April 2020

Chair Head Bursar Registrar Staffroom School Office ...the professional journal for Management & Staff CAREFREE SCHOOL MINIBUS OWNERSHIP Choose from our complete range of versatile 9 - 17 Seat School Minibuses

• Finance Plans To Suit All Budgets Call today to arrange a quotation or free demonstration • Nationwide Service & Support • D1 and B Licence Minibuses 01202 091618 • New & Pre-Owned Available redkite-minibuses.com • Driver Assist Options [email protected]

VEHICLE CERTIFICATION NATIONWIDE SUPPLIERS OF PEUGEOT (RECOMMENDED), AGENCY FORD & VAUXHALL

2 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] In this issue... Covid-19: – Remote Learning – Did Exams Need to be Cancelled? – Helping the NHS – Facing Up to Financial Pressures – New Arrangements for GCSE and A-level Assessments Pages 5-12

15 Improving Emotional Wellbeing & Academic Science experiments Performance Through Neuroscience during lockdown free course for teachers Burgess Hill Girls, Sussex, has created a series of videos showing families how to conduct 20 Rate Relief in England & Wales fun science experiments at home during the will government end it to help pay for Coronavirus? lockdown. Make a ‘Lava Lamp’, a ‘Sweetie Rainbow’, 22 Alumni Donations ‘Frankenstein’s Hand’ or create an ‘Eruption’ helping drive social mobility are the titles of four instruction videos. The experiments only require a few materials found 24 Cutting Emissions...Cutting Costs in most households. Apart from the ‘Eruption’ experiment, which can get messy, all can be getting a grip on utilities done inside. The teacher behind these experiments is 30 Embracing Peer Mentoring Mrs Shelley Allen, Head of STEM (Science, a wellbeing priority Technology, Engineering and Maths) at Burgess Hill Girls Junior School. 36 Taster Days “I chose these experiments as they don’t require top tips to make them work many materials and they are very popular amongst the pupils at the Burgess Hill Girls. I hope everyone has as much fun doing them as Plus we do. ” 18 Science & Technology Focus Feature In each video Mrs Allen is assisted by pupils 20 Finance & Facilities Focus Feature at Burgess Hill Girls; Anaïs, Ellie, Annabel and 32 Community & Charity Focus Feature Persephone. 35 Changing Faces...Changing Places You can watch the videos at: 39 Great Outdoors https://burgesshillgirls.com/news/four-fun- 40 Music, Drama & Dance Focus Feature science-experiments-for-children 43 Sport Focus Feature 47 Contact Us; Editorial Advisory Board; e-mag offer Cover background Is Your School Mentioned? See page 47 for an A-Z listing Sports development A £21m sports complex has opened at King’s From the Editor: College, Wimbledon, marking the completion of It has not been possible to produce some of our usual content for this issue. However, an ambitious 10-year infrastructure master plan. thanks to the support of our contributors and advertisers we are pleased to bring you a magazine packed full of information which we hope will prove of interest and inspiration. Full story page 26 LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A SCHOOL OR NURSERY National SchoolTransfer For a Professional – Confidential Service www.nationalschooltransfer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1980 621251

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 3 Tales of the Atlantic: Return to Kitebrook World record-holders and Gloucestershire siblings Anna, 25, and Cameron McLean, 32, visited the pupils from Kitebrook Preparatory School, after successfully completing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic rowing challenge, travelling over 3,000 nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, across to Antigua and Barbuda. The rowing pair, who are son and daughter of Kitebrook Headteacher and 22 minute ‘epic adventure’. Susan McLean (see picture) returned Regaling the children with how they to the Cotswold school after visiting overcame rocky boat conditions, just prior to their Atlantic crossing. Minis receive new shirts On their initial visit they brought in enormous waves, acute seasickness Glenalmond College, has Glenalmond and the players the two-person boat and kit they and being circled by a tiger shark; presented Perthshire Rugby were delighted to receive their would need to take with them for they even had willing volunteers to Minis with brand new rugby new strips, which also feature their ocean crossing, giving the come and taste some of the packet strips featuring the logo of the The Treatment Room and children the opportunity to gain an food they survived on and feel the Perthshire school, which is the Auchterarder Parents Supporting insight into the huge feat they were many blisters on their hands! After new Official Partner of the Mini Parents on the sleeves. being entranced by their progress Section. about to undertake. The industrious Glenalmond College has a rich the whole time they were away, duo took on this extreme endurance Graham Smith, Director of heritage in rugby with former their amazing account was a huge challenge in support of UN Women Sport at Glenalmond College, Scotland Captains David Leslie, inspiration to all the boys and girls. UK, the UN organisation dedicated presented the new shirts to Carol Rob Wainwright and 1990 to gender equality and the When asked if they were able to Ann Rose, Head of the Minis, Grand Slam Captain David empowerment of women, with the sum up their experience, Anna said: joined by players and coaches Sole all former pupils (Old aim to break any gender stereotypes “It was totally unpredictable. You at a training session last month Glenalmonds). The school’s by putting to the test what it truly have no idea what you’re going to (March). 1st XV team also reached the means to be in the #sameboat. Scottish Schools’ Cup Final two face out there. Never give up and The partnership takes the seasons ago and Glenalmond On their return to Kitebrook, after follow your heart – we made it!”. previous strong relationship and is the official “School Partner” completing the mammoth journey, Cameron concluded: “It was an epic long-held rugby connections of London Scottish, the club they were able to share stories and adventure that keeps you on the between club and school to a which has fielded more Scotland pictures from their 43 day, 15 hour edge of your seat”. new level. international players than any Mrs Rose said the club was other since they were founded Gift to Art department proud to have the backing of in 1878. Diana Springall, the renowned places of worship, and a carpet for textile artist and curator, was the the London HQ of an international special guest at a picnic lunch in the bank. She lectured on fashion and Art Department at The Leys School, textiles for many years and has Cambridgeshire. appeared on television to talk about contemporary embroidery. She is Ms Jessica Hebden, Head of Art, former chairman and Life Member invited her to join Art scholars in the of The Embroiderers’ Guild. Art studio. The event was a way of thanking her for generously giving Art Scholar Tor Lovell (L6) presented her library of art books, acquired Mrs Springall with a framed copy of during her long career, to The Leys. an etched bookplate she designed to put inside the donated books. Diana Springall FDSC (Fellow of The Society of Designer Craftsmen) Mrs Springall was shown around trained in Fine Art but made her the Art department by Ms Hebden. name as the maker, designer and Commenting on the pursuit of an commissioner of many important artistic career, Mrs Springall said: works in textiles. These include “To be an artist you have to love Pictured: Graham Smith, Director of Sport, Glenalmond College pictured with Carol Ann panels for Chester Town Hall, what you are doing. You will never Rose, Head of Perthshire Rugby Club’s Mini Section, the young players and coaches hangings and panels for many be bored!”

4 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Covid-19 Was it Really Necessary to Cancel Exams? ...asks Lara Péchard, Head at St Margaret’s School in Hertfordshire Back in the year 2000, there was generally procrastinate and many months, but will have missed a a definite shift towards a more will develop later and over the two- vital final piece of their schooling, modular curriculum over a linear year course. For some it is only which would have otherwise one. Ever since that point, there when the classes cease that it all readied them. It is also possible, has been much debate around ‘clicks’ into place and it is during that more competitive university the most effective type of exam exam leave that they actually courses will offer some sort of to assess pupil ability and also consolidate their knowledge. For test to help with their selection around the impact those exams these pupils, the disappearance of process, one only hopes that they might have on adolescent mental public exams is not good news, are working on this possibility health. Of course, GCSEs have as they would have made leaps now, rather than at a later date. also morphed from initially being in progress by the time they had The last thing our pupils need is heavy in coursework, to more reached the examination room. another ‘surprise’ come August. controlled assessments and then Perhaps most damaging though, Off the radar back again towards focusing on a is the prospect of at least another It is a confusing time for us all and physical exam. three months in lock down with remote learning. There is so much the speed with which exams were nothing to show at the end of it, we still don’t know, so perhaps Now we find ourselves removed has surprised the entire at a time when they should be making any decisions now could unexpectedly in the Covid-19 educational world; we all saw achieving their greatest tangible be deemed hasty, but giving no landscape, with the radical decision schools closing as inevitable but academic performance and results. clear direction risks undoing the to cancel this summer’s public the cancellation of exams was quite How can we expect them to feel momentum that would have carried exams. Ironically, for many years, off most schools’ radars. teachers have worried about the motivated during this time or our pupils successfully through to impact these exams have on indeed to look with positivity to At St Margaret’s we have given the summer. children’s mental health and here the future? our pupils the choice to complete The impact of all of this is probably we are once again, but this time another mock paper. The belief the most worrying. At least when a the concern is around the negative We must bridge the gap here is that the summative That said, the education sector has child doesn’t get their aspirational impact of having no exams at all. assessments will give them a fair grade in the summer sessions they a duty of care to motivate these test and one that they should feel Although most students would had the wind behind them and students and there is perhaps only confident and ready for. If teachers say they aren’t fans of exams, they they always knew that was the time a few purposeful options left to have done their jobs well (and the expected to complete them. They and place they would be assessed make this happen. One is to put way they have risen stupendously had been working hard, they were in that way. The Government’s on summative assessments that to the challenge of remote learning preparing and as a result there was decision to remove exams was enable the school to have the latest suggests they have), then the pupils immediate panic, confusion and definitely solution focused. In evidence of their attainment – a are ready for these ‘tests’. Sitting upset at the announcement. the face of such uncertainty and mock style paper that provides these new mocks will enable pupils Shock came first that the exams, the pupil with a similar experience to complete the circle and will, in horrendous choices relating to every which had given the children their to that of an official exam. This many cases support their mental other aspect of society, who can bearings for the last 18 months, could be assessed in the family health rather than damage it. blame the Government for wanting could be so quickly removed. The home, with the parents signing it to remove the threat of exams shock then gave way to confusion off and the paper undertaken with Schools in other parts of the hanging over our young people. as they questioned how, if at all, the teacher watching via Google world are trusted to provide However, there are looming they would actually be assessed meet. This then could be dropped assessment that enables children to - and how they would earn their into the academic tracking for the matriculate. Most heads will have concerns. Will Covid-19, when we ticket to the next stage of their child and show, hopefully, the value moaned about the exam boards at do come through it, give way to education. Educators everywhere added, that the child has been one time or another, for varying wrangles; wrangles between parents will undoubtedly have trusted that working towards. reasons. Covid-19 has offered and schools for not predicting the us a chance to reconsider a new right grade or for setting a ‘too their pupils will not be negatively Secondly we need to help them approach to how we assess pupils difficult’ mock back in January? impacted; that is, that they will to bridge the gap between where and it does seem a shame that we Schools are used to appealing to ultimately get what they deserve. they are now and the next stage of are relying on past performance, exam boards but what does an their education. For the year 11’s mock papers etc. that are geared appeal look like when there was Shock gave way to we need to be engaging them in towards exams that will not be sat. no final exam? For the year 13’s confusion the reading of pre-A Level material Let’s hope that this period shows there is also the possibility that they However, even this more positive and personalising this time with that we can trust schools and might not get into their university interpretation of events leaves many online courses around their career universities to assess young people, of us with a barrage of questions. or university aspirations. For the of choice and this would be hard How will selective universities read year 13s a similar bespoke pathway after all isn’t that a major part of to swallow if you were not given the current year 11 or year 13 is needed, one that enables them what we do? the chance to prove what you were results? If children don’t lose out, to be university ready, using online Concerns are looming worth in the first place. surely it means more will be in a resources like Unifrog and getting There can be no doubt that all of Whenever we return to school position, equipped with higher them excited and prepared for the this uncertainty impacts the child. there is still much that our year grades, to get into their aspirational jump to being an undergraduate. Childline are reporting a rise in 11 and 13s, whatever exam university course of choice? Universities up and down the reports of mental health concerns system they are under, will need For many pupils the prospect of the country must also be worried that in the young. Schools like St from their schools. There will be school using data on them from their first-year students, come Margaret’s are offering counselling much to do in order to complete mocks or predicted grades is not October, will not only have lost sessions and pastoral support in the the academic year 19/20 in a an encouraging one. Teenagers their rhythm over the last few face of all the challenges around meaningful and healthy way.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 5 Covid-19

The Mount School York gave 85 in protecting front line nurses protecting the hospice’s palliative sets of protector safety goggles dealing with Covid-19 cases care nurses than sitting unused from their laboratories and 100 in Italy and France. Following in our laboratories. Front line sets of disposable gloves to St donations from local schools, staff are offering an invaluable Leonard’s Hospice for use by the the hospice said they now service in these times and we charity’s palliative care nurses. expect to be better able to cope all need to do our bit, whether with demand for this personal In an appeal to York-area schools, that means staying home and protective equipment to safeguard the hospice was sourcing any teaching online or in other their palliative care staff. stock of science safety goggles to ways. As a Quaker school, The cope with an expected increased Adrienne Richmond, Principal Mount’s ethos encourages our caseload over the coming weeks. of The Mount School said: pupils to contribute to our wider Their normal supply chain “With schools’ premises closed community. I am delighted to anticipated no additional stock to prevent the spread of help in this way and I know the for up to six weeks. The goggles, covid-19, it’s better for this whole school will wholeheartedly specifically, had proven effective safety equipment to be used in agree.” Pictured: The Mount School’s Laboratory Technician, Mingju Hou, with the goggles and gloves which were donated to St Leonard’s Hospice

Staff volunteers at Surrey’s Over 100 goggles and 850 pairs Cranleigh School spent their of much-needed disposable Easter break running a free gloves have been donated to multi-activity programme for Cranleigh medical centre by the children of key workers on the Biology and Chemistry campus. departments. The centre will distribute them to local care Pupils from twelve local schools, homes and pharmacies for whose parents are front-line workers to use. workers in the current pandemic, took part in craft, games and Cranleigh’s Design Engineering activities that can be managed at team provided Perspex for the the required two-metre distance. creation of visors for community The scheme ran until remote NHS teams, and was delighted learning restarts for the Summer by this ‘thank you’ message from term. the team at Shere Surgery.

St Peter’s School York is 48 filtering facepieces, 626 supporting the fight against surgical face masks, 150 pieces coronavirus by donating over of eye protection (goggles and 6,500 pieces of personal glasses), 5,500 latex free gloves, protective equipment (PPE) to 350 disposable aprons and 25 York Teaching Hospital NHS disposable decorators coveralls. Foundation Trust. The items of PPE have been The donation (pictured right) sourced from St Peter’s School’s includes four infection protection on-site medical centre, its kits (complete with mask, science, design and technology visor, coverall, gloves, shoe departments, and donations from covers, tape and a waste bag), pupils.

Yorkshire’s Ashville College has one of us owes a huge debt of donated vital equipment to the gratitude to all the NHS staff town’s frontline medical teams. working around the clock doing After hearing that many hospitals amazing things, and in particular around the country are running those caring for patients in short of personal protective Harrogate District Hospital”. equipment (PPE), the school has Richard Marshall, Headmaster given Harrogate District Hospital of Ashville College, said: “On 200 pairs of safety glasses hearing about a shortage of PPE normally used by pupils and staff in hospitals around the country, during science lessons. we contacted Harrogate District David Normanshire, Head of Hospital offering them all the Science, said: “Each and every protective glasses we have”.

6 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Covid-19 And suddenly, all we have is virtual schools… Hot on the heels of having to fund a 7%+ increase in Teachers Pension employers’ contributions, schools are now having to contend with coronavirus. They will need to act swiftly and think creatively to manage the added financial stresses, writes Alyson Howard, an education specialist at accountants MHA MacIntyre Hudson.

The events of recent weeks some over for a short while but be eliminated for now – House are unprecedented. Almost all choosing between school fees and mothers and fathers, cleaners and businesses are in lockdown and having food on the family table catering staff to go on furlough either shut entirely or working on might mean schools lose students perhaps? a virtual basis only. That includes unless they can find a way to help you may also need to ask for These are difficult decisions but all independent schools. reduce fees. charity commission permission to there is government support realise any part of it to help you From our experience I can see There are some straightforward here to cover 80% of wages up through this crisis. independent school clients coping measures schools should consider to £2500 per month, an annual in several different ways. Many to try to achieve this. equivalent of £30k per annum. If you have six months’ running costs in liquid funds then you will have set up an almost total virtual Check business interruption This is outright support – not have time to run your different school operation, others are using insurance as there may be support a grant – so looking carefully scenario forecasts and look websites to disseminate content there, although this should only at how you might access it in carefully at how you want to play with some online provision. One be viewed as a partial solution preference to government-backed, this, but many schools may not client, who runs an independent as it is unlikely to cover all costs. or other loans is important. have this sort of contingency to special school, had, by 23rd Claims are likely to take some One client who relies on fall back on. March, dropped off full work time to process so the earlier you international students has had packs with laptops, textbooks and submit one, the sooner you will to completely restructure what So, decide on what policies you other materials to all students. get some funds back. it will be offering in terms of are going to adopt. If you have From then onwards, they have modelled a cut down operation If you have not been able to curriculum, cutting costs and provided taught lessons for with some staff on furlough, offer much in terms of a virtual staff as much as possible. They three hours each morning, with what drop in fees can you pass offering prior to Easter what also understand that, even supported home learning in the on? Communicate that to parents can you offer for the summer once schools can reopen, their afternoons. as soon as you can. Are there term? Consider furloughing less international market, particularly optional add-ons you could offer We have now come to the end essential staff, and offering a from the Far East, is going to take to those parents who might be of the spring term so, for most virtual provision at lower cost to some time to recover. Instead, able to pay for them while leaving schools, the number of days pass on that saving to parents. they are looking to Europe to see the pared-down version for those lost since lockdown started You need to be looking at if they can build more market who cannot afford any more? is relatively small. But as we financial models with varying share there. consider the summer term – one sensitivities. What is the impact Clearly some schools have strong Those of you that are charities without any GCSE or A-Level if half of parents pay nothing reserves and perhaps large can ask parents to consider examinations – it is far from clear for example? How could you cut historical endowments. The value making income donations to how parents are going to respond costs to manage in that situation? of investments has been hit and enhance the basic fee level. Since you will not be delivering to the invoices for fees landing Boarding schools, short of any dividend and income returns your usual services for the extra on their door mats. And many small residual offerings for key are not likely to be what they funding you could then claim who would want to pay, may workers’ children, are not likely were for some time to come, but gift aid for that part of the not be able to at this time. They to be offering any boarding you will want to avoid having consideration. might be furloughed on much facilities at all, so realistically to sell investments at such low less pay, or even have been made that cannot be charged for. What prices unless necessary. If your Action is key, this is not a time to redundant. Savings might tide costs associated with that can endowment is not expendable, dither! Alyson Howard FCCA DChA CF is Education and Not-for-Profit Partner at MHA MacIntyre Hudson. She can be contacted at [email protected]

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 7 Covid-19

Design Technology teachers at a production line in their school Mr Newton said: “Alongside many took approximately 14 hours Stamford School manufactured workshop, with one team member other DT departments across from initial concept to final 200 protective face masks a laser cutting and assembling the the country we have approached prototype and we are now able to day for the NHS, as part of the headband, one person cutting, the NHS PPE shortage as a manufacture 200 a day. We will national effort to increase the shaping and punching the screen, design challenge. At SES we are keep manufacturing as long as we availability of PPE for frontline and a third on assembly, cleaning extremely fortunate to have the have materials and a demand for NHS staff. and quality control. This process equipment and skill set to make the product - we’re just glad we allowed them to manufacture up a real difference to members of are able to help our amazing NHS Teachers at the Stamford Endowed Schools originally to 200 masks per day. our NHS. The design process workers”. trialled using the Schools’ 3D printers to manufacture visors, but the process was too slow to meet demand. Staff worked to prototype and refine a design for creating the face masks using laser cutters. The first delivery of 100 masks, manufactured in just six hours, was sent to the ICU team at Peterborough City Hospital. The Schools’ solution involved laser cutting a polypropylene headband and attaching it to a PVC screen. With his team, Steve Newton, Head of Design Technology at the Stamford Endowed Schools, set up a

Design and Technology teachers The shields were distributed appreciated, and our shields will at Suffolk’s Royal Hospital School within the Ipswich area to GP’s be used in conjunction with (RHS) joined the national effort surgeries, local pharmacies, care paper masks. We shall carry on to support the NHS staff by homes and community health making them for as long as they making protective face shields. care workers. Commenting on are required. We have reiterated their production process, Beverly that these masks are not a Beverly Maloney and her husband Maloney said: “We know that the replacement, nor medically tested 3D printed elements of the NHS simply does not have access but is something more than shield from their home whilst to the levels of PPE they need nothing in the interim” Ollie Millington used a laser so some people are delighted The pair have also worn PPE cutting a different design using to have additional protection. themselves whilst making them, polypropylene sheets and PVC. Some NHS and keyworker staff sanitised each shield once They intended to make over 200 have been sharing or reusing finished before boxing it up and by mid-April. equipment so any help is letting it stand for three days.

