EducationSUMMER 2021

Choices BLM THE KEY TO YOUR CHILD’S SUCCESS One year on...

Plus: More BATTLEGROUND BAME students OF THE SEXES being included David James (LEH) debates the pros at leading and cons of single sex education universities

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: The Value of Bursaries at School, and the Ascent Programme at Emanuel, London

TENNIS SPECIAL Smashing their way to the top! Castle Tennis Academy and Alison Battista give some top tennis tips!

INTERVIEW: Supporting Your Child with Additional Learning Needs and see our podcast pages interviewing leading Headteachers 2 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST

EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST INTERVIEWS 16 Saint Christina’s School and Interviews with Mr. Alastair Gloag 32 and Mr. Dan Thornburn 17 Blundell’s School, Devon Interview with Mr. Bart Wielenga COVER PHOTORAGHY: MARK WEEKS

03 Top ten summer book suggestions 18 Sutton High School (7 -13 years) Interview with Mrs. Beth Dawson A young reader, Olivia, makes some useful 19 Bruern Abbey School and book recommendations for the summer More House School 06 Seahorse Nurseries are expanding! Interviews with Mr. John Floyd CHARLES PETER Seahorse Nurseries are opening Wimbledon Park 2 and Mr. Jon Hetherington 07 Bridge Lane Nursery in Battersea and : DESIGN Phileas Fox Nursery School in Maida Vale What do they o!er parents and children – would they suit your child?

08 Reading and literacy can have a life SPECIAL changing impact FEATURE Tonies® has partnered with the Book Trust and Cressida Cowell MBE’s ‘Life-changing Libraries’ TENNIS project 09 How learning in the great outdoors evolves into a sense of responsibility for nature The importance of playing and learning 26 Will it be a Grand Slam at outdoors, St Catherine’s School, Bramley Wimbledon? Why are so many young people playing 10 Helping your child prepare for tennis and what are they gaining from Reception or a new school their tournaments? By Ffion Robinson, Head of Churcher’s College Junior School 27 Smashing their way to the top! Ewell Castle Tennis Academy 12 Why consider Surbiton High Boys’ 28 Tennis features and Girls’ Prep schools? from Rowan Prep School and Surbiton Two unique Prep schools in Surbiton, Surrey High School 13 New Headmistress appointed at 29 Tennis features Sherborne Prep from Reed’s School and Putney High Mrs Natalie Bone appointed as Head of School Sherborne Prep from 1 September 2021. 30 Advice on Ratings, Rankings and 14 Full STEAM ahead at Parsons Green Prep Performance Tennis Parsons Green Prep have added an ‘A’ to their From Tennis STEM learning Academy

4 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 In the Summer issue...

20 Supporting 38 Battleground of the sexes Your Child with Sifting through centuries of debate, LEH Deputy Additional Head, David James, ponders the future of Learning Needs this approach in a society that is increasingly Suzanne discusses progressive, meritocratic and diverse how she has supported 42 Why consider Lady Eleanor Holles? her son (a twin) with A selective Prep and Senior school in Hampton, his additional learning Richmond upon Thames needs both inside and 43 Looking Beyond the Grades outside school Careers advice from Surbiton High School, 24 XULA face masks – Surrey the next generation 44 Go racing with F1 in your school! A dynamic new design An exciting STEM programme for schools that will support both 36 young and old people 46 Finding a career in software with disabilities development 32 The Ascent programme at Newcastle College model a new qualification and enable students to find employment Emanuel School, London within a year Emanuel is working hard to attempt to help close the learning gap many disadvantaged children are 47 Our plans for the year ahead, will experiencing... universities be going back to face 33 The Value of Bursaries to face lectures? Transforming communities at , University of Bath and Ella Barker (student) Surrey reflect on the future for many students in tertiary education 34 New Headmaster appointed at Wetherby Senior School and Tonbridge announce merger with 48 Preparing yourself mentally for The New Beacon Prep School university – some top tips for freshers Anisa, a student at Exeter University, makes 35 Unmasking - returning to school without some suggestions for next years freshers a face covering A sixth form student at Lancing College, Sussex, 50 Rethinking university options - writes about the feelings associated with being going through Clearing able to mix with her peers again without wearing Many students are increasingly using face masks Clearing to change their choices, University of Hertfordshire findings 36 My first year as Headmistress at Wimbledon High School 52 New scholarship programmes at Fionnuala Kennedy, Headmistress at Wimbledon Goldsmiths and BAME High (GDST) discusses her first year as Headmistress representation in universities amid a pandemic… Diversity focuses by both Goldsmiths, University of London, and Ella Barker (student) 37 Truro High School run a business initiative Top girls’ school puts business 53 The Rise of the University Podcast and enterprise front and A new approach to learning outside the lecture centre with pioneering room, SOAS University of London project that sees 54 One Year On: Inclusivity & Practical students named Solidarity CEO of their own Black Lives Matter feature by Ayesha Rana 26 commercial business 56 ESCAPE HOMES - Finding your inner peace… Some useful suggestions on improving your home by Marie Noelle Swiderski, Galuchat Design 58 An exciting time for buying property! Property news by Ben Rivera, Rivera Property Consultants

EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 | 5 EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST

“At our school, any student can succeed in anything.” Education Corner Podcast with Mr Bart Wielenga, Headmaster at Blundell’s, Devon

Go to (link) to hear all about life at Blundell’s and the advantages of boarding in Devon. Blundell’s is an up-and-coming school set in the rural location of Tiverton, Devon. It aims to provide all students with a solid grounding in skills that will allow them access to unlimited opportunities in later life. Blundell’s has an increasingly diverse student body. As a result of being a boarding school as well as a day school, Blundell’s welcomes in many families and pupils who have come from all around the world including: India, France, Spain, Germany, China and Kenya. One of the school’s main aims is to provide support and opportunities for as many these are the skills that students they have a genuine interest in. children as possible. This can need to be successful in society.” In addition to this, the school (in be seen in the endowment fund This can be seen in their new part due to its fantastic location) which they are currently setting enrichment programme, which o!ers a wide variety of sports up so that “students can thrive involves a number of lessons a such as rugby, cricket, horse regardless of their financial week dedicated to well-being, riding, netball and even sailing! resources.” In addition to this, the character building and services Listen to our Education Corner school currently o!ers a range to the community. These sessions podcast to find out about the of scholarships and bursaries at run throughout all year groups, annual Russell run, which alumni 11+, 13+ and 16+ in Academics, with programmes tailored to the come back to participate in - both Music, Drama, Art and Sport. students’ needs, encouraging young and old! The school can also o!er up to them to, “enrich themselves “It comes down to this idea of 95% bursary support, which in outside of the traditional finding something for everyone, some circumstances can even be academic programme.” unlocking people’s passion and increased to 100%. Another unique aspect of the enthusiasm so that when they are When asked why the school school’s learning programme at school they really engage as motto was “Roots and Wings,” is the addition of more they always have things to look Bart explained that, “Of course, specific GCSE options such forward to.” getting a good set of grades as Photography, Music Tech matters, as grades open up and Film Studies. This allows CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast! opportunities, but really, it’s the students to better enjoy their other skills that are developed educational experience as they TURN TO P48 to read about at school that are important, as are allowed to explore subjects preparing for Exeter University

EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 | 17 PREP SCHOOL NEWS

Full STEAM ahead at Parsons Green Prep Parsons Green Prep have added an ‘A’ to their STEM learning The world of to these subjects, chess is a investigating and contributing to education is daily activity at Parsons Green PGP’s move to carbon neutrality no stranger to Prep, taught by the talented Viv within three years. From counting acronyms and, Richardson; children and parents the recycling bins to identifying as with everyone value it hugely for all the strategic appropriate locations for solar else, these tend and planning skills it draws out. panels, everybody has a role to to get longer And now STEAM is coming play and di!erent children will with every right to the fore. This subject contribute, stress-test and give passing year (anyone remember combines the skills of research, feedback on di!erent areas of PSE?). The latest subject to creativity, planning, prediction research. By raising the profile grow in this way is STEAM and improvisation, to name but a of STEAM further, we wish (formerly STEM.) So what is this few. Children with an aptitude for to stimulate the brain, giving new letter? A is for Art, and we STEAM will be in hot demand in it free rein to create, rather welcome it to the workplace of the future. than simply to replicate what the team. At Parsons Green Prep we is already known; to enhance We have heard for many years already devote significant our children’s critical thinking that the workplace is changing curriculum time to these subjects. skills so they are able to draw on a and that the workers of the STEAM subjects encourage wide range of sources and develop future will require quite di!erent children to become confident sophisticated study skills. skills to the workers of today. in accepting challenges, in The addition of Art to the Schools have been quick to react, researching and collaborating. We quartet is a welcome and long removing subjects from distinct want our children to be able to overdue one. All the work done silos and amalgamating them into think for themselves, confidently in STEAM is inherently artistic. things such as Humanities and hypothesise, accurately analyse The quest for elegant solutions Creative Learning. In addition data and text, synthesise to practical problems runs information accurately and throughout our current work. apply their knowledge to new Art underpins both the form situations. They should learn to and the function of everything deal with unexpected results and we create. To quote Steve Jobs, be adept at starting all over again ‘design is not just what it looks without missing a beat. Most and feels like. Design is how it importantly they need to be works’. Mathematical concepts engaged and actively involved are evident as art all around in their learning and able us, from the snowflake to the to challenge their own shell of a snail to the Corinthian understanding of the world. Column. Every successful design Some challenges reside is a combination of function and within discrete lessons aesthetic and both are essential (building a balloon powered to the products we make and the car, for example), whereas services they perform. others are school-wide and So we are delighted to add open ended. This year the the A to the team. At PGP we whole school is involved in are developing the designs for

