Summer 2018 ▲ Issue 92 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep and junior school world Perry Uniform is a full service school uniform and sports kit supplier with an extensive range Uniform of services that make us a natural choice for any school. We work alongside our schools to deliver exceptional performance to that speaks parents, tailoring our services to meet the needs of both school and parent alike. for itself. Offering the convenience of on-line, showroom and shop as a truly integrated and multi-channel shopping service is just one of the many benefits of working in partnership with Perry Uniform.

Call us on 0113 238 9520 or email [email protected] today and find out how we can work with you and your school. www.perryuniform.co.uk ISSUE 92 Contents Summer2018 22 5 From the editor 7 How high can you fly with broken wings? Dick Moore 10 A warm welcome for... Stephen Coverdale 12 There’s a new chief in town, Amanda McLeod 14 Reasons to read, Paul Murray 17 Keeping rugby alive, Stefan de Bruin 18 Loss of the enigmatic educator, Tom Halliday 21 Preparing students for tomorrow, Tom Ryan 28 22 The beautiful game in our schools, Mark Dickson 25 The SATIPS Poetry Competition, SATIPS 26 The legacy of inspirational teachers, Andrew Roberts 28 Preparing for an art scholarship, Janet Miller 30 The power of mindfulness, Sheetal Kachhela 32 Raising the roof, Ian Morgan 34 WoT! is your story? Ian Morris 38 35 A celebration of arts education, Julie Finch 36 Embracing a ‘no rescue’ policy, Susan McKay 38 The joys of the house system, Philippa Studd 40 The engineers of tomorrow, Nigel Helliwell 43 Blast from the past, Dr Peter Kent 44 FOMO and the book, Charlotte Weatherley 46 A swimming pool or a water park? Neil Rollings 48 Treachery at Traitors’ Quay, Alex Osiatynski 400 50 Participation, respect, excellence and independence, James Mundell 52 To act or not to act, Patricia Ellis 54 Out of order? Grant Murray 55 SATIPS Broadsheet: Pastoral Development and PSHCE 61 SATIPS courses and directory 62 Viewpoint

Editor ISSN: 0963 8601 Subscription Details: Paul Jackson Printed by Micropress, Reydon,Suffolk IP18 6DH The Business Managers are John Catt Educational Ltd, Managing Editor 12 Deben Mill Business Centre, Old Maltings Approach, Meena Ameen Publishers’ Notice Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BL. Designer Prep School is published three times a year, in January, Tel: (01394) 389850 Fax: (01394) 386893, to whom Scott James May and September, by John Catt Educational Ltd. £25 enquiries regarding advertising, subscription order forms and correspondence about subscriptions should be sent. Advertising for a two-year subscription, post paid; discounts for bulk Gerry Cookson, [email protected] orders are available. Contributions to Prep School should be sent to the Editor, Steering Committee Opinions expressed in Prep School are not necessarily [email protected]. endorsed by satips; likewise advertisements and www.prepschoolmag.co.uk Bill Ibbetson-Price; Sarah Kirby-Smith; advertising features are printed in good faith. Their @prepschoolmag Richard Tovey MBE inclusion does not imply endorsement by satips.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 3 BRINGING THE MAGIC OF THEATRE TO YOU

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Untitled-1 1 06/03/2018 13:43 Strap Line From the editor

conference entitled ‘Mindfulness in a delight to receive their positive and Schools’ at Loughborough University appreciative responses. Thereafter, four years ago. There is no doubt that our local postman was kept very busy awareness of the issues involving delivering 3,000 individual entries mental health in our schools has from schools from as far afield as increased immeasurably. However, Durham and Doha! Once the initial sift as in all areas of school life, there is had taken place, the new chief judge, never room for complacency and I am, Amanda McLeod, got down to the therefore, extremely grateful to Dick serious business. This year the winning Moore for his very personal clarion school will receive a cup kindly donated call to us all. If a review of what by former Chief Judge, Patricia Lovett we are doing for our communities MBE whist prizes to individuals will helps just one of our pupils or staff – be provided by our supporting partner, particularly as we are in examination Nexus. On behalf of SATIPS, may I season – then we can feel justifiably thank everyone who has been involved Wellness, mindfulness and the general rewarded for our vigilance. with the handwriting competition and, health of our school communities I have had the privilege of being at indeed, all the competitions which our have been areas of significant interest the sharp end of the Handwriting organisation runs. to me personally for several years. It Competition. It has been an uplifting May I wish you all a happy and has led to a long association with Sir experience from the outset. Firstly, enjoyable summer term. It will be Anthony Seldon and support for all permissions had to be sought from busy and involved on every front but the work that he has been doing in some of our most eminent modern the holidays beckon once the dust has the field. Between us, we organised a poets for their work to be used. It was settled on another academic year.

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PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 5 Is something missing in your MIS?

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How high can you fly with broken wings? Dick Moore was an English teacher, rugby coach and housemaster and then, for nearly 23 years, a headmaster of a co-educational day and boarding school. He is now a Mental Health First Aid instructor and a trainer with the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

Is the emotional and mental health adolescent emotional and mental proportion schools requesting such of the pupils in your school your top health. Barney died over six years visits are prep schools, many of which priority? We all know that young ago, at a time when mental health fully appreciate that they create the people today are facing pressures was only beginning to creep onto template for what follows as their that educational leaders never the educational agenda. It is now pupils enter the potentially turbulent experienced during their school days. fully on the agenda, which makes years of adolescence. Schools and universities, families it shameful that so little has really I often invite schools to consider and governments are driving young changed in the intervening years, what a mentally healthy school might people to fly higher, whilst at the despite incontrovertible evidence look like. Every school is different, of same time doing little or nothing that substantial change is essential. course, and these features are not cast to strengthen the wings needed to There has been a great deal of hot in stone but nor are they especially lift them ever closer to the sun. If air and government promises and challenging to implement. You might what follows provokes or irritates, glitzy conferences and shifting of like to consider what your school does: I make no apology. I have, frankly, blame and earnest determination that heard too many platitudes, seen too something must be done. But, at the • Is building emotional, academic and much box ticking and read too often end of the day, very little of substance social resilience formally included of high-minded intentions and have has happened. Young people are within the school’s aims? Life can come to the conclusion that there every bit as at risk as they were when be difficult, painful, boring, and are two primary intentions amongst Barney died, and probably more so. frustrating. It can involve failure. the majority of school leaders. One Many of them are trying to fly high And exposing young people to is to safeguard or build upon one’s despite having wings made brittle by such difficulties and supporting reputation; the other is to cover one’s the very environment that should be them appropriately is an essential backside. Neither will do anything to strengthening them – education. learning experience. dent what is now widely recognised As well as acting as a mentor/ • Is your Child Protection and/ as being an epidemic of poor mental listening ear to young people and or Safeguarding Policy almost health amongst young people. All their parents, I have now visited entirely generic? Most schools headteachers proclaim that ‘our over 300 schools in the UK and seem to be content with ticking school is a happy school’. Is yours? Is overseas to talk to staff, parents and boxes rather than really exploring it really? teachers and to deliver Mental Health ways of safeguarding pupil health The death of the third of my four First Aid courses. It has come as a and welfare. Of course, third sons triggered my interest in poor pleasant surprise that an increasing party abuse should be included

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 7

Well-being

in such documents, but so should listeners, and therapists – clinical and welfare of children? What, for poor emotional or mental health. and otherwise. Knowledge of how example, have you done about the Indeed, arguably such health risks the area CAMHS operate and obnoxious and toxic practice of pre- represent a greater threat to well- prioritises is essential. testing? being, both in terms of numbers • Does your school have plans in place I find my mood fluctuates between and risk to life. I would suggest to respond properly to gender and optimism and profound scepticism. A that this policy should also include sexuality challenges? The number few weeks ago, I was invited by some a Suicide-Safer School policy along of young people who are uncertain sixth formers to visit a selective girls’ the lines suggested by the excellent about their gender is growing daily high school in Hertfordshire and I was publication by Papyrus ‘Building and schools need not only to ensure appalled at the lack of safeguarding Suicide Safer Schools’. This can that staff are trained and available and proactive pastoral care in place, as be downloaded here: https:// to answer questions sensitively and well as the obsession with academic www.papyrus-uk.org/about/our- accurately, but also that the school results at the apparent expense of campaigns has considered its response to such almost everything else. Then, soon • Do you have a well-being policy challenges, logistical and otherwise. after, I visited a prep school where the that includes both advice on staff are utterly committed to building • Is there a culture of proactivity resilience and challenging the poor staying mentally well, depression, rather than simply reactivity at your disordered eating, anxiety educational practice of exam factories. school? Extending the good work Prep schools are often instrumental disorder and self-harm, as well as of many Early Years departments appropriate referral protocols? An in building in their pupils a strong in teaching about emotions and, emotional template – a template that extensive and exhaustive draft especially, about emotional pain and policy may be found here: https:// will be essential as those children strategies to enable pupils to cope begin to meet the heightened www.cwmt.org.uk/mental-health- with emotional pain is essential. policy challenges of adolescence. Should I This might involve, for example, be surprised that many prep schools • Do ALL teachers of EVERY subject endeavouring to counter millennia appear to be leading the way in this at EVERY level embed the five of male-ness and the seeing of any respect? I have no doubt that like- core skills of Social and Emotional vulnerability as weakness (‘man- minded schools, working together, Learning within their teaching: up’) or teaching alternatives to could generate real change and create Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, self-harming behaviour. Expecting an educational environment where Self-Management, Relationship young people simply to pick up such young people still aim to fly high, Skills and Responsible Decision skills along the way is not good but with wings strong enough to Making? enough. withstand the heat of the sun. But, • Do all staff, but especially medical • Do you regularly debate aims as one chair of governors of a highly and pastoral staff, have appropriate and methodologies of education? prestigious school remarked to me, training in the recognition of, and The human brain is struggling ‘it will be difficult to work so closely response to, common mental health to evolve quickly enough to keep with our competitors.’ And that, for issues? A staff INSET is one thing: up with the pace of social and me, about sums it up. it is much better to train a member technological change and yet our of staff to become a Mental Health approach to education has barely Find out more about the Charlie Waller First Aid instructor, who can then changed. What sort of world are Memorial Trust at www.cwmt.org.uk cascade training down to colleagues. we preparing children for? What • Do you have a network of skills and capacities will our young professionals to support your people need to cope with the pupils when their needs require it? intense pressures of our increasingly One school counsellor will never high octane, fast moving world of be enough to meet the varying immediacy and intense demands. needs of all children in need of • Does your school operate largely professional support, just as one unilaterally or do you work SenCo would have a team to assist collaboratively with other schools in meeting the learning needs of in order to generate change? Is your various pupils. For that reason, a school bold and daring, prepared school should develop a network to go out on a limb to challenge of support inside the school and those who put their perceived outside it to include mentors, business interests before the needs

