July 2012
11+ Prep Internet Security Travel Tips Education|Lifestyle|Holidays|Fun
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Welcome Hello and a very warm welcome to School’s Out, the new free magazine distributed to the independent schools in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Nottinghamshire. We’re excited about celebrating independent school life as well as bringing you informative features and a section just for the children. School’s Out will be delivered to school just before the half term and end of term holidays, so that’s 6 issues a year for you to enjoy. As well as our regular sections, this issue we look at all things summer. We’ve got everything from expert tips on the best way to entertain the children on those long holiday journeys to looking at days out on the train for something more local. We’ve also had lots of fun looking at the best beaches the UK has to offer. We look forward to September and have an article about preparing for the 11+. It’s a very difficult subject to cover as parental views on this differ greatly with some leaving the prep to the schools and others employing private tutors from as early as Year 3, so we’ve tried to be as helpful as we can. And whilst on the subject of the next school year, we’d like to wish good luck to those of you who are moving on to Year 7 or going off to board – exciting times await you! We want you to enjoy the magazine as much as possible so if you have any feedback or want to get in touch then our contact details can be found at the bottom of this page – we’d love to hear from you. Have a great summer break and see you just before the October half term
Vicky. Editorial / Advertising:
Vicky Senkey-Dunn 01775 888403 vicky@schoolsoutmagazine.co.uk PO Box 1162 Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 9BD
Design:
Chilli Design & Print 0845 6769295 info@chilli-mp.co.uk
Printing:
Printed by The Magazine Printing Company plc, Mollison Avenue, Enfield, Middlesex, EN3 7NT
Publishing:
Published by Eastfield Media Ltd, PO Box 1162, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 9BD The editor is pleased to receive contributions for School’s Out in the form of letters, news items, features and photographs (preferably high resolution digital images). Material, whether commissioned or submitted is provided at own risk of the contributor. Eastfield Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for loss or damage howsoever caused. Every care is taken to avoid errors in this magazine; however no liability can be accepted for any which may occur. The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within School’s Out are not necessarily those of the editor or Eastfield Media Ltd. ©Eastfield Media 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the content of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted.
In this issue: Page 12 11+ Preparation.
Hints and tips on how you can help your children prepare for their 11+ examinations
Page 14 Internet Security
Jacqui Thompson dispenses invaluable advice as to how to keep your children safe when they are online.
Page 16 Recipes
With the summer break upon us it can only be barbecue!
Page 18 Travel Tips
Sachelle Mansour from Holiday Tots talks about the best ways to make travelling with the children a stress -free experience.
Page 20 UK Beaches
We round up the best beaches to visit in the UK
Page 22 Take the Train
Pip Dunn discusses the benefits of taking the train and visits the preserved railways in the area.
Regulars: Page 4 - News Page 8 - Events Page 6 - Chalk Talk Page 24 - Kids Section
School’s Out 3
School Report What’s going on in your school?
We Want Your News!
One of the main aims of School’s Out is to celebrate life at Independent Schools so we want all of your news! We want to hear all about your achievements and celebrations. So whether it’s sporting success, fundraising, community based events or a landmark in the life of the school, email your news and pictures to vicky@schoolsoutmagazine.co.uk and be featured in a forthcoming issue!
Ayscoughfee Hall School What an exciting and busy first half of the summer term at Ayscoughfee Hall School culminating in a fantastic celebration and commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee. Everyone dressed in red, white and blue and enjoyed a traditional “street party” in the Playground and Hall with 1950’s themed games and plentiful party food kindly donated by parents. A mosaic crown was made on the day as a permanent reminder of the occasion and the children all received commemorative gifts. The day was rounded off with parents joining the children for a rousing Proms concert with performances of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory almost lifting the roof off the Hall! In other events during the term, the tag rugby team performed brilliantly in the Lincolnshire Schools finals. They won all of their group games, scoring 23 tries
and only conceding 3 in the process. The final was a much tighter match with the team beating Uffington by 4 tries to 3. The team now progress to the Midlands final at the University of Leicester sports ground. On the music scene, the School hosted and participated in the Spalding Schools Music Festival – a great day of making music and watching a tremendous performance by a highly entertaining duo “Travelling by Tuba”. In addition, the annual School concert took place on the evening of 31st May with a packed Hall enjoying performances by the School choir, band and instrumental soloists. Meanwhile, the School is increasingly being decorated with colourful Olympic themed artwork as the children complete their various art and design technology projects.
Bicker Preparatory School Anniversary On Wednesday 25th April 2012, the original school bell rang out to welcome the children of Bicker Preparatory School and Early Years to celebrate their 18th Anniversary. The Victorian village school was built in 1845 and was donated to the Vicar and Church Wardens of Bicker by the Pilkington family. Sadly the village school was closed in 1969 and later it became a farm store. It was in 1993 that Mr & Mrs Page bought the old school and after a total refurbishment, 4 School’s Out
but retaining the original features together with the beautiful wooden beams, the school was re-opened at an official ceremony by the Reverend Bishop of Grantham and the Mayor of Boston on 25th April 1994. It was on the morning of the opening ceremony that the original school bell, together with its housing, was found and presented back to the school by Mr & Mrs Michael Dawson of Bicker. It was understood that the bell had been in storage since 1969.
The beautiful school bell was hung with pride in the original wooden bell tower on the top of the school and it rings out every morning at 8:50 a.m. to welcome our children to a new school day. Since 1994, the school has grown and flourished and plays an active role in the village community. A celebration cake decorated with our Daisy Logo was a surprise gift to the children and staff from a very kind parent and staff member.