“So what is this new letter? A is for Art, and we welcome it to the team.”

14 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 SPECIAL FEATURE TENNIS Will it be a Grand Slam at Wimbledon? Why are so many young people playing tennis and what are they gaining from their tournaments?

skill and many adults struggle to bounce back from life’s knocks in the same way. Nowadays, tennis can be played professionally for much longer and a career in tennis does not cut o! at twenty-five years old. Nadal and Federer are true examples of players who remain on the professional circuit into their late thirties. Young people can opt for either the professional route or delay this path and follow their university careers through to their early twenties (perhaps with a tennis scholarship under their belt) and then become professional when they complete their studies. Thank you to Georgie Wilkins, Maria Rodriguez and Audrey Childe Freeman for their insights. Many children are increasingly even in the working world. choosing tennis as their main Generally, it is suggested that TEN TOP TIPS (from parents): sport and are showing a dedication children need to start playing Introduce tennis when they are and commitment beyond their by the time they are six or young years. Many parents feel that seven, if they want to enter the Find a local tennis centre/club – tennis o!ers something that is fun, competition circuit, and usually there are plenty! and that the children are learning begin competing at the age of nine Don’t rush into competitions – to participate in a game that they (if not, it may be too late)! On you don’t want to put them o!! either win or lose, which teaches the basis that many professional Keep playing other sports them resilience and determination. tennis players have a rate of Fitness is important This is not to say that the winning of only 52% of the games Eat healthily children do not equally enjoy that they play, these children are Hours of training = age - playing swimming, football, hockey, learning at an early age how to win once a week is not enough to cricket and other types of sport, and lose with grace, developing the compete but increasingly for many all-important social skills as well Be prepared for early morning their sport of preference is as a determination and resolve starts and chaperoning them to tennis. Playing tennis can also be that can support a successful adult competitions something that can help them find life. The children see losing as part Take part in tournaments when places at schools, universities and of their development. This is a life they are ready (which will help “Life is like a game of tennis; the player their rankings over time) Keep it fun! who serves well seldom loses.” (UNKNOWN)

26 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 Interviews and insights from EDUCATION CORNER leading figures in education PODCAST

“The sorts of families we work best for are those who have got children in the mainstream but they are struggling and there is a concern that without proper concerted intervention they are going to slide out of the mainstream and into special needs schools.” Education Corner Podcast spoke to Mr. John Floyd, Headmaster of Bruern Abbey

Bruern Abbey specialises in preparing THE KEY TOPICS: boys aged 8-13 with learning di!culties for The specialised support that Common Entrance. Bruern provides for boys Some of the highlights: with learning di!culties When asked what qualities a child develops The relationships Bruern through being at Bruern Abbey, Mr. Floyd Abbey has formed with replies, “Their self-confidence and self-belief leading senior schools to and language therapists increases, they get a better understanding of allow boys to apply later on The curriculum, which themselves both in terms of their strength in their school career has double the amount of and weaknesses,” and follows up saying, “I The flexible boarding English and Maths than think they also develop a level of empathy; opportunities o"ered, which a mainstream school to they realise that it has been tough for them make it very easy for families improve the boys’ literacy in their schools previously and there is a in London to still receive the and numeracy skills collegiality and a friendliness amongst the support they need The preparation for children.” The specialist support Common Entrance and the available from on-site success of the boys that CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast! occupational and speech leave Bruern Abbey