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 9 SATIPS

A warm welcome for… There are many folk in our schools who have had incredibly varied careers. Stephen Coverdale, the new Financial Director for SATIPS, is certainly one of those and we warmly welcome him into the organisation

It is a privilege to have been invited to However, the overall experience join SATIPS as its new Finance Officer proved invaluable for, after several and to have the opportunity to work years of working for the BBC when my alongside some very knowledgeable cricket career had ended, broadcasting and committed officers and council and producing sports programmes, I members who all have the same clear was appointed as Chief Executive of aims and aspirations: to provide Northamptonshire County Cricket the best possible support, guidance Club in 1985, staying in that role and information for the members of for the next 19 years. The turnover SATIPS, the schools and the dedicated of senior level personnel is so great senior leaders and teachers who work in modern day sport that one rather within them. doubts that others will stay so long At the outset, I must pay tribute to my at the administrative helm of one predecessor, Christine Bilton, who, for professional sporting organisation in the past five years or so, has overseen the future. the financial affairs of SATIPS in a Although employed by meticulous manner, working tirelessly Northamptonshire, I was a member of to ensure SATIPS remains on a sure a number of committees dealing with footing, questioning and challenging of the greatest players in the world significant issues affecting the game where necessary, but always providing would be included in the opposition. of cricket and its governance, and sound advice. She will be a hard act to In fact, although I did qualify as a for three years was a Director of the follow, of that there is no doubt. solicitor and subsequently practised England and Wales Cricket Board and Having been born in York, I was for a brief period, professional sport member of the ECB’s Management brought up near that great city, has been the focus of much of my life. Board, having previously been a member of the group that established which partially explains my lifelong I had ten seasons as a player for devotion to York City football club, the structure and constitution of the Yorkshire county cricket club, ECB itself. which is unfortunately not so great at understudying the late David the moment. Schooling at St. Peter’s, Bairstow, the father of the current My post with Northamptonshire York, one of the oldest schools in England wicket-keeper, Jonny was high profile, constantly in the country, was a prelude to four Bairstow, who, incidentally, is another the public eye, subject to media very happy years at Emmanuel product of St. Peter’s. As David was scrutiny, and requiring the ability College, Cambridge, where I gained seemingly indestructible, never to communicate effectively with a two separate degrees in Law and injured but selected for England variety of stakeholders. Throughout, four cricket ‘blues’. During this era, on far fewer occasions than his I was responsible for all facets of the Cambridge and Oxford played far talent merited, my opportunities in business and associated activities – more first class matches against Yorkshire’s first team were limited. financial arrangements and planning, counties than they do now and some marketing, and venue and facility

10 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world SATIPS

management – all of which required parents, or prospective parents, have to dedicate time and staff a hands-on approach, to ensure that which on occasions may inhibit both to utilise and also to monitor deadlines and the highest achievable their willingness to take lengthy social media outlets. The impacts standards were met. In those commitments about funding of curriculum changes are all too respects, the responsibilities were regarding the education of their obvious to those who either have to in essence the very same as those children. Equally, while London deliver those changes or provide the facing senior leaders in virtually and the South East appear buoyant necessary new resources. However, every other business or organisation. economically speaking, that is less schools have to recognise the Professional sporting clubs have to be true of other regions where economic significant implications on them from run as businesses to survive, let alone pressures remain all too real. more general legislative changes with prosper. Within schools, Compliance and which they are required to comply Subsequently, after several years as Safeguarding have become ever more even if, on first impression, they a company director for an events critical issues to be confronted on may not seem of total relevance. management company, I entered the a daily basis, not merely, of course, Indeed, on the very near horizon, world of education in March 2009, to satisfy Inspection regimes – there will be significant changes to as a Business Manager for Cognita though the latter seem to focus on data protection legislation with the Schools, which is now one of largest those aspects far more than they introduction of the new General providers of private education in did even half a decade ago. Parental Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). both the UK and also throughout expectations appear to be greater, With seemingly more stringent the world. Having spent almost nine and while on occasions those may be requirements imposed on those who years describing my role to outsiders unrealistic, by the very fact of paying retain and process personal data, and as being that of a ‘glorified School fees to schools, some parents believe far greater penalties that could easily Bursar’, overseeing the non-academic vehemently that they are entitled to result in the closure of businesses aspects of one of the largest schools in have their lofty expectations fully found to be in breach, the urgent the Cognita group and whose pupils met, increasing the pressures on necessity to become familiar with the ranged from one year olds to those senior management. new In these all too interesting times, taking A Levels, the challenges and as the Chinese seemingly wish for Social media has grown, indeed us, SATIPS clearly has an important pressures facing those who govern and exploded, during the last decade. manage private schools have become role to play through identifying best On the one hand, it offers greater practice and supporting and providing all too obvious. Indeed, they seem to marketing and promotional have increased significantly. training opportunities for those who opportunities, but also provides the work ‘at the coalface’. In turn we look Nine years ago, the global financial means for instant and widespread forward to your support through crisis appeared to be at its height. One dissemination of criticism and gossip membership and attendance at the wonders whether the consequences that, however untrue or unfounded, various courses and events staged have totally disappeared, for there can cause serious reputational throughout each year. remains a legacy of a lack of long- harm and damage. Most serious term confidence among some organisations and businesses now

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 11 SATIPS

There’s a new chief in town The ever-popular SATIPS National Handwriting Competition is now in full swing and children all over the country will be applying great care and effort to their entries. We warmly welcome our new Chief Judge, Amanda McLeod

It is with great honour that I have would organise cockroach races in On the day I was spotted (I had left a accepted the post of Chief Judge of the kitchen sink and forever bless slight gap between the two), instead The SATIPS National Handwriting my soon-to-be fiancé for humanely of the tirade I was dreading, I was Competition but, also, with huge finishing off the baby mouse that simply told that I didn’t know how to trepidation. To follow in Patricia we found half dead, squeaking in a do it and that the correct way was to: Lovett’s footsteps is a daunting task corner. ‘Make an ‘S’ and go home straight!’ and I hope that I will prove worthy. My interest in handwriting stems So, many years before Carol Dweck Having gained my PGCE at from being taught to write. We all had conceived the idea of positive Roehampton, I worked as an EYFS remember our inspirational teachers mindset, I positively experienced the teacher in both the state and and, Mrs Colquhoun, when I was importance of being taught without independent sectors, until I qualified four years old, was certainly one of condemnation and consequently as a Dyslexia Specialist and founded those. On wet play days, she taught allowed to flourish. The McLeod Centre for Learning. us to waltz, polka and Scottish Reel. Becoming involved with The National The McLeod Centre is a London- In handwriting, we were introduced Handwriting Association (NHA) was based, CReSTeD registered setting to letters through sight and sound: my re-introduction to the handwriting that caters for pupils with SEND. We watching her scrape her chalk across world as an adult. Through their also specialise in entrance and higher the 6ft wide blackboard to create training, the doors to this world were public examination preparation, huge versions of said form and, all fully opened and it was thrilling to be teach touch-typing and, of course, the while, filling our minds with invited to become a committee member handwriting. However, its origins vivid tales. The story to the letter ‘a’ of the NHA in 2011. It continues to stem from humble stock as I set up my was: ‘I took my dog for a walk all the be inspiring to work alongside those first classroom in my spare bedroom. way around the pond but realised I who are conducting the UK’s current From 2007 to 2013, I gradually turned had forgotten his lead. Taking the top research into handwriting; to be my entire home into classrooms. My straight short cut back up, I got it, invited to trial pens during the design bedroom was the first to be modified retraced my steps back down and process and review other handwriting while I slept in the sitting room; my carried on with my walk along the products before they hit the market; sitting room was next while I slept path.’ My imagination was captured to visit schools to train teachers; and on an airbed mattress in my kitchen and I eagerly awaited each new letter to have represented the NHA in the (fridges are truly noisy!). Finally, story to open my world to writing. media. In 2015, I co-authored an article during renovations to my current That being said, I also recollect my in the NHA’s journal on the merits premises, my kitchen became a fear of being found out, desperate of handwriting versus typing. In it I classroom/office and I made myself not to displease. I knew that I was wrote: homeless. I experienced a year of incorrectly forming the number eight shunting myself from flats that had and, for months, carefully concealed With the increasing use of en-suite bathrooms with televisions my lack of knowledge by drawing information technology in the on the wall, to properties where I two abutting circles very carefully. classroom, at home and in the working environment, the