Abingdon School, Oxfordshire, replace the screen as needed. workers. We have also offered our who have volunteered to help the Design & Technology department boarding accommodation for use NHS and we continued to keep Michael Windsor, Headmaster, by the NHS. Many of our staff who Abingdon Prep open throughout have been busy producing much said: “In these challenging times, can offer their spare time have the holidays for the children of key needed PPE visors for local GPs it has been uplifting for Abingdon joined the hundreds of thousands workers.” and healthcare workers. School and Abingdon Prep staff Members of the department to be able to help, even if only in a have joined D&T departments small way compared to the supreme up and down the country using effort from NHS staff and other their design and manufacture key workers. We have supplied knowledge and machinery to goggles from our science centre to the Haematology and Oncology produce the visors, that local Unit at the Cancer Centre at the doctors, many of them parents, Churchill Hospital, spare masks have been calling for. from the Health Centre have been The frames are laser cut from sent to GPs running a fever clinic polypropylene and the replaceable and our 3D printers in Design & visor is simply an acetate sheet, Technology are being put to good allowing the user to quickly use making face shields for NHS

8 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Covid-19 Remote Learning Challenges Remote teaching is a completely new approach for schools and it will take time to evolve and develop as teachers, pupils and parents adapt to huge social challenges and a new way of learning. Admirably, the vast majority of teachers are embracing the opportunities surrounding remote learning and are enthused about delivering an exciting and high quality education to children in their homes. For many though, there has been a lot to learn and new technologies to get to grips with. The learning curve is steep with very little time for it to be mastered. A report by Ben Evans, Headmaster at Edge Grove School, Hertfordshire... Schools are also supporting The reassurance of knowing that schools will be running a structured Inevitably, some children are less their staff well and ensuring the teachers are there to help will be (if not normal timetable), which will independent and require more they have the time and help to invaluable to pupils’ progress and allow for this, often starting with structure and scaffolding. All these become proficient in delivering self-esteem. It will also ensure that registration, which is compulsory. issues will quickly become apparent online learning. Whilst also being children understand that the work For younger children, this may not requiring schools to differentiate mindful of safeguarding issues and set must be completed in a timely be possible but parents should the learning, hold remote booster monitoring pupils’ pastoral care fashion and to a high standard – remember that home learning and group sessions and possibly 1:1 and wellbeing needs alongside the just as would be the case if they 1:1 interaction with their parents is learning support lessons. Likewise demanding academic curriculum. were in school. far more intensive for a child than the work, which is set, will evolve to being one of 18 in a classroom. A The most important aspect of Likewise, the school’s rewards and suit the new learning arrangements. full day of learning and lessons remote teaching and learning is sanctions policy should be applied as Parents with younger children will simply is not necessary and will to ensure that pupils continue to normal – children will be motivated need clear signposting to resources, only cause anxiety, tiredness and be feel supported and connected to by being rewarded and recognised explicit learning objectives and a completely counter-productive. their school, friends and teachers. for working hard and producing clear understanding of what their Communication is key and the good quality assignments. High In order to achieve a balance, and individual child is expected to opportunity to see and speak to quality pastoral care cannot be to limit screen time, it is important achieve. their friends regularly is essential. It ignored and PSHEE lessons, circle that children continue to read from is also important that the school’s time sessions, celebrations and a book, take lots of exercise outside Feedback is critical sense of community continues for motivation etc. are all positive and are able to relax . This could Teachers’ expectations will need parents too. Schools are all about ways of engaging children, giving include playing games, cooking, to be realistic and fair. For older atmosphere and relationships, both them opportunities to talk about craft activities or watching a good children submitting work on Google of which are difficult to maintain how they feel, discuss issues with family film. Weekends should also Classroom, it will be easier but remotely, but not impossible. their peers and continue to follow be just that. Parents must resist they will expect instant feedback the school’s values and guiding the temptation to squeeze school- and teachers will need to manage One size doesn’t fit all principles. work into every opportunity and this expectation and their time, It will be important for schools to children need to relax and know both when in the ‘classroom’ and ensure a clear structure in every Balancing home life that weekdays are for school-work out. Teachers should vary teaching child’s day, which should start with Following a school programme of and weekends are family time. This methods and activities too. It will a video-linked tutor time, just as remote learning as well as holding is a marathon not a sprint and there be essential to use as many different it would if they were in school. down a job, looking after young may be many weeks ahead of home During this time, teachers can set children and maintaining the learning. teaching and learning techniques as the expectations for the day, check family home can all be extremely possible – a virtual whiteboard, pre- that the children are well and coping demanding. It is important for the Being open to change recorded videos, live lessons, Padlett, with their new ‘normal’ and answer school to give families structure Undoubtedly, every school will quizzes, small group sessions and so any questions or concerns they may so that they can plan a schedule, face challenges with remote on. This would be normal practice have. These interactions will be which works best for them. First learning. The most important in a classroom so there is no reason vital in spotting any wellbeing issues and foremost, a room set aside thing, for schools and parents, is to for remote learning to be any or children who are suffering from as a home classroom with limited understand that this will happen different. mental health problems due to the distractions is important. If possible, and to be flexible, adaptable and Finally, all schools should be open isolation or general anxiety due to this should be somewhere where the open to change. There will be a to honest and constructive feedback the coronavirus situation. work can be left when finished, the tendency to try to do too much – door is shut at the end of the day from parents and they should Live video lessons are only one both on the part of teachers in their and then work is picked up again also be seeking this regularly. This aspect of a school’s provision and online delivery and by parents in the next day. are not suitable, nor should they their enthusiasm to ensure children will help to ensure the process is be used, for every lesson or indeed A clear demarcation of home continue to learn. Schools will need working for all concerned and will for much younger children. It is and school is really important if to understand their pupils well, help to identify children needing far more likely that children will a balance of home life is to be some will adapt quickly and remain additional support or families who be taught in a virtual ‘classroom’ achieved. The weekday routine motivated and engaged. Others are not coping for various reasons. scenario with teachers present to should be maintained; a proper will need greater support and will Schools must be proactive and keen answer questions, offer support, wake up, breakfast etc. and then possibly take advantage of being at to offer help and support wherever mark work and provide feedback. a prompt start to the day. Many home. they are able to.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 9 Covid-19

Epsom College, Surrey, is offering its boarding houses to NHS staff Headmaster, Mr Jay Piggot, said: “During this period of working on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus. uncertainty, we wish to help members of our local community in any way we can. The NHS staff working tirelessly on the front-line They are providing 117 single-bed rooms to critical workers. The are selfless, courageous, professional and vulnerable; we hope that accommodation comes with on-site parking and is being offered this provision will ease the tremendous pressure they are under at free of charge. this time.

Epsom General Hospital – just two miles from the College – “Epsom College began life as the Royal Medical Foundation of has been tasked with managing the most seriously-ill patients Epsom College, looking after the widows and orphans of medical locally, and ramped up its critical care provision as the number of practitioners. It is important that we continue to care for those infections rose. who care for us during times of hardship.”

In three days, the DT department The plastic visors are made from within Prior Park College, Bath, polypropylene and the removable made 500 single use face visors face shield is made using an A4 (with cardboard head bands) PVC binding cover. By using and over 500 plastic framed face plastic based materials it is hoped visors, which were being delivered that these can be cleaned and to local GP surgeries, health reused. centres and care homes. Head of DT at Prior Park, Mr R The single use visors were Faulkner commented: “We just made with the help of the Prior want to do all we can to help community after a plea for during this crisis. The feedback help with assembling the masks went out through the College has been overwhelming! I Facebook pages. The response was personally have taken phone phenomenal. Kits were dropped off calls for support from all around at ‘out worker’ houses and then the country and have shared the collected a few hours later so that cutting files and designs with completed visors were delivered the companies in Kent, Manchester same day. and even America!”

ACS International Schools has developed a new adapter to turn have come together to help design, print and test the parts. At ACS full face snorkel masks into emergency ventilators for hospitals we’re lucky to have access to a range of 3D printers, and some ACS struggling to find enough equipment to treat the influx of COVID-19 teachers have been able to take these printers home with them and patients. are now 3D printing parts for the masks. If everything gets approved, we’ve got a whole ‘army of makers’, including Design & Technology The process of converting snorkel masks into emergency ventilator teachers and companies across the country, poised and ready to masks has been initiated by Italian start-up, Isinnova, which has print the parts we need. It takes five and a half hours to print the successfully designed 3D-printed parts to connect a Decathlon mask components for just one mask, so help from anyone who has access to a hospital ventilator, and this technology is now being used in to a 3D printer is incredibly valuable. hospitals across Europe. This particular mask, however, is quickly running out of stock. ACS has identified another brand of mask “Once printed, parts will be sent to me to assemble and I will ship that is available in abundance, and has successfully created an them to the hospital. This is an extremely challenging time for adapter which allows the existing ventilator connector to fit with the everyone across the country, and the world, and we hope that ACS alternative masks. can make even a small contribution to supporting the incredible efforts of the NHS.” The project has been led by ACS’s Partnerships Director, Graeme Lawrie, and Barnaby Sandow, Head of School, ACS International Through its charitable partnerships fund, ACS currently has enough School Cobham, who have worked with a network of teachers from funding to create 200 ventilator masks, and is currently raising more ACS and its partnership schools to design and develop the parts, funds to support the project via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving. from their own homes using 3D printers. Having successfully created com/crowdfunding/partnerships. Funds from the JustGiving the adapter, five prototype masks were sent to be tested by Dr David campaign will also go towards supporting families and children from Southern, Consultant Intensivist and Equipment Lead, Critical Care ACS’s group of partnership schools who have been affected by the at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Once reviewed, the masks will be COVID-19 pandemic. evaluated by the hospital’s ethics committee, and, if approved, will Those with access to a 3D printer can find out more about be rolled out across the hospital and will open up possibilities for supporting the initiative by contacting ACS International Schools them to be used in hospitals across the UK too. via its Twitter and LinkedIn channels, or by emailing glawrie@acs- schools.com. Graeme Lawrie explains:”The whole project so far has been a huge collaborative effort between ACS’s own teachers, teachers from A demonstration of how the masks are created can be found here: our network of partnership schools, as well as local industry, who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohTHMcPxPUQ

10 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Covid-19 Schools asked for assessment grades Ofqual has set out details about how GCSEs, AS and A levels will be awarded this summer and published further guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers. For this summer’s awards, schools and colleges are being asked to provide centre assessment grades for their students. These should be ‘fair, objective and carefully considered’ judgements of the grades schools and colleges believe their students would have been most likely to achieve if they had sat their exams, and should take into account the full range of available evidence.

Exam boards will be contacting results – for example, for and colleges, exam boards anyone feeling under pressure schools, colleges and other exam any re-sitting students will put all centre assessment to submit a grade that is not centres asking them to submit, or those with relevant AS grades through a process of supported by the evidence. Since by a deadline that will be no qualifications standardisation using a model the final grades for some or all earlier than 29 May 2020, the • any other records of student being developed with Ofqual. students in a centre could be following: performance over the course It will not change the rank different from those submitted, order of students within each it also helps to manage students’ • a centre assessment grade for of study centre; nor will it assume that expectations. every student in each of their • the rank order of students the distribution of grades in subjects: that is, the grade within each grade for each Results will not be delayed after each subject or centre should be they would be most likely to subject – for example, for the dates they were expected the same. The process will also all those students with a in August and ideally will be have achieved if they had sat recognise the past performance centre assessment grade of 5 released a little earlier, so students their exams and completed of schools and colleges. However, in GCSE maths, a rank order can have the certainty they need. any non-exam assessment. if grading judgements in some where 1 is the most secure/ Judgements should balance schools and colleges appear Students will also have the highest attaining student, different sources of evidence to be more severe or generous opportunity to sit exams at the such as: and so on. This information than others, exam boards will earliest reasonable opportunity in will be used in the statistical • classwork adjust the grades of some or all the new academic year. standardisation of centres’ of those students upwards or • bookwork Many students will be taking judgements – allowing downwards accordingly. • any participation in fine tuning of the standard other general and vocational or performances in subjects applied across all schools Schools and colleges have been technical qualifications instead such as music, drama or PE and colleges told that they must not share of or alongside GCSEs, AS and their centre assessment grades A levels. While this process does • any non-exam assessment – • a declaration from the with students, parents or carers, not apply to those qualifications, whether or not complete Head of Centre making the under any circumstances, until the same aims apply. Ofqual are submission • the results of any after final results are issued. working as quickly as possible assignments or mock exams To make sure that grades are as This is to protect the integrity of to develop an approach and will • previous examination fair as possible across schools centres’ judgements, and to avoid provide further information soon.

Growing Flowers for Free in Lockdown The Royal Hospital School (RHS) As well as planting a tree for every friendly, would provide a welcome in Suffolk has been sending out new pupil joining the school, it also distraction. packets of wildflower seeds to gives visitors to RHS wildflower The offer was made on Facebook people throughout the UK since seeds instead of more traditional and within a day most of the seeds lockdown began. branded merchandise. had been claimed with requests for The bee and butterfly-friendly RHS felt that giving people seeds to them coming in ever since. RHS is seeds are part of the school’s Grow grow and nurture over the coming now asking people to post pictures with Us campaign which has an weeks, be it in a garden or a pot of their wildflower seeds as they environmental and wellbeing focus. on a windowsill that are wildlife- begin to grow.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 11 Covid-19 Embracing Online Education Using technology to ensure that young people continue to get the education they need remotely is challenging but something that schools are fighting to deliver. Here, Felsted School, Essex, describes their approach...

Felsted School’s community is a virtual orchestra, with everyone embracing the new need for recording their individual pieces distance learning using both new to be put together as a final and previously established online recording. They will also be resources. aiming to use technology to continue the weekly Thursday Felsted was already an active user breaktime recital, showcasing the of Google for education and is musical talents of individuals or currently using Google Classroom groups. to deliver online lessons on the same school timetable for The school chaplain, Nigel Little, all students, with live video is continuing to deliver remote talks and messaging between Chapel services, posted on the students and staff to keep active website and through Twitter. communication going. Social media is playing a big part in distance learning, with Felsted Prep teachers are using different departments sharing Clickview, an educational video their successes and providing library for creating and sharing guidance to help everyone stay videos, to continue class reading connected. Many examples can be and deliver learning exercises. seen on the main school Twitter Clickview is also being used across feed (FelstedSchool) continued as much as possible Felsted also recognises the the school to deliver mindfulness PE sessions have been getting with coaches coming up with importance of supporting positive sessions, assemblies, PSHE and creative, with pupils choosing inventive ways of encouraging mental wellbeing in these drama, as well as videos of best their favourite way to exercise, people to keep fit, including a uncertain times. Their pioneering practice to support parents. from running, sporting activities ‘hockey home challenge’ with Wellbeing Centre is now open The Music Department has been in the garden, exercise videos, a number of simple workout in cyberspace with wellbeing continuing to deliver individual dog-walks, bike rides and routines to do daily, which have professionals available to support lessons over video call (see gardening. Meanwhile for those in been shared on the Felsted students and staff with any picture) and have even managed sports teams, remote practice has Hockey Twitter account. concerns they may have. Continuing to deliver... Although pupils may no longer morning at 8.30am. Tasks will be physically be in situ, Wellington set, teachers will be online and School, Somerset, has been following their normal timetable delivering lessons via on- alongside the students. This line platforms to ensure the will enable them to respond in continuous provision. Pupils log a timely manner to students’ on in the morning to register, queries and maintain structure to and fulfil their usual timetable the day. online with live online chat and teleconferencing.

A comprehensive remote learning Covid-19 and ISM guide has been created and These stories about the contribution that independent schools are making to the NHS and how distributed to all parents and they are developing their online resources represent but a fraction of the nationwide effort. pupils, with clear guidance and We intend to publish more in our next issue; we already have a number to hand but please expectations on how learning let us know your news for possible inclusion. will continue to take place. [email protected] Pupils will be expected to log-on and have a tutor meeting every Regards Kimble Earl, Editor & Publisher

12 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Trust the online uniform experts.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] schoolblazer.infoIndependent Schools 01832 Magazine 280 13 011

7145 Schoolblazer Online Advert.indd 3 26/03/2020 17:27 Tomorrow’s Women Conference Sixth Formers at Burgess Hill Girls, Sussex, hosted their second Tomorrow’s Women conference early last month (March).

The conference is unique in that it is created and organised by the students. They are involved in planning every aspect of the conference, from deciding on the format, to selecting speakers and how to market the event.

This year’s conference celebrated outstanding and enterprising work by women from a range of backgrounds and industries.

Jo Shiner, Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police, gave a powerful opportunities when they arrive. inspired everyone with her account to outstanding things. of overcoming disability to achieve message on overcoming barriers Naomi Muston, Eco System A consistent theme raised at the ultimate success on the due to sex discrimination, and Manager at Barclays Eagle this year’s conference was the the importance of being assertive Labs in Brighton, fascinated international stage. experience of `imposter syndrome’ whilst also remaining yourself, the audience with the story of Finally, Mims Davies, MP for Mid and how to combat it, advice authentic and proud. her own progression from the Sussex, spoke passionately and summarised by the students Clare Griffiths, Business dramatic arts into business. She honestly about her pathway into themselves in the following also emphasised the importance words: Development Manager politics. Her account of how of mentoring and building and founder of the Thrive her wish to improve a local park “Sometimes you need to meet the connections in the workplace. Effect, encouraged budding started her on the pathway to world with a confidence you do not entrepreneurs to step out of Danielle Brown MBE, double Parliament was a great example yet feel, and both the world and their comfort zone and take up Paralympic Archery Gold medallist, of how small beginnings can lead you will respond and respect it.”

