01280 702483 www.winchester-house.org/ nursery-preprep Winchester House School Brackley Northamptonshire NN13 7AZ Tel: 01280 702483 www.winchester-house.org
Derbyshire Alderwasley Hall School Alderwasley, Derbyshire, DE56 2SR Tel: 01332 378840 www.senadgroup.com Barlborough Hall School Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S43 4TJ Tel: 01246 810511 www.barlboroughhallschool.co.uk Derby Grammar School Rykneld Road, Littleover, Derby, Derbyshire, DE23 4BX Tel: 01332 523027 www.derbygrammar.co.uk Derby High School Hillsway, Littleover, Derby, Derbyshire, DE23 3DT Tel: 01332 514267 www.derbyhigh.derby.sch.uk Eastwood Grange School-Part of Priory Education Services Milken Lane, Ashover, Nr Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S45 0BA Tel. 01246 590255 www.priorygroup.com Emmanuel School Juniper Lodge, 43 Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 1FP Tel: 01332 340505 www.emmanuelschoolderby.org.uk Foremarke Hall Foremarke Hall, Milton, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 6EJ Tel: 01283 707100 www.foremarke.org.uk Gateway Christian School Moor Lane, Dale Abbey Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 4PP www.gatewayschool.org.uk Michael House Steiner School The Field, Shipley, Heanor Derbyshire, DE75 7JH Tel: 01773 718050 www.michaelhouseschool.co.uk Morley Hall Preparatory School Hill House, Morley Road Chaddesden, Derby, Derbyshire DE21 4QZ Tel: 01332 674501 www.morleyhallschool.co.uk Ockbrook School The Settlement, Ockbrook Derbyshire, DE72 3RJ Tel: 01332 673532 www.ockbrook.derby.sch.uk
St Wystan's School High Street ,Repton, Derbyshire, DE65 6GE Tel: 01283 703258 www.stwystans.org.uk
Loughborough Grammar School Burton Walks, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2DU Tel: 01509 233233 www.lesgrammar.org
St. Elphin's School Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2HA Tel: 01629 733337 www.stelphins.co.uk
Loughborough High School Burton Walks, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2DU Tel: 01509 212348 www.leshigh.org
Herefordshire
Manor House School South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 1BR Tel: 01530 412932 www.manorhouseashby.co.uk
Hereford Cathedral Junior School 28 Castle Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 2NW Tel. 01432 363511 www.hcjs.co.uk Hereford Cathedral School Old Deanery, Cathedral Close, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 2NG Tel: 01432 363522 www.herefordcs.com Hillcrest Pentwyn School Clyro, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR3 5SE Tel: 01497 821420 www.hillcrestcare.co.uk Lucton School Lucton, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9PN Tel: 01568 782000 www.luctonschool.org St Richard's Bredenbury, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4TD Tel: 01885 482491 www.st-richards.co.uk
Leicestershire Brooke House College Leicester Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7AU 01858 462452 www.brookehouse.com The Dixie Grammar Junior School Temple Hall, Bosworth Road, Wellsborough, Leicestershire, CV13 6PA Tel: 01455 292244 www.dixie.org.uk Fairfield Preparatory School Leicester Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2AE Tel: 01509 215172 www.lesfairfield.org Grace Dieu Manor School Grace Dieu, Leicestershire, LE67 5UG Tel: 01530 222276 www.gracedieu.com Irwin College 164 London Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 1ND Tel: 0116 255 2648 Leicester Grammar Junior School London Road, Great Glen, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE8 9FL Tel: 0116 259 1900 www.leicestergrammar.org.uk
Pegasus School Cadwell Hall, Main Street, Caldwell, Derbyshire, DE12 6RS www.gabbitas.co.uk
Leicester Grammar School London Road, Great Glen, Leicestershire, LE8 9FL Tel: 0116 259 1900 www.leicestergrammar.org.uk
Repton School The Hall, Repton, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 6FH Tel: 01283 559200 www.repton.org.uk
Leicester High School for Girls 454 London Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 2PP Tel: 0116 270 5338 www.leicesterhigh.co.uk
S. Anselm's School Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1DP Tel: 01629 812734 www.sanselms.co.uk
Leicester Montessori Grammar School 140 Regent Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 7PA Tel: 0116 255 4441 www.montessorigroup.com
St Peter & St Paul School Brambling House, Hady Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 0EF Tel: 01246 278522 www.stpeterpaul.co.uk