12 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world SATIPS

necessity of learning to write for recall and understanding building. Being a dyslexia specialist, by hand is being increasingly compared to typed notes. I also wanted my books to promote questioned. The apparent ease As adults, we use handwriting much reading capabilities. In no exercise, with which it is possible to less frequently but we do use it. therefore, is a child expected to write produce legible, typed documents Visiting Accident and Emergency or read a letter/word that hasn’t been quickly, would appear to negate recently, I saw that patients’ medical introduced already. the need for handwriting; records were recorded by hand. In With regard to this year’s National and, with the development of 2014, when I appeared by telephone Handwriting Competition, I will rapidly improving handwriting link on The Wright Stuff, Channel 5, certainly be relying on my dedicated recognition software, in tandem the entire panel could be seen to be and trusted SATIPS family to guide with touch screen hardware, taking notes by hand (presumably to me during my initial footsteps or, handwriting on paper may not be help them remember the conversation rather, handprints! Entries for each the norm for the future. and to clarify their thoughts before category that I judge to be worthy of However, the importance of speaking). mention will be pieces that reflect handwriting cannot be over I am the author and series consultant correct: shape, size, placement on the emphasised, particularly whilst the of Scholastic’s handwriting series line, spacing, slant, joins (following majority of school and university Reception to Year 6 (Teacher’s Books the National Curriculum) and style. students still complete all of their and Workbooks). In the Teacher’s Over the next few years, I wish to academic exams by handwriting on Book (Reception to Year 2), I introduce a SEND element to the paper. Academic evidence suggests devote a beginning chapter on the competition; to reflect the efforts of that writing by hand has an impact underlying skills that are needed for those who try ‘150%’ but rarely achieve on developing reading skills. Children the development of an automatic the result they are looking for. As a who are encouraged to practise and efficient handwriting style: result of their writing, these writers handwriting letters and words, make gross motor, crossing the midline, can often be judged negatively and I quicker gains in reading (James & proprioception, visual perception will write more about this in my first Engelhardt, 2012); and children who and fine motor. As well as giving competition report. Certainly, this new are encouraged to join, gain even more advice for left-handers, every letter class will have to be carefully planned advantage. Handwriting promotes that is introduced is accompanied by to ensure a level playing field for each better conceptual understanding in examples of how it could be badly candidate and, to this end, I would subjects such as algebra (Anthony et formed and how to correct it. I wanted welcome any thoughts that you may al, 2007) and results in higher quality my series to act as handwriting ‘bibles’ have over the next few months. of written composition (Webb et to help teachers and parents teach, In the meantime, I wish every al, 2013). Mueller & Oppenheimer, support and correct handwriting: candidate the best of luck in their 2014 and Horbury, 2016, found from beginning pattern making to writing this year. handwriting to be the better medium letter formation, style and speed

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 13 Reading

Reasons to read Paul Murray, a history teacher at Diocesan College, Cape Town, illustrates how to encourage reading to benefit you and your students

With all the technological advances Japan went on aggressive escapades and intelligent, the thoughtful, and change that we experience, is to seize territory. That was also the the respectful, prestige and with mankind happier or wiser than it birth year of the American singer Pat charisma. Who today teaches this? was a hundred years ago? This is Boone, in Jacksonville, Florida. His Unless you are lucky enough to still the central theme from the poet mellifluous voice is a great tonic and have Latin as a subject at school. Thomas Stearns Elliott in his poem antidote to the hurly-burly of rushing How do we claim back those beautiful from 1934, ‘The Rock’. Two of the around and the world’s frenetic pace. qualities, the virtues in education and lines from the poem, illustrating the When Elliott was commenting on the prestige that it deserves? Only point, read: ‘Where is the wisdom we how a great deal of what we now do through reading books, really. We have lost in knowledge?’ or ‘Where is dumbed-down – from wisdom to cannot expect all teachers to have is the knowledge we have lost in knowledge – one wonders whether enough time to read This is Not the information?’ How right was Elliott he would have realised how today End of the Book by Umberto Eco and when, not so many years ago, he wrote knowledge is so much more accessible. Jean-Claude Carrière. For they were these lines? It still is very much the Two years earlier, in 1932, the just showing off in their talk: ‘from case today that a person can have English author Aldous Huxley’s cave paintings to Italian neorealism, knowledge and know things, but also Brave New World was published, a from hieroglyphs to computer code, lack in wisdom and understanding. dystopian novel propounding that from the 17th century German Jesuit Those with wisdom know what to do economic chaos and unemployment scholar Athanasius Kircher to Dan next, and those with understanding that will eventually lead to less Brown, from the teachings of Jesus to are able to abstract the meaning from need for humans to communicate Buddha to those of the cultists’. Nor information. Amazingly enough, with each other. Its themes include are we expecting them necessarily to teachers are required to do this every reproductive technology, sleep- read D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s day when they teach. And to be wise learning, psychological manipulation Lover or Dostoyevsky’s Crime and in what they do, they are required to and classical conditioning. This, all Punishment. But, perhaps, they can be know what to do next. That’s good with the growing angst as events such reading to inspire their students to teaching! as European and Japanese fascism, want to read. Show the students that Ironically, in the year that Elliott was on the rise; things were speeding you like reading. A site like https:// wrote this poem, the International up really fast. For instance, the year www.wikihow.com/Encourage- Telecommunication Union was before Elliott’s poem ‘The Rock’ was Yourself-to-Read can help you. established – a specialised agency published, United Airlines acquired its Whenever I see a student with a of the United Nations responsible first modern airliner for service – the book I ask, what they are reading and for issues that concern information Boeing 247. they are always eager to share. That’s and communication technologies. Where does all of this bring us in already a step in the right direction. Fortunately, Alex Raymonds’s ‘Flash education? Today, in our quest to Perhaps look up the book and share a Gordon’ was also born in that year, do things quicker and slicker, we point or two next time you see them. the adventurous hero of space opera often pass over so much which is Reading propagates reading, like in the form of the adventure comic the humanist side of things. For learning. At 63 I’m doing a whole lot strip. Ironically, Fuji film was also instance, where is the gravitas, of reading – reviews, articles, politics, born in that same year. Again, the pietas and the dignitas – those literature, history. This reading is fortunately, Kipling and Yeats were wonderful qualities that make us passed across to my students. The awarded the Gothenburg Prize for stand out as humans? To be a leader lessons are filled with a person’s Poetry in that year; but Germany and you needed these virtues – the serious reading, and now a lot more students

14 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Reading

are reading as a result, and wanting to modern and contemporary poetry at of being serious about learning, being read more. ‘Sir, have you read Travels Emory University. It includes every intelligent, thoughtful and respectful, with Charley?’ ‘Yes, I loved it, I couldn’t poetry volume in English published having prestige and charisma. You put it down!’ And then, from me to worldwide in the 20th century. In rarely get it from the subject you him, ‘Have you read Ayn Rand’s The addition, there are 50,000 literary teach. So how else will you pass on Fountainhead? Careful not to read it journals and several thousand the love of reading if you yourself are during exams!’ broadsides, recordings, newspaper not serious about studying, reading, A lot of the love for reading came articles and manuscripts, among other and engaging with serious thought from a close friend, Raymond artefacts. The whole escapade took 30 patterns in mind? Where else will we Danowski, the American-born years from when Danowski started reclaim the wisdom we have lost in philanthropist who was putting with the collection, until it was finally knowledge, where else will we reclaim together his collection of 20th century donated to Emory in 2004. Today, it the knowledge lost in information? English poetry in the mid ‘70s. As is a living library with additions and We need to bring it back, and reading book after book came to the farm in new acquisitions added. See http:// good books will make us all much Hertfordshire where he was living at danowski.library.emory.edu/. More happier again. the time, he began shelving the whole specifically, visit the Rose Library at Paul Murray was awarded his DPhil Emory, where the collection is: http:// collection in a barn, and it was there degree in the historical sciences by rose.library.emory.edu/about/contact. that he realised what was missing, the University of Pretoria, based php. The collection is said to be the and he said, ‘It was all links and gaps on his study of the Afrikaans poet largest of its kind in the world today. ... I realised I had nothing, just a drop C. Louis Leipoldt’s The Valley. He in a bucket.’ From this initial stage, Imagine how many students will benefit! writes for Litnet www.litnet.co.za today the final product amounts to and Voertall www.voertaal.nu what is now known as the Danowski Real education, to educate, can only Poetry Library, a 75,000-volume be obtained through reading and collection of rare and first editions of becoming conscientised to the virtues

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 15 schoolsearch.co.ukJOHN CATT’S WORK WITH US TO CELEBRATE YOUR SCHOOL IN PRINT AND DIGITAL

John Catt’s Which School? guidebook • Now with dedicated search pages for UK regions and counties, many of which feature on has been in print for more than the first page of Google search results. 90 years, helping families choose the right independent school. • Add your school’s dates to our open days calendar and send us your success stories and Its sister website www.schoolsearch.co.uk feature articles to post in the news section. is seeing exponential growth year-on year. • Featured schools can add social media links to their profile, including embedding a Twitter More than 500 searches for feed, and can showcase a promotional YouTube independent schools are made or Vimeo video. by visitors on a daily basis. • Our site has visitors from across the world looking for UK independent schools, and an We want to work with you to promote established UK audience. Families can find and compare their nearest schools with our your school to families and students postcode search. across the world. Please have a look at the site and guidebook to see how your • SchoolSearch is in association with John Catt’s Which School? guidebook, now in its 93rd school is featured, and let us know when edition, John Catt’s Preparatory Schools and your school’s details need updating. Which London School? & the South-East.