Gold Standard Testing for InternationalGold Standard Pupil TestingAdmissions for Independent Schools We are Password We are Global Providers of world-leading online English language and To date, our user-friendly tests have been taken by Maths assessments designed specifically with international students in more than 120 countries worldwide. learners in mind. Administrated under each school’s own brand, securely Password tests are used by over 250 schools, colleges and delivered by their trusted representatives or at British Council universities in the UK, either to assist with admissions offices overseas, Password tests are reliable, valid and decisions or for class setting on arrival. internationally aligned. We are Partners We are Growing We believe that consultation and communication with our Our reputation is growing fast, thanks to excellent feedback partner institutions should lie at the heart of each and every and recommendations from our partner institutions. test development or platform enhancement. We are recognised and valued for our expertise not just in Our partners include everyone from TES Award winners to language assessment and software development, but also Tatler top-listed schools, from cosmopolitan sixth form extensive shared experience in university and school colleges to rural boarding schools. leadership.

To find out how our independent school partners are overcoming the admissions challenges posed by COVID-19 using Password’s secure online tests combined with remote invigilation, book an online demonstration with our Head of School Partnerships. Email: [email protected] | Mobile: 07399 480 528

For more information, email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.englishlanguagetesting.co.uk

14Gold Independent Standard half page Schools Ad April Magazine2020.indd 1 Advertisement Sales: 0124226/03/2020 259249 17:38 [email protected] Applications invited for new course Improving emotional wellbeing & academic performance through neuroscience Neuroscience for Teachers is a unique new free course to be piloted in 2020/21 – the brainchild of Julia Harrington, Head of Queen Anne’s

School, Berkshire, and founder of BrainCanDo. Julia Harrington

Established six years ago, happening in the teenage brain. So The pilot will take place at Queen the potential, and vulnerability, BrainCanDo is leading the way I asked Professor Patricia Riddell to Anne’s School in Caversham, near of the young brain, teachers and in harnessing psychology and design a completely new course to Reading. Participants will require the pastoral staff would find their jobs neuroscience to enrich education. fill that gap in conventional teacher support of their school’s head and more fulfilling, and both teaching will be expected to commit to six Julia Harrington said: ‘I founded training.’ and learning would be greatly interactive days of workshops across BrainCanDo to carry out research Up to 30 qualified teachers, from enhanced. the next academic year. BrainCanDo into how the brain learns, especially state and independent secondary will sponsor the training costs so the A number of research projects during adolescence, and how those schools - with experience of course will be free of charge. were commissioned from leading findings could – or should – be teaching for between 3 and 5 years applied in the classroom. We used – will be recruited over the spring Workshop topics include Motivation universities; the findings were tested to think that the brain stopped and summer of 2020 to take part in and Engagement; Learning and and implemented in Queen Anne’s developing at age 11 but we now the pilot which starts in September Technology; Memory; Decision- School; and the results of BCD’s know that it continues to adapt 2020 and finishes in June 2021. making and Leadership; Mental classroom intervention methods and well into adolescence. It’s obvious Health and Wellbeing; and Action teaching practice have been shared Professor Riddell – contributing to me that both classroom teaching Research Project Planning. (and continue to be) with other and pastoral care need to reflect this to this project as an independent The aim is for a continuous schools, both state and independent. aspect of children’s growth. consultant in the field of applied neuroscience programme with up to neuroscience – said: ‘I am very BrainCanDo is now an established ‘At Queen Anne’s we have pioneered 30 teachers from a wide variety of excited to be given this opportunity hub of research and collaborative the application of educational by Julia and BrainCanDo to bring schools joining every year. neuroscience and cognitive excellence, sharing best practice my expertise to the educational BrainCanDo (BCD) was founded in psychology across the school for through research, training, sector. There is so much that we 2013 by Julia Harrington, in the several years and seen the results in publications and resources. One now know about how children’s belief that neuroscience – focusing improved emotional wellbeing and of the world’s leading academic brains develop that can help on the knowledge gained from improved academic performance. teachers, both by designing teaching research into how the brain learns, publishers, Routledge, will be ‘I believe that learning to become and learning which works with our especially during adolescence – publishing The BrainCanDo a teacher is incomplete without brains and increasing motivation in should be introduced into the Handbook of Teaching and Learning some understanding of what’s children to learn.’ education system. By understanding in July 2020.

Head teachers interested in nominating a teacher to take part in the pilot course are asked to contact: [email protected]

New Personalised Learning Department West Buckland School, Devon, “The world of science is informing The new building includes small part in social activities such as the has announced the opening of educational practice as it has focus rooms, break out areas and Lego club in their break times. The a new Personalised Learning and never done before and underpins social spaces where all children facility is manned by five staff, Development Hub, enabling more our need to be innovative. We are welcome, whether to receive who specialise in different areas of children to receive specialist one-to- have learnt that our brains are learning support or just to take development. one or group learning support. constantly changing, a state “We should never lose sight of known as ‘neuroplasticity’, the human being in front of us.” meaning that new pathways can So says Carol Heath-Smith, Head always be developed and altered.” of Personalised Learning at West “Examples of innovation include Buckland School. The new Hub the use of Lego therapy to help our marks the latest phase in the students on the autistic spectrum or on-going expansion of its campus with SEMH; establishing movement facilities. programmes and sports schedules Carol is delighted with the new to suit those with Developmental facilities and sees the new space as Coordination Delay; and the use an integral part of a much wider of Assistive Technology to support programme offered by the school: students to access the curriculum.”

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 15 A Big Bang Win for Girls in Science Encouraging more girls to study elevated dramatically in recent recognises and rewards young idea has developed throughout the STEM subjects is high on the years due to climate change and peoples’ achievements in all areas whole process and a great outcome list of priorities at St George’s this prompted us to design an of science, technology, engineering after the many hours of hard work School for Girls in Edinburgh, and eco-friendly and locally sustainable and maths (STEM), whilst providing they put into their project. We are running a range of science-related solution. We wanted to mitigate them with the opportunity to certainly seeing a national drive academic enrichment programmes the devastating impacts of flooding build their skills and confidence in to engage more girls in STEM at encouraging girls to participate on surrounding areas and utilise project-based work. in STEM competitions is proving the problem of flooding to power school, and we are fortunate at St extremely successful. the solution. Taking part in the Alex Hems, Head of St George’s, George’s – an all girls’ school - that competition has been an amazing commented: “We are absolutely we can avoid stereotypes, allowing Two S5 students, Sophie and journey and has inspired us. I am delighted for the girls. It is a real girls to choose subjects that interest Iman, entered the national Big now thinking of pursuing a career achievement to see how their initial them and that they are good at”. Bang Fair engineering competition in Engineering.” where their entry won the ‘Runners Up’ Award in the ‘Intermediate The girls qualified for the Big Bang Engineering’ category. competition through submitting a video entry. You can see their Sophie and Iman (pictured) video clip entry here: https://bit. developed a design for a ‘Water- ly/2WW5Szn . Their runners-up Powered Flood Barrier’ in response award has earned them a trophy to the global issues caused by and £250 to share. flooding each year. Their entry featured a versatile barrier using Sophie and Iman’s original concept recycled materials, such as plastics, is also being considered for the UK creating an eco-friendly solution. ‘Water Prize’, which will be decided over the coming months. Speaking on behalf of Iman, Sophie commented on their recent win: The Big Bang Fair is a national, “The issue of global flooding has annual competition which Erasmus+ project Students with a love for learning pupils working together in teams to plenty of cultural experiences and success it was! Whether it languages and experiencing present their projects and findings sightseeing, so visiting students was collaborating together on different cultures are reaping to staff and students, a talk by and staff also enjoyed tours research projects or enjoying a the benefits of a new Erasmus+ Adam Fellows, an offshore wind of Ely Cathedral, excursions to bowling evening with our newly project involving King’s Ely, energy expert, and the planting Cambridge and London, and trips made friends, it was a really Cambridgeshire, and schools in of a tree in the school grounds to to several local amenities. fulfilling week and we are all Italy, France and Turkey. commemorate RISE the Life. RISE the Life is running until 2021 thoroughly looking forward to King’s Ely has recently hosted the The tree is a Liquidambar and King’s Ely students and staff the next stages of the project, first student exchange element Styraciflua tree, also known as will travel to Italy, France and investigating wave energy in of ‘RISE the Life’, an exciting a Sweet Gum tree, which are Turkey for the next stages of the France, geothermal power in new, two-year Erasmus+ funded regarded for their carbon dioxide project, which will look at the roles Italy and solar power in Turkey. programme involving three partner absorbing abilities. The species of wave, solar and geothermal Thank you to everyone who schools – Liceo Roiti in Ferrara, can absorb up to 50kg of carbon power in meeting future energy made the first part of RISE the Italy; Lycée Saint Cricq in Pau, dioxide in one year and they needs. Life such a success, including all produce enough oxygen each day France; and Erbakir Fen Lisesi in Jane Thomas, Vice Principal students and staff, and of course to support two adults. Denizli, Turkey. Academic at King’s Ely, said: our host families, without whom Thirty students and members of Of course, no Erasmus+ exchange “This was the first stage of the project would not be able to staff from the partner schools would be complete without RISE the Life and what a function.” spent a week at King’s Ely, enjoying a whole host of lessons and activities themed around renewable energy, including Science workshops to test and evaluate a range of wind turbines and a Geography project where pupils evaluated a variety of Geographic Information System (GIS) data to decide on the optimal location for a wind farm in the local area.

The busy schedule also involved King’s Ely and partner school Far right Marc Hawes and Jane Thomas, leading RISE the Life

16 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Home learning with CENTURY CENTURY is offering its AI-powered teaching and learning platform for free to all affected by COVID-19 school closures.

ADDRESSES MISCONCEPTIONS

IDENTIFIES GAPS

PERSONALISED LEARNING PATHWAYS

English, maths and science courses for Years 3-11

Set up your FREE family or school account at www.century.tech

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 17

CENTURY_Indepedent Advert_A4_MAR20.indd 1 07/04/2020 13:16 Science & Technology

Embley Prep School, Hampshire, has Science affects their everyday lives. been awarded the Primary Science The Primary Science Quality Quality Mark (PSQM) GILT Award, a Mark is led by the University of national accolade that celebrates a Hertfordshire, School of Education school’s commitment to excellence in collaboration with the Primary in Science teaching and learning. Science Teaching Trust. PSQM is recognised by Ofsted, the Royal Society and the CBI as Jane Turner, PSQM National having a positive impact on pupils’ Director, commented: “Gaining a performance, their engagement and Primary Science Quality Mark is a enjoyment of the subject. significant achievement for a school. Embley’s Prep School Science The profile and quality of science curriculum incorporates a wide teaching and learning in each range of initiatives to provide fun awarded school is very high. Children and engaging Science at every level are engaging with great science – from Early Years to Key Stage 2 both in and outside the classroom, All expenses trip to Google HQ (Year 6). Science is linked to many developing positive attitudes other subjects including English, towards science as well as securing A 16 year old from Hull Collegiate Technology, Bangalore. Maths and Learning Outside the scientific understanding and skills. School beat more than 3,500 Josh’s entry has won him and Classroom and pupils use additional Science subject leaders, their students in a coding competition to a parent a trip to Google’s traditional and online resources colleagues, head teachers, children, win a trip to Google’s headquarters headquarters at Mountain View, to help spark their curiosity and parents and governors should be in California. California, in June. Josh said, “The encourage informed discussions and very proud.” A total of 3,566 students from 76 project I worked on involved 22 debates in the classroom. countries took part in the Code-In tasks in research and programming From the Prep School’s dedicated competition, with 20,840 tasks and I am excited to get the Science Week, Space Week, Science being completed with 29 open opportunity to visit Google HQ.” Fair, Lunch with a Scientist series source organisations. Mr G Carmichael, Head of and lectures from astrophysicists, Josh chose to participate with Computing, said, “Once again, Josh geologists and sports scientists, to CircuitVerse, a product developed has proven himself to be a world trips to IBM and the London Science by students at the International beater in the field of Computer Museum, Embley’s pupils explore, Institute of Information Science.” learn and think critically about how Special day for tomorrow’s scientists Talented pupils from local junior ‘art’ of discovery for themselves. schools in the Blandford Schools’ It is always an enjoyable day for Network and from prep schools everyone involved and this year was further afield have taken part in no exception.” a special event for aspiring young The hands-on practical sessions scientists held at Bryanston School, were held in the school’s physics, Dorset. The 2020 Science Day chemistry and biology departments. featured an eye-opening practical These were followed by six biology science session and a series of inspirational talks as well as a teachers at Bryanston giving a fun ‘Whodunnit’ investigation to series of short presentations on enthuse inquisitive young minds. their favourite organism that Science Day, a regular annual event culminated with a clapometer at Bryanston, has continued to vote from pupils for their preferred grow in popularity and, this year, choice. The ‘Whodunnit’ exercise was attended by a record number then gave pupils the opportunity to of Year 6 pupils. analyse and assess evidence from the scene of a dastardly crime to “We’re delighted with the success try and identify the culprit from a of the day and the wonderful list of four shady suspects. responses from our young guests,” loggers, the teaching of science Science Day at Bryanston included says Nick Welford, Bryanston’s For the first time, this year’s skills and also included a session Sandroyd and Salisbury Cathedral Head of Science, who organised Science Day also included a on managing pupil anxiety arising and hosted the event. “Our aim is special In-Service training exercise School, Yarrells, Sunninghill in from the growing debate and to enthuse all the pupils about the for teaching staff from the Dorchester, Port Regis, Hazlegrove concerns about climate change. wonders of science and give them participating schools. This focussed Prep School, West Hill Park and the opportunity to experience the on the potential use of data Schools that took pupils to the Twyford The Prebendal School. Pictured: Bryanston teacher, Simon Turrill, with some of the young pupils who attended the Bryanston Science Day

18 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Science & Technology National robotics hub Sheffield Girls’ Junior School has primary schools and so far we have been chosen as the first national delivered the lessons to Year 5 pupils robotics hub for primary school at Ecclesall Primary School and after children. Easter, we will be working with Nether Green Junior School. The school has secured the accolade of UK WER (World Educational “Children can learn endless skills Robotics) Primary Hub following through robotics from problem its work to incorporate robotics solving and creativity, to resilience and robotic programming into their and communication. The robots are bespoke Fusion Curriculum and also programmed using block coding and to motivate other pupils from across in C programming language and the city to enjoy the topic. don’t come with instructions so the The honour comes after the school pupils really have to experiment and secured £5000 worth of funding to use trial and error to get the robots purchase educational robotics kits to to do the things they want them promote the subject following a bid to do. to the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) “As well as our own pupils, the 19 and HSBC Partnership Funding. kits bought from the bid money have allowed us to go into local Junior school science teacher, Educational Robotics UK) added: WER UK Primary hub has already Lucy Williams, who helped lead primary schools to teach robotics. “Lucy and Dawn have embraced had on local primary schools in a the bid, said: “Myself and fellow We want to get children across the challenges of teaching short period of time is incredible. teacher Dawn Pooley wrote a WER Sheffield learning about robotics advanced educational robotics Long term, collaborations between Robotics curriculum and the school from a young age and also and incorporating it into the U.K. Sheffield Girls’, WER U.K. and introduced it onto the Year 5 science competing in the World Educational primary curriculum. Their hard work Twinkl will enable many other U.K. and computing curriculum back in Robotics Challenge which takes and dedication has enabled Sheffield schools to incorporate educational October 2019. place annually, with the final taking Girls’ to become the leading WER robotics into their curriculum and place in China.” “We have also designed lessons, primary school in the U.K. The up-skill their learners for the jobs of planning and resources for local Dr Melissa Butt (Chair of World impact that the Sheffield Girls’ the future.” Countrywide competition for young engineers Twenty-four Year 8 students The teams had to plan, budget, attended the Faraday Challenge develop, construct and present STEM Day organised by the Institute their ideas to the rest of the groups of Engineering and Technology and and the engineers. There was stiff hosted at Kingswood School, Bath. competition from the competing This is a countrywide competition schools; St Mark’s and St Gregory’s that aims at promoting and came up with some innovative and encouraging budding young creative ideas. engineers and challenging them However, the Kingswood team were with real life scenarios. victorious with their solar powered Pupils were tasked with designing drone prototype and now wait to and modelling something that could see if the score they achieved will help aid workers in the context of a put them in the national finals this natural disaster. Summer. Champion engineers Six Year 9 students at Kingswood Rover and creating a team ‘Pit’ School, Bath, entered the Jaguar showcasing the work they have put Land Rover 4x4 in schools Regional in throughout the year. finals held at Bristol Science Park. The team produced a new shell This is a worldwide competition made from bio degradable materials that offers apprenticeships at that really impressed the judges. Jaguar Land Rover to those who They worked well in their team reach the final stages. roles, and clearly communicated The competition consists of their brand and ideas to the Land creating a new shell for a Land Rover representatives. Rover Remote control car, driving The team won the ‘best engineered an extremely demanding assault car’ in their category, and course, an interview with a panel became the Southwest Regional of judges from Jaguar Land Champions!

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 19 Independent Schools and Business rates Whilst the staff Furlough scheme has been a lifeline for most, including Independent schools, some other businesses have been given Business rates relief by way of a twelve month holiday in the hospitality and connected industries. This is in addition to the reliefs given earlier in the Budget to Small businesses in the retail sector to ‘save the high street’. By contrast, the conversation in the Press continues about the tax breaks afforded to schools that are seen as bastions of privilege. One of these breaks, and probably the easiest to remove, is the charities business rates relief. Henry Briggs reports...

With effect from 1st The situation in England and At a time when independent schools are in older, attractive, September 2020, the Scottish Wales remains that business schools are facing a raft of valuable properties already subject Government has taken on the rates relief is granted by local challenges, any removal of to listing or other restrictions. councils as a discretionary relief the relief will have serious recommendations of the Barclay A possible silver lining in all of between 80-100%, applied consequences for their finances. review and removed this relief of this might be the effects of to Charities. Hard pressed local Against a background of pupil for Independent Schools. It is the falling Pound, which makes authorities, facing falling central numbers flattening, it has yet to a British education even more estimated that this will cost 51 Government grants, will be eyeing be seen what the after effects of affordable to those resident and such schools in Scotland a total this relief as a source of enhanced the Corona virus will have on the earning overseas, in turn helping of £37m. income for them. sector. But, in the meantime, it is demand, in broader terms, for highly likely that there will be a places from that part of the rapid rise in corporate insolvencies market that has been the most MOTIVATIONAL, ASPIRATIONAL, ENCOURAGING and personal bankruptcies, resilient in recent years. as income streams dry up. YOUR CHOICE, ANY SIZE, Unemployment rates look set to The danger to the sector is SHAPE, STYLE, rise, and stock market values and twofold. Firstly, the growth FRAMING investment income to fall, and all in the public sector deficit is OR COLOUR! of these will undoubtedly result going to have to be repaid by in fee paying parents needing increased taxes in the future. to reassess their own domestic Private schools have taken a budgets. good deal of political buffeting Any imposition of business rates recently, and the removal of on charitable schools will vary the rates relief may be seen to according to the location, type be politically expedient. Whilst and size of the school. Areas the imposition of business rates with higher property values will on schools may be affordable attract greater rateable values and but costly to them, it will these are mostly in the affluent undoubtedly cause financial inner city areas and suburbs, pain. Secondly, for some smaller particularly London and the South schools on the financial edge, East. As these areas traditionally it may prove to be the tipping have better catchment areas and point, resulting in closures. more concentrated population, Schools are already facing the demand for private school parents showing resistance to places is generally much higher paying fees when school closures than elsewhere; so this might have been imposed as a result Goldtree Bespoke, mean that schools in rural or of the current crisis. Let us hope 9 Huffwood Manor Trading Estate, poorer areas are less adversely that a Conservative Government Partridge Green, West Sussex, RH13 8AU affected by any rates imposition will not forsake their traditional For further info and your questions answered: QUALITY & than those where it is easier to base in looking to impose further BESPOKE Tel: 0345 260 2350 or 01403 711553 fill school places. However, many costs on private schools. Email: [email protected] SERVICE Henry Briggs is partner at the Birmingham office of chartered accountants Haines Watts and a former school governor with expertise in advising and supporting both independent www.goldtreebespoke.co.uk and state schools

20 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Workplace pensions that really stack up

Our award winning pensions are built to fit around your schools’ needs. With flexible contribution levels, carefully crafted investments and a range of retirement options, we’re confident we’ll stack up against your expectations.