Oakham School Chapel Close, Oakham, Rutland, Leicestershire, LE15 6DT 01572 758500 www.oakham.rutland.sch.uk Our Lady's Convent School Burton Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2DT Tel: 01509 263901 www.olcs.leics.sch.uk Ratcliffe College Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG Tel: 01509 817000 www.ratcliffe-college.co.uk Sketchley Horizon Manor Way, Sketchley, Burbage, Leicestershire, LE10 3HT Tel. 01455 890 023 www.priorygroup.com St Crispin's School St. Mary's Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 1XA Tel: 0116 270 7648 www.stcrispins.co.uk Stoneygate College Albert Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 2AA Tel: 0116 270 7414 Stoneygate School 254 London Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 1RP Tel: 0116 259 2282 www.stoneygateschool.co.uk Uppingham School Rutland, Leicestershire, LE15 9QE Tel: 01572 822216 www.uppingham.co.uk Windmill House School 22 Stockerston Road, Uppingham, Leicestershire, LE15 9UD Tel: 01572 823593
“I chose MPW because I
wanted to reach my potential” “I chose MPW because I wanted to reach my potential”
MPW Birmingham 17-18 Greenfield Crescent Edgbaston Tel: 0121 454 9637 www.mpw.co.uk
Making that our students enjoy working hard MPWsure Birmingham 17-18 Greenfield Crescent MPW Birmingham Independent Fifth and Sixth Form College is located in Edgbaston and Edgbaston is nestled conveniently between the city centre and Birmingham University. Our approach to Tel:and 0121 454enables 9637students to achieve A Level and GCSE grades which often exceed teaching learning theirwww.mpw.co.uk expectations. All teaching is carried out in small groups of no more than eight students. Each week students sit Timed Assignments to help perfect their examination technique. We are socially relaxed, yet we prioritise the things which matter most: homework, punctuality, attendance, good manners and examination technique. We make sure that our students work hard and we do this in the most supportive and friendly atmosphere that we can create.
Going that extra mile MPW Birmingham also prides itself on offering first class pastoral care. All students work with a dedicated Personal Tutor who ensures they remain positive and work to the best of their ability. The Personal Tutor will help with all aspects of a student’s application to university helping them craft the ideal personal statement. We provide expert help with interview preparation and run our own in-house UKCAT training programme. We believe that offering our students help with their careers is really important and we have an excellent track record in enabling our students to win places on competitive courses such as dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine.
Work, rest and play We know that if a student is happy in their school then they are more likely to work hard, grow in confidence and achieve great things. We realise that to keep students positive and stimulated it helps if they are also active away from their academic studies. That’s why we give our students the opportunity to participate in sports such as football, basketball, cricket and badminton. We also provide opportunities in debating, model United Nations and Duke of Edinburgh. MPW students enjoy many opportunities but we remain unashamedly committed to securing the highest A Level and GCSE grades we can for all our students.
To find out more contact the Principal, Mark Shingleton on 0121 454 9637
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47 monthly £249.99 payments 47 monthly
on the road £21,335.00 cash on theprice* road
Customer £1,999.00 deposit Customer
contribution
of credit
BmW example for the new BmW 116i Sport 5-Door Sports hatch.£4,505.45 4.9% Apr representative. 48 Select monthsfinance £299.99 £26,755.00 £2,999.00 £1,506.45 £22,249.55 48 months £249.99 £21,335.00 £1,999.00 £1,315.58 £3,314.58 £18,020.42
total £10.00 £8,857.00 £23,921.11 purchase final amount option to optional total fee^ payment payable purchase final amount option to optional total fee^ purchase paymentfinal payable amount
fee^
£10.00 £10.00
BmW Select finance example for the new BmW 116i Sport 5-Door Sports hatch. 4.9% Apr representative. 48 months £249.99 £21,335.00 £1,999.00 £1,315.58 £3,314.58 £18,020.42 BmW Select BmW finance example the new BmW 316d Sport Saloon. 3.9% Apr representative. Knights north for Staffordshire (Stoke on trent)
48 months £1,315.58 £3,314.58 BmW Select£249.99 finance example£21,335.00 for the new BmW£1,999.00 316d Sport Saloon. 3.9% Apr representative.