[email protected] 01394 389850 Sports

Keeping rugby alive Often amused that his colleagues introduce him as Head of Rugby at Bilton Grange, before adding that he is also Head of Religious Studies, Stefan de Bruin is a Level 2 coach and has been involved with the Midlands’ Lambs, coaching everyone from under-18s to two year olds

Having a headmaster who is in regular overplaying, eliminating leagues in fixtures and the RFU rolling out the contact with the RFU is handy: in earlier years to enable well balanced new Code of Practice in the same way January it meant invitations for fixtures, and ‘Kids First’, to help as the recent promotion of Headcase, Alex Osiatynski and I to attend their players learn at their own pace. which saw a tremendous attitudinal Education and Age Grade Conference. Will Roberts, of the Youth Sport Trust, change in the sport. Similar ideas The theme of the event was ‘The then outlined the generalisations of were put forward by the group looking Future Player’, growing the game today’s young people. In contrast to at breaking with tradition in fixtures by looking at player retention, and my own demographic, the so-called and competitions – rethinking those is part of the launch of ‘The Game Generation X, who he told us are that had ceased to be competitive, and of Our Lives’, a campaign for both typically opportunistic, cynical, introducing (or just enforcing) laws professional and grassroots rugby restless and disenfranchised, those that prevented skewed matches. that aims to unite everyone involved born in Generation Z (i.e. since 1995) A third group considered the in the sport by looking at player are empowered by technology, need development of partnerships: retention. Through a well-researched no permission to act, and are highly collaborations between different presentation by Chris Ralph from Two self-motivated and connected. Sport bodies involved in players’ Circles, we learned that the older the is important to today’s youth as it is development. While it was recognised player, the more likely rugby is to be connected with their health and body that these could be difficult, the their favourite sport; conversely, the image. In counterpoint, young people importance of the Player First younger the player, the more likely made little connection between sport approach meant that effective they are to drop out. and their future career prospects. communication and unselfish Chris went on to explain what players What all this might mean for rugby is thinking was crucial in looking after in each different age group consider different formats for the requirements young players. the best part of playing rugby. Even at of different players and maximising Other groups looked at the value of the lowest age group surveyed, 67% of players’ voices, and the use of social sport – a point which preparatory rugby players rank rugby as the sport media. schooling has never overlooked, the they enjoy playing most, and this figure The conference then broke into importance of educating parents climbed as players grew up. Playing with workshops focusing on what delegates regarding new thinking in rugby, and friends was enormously important, felt were the key aspects of what we player welfare and the possible use of but Chris showed that this diminishes had learned. information technology. a little as players matured, with other factors gaining importance: enjoyment, A group looking at attitudinal change Running conferences such as these competitiveness, and physicality. to ensure a player-centred approach keeps stakeholders invested and pointed out that the conference itself representatives from the RFU were The information from the survey had very few current players and certainly there to listen as much as to suggested several key point indicators: suggested player councils made up of pass on information. the need for a simplification of the representatives from different bodies Useful links: Age Grade Rugby: laws, a player-centred approach that involved in rugby. They also discussed www.englandrugby.com/agegraderugby urged communication between the the importance of thinking of every includes a playing calendar, codes various bodies involved in players’ player (not just from one’s own of practice, resources and support. lives to prevent fixture clashes and team) when arranging and managing

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 17 Teaching

Loss of the enigmatic educator Tom Halliday, Head of Juniors at Westbourne House, Chichester, writes about the great personalities in our schools that have had a lasting impact and inspired students

I recently read the superb The Enigma However, has the attempt to quantify required him to teach the whole child of Kidson by Jamie Blackett. Within learning through this new ‘culture’ and support whatever that individual this biography, Blackett spoke about damaged that which it tries to needed. What allowed Kidson to do so the life of a teacher who, amongst quantify? was his character; his highly eccentric other schools, taught at Eton. It was Are we able to quantify the broader and engaging personality that boys not the background of the historic aspect of ‘learning’, for instance were naturally drawn to. His strength establishment that made this book preparing them for their next stage, of character to forgo the rules and come to life, it was the multitude of whether that is moving from Year regulations, turning a blind eye to commentaries from a huge number 2 into Year 3, or from senior school minor indiscretions, sparking interest of Kidson’s past pupils. Many famous to university? The learning of life through debates that were not on names from the world of politics, skills (social, spiritual, moral and any curriculum and taking his tutees sport, arts, education, business, practical) could be argued as more off on excursions that would make civil service and the church retold important than any subject specific the modern day Senior Management fascinating and often humorous understanding. Are we as an industry Team have palpitations. anecdotes about their favourite ‘beak’. stifling this development by tying I was lucky enough to be taught by For me, the reading of this book the hands of those professionals who a teacher who fell into the same raised the question – would Kidson, or excel at developing the whole person? bracket as Kidson; a science master a personality like him, have as great Such a man was Michael Kidson. who guided me through my common an impact on pupils within today’s entrance in his final year of teaching, educational environment? Many words were used to describe him in his biography, History Beak, following a career that spanned more We live in a time when all industry critic, taskmaster, comedian and than 40 years. It was not for any is bound by ‘red tape’, most of which legendary schoolmaster – he was scientific knowledge that I gained that is necessary and has made vast all of these things, but not one of distinguishes this particular teacher. improvements to many areas of our them defined him. He refused to It was his dedication to improving working lives. However, within the be labelled, he did not buy into the and instilling a sense of character in world of education, some days it pomp and ceremony of Eton, and me, and all of the pupils with whom seems that there is more bureaucracy throughout his time there he did he came into contact. He taught boys than teaching, and consequently all he could to break the mould of a that boundaries are needed in life, and a certain level of creativity and teacher at Eton. he taught them that it is important individualism has been sapped out of to have a sense of humour. To the our teachers. He did this because he knew that he younger children of the school he was had to aid the individual student’s This new ‘audit’ culture has its a beastly character that seemed as development, not simply inform ferocious as any villain in literature, benefits, such as increased focus them of the intricacies of a period of on accountability at all levels but once you reached the upper history (which he excelled at) or to years of the prep school you were of education, improvements in help one of his tutees pen the perfect governance, and stricter regulations unknowingly drawn to his somewhat application to Oxford. He realised that bizarre manners. You may not have with regards to safeguarding. to be a truly outstanding teacher, it

18 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Teaching

known at the time, but in the same I am always pleased to see Jamie Blackett concludes towards way that Kidson’s students still talk professionals who do garner positive the end of his work that Kidson of him in their adult life as one the mainstream media attention for ‘civilised all, and he saved some’. biggest influences on them, so too do pushing against the status quo in a One of those he civilised, Matthew those who were taught by my prep similar way to Kidson. Whether that Pinsent, summed up this ‘quixotic school science master. be Mr Drew Povey leading his team man’ and his lasting impression ‘as a Are we able to facilitate and encourage at Harrop Fold School in Channel 4’s man who was unstinting in his drive these characters within today’s ‘Educating Greater Manchester’, or to make his boys better at what they schools? Today’s ‘red tape’ would have the unconventional headmaster of did’. Kidson often quoted others he hindered much of what Kidson and the award-winning West Rise Junior deemed wiser than himself. One such my science master did. I, therefore, School, Mike Fairclough, whose school quote he believed true came from the return to the question at hand. Would promotes creative learning within the English poet and author A. C. Benson. individuals, like those mentioned and school farm amongst the sheep, ducks It reads: ‘Education is what remains many more inspirational ‘Mr Chips’ and water buffalo. when you have forgotten everything characters of yesteryear, be able to have We must celebrate these individuals that you were taught.’ as great an impact today? Would such who are given the platform to show If this is so, then more focus must be characters be drawn to a career within that we can fight against the confines given to those who can have a lasting the modern day teaching profession of bureaucratic system. We must also effect on pupils, and less focus on the given the strict boundaries within celebrate those individuals in our endless need to quantify everything which one must work? The regard in own schools, whose ‘out of the box we as teachers do. Our ‘audit culture’ which the teaching profession is held characters’ are naturally engaging, has developed with the intention is not as it once was, and the subject and who can have a dramatic affect to raise standards in teaching, but of teachers’ pay – rightly or wrongly – on the whole pupil’s development. As this must not be to the detriment of constantly receives negative criticism I write, ‘#TeachersChangeLives’ is a those who have the natural ability within the press. Therefore, something Department of Education initiative that to inspire, civilise and save – our dramatic needs to occur to make allows people to record a short video enigmatic educators of the future. teaching more appealing to graduates, about teachers who have had a dramatic including those with eccentricities to affect on them. A small gesture you may inspire others. think, but a positive one.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 19 The Parent Guide

Useful facts and information about pre-tests, 11+ and 13+ entrance exams.

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Preparing students for tomorrow With 32 years of experience in education, 18 in senior management and 11 as a headteacher, Tony Ryan explains the importance of design and technology in schools

Recent changes to how overall school of providing a technological and improving living/working spaces) performance is set and measured design education and make its study and are encouraged to respond have resulted in a dramatic shift in compulsory. The subject has long with freedom and creativity. Once emphasis and delivery by schools. suffered from its association with its a solution starts to take shape, Politicians have grouped a number predecessors woodwork, metalwork, students are encouraged to research of subjects together (EBacc) and technical drawing and needlework. and use their knowledge of modern prioritised their study ahead of D&T originated from these materials to select a design that is others. Schools will have an average beginnings but it has evolved and ‘fit for purpose’. points score published for how well matured into a very different subject. • Students are given opportunities to their students performed across Students studying at schools today explore digital technologies. New Ebacc subjects. While I would fully will grow, live and work within a fast- and emerging technologies will support the concept that every able changing technological world. Experts stretch students learning and lead student should study EBacc subjects predict that the very nature of work to new solutions to old problems. (English, mathematics, science and is likely to change dramatically, • Students will explore the topic in computer science, geography, history, with adaptability being critical and and a second language), this leaves depth, transitioning with maturity technology being integrated fully from drawings and models of little curriculum space for subjects into how they function and operate, not included within the Ebacc. superficial solutions to real-life both in the workplace and wider prototypes and feedback, in the Consequently, many schools have society. If we are truly placing the marginalised or dropped the ‘creative’ process developing higher order needs of the student before any thinking skills. Students will work subjects from their curriculum. other consideration, it is hard to see Ironically, while the UK continues alone to explore the context of a why D&T is not a part of the core problem, but will also be required to to undervalue design & technology curriculum offer. I firmly believe that education (D&T), South East Asian work collaboratively, sharing their D&T is the flux that brings the other knowledge and learning with peers. countries have recognised their STEM subjects together and provides importance in their curriculum and a context for the application of skills As the newly appointed Chief are visiting the UK in large numbers and knowledge acquired elsewhere. Executive of The Design & Technology to learn how D&T is taught. As robots, automation and artificial Association, I will be working to As an ex-headteacher, I believe that intelligence perform more tasks, promote a subject that I believe to one should always look at the needs current patterns of employment be a prerequisite for all students. We of the students first when designing a will continue to be disrupted and will continue to offer support and school curriculum, and not exclusively a workforce that can respond to training for our 11,000 members on any accountability measures that industry’s changing needs will have to nationally, will work to bring business may be utilised to make an overall evolve. and industry closer to the world of judgement about the school. education and will seek to reach out What will students learn within a to parents and other stakeholders. D&T was introduced to the taught programme of D&T? Through these actions, we will work curriculum 27 years ago. At the time, • D&T should capture each student’s to support the next generation of the UK became the first country in imagination. Students are presented creatives, engineers, designers, the world to realise the importance with contexts for problems (e.g. entrepreneurs and innovators.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 21 Sports