To find out more speak to your adviser or visit employer.royallondon.com/school-pensions

The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The firm is on the Financial Services Register, registration number 117672.

February 2020 ADVPP10005 Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 21

ADVPP10005 - Independent School - A4.indd 1 24/02/2020 15:51:04 Finance & Facilities Alumni donations help drive social mobility A return to Assisted Places or a Direct Grant system, or even the introduction of Vouchers, seem to be remote possibilities. So how can access to an independent education be widened? Bolton School, Lancashire, heads Sue Hincks and Philip Brittan reflect...

When Lord Leverhulme re-founded nurseries, schools and universities society in general. For example, by the end of the decade. This Bolton School on the current site, in giving life chances to those from the Commission cited the risk that is a key factor in Bolton School we can only marvel at his vision the least economically privileged ‘future leaders will be detached being an engine of social mobility and the faith he must have had backgrounds and the most deprived from the broader lived experience today, as it was in the past with in the future. In an industrial areas. of the people their decisions may direct grant pupils. We are strong mill town, he built a School for impact.’ It concluded that there is a believers in the multiplier effect. If In April 2019 in the UK, the Social people with high aspirations. For ‘moral imperative’ for independent we educate one boy or girl this will Mobility Commission published children who would be inspired schools ‘to take meaningful and have a huge impact for good on its 6th State of the Nation report, by the towering Great Halls, the concrete steps to support education his or her family, community and describing social mobility as having magnificent oak doors and the in their local, national and locality. remained stagnant since 2014: cloistered quads (even if these international communities.’ Disadvantaged children start school Finally, there is partnership. Not would not be completed at the years behind their peers in terms of Both of us fully agree with the everyone will afford a full fee place schools’ inception). For girls who attainment; there is a 14% point Commission’s conclusions and or be awarded a bursary but a wanted the same opportunities gap at 11 and this rises to a 22.5% we know that many parents and strong and thriving independent as boys. Social Mobility may not point gap at 19. The Commission alumni feel the same way. We school can still have a significant have been a term he would have devoted much time and space to would welcome a (literal) revolution impact on the educational journey used but it represents a concept he the role of independent schools in in thinking such as the return of a young person in nearby would have understood. Without entrenching privilege. It described a to Assisted Places or of a Direct Social Mobility, talents remain schools. At Bolton School, our ‘stark divide between many schools Grant system which gave access to undeveloped and prosperity partnerships with other educational within the independent sector and so many in the local community suffers; individuals’ life satisfaction providers are purposeful, those in the state sector’, noting to what Bolton School had to is diminished; social cohesion sustainable and focused on the following: offer. Given that such a move by and democratic participation are making us an important cog in the government is unlikely, we act reduced. • ‘Independent schools are both machinery of the local educational according to these three principles: landscape for all. Some 100 years later, it is widely better resourced and often The first is that independent day recognised that Education is a key socially exclusive in nature.’ In the words of the Girls’ Division schools must be real and relevant driver of Social Mobility. However, • ‘The gap in attainment in public prayer, ‘much is expected of those to their local context. Therefore, we the national picture seems bleak, exams between children who to whom much is given’. We are must be affordable as well as worth both in terms of inter-generational attend independent schools and inheritors of a wonderful legacy affording. That means fees must be mobility and mobility throughout those who attend state schools is at Bolton School and it is vital tightly controlled. At Bolton School, the course of an individual’s life significant.’ that we share our inheritance as the Governors have ensured that (intra-generational mobility). The widely as possible for the good • ‘Generally, a broader range of fee increases have been no more elevator is described as ‘stuck’. of the whole community. Alumni extra-curricular opportunities are than 2% for the last four years. In particular, there are ‘sticky gifts, whether in time or money, available to children who attend Over time this makes the choice of ceilings’ and ‘sticky floors’; in other play a vital role in opening up independent schools.’ a fee-paying place more accessible words, the privileged and the poor the School to as many children to more people, and makes Bolton remain where they are, both in • ‘On average, independent schools as possible, regardless of social School more a part of the society in terms of money and education. are three times better resourced background. Financial donations which we operate. Indeed, the tendency of wealth than state funded schools.’ allow us to extend our Bursary to remain in certain hands and The second principle is the scheme; those who give back by • In England, the pupil teacher to evade others’ has increased in importance of increased access and sharing their time and expertise ratio in the state sector was 17:1 most OECD countries since the the availability of bursaries. It is a allow us to extend our partnerships. in 2016 compared to 8.6:1 in late 1990s. At the same time, fundamental imperative that there We are hugely grateful to all those the private sector. In practice the relationship between wealth is access to Bolton School for those who contribute to the diverse and this means children receive and educational attainment has families who will never be able to vibrant communities which we see more individual attention, more intensified. A low degree of social afford our fees, yet whose children in both Divisions. Together, we pastoral support and smaller mobility combined with income would thrive here. 1 in 5 pupils share Lord Leverhulme’s vision and class sizes.’ inequality is a potentially toxic receives financial support at Bolton faith in the future, believing that mix. It is scarcely surprising, then, The exclusivity of many School and 12% of pupils are on these buildings and the people in that all political parties have independent schools was seen as free places. The Governors are them can continue to inspire young emphasised the importance of presenting a number of risks to aiming at 1 in 3 pupils on a Bursary people for generations to come.

22 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Finance & Facilities Pitch perfect ACS International School Cobham has invested £1.2 million in an impressive 91.36m x 65.5m all- weather sports surface, suitable for a range of activities including football, rugby and athletics. Replacing its former grass pitch, the new state-of-the-art FIFA-accredited, World Rugby-accredited AstroTurf will ensure that students can compete on the finest pitch surface throughout the changing seasons.

The ACS Cobham pitch also meets FA requirements for competitive Barnaby Sandow, Head of School The official launch of the The installation of this multi- games, which means it will be at ACS Cobham said: “We are AstroTurf took place at the use sports surface was part of a a huge draw for inter-school absolutely thrilled with the Power of Four Cup last term, wider investment at ACS Cobham, competition. Not only will ACS installation of the new multi-use an under-18 varsity football where a fund of £1.1 million has sports surface and look forward to been recently announced for the enjoy a range of matches as tournament, where ACS Cobham welcoming teams from other schools bursary scheme for the academic part of the Independent Schools players were competing with their Championships, but the facilties and nations to compete with our year 2020/21. All bursaries are colleagues from ACS Egham, ACS will also attract competition from a teams throughout the year. ACS awarded on a means-tested basis Hillingdon and ACS Doha, who number of international and local Cobham is proud to offer students and, dependent on each student’s schools, giving students the chance world-class facilities and this pitch is had made the journey to Surrey individual circumstances, range to hone their skills in a competitive a wonderful asset to both the school from Qatar. The Cobham Cougars from ten per cent to 100 per cent environment. and the local community.” went on to win the cup. of the schools’ fees.

Pictured: Head of School. Barny Sandow, with Chris Quinn (ACS Doha’s coach) on the left and Jon Rawlinson, Assistant Principal, ACS Doha, on the right

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 23 Finance & Facilities Cutting emissions... cutting costs It’s no secret that school budgets are getting tighter with all schools exploring every avenue to make limited budgets stretch. Gas and Electricity are an essential part of running day-to-day school life, but how can you reduce your emissions and costs, without affecting Staff and Student wellbeing? Tamsin Whinton reports... The Cultural Shift introduce Climate Champions! affordable energy reduction short and long-term future. Some What if I told you that you could Who knows, you might have the technologies in existence but Energy Providers offer an online reduce your energy consumption next Einstein or Edison on your this also makes them a target portal which automatically updates by up to 10% right now without hands. for “too-good-to-be-true” from AMR / Smart Meters. We offers. Do your calculations and recommend Stark data monitoring spending a penny?! Studies show • Turn down the heat: How many comparisons to ensure you are which provides real-time energy that changing the mindset of staff times have you walked into a getting a realistic ROI. and students can have a huge classroom to find the windows and cost reporting and allows you impact on energy consumption. It’s to set up alerts personal to your open and the heating on? Set • Installing lighting sensors in areas really that simple! needs. This means any anomalies your thermostats correctly; if that are used periodically such as such as gas leaks or equipment left • Label your Lights: Many schools unsure, set it at halfway for a corridors and storage cupboards is on, can be picked up and sorted have switch boards that control day or two and see if it’s too low-cost but effective. lighting in large areas. If people hot/too cold. straight away. • Updating boiler systems, AHU’s don’t know which switch is for • Staff Awareness: Holding regular and other equipment near the Procure Responsibly what, they are likely to turn training sessions, reminding staff end of their life and replacing Its important to find an Energy them all on to save time. of quick-tips in the morning with energy efficient alternatives Partner that has your best • Switch Off: It sounds obvious, meeting and reminding them is very beneficial. Although the interests at heart. Ask for open but the number of screens left they can use the same tips to majority of these will incur a comparisons between suppliers, on standby, plug sockets left on help them save money at home, moderate upfront cost, they clear breakdowns of commission, at the wall, and lights forever can all help instil a long-term can work well in a long-term and sustainably sourced (renewable) glowing is enough to bring you energy saving legacy. strategy. energy. Fixing contract prices long- to boiling point. Switching off term will protect you from unstable computers and screens overnight Out with the Old… If you can’t Measure, you markets, and a good Energy Partner Updating your equipment regularly can save enough energy to make can’t Manage! will be proactive in suggesting can reduce your energy usage and 30 teachers 6 cups of coffee Put the effort in to set up your the right time to procure. Don’t every day! help your staff be more productive. monitoring services and you’ll be be afraid to look around to find • Harness Pupil Power: Create • Lighting: Converting to LED surprised at how much energy, time the right fit for your business with games and challenges and lighting is one of the most and money you can save in the someone you can put your trust in. Tamsin Whinton is Operations Manager at Powerful Allies [email protected] Seeing the light... The argument for converting lighting to LED, particularly in high usage drivers, equates to around 1.9 kWh. So, leaving a single classroom lit areas such as corridors, sports facilities and classrooms is well proven. during the lunch break for 5 days per week over 35 weeks’ term time would waste around 333 kW of electricity per year. Add in the morning But what can schools do to limit the cost of lighting, where there are no and afternoon breaks and multiply it by the number of classrooms immediate plans to change to LED? potentially wasting energy and it all starts to add up! • Limit the lighting to essential use, such as ensuring lighting in • Corridors and other circulation areas can make considerable savings by classrooms is only switched on prior to the start of a lesson and switched installing sensors; these areas are generally switched on from “building off immediately on vacating a room and during breaks times. Remember opening until the building close” at the end of the day, yet may only to avoid having the lights on with the blinds closed; natural light is really be in use between lessons with modest footfall in between. better for us anyway. • In order to ensure good energy efficiency in lighting, do ensure light • There is a common misbelief that it takes more energy to restart a light switches are clearly accessible and labelled indicating which lights they than it uses over say a 10-15-minute break; this is not true for most switch. Sounds simple, but often when faced with a bank of light lighting types. Whilst it is the case that some lighting may need to cool switches, we switch them all on, rather than just the one we wanted. down before it can be restarted and take a few minutes to reach full According to research by the Carbon Trust, staff awareness can reduce brightness, these will generally be found in sports halls and security energy consumption by 10%. So, a school using 1 million kWh per year, lighting, and not generally in the classrooms or offices. with lighting consumption around 330,000 kWh, would save around 8.4 • If we take a typical classroom with 12 fluorescent square light fittings, tonnes of Carbon-dioxide emissions and almost £5,000 cost per annum. each fitting rated at 144 Watts, with additional losses for ballasts and For not a lot of effort really!

24 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Call us on 01380 860196 860196 01380 on us Call

This is all about trying to save money money save to trying about all is This

It would not surprise me if electricity and gas contracts are trust our clients. Grown up behaviour, honest discussion, mature and and mature discussion, honest behaviour, up Grown clients. our trust are cts contra gas and lectricity e if me surprise not would It somewhere near the top of your pile of priorities, a necessary but impartial advice. advice. impartial but necessary a priorities, of pile your of top the near somewhere unpleasant task best left to another day. But with rapidly rising costs, costs, rising idly rap with But day. another to left best task npleasant u you would also be forgiven if you are anxious about future budgets. Cost Reduction Reduction Cost budgets. re utu f about anxious are you f i ven forgi be also would you Help is on hand. At the end of the day, we are retained by superb clients because we reduce reduce we because clients superb by retained are we day, the of end the At hand. on is Help energy costs. That is the bottom line. And our clients know how we do do we how know clients our And line. bottom the is That costs. energy In recognition of our work to reduce independent school energy costs, costs, energy school independent reduce to work our of recognition In this, and what we earn and they have complete confidence that our our that confidence complete have they and earn we what and this, Powerful Allies was invited to present at the recent ISBA Bursars’ Bursars’ ISBA recent the at present to invited was Allies Powerful contracts really do provide Best Value. Demonstrable Best Value. Value. Best Demonstrable Value. Best provide do really contracts Conference. Apparently, we created quite a stir, as we do with the the with do we as stir, a quite created we Apparently, Conference. outstanding Associations shown below which recommend Powerful To illustrate why so many reputable independent schools have have schools independent reputable many so why illustrate To Powerful recommend which below shown Associations outstanding Allies as their preferred energy partner. appointed Powerful Allies in preference to the other 2500 energy energy 2500 other the to preference in Allies Powerful appointed partner. energy preferred their as Allies brokers out there (possibly bombarding you with calls right now?), now?), right calls with you bombarding (possibly there out brokers Transparency we would like to undertake a full and free energy procurement review review procurement energy free and full a undertake to like would we ransparency T Powerful Allies has created a unique Open Competition charter which for you, with no obligation and absolutely no charge. I am confident confident am I charge. no absolutely and obligation no with you, for which charter tion Competi Open unique a created has Allies Powerful defines and guarantees Best Practise energy procurement. In an you will be impressed with the results. results. the with impressed be will you n a n I . procurement energy Practise t Bes guarantees and fines e d unregulated sector, we alone have created a Code of Practise which which Practise of Code a created have e n alo we sector, nregulated u Please have a look at www.powerfulallies.com/clients and then either either then and www.powerfulallies.com/clients at look a have Please exceeds all others and introduces transparency hitherto unknown in in unknown itherto h transparency ntroduces i and others all exceeds call 01380 860196 or email me, [email protected]. [email protected]. me, email or 860196 01380 call the tender process. process. tender he t The review will be completed quickly and efficiently, with the very very the with efficiently, and quickly completed be will review The Trusted Partner minimum input required by you. Relatively painless by all accounts! accounts! all by painless Relatively you. by required input minimum Partner rusted T Just look at our client comments below and many more on our our on more many and below ments com client r u o at look ust J website. These are the very best organisations in their respective ctive e resp their in organisations best very he t are These . website sectors and we work with them solely through recommendation. dation. n e recomm rough th solely them with work we and sectors You will recognise many of the names. Our clients trust us and we James Robson, Chairman Chairman Robson, James we and us trust clients Our . names he t of many recognise will You

One of the first things I did when I increase of just 1.67%. I can therefore fully fully therefore can I 1.67%. just of increase I when did I things first the of One joined my current employer 3 years recommend James and his team at Powerful Powerful at team his and James recommend years 3 employer current my joined ago was to look at our Electricity contracts, Allies, who offer a dedicated personal personal dedicated a offer who Allies, contracts, Electricity our at look to was ago about 46 separate supply contracts in all. service and will negotiate very competitive competitive very negotiate will and service all. in contracts supply separate 46 about Fortuitously Powerful Allies made contact, offers for Gas and Electricity, HH and NHH NHH and HH Electricity, and Gas for offers contact, made Allies Powerful Fortuitously Rugby just at the right time, and I was able to invite contracts with transparency. They let you you let They transparency. with contracts invite to able was I and time, right the at just Rugby School them to test the market for me. This gave know what their charges are, so have full full have so are, charges their what know gave This me. for market the test to them School amazing results. Our existing incumbent visibility. Give them a go you won’t be be won’t you go a them Give visibility. incumbent existing Our results. amazing broker was recommending we stayed with disappointed. disappointed. with stayed we recommending was broker our existing supplier with a cost increase of of increase cost a with supplier existing our circa 18%. Powerful Allies were able to offer Brian Rollason Rollason Brian offer to able were Allies Powerful 18%. circa a new two year fully fixed contract with an (Building Services Engineering Manager) Manager) Engineering Services (Building an with contract fixed fully year two new a

Powerful Allies provide a highly scrutinise the options. Powerful Allies have have Allies Powerful options. the scrutinise highly a provide Allies Powerful professional service, clearly a straightforward and honest approach, approach, honest and straightforward a clearly service, professional explaining the complex energy market and work with you to find the right solution for for solution right the find to you with work and market energy complex the explaining Godolphin how it works to a layman, breaking down you rather than pushing a service and I have have I and service a pushing than rather you down breaking layman, a to works it how Godolphin the tariffs and fees and ultimately they gave absolutely no hesitation in recommending recommending in hesitation no absolutely gave they ultimately and fees and tariffs the School me the confidence to make an informed them. them. informed an make to confidence the me School decision. Renewing energy contracts is a a is contracts energy Renewing decision. minefield and can be badly done through Alexandra D’Arcy-Irvine D’Arcy-Irvine Alexandra through done badly be can and minefield lack of understanding and lack of time to (School Business Manager) Manager) Business (School to time of lack and understanding of lack

RECOMMENDED BY BY RECOMMENDED

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 25

RECOMMENDED BY BY RECOMMENDED

lack of understanding and lack of time to (School Business Manager) Manager) Business (School to time of lack and understanding of lack

minefield and can be badly done through Alexandra D’Arcy-Irvine D’Arcy-Irvine Alexandra through done badly be can and minefield

decision. Renewing energy contracts is a a is contracts energy Renewing decision.

me the confidence to make an informed them. them. informed an make to confidence the me School School

the tariffs and fees and ultimately they gave absolutely no hesitation in recommending recommending in hesitation no absolutely gave they ultimately and fees and tariffs the

Godolphin Godolphin

how it works to a layman, breaking down you rather than pushing a service and I have have I and service a pushing than rather you down breaking layman, a to works it how

explaining the complex energy market and work with you to find the right solution for for solution right the find to you with work and market energy complex the explaining

professional service, clearly a straightforward and honest approach, approach, honest and straightforward a clearly service, professional

Powerful Allies provide a highly scrutinise the options. Powerful Allies have have Allies Powerful options. the scrutinise highly a provide Allies Powerful

a new two year fully fixed contract with an an with contract fixed fully year two new a (Building Services Engineering Manager) Manager) Engineering Services (Building

circa 18%. Powerful Allies were able to offer offer to able were Allies Powerful 18%. circa Brian Rollason Rollason Brian

our existing supplier with a cost increase of of increase cost a with supplier existing our

broker was recommending we stayed with with stayed we recommending was broker disappointed. disappointed.

amazing results. Our existing incumbent incumbent existing Our results. amazing visibility. Give them a go you won’t be be won’t you go a them Give visibility.