“More House is full of really bright, THE KEY TOPICS: really intelligent young men who The specialist support would struggle to achieve their full available for boys with potential within a more mainstream additional learning needs school environment.” Entry points from the Junior School to the Sixth Form Education Corner podcast interview with The extensive facilities Mr. Jon Hetherington, Headmaster of available ranging from in More House School in . house occupational and speech therapists to a swimming pool More House provides education to our sorts of pupils and they deliver in The mainstream curriculum boys ages 8-18 who have learning a way that supports neurodiversity.” that is taught in a di!culties such as Dyslexia, When discussing the facilities and neurodiversity-friendly way Dyspraxia and Developmental extra-curricular opportunities, Jon The BTEC alternatives for Language Disorders. says “Education has to be fun; it has A Levels and GCSEs - which When discussing the learning to be exciting and our boys have to are easier and what do support throughout the school, Jon be able to see their success and be More House o"er? states that “every single one of our excited by it.” The boarding opportunities teachers has a very keen awareness and community feel of of what the potential barriers are for CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast! More House

EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 | 19 SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS

The Ascent programme at Emanuel School, London Emanuel is providing Saturday classes to 32 children from local partner primary schools each Saturday morning in an attempt to help close the learning gap many children are experiencing...

Emanuel is providing Saturday classes to 32 children of literacy and maths. We know there are considerable from local partner primary schools each Saturday gaps in their knowledge that need to be addressed morning in an attempt to help close the learning gap to provide a strong foundation for learning moving many children are experiencing... forward. Ascent, developed in collaboration with sta! Emanuel School is based in Wandsworth, an inner at our partner schools, enables these pupils to catch city borough in Southwest London with high levels of up on vital work they have missed, solidify their basic deprivation. We are an independent secondary school knowledge and skills and build their confidence. with 1,000 pupils from Year 6 to Year 13. Taught by Emanuel sta! and supported by an Emanuel School strives to be a good neighbour enthusiastic cohort of Sixth form and Year 10 through building and nurturing mutually beneficial volunteers, each Saturday morning 32 children relationships with local schools, charities and from our local partner primary schools participate community organisations in Fulham, Lambeth and in the programme. Each Saturday session consists Wandsworth – a tradition established by our founder of booster curriculum-linked lessons in maths and Lady Anne Dacre in 1594. literacy supplemented by interactive, fun, hands- Our programmes throughout the pandemic are on science workshops and co-curricular lessons indicative of our ethos. We supported those most in (Drama, Art and Sport). Science has been particularly need in our local community by delivering over 11,000 popular - equipped with goggles and lab coats, pupils meals, thousands of books for children to read at home have conducted experiments using Bunsen burners, and over 260 digital devices. We continue to seek dissected owl pellets and are learning to ways to help close the gap for pupils whose education use microscopes. has been most impacted by school closures; our newly Recognising the benefits of the scheme, Emanuel launched Ascent programme is central to this work. sta! have been keen to take part. Equally, our Sixth The Ascent programme consists of weekly Saturday form volunteers have coached children during morning sessions at Emanuel School. Our focus is their academic lessons and designed and led the Year 5 children from disadvantaged backgrounds who lively, action-packed games sessions. Our students are not meeting national standards in the core subjects are thriving on responsibility and are developing confidence and empathy. They also have the opportunity to develop their leadership, organisational and facilitation skills. The Ascent programme will run on nine Saturday mornings at Emanuel in the Summer term, with an additional two-day session at the end of our term before the state schools break up for the summer holidays. Children have loved the sessions so far and have been keen to return each Saturday morning. Ascent is one of many initiatives within our partnership programme. Further programmes including GCSE revision clinics, online student-led mentoring and a Sixth Form tuition and university coaching scheme are in the pipeline, alongside our flagship Primary Ambitions Year 6-focused enrichment programme and thriving bursary scheme.

BY LISA IRWIN Deputy Development and Community Partnerships Director

32 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 Battleground of the sexes Many believe that children benefit from single sex schools and other argue that they expliot sexual stereotypyes and gender inequality

or some, single-sex schools are centres also raised some questions. Most obviously: of excellence. For others, they entrench what does it say about us that, even during a Fsexual stereotypes and gender inequality. pandemic, an event as seemingly unimportant Sifting through centuries of debate, girls’ school as a change in the internal admissions policy Deputy Head, David James, ponders the future of a school that charges tens of thousands of of this approach in a society that is increasingly pounds a year can result in acrimonious online progressive, meritocratic and diverse. debate, and generate news stories in tabloids ’s recent decision to admit and broadsheets alike? No doubt the familiar girls into its sixth form from 2022 came after provocations of class and elitism play into much 122 years of discussion (which the Headteacher, of the confected outrage. But deeper than this is Tim Hands, drily described as “speedy for the perennial debate about single-sex schools. us”). It made headlines around the world, but For many, these schools are a hot-button issue:

38 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 DIVERSITY AT UNIVERSITY

New scholarship programme at Goldsmiths Goldsmiths’, University of London, international edge boosted by new Asian scholarships This year, Goldsmiths, University of London, has Goldsmiths, in south-east London, welcomes partnered with the British Council and the GREAT applications each year from across the world. The Britain Campaign to o!er scholarships to students university has a thriving international community, from India, Thailand and China. The financial with students and sta! from over 135 countries. support is for postgraduate-taught courses in Through financially supporting and welcoming Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship; the brightest international students to the UK, Computing; Design; Management Studies; the GREAT scholarships will further support and Music. Goldsmiths’ principles of diversity and inclusivity – The scholarship programme o!ers support of a and shows why in 2019 it was voted in the top 100 minimum of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year most international universities in the world by QS postgraduate study in the UK. World University Rankings. The GREAT Scholarships 2021 programme, Goldsmiths is known worldwide for its teaching in launched by the British Council together with 41 UK the arts and creative industries, but o!ers subjects universities, supports students from Bangladesh, ranging from computing to law. Six out of 20 of China, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Goldsmiths’ academic departments were selected Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and to be part of the scholarship programme, but many Thailand to access world-class UK higher education of the degrees at Goldsmiths are interdisciplinary, opportunities. The GREAT scholarship programme and students are encouraged to make connections aims to widen access to UK education in countries between di!erent subject areas and view their where interest in studying here is high. learning in the context of the wider world. More BAME students being included at leading universities Following last year’s Black Lives Matter protests, almost every university pledged to do more to make their campuses more inclusive and diverse. In 2020, all but one Russell group University of Cambridge grades at A-level. university managed to accept more announced in January that Similarly, more than a fifth BAME students in 2020 than 2019, students from disadvantaged of undergraduates (23.6%) who with both Oxford and Cambridge backgrounds who fail to meet its were admitted to Oxford were accepting a record number of high entry requirements would from black, Asian and minority BAME students. be given a chance to study there ethnic backgrounds. Students who This year the University of through a one-year foundation were from state schools received Cambridge accepted a record course, with 50 places available 68.7% of all o!ers at Oxford this number of BAME students, making for students who achieve three B year. One other positive finding up 29.3% of UK undergraduates has been that the ratio between admitted, compared to the 27.8% admissions from students of a that were admitted the previous socially disadvantaged background year. In addition, a record number has fallen from a ratio of 7.6:1 to of state school students were also 6.3:1, which Oxford has said was accepted with the proportion well ahead of the target agreed rising from 68.7% to 70.6%. with the O"ce for Students (OfS). To further this, The BY ELLA BARKER

52 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE One Year On: Inclusivity & Practical Solidarity The journey towards an empathetic, shared existence

GEORGE FLOYD ACTIVISM, SOLIDARITY It has now been a year since the murder of & POSITIVE OUTCOMES 46-year-old George Floyd, by police o"cer Derek Floyd’s death acted as a catalyst for a passionate Chauvin, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over nine and sustained wave of worldwide marches, minutes in length, the disturbing footage of Floyd’s rallies and protests. The overarching tone was murder was filmed and circulated throughout outrage at the death of another Black person social media. The reaction and impact were killed as a result of police brutality. There have immediate and significant. With the ever-more been calls for an end to the continued su!ering of apparent injustices faced by Black people in the BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), US, Floyd’s death resonated profoundly with many whose lives are greatly impacted by systemic civil justice and human rights movements. The racism, unchecked privilege, structural power Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, founded in imbalances and a heavy history weighing upon 2013, gained momentum like never before. The them. The sharing of experiences by BiPOC criminal trial of Chauvin received extensive media individuals, families and communities has been coverage and the guilty verdict was announced on an eye-opening, educational experience for many. live television on 20th April 2021. For others, hearing of a struggle similar to their own has helped alleviate the isolation, insecurity and transferred shame of people previously su!ering in silence. Conversations once considered taboo by victims of injustice and those subject to gaslighting by perpetrators, are now eagerly being discussed by those who believe society has the capability, and duty, to work on itself and create bridges of mutual understanding and empathy. The optimistic first step has

“Institutions have actively spoken up, released statements of solidarity and implemented charters promoting inclusive ideals.”

54 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 HEADER

CONTACT

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