The beautiful game in our schools Mark Dickson, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools’ Football Association (ISFA), discusses football in prep schools

In the years immediately preceding and in England’s international teams, almost entirely for around 40 WW1, football became an increasingly while professional club academies are senior schools, ISFA now has over professional sport. At the same time, littered with independent schoolboys, 300 member schools and runs many independent schools, who almost unthinkable a quarter of a tournaments, representative teams believed sport should be played as century ago. This change has taken and development activities at all age an amateur to a high Corinthian place mainly in the last 20 years, levels. code, decided to switch to other brought about by many factors: most ISFA’s Blue Riband event for prep sports considered more appropriate sports now have at least an element schools is the Under-11 Seven- for ‘young gentlemen’. A few of of professionalism at the top end; a-Side Tournament, 14 Regional the most notable schools, such as the independent sector is more Championships held around the Eton, Winchester, Westminster egalitarian, accepting pupils from country, leading to 18 schools Charterhouse and Shrewsbury – not all walks of life and thus hopefully competing at the National Finals, feeling the need to prove their social reducing or eliminating the social held at the magnificent FA National credentials – remained loyal to factor; and, perhaps above all, the Football Centre at St. George’s Park, football, but they were the minority. It incredible popularity of the Premier headquarters for all the England has taken football a century to recover League has created a demand from teams. A similar event is held for girls, the lost ground in independent parents and pupils that many schools also with finals at St. George’s Park. schools. have felt difficult to resist. At U13 level, the Investec ISFA Nowadays football is thriving in the ISFA has overseen this transformation U13 Cup is open to all independent sector as never before. Former pupils of the game in the sector. A small schools so only the most serious are playing in the Premier League organisation 20 years ago, operating and committed prep schools risk challenging the larger senior schools. Nevertheless, prep schools have often done well and Lochinver House, from Potters Bar, will compete in the 2018 Cup Final at Burton Albion FC. Other events organised by ISFA that have proved popular include girls’ tournaments at various age levels, coaches’ conferences and courses and the Junior Hub School programme for both boys and girls at the younger age groups. An increasing area of concern in all school sport remains safety and potential injury. All contact sport

RWT Photography carries an element of risk that must

22 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Sports

be balanced against the health, fitness in any other walk of school life. to review at any point. If evidence is and enjoyment benefits. Fortunately, Generally, respect towards referees emerging, even early evidence, then football appears to stand up relatively and standards of behaviour in schools’ that is something that we always have well, with most injuries being of the football are exceptionally high and to bear in mind, but at the moment soft tissue variety. we are very proud of that. If a school the advice that we are getting from Another concern in schools’ football has an issue with behaviour on the people who are working in that area relates to behaviour and the field, it would be well advised to is that they don’t feel that is the most suggestion that children too easily accept that it is a disciplinary problem logical step to take.’ mimic some of the less attractive and deal with it accordingly, rather The aims of ISFA in the future will be antics of the professional game. The than attempt to pass the blame onto to encourage and nourish the ever- Chairman of ISFA is former Harrow football. Children’s behaviour will growing enthusiasm for the game in School housemaster and Premier ultimately reflect the standards set for the independent sector, to provide League and FIFA referee, David them by their teachers.’ opportunities for boys and girls of Elleray MBE. Nowadays, Mr Elleray The main area of concern is heading all standards to enjoy and have fun is Chairman of The FA Referees the ball and a suggestion that a playing football and to ensure that Committee and Technical Director ban at the younger age levels might standards of safety and behaviour of IFAB, the international body that be considered. The FA Head of remain at the highest level. oversees the Laws of the Game. Performance Medicine, Dr Charlotte For further information on Cowie, has commissioned research Mr. Elleray is quick to point out that independent schools football on this issue. Speaking on the subject schools’ football is very different and opportunities for prep to Alan Shearer in the recent BBC to professional football. ‘There is schools, email [email protected]. documentary ‘Dementia, Football no reason why behaviour on the uk or go to www.isfa.org.uk football field should not match that and Me’, she commented: ‘It is open

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 23 ONLY £68 PER DELEGATE (plus booking fee) including lunch and refreshments

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The SATIPS Poetry Competition Find out more about the SATIPS Poetry Competition this year…

The SATIPS Poetry Competition MORNING PRAYERS except for Mr. Brown has been re-established by Stephen The hymn this Saturday who stands apart Davies of Bryanston and Stephen is is Onward Christian Soldiers. in a shapeless raincoat looking forward to the entries. The In a resounding wooden hut hiding the matchbox poet John Mole, a former pupil at St we march as if to the war where he stubs his cigarettes. Dunstans and King’s Bruton, wrote that Mr. Brown came back from. MODELLING a series of vignettes as ‘a sudden We should respect his nerves impulse to re-experience my time as Show your workings, but he thumps the piano how you got there a pupil’. They certainly re-create the Irresistibly, and the boards atmosphere in our schools around 70 or where it went wrong. are just too tempting A residual smear of chalk years ago! John’s recent works include for us not to stamp our feet. All the Frogs, The Point of Loss, and behind each correction. Gestures and Counterpoints. BREAK TIME Junior officers Invisible but in our sights in the operations room. PREP SCHOOL 1950 the targets loom up Airfix trophies, LETTER WRITING as we fly at sixty feet Spitfires in progress Every Sunday after Church with arms outstretched beneath a rank of desk lids. and roaring mouths wide open. is Letter Writing. EPIDEMIC Be careful what you say We are Gibson’s crew A day in the Sick Bay or the master on parade above the Möhne and Eder not for the sake of rhyme will confiscate your marbles. as we dodge the flak, but for good reason. Dear Mother, Dear Father, release our bombs Just to be on the safe side I’m reading The Colditz Story then stand there to attention. as it could be something worse. after Lights-Out. FRIDAY This word is a bad one Your postal orders French and Latin rife with contagion buy me batteries for my torch. with their conjugations like what may lie in wait COLD BATH and declensions on the wireless We line up to be next are the discipline for Dick Barton, Special Agent. that sports a threadbare gown. with Matron watching LEAVE SUNDAY in her white coat. Think of yourself It comes around It’s jolly freezing in cricket whites tomorrow. three times a term but she says it’s good for us. Place each noun, each verb and those of us remaining Start each day like a well-aimed googly walk in file as you mean to go on. to turn the match around. and mufti before tea Fold your pyjamas, AFTERNOON GAMES In winter the headmaster make your own bed, Patches on their sleeves wears a greatcoat stop shivering and be a man. and puffing pipes grandly buttoned up. they patrol the touchline. Inside our duffels Officers on duty we are all the same. in their tweedy togs

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 25 Teaching

The legacy of inspirational teachers Andrew Roberts, an eminent historian, journalist and broadcaster, addresses the question of what makes a great prep school teacher

Our schools continue to evolve personalities, their abilities, quirks and other tongues of the North-West and change but the presence and eccentricities? Frontier, secure in the knowledge of inspirational teachers is, When one is reunited with prep school that no one knew what he was saying perhaps, the true legacy of their contemporaries, it’s generally not the about us. The French teacher would worth. Andrew Roberts is as well sporting or academic achievements, mimic our appalling French accents, placed as anyone to demonstrate let alone the school facilities, that are and nickname us after our worst the point. Educated at Gonville recalled: it’s always the teachers. That mispronunciations. The geography and Caius College, Cambridge, is true whether one has a positive teacher would similarly pretend that where he gained a first in Modern experience of school, or a negative. we were all impossibly stupid, and History. Andrew is a visiting My own experience of Cranleigh reacted with exaggerated surprise Professor at the Department Preparatory School was powerfully, when anyone got anything right at all. of War Studies, King’s College, gloriously positive; not so much at It’s probably against all educational London and a Lehrman Institute the Senior School, from which I was guidelines to behave like this towards Distinguished lecturer at the expelled. pupils today, yet it worked superbly, New York Historical Society. and urged us on in order to prove Andrew is also President of The My choice of the word ‘eccentricities’ our teachers wrong about the low Cliveden Literary Festival. His in the first paragraph was deliberate. expectations they seemed to have best-selling book on Napoleon is The teachers – called masters in for us. It was a high-risk strategy out in paperback whilst his new those days – all had their own they adopted, but one that paid off work on Winston Churchill is to tics, peculiarities, accents and handsomely. be published later this year. distinguishing features that we pupils studied intently. These had to The reason I am an historian today What makes a great – as opposed to be observed with an extraordinary is because of Christopher Perry, my merely a good – prep school teacher? degree of concentration, so that we history teacher, a man who was able Nowadays, we parents take for could mimic them after lights out to make the past come alive in a granted that prep school teachers in the dormitory. It is clear to me truly extraordinary way. He taught at will be intelligent, motivated, fine in retrospect that, of course, over Cranleigh Prep for a hundred terms, communicators and good on the time the teachers played up to these, or a third of a century. He seemed to pastoral side of things. Frankly, with secretly enjoying being the subject of be in his 60s, though he must have the astronomical levels of school fees, these harmless send-ups rather than in fact have been in his 30s, and so they should be. But what makes being offended by them. although he was short and somewhat some prep school teachers stand out bald – think Captain Mainwaring so much that over four decades later Our headmaster, M.A.C. Wheeler, in Dad’s Army – he was truly – I am 55 years old after all – one had been an officer in the Raj during charismatic. can remember their names, their WW2, and used to swear at us in Urdu