School School

them to test the market for me. This gave gave This me. for market the test to them know what their charges are, so have full full have so are, charges their what know

Rugby Rugby just at the right time, and I was able to invite invite to able was I and time, right the at just contracts with transparency. They let you you let They transparency. with contracts

Fortuitously Powerful Allies made contact, contact, made Allies Powerful Fortuitously offers for Gas and Electricity, HH and NHH NHH and HH Electricity, and Gas for offers

about 46 separate supply contracts in all. all. in contracts supply separate 46 about service and will negotiate very competitive competitive very negotiate will and service

ago was to look at our Electricity contracts, contracts, Electricity our at look to was ago Allies, who offer a dedicated personal personal dedicated a offer who Allies,

joined my current employer 3 years years 3 employer current my joined recommend James and his team at Powerful Powerful at team his and James recommend

One of the first things I did when I I when did I things first the of One increase of just 1.67%. I can therefore fully fully therefore can I 1.67%. just of increase

James Robson, Chairman Chairman Robson, James You will recognise many of the names. Our clients trust us and we we and us trust clients Our . names he t of many recognise will You

sectors and we work with them solely through recommendation. dation. n e recomm rough th solely them with work we and sectors

website. These are the very best organisations in their respective ctive e resp their in organisations best very he t are These . website

Just look at our client comments below and many more on our our on more many and below ments com client r u o at look ust J

minimum input required by you. Relatively painless by all accounts! accounts! all by painless Relatively you. by required input minimum

Trusted Partner Partner rusted T

The review will be completed quickly and efficiently, with the very very the with efficiently, and quickly completed be will review The

the tender process. process. tender he t

call 01380 860196 or email me, [email protected]. [email protected]. me, email or 860196 01380 call

exceeds all others and introduces transparency hitherto unknown in in unknown itherto h transparency ntroduces i and others all exceeds

Please have a look at www.powerfulallies.com/clients and then either either then and www.powerfulallies.com/clients at look a have Please

unregulated sector, we alone have created a Code of Practise which which Practise of Code a created have e n alo we sector, nregulated u

defines and guarantees Best Practise energy procurement. In an n a n I . procurement energy Practise t Bes guarantees and fines e d you will be impressed with the results. results. the with impressed be will you

Powerful Allies has created a unique Open Competition charter which which charter tion Competi Open unique a created has Allies Powerful for you, with no obligation and absolutely no charge. I am confident confident am I charge. no absolutely and obligation no with you, for

we would like to undertake a full and free energy procurement review review procurement energy free and full a undertake to like would we

Transparency ransparency T

brokers out there (possibly bombarding you with calls right now?), now?), right calls with you bombarding (possibly there out brokers

appointed Powerful Allies in preference to the other 2500 energy energy 2500 other the to preference in Allies Powerful appointed Allies as their preferred energy partner. partner. energy preferred their as Allies

To illustrate why so many reputable independent schools have have schools independent reputable many so why illustrate To outstanding Associations shown below which recommend Powerful Powerful recommend which below shown Associations outstanding

Conference. Apparently, we created quite a stir, as we do with the the with do we as stir, a quite created we Apparently, Conference.

contracts really do provide Best Value. Demonstrable Best Value. Value. Best Demonstrable Value. Best provide do really contracts

Powerful Allies was invited to present at the recent ISBA Bursars’ Bursars’ ISBA recent the at present to invited was Allies Powerful

this, and what we earn and they have complete confidence that our our that confidence complete have they and earn we what and this,

In recognition of our work to reduce independent school energy costs, costs, energy school independent reduce to work our of recognition In

energy costs. That is the bottom line. And our clients know how we do do we how know clients our And line. bottom the is That costs. energy

At the end of the day, we are retained by superb clients because we reduce reduce we because clients superb by retained are we day, the of end the At Help is on hand. hand. on is Help

you would also be forgiven if you are anxious about future budgets. budgets. re utu f about anxious are you f i ven forgi be also would you

Cost Reduction Reduction Cost

unpleasant task best left to another day. But with rapidly rising costs, costs, rising idly rap with But day. another to left best task npleasant u

somewhere near the top of your pile of priorities, a necessary but but necessary a priorities, of pile your of top the near somewhere impartial advice. advice. impartial

It would not surprise me if electricity and gas contracts are are cts contra gas and lectricity e if me surprise not would It trust our clients. Grown up behaviour, honest discussion, mature and and mature discussion, honest behaviour, up Grown clients. our trust

This is all about trying to save money money save to trying about all is This

Call us on 01380 860196 860196 01380 on us Call New sports complex completes master plan

A £21m sports complex has opened sculptured green roof helping it to at King’s College Wimbledon in blend in with the surroundings. south west London. A new colonnaded lobby links the David Morley Architects (DMA), new building to the existing squash whose former projects include The courts and sports hall to create a London 2012 Water Polo Arena, single sports complex. Lee Valley Athletics Club and The The complex adopts the principles Nursery Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket of the London Plan, ‘Be Lean, Be Club, has designed the new sports clean, Be green’. It generates 15 per complex. The project comprised Dining Room project cent of its energy use on site from a mix of new buildings and the Taunton School, Somerset, now with the latest technology in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) remodelling of existing facilities on has a state-of-the-art dining hall lighting, acoustic materials and engine and photovoltaic panels on the school’s 20-acre site. with a large modern kitchen to audio visual equipment. The the sports hall roof. CHP is used accommodate their whole school building enjoys a view over a The complex comprises three throughout the year to heat the community. The light and spacious green central space, bringing all linked pavilions, with a six-court pool water. sports hall and a six-lane, 25m facility will provide a welcoming aspects of the school together, swimming pool flanking a two- “We have invested more than environment for pupils to enjoy while maintaining and improving storey central pavilion housing £50m over 10 years to enhance our their meals and will act as a central the integrity of the Grade II listed the reception, changing rooms, teaching and learning facilities and hub for dining in the heart of the main school and incorporating the viewing galleries, a strength and the new sports complex is the final school. architecture into the design and conditioning suite, gym and an piece in the jigsaw. Sport is a very The current kitchens and dining build. important part of King’s offering. exercise studio that can function halls within the listed main building Headmaster, Lee Glaser, said of as two workout areas via a bi- The school has grown exponentially were designed for fewer students the project, “We believe that what folding partition. The project over the years and with over 1,400 than the number now on campus. happens at mealtimes impacts included the building of six new students our existing facilities The existing dining hall and kitchen powerfully on the rest of the day. tennis courts and three cricket needed to be refreshed and areas are to be reconfigured to We are creating a facility that will nets. extended,” says Anna Maria Clarke, provide a new Sixth Form Centre welcome our students and staff in Bursar at King’s. “Our vision for the design was and teaching facilities. one beautifully designed space. This to create a new building that The King’s Club, which operates The new dining hall will cater for project has taken several years of had excellent visual connections the sports complex for the public 1600 covers and seat up to 400 planning and consultation and we between indoors and outdoors to outside of school hours, has seen people at any one time. Sustainable are delighted that it has now come encourage physical activity among an increase in new memberships materials have been used together to fruition.” pupils, while seamlessly connecting following the launch of the new the old facilities with the new,” says facilities. With all surplus generated partner David Morley. gift aided to the school’s bursary As such, the swimming pool fund, the King’s Club is on track has glazing on three sides, large to increase its contributions to windows in the gym give views over assist those pupils who require fee the grounds and users can see into assistance to attend King’s. both the sports hall and swimming The new sports complex is the final pool from the reception. project in King’s master plan, with The sports complex was designed former projects including a new to be sensitive to its setting with a music school and classroom block.

26 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] DYNAMIC learning ENVIRONMENTS

ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED CLASSROOMS Beautifully crafted, individually tailored, diverse teaching spaces

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 27 Creating a robust safety system for your school minibuses before a return to normal Now that schools are closed, except for key workers’ children, it might be the perfect opportunity to look at your minibuses and spend some time updating or creating a robust safety system. Chris Maynard, Managing Director of Castle Minibus gives us his recommendations... A responsible person • The Licence Bureau (www.licencebureau.co.uk) provides a number of If you make a profit from your school transportation you will need to hold Driver Licence Checking services an Operator’s licence that requires a transport manager to be appointed. If • STRIDA is a free app that allows STMs to manage a dashboard of weekly you are a charity or operate not-for-profit, running your vehicles at cost, and daily checks on all their vehicles by all their drivers. then schools can operate under a Section 19 Permit. Regardless of the • Records should be kept of professional inspections such as 10-week profit factor every school needs to appoint someone responsible for their minibuses. This person needs to be aware of their responsibilities under the safety inspections, services and MOTs. Section 19 Permit and have a job description and contract in writing. If Suggested Actions: you don’t know much about the legal responsibilities in having a minibus, Complete a calendar plan of vehicle services, MOTs and 10-week inspections then use this time to check if you are compliant and can prove that you – this is a specific requirement under a Section 19 Permit. You could also add operate your minibuses safely because effective and continuous fleet annual eye checks, weekly inspections and termly licence checks. management is required more than ever. Suggested Action: Training Requirements Draft a job description for a school transport manager (STM). It is the opinion of Castle Minibus, several county councils and the NASWUT that teachers should not be driving any minibuses (regardless of Policies and procedures weight) on a standard B car licence. ‘The NASUWT strongly asserts that, Under a Section 19 Permit there are a range of requirements including particularly but not exclusively due to the ambiguity around the hire/ ‘drivers are suitably trained and correctly licensed, drivers take appropriate reward status, the full D1 licence is the minimum requirement, and a car breaks and your vehicles satisfy the appropriate construction and use licence is insufficient in all circumstances’ requirements e.g. Fire extinguisher/first aid kit etc. and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition.’ www.gov.uk/government/publications/ Having the correct driver’s licence and continual training is imperative to section-19-and-22-permits-not-for-profit-passenger-transport/section-19- safe minibus operation even for those with D1 (101) entitlement. and-22-permits-not-for-profit-passenger-transport • MiDAS or minibus assessment training is recommended to be completed Management and administration of vehicles and drivers is the main every 4 years. responsibility of the STM but it requires the understanding and cooperation • For more frequent risks assessments there are online driver assessments of other members of staff such as heads, governors, teachers and drivers. like CODA an online platform that enables schools to risk assess their Therefore, agreed policies and procedures need to be in place and signed drivers and offer training modules. by the relevant staff. The combination of physical and online driver assessments and ongoing Advice on several of the issues required under the Section 19 Permit driver training will greatly enhance the safety of a school’s minibus operation. such as driver fatigue, mobile phones and safer journey planning are available from RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). Suggested Action: www.rospa.com/Road-Safety/Resources/Free#employers/ Document and diarise your past driver training and schedule/book trainings and assessments for the future – add to your calendar of vehicle checks Suggested Actions: Write procedures for the STM, drivers, journeys and minibus operation and and inspections (see above). use. Prepare the relevant policies for staff who drive the minibuses. Fundamentals of a robust minibus safety system Documentation and evidence In normal circumstances Castle Minibus deliver a day long minibus The Section 19 Permit requires the demonstration of several factors. If there compliance course (MCC), and while we are working to get this valuable is an incident it is not only the parents, heads and governors who’ll be resource online, we want to encourage schools to be utilising any down interested but possibly the police, your insurance company, the DVSA and/ time to really get to grips with what’s required to run the safest minibus or the traffic commissioner (they issue the Section 19 Permits). Therefore, fleet possible. it is important that you are evidencing and documenting your minibus 1. Appointing a school transport manager activities as part of a safety system. In this way you can prove you did 2. Policies and procedures for minibus use and management everything you could to run a safe and legal fleet. 3. Evidencing and documentation Driver training and vehicle checks are the most obvious areas of ongoing 4. Training evidence that the STM needs to manage. Many of the schools we’ve worked with through the MCC are unwittingly For the drivers: Annual eye checks (from 20m), termly licence checks to placing their pupils, staff and reputations at risk, should the worst happen, remain aware of penalty points, driver risk assessments and driver training because they do not have the basics required by a Section 19 Permit. A For the vehicles: Daily, weekly and 10-week vehicle inspections as well as RoSPA inspector told us ‘the most dangerous thing a school can do is take regular services and MOTs. children out on the public highway’ so we want to make sure you’ll be Regular vehicle checks are just as important now, when vehicles may not ready and able to do so safely and fully compliant when your minibus fleet be being used regularly, to identify problems of inactivity such as rodent is up and running again. damage or rust. For more information on Castle Minibus and its services that support safety There are several tools available to help STMs manage checks which could and compliance including their free app for daily and weekly minibus be researched and put into place if necessary. checks please visit www.castleminibus.co.uk E: [email protected] T: 01869 253744 www.castleminibus.co.uk

28 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Introducing STRIDA ASTRID free app to helpA schools record SCHOOL TRANSPORT RECORD & andINSPECTION manage DASHBOARD minibus & APP checks from CASTLE MINIBUS

FREE APP & SIMPLE TO USE

TRANSPORT MANAGERS: DRIVERS: A 40-point weekly minibus checklist and a A 12-point daily minibus checklist with the opti on dashboard to manage all drivers and checks of adding images and comments

GET STARTED IN 4 EASY STEPS

School transport managers visit safety.castleminibus.co.uk They invite their drivers 1. and register their school 2. via the dashboard

Drivers receive an email and Drivers and transport managers 3. register a password 4. download the app and GET STARTED

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO www.castleminibus.co.uk [email protected] 01869 253744 STRIDA SCHOOL TRANSPORT RECORD & INSPECTION DASHBOARD & APP Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 29 “Difficult conversations are happening in our schools, and they need to happen… We are equipping pupils to deal with these conversations in a better and more comfortable way.” Time to embrace peer mentoring Unless you have been living under a rock, you will appreciate the importance of wellbeing at your school. Pupil wellbeing has rocketed to the top of the priority list with good reason, writes Miff Martinek...

The State of a Generation report released by accountability and to develop and hone Actively using the support structure to monitor the Mental Health Foundation in 2019 revealed problem-solving techniques, helping them to effectiveness will protect against the fizzle that adolescents have the poorest wellbeing develop a growth mindset that is so often reported in failed mentoring ever recorded, with isolation and loneliness • Mentoring demands the refinement of listening programmes. This-Is-Me. use short surveys to cited as more common in adolescents than any skills, builds confidence in 1-2-1 face-to-face monitor the impact of programmes. These also other age group. interactions and develops resilience in peer gather superb wellbeing testimonials for schools The current Coronavirus crisis is testing each of interactions to reference. us, throwing a spotlight on how vital a proactive For the school: approach to individual wellbeing really is. The opportunity to practice • Mentoring builds the school’s community Staying connected has never been more valued. by helping to retain pupils in sixth form and regularly The quality and depth of social interactions is attracting prospective parents who increasingly Mentoring will not work through simply training now more important than ever to protect against value pastoral provision pupils with mentoring skills and hoping they use feelings of isolation. For school leaders, this is them. Creating a structure that allows pupils to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pause and • Mentoring inherently fits into the structure of consider how best to develop these skills in your school’s community and takes advantage mentor regularly builds confidence in using the young people. of your pupils’ natural desire to speak to one skills they have learnt. This could be through another 1-2-1 pairings, designated time during prep or Many schools that struggled to fit wellbeing • It scales easily without significantly increasing tutor time, or within a scholarship programme. activities into busy school life will now be the demand on your staff considering how best to prioritise them. When Robust training schools reopen and pupils return, teachers will There are many more benefits to fully developing Developing pupils to take on the role of be faced with new or intensified challenges: mentoring, but creating a programme that mentor must consider the wellbeing of both friendship tensions after months apart, family delivers sustainable results, rather than a ‘feel the mentee and mentor. The training provided pressures and even bereavements. One-off, ‘feel- good’ initiative that rapidly diminishes, requires good’ approaches such as ‘wellbeing days’ and forward planning. must build the confidence of pupils, whilst occasional mindfulness opportunities will now preparing them for more serious topics which need to evolve to meet the daily demands of Have a clear objective might arise. This-Is-Me. training consists of wellbeing, but with a staff that is time-poor this to get staff, pupils and five core training hours, spread over half a challenge is not easily overcome. parents on board term, with follow up coaching provided once mentoring is underway. This approach drip There is a time-efficient and impactful way to The goals set out for mentoring must align with improve wellbeing at your school. This approach feeds the training and allows pupils the time the overall goals of the school. For each of the complements your timetable and offers a to practice their skills in a safe environment. main stakeholders this goal might be interpreted catalogue of benefits for your pupils without differently, but it must be clear and engaging Hurried training will result in pupils that have increasing the workload of your staff. The pupils nonetheless. Peer mentoring does not replace not developed confidence in their abilities and you seek to care for are in fact the best placed the pastoral provision that already exists, rather will negatively impact both their experience resource to improve one another’s wellbeing it acts as a gentle introduction and outreach and that of the pupils they mentor. through peer mentoring. allowing pupils a no-pressure conversation that, With the current closure of schools, the Mentoring is not a new concept in most schools. if the need arises, can be brought to the staff resilience of pupils and your school wellbeing However, its purpose has often been to improve pastoral team for additional support. academic or sporting achievement and it is provision will be tested in ways we cannot yet usually structured around staff mentoring pupils Engaging staff in this purpose early and sharing fully understand. When schools reopen, your or a ‘buddy’ system. Mentoring often has mixed plans with parents allows the school community pastoral team will be stretched by challenges results, with some pupils naturally taking to to unify its approach. faced during pupil’s time at home and the the role of mentor and others struggling with A support structure for likelihood of your school community having how to help. It isn’t uncommon for mentoring lost loved ones. Pupils will need the support programmes to fizzle out over time as pupils lose pupil mentors of one another and they will need confidence the initial feeling of purpose. The most common reason for the failure of in those interactions. Now more than ever, mentoring programmes reported to This-Is-Me. The traditional approach to mentoring only developing the skills needed to build strong is that pupil mentors felt they weren’t achieving scratches the surface of what could be achieved much and lost confidence as a result. Creating social connections, self-awareness and through empowering pupils to support one a team of staff that checks in with mentors on emotional resilience is vital for your pupils. another. a regular basis offers pupils the opportunity to These skills are not only the foundation for For the individual: offload any concerns, feel supported and receive success for young people while they are pupils • Mentoring develops empathy, a skill that acts some much-needed encouragement. This also at your school, but they will be of paramount as a gateway to meaningful connections provides a clear path for safeguarding concerns importance in preparing for a rapidly • It allows pupils to experience true to be raised, should they occur. evolving, exciting and volatile world of work.