Wisbech Grammar School Magdalene House - U9 Girls National Trampoline Champions Four children from Magdalene House, the Preparatory School for Wisbech Grammar School, had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Millfield School in Glastonbury and compete in the Independent Association for Prep Schools (IAPS) Trampoline Competition. The competition was well attended with over 250 competitors, our U9 girls were one of the first groups to compete. With 37 girls in their group Ellie Salmon, Alana and Yasmin Pritchard had a brilliant warm up which helped to settle their nerves. All three girls competed two brilliant routines and the scoring on the day was very close. The girls waited anxiously to find out how well they had done – Alana age 7 was placed 3rd individually and out of 8 teams entered in this group Magdalene House walked away with 1st place. Head Girl Alice Salmon had to wait until the afternoon to compete in her age group, but with her team mates doing so well in the morning she put extra pressure on herself to do as well as they did. Alice had 41 children to compete against in the U13 girls event, she got off to a little bit of a shaky start, but pulled herself together and competed two brilliant routines and was awarded one of the highest first round scores of the day, which secured her into 2nd Place. Head coach Adele Broda from Fenland Flyers where the girls train after school, said ‘I am so proud of the girls: they trained extremely hard for this competition and it has paid off with unexpected brilliant results for the school. I look forward to taking them back next year.’ Headmaster Chris Moxon said,” Just to compete in this highly prestigious competition for the first time was a real privilege. To actually win the Under 9 competition is incredible and also to have our Head Girl come 2nd against so many top Preparatory Schools is just amazing. We are so proud of them!”
Stepping up to funding challenge Big-hearted youngsters have given a major boost to the fund-raising efforts of a past pupil of their school who is set to trek the Inca Trail for charity. Boys and girls at Magdalene House, the preparatory school of Wisbech Grammar School, have raised £500 – a quarter of the overall total that was needed – to help Alice Goose complete the high-altitude four-day hike in Peru, which is set to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Alice (28), who is completing the trek with fellow youth workers, Laura Burgess (25) and Vicki Wright (29), was asked to pledge £3,700 to take part in the Macmillan Peru Hiking Challenge 2012, with 65 per cent of the money going directly to the charity and the balance covering the costs of the trip. However, she decided to pay for the cost of the air fares for a return flight
to South America – and therefore only needed to generate £2,000 by fund raising activity herself. Other money-spinning activities have included coffee mornings at Cambridgeshire county council’s Children and Young People’s Services office in Wisbech. A raffle, with prizes provided by a variety of organizations, was also held – and a big party at Mendi’s restaurant made more than £1,000. To get into shape the members of the trio have completed walks lasting four or five hours and they have climbed Snowdon to help them prepare for the 4,000-metre altitude. They have also kept in shape at the gym. Alice said: “It is a very worthwhile charity and the adventure also provides a personal physical challenge. I am very grateful to the children and parents and teachers for what they have done to contribute to raising the £500.” School’s Out 5
Chalk Talk
‘Come the Revolution?’
It’s already started if you hadn’t noticed! Each issue we will bring you words from a head, teaching staff, or parents about independent school life. Magdalene House’s headmaster Chris Moxon starts us off.
Derek Enright MP is famously remembered as the politician who sang Yellow Submarine in Latin during a boring debate in the House of Commons. He was also my Headmaster. I often think about him, as he made a huge impression on me and is largely responsible for me entering the teaching profession. It all started during fifth form when we were doing GCEs. I had
“I believe it is vital that we embrace and celebrate the technological advances which happen on an almost daily basis. We, that is teachers and parents, have the responsibility of guiding our children into the future. We have the responsibility of teaching them to be safe with new communications.” always liked reading so it was suspected that I could do quite well in English, both Language and Literature. Unfortunately we had an English master who had a habit of falling asleep during lessons, particularly those in the afternoon following a liquid lunch at the hostelry conveniently located opposite the school gates. It was during one such lesson that Derek appeared to relay a message and discovered him snoring contentedly whilst we were amusing ourselves with a game of Hangman. We expected Derek to explode but I shall never forget what happened next. He simply signalled to the whole class to collect our books and bags, and then led us to another classroom and proceeded to teach the best English lesson I have ever witnessed. The English master remained sleeping: he might still be there for all I know. From that moment onwards Derek became our English teacher for the rest of the year and I managed straight As in both subjects, as did the vast majority of the class (no such thing as A* in those days!) Sadly at the end of that year we were robbed of Derek as our A Level English teacher, as he retired from teaching and entered politics, becoming a local MP. I mention Derek because his catchphrase is at the heart of my own educational philosophy, which is ‘Aim for the sky, and you might just hit the ceiling.’ He inspired me to believe that I could be anything I wanted to be if I worked hard enough. Now I would not actually consider myself worthy of tying the great man’s shoe laces, and I doubt I could sing a whole Beatles number in English never mind in Latin, but I do firmly believe that the most important role of a teacher is to inspire the young people in our charge, as he did with me all those years ago. My aim is to provide a rich, vibrant, all-round education in music, drama, sport, art and technology, whilst at the same time excelling in academic studies and achieving entrance success to senior school. Magdalene House children leave our school with open, enquiring minds, full of confidence in their own abilities and ready to face a competitive and challenging world. The world in which our children live today is, of course, very different to when we were at school. It is always worth reminding ourselves as teachers and parents that our children have been born into the present: they have no
6 School’s Out
knowledge or recognition that things were quite dramatically different for us, and this is the scary bit – they don’t care because it doesn’t matter to them! Invariably if I am covering a lesson in Year 6 it will start off as an English lesson but soon become something much wider and before we know it I am talking about the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Whilst the children appear to enjoy their Headmaster’s ramblings and re-enactment of Marat’s murder in the bath (only kidding – too gory for Year 6!), the only revolution they are truly interested in is the one that they are living through now: the Technological Revolution. They are creating history and themselves playing a huge part in making it happen. Many of them could help to take it further than our wildest dreams. How exciting is that?! I believe it is vital that we embrace and celebrate the technological advances which happen on an almost daily basis. We, that is teachers and parents, have the responsibility of guiding our children into the future. We have the responsibility of teaching them to be safe with new communications. The irony is of course that they may be way ahead of us in terms of their e-communication knowledge. As adults we have to learn as we go and at some speed. We are leaders through a strange new jungle: it is some responsibility. But of course it is not just a matter of guiding children safely through this 21st Century jungle: in this rapidly changing world it is essential that we are creating world class people who themselves will one day lead others forward. It was Bill Gates who a few years ago said, ‘Get the best education you can and keep on learning.’ I believe that society has never before so desperately needed our young to be well educated. This is not just in terms of technology, but also in those fundamental attributes which we were all taught in that long ago time that doesn’t matter to our children; which helped to shape us and become the people we are today: kindness, curiosity, good manners, self reliance,
“I do firmly believe that the most important role of a teacher is to inspire the young people in our charge, as he did with me all those years ago. My aim is to provide a rich, vibrant, all-round education in music, drama, sport, art and technology, whilst at the same time excelling in academic studies and achieving entrance success to senior school.” courage, the difference between right and wrong, service, independence of thought and strength of character. All those things that I believe we must inculcate in our young in order to militate against the ‘me’ culture that exists all around us and on the screens in our living rooms. I like to think that the man who once sang Yellow Submarine in Latin in the House of Commons would agree. If you would like to be featured in a forthcoming issue then please get in touch using the details on page 3.