Bede Road, £299.99 Radial Park, £26,755.00 Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4GU. Tel: 01782 £22,249.55 572 100 £2,999.00 £1,506.45 £4,505.45
48 months
BmW48 Select finance example for the new BmW 316d Sport Saloon. 3.9% Apr representative. months £299.99 £26,755.00 £2,999.00 £1,506.45 £4,505.45 £22,249.55 www.knightsnorthstaffsbmw.co.uk
Official fuel economy for the BMW Range: 16.1 48 months £299.99 £26,755.00 £2,999.00 £1,506.45 Knights BmW northfigures Staffordshire (Stoke onUrban trent)
£10.00
£18,020.42
payment
£10,697.50 £8,857.00
£8,857.00
£23,921.11
£10.00 £8,857.00 Follow us online
£10.00
£10.00
£10,697.50
£10,697.50
payable
£29,302.48 £23,921.11
£23,921.11
£29,302.48
£29,302.48
56.5 mpg (5.3 - 18.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 29.4 - 78.5 mpg £4,505.45 £22,249.55 £10.00 £10,697.50 (3.6 - 9.6 l/100km). Combined 21.7 - 68.9 mpg on (4.1trent) - 13.0 l/100km) CO2 emissions 118 - 303 g/km. Knights BmW north Staffordshire (Stoke Follow us online Bede Road, Radial Park, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4GU. Tel: 01782 572 100 For Road, model Radial specificPark, figures please contactStaffordshire your nearest Knights dealership or visit Follow us online Bede Stoke on Trent, ST4 4GU. Tel: 01782 572www.knightsbmw.com 100
£29,302.48
www.knightsnorthstaffsbmw.co.uk Offer available on selected BMW Staffordshire 1 Series 5-door Sports Hatch and 3 Series Saloon ordered between 01 July 2012 and 30 September 2012 and registered by 30 September 2012, subject to availability. Knights BmW north (Stoke onmodels trent) www.knightsnorthstaffsbmw.co.uk Finance examples are based on BMW Select agreements for the models stated, a BMW 116i Sport 5-door Sports Hatch, with a contract mileage of 32,000 miles and an excess mileage charge of 6.84p per mile and Follow us online Official fuel economy figures for the BMW Range: Urban 16.1 -4GU. 56.5 mpg (5.3 - 18.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 29.4 - price 78.5 a BMW 316d Sport Saloon, with a contract mileage of 32,000 miles and an excess mileage charge of 8.10p per mile. *On the road cash prices based on manufacturer’s recommended retail andmpg includes 3 Bede Road, Radial Park, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 Tel: 01782 572are 100 year-BMW Dealer Warranty, BMW Emergencyfor Service, fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, mpg delivery, and 118 VAT. ^Option to purchase and optional final payment Official fuel economy figures the12BMW Range: Urban 16.1 - 56.5 (5.3 -plates 18.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 29.4 78.5payable mpgat the (3.6 9.6 l/100km). Combined 21.7 -months’ 68.9road mpg (4.1 - 13.0 l/100km) CO2 number emissions - 303 g/km.fee
end of the agreement if you decide to purchase the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and vehicle condition charges may be payable if you return the vehicle. Prices are correct at time of publication, July 2012, and are www.knightsnorthstaffsbmw.co.uk (3.6 - 9.6 l/100km). Combined 21.7 - 68.9 mpg (4.1acceptance - 13.0 l/100km) CO 118the-Channel 303 Islands). g/km.Guarantees and indemnities may be required. For model specific figures please your Knights dealership orUKvisit www.knightsbmw.com subject to change without notice. Retail customers only.contact Finance is subject tonearest credit and available to over 18s2inemissions the only (excluding is provided by BMW Financial Services (BMW FS). Whilstnearest we have closeKnights links with BMW FS and commonly customers to BMW FS, we do not work exclusively with BMW FS. †Test drive ForAdvertised modelfinance specific figures please contact your dealership orintroduce visit www.knightsbmw.com
Offer available on selected BMW 1BMW Series 5-door Sports andemissions 3Range: Series Saloon models ordered between 01developments Julympg 2012 and 30is September 2012 and registered 30 September 2012,29.4 subject to subject toeconomy status and availability. EfficientDynamics reduces withoutUrban compromising performance and standard across the model range. by Official fuel figures for the Hatch BMW 16.1 -Sports 56.5 (5.3 - 18.9 l/100km). Extra Urban - availability. 78.5 mpg Finance examples are based on BMW Select agreements for theand models stated, a BMW 116iordered Sport 5-door Hatch, withand a contract mileage 2012 of 32,000 and an mileage charge of 6.84ptoper mile and Offer available on selected BMW 1 Series 5-door Sports Hatch 3 Series Saloon models between 01 July 2012 30 September and miles registered byexcess 30 September 2012, subject availability. 