30 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Importance of friendship Case Study Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls (Habs), Hertfordshire, welcomed an award-winning Assistant Head of Pupil better — they needed ongoing author of young adult fiction, Development, Nicola Rogers, is support and an allocated slot in through its school gates for a passionate about empowering the the timetable to do this. I also passionate and inspirational talk on pupils of Warminster School to wanted to be able to measure the the power of friendship. support one another. Having tried impact that the programme was Taking inspiration from her books numerous avenues to launch a having on students. (which are mainly platonic love Peer Mentoring Programme for We arranged for This-Is-Me. to stories about friendships), Sara experiences. Our Year 8 students pupils, she engaged with This- come in and train Year 11, 12 Barnard, whose novel Goodbye, heard that friendships are mutual Is-Me. to create and deliver a and 13 mentors. The approach Perfect won the YA Book Prize in and that they help you to learn programme that has been highly was completely different, Miff 2019, spoke about how important about yourself and the life you will praised by pupils, parents and her own friends were to her at have. Sara’s thought provoking consulted on every element, staff. school and how these friendships words and success as an author from the selection of mentors, shape your life. from a young age, has given the liaison with parents and putting ‘I had been on several courses students real food for thought as a support team in place for The visit itself was timely for the as a Head of department they saw first hand how courage, school’s Year 8 students, who have that looked at coaching and mentors. The training was spread hard work and determination really been discussing relationships at mentoring within the staff team, over half a term and the mentors does pay off.” school during their form time this and it was something that I clearly enjoyed it and grew in term. The moving talk reiterated Barnard who is also known for her thought could be of real benefit confidence. The extra support that friendships are the most novel Beautiful Broken Things, to our pupils. They have tutors, is something that the mentors important relationships a child spoke about the launch of her have commented on as being teachers and various other people has at this stage of their life and fifth book, due out in June 2020, particularly helpful. that they can go to with a Barnard spoke about how they which is about a girl who is badly are the first ‘free choices’ you problem, but it seemed that there Now we have the mentoring bullied at school. The author also make as a child – you choose your was a level of support missing — network running, we have already highlighted that no one’s life is friends and they choose you. She sometimes they need to talk to noticed huge improvements. defined by one relationship, she highlighted to the students that somebody who is on their level or Parents have thanked me and explained to the students that those choices impact how you a real friendship is both good who has been through something said it’s having a positive interact and the boundaries you and bad and that arguments similar more recently. It occurred impact, and the teaching staff set for the future. Barnard also are completely normal. She did to me that there were challenges are noticing changes in overall revealed she’s had the same best however, touch on the more with organising their workload friend for 20 years. positivity and development in the sensitive topic of toxic friendships, and timetable, friendships and students involved. Rose Hardy, Headmistress how to spot them and how to things going on at home that commented: “We were very extricate yourself from them safely. pupils didn’t want to discuss When speaking to individual mentors they can see the positive fortunate to have the opportunity She concluded by suggesting with a staff member but would to hear about Sara’s journey as that online friends can be real impact they have just by listening be happier talking to a fellow an author and how her books are friends too, but that they are not a and talking things through. It’s student about. inspired by her own friendships and replacement for real life friendships. so rewarding for them, both for When we first decided to offer personal development and for a mentoring programme we knowing that younger pupils Anti-Bullying Ambassador School arranged for a life coach to have somebody to talk to when The Diana Award named Suffolk’s the work it does to ensure its pupils come in and do a short training they need them. Royal Hospital School (RHS) as maintain strong mental wellbeing session with the mentors. Whilst Difficult conversations are the UK Anti-Bullying Ambassador and support for each other. the training covered much of School of the Month for March. happening in our schools, and Commenting on the awards, Leigh what we needed, it didn’t really Corbould, a teacher at RHS and they need to happen. If we can It was a poignant moment for the resonate with the pupils and co-ordinator of the anti-bullying prepare the students to deal with school given the timing which, like when it came to mentoring, they programme, said: them in a way that’s beneficial many schools throughout the UK, were not as well prepared as I for the pupil concerned and for shut its doors the very same day. “The positive approach and had hoped. The other challenge enthusiasm our young people show the mentors, then it’s the right The Diana Award, a charity set up we faced was that teachers in working with and supporting thing to do. We are equipping in memory of Princess Diana to couldn’t really see the benefit of each other encapsulates the ethos the mentors to deal with these foster, develop and inspire positive the programme, didn’t view it as of the school. The imagination difficult topics and conversations change in the lives of young and creativity evident in the important and complained about people, chose RHS from over 1000 in a better and more comfortable work of the twenty members of missed tutor time. UK schools and colleges throughout way, which will hopefully create our Peer Mentor and Wellbeing the UK. The school was given I knew it had to change this human beings that are happy and Committee is rewarded by a hugely the honour because of “all of the year, and for that to happen the confident and able to talk about positive response from the pupils incredible work that RHS has been training needed to be much more things, so that we can reduce as a whole. We were delighted to doing with the Diana Award over have been awarded the title of bespoke and to prepare them their anxiety.’ the last months and years.” Ambassador School of the Month

Miff Martinek, Health and Wellbeing Coach & Founder of This Is Me. Added to this, the school was one and I am sure this will raise the W: this-is-me.uk of only 25 to receive a wellbeing profile of the work our pupils do Twitter: @ThisIsMeWbeing badge from the charity to recognise even more”.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 31 Community & Charity

A meeting of local minds The mayor, other elected nurture and improve the spirit of representatives from the local our community – and that was community, local retailers and very much in evidence throughout Sixth Formers get senior staff from neighbouring the evening. schools recently attended a “For our part, all of us at their hands dirty special community evening at Bryanston cherish and value our Bryanston School, Dorset. With Community-spirited King’s Ely and Science Lead at Isle of Ely own place in the community and an attendance well in excess of Sixth Form students have used Primary School, said: “We have we are very keen to strengthen 100, the event aimed to highlight some of their spare time to put a big push into revamping our links and extend our the importance and celebrate the help with the creation of a new our environmental garden engagement throughout this success of collaborative initiatives eco-garden at Isle of Ely Primary here at Isle of Ely Primary wonderful corner of Dorset. We’re such as the well-established School. School recently. It had run a Blandford Schools’ Network and delighted with the enthusiastic bit wild so taming it has been Thirteen Sixth Formers were part new programmes like Bryanston’s response to our loyalty card a big challenge for our little of a green-fingered team from loyalty card scheme for local High scheme from so many local hands! When we were told King’s Ely who removed a huge Street shops. retailers. Naturally, they are very area of weeds and prepared the about volunteers from King’s supportive of any initiative that soil ready for Isle of Ely Primary Ely offering to help, we were Hosted by Bryanston’s provides direct encouragement School pupils and staff to start delighted that other members of Headmaster, Mark Mortimer, the for people to shop locally and planting their new garden. our community could also join evening presented the perfect boost customer footfall, and I in making our school more eco- opportunity to share thoughts am pleased more and more local The Sixth Form students were friendly. They cleared a huge area and ideas on future collaborative stores are continuing to join the accompanied by Chris Youngs of well-established weeds, which ventures for the benefit of all programme. It’s also very clear and Will Temple, who are areas of the local community will make way for tyre beds filled just how beneficial the Blandford members of the King’s Ely and featured musical interludes with berry bushes for autumnal Schools’ Network continues Garden and Grounds Team; Jane provided by a number of harvests. Thank you so much to to be for younger members Halls, Sixth Form Supervisor at Bryanston’s music scholars. the volunteering team at King’s of the community. These two King’s Ely; and Celia Etchegoyen, Ely, we would love you to come examples just go to show what King’s Ely’s Director of Outreach. Said Mr Mortimer. “Everyone back and try our berry jams next who attended is, in effect, one can be achieved through effective Annie Hunter, Outdoor Education year!” of today’s custodians of the collaboration and mutually Pictured: With four of the team are Chris Youngs and Celia Etchegoyen local area with a responsibility to beneficial partnerships.” Help for Childline Pupils, parents and staff at the Froebelian School, generous contributions. £3500 is enough money to Yorkshire, spent 2019 raising money for Childline. train two Childline Volunteer Counsellors and, with And now they have presented a cheque for £3500. each counsellor helping around 200 children per year, With activities from bake sales, non-uniform this means the money we have raised will help at least days, The Froebelian Parent Association’s events 400 children.” and a whole host of other activities, the entire Founded in 1986 by Esther Rantzen, Childline is school community has come together to raise the there to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any incredible amount. issue they’re facing. Contacting Childline by phone Headteacher, Catherine Dodds, said: “I am extremely on 0800 1111 or online by email through a 1-2-1 proud of what we achieved for our designated charity counsellor chat is free and doesn’t show up on the last year and would like to thank everyone for their phone bill.

32 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Community & Charity Life-Changing Coffee Project

Felsted School, Essex, is working to who are involved as part of their make a difference through the sales enterprise project. They will be of coffee to the local community. working to redesign the Felsted Safi Coffee is a special pupil-led Coffee Shop and work with parents initiative that imports Ugandan and local businesses to promote coffee to sell across the UK, in and sell Safi Coffee, with all profits partnership with Hull Collegiate going directly to pay for Ugandan School and Highgate School. children to attend school. Through links with Teach Uganda, It is also important to Felsted “As a Trustee of Teach Uganda, I the more people that are drinking one of Felsted’s core charities, it pupils to make sure the project is am delighted that Felsted School Safi Coffee, the more children we was discovered that the coffee environmentally friendly and they has embraced the opportunity can put through school in Uganda. grown in the South West Region have been working hard alongside to promote Safi Coffee amongst Fuelling offices and workspaces of the country has a great flavour. pupils from Hull Collegiate School its community. The coffee beans with Safi Coffee has allowed us to Felstedians visit Uganda every two (HCS) on new ideas to make it as are grown in Uganda, shipped increase the number of children years, teaching in schools and sustainable as possible. HCS, the directly to the UK for roasting and we sponsor up to 50; this is a real working in the community where A meeting of local minds original founders of the project, packaging and then distributed testament to the success of the they tend to their coffee plantations. recently travelled to support Felsted direct to Felsted. As a result, we are initiative, demonstrating how far Safi Coffee raises vital funds to help with a special coffee tasting event able to ensure that the funds raised the project has come in such a short ahead of the official launch this change lives in the Kanungu region, from our sales are sent directly back space of time.” aiming to break the cycle of poverty month (April). to help the children of Uganda. It for many young people. It costs Pupils from each school will is wonderful for our students to be just £180 to fund a child to attend continue to work closely together, in an entrepreneurial partnership school for a full year including holding regular video calls. They with other young people in Hull, accommodation, food, water and have set themselves the ambitious Highgate and Uganda.” healthcare. target to fill a 20-tonne container Tom Brown, Director of Safi Coffee with coffee beans in five years’ time The Felsted Environment & CIC, has a clear vision of how to generating around 150K profit. Service Group are supporting this take Safi to the next level. He said: initiative, alongside International Nigel Little, Chaplain, Felsted School “Raising awareness of the project Baccalaureate Diploma students & Trustee of Teach Uganda, said: is our number one aim; ultimately, If you are interested in providing Safi Coffee in your school please get in touch with Nigel Little at Felsted School on [email protected]. Further information can be found on www.felsted.org/saficoffee

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 33 Community & Charity Building Community Spirit Changing FACES... Changing Places... across generations

Air Ambulance honours school Giggleswick School has won the Giggleswick School’s director of In a society where screen time is residents also enjoy telling the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Schools sport, Dan Cook, received the increasingly competing with face children stories and singing songs Fundraising Award for North award on behalf of the school. He to face interaction, children are with them. Yorkshire after raising around said: “We have raised thousands spending less time socialising, yet £13,000 for the charity. of pounds for the Yorkshire Air In the Summer term, Micklefield interaction across generations is Ambulance mainly through sports proven to be mutually beneficial to also hosts special events at The award was presented during dinners and other sporting events both young people and the elderly. Abbeyfield with parachute activities, the helicopter rescue charity’s held at the school. bubbles, role play and balloon regional awards afternoon which As Age UK Mobility says: “In our location lots of people making. Abbeyfield is also making recognised the hard work and depend on a service such as this “Intergenerational care has great plans to build a larger conservatory efforts of all volunteers, fundraisers, and will never know when they benefits for reducing depression and a Summer House in their and isolation in the older corporate sponsors and local may need to use it. Giggleswick grounds so that the outdoor/indoor generation. It can also help with organisations who have worked to School is very proud to receive this learning can take place all the year greater mobility and physical raise awareness and money to keep award and will continue to support round. skills. For the children it helps the air ambulance flying. this worthwhile cause.” them develop empathy and their Marie, House Manager at Pictured: Dan Cook with Yorkshire Air Ambulance regional fundraiser, Linda Stead language and communication Abbeyfield adds: “The Nursery skills.” children from Micklefield are so Variety Show raises £1,250 At Micklefield School, Surrey, the entertaining and bring much Nursery children visit Abbeyfield, excitement to our nursing home! their local independent sheltered Our residents look forward to the housing for the elderly, one visits and get a lot of pleasure out afternoon a week to spend time of helping the children with all the with the residents. They take fun activities. They really enjoy their part in a number of fun activities company and reminiscing about such as crafts and board games, what they did as a child. It is also a which support fine motor skill great way of encouraging them to development and memory. The be more active.” Over 3,880km walked for Kenya

Talented students at Abbey Gate College, Cheshire, raised £1,250 for Crossroads Together, a registered charity dedicated to providing information, advice and practical support to unpaid carers of all ages and the people they care for.

The annual variety show, organised by the students and hosted at the Senior School in Saighton, featured comedy, singers, dancers and instrumentalists who gave passionate performances to an audience of family and friends.

The show is about inclusivity, so everyone who was interested got to join in, The whole of Holme Grange distances of approximately 8 and whether that involved performing on stage or working behind the scenes. School, Berkshire, was involved 9km. Some of the teachers and in a sponsored walk around older pupils decided to run the During the evening of entertainment, acts included a performance of ‘The the grounds and across nearby course – much fun was had by all Flower Duet’ by Izzy Downs and Sophie Lewis-Jones, gymnastics by Kiri Wokingham to raise funds for and they were rewarded with the Kilgannon, a comedy sketch by Alex Garcia and even a song from teaching Our Lady of Nazareth School in promise of delicious cakes as each staff! Many of the performers amazed the crowd with their hidden talent. Kenya. of the houses organised a cake sale. Earlier, students did some additional fundraising by holding a non-uniform Youngest pupils walked approx 4km The amount of money raised was day, dressing up instead in 80’s clothing, organising games at lunchtime and while the older students walked just under £6000. showing a classic 80’s film in the theatre.

34 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Changing FACES... Changing Places...

Glenalmond College 15 month interim role at the helm. Lathallan School, sight of fundamental literacy and Angus, has has welcomed Dr Dr Alderson began his teaching numeracy skills that all young Michael Alderson, career in 2000, after reading appointed Pamela people require to succeed in life, who has joined the Modern Languages at the Hossick as its Head we have to encourage creativity in leading Perthshire University of Durham and of Junior School, as our pupils.” school as its new Warden. it celebrates its 90th year. completing a PGCE at Homerton A talented musician, Mrs Hossick Dr Alderson, who was most College, Cambridge. He also has Mrs Hossick’s appointment follows worked previously as a secondary recently Deputy Head at Durham a Master’s degree in historical the retirement of Jackie Collins music teacher and visiting music School, has taken over the narratives and a doctorate from and James Ferrier from Lathallan specialist in primary schools across leadership from Hugh Ouston, who Durham University in Church senior leadership. Aberdeenshire. stepped down this month after a History of the Reformation. Having worked at Lathallan for 11 She joined Lathallan in 2009, years, including a year as Acting initially as a music teacher, but The next Head of Homerton College, Cambridge, Assistant Head of the Junior diversified into primary school Wellington Prep Mrs Richardson started her School, Mrs Hossick will assume teaching after completing a PG School, Somerset, teaching career in the Mathematics the post in August 2020. will be Mrs Victoria Department at Wellington in 1998. Cert in Learning and Development Richardson. “The world is rapidly changing through Aberdeen University nine Alongside Mrs Richardson’s and, while we must not lose years ago. Mrs Richardson, who is currently outstanding pastoral experience, Head of the Lower School, Years which has included time in the 7 and 8, at Wellington School will School’s boarding community, Woldingham was Head Master at Downside, a take up her new post from 1st her co-curricular commitment is School, Surrey, has Catholic day and boarding school September 2020. clear with her current involvement appointed Dr James in Somerset. Dr Whitehead was After obtaining a degree in in the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Whitehead as its educated at Stonyhurst College Statistics from the University of programme and the Combined new Head from and Hertford College, Oxford, St Andrews and a PGCE from Cadet Force. September 2020. Dr Whitehead before completing further degrees replaces Mrs Alex Hutchinson, at Stirling and Manchester News items, contributions, comments and who has been Headmistress of universities. He started his school suggestions are always welcomed by the editor. Woldingham since 2016 and is career teaching English at Radley leaving to become Head of JAGS. Please email to: College. He was Second Master [email protected] Dr Whitehead joins Woldingham at Worth School before becoming from Rugby School. Before this he Downside’s Head Master.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 35 TASTER DAYS – make them work for you Glossily produced brochures. Interactive websites, embedded with a slick, professional video. The smoothly executed Open Day. And not forgetting the polished introduction from an experienced Head. All the essential elements of an independent school’s war chest. But there’s one area of the admissions process that, more than most, can be the Achilles heel of the journey. Step forward the taster day! Sonja Mueller, Kilgraston School Sonja Mueller, Head of Pastoral Care & Boarding at Kilgraston School, Perthshire, provides some top tips on making them work... Conclusive, UK-wide, statistics on discuss, at length, with parents or sports days. Conversely, I’ve often It’s all a bit ‘full on’, especially the ‘visit-to-application’ ratio are guardians: get a real handle on found that the collegiate effect of without a subliminal running mate. unavailable. However, combining the child. Matching them with the assemblies can help the visitor feel You might understand the intricacies my own school’s data with a small all-important ‘buddy’ is critical; part of the school ‘family’. of the classroom numbering system, straw-pole of industry colleagues if the new pupil lives for sport, it A minefield indeed. Seasons also but a young visitor will not. With demonstrates that nearly every taster makes no sense to match them with play their part. Exam time is tricky; day leads to a pupil committing the best will in the world, ‘buddies’ someone who spends every waking very possibly too much personal to that school. An important shop can become distracted, so it’s vital hour in the orchestra pit. anxiety for pupils to feel altruistic. window therefore. for the visitor to know where a Staff briefing is also crucial: ensure So too the lead-up to Christmas or friendly face can always be found. For many prospective pupils – often everyone in the supply chain knows summer prize-giving; both ‘finishing Make sure the adult who brings having travelled a great distance – that there is a visitor. Children lines’ guaranteed to preoccupy this can be their first exposure to the move schools for myriad reasons incumbents. the child is also shown the point campus. of contact. With technology and background is vital to ensure Taster days really do need to involve so sophisticated, sometimes an Previous generations were ‘sent a smooth and positive experience. the whole community. As a boarding unsettled child will email mum. If away to boarding school’ (usually Of course, data protection is school, we tell boarders about the parent can say, “Oh, go and see to ‘Pa’s’ alma mater) with little paramount, but a sensible approach the guests spending time in their Mrs such-and-such in the little room discussion on the matter. Nowadays, among colleagues ensures there term-time home. Often there will be at the end of the blue corridor,” that increasingly, it’s the children who are many more experienced eyes pre-existing connections and we use can be all it takes. make the decision, with mum and monitoring progress. these to make the visitor feel even dad falling into line. At my school, we make a point more welcome. If they’re boarding, we make sure “Taster days,” said a colleague, of having check points – valves A taster day can be a bewildering that the visiting pupil’s room and “can be elephant trap of the whole – throughout the visit; be it for a experience. Anxious to let the personal belongings are set-up by process.” A little dramatic, but day in our Junior Years or a full-on pupil see as much as possible, the the end of their school day. Perhaps recently I did hear the story of a boarding two-night taster in the tendency – and I have personally at this potentially ‘low’ touch- teenage girl who went to a boarding senior school. fallen foul of this practice – is to point, finding a home-from-home can be the only panacea needed. school for a two-day taster and left Timing is everything; what’s going make the schedule too busy. without her House Mistress having It’s amazing how persuasive a hot on at school? Easy to overlook, but Visitors can become overwhelmed if even spoken to her. Perhaps then, chocolate and a chat can be. if an event like World Book Day there’s little time to decompress and not purely a myth. So, how to get is taking place, the visiting pupil process their experience. They have At the end of the day, like most it right? can feel automatically ostracised. a busy school day, then an activity, things in life, really it’s all about the The key, I’ve always found, is The same can be said for all-school prep, perhaps a concert or play, feeling of being welcome and part great groundwork. Before the visit, activities like cross country races or supper, shower, bed… of the new team. TEDx day The King Alfred School (KAS), confidence and creativity of all their London, hosted a day-long TEDx students and this event gave them event featuring inspirational short a platform to talk about a diverse talks by students, staff and parents. range of subjects. Student talks The event which took place in ranged from outsourcing, OCD and the school’s Phoenix Theatre, the impact of online bullying to presented 19 talks and one musical antibiotic resistance, project-based performance. With 10 of the talks learning and the healing power of being delivered by students, some pets. As well as the spoken talks, as young as 13, it was a showcase Sixth Formers Elvis and Max took for the school. the audience on a musical journey The school is proud of the telling the story of the Blues.