26 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Teaching

Mr Perry – as I still think of him, though I know him well enough now We parents take for granted to call him Christopher – had the ability to make history come alive that prep school teachers will be in a way that was extraordinarily intellectually intoxicating. For one intelligent, motivated, fine thing, he seemed to have mastered the art of time travel, and actually personally knew King Alfred, communicators and good on the Sir Walter Raleigh and Florence Nightingale. He spoke of them pastoral side of things. conversationally, as people whom one felt could step in from the room at any time. History for him – and thus smelt its gunpowder, felt the ground Wheeler: ‘Fighting at the wrong for us – was a living entity, and an shake beneath it. His history had time,’ ‘Talking when specifically told exciting one. narrative structure, and answered the not to,’ ‘Ink misuse’ (which I think Mr Perry – nicknamed ‘Pom’ for some key question: ‘what happened next?’ would make a great title for my autobiography), ‘Attempting to leave reason lost to antiquity – would sit The current events of the day – I dinner without permission,’ ‘Speaking cross-legged on his schoolroom table vividly remember the deaths of after the bell, twice,’ ‘Misbehaving in and tell the story of Britain from Chairman Mao and General Franco in bathroom,’ ‘Stupid behaviour in tea,’ 1066 to the end of WW1 (WW2 was 1975, and the fall of Saigon the same ‘Stupid behaviour in class,’ ‘Talking a current affair in those days), acting year, when I was 12 – were discussed after silence bell, four times in a out the roles played by the major in their historical contexts, further week,’ ‘Misbehaviour when returning figures. I seem to remember King adding to the sense of history being from Art,’ ‘Send down [that is, for Charles I having a somewhat squeaky a living, evolving, and, above all, a a beating] twice inside the week,’ voice and Oliver Cromwell a gravelly relevant phenomenon. I don’t know ‘Dirty knees at prayers, three times,’ one. Occasionally Mr Perry would how Mr Perry voted in the European ‘Bad behaviour before tea,’ ‘Causing refer to quotes and statistics in books, referendum in 2016, but I would be disturbance in prep,’ ‘Talking after but solely to ascertain their absolute surprised if it was for remain. The repeated warnings,’ ‘Defacing table in accuracy, for which he was a stickler. heroes of his classes, and thankfully dining hall,’ ‘Disobedience during Wet The rest of it came from his capacious he did not shy away from the Games and New Boy Test,’ ‘Fooling knowledge. He would set tests for the presently deeply politically incorrect during prep,’ and ‘Misbehaviour class of 200 historical dates, in which Great Man (and Woman) Theory while waiting for supper grace.’ The the class both had to know what of History, were Queen Elizabeth I, astringent and economical use of happened in each year and – much the Duke of Marlborough, Admiral words is almost Hemingway-esque. harder – the year in which certain Nelson, Lord Kitchener, and everyone things happened. He, therefore, else who tried to ensure that Britain Yet for all that I must have been a established for us the key fact about remained sovereign and independent. difficult child to teach – and clearly history: that chronology is everything. not a good advertisement for the Mr Perry also took us to castles in Very often the entire class would get efficacy of corporal punishment, Anglesey and Normandy; five castles 198, 199 or even 200 correct. We were either – Mr Perry managed to inspire in one (very long) day, I remember. not geniuses; we were just enthused, a love of history that got me a history The drama and romance of history competitive, and keen to impress Mr scholarship to the Senior School, a was brought home by these visits. I Perry. history exhibition to Cambridge, from was certainly not one of those natural where I have a PhD in – you guessed Instead of being told to read books, swats, an easy child to teach. In 2004, it – history. The word ‘inspirational’ Mr Perry would allow us to borrow when giving the prizes at the Prep is wildly over-used today, but an them from his personal library in the School Speech Day, I was allowed inspirational teacher can be a life- history room; it was an Aladdin’s Cave to examine the Conduct Book, and changing experience, and mine was for some of my friends and I. History discovered that my name appeared Mr Christopher ‘Pom’ Perry. lessons became something that one more than anyone else’s when I was looked forward to, and for me the there, by quite some way. Prof Andrew Roberts FRSL, FRHistS, rest of the week paled by comparison. is a Visiting Professor at King’s It was only later that I recognised Here are some of the high crimes and misdemeanours for which I College, London, the Lehrman that it was partly because he engaged Institute Lecturer at the New York every sense: one heard the roar of was punished, up to and including being given six-of-the-best by ‘Mac’ Historical Society and the President Napoleon’s Grand Battery at Waterloo, of the Cliveden Literary Festival.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 27 Art

Preparing for an art scholarship With over 20 years’ experience of teaching art in prep schools, Janet Miller, a teacher at Moreton Hall, Shropshire, describes preparing students to apply for art scholarships

Schools publish their different ­– often of 3D pieces – printing, and Our cultural weekends, marked on the requirements, but ultimately all are drawings show transferable skills and calendar through the school holidays, looking for the same qualities – a adds interest. pack in quality family time and are keen student who has a clear passion There will be an interview, or a chance forming them as well-rounded children for making art. Occasionally, you can to discuss their work, and the teacher – one hopes! discover a student with the X factor is there to gauge an understanding of Some schools offer their art and know you would feel privileged the processes and their interests. The scholarship process within a to nurture the talent. The process is quality of work should speak for itself. programme of a two-day taster, collaboration between pupil, teacher A standard question is ‘who is your for others it is simply an hour. It and parents, as the work produced in favourite artist?’ and children should is difficult to access ability within school should be supported by work refer to artists who inspired their an hour, which often includes the completed in their leisure time. pieces of work. Ill-prepared candidates interview and viewing the folder. You do need to know in advance who will often proffer Van Gogh if unsure, We can forget that these young is thinking of applying, especially but frequently struggle to name a charges are nervous, with unfamiliar important if they are boarders. painting. Trial interviews are useful surroundings, for something they They would join my invitation-only for all children to go through the couldn’t realistically prepare for. lunchtime and after school clubs process of talking about their work They have to work quickly and for Able, Gifted & Talented (AG&T) and the process of making. spontaneously and are tasked with students. This provides opportunity Asking children if they visit galleries having to remember to mention their to work on a larger format with is another standard question. Talking artists – coupled with the weight of quicker techniques, using observation about and interacting with art is vital expectation of their teachers and as a starting point. We can develop to ensure children can form opinions parents. Some will be over-prepared a theme and are able to work with to justify and inform their decisions. and will rattle off galleries and artists more specialist techniques, such as When visiting London, we always head before even asked. oil paint and printing; there is always to the Saatchi Gallery, as contemporary Two noteworthy applications came something developed using several art will provoke a reaction and get in the form of an animator and a techniques to create a mixed-media the children to question what art youngster with a passion for religious theme. Popular tasks involve a table of actually is. Seeing art from living and portraits. The animator’s folder looked assorted materials and a time limit, so international artists, flooded with fairly standard with the regular they are encouraged to think creatively light in white box rooms is refreshing. still life, self-portrait, landscape but and make decisions. Boarders are Then we venture towards The National then two shoe boxes were opened to encouraged to utilise the department’s Gallery, with dark coloured, patterned reveal the most exquisite plasticine materials and facilities independently walls, filled with classic pieces by models – it was then that she became at weekends and develop their own all the masters – they have to be animated herself, describing making personals sketchbooks. steered to particular pieces or they animations in her bedroom in which The portfolio, sometimes limited to a quickly become overwhelmed with the all her family had voice-overs roles. number of pieces, should demonstrate photorealistic quality of oil painted We enthusiastically watched the a range of media, processes and skills. folds in silk dresses, rearing horses and animations, which turned out to have Painting, mixed media, photography magnificent and idyllic landscapes. received national accolades. Three

28 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Art

years later, her skill and talent have from their lessons and from outside is evident and the fall out can be that it continued to shine and this will surely the classroom. I recommend this to discourages the children from wanting become her career path that we have parents, encouraging them to draw to continue their love of art as they feel had the privilege to steer. anything that helps to develop looking they are not good enough. The parents The other, from a young boy, was a and drawing what they see. In class, often request further feedback and seek delightful surprise when we found a we set up objects on white paper with a candid response from the process gutsy stack of seventy A3 portraits a good light source and urge using HB, if they don’t feel satisfied with the tucked in the pocket of his portfolio. 2B and 4B grade pencils. information. As teachers, we can feel it All on a theme, inspired by museums When I stress ‘sharp pencil’, my class is a personal hit especially if we feel it visits in Europe, brimming with frequently reply ‘sharp pencils, sharp is a strong application. As parents, we creative thought, acute vision and minds’. I encourage the use of erasers all think our children are deserving of quiet confidence. All used a range of to add highlights rather than erasing recognition of their talents. exciting marks, all were unique using their lines, as, in the scholarship My two boys have gone through a mix of medias and showing hours process, it’s important to get marks the process in the last two years, of a child busy and engaged with on the paper. This is good practice for the first successful and the second making art, with national competition their scholarship drawing, required on not. Ironically, the stronger of the wins to validate the talent. These the day. In class we stress that they two didn’t receive the accolade and applications are rare and provide our should indicate the shadow to anchor that is difficult to justify to them. It benchmark. Both candidates were the object to the page and that the is a knock back, but I know it’s the clearly encouraged at home. It doesn’t piece doesn’t need to be finished. I child without the badge that has the require fancy materials, but I would advise students to make a light sketch natural talent and who is destined advise parents to buy good quality and develop one area with a range of for a career in art. He knows l will paper, some waxy coloured pencils, tones, so if they don’t finish it, it can continue to encourage his talent from some oil pastels and a couple of soft still show the potential. Teachers will the kitchen table on Sundays. History tonal pencils. Indeed, I have seen some be keen to see confidence in the marks, is littered with many distinguished lovely sketchbook work using almost- whether photographic realism or bold individuals who speak of their denied expired felt-tips. A3 paper seems big scratchy marks. Drawing at GCSE level, artistic recognition early on in their but their work will benefit from having or ‘recording’ as it is phrased, is worthy career, having pursued their belief space to expand. It is surprising how of 25% of their grade, and encompasses that they can make a difference, and quickly children get used to working all types of drawing. even reach the dizzy heights of fame. confidently on a larger scale. Despite the children proclaiming it I encourage children to be resilient The folder work is crucial and it is went well and they did their best, and see positives in these hurdles. I always nice to see it supported by this will not be any indication of the reference James Dyson in my Design a small sketchbook, indicative of headteachers letter that follows. Not and Technology lessons, spending 15 their interest. Observation drawing every child will be luckily enough to years making 5,127 models before his is a skill that we hope to see, both achieve a scholarship. Disappointment design was recognised and considered.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 29 Well-being