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School’s Out  7 Where children become great readers! www.readingeggs.co.uk | www.readingeggspress.co.uk
Events
A selection of events near you!
July 6
July 7
July 7
6-8 East of England Show & Just Dogs, East of England Showground Peterborough
7-8 Nottingham Food & Drink Festival
Ashfield Show 2012
July 7
July 7
July 8
Big Dance Festival Weekend, Central Park, Peterborough
Riverside Festival, Stamford
Meet the Bees! Barnsdale Gardens
July 8
July 13
July 14
Open Air Concert, Sandringham Visitor Centre
13-22 Oundle International Festival
Bugs & Butterflies, Flag Fen Archaeological Park, Peterborough
July 14
July 14
July 14
14,15 Festival of History, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire
Old Fashioned Family Sports Day and Fete, Rampton Hospital Grounds Retford
World Pea Shooting Championship, Witcham
July 15
July 20
July 21
15-28 King’s Lynn Festival
20,21 St Neots Regatta
Splendour Festival, Wollaton Park, Nottingham
July 23
July 23
July 23
Thomas’ Big Adventure, Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough
Cottenham Summer School, Cottenham Village College
Spy School, Imperial War Museum Duxford
8 School’s Out
August 1
August 1
August 3
Lark in the Park, Bridgford Park Nottingham
Pirates & Princesses Special Event, DH Lawrence Heritage Centre
3-5 Riverside Festival, Victoria Embankment Nottingham
August 4
August 4
August 5
Family Fun Pet Show, Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre, Peterborough
Vikings Event! Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery
Uppingham Fete Flower & Produce Festival, Uppingham
August 8
August 12
August 12
Wild Wednesdays – Grow A Monster, Ferry Meadows, Peterborough
12-17 Skegness Carnival
Children’s Day at Barnsdale Gardens
August 13
August 14
August 15
13-19 Robin Hood Festival, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre
Family Hands On Fun, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester
15-18 Equifest, East of England Showground Peterborough
August 18
August 20
August 23
Birds of Prey, Ferry Meadows Peterborough
20-24 A Really Grimm Tale, Youth Theatre Week for 7-12s, South Holland Centre, Spalding
King Arthur & The Sword in the Stone, Tattershall Castle.
August 26
August 26
August 30
Moorgreen Show, Nottingham
26 & 27 Vikings of Middle England at Rockingham Castle
30-Sep 2 Burghley Horse Trials, Burghley House, Stamford School’s Out 9
Events
A selection of events near you!
September 1
September 2
Belton Wildlife Explorers Club, Belton House Grantham
Picnic Theatre, Peter Rabbit, Hodsock Priory Blyth
September 3
September 7
Boston Steam & Vintage Festival
7-8 Planet Earth Live, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
September 8
September 8
8,9 Duxford Air Show
8,9 1940s Weekend, North Thoresby
September 8
September 9
Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival
Stamford Dog, Small Animal & Pet Show
September 9
September 15
Whittlesey Summer Festival
15-16 Country Life Weekend, Sacrewell Farm, Peterborough
September 15 September 29 Rutland Food Festival 10  School’s Out
Lycetts British Eventing National Young Horse Championships, The Osberton Estate, Nottinghamshire
To advertise in a future edition of School’s Out
please call Vicky on 01775 888403 or email vicky@ schoolsoutmagazine.co.uk
School’s Out 11
Preparation key to succe If you live in an area where children sit the 11+ or similar entrance exams (and in some areas competition into the grammar schools and independent upper is fierce) and you have decided to enter them, then doing all you can to help is at the front of most parents’ minds. We take a look at the options available to you and what you can do to ensure that the process is as stress free as possible.