36 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] New Revision Tool for Pupils Lomond School, Argyll & Bute, been much research undertaken has launched ‘Take Your Marks’ to prove that a healthy body and with pupils from Senior 4 to Senior mind can improve academic results 6 last month (March), providing and we already do a lot in school them with access to a huge range to promote this with early morning Spanish film win of tools all aimed at enhancing fitness classes three mornings a A group of 5th Form (Year 11) GCSE seen for some time. A world- brain power. week and a significant emphasis on Spanish pupils from Bancroft’s famous explorer with thirty years’ health and wellbeing throughout School, Essex, accompanied by head experience, she travels to a diverse Creator of the resource, Alan Clark the curriculum and co-curriculum. of Spanish, Mr Urreage Gorostidi, range of locations, from forests to said: “There are lots of papers However, by adopting the Take and Spanish language Assistant, Mr the sea to the Arctic. She is shocked written on the benefit of exercise Your Marks programme, we are Hernandez, competed in the Spanish to realise the harsh reality of the but, as a teacher, the aspect empowering our pupils to be the Short Film Contest held at North status of the environment which that really interested me was the best they can be with helpful tips, London Collegiate School. looks bleaker than ever. correlation between health and tools and tutorials that they can The Bancroft’s team was awarded academic success. Our mantra Several other London schools use wherever they are.” took part, including Dulwich the prize for the best short film. at Take Your Marks has always Pupils were delighted as they have Take Your Marks overlaps three College, Latymer Upper School been, “Once you get Health and won a Spanish course in Salamanca. fundamentals which help pupils and Haberdashers’ Aske’s, amongst Wellbeing right, everything else Maha Dannawi also won the prize to get into what Clark refers to as others. The Bancroft’s pupils had is easy!” for the female actor with the best the Optimum Learning Zone (OLZ). worked very hard to create a short spoken Spanish – a week long Take Your Marks, which originally film on their given topic of “the By working on social, physical and Spanish course in Málaga. The launched as a corporate resource environment”. mental wellbeing, the programme judges were very impressed by the to help businesses get the best helps young people consider Their film, Las Aventuras de Juanita, short film and at the end they came from their employees, is an online how a wide range of factors can concerned veteran documentarian to talk to the Bancroft’s team and hub which hosts a wide range affect their overall wellbeing in Juanita who embarks on a complimented them all on their of resources to aid productivity preparation for study and exams. worldwide journey to track down Spanish, which they said clearly and performance. Resources for rare animals which have not been stood out. schools fall under four headings: Principal, Johanna Urquhart said: “As part of our school values connectors, mindful moments, we aim to prepare our pupils for stabilisers and zappers and offer a success in all aspects of life and wide range of videos, sound bites I feel confident that using the and cues which cover anything Take Your Marks resource will help from short HIIT workouts to prepare our young people to take suggestions for conversation on information during study leave, starters and desk exercises, all as well as keeping them alert and aimed at activating the brain. energised during a time which Lomond School Academic Depute, requires a lot of self-motivation Claire Chisholm said:“There has and discipline.”

Leaders in all aspects of independent education

Supporting families and schools worldwide with impartial, expert advice. From early years to higher education.

www.gabbitas.com China Dubai [email protected] United Kingdom

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 37 Pupils enter the Dragons’ Den Pupils at an independent school in Teesside have enjoyed a visit from a well-known local Dragon to judge one of their projects.

Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies MBE, founder of Newton Aycliffe- based Crafter’s Companion, recently visited Norton’s Red House School to judge the design ideas of a group of Year 7 pupils.

As part of an English module on science fiction, the children “I wanted to recognise the The TV star and entrepreneur It was hard to pick a winning worked in pairs to invent a children’s hard work and so I visited the school last month to team, but in the end I chose futuristic gadget, produce a design approached Sara to give them review the entries from the pupils. specification and present it to the MD1 Experience. her expert opinion and choose a She also awarded them with their class in a Dragons’ Den style bid to winner and two runners up. certificates and prizes – all of “I loved that they had made a sell their product. the children involved received a prototype, but most impressive “I was delighted that she was able certificate and some sweets, while was their comprehensive costing The school’s Head of English, to support Red House School by the winning pair also received a spreadsheet. Their pitch was very Collette Fryer, was behind the giving up her time and providing £10 gift card each. dynamic and entertaining – I idea. She said: “I was extremely the children with fantastic impressed with the children’s work feedback. The children were over She said: “I was absolutely could imagine them in the Den and the time and effort that each the moon when she came into blown away with what the kids blowing away the other Dragons group had put into the task was school to talk about their futuristic had come up with and how well with their amazing invention and truly amazing. gadgets.” everything was thought through! thorough grasp of the numbers.” Spotlight on languages Oracy culture award South Hampstead High School is us to make further links with local Some 130 pupils from the languages at degree level; the winner of this year’s English schools. This has been invaluable Third Form to Upper Sixth at and an evening showcase Speaking Union Oracy Culture both for our students, who have Daunstey’s School, Wiltshire, led by a classicist who is Award. appreciated the opportunity to get have taken part in a Global an ex-editor of Tatler, a to know children from other places, Since September 2018 the School Careers Festival of Modern multi-lingual lawyer with and for our partner schools.’ Languages, organised by experience of working at the has doubled the provision of the Languages and Careers UN and EU and a Director of debating clubs each week and Chair of judges, Gavin Illsley, ESU departments. a specialist hospitality training tripled the number of students Head of Programmes, said, ‘We involved. It has also more than organisation from Switzerland. commend South Hampstead High The day-long event was doubled the number of external School for the way it has fostered made up of presentations and The school also welcomed speaking and debating competitions a sense of community around workshops led by leaders from back some Old Dauntseians to it takes part in (to 15) and has put debating and public speaking, and business and the media who talk about their experiences significant effort into outreach how they have created an impressive have studied languages at after school, having taken activities working with a total of culture of inter-year collaboration. some point in their lives and languages at A level or at 14 other schools – most of them Its inclusive approach, both in used languages to progress University, including one ex- state schools – to encourage wider school and in its outreach work, their careers. The objective pupil who studied Portuguese participation in debating in the local has allowed many students who of the Festival was to provide and joined the event from community. may not otherwise have had the an insight into the numerous Brazil via Skype. opportunity, to gain the confidence ‘As we are a single-sex school for possible careers that had an and skill to speak in public and to Demelza Hills, Head girls, we felt it was particularly element of modern languages broaden their understanding of the of Spanish, Dauntsey’s important to encourage our linked to them. world.’ said:“Whilst studying students to become confident in Highlights of the programme languages is experiencing expressing their views,’ says Kate The judges would like to commend included; a presentation a sharp decline nationally, Etheridge, Director of Debating and all entrants for the fantastic from a BBC Panorama editor Dauntsey’s is really bucking Public Speaking at the school. ‘Our work they are doing to create a who studied Portuguese; the trend with almost all engagement with the ESU has been sustainable culture of oracy across a networking session with pupils taking at least one a key catalyst for our promotion of their curricula and in the wider representatives from Retail, language at GCSE and close to debating and oracy. We have hosted community. As winner, South Marketing, Human Resources a third taking a language at regional rounds of the ESU’s Mace Hampstead High School receives and IT, all of whom studied A level”. and Public Speaking Competitions a trophy and a free Discover Your which have been a brilliant way for Voice session for up to 24 students.

38 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] The Great Outdoors New forest school Pupils, staff, parents and hide that had been built, was governors of Winterfold School, for children to hide from the Worcestershire, assembled for teachers. “They soon corrected the opening ceremony of their me,” he said, “and told me it newly created outdoor learning was to go birdwatching – thank environment, Forest School. goodness for that!”

The ribbon was cut by TV’s Michael talked about his time on Michael Collie, known from BBC Countryfile, when he filmed all Midlands Today and Countryfile, over the UK and abroad, going in particular. Michael is also a to places that were “wet, windy, parent of four girls who went to muddy, sunny, snowy, blizzarding Winterfold School, before going and wonderful”. He urged the on to Bromsgrove School. pupils to enjoy and care for the Speaking with his hands covered environment, noting that perhaps in mud, Michael said “It’s we hadn’t always done that well brilliant to see the children at so far. Winterfold just enjoying nature After visiting the new shelter, and the environment – they’ve which will be an outdoor been showing me what they can classroom, Michael Collie, do simply with mud and there’s a together with the Chair of lot of it about! Governors Paul West, Governor The pond is already well to build a jetty, so that the “I love the fact that an old bomb Geoff Strong, guests and the established, with flora and fauna children can enjoy lessons in crater, which has been covered in Friends of Winterfold committee in abundance. There are plans pond dipping. undergrowth for years, has now were treated to a tour of the been re-discovered and turned new site which has been put Pictured: Red House School’s Head of English, Collette Fryer and Sara Davies MBE with Year 7 pupils into a fantastic natural water back to nature. The Friends environment, for plants, animals of Winterfold have funded a and pupils to enjoy. bird hide, tool shed and the Exciting Activity and Field As he cut the ribbon with new Forest School suits for the Study Trips in Cornwall Reception pupil Grace children. There will be sections McNaughton – picked because for each year group, from she was wearing the dirtiest Nursery, through to Year 8, with wellies, Michael Collie joked with plans to plant a herb garden, the children that he thought the vegetable patch and an orchard. Arctic adventure A group of Second Form challenges, the pupils perfected pupils from Dauntsey’s School, their snowballing skills, Wiltshire, visited the north warming up with an endless of Sweden on an ‘Arctic supply of hot chocolate. Adventure’ of a lifetime. The group also spent some time Their base was the city of in a Swedish school, learning • The Manor House offers quality courses with personal Skellefteå which was blanketed about life as a teenager in attention in thick snow throughout their Sweden and comparing notes • Stay in an 18th Century Manor House Book Now stay, with temperatures rarely about the differences, and • Sole Occupancy similarities, between their for Spring/ above freezing and as low as • Privately owned centre near Padstow schools. Summer 2021 -16°C. The pupils tackled a • Excellent facilities & equipment Discounts Available! number of challenges including Throughout the trip, the pupils • Recommended by many Prep. Schools an alpine luge competition, had to shop for their own • Please ask for details ice fishing, cross country food at a local supermarket, ski-ing, igloo building, snow transporting it back to their For more information please contact us on: 01841 540346 shoeing, building campfires and cabin on sledges and then www.manoractivitycentre.co.uk | [email protected] husky sledding. In between cooking all their meals. Manor House Activity & Development Centre, St Issey, Wadebridge, PL27 7QB

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 39 Music, Drama & Dance

Iconic West End show

Pupils from Loughborough huge show. With the anniversary, Schools Foundation wowed more performance space and a cast, Hip Hop performer brings poetry alive than 1,400 spectators in a week crew and orchestra of over 100 As part of its annual Arts Week the opened our eyes to a completely of sold out performances of the students from three schools students at Bruton School for Girls, different style of poetry. The girls West End classic, Les Misérables. performing to an audience of Somerset, enjoyed a visit from Karl thoroughly enjoyed working with 1400 people, it was quite a Nova a hip hop artist, author and Karl and exploring some hip hop More than 100 pupils from across daunting prospect. That being poet who inspired everyone with his for themselves; it was great for the Foundation joined together said, the popularity of Les Mis poetry performances. breaking down inhibitions and to perform the iconic musical meant that many of the cast increasing confidence.” in Loughborough Grammar Karl was born and raised in London were already familiar with the School’s Hodson Hall, as part of and Lagos and shared work from The theme of Arts Week was ‘Our production, plot and all of the his award winning collection the School’s 525th anniversary Planet’ and other activities included intricacies of its themes before ‘Rhythm and Poetry’ which reflects celebrations. workshops on sculpture, animation the first rehearsal. The amazing on his journey of growth from and drama, a theatre trip, beach The Grammar School has a close technicians, estates, compliance, childhood to adulthood through clean art and dance/choreography history with the musical after networking and catering the lens of hip hop culture. Karl sessions. All the work created they made what is believed to be departments worked hard to make spent the day working with groups the biggest block-booking for a the logistics happen whilst the of pupils from Year 5 through to during Arts Week will be used in West End show in 1995 during hours of practice by the orchestra Sixth Form, seeking to inspire them the school’s Art Walk show at the the school’s 500th anniversary of Loughborough Schools Music with a fresh approach to poetry. end of the Summer Term. celebrations. Occupying all 1,500 and the team of technical Librarian and Arts Week Co- Karl Nova’s debut book “Rhythm seats of the Palace Theatre, they students and staff backstage, ordinator, Nikki Bance, said: and Poetry” was declared winner made a big impression on the all added to this amazing “Karl provided a great finale to of the CLPE, CLiPPA 2018 Poetry cast, especially when antagonist production. Inspector Javert was loudly booed a marvellous Arts Week, and his award (CLPE – Centre for Literacy by the boys at the curtain call. 2020 marks the 525th anniversary enthusiasm for the spoken word in Primary Education). of Loughborough Grammar As the School’s anniversary year School following its founding of celebrations commenced, it in 1495 by Thomas Burton, a was thought to be quite fitting to local wool merchant who left pay homage to the show. endowments for the teaching of Commenting on staging the boys in his will. George Davys, a production Sally Bruton, Head tutor to Queen Victoria, Johnnie of Drama, at Loughborough Johnson, RAF flying ace, and Sir Grammar School, said Les Mis was Thomas Abney, the first Governor a fitting choice of production. of the Bank of England are listed She said: “Les Misérables is a amongst its alumni. Pictured: Karl Nova with Sixth Form students at Bruton School for Girls

40 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Music, Drama & Dance

Spirited ‘Creative Arts Day’ The sky really was the limit for innovative works of art.” Edge Grove School, Hertfordshire, The children delivered a number as it staged a fully inclusive, whole of imaginative performances to school ‘Creative Arts Day’ as part of a House team competition. the judging panel showcasing a high level of acting talent and Drama Workshop Productions Supported by House staff leaders, musicianship, before the winning It was a creative few weeks for entertain their audiences. the children aged 3-13 years, House was awarded a trophy by pupils at Leicester Grammar Junior across all year groups were given Themes varied from classic, Mr Evans for the most outstanding School, who enjoyed the success the challenge of creating a four- contemporary novels to dark performance. of their latest ‘Drama Workshop’ minute group performance, which and brooding interpretations of productions during early March. had to include the singing of the Evans said: “One of the greatest Shakespeare, to capture collective Mary Poppins classic, ‘Let’s Go Fly joys of days like this, when the Years 3-6 engaged in a variety imaginations. a Kite’, as well as incorporating a children are working in vertical of dramatic techniques, such as Headteacher, Caroline Rigby, said: drama and art element. groups, is seeing the older conscience alley, role play, hot ‘We are extremely proud of the Each group performance was pupils take the younger ones seating, soundscape and thought creativity shown by our pupils assessed for its ‘House spirit’ under their wings, treating them tapping, to tell various tales and how they displayed their and the level of energy and with tremendous kindness and that reflect their recent studies talent to our audiences. Each involvement of pupils and understanding and supporting in the classroom, embracing production is a testament to the staff. Groups were also judged them to achieve their common new methods of exciting visual hard work and commitment of on creativity of artwork and goals. Likewise, observing how language and learning songs to each and every pupil and the dance and also the dramatic much our younger children interpret well-known texts and passion of our staff’. performance, clarity and accuracy admire those in the upper years of singing. and absolutely love learning from them and being in their company. As Ben Evans, Headmaster, awarded a trophy to the winning team, he It is very humbling to witness commented: “It was wonderful to and makes me feel very proud move around the school during of them all. Events like these are the day and watch the children designed to give the children the in their House groups totally freedom to build their confidence engaged in learning the famous and self-esteem while working song, practicing their dance moves collaboratively with others to and creating their colourful and achieve success”. National Youth For all your Music Theatre music education selection & performance equipment King’s Ely Sixth Form student, Billy Pinto, has been called-up Music Stands, FREEPHONE Lights & Accessories by the prestigious National Youth Music Folders 0800 072 7799 Music Chairs & Music Theatre (NYMT). Accessories Instrument & Sheet Billy, 16, will be starring in to join the As a member of the NYMT 2020 Music Storage (subject to the COVID-19 education discount Conductor’s Company, Billy will also be invited programme and Equipment situation) ‘Imagination’, by to participate in other events and save money on Staging & Risers Timothy Knapman and Stuart performances, including the ever- Theatre Products your purchases! Acoustic Products Matthew Price. Directed by popular NYMT Christmas Concert Richard Fitch, the production will at St John’s, Smith Square. be presented at CURVE Theatre, Billy, who is from Ely, has been Leicester and for the International a student at King’s Ely since Youth Arts Festival, Kingston in 2006, when he joined King’s Ely www.blackcatmusic.co.uk June and July. Acremont Nursery.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 41 independent schools mag Ad 90x135mm MAY11.indd 1 6/5/11 13:08:41 Music, Drama & Dance

All-Steinway School The Mount School, Yorkshire, this investment creates for our became an All-Steinway School girls. Not only will they play on as the all-girl Quaker school took the highest quality instruments, delivery of ten new pianos which but they can look forward to students and staff had selected working with visiting Steinway earlier in the year at Steinway Hall artists in addition to our in London. wonderful specialist peripatetic teaching staff. I am proud of how This partnership between The our All-Steinway status reinforces Mount and Steinway and our belief in the importance of Sons gives Mount girls daily creativity in girls’ education.” Concert initiative access to the highest quality More than 60 children from of England Primary School, pianos to practice, compose, The school’s Music scholars from local primary schools performed Loughborough Church of England perform and realise their artistic Year 6 to College II (Upper Sixth at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall Primary School, Fairfield Prep and talents on world-class quality Form) gave a special recital to last month (March) as part of Amherst School were all involved instruments. The Mount is now unveil the new pianos, with the an exciting initiative to improve in a range of teacher training and the first all-girls’ school in the performance culminating in a access to music education in interactive lessons to deliver music North of England to receive unique ensemble using all ten Leicestershire. lessons in a more dynamic way. the internationally recognised pianos, before the pianos were As part of the Sing2020 initiative, Sarah Marsh, Head of Prep designation as an All-Steinway moved to their permanent homes pupils from Rothley CofE Primary Music at Loughborough School School. Only twenty schools within the school. School, Grace Dieu Manor Foundation, led the Sing2020 in the UK currently have this As part of the All-Steinway status, School, Fairfield Prep School, scheme and discussed the impact accreditation, along with three girls at The Mount will also and Loughborough Amherst of the concert. She said: “It has conservatories and six universities. School took to the stage ahead enjoy future Masterclasses with been a great pleasure to work with of Loughborough Schools Rachel Derbyshire, The Mount’s Steinway artists and opportunities so many local schools to offer Foundation’s annual Spring Head of Music, said, “We are to perform in the recital space at on-the-ground support for music Concert, performing a range of delighted with the opportunities Steinway Hall. and provide an opportunity for classical and newly commissioned more dynamic music teaching. songs. Once the children start singing you Loughborough Schools Foundation can see their faces light up and it’s introduced its Sing2020 scheme to really exciting to teach them more support musical teaching at local challenging songs than they might primary schools, with nine schools be used to. taking part over the course of the “At Loughborough Schools project. Foundation we are really lucky to Nether Hall Special School, Grace have access to outstanding music Dieu Manor School, Booth Wood facilities and it is fantastic to be Primary School, Normanton on able to offer these resources and Soar Primary School, Rendell support music teaching in other Primary School, Rothley Church schools”. Full House every night Kent College drama department which the cast brought the novel The whole school production, led delighted their audiences with to life. by Gilly Cable and Nigel Ashton, a musical interpretation of The brought together creatives from Many will be familiar with the Secret Garden performed by girls the Senior School and Kent story of a young girl orphaned at the school and boys from The College Preparatory School. Behind in India and sent to the vast and Skinners School, a fellow member the scenes Year 10 girls studying lonely house of her hunchback of the West Kent Independent textiles helped create Edwardian uncle, but the genius of the State School Partnership costumes with intricate lace musical is that it subtly refocuses (WKISSP). detailing and on stage actors, the plot. So instead of it being dancers, singers and musicians The classic Victorian story was a child’s story; the character of reimagined the Gothic tale of directed and designed by Head of Archibald Craven, the reclusive healing and forgiveness. Drama Nigel Ashton who first saw uncle of Mary Lennox, takes the musical version of The Secret centre stage. Along with all the The musical theatre adaptation Garden at the RSC in 2000, and famous elements of the original of The Secret Garden by Frances determined to stage it one day. story we are shown the anguish Hodgson Burnett is especially close The Countess of Wessex theatre that Archibald Craven feels for to Kent College’s heart because (named after the Kent College the loss of his young wife Lily, the book itself was inspired by the old girl) provided the venue for who is a constant presence in the gardens of nearby Great Maytham the beautiful, hand-built sets on production. Hall in Rolvenden.