The power of mindfulness Sheetal Kachhela, Edge Grove School’s yoga teacher, discusses the power of mindfulness in yoga for children

Yoga is a rich, diverse and holistic between the ages of 10 and 21 years manifest by the age of 14 and ritual that promotes physical, are more likely to develop some form develop with 75% by the age of 24. spiritual and emotional well-being. It of mental health problem due to the expectations placed on them and the • Almost one in four children and originated in India more than 5,000 young people show some evidence years ago and, contrary to popular fast paced nature of life today. Some recent statistics to support this are: of mental ill health including belief, it is not accustomed to any anxiety and depression. religion or belief structure. Instead, it • One in ten children have a With the rapid advances in is a practice that cultivates wellness diagnosable mental health disorder for our health, bringing harmony technology, increasing speeds of – that’s roughly three children in advertising, society’s need to be and balance to the entire body and every classroom. mind. Yoga can transform even the present on social media and all of most anxious person into being • Half of all mental health problems the material distractions that our assured again and can bring the most withdrawn individual back to life. From ‘downward dog’ to ‘mountain pose’, yoga is a journey and a way of life that is accessible to all and is benefitted by many. The environment and technology around us has changed immensely since I was a child and it will continue to do so at a phenomenal pace. This constant change has exposed children to fast-paced online technology at their fingertips – tablets, smartphones and watches to name but a few. Even when offline, children endure the pressures of studying and exam preparation; they might also have social commitments to juggle, the need to develop friendships and will sometimes experience family issues. The list is endless and whether they are the most energetic or grounded children these elements may start to have an undesirable effect on both the body and the mind, at a much younger age than we might expect. Resting minds and bodies Recent and ongoing studies into mental health suggest that children

30 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Well-being

children are exposed to today, it is no wonder that these mental health statistics are on the rise. Our minds are constantly working, continuously looking down at our phones, thinking one thought after another, even while we are sleeping. Very rarely do we rest our minds completely the same way that we recognise the benefit of resting our bodies. Surely it should be an act of self-care to give our minds the chance to rest in the same way that we rest our bodies? The ability to give ourselves a moment in the day, a chance to reflect, a chance to be mindful, a chance to ‘just be’ would serve as a priceless act if it was to aid in the reduction of people suffering with mental health issues. In knowing this fact, the art of not thinking or being able to clear our minds of all the stress and anxiety is one that we should embrace and yet it does not come naturally to us as adults, let alone to children. It is for this very reason that we should place great importance on and recognise the need to re-train ourselves and educate the adults of the future to take those moments to ‘just be’, ensuring not just a healthier body, but a healthier mind as well. Being present in the moment In a bid to try and reduce these at the start and end of each lesson to everything, the implementation of statistics schools should be placing be mindful of the space or classroom yoga is a great way for children to greater importance on dedicating they are about to enter, to think about develop positive body awareness, slots in the weekly timetable where the lesson that they are about to boosting self-image and confidence, children as young as pre-school embark upon and to adopt the right as well as gaining an understanding age and through to Year 8, have mental state before they initiate any of how to use their bodies in a healthy the opportunity to practise the art form of learning. way. It releases the happy endorphin of being in the present moment. Parallel to the mindfulness techniques, hormone, a natural analgesic, making Teachers need to be specifically teaching quality children’s yoga can them feel good. trained in acts of mindfulness and in really help. Yoga is very popular with Delivering a first class education is children’s yoga to ensure they are well children; both boys and girls, as it not paramount and as we move through equipped to deliver these essential only allows them to build on their the technological era at great speeds, lifelong learnings; whether this is core strength and concentration but we are seeing the benefits of teaching through discrete lessons or after it also aims to draw attention too and mindfulness and yoga at school. school clubs. improve breathing techniques – all Yoga allows children to participate Through mindfulness techniques, essential elements to our well-being with each other non-competitively we can provide children with an and, when balanced correctly, they can and most importantly it acts as opportunity to not only start, but to help to successfully manage stress and an alternate, yet essential way for continue their day on the right foot anxiety often caused by the pressures children to become offline in a device and in the right frame of mind. A described earlier. free space, clearing their minds in a step in the right direction is to ensure Taking the time to ‘just be’ moment to ‘just be’. that pupils are given a few moments In a society where image is

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 31 Music

Raising the roof Ian Morgan, from Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools, takes a look at the benefits of musical education and their latest community singing project that has proved to be a resounding success

A spectacular and heart-warming music from an early age and specialist ‘Our provision enables strong musical community singing project involving tuition starts at Monmouth Schools progress to be made by all. Our boys boys and girls from five Welsh schools Pre-Prep and Nursery. The schools’ and girls receive over an hour of has been an overwhelming success. insightful approach to learning is curriculum music and further time Around 150 children, aged between from the position that every child is set aside for singing and hymn 9 and 11 years old, created a massed has musical potential that should be practice. choir of voices at the impressive Blake nurtured and developed. Although ‘The curriculum lessons develop Theatre in the ancient border town of there are specialist, auditioned choirs knowledge about music through the Monmouth. Well-known comedian, throughout the schools, all pupils direct experience of music, developing actor and presenter, Miles Jupp, participate in community singing. and refining the skills of singing, compered the concert and spoke about Headteacher at Monmouth School movement, performing, conducting, the importance of music and singing Girls’ Prep, Mrs Hilary Phillips, listening, inner hearing, memory, in offering a rounded and balanced said: ‘We are all aware of the ways in reading, writing and creating.’ education. Now the hugely successful which music can enhance all areas Inspired by their love of music – the project led by Haberdashers’ of learning, but perhaps the most Monmouth Schools looks set to practical and multi-sensory approach important benefit that making music to music teaching as well as the become a permanent fixture in the together brings is a sense of well- area’s music calendar. benefits to health, well-being and also being and community spirit. academic achievement – Mr Walton Mr Joe Walton and Mr Mike Steer, ‘There is something special in massed and Mr Steer liaised with Monmouth’s music teachers at Monmouth School voices and the project was aimed at primary schools last year. Boys’ Prep and Monmouth School sharing that with schools who find it Perhaps, not surprisingly, the Girls’ Prep, respectively, were the harder to provide specialist provision. brains behind the scheme. project immediately received the ‘The concert proves that with time overwhelming support and approval ‘We wanted to bring the children and attention, a non-selective group from Gwent Music, the local music of Monmouth together,’ explained of singers can fill a hall with song and hub in the area. Mr Walton. ‘We wanted to give the smiles.’ children an experience of the real joy ‘At Monmouth, our pupils embark of singing and music-making using Mr Walton explained: ‘Our joined- on an educational journey within a suitable music that had been recently up approach to learning has been distinctive community,’ said Mr Steer. composed.’ inspired by the great Hungarian ‘Community is a core value of the composer Zoltan Kodály and our schools; our founder, William Jones, Children from primary schools in music lessons are child centred, three areas of the Welsh border town is the definitive example of the allowing pupils an opportunity for difference one person can make in the – Overmonnow, Osbaston and Kymin discovery and enquiry. View – took part in the enjoyable wider community. initiative. They joined pupils from ‘In the Kodály approach, musical ‘Gwent Music encouraged us to Monmouth School Boys’ Prep and learning happens through song, approach the primary schools in Monmouth School Girls’ Prep for a movement and singing games, Monmouth and helped us to set up term of singing that culminated in a which form the basis of a developing the important first meeting with the concert, watched by more than 500 musicianship. primary school heads to take our idea people. ‘Instrumental learning provides forward.’ Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools an important continuation and we The Friday Afternoons singing recognise the importance of learning strongly support and encourage the initiative was inspired by legendary strengthening of this learning process.

32 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Music

English composer, Benjamin Britten, British composer Jonathan Dove the songs for the concert and the and launched nationally in 2013. composed all the songs recently with massed choir finished with a dazzling The scheme’s song bank contains the exception of Benjamin Britten’s performance of Mad Moon which new music and support material to Oliver Cromwell – part of the original included, at the children’s suggestion, help teachers develop their students’ set of Friday Afternoons’ songs in the a dance known as the internet craze, skills – as performers, listeners and 1930s. flossing.’ composers. Mr Walton said: ‘The children sang Headteacher at Monmouth School ‘We focused on an enjoyment and with great enthusiasm and the big Boys’ Prep, Mr Neil Shaw, said: ‘It a love of singing during our Friday concert and the project, as a whole, was wonderful to hear stories of afternoon slots and the rehearsals was the great success for which we how children from different schools for all the children worked well at had all hoped. brought together by the project Monmouth School Girls’ Prep,’ said ‘It was inspiring to see the children became friends and were getting to Mr Steer. walk on to the stage – row after row of know each other over tea. The culmination of the project – the pupils from five different schools all ‘And it was inspiring to hear how one big concert at the Blake Theatre on assimilated and working as one body child had been transformed by the Friday 23rd March – was outstanding. of singers. experience from a tearful start to At the concert, Gwent Music’s North ‘In our Kodály approach, good singing, rehearsals to performing centre stage Monmouthshire Music Centre Junior awareness of tuning and a strong on the night. It was truly magical.’ Ensembles was excellent and performed sense of pitch is developed through Mr Walton added: ‘It was a joyful alongside the singers from the schools the gradual introduction and use of occasion and greatly appreciated by – highlighting the many opportunities singing names and hand signs. audience and the children. Will we do for local children in the area. ‘The hand signs and singing names it again? It’s definitely something that The massed choir combined are a great tool for developing melodic we will seek to repeat, hopefully, on beautifully, singing seven songs from understanding, inner hearing, sight an annual basis.’ the Friday Afternoons’ initiative, reading and memory. including Jonathan Dove’s Fire, Three Little Birds, Fast Car and Laura. ‘We used this in our teaching of

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 33 WoT! is your story?