D
epending on the area you live in the 11+ exam can be made up of any of the following: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and Mathematics. Whichever mix they are put into, verbal reasoning is almost always used and the others are used in various combinations. In Lincolnshire the test is currently made up of a verbal reasoning and non- verbal reasoning test, however these are subject to change so it is always worth looking at your county council’s website for further information first and foremost. Many parents prefer leave preparation of the 11+ to the school as there is usually a programme of activities in place for students from the start of Year 5. For those parents who choose to supplement this with tutors, the process will often start at the beginning of Year 5 as well, however in some areas where places are limited, tuition begins as early as Years 3 or 4. 11+ tuition can take many forms from general coaching in Maths and English to sitting practice exam papers. The benefit of hiring a tutor is that they will know the subject areas thoroughly and are experienced in identifying any potential areas for improvement and targeting them. The best way to find a tutor will always be recommendation by people you know who have used them but if that isn’t an option available to you then it is worth asking the school if they have any contacts. Failing that, if you do use the internet or classified ads to find a personal tutor then make sure you ask to see their qualifications, references and CRB clearance so you can be sure you have made the best choice. Tutors should be more than happy to provide you with whatever evidence you ask for. If you want to help prepare your child by allowing them to try out some practice papers at home then there are options available to you. You can use an online resource or purchase printed papers. With online resources you can either download practice papers or buy software to install. There are also practice paper apps available. Online practice papers are becoming increasingly popular as they are easy to access and come as a welcome break from sitting at a desk with pen and paper. Using
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online practice papers not only allows you buy single papers at a time but also makes it easier to download specific types of test. If you are buying or downloading papers though, make sure your child is sitting the right kind of paper! Preparation will only be useful if it looks at the right areas! You will find practice papers in all good bookshops but it is worth researching first which papers will be the most relevant for your child. The months running up to the 11+ can be particularly stressful, both for you as a parent and your child. For you, questions such as “when do I start my child practicing?” and “how do I manage the whole experience?” can be daunting as the end goal is to give your child all the help and assistance they need. If you feel that you’re not doing that (even if you are!) it can be very unpleasant. Many parents find it useful to sit down and put together a timetable for study. This will vary considerably from parent to parent so try not to compare! While it may not be rigidly adhered to it will give you the peace of mind that you have all angles covered and will see the size of the task ahead. You might find it’s not as daunting as you thought. When it comes to managing your child’s stress levels the first thing to accept is that there will be a level of stress to deal with. There is a good chance that this is your child’s first major exam and it’s one that they will be unable to re-sit if they don’t achieve the pass mark so pressure does come with that. Of everyone in your child’s life you know them best and so are best placed to help them through. All children are different so some will need to be told to try and be calm while others will need to be reminded of the importance of what they are doing! Most importantly of all, your child needs to know from you that you are proud of them whatever the outcome and if the outcome isn’t what they hoped for that there are alternatives for them. And that being unsuccessful is not the same as failing. After the 11+ there is time to relax as all there is left to do is wait for the results. Your child will be glad of the chance to resume hobbies and reclaim their free time! Good luck to all of you (parents and children!) who are sitting the 11+ in September – it will be here before we know it!
is the ess
School’s Out 13
Internet Security
Keeping Your Let’s start with a statistic. 38% of children on Facebook are under 12 years old…. Facebook is restricted to users under age 13, but according to a new survey, that hasn’t kept young children away, the survey showed children as young as 6 years old had their own profiles on Facebook. My primary role is as an Educational Forensic Science Trainer, but I am also a Trainer for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and travel all over the country delivering our Forensic Science Workshops into Primary and Secondary Schools, which now include the option of having a free CEOP Session. The most frightening thing is that in the vast majority of the Primary Schools I have visited, at least 75% of their KS2 pupils have a profile on Facebook, and of these, the majority have no knowledge at all of how to set up their “Privacy Settings.” Although this does not guarantee safety, it does ensure some form of security whilst online. Additionally, children need to be educated and made aware that there is a safe area that they can click on whilst online, as many children will not divulge whom they are chatting to online through fear of being in
trouble with their parents/carers or teachers. All young users of Facebook and their parents/carers have all been recently invited to add the new ClickCEOP ‘app’ to their profile. Through this app, they are able to access advice, help and support directly from the CEOP Centre as well as Facebook 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Crucially, young people will be able to report instances of suspected grooming or inappropriate sexual behaviour directly from their profile to specially trained investigators from CEOP. The ‘app’ is the outcome of collaboration between CEOP and Facebook who have combined Facebook’s expertise in connecting and communicating online with CEOP’s expertise in helping young people stay safe. As someone who is constantly at the front end, I have now devoted a special CEOP Section to my Blog and Website, where I continue to share good practice. Uploaded to this Blog are four excellent 10 minute films produced by CEOP and I would strongly urge any parents/carers and teachers with young children to take a look at the particular film called “Jigsaw”. This is a fantastic resource highlighting the dangers our children face everyday online and how you as a parent/carer can ensure your children stay safe whilst online. Produced for children aged 8-10, Jigsaw is currently being delivered to schools all over the UK through their ThinkUKnow programme. It seeks to speak directly to children who are actively online and using social media websites and chat rooms like Facebook and MSN Messenger. All CEOP films can be viewed on our blog at www.pulsecsi.com In my opinion, it’s the best 10 minutes you are likely to spend with your children in this technological world which we are all learning to live in, and as the summer holidays are closely upon us, this would be a good time to become educated about online dangers and implementing safety precautions for your children, so they can enjoy the online world safely and you are assured that you have the necessary safety parameters in place.
“Additionally, children need to be educated and made aware that there is a safe area that they can click on whilst online, as many children will not divulge whom they are chatting to online through fear of being in trouble with their parents/carers or teachers.”
14 School’s Out
Children Safe By Jacqui Thompson
More on Jacqui Thompson Born in 1965, Jacqui was part of an RAF family posted to RAF Cranwell in 1971 from Singapore. She’s been married to Bill for 19 years, who is ex-RAF Police & now a Director in Computer Forensics based in London. Jacqui and Bill have one son (15), one godson (13) and one “non-adopted” daughter in Australia (33!) Additionally, Jacqui is an Aunty, having 2 Nephews (6 and 8) and one Niece (13). 7 years ago, as a way of getting children enthused about Science, Jacqui set up PULSE after personal study and attending the University of Lincoln. She has now delivered hundreds of Forensic Science Workshops all over the country and is also a STEM ambassador and Trainer for CEOP. PULSE has delivered several Forensic Science Workshops to Independent Schools all over the country in the last few months, details and testimonials are available at http://pulsecsi.com/testimonials/so-what-are-theindependent-school-saying-about-our-workshops/
School’s Out 15
Have a heart healthy BBQ this summer With the summer months approaching, what better way to kickstart a healthy eating plan than eating good food in the great outdoors? You don’t have to load up your barbeque with fatty burgers and sausages - with our tips for healthy grilling you can enjoy al-fresco eating with family and friends and be kind to your heart at the same time. Keep the amount of saturated fat and salt to a minimum by trying oily fish instead of meat - salmon and sardines taste great grilled on the BBQ and the Omega 3 oils are good for your heart. Combine them with vegetable kebabs or corn on the cob, which you can cook slowly on the cooler part of the BBQ. Make use of marinades! They’re a great way to add flavour to chicken or lean beef, and will stop the meat drying out without adding fat or salt. Try low-fat natural yoghurt mixed with Indian spices to add a spicy theme to your BBQ. But if you just can’t imagine a barbeque without a burger or two, try making your own using lean beef mince or turkey mince, and try a colourful salad as an accompaniment instead of an uninspiring burger bun. Try some of our summer BBQ recipes below and you won’t go far wrong.
Marinated Vegetable Kebabs (Makes 8) • 8 bamboo skewers, soaked in water overnight • 3 medium courgettes, cut diagonally into thick slices • 4 peppers, cut into large chunks • 8 cherry tomatoes • 4 red onions, cut into quarters • 2 corn on the cobs, leaves removed and cut into 2cm thick pieces For the marinade: • 12 tablespoon olive oil • Juice and zest from 1 lime • 2 teaspoon of demerara sugar • 3 teaspoon dried oregano • 4 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
16 School’s Out
Prepare the vegetables and spread them on a nonmetallic dish in a single layer. Mix the marinade ingredients and pour over the vegetables, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Leave to marinate in the fridge for a few hours before threading onto the soaked bamboo skewers, ensuring each kebab has an even mix of veg. Grill on the BBQ, turning regularly until the vegetables are softened and evenly coloured.
Tandoori spiced chicken drumsticks (Serves 6) • 6 large chicken legs • 4 tbsp lime or lemon juice For the marinade: • 265ml low fat natural yoghurt • 3tbsp mustard oil • 9 cloves of garlic, crushed, • 2.5 teaspoons paprika • 2.5 teaspoons ground coriander • 2.5 teaspoons ground cumin 1.5 teaspoons ground ginger
Remove the skin from the chicken and make short slashes in the flesh. Rub the lemon or lime juice into the flesh and set aside for half an hour. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Rub the mixture into the chicken, then cover and leave to marinate overnight in the fridge. Grill the marinated chicken on the BBQ until well cooked, turning occasionally. Baste with any remaining marinade. Serve with salad and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Home Made Burgers (makes 4) • 540g/1lb 3oz lean minced beef • 1 chopped onion • 25g/1oz chopped coriander • 1tbsp Dijon mustard • 1tbsp olive oil • a little salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Shape into 4 patties, then grill on the BBQ, turning occasionally until evenly cooked. Serve with a crunchy salad, a wholemeal pitta or a Ciabatta bun.
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Next – Star hat, £8.99
Next – G
, £22 reen spot mac
the delighted with Girlies will be ber. m nu n ling gree bright and dazz
Little lads will feel like a star while keeping their cool in this trendy hat.
Paperchase – Panda Hi ghlighters, £2.50
Homework needn’t be bor ing with these fun highlighters in all the colo urs of the rainbow.
School’s Out 17
Holiday Hints
Make The Most of Your Travels...
By Sachelle Mansour, HolidayTots
When travelling with a family, there are lots of things to take into consideration to ensure that the holiday is a break which everyone can enjoy. Whether it is your first time with a baby and toddler or you are an experienced travelling family, here are a few pointers to help make things a little easier. If this is your first trip with very young children you will need to be realistic about your expectations. Gone are the days where you can dash from one tourist attraction to another and get 100 things done in a day: so be prepared to travel at a slightly slower pace. If travelling with a mixture of ages, take time to think about what the younger members of the family enjoy and make provision to let them explore: it will lead to smiles all around. Decide on the sort of holiday that will work for you and your family: there are a wealth of choices from self-catering to fully inclusive, private villa to hotel room. If you decide to go down the self-catering route then you’ll need to decide if you want to be in an apartment style complex, villa complex or private cottage/villa. Self catering has its obvious advantages: it gives you flexibility on
18 School’s Out
meals and gives your whole family a ‘home’ to play and relax in. There are lots of ways to ensure mum gets a break: many self-catering options offer full maid services, home cooked meals when you decide not to dine out, and activities for the children too. You can choose from private accommodation to small shared complexes where the children will find friends to play with. Hotels, apartments and villas in hotel style complexes can be great for families looking for kids clubs, baby sitting and crèche services. Some offer a relaxing holiday base to explore a region and others are tied to activities such as skiing and golf. If you are looking for something really different why not stay in a vineyard setting? Many working wineries now offer family breaks with activities for the kids and wine tours and tastings for the adults. Whether you are looking for a beach holiday or rural break with lots of days out you are going to spend some of your time in the car and/or plane. It is so hard to generalise on the best way to travel with children as we know each one is different. Where one will tolerate a car journey of