42 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Sport

GB Call Up Netball champs Becca Scott, Year 9 at Bedford Congratulations to the Bromsgrove Bromsgrove were leading 17-12. Modern School, has been invited School, Worcestershire, 1st With great encouragement from the to join the GB Para Athletics Netball team who were crowned vocal Bromsgrove supporters, the Programme. The programme is the National Independent Schools’ Cup team capitalised on their lead and first of three tiers of the Paralympic Champions in a thrilling final last went from strength to strength. Development Academy, which aims month (March) at the Sports Village Bromsgrove achieved a 64-47 to prepare athletes for the 2024 at the University of Hertfordshire. victory enabling them to retain Paralympic Games in Paris. the trophy from last year and to Bromsgrove faced Alleyn’s School, Becca, who has an arm deficiency, be crowned National Champions who had defeated Millfield in the was spotted at the National Junior once again. Kitty Luscombe was Disability games and has been Semi-Final. Both teams started awarded the prestigious player of selected for the long jump. She well and after the first quarter the competition award. will also be expected to compete Becca commented: “It came as a in other disciplines, such as 100m surprise but I am so pleased to have and 200m, as well as developing been selected. It has been a great her overall athletic capability. The experience to work with the GB programme focuses on supporting long jump coach, Roger Kellar, and athletes through specific technical I am looking forward to continuing development, learning from the programme. The BMS Sports some of the best athletes in the Department have been really country. There is a tough selection supportive, helping with strength process, prioritising those who have and conditioning work, as well as potential to win medals at future training me in athletics and other Paralympic games. sports.”

Girl fencers reign supreme The Stamford Endowed Schools’ showcasing some top-level fencing, U13 Girls fencing team have and is regarded as the pinnacle of Cricket Tour to South Africa been crowned British Schools team fencing for youngsters and Fencing Champions 2020 at the future stars. British Schools Team Fencing Championships, which were held Chris Howser, Stamford Endowed early last month (March). The Schools’ Head fencing coach Schools entered a Boys and Girls commented: ‘An excellent team for both the Under 11 (Years performance from all of our school 5 and 6) and the Under 13 (Year 7 fencers with all four Stamford and 8) age categories. Endowed School teams ranked in The British Schools Team the top 6 in the country on a day Championships is a long- that had some of our fencers at the standing fixture in the annual venue for over 10 hours. What an fencing calendar. On average, the amazing achievement for our U13 Championship hosts 160 teams Girls! All teams should be proud of from schools around the UK, their performances, well done!’

During Lent half term, the 1st XI also gaining experience of another New Hall School, Essex, Cricket country’s culture and traditions. Team travelled to Cape Town to The trip was a great success, with play several fixtures against some New Hall Cricket Team winning of the most prestigious and highly four out of their five fixtures. accomplished schools in South During their trip, the students also Africa, such as St Augustine’s and had the opportunity to visit the Rondebosch High School. The famous Table Mountain, Green experience provided the New Hall Street Market and saw lions and Cricket Team with the opportunity other animals in their natural to take part in a horizon-expanding environment. New Hall appreciates adventure. New Hall’s students and is acutely aware of the competed with players from importance of making memories different personal and educational and opening the minds of their backgrounds from their own, whilst students.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 43 Sport National Championship Trophy The Bishop’s Stortford College the game level at 0-0, resulting in U13 boys’ football team have a penalty shootout. With a final become U13 IAPS National Football score of 3-2, the College team was Champions for the first time in the through to the final. history of the College. Despite feeling the fatigue of With their first four matches playing 7 matches, the boys were resulting in two wins, one draw determined to give it their all in the and one loss, the boys needed to final against Cranleigh. The team win their final group game against dominated the early stages of the St Neot’s Preparatory School to match with a goal that opened up progress into the quarter finals. the chance to win the tournament. Fortunately, the boys were not The team defended tremendously ready to concede defeat and well, resolute in holding onto their won their final group match 1-0 lead. After what felt like an convincingly. incredibly long match, the final In their quarter final the College whistle blew and the boys were boys faced Twyford. The victory crowned the U13 IAPS National from their previous game spurred Football Champions. Cricketing Stars the team on and they won the David Herd, who coaches the team The Wellington School, Somerset, cricketing ability. The seam bowler match 2-0, making it into the commented, “The team’s training cricket programme continues to was thrilled that his team finished semi-finals. and hard work paid off and they go from strength to strength, with 12th in the competition. went from strength to strength significant success at national level. However, this match was the Congratulations also to Year 9 toughest of them all. Up against throughout the tournament. Sixth Former Liam Naylor has just Mila Joseph, who has successfully Hall Grove a combination The character, composure and returned from the experience of a trialled for the Welsh Under 15 girl of brilliant goalkeeping and sportsmanship shown by the boys lifetime at the U19 Cricket World cricket team. She is now a part of outstanding defensive work kept was phenomenal.” Cup in South Africa. Liam took several wickets for Scotland, had the team and will start playing for a spell in hospital and suffered an them later in the year. Mila is a injury in a tournament that taught superb cricketer whose position in him a lot about himself and his the team is well deserved.

Pictured: Mila Joseph – Welsh U15 team and Liam Naylor – Cricket World Cup Sports Coach signed for Severn Stars Netball Following a successful round of London Pulse and represented trials and two months playing Northern Ireland at the 2019 netball in Australia in 2019, Ellie World Cup, Sophie Hankin who Gibbons, a member of the sports plays for Surrey Storm and now coaching team at New Hall School, Ellie Gibbons, who has joined Essex, has been signed for Severn Severn Stars. This is an incredible Stars Netball. Ellie will now play opportunity for the girls at New matches across the country as part Hall to learn from some fantastic of the team in the netball Super role models. This is already League. evident with five of the School’s This brings the total number students involved in sports of netball Super League players pathways including the Essex working as part of New Hall County Academy, the Basildon coaching team to three; including Saracens Mavericks Hub and the Michelle Drayne, who plays for Hertfordshire County Academy.

44 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Sport Inspiration from Football Legends Year group football teams and of 9 and initially found it tough elite athletes at Bolton School to integrate into primary school were joined by pupils from nearby but, again, football allowed him Gaskell Primary School as they to make friends. He went to enjoyed an engrossing lunchtime secondary school at St Cuthbert’s with Manchester United football in Oldham and joined Man Utd legend, Ryan Giggs and Joe aged 9 – Ryan Giggs was his hero! Thompson, former Rochdale, He was released just before he sat Tranmere, Bury and Carlisle player, his GCSEs. However, he worked who has twice fought off cancer. hard for his exams and stressed The two players were interviewed to the young audience that it is Double triumph ‘on stage’ about their life and important to work hard and to career by PE Teacher Mr Ian have a back-up plan. Bromsgrove Preparatory School, illustrated their strength in a range Hughes. Ryan Giggs, who is the Worcestershire, U11 boys and of sports”. The two former players answered current Welsh coach, spoke about girls are celebrating after their a wide variety of questions. Asked The U11A Girls Netball team also his early life and how his family double win at the Foremarke Hall whether young children are under won the Tournament, drawing with moved to North Manchester from Invitational Tournament. The too much pressure these days, Foremarke Hall ‘A’ 3-3, beating The Cardiff when he was 7 years old. U11A Boys’ Hockey team is the Ryan said he is ‘old school’ and Elms 10-0, Foremarke Hall ‘B’ 12-0 He told how he met his first friends first Bromsgrove team ever to have remembers running home from and Warwick Prep ‘A’ 3-0. The through playing football on the won the Foremarke tournament. school and banging a ball against result placed Bromsgrove at the top street. His father played rugby The boys were worthy winners and a wall and training as much as of their group, taking them through league for Swinton (and Wales) so swept all before them, culminating he could. He also recommended to the Semi-Final v Radcliffe the young Ryan was exposed to in a 3-1 win in the Final v Beeston playing other sports and recalled College. The girls played superbly to professional sport from an early Hockey Club, Nottingham. In the how he enjoyed rugby, basketball age, watching training sessions and group stages, the team drew 1-1 win 9-2 placing them in the Final games. He told how he played for and athletics; he felt you can learn with Belper Hockey Club, before against Warwick Prep. This was a Salford Boys and was initially on different skillsets in other fields. To winning their matches 3-0 v Sutton much closer game in comparison the books with Manchester City. a degree, he said, it is good to take Coldfield Hockey Club and 1-0 v to the group stage match and by However, after Sir Alex Ferguson people out of their comfort zone. Altrincham Prep, which meant they the end of the final whistle, the and Brian Kidd had been to watch Both players talked about the topped their group. two schools were drawing 4-4. Bromsgrove upped their game in him, he switched his allegiances to importance of resilience and Mr Gareth Jones, Head of Boy’s extra time, to win 8-4. United on his fourteenth birthday. having good support around you PE and Games at the School said He quickly progressed from the when things don’t go your way. Mrs Jenny Danks, Head of Girls’ PE “These boys are having another youth team to training with the Ryan also spoke of stacking the and Games, said “We are extremely exceptionally successful year, first team and by the age of 17 – odds in his favour by taking care proud of the standard of netball following on from their successes just one year out of school – he with his diet, practising yoga, at the Preparatory School and our with their rugby at U9, U10 and was in the starting eleven. seeing an osteopath and even U11As have demonstrated their U11 level and being the only team Joe Thompson told how he moved changing his bed and car to better strength by winning this prestigious from the Preparatory School to to Greater Manchester at the age suit his body. achieve a medal at last year’s IAPS tournament at the weekend. National Swimming Finals. They We look forward to following are a great group of boys who are this team’s progress in the next Hockey dream goal superb role models for the School few years, as they have fantastic A Year 11 Ellesmere College, both on and off the pitch and have potential”. Shropshire, student has been selected to train with the England Hockey Under-17s side. At 15 years old, Harry Lloyd-Brown has been chosen to continue his goalkeeping training with the national team. Harry, who currently plays first and second team hockey at his club in Chester, will now train in the established U17 Performance conquered many other national Centre in Manchester. teams of a higher age – a true testament to the Performance As part of England Hockey’s Player Centre’s quality of training and Pathway programme, Harry will enter an environment that gives competition. young players the chance to realise Harry now aims to be selected for their potential through a vigorous the Futures Cup squad for this programme of intense training summer, a competition which and competition, coupled with the would place him against the best highest level of coaching for U17 young players in the country, and players. would allow him to compete for a Last year, the U17 team was place in the U18 England Team at unbeaten in all games, and the end of the year.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 45 Virtual content - the new school marketing opportunity Independent schools up and down the country are creating new and exciting virtual content aimed primarily Giving your students at current students but also of wider interest the very best support to prospective ones How do I work from home? How can I stop feeling stressed or anxious? and the local What can I use this time to do? What will this mean for my future? community.

The Ivy House Award is perfectly placed to support your students in These art tackling these questions – enabling them to come through the next few reviews, literary months feeling stronger and with the skills to build a brighter future. discussions, Developed by a leading team of executive coaches and headteachers, science experiments The Award brings personal and professional development previously etc are all reserved for the most senior execs, to students – at a time when it opportunities to can make the biggest difference. Developing resilience, ownership, widen the schools’ emotional intelligence and self-leadership. outreach.

The Award equips students with the knowledge and skills to take The UK’s ownership over their future, starting now. premier family & The Award can be delivered face-to-face or virtually, with all content community website available to students via their phone, tablet or laptop. WhereCanWeGo.com now offers you the It’s running in a number of schools including Canford, Eton, Brighton facility to publicise Virtual Events, free of charge, as well as College, Charterhouse and City of London – and due to increased demand is now available for year 10 through to upper sixth students, your school plays, fairs, fetes, concerts, open days etc when they with a limited number of places available for schools to run this return. programme in the summer term. Simply go to Add Events tab off the home page, register your email If you’d like to find out more, visit ivyhouse.co.uk/award. address and a password, and you’re away!

www.ivyhouse.co.uk/award www.WhereCanWeGo.com

SPECIAL The Digest OFFE R SPECIALOFFER The Key Replacement Service The ISM Te l: 020 8343 2943 Email: [email protected] Digest KEYS FROM JUST £1 Order your keys NOW quoting BFK20 Cost-effective way to keep www.keysplease.co.uk your business details in front of decision-makers in the independent school sector month after month. Andrew Wicks Andrew Wicks Attractive series rates. Creative Creative School Prospectus Please contact & Brochure Design James Hanson Website & Email Design 01242 259249 Infographics [email protected] www.andrew-wicks.co.uk

46 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] October 2019 Virtual content - the new February 2020 school marketing opportunity online

Chair Head Bursar Registrar Staffroom School Office ...the professional journal for Management & Staff Chair Head Bursar Registrar Staffroom School Office This magazine, and back issues, are available 24/7 to read or download, visit: ...the professional journal for Management & Staff www.independentschoolsmagazine.co.uk/view-issues.html You can receive notification of future issues immediately they are published – simply register your email address here: www.independentschoolsmagazine.co.uk (Your email address will never be sold on or otherwise made available to third parties and you can cancel at any time) There is no charge for these online e-magazines, thanks to the support of:

The School Branding Specialists We offer a free consultaion to discuss your project requirements.

Schools featured in this issue include: Abbey Gate College Ellesmere College King’s Ely Royal Hospital School Abingdon School Embley Prep. School Kingswood School Sheffield Girls’ School ACS International School Epsom College Kitebrook Preparatory School South Hampstead High School Ashville College Felsted School Lathallan School St. George’s School for Girls Bancroft School Froebelian School Leicester Grammar School St. Margaret’s School Bedford Modern School Giggleswick School Leys School St. Peter’s School Bishop’s Stortford College Glenalmond College Lomond School Stamford Endowed Schools Bolton School Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Loughborough Schools Stamford School Burgess Hill Girls Bromsgrove School Holme Grange School Micklefield School Taunton School Bruton School for Girls Hull Collegiate School Mount School Warminster School Bryanston School Kent College New Hall School Wellington School Cranleigh School Kilgraston School Prior Park College West Buckland School Dauntsey’s School King Alfred School Queen Anne’s School Winterfold School Edge Grove School King’s College Red House School Woldingham School

The Independent Schools Magazine is read by decision-makers – Governors, Heads, Bursars, Departmental Managers – and reflects news, ideas, influences, and opinions in the independent education sector. A personal copy is mailed to heads and other key personnel in fee-paying independent schools plus opinion formers in governments, political parties and educational Vires per Verum – Strength through Truth associations. It is also available on the internet. Editorial Advisory Board The publishers are grateful for the interest, advice and support of a distinguished Editorial Advisory Board whose members currently include: Richard Brown: Head, Handcross Park School, Sussex Henry Briggs: Senior Partner, HW, Chartered Accountants Birmingham and a Tory Gillingham: Managing Director of AMCIS – Association for Admissions, former school Governor Marketing and Communications in Independent Schools Alex Beynon: Former Head of Press Relations, Independent Schools Council (ISC) Elisabeth Lewis-Jones: a governor of Bloxham School, Oxfordshire; 2008 Kevin Fear: Head, Nottingham High School President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Director of Liquid Deborah Leek-Bailey OBE: Director of DLB Leadership Associates Ltd., Public Relations, a consultancy with expertise within the education sector former head of Babington House School, Kent Georgina Belcher: Communications Officer, Independent Schools Council Helen Davies: Bursar, Tormead School, Surrey

Subscriptions: £3 per issue, or £20 per Advertising Sales & Accounts: All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of this magazine in part or whole is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. annum (nine issues) payable in advance by James Hanson, Fellows Media Ltd., The Gallery, Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those cheque to Bull Nelson Ltd (please remember Manor Farm, Southam, Cheltenham GL52 3PB of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and images are to include your name and full address) to: T: 01242 259249 accepted by the publisher on the understanding that the publisher E: [email protected] cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. All The Independent Schools Magazine material, copy, and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free Editor & Publisher, Distribution: unless otherwise advised in writing. Advertisement bookings are PO Box 4136 accepted subject to normal terms and conditions – see website. Kimble Earl T: 01491 671998 Upper Basildon, Reading E: [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine is Berkshire RG8 6BS published by Bull Nelson Limited. E: [email protected] Design studio/pre-press production/website: Reg in England No 2876999. Andrew Wicks T: 01635 201125 © Copyright Bull Nelson Ltd. www.independentschoolsmagazine.co.uk E: [email protected] Printed by Manson Group.

Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 47 MORE THAN JUST THE UK’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOLWEAR RETAILER

STEVENSONS SPONSORS OF

LEARN ABOUT OUR WORK WITH

STEVENSONS.CO.UK/INFORMATION/OLD-SCHOOL-UNIFORM

TAKING POSITIVE ACTION NOW ON RE-USE 48 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected]

Full Ad Design - Old School Uniform.indd 1 01/08/2019 13:47