WoT! is your story?

• Join in with the repetitive phrase, In just over half the time it would Another issue and ‘To get the job done…’ usually take to build a house, Bob had another instalment of • Come up with some hand actions got the job done. He called his boss, Barry to tell him the news. Barry was WoT! is Your Story? • Build up the story by repeating the amazed at the progress and asked previous stages before adding the Bob to meet him at the house the from Ian Morris… next one. following day. The story On reaching the house the following Experience tells us that taking the Bob had had enough of building. He day, Bob was amazed at all the cars time to lay firm foundations at the had spent years building but now he that were parked in the driveway. start of a year pays dividends even longed to hang up his trowel and put As he approached the front door he though it’s tempting to rush on with his feet up. So Bob called Barry, his could see familiar faces through the our curriculum plans. So please feel boss, and told him of his intention windows and hear excited chatter. He free to build on this golden oldie that I to retire. After Bob had stopped open the door to a loud, ‘Surprise!’ as recently gave a polish. speaking, Barry asked one final workmates past and present all raised The main part of the assembly is request. He had previously bought a a glass to toast him. At the far end of telling the story of Bob, a builder who plot of land in an idyllic location and the hallway, Barry beamed and walked wants to retire soon. So you could just wanted Bob to build his final house towards Bob. As he did so Barry took tell the story and link it to Jesus’ wise on it. Reluctantly Bob agreed. Bob just out a set of keys from his pocket and and foolish builders parable (Matthew wanted ‘to get the job done’ and so set held them out to Bob: ‘Bob, this house 7:24-27). Or you could be in role as about building the house as quickly as is yours! It’s my retirement gift from a builder, constructing a few jokes, he could. me to you.’ Hearing an audible gasp dance moves, and setting a building To get the job done he didn’t dig the from the children at this moment was task to illustrate the story: foundations as deep as he usually priceless! I had two teams of two – each team would. To get the job done he didn’t Bob smiled awkwardly and thanked made up of a member of staff who lay the bricks as straight as he usually Barry. Here we then checked in chose a pupil to help them. Each team would. To get the job done he didn’t our marshmallow and spaghetti is given a packet of dry spaghetti fit the windows as snug as he usually builders. Whilst admiring how each and a packet of marshmallows. Team would. To get the job done he didn’t construction looks, give each tray a 1 – building on a tray of sand, they tile the roof as watertight as he shake to see if they can withstand the are set the challenge of building a usually would. To get the job done he ‘storms of life’. Congratulate each team construction as high as they can. didn’t paint the walls as neatly as he and award prizes for their efforts. Team 2 – building in a tray of gravel, usually would. To get the job done Bob Our life is the house that God gives they are set the challenge of building ordered a bog-standard bathroom and us. It’s important that we lay firm a construction as strong as they can. a cheap as chips kitchen. foundations and build well. Otherwise During the telling of the tale I used the shortcuts we take now will haunt a PowerPoint to show images of an us later. Jesus told the crowds that idyllic location and poor construction those who actually put his words into at each stage of the story. I didn’t try practice are the ones whose houses this, as I’ve only just thought about it will stand firm when the storm hits. whilst writing this, but you could also So let’s be less Bob and more like get the children to: Barry. Otherwise we will rue the missed opportunities and regret not having taken the time to do the right thing. Singing or playing, ‘The wise man built his house on the rock’ might be a way to end or exit the assembly.

34 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Art

A celebration of arts education An education in art is a celebration of many things, writes Julie Finch, and she names but a few below

This can include: experimentation, not failure; places • Children and young people, their for exploration, motivation and perspectives on life and their talent. solution finding. • Schools and art teachers, where The world we live in demands elevated skills are developed, teachers and amplified levels of skills, the enable, children and young people Harvard Business Review states that realise their creativity and art is ‘creativity can benefit every function positioned as important to life. of an organisation’, creativity is recognised as an essential way of • In a changing world, art enables thinking. us to understand perspectives and create our own response, it • This is demonstrated through the enables us to use our minds to find fact that art and culture contributes solutions and express ourselves over 156 billion pounds to the economy. With these three important perspectives in mind, children and • Creative industries span a wide range young people, art education and of careers, many based on artistic impact of art on the world, I quote practice, such as architecture, design Michael Rosen, broadcaster and and the media industry. children’s author: • For consumers of creativity and ‘Arts are a means by which we can • All young people are curators, art – whatever their profession – investigate and understand the past through imagery, their digital art and culture contributes to the and the present, our world and our presence, they are curating a visitor economy in the UK, which is feelings. We can do this by ‘doing’ it portrait of themselves each day – a world leader. or by ‘spectating it’ or both. Through there has never been a greater need Whether you are a budding Picasso, art we can relate ourselves with other; for creative thinking and art as self- Rembrandt or Jeremy Deller. Whether we can discover the shape of history expression (good or bad) and this the pupils you teach are first time and humanity and where and how we has an impact on lives. artists or training to be an architect. fit into it.’ Art and creativity in the classroom Whether a child aspires to work for Art is important to children and powers a child’s understanding of the Google or run a café. Whether children young people because: world because: and young people are destined to be a captain of industry or a sole trader. • Creativity begins at birth; we are all • Teachers inspire and lead. It is likely that the teaching that born with potential. • They share an understanding the child or young person received of cultures and tolerance in the • We need creativity in our adult lives and their experience of this will classroom and perspectives on the – so it must be nurtured. influence and shape their success, world. • If children are not exposed to career path and the fullness of their creativity, it is equal to not being • They develop creative skills and lives and interests into adulthood. exposed to sport and physical activity rounded children and young people. It is a responsibility and these three – art cascades sunlight onto lives. • They create places for safe perspectives are why art matters!

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 35 Resilience

Embracing a ‘no rescue’ policy Susan McKay, Assistant Head of St Mary’s Junior School, Cambridge, discusses how and why we should be building resilience in our students

There are many lessons to be learnt prepared and managing to remember who have invested time and effort in at school. Alongside history, French, what you need for the day ahead is developing new habits will understand and physics, for example, are the much more enjoyable and efficient that the first thing that’s required is many valuable lessons that children than being forgetful and caught out. resilience, to stick at it! In order for us learn outside the formality of the Shaping confident and aspirational to successfully encourage such a spirit classroom. The minds of Junior young adults who take responsibility of resilience in our pupils, however, School pupils are as malleable and for themselves is an important part we need the support of our pupils’ impressionable as the plasticine they of the education schools provide. We parents, so that we can work together love to play with. For this reason, want our students, on encountering to deliver a joined up approach for teachers at our Junior School are a problem, to be able to do their best pupils. embracing a ‘no rescue’ policy, in order to overcome it – not by simply calling There’s a popular saying among to begin to instil a sense of resilience on their parents. Failure is inevitable parenting circles that ‘a child who at this young age. for all of us in life in some form; we always forgets has a parent who You may remember a time when dread all know that. So we prepare our always remembers’. This is exactly washed over you as you walked to students to the best of our ability for the kind of mentality we wish to school and heard a fellow classmate those moments, rather than trying to challenge. It’s the call at work from mention the day’s subjects; you shelter them from these easily-fixed the familiar, distressed, voice of your realised you’d forgotten to bring your problems with limited consequences. ten year old as they plead with you, Latin homework. If only you had We work to replace attitudes of when you know you are going to be written yourself a note to remember. absentmindedness and forgetfulness asked to head out of the office early or If only you had checked the kitchen with an ambition to be accountable change your plans in order to save the table before you left. After confessing and resourceful. If we allow our day or to collect a forgotten item that’s to your teacher, and apologising with children to be human and honest and required for an after-school activity. the utmost sincerity, you take a vow accept responsibility, aren’t we then We understand that parents want to to never forget anything for school paving a better way for them in the fix everything for their children – it’s again. future? an inbuilt instinct that parents have, Had the ability to communicate Learning new habits is best done isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be the instantly at the time been on a par through a process of actually doing, case on every occasion. with that experienced by today’s thinking and acting differently. I Calling all superhero parents: try to young people, many of whom have often ask pupils ‘what have you learnt give yourself some time off! Learning their own mobile phones, a swift from that?’ or ‘how can you make comes from making, and rectifying, text to your parents might have been that better?’ or ‘what could you do mistakes. So let your child forget their followed by a dash into school by differently?’. By using these types of pencil case, or their homework, or your mother or father, and the guilty questions I’m not scolding or telling their hockey stick. It is by no means confession might have been avoided off, but simply encouraging the girls the end of the world if they have to altogether. Had that happened, to think for themselves. It will take work with a partner in a lesson, or however, you might also have been experience and practice for children to borrow equipment from a class-mate, prevented from experiencing a hone the skills that will benefit them or admit to a teacher that they are valuable life lesson: being well- throughout their lives – and any of us human and have made an honest

36 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Resilience

mistake. By putting themselves in the influential change that can be made tend to welcome the change: they position of managing such situations at home is coming up with better ways enjoy opportunities to show their children learn to communicate with to be responsible, and to remember independence, and they now embrace their peers, and to approach teachers things, together. Suggest a calendar their everyday challenges with ease in what might feel like a daunting for important dates, a checklist on the and confidence. situation, to find a solution for a door to read before they leave home, Of course, we are working with problem they have incurred. And all or getting organised the night before, parents and students across the school while you are able to continue with for example. Finding a creative and at all stages to develop strong and your own busy schedule. effective way of remembering what confident young people, but we are Implementing a ‘no rescue’ policy they need will be the first step on the especially passionate about making a might seem uncomfortable and road to responsibility. positive impact at the Junior School unfamiliar to begin with, but it’s a This doesn’t have to feel like an overly by imparting these lessons early on. test of your own resilience to see if old-fashioned or harsh change in It is imperative in today’s society you can manage it; in order to develop behaviour. Showing empathy when that we teach our children to act resilience in young people, adults need children have forgotten something in a such way; we want them to be to be resilient too. will help to encourage independent leaders, thinkers, and doers. Focusing Discuss with your child your change behaviour to develop in a positive on these invaluable qualities and