4 hours without much more than a toilet break another will barely last 2 hours before he really needs to let off steam. My children have taught me to have a plan but know that it is just a guide and to be flexible. Here are a couple of ideas that might make the journey a little more pleasurable. Get your child as involved as possible in the run up to the holiday. Get them thinking about where they are going and carry out some research on native animals, plant life and local land marks and attractions: they can form a scrap book with pictures from magazines. If travelling abroad teach them a few words of the local language that they can use on a daily basis with you. Our 3 year old loves following a map and older children can colour in their journey. Don’t forget your child’s comforter, favourite teddy or toy. It might be an idea to sew your telephone number on it. Our toddler’s little mouse travelled the world with us in his first 3 years but has also spent many nights temporarily lost and even travelled back from California recently by himself ! Flip, that’s the teddy’s name, has his own adventures and our son now accepts he may occasionally go off on
his own adventure but he always returns home... If your children are old enough, let them have their own bag of goodies. Ours have enjoyed their own bags from as young as 18 months, using a small backpack (doubled up as reins) carrying just a teddy. Now they love pulling their little wheelie bags and feeling independent with their own books and toys. It is always a good idea to travel, where possible, when tummies are full, and this includes the adults. It stops the grouching when the navigator gets you lost(!) and for younger children work it as far as you can around nap times. I hope I’ve been of some help starting you thinking about the best type of holiday for you and your children. To help you further, you can find a stylish selection of holiday properties on the Holiday Tots website from private villas to villas in a resort setting offering golf to wine tastings and tours. Contact the owners directly or if you are looking for advice on what holiday would be best for you, why not contact us and we will be more than happy to help. www.holidaytots.co.uk
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Britain’s best M
any people think that you have to jump on a plane and head to sunnier climates to find the best beaches, but the fact is the UK has a rich variety of beaches that should impress just about every taste. Of course, the UK can rarely guarantee the weather – and although that is true of anywhere sadly the UK has more than its fair share of rain. But what of the days when the weather is good? Well, there’s plenty of choice… A quick search on the internet tells you there are over a thousand beaches in the UK. That’s quite some number! What constitutes a bone fide beach as such is unclear, but what people really want to know is what the best beaches are; the cleanest, safest, sandiest and most attractive beaches or perhaps the beaches that are best for young children on play on. Many will ask whether they will be able to enjoy tranquil peace and quiet, or will they be hounded by noisy holiday makers or while at the same time trying to find a spare scrap of beach to set up base? Like many I’ve been to my fair share of beaches in the past, but equally, I’ve probably only scratched at the surface when it comes to visiting UK beaches. I’ve walked in total isolation at Sheigra beach near Kinlochbervie in the Scottish highlands. I’ve seen the sun set at Perranporth beach in Cornwall; I’ve taken my daughter on a donkey ride at Skegness, paddled in the sea at Tenby and sunburned at Looe. I’ve also dodged the rain at Aberystwyth and eaten ice creams at Whitby. Defining what is the best is, of course, a matter of choice,
objectivity based on your own personal preferences so it’s impossible to say definitively which beach is the best or worst.
So which beaches are great?
I’m a sucker for a nice sandy beach, where my daughter can build sandcastles and look for creatures in a host of rock pools. Getting sand in your shoes and all over the car is a small price to pay for the fun you have! A recent article in The Guardian suggests the best sandy beaches are Huisinis, Isle of Lewis in Scotland, Barafundle Bay and Tenby’s South Beach both in Pembrokeshire South Wales and Holkham Bay, Norfolk. Of these Huisinis is the most remote – at the end of a 15-mile single track road on an island (quite a ferry trip from the mainland). This could be just the place to seek a retreat if you have the time and the weather on your side. You are unlikely to be jockeying for space on this beautiful beach. The article also mentions beaches in nice settings - Whiterocks, Portrush, Minnis Bay in Kent, Bamburgh in Northumberland, Hunstanton in Norfolk – all in England, and from Scotland, Achmelvich in the Highlands and Three Cliffs Bay on the glorious – and very underrated - Gower Peninsula in Glamorgan in South Wales. Hunstanton is a classic ‘old-school’ British resort beach, with plenty of arcades, candy floss shops and cafes. So for those in search of a bit of peace and quiet, which beaches are the best in terms of being the most uncrowded? The South coast takes it with Canford Cliffs Chine in Poole in Dorset, Stone Bay at
Photo: Anthony Hicks
20 School’s Out
beaches Broadstairs in Kent and West Wittering in West Sussex. Moving into East Anglia, both Frinton on Sea in Essex and Southwold Denes in Suffolk got the nod while Ainsdale beach in Merseyside was also included.
Best for families
Of course, beaches are not just about sitting on a towel and soaking up the sun’s rays. For families, associated activities are also a must. The best beaches for families were listed as Ramsgate Main Sands, in Kent, Bigbury-on-Sea and Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe – both in Devon, West Beach at Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, Central Beach at Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire and Weston-super-Mare in Somerset. If you love beach activities like kitesurfing and bodysurfing Watergate Bay in Cornwall and the ever-popular Brighton beach in East Sussex came out on top. And taking this theme on a stage further, what about surfing? Of course this is an art that only some want to try, but for those who do want to go surfing, then the undisputed King is Cornwall with recommendations of Polzeath and Sennen Cove. So there’s a small selection to be going on with in the summer holidays! We’d love to hear from you about your favourite beaches to visit in both the summer and the winter months and we’ll compile a “Readers Recommend” guide. You’ll find our details at the bottom of page 3.
School’s Out 21
Let the train ta
Looking for a day out this summer, but can’t face the roads… Railways Illustrated magazine, points you
22 School’s Out
ake the strain!
… taking the train could be the answer! Pip Dunn, editor of u in the direction of some great days out. The best deals
To get the best deal, it’s advisable to set a date aside and book in advance on the internet. Most train operators offer good deals, sometimes at ridiculously low fares, for those able to stay away from the busiest times and routes. For example, if you wanted to go from Stamford to Birmingham, while a turn up and pay off peak day return is only £20, go online in advance at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk and you can usually get tickets each for £5 each way – so £10 for your day. However,these will be for specified trains only and any deviation from those set trains will see you charged for a new ticket on the day! East Coast also offers some excellent bargains with fares from Peterborough to Edinburgh for example, if you fancy a long weekend or a few days away. EC also offers some bargain fares from Peterborough to London if you want a day in the capital.
Railcards
If you are travelling as a family, then a Family and Friends Railcard is a worthwhile investment and can often pay for itself on its first use. It costs £28 but lasts for a year and with it the adults – or which up to two can be named to use it solo or together – get their fares cut by 33% while any children can travel with you for 60% of their normal child fare. If you buy a three year card it is just £65, so that saves you another £19! And under- fives travel free!
Railrovers
Another real travel bargain is the rover ticket, which comes in all shapes and sizes! Rover tickets allow you unlimited travel in certain areas, usually after 9 o’clock on weekdays or at any time on a Saturday. Some are for one day’s use only, others for four days in a specified eight day period or others for seven days consecutively if you really want to get out and about in your area or maybe include a few overnight stays. The East Midlands Day ranger for example, for just £32.90, can take you from Peterborough as far west as Crewe, Nuneaton, Matlock, Worksop and Lincoln. If you really want to explore, then the East Midlands Rover – available in seven day or three-in-seven day formats for £98 and £75.90 respectively, allows you one day to take in the seaside at Skegness or Cleethorpes, another day shopping in Nottingham Peterborough or Sheffield and other days visiting attractions and stately homes such as Chatsworth or
walking in the Peak District from Edale. East Anglia is another area rich in places to visit, and Anglia plus ticket – available in one, three-in-seven and seven day options allows unlimited travel on trains that serve the beautiful Norfolk Broads, the superb cathedral cities of Ely, Norwich and Cambridge as well as the seaside lines to Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Cromer and Great Yarmouth. A full list of railrovers, not just for this area, but for the country as a whole, is available at www.nationalrail.co.uk which lists details on their fares, validity, routes and train operators that accept the tickets.
Heritage railways
Aside from the ‘big railway’, then a visit to one of the country’s heritage railways is always worth a visit, especially if your children like Thomas or big noisy diesel engines. The North Norfolk railway is one of the finest preserved branch lines in the country. Its superb stations at Weybourne and Sheringham are fantastically restored and really capture the atmosphere of the railways in their golden age. Old compartment coaches have been lovingly restored and they are hauled along the five mile line by vintage steam or diesel locos, with an emphasis on the former! Even its old diesel railcars have an appeal, as well as offering a driver’s eye view of the line ahead! The stations have superb tea rooms as well, and a scenic view of the North Norfolk Coast. This is a must visit attraction if you are in the area as is the Mid Norfolk Railway which runs from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey, a journey of some ten miles. Volunteers work hard to deliver a rail experience from a bygone age. The Great Central Railway in Loughborough is a fantastic heritage line with steam and diesel trains running on a regular basis. This line also offers a six course meal on the ‘Charnwood Forester’ dining train each evening in summer, with the train spending time on the viaduct over Swithland Reservoir as idyllic back drop as you enjoy fine dining. It also holds many events such as popular 1940s weekends! Other heritage lines in our area are the Nene Valley Railway, the Great Central Railway North, the Rutland Railway Museum, the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway or – for something completely different – what about a trip around Scunthorpe steel works on a steam train! Sounds strange but it’s absolutely fascinating and will keep any child gasping in awe at the sight of the huge smelters as the train chuffs its way round this amazing industrial complex!
Key websites and contacts East Coast www.eastcoast.co.uk East Midlands Trains www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk Hull Trains www.hulltrains.co.uk Greater Anglia Railways www.greateranglia.co.uk National Rail enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk Northern Rail www.northernrail.org
Heritage Railways in the Area:
Barrow Hill Roundhouse www.barrowhill.org.uk Battlefield Line www.battlefield-line-railway.co.uk East Anglian Railway Museum www.earm.co.uk/ Great Central Railway www.gcrailway.co.uk/ Great Central Railway Nottingham www.nthc.co.uk Mid Norfolk Railway www.mnr.org.uk Midland Railway - Butterley www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk Northampton and Lamport Railway www.nlrorg.uk North Norfolk Railway www.nnrail.co.uk/ Nene Valley Railway www.nvr.org.uk/ School’s Out 23
Family
Fun!
In this section you’ll find fun activities for all the family. This month we look at books to read, let you try your hand at colouring, make a poodle and a scary spider and give you details on a new hobby to take up – Fossil Hunting! Enjoy!
24 School’s Out
Book Reviews What to read this month
Four Children and It Jacqueline Wilson The new bestseller from Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker, is a funny, moving and heart-warming story of four children who discover a way to make wishes come true… This is Jacqueline’s modern day tribute to ES Nesbit’s Classic which has always been one of her favourite childhood books and one of her inspirations for writing herself.
Hardback Price: £12.00
The Chronicles of Egg Geoff Rodkey A swashbuckling adventure; The Chronicles of Egg is the first in a brand new adventure series from Emmy-nominated screen writer Geoff Rodkey. This book has all the adventure and humour of Percy Jackson and all the thrills of Treasure Island. Deadweather, a sweaty little pirate-infested island, is home to thirteen year old Egg. But when Egg’s family disappears in a freak accident, he finds himself living on Sunrise Island with the glamorous Pembroke family and their feisty daughter Millicent. Finally, life seems perfect… Until someone tries to throw him off a cliff. Suddenly, Egg is lost in a world of cutthroat pirates and powerful villains as he hurtles into the deadliest adventure of his life!
Paperback Price: £6.99
Harry and the Dinosaurs Go on Holiday Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds Harry and his much-loved dinosaurs have captured children’s imaginations around the world for almost a decade. Now they are off on their biggest adventure yet…Down Under!
Paperback Price: £6.99
The London Colouring Book The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympics mean that this year all eyes are on London. You can now take in the sights without leaving the comfort of your own home! And where else could you see a green London Eye and a blue Big Ben! For a taste, have a go on pages 26 & 27.
Price £5.00
Things to Make and Doodle
Moshi Monsters: The Ultimate Moshlings Collector’s Guide
This activity book gives you the chance to hone your motor skills while cutting, folding and transforming your two-dimensional doodles into three-dimensional keepsakes and gifts. Try it out on pages 28 & 29.
This new edition is now updated with all new Moshlings! If you want to be a Moshling expert then this fantastic Moshling Collector’s Guide is the perfect book for you. Monstro City’s top Moshling collector, Buster Bumblechops, shares his tips on collecting all the little Moshlings roaming wild in the world of Moshi Monsters! This awesome book is packed full of Buster’s stories from years of Moshling tracking. Find out how to plant the right seeds to attract Moshlings, and how to keep them entertained once you have adopted them! As well as Buster Bumblechop’s collector’s notes the guide contains extracts from his diary plus an exclusive extra Moshling (available only with this guide).
Price: £5.00
Price £7.99
Tony Payne
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26 LondonColouring.indd School’s Out
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ThingsMakeDoodle_Quark8_TTMAD 17/05/2011 12:38 Page 32
Poodle Pooch Poodle owners often give their poodles a haircut to keep their coat short and neat. They sometimes even dye their dog’s hair in crazy colours, such as purple or pink!
Cover this poodle in short, curly hair and colour it in bright purple or pink.
Finished poodle
32 28 School’s Out
Dangling Tarantula Give the tarantula shoes and furry legs on this page as well as the next, then cut it out below. You will also need a length of thread, measuring roughly 30 centimetres. 1. Cut out the shape along the solid outside line, then score along each of the fold lines. 2. Fold the shape in half along the central fold line, so that the design is on the outside.
3. Open out the shape as much as you need to (so that you can see the fold lines underneath), then pinch along the diagonal lines. Now push in the head and bottom ends, as shown.
Cover its legs in hair and draw a cool trainer on each foot.
4. Pinch the diagonal lines closest to the head and bend it up again, as shown. Add glue to the glue area, then squeeze both sides of the head together. 5. Bend the legs up towards the body, then bend them back at the knees. 6. Fix the thread to the middle of the back, then ask an adult to hang it from the ceiling of your bedroom. 33 School’s Out  29
Become a Fossil Hunter
Guide to
Fossil Hunting The long summer break is finally here and it’s a great chance to take up a new hobby that will not only get you outdoors in the sunny weather but also take you on your travels anywhere from the closest beach to you to half way around the world! We’re talking fossils and fossil hunting. If you love dinosaurs then this is the hobby for you! And it is truly a year round activity as you can spend Spring, Summer and Autumn collecting fossils and then use your time indoors on the cold Winter evenings identifying the fossils you have found. So where do you start? And what do you need? School’s Out is here to help…. You can look for fossils almost anywhere – even somewhere really close like your garden. As the weather is likely to be fine this summer then head to your nearest beach. Make sure you have an adult with you at all times and make sure you only head out onto the beach during falling tides. Always check tide times before you start. Also keep away from the bottom of cliffs to avoid rock fall. Don’t take any risks. Make sure you’ve got sturdy footwear, a bag for all of your discoveries and your eyes peeled! Some of England’s coastline (mainly down in Dorset) contain fossils from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. That’s nearly 85 million years-worth of fossils just waiting to be discovered. Professional fossil collectors sometimes use hammers, chisels and special equipment but you will be surprised at just how much you can find by looking very carefully. You might find a dinosaur tooth but you’re more likely to find the fossils of creatures that lived in the sea such as trilobites and ammonites. Saying that, Icthyosaurs lived in the sea and they grew to nearly 4 metres so you never know! For the School’s Out readers in Lincolnshire, Ketton Quarry, Anderby Creek and Rutland Water are good places to hunt for fossils. For Cambridgeshire Grafham Water and Old Sulehay and for Nottinghamshire the Vale of Belvoir. Amazing finds are closer than you think! One word of advice, some areas are protected by law, and these are called Sites of Specific Interest. On these sites you are allowed to go and look at all of the fossils but not take any away. Double check if your site is protected because if it is you’ll have to start your collection somewhere else! When you find a fossil write down where and when you found it and what you think it might be. Before you set out it might be a good idea to learn a little about sedimentary rock as this is where a lot of fossils are found. It will help you to narrow your search. When you get home you can use books or online resources to identify your collection. Many museums have large collections of fossils so if you are really stuck then get in touch with them and they will have a specialist who will be able to help you. Most of all, enjoy hunting and make sure you let School’s Out know what you find. Send us a picture and we’ll feature it in a future issue!
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Coming in October…. All things Halloween Spoooooky Children’s Activities Bonfire Night Treats Skiing Holidays Also our regular sections covering: News Events Education Lifestyle We’d love to hear your feedback on this first issue – let us know what you’d like to see more of in the magazine! Our contact details are on page 3.
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Q U I N T E S S E N T I A L LY V I L L A S Enjoy precious time with your family in the finest villas across the globe.
To book your unforgettable holiday please call 020 3073 6673 or email info@QuintessentiallyVillas.com and quote ‘School’s Out’. 32 School’s Out
Image courtsey of Anahita Resort, Mauritius
www.QuintessentiallyVillas.com