316d Sport with a contract of 32,000 miles and an excess mileage charge ofl/100km) 8.10p per mile. *On the2 cashmileage prices are based recommended retail (3.6 Finance -a BMW 9.6examples l/100km). 21.7 - the 68.9 mpg - 13.0 CO emissions 118onmiles -manufacturer’s 303 g/km. areSaloon, based Combined on BMW Selectmileage agreements for models stated, a(4.1 BMW 116i Sport 5-door Sports Hatch, with aroad contract of 32,000 and an excess mileage charge ofprice 6.84pand perincludes mile and3 BMW Dealer BMW Emergency Service, 12 months’ roadan fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^Option to purchase feerecommended and optional final payment payable at the ayear BMW 316d SportWarranty, Saloon,figures with a contract mileage of 32,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 8.10p per mile. *On the roador cash prices are based on manufacturer’s retail price and includes 3 For model specific please contact your nearest Knights dealership visit www.knightsbmw.com endBMW of the Dealer agreement if youBMW decideEmergency to purchase the vehicle. Excess road mileage vehicle charges may benumber payable if you return the^Option vehicle. Prices are correct at time of publication, Julypayable 2012, and are year Warranty, Service, 12 months’ fundcharges licence,and vehicle firstcondition registration fee, delivery, plates and VAT. to purchase fee and optional final payment at the •KN036 Staffs Living Mag July 2012.indd 1 16/07/2012 17:58 subject to change without notice. Retail customers only. Finance is subject to credit acceptance and available to over 18s in the UK only (excluding the Channel Islands). Guarantees and indemnities may be required.
end of the ifBMW you decide to purchase the vehicle. Excess mileage charges andmodels vehicle condition charges may payable if and you return the vehicle.2012 Pricesand are correct at time publication, July2012, 2012, subject and are to availability. Offer available onagreement selected 1 by Series Sports Hatch and 3 Whilst Series Saloon ordered between 01be July 2012 30 September registered byof30 September Advertised financewithout is provided BMW5-door Financial Services (BMW we have close linksand withavailable BMW FS introduce customers BMW FS, we do not work exclusively with BMW FS. drive subject to change notice. Retail customers only. Finance isFS). subject to credit acceptance to and overcommonly 18s in the UK only (excluding thetoChannel Islands). Guarantees and indemnities may be†Test required. Financesubject examples are based on BMWBMW Select agreements forreduces the models stated, a BMW 116i Sport 5-door Sports Hatch, with mileage of 32,000 miles and an excess mileage charge of 6.84p per mile and to finance status and availability. emissions without compromising anda iscontract standard across the model Advertised is provided by BMW EfficientDynamics Financial Services (BMW FS). Whilst we have close links with performance BMW FS anddevelopments commonly introduce customers to BMW FS, werange. do not work exclusively with BMW FS. †Test drive a BMW 316d Sport Saloon, with a contract mileage of 32,000 miles and an excess mileage charge of 8.10p per mile. *On the road cash prices are based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 subject to status and availability. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range. year BMW Dealer Warranty, BMW Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^Option to purchase fee and optional final payment payable at the end of the agreement if you decide to purchase the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and vehicle condition charges may be payable if you return the vehicle. Prices are correct at time of publication, July 2012, and are subject change without notice. Retail customers only. Finance is subject to credit acceptance and available to over 18s in the UK only (excluding the Channel Islands). Guarantees and indemnities may be17:58 required. •KN036toStaffs Living Mag July 2012.indd 1 16/07/2012 Advertised finance is provided by BMW Financial Services (BMW FS). Whilst we have close links with BMW FS and commonly introduce customers to BMW FS, we do not work exclusively with BMW FS. †Test drive •KN036 Staffs Living Mag July 2012.indd 1 16/07/2012 17:58 subject to status and availability. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range.
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