AIM HIGH & EXCEL at
Russell House
Russell House School in Otford is renowned for helping children reach the school of their choice at 11. Vine learns that by encouraging children to join in and aim high from an early age, Russell House students enjoy exceptional achievements in every aspect of school life
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his year has been incredibly successful for many children at Russell House. Some have gained places at the junior departments of Trinity College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music. One child achieved a choristership at St Olave’s and has been singing with the choir for the royal family. In tennis, children have won a collection of county titles and, in swimming, a national trophy. Such exceptional individual achievements are not unusual in a school where every child is encouraged to aim high and achieve beyond expectation. Russell House is small enough to recognise the achievements and successes of individuals at every level and promotes an environment where children want to participate in all the opportunities on offer. “We have always had extraordinarily high expectations of our children,” says headmistress Alison Cooke. “It can be seen, for example, in the music our choristers sing, the challenges we give our mathematicians, the literature children study, and, most recently, in our choice of end-of-year production.” That production was Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which attracted rapturous applause as well as more than a touch of awe at the manner in which the children, aged from nine to 11, handled Shakespeare’s words and comedy. “In the production, the children rose to our expectations and even surprised themselves with what they achieved,” Alison Cooke continues. “The experience of approaching a challenge like this and the resulting success gives children so much confidence, both in their own ability and in tackling new challenges in the future.” The self-assurance children develop at Russell House is, Alison Cooke believes, one of the factors in the school’s continued success in helping children to gain entry to the school of their choice when they leave at 11. “Our focus throughout the school is on encouraging children to participate in the many, varied cultural, musical and sporting activities on offer here,” she says. “Children need to be happy and confident if they are to achieve their best and the confidence they gain from accomplishments in every sphere feeds into their academic success. You need only look at our results to see it works!” In choosing Russell House, parents don’t need to compromise between size and breadth of opportunity. The school remains small enough to provide a genuinely happy, relaxed family atmosphere and excellent pastoral care while still offering an incredible breadth of subjects and activities pursued to the highest levels. n Experience this remarkable school for yourself. Russell House School, Otford is holding an open morning at 10am on September 23, or call to arrange a personal tour on 01959 522352. For more information visit www.russellhouseschool.co.uk
34 vine September 2011 vinedigital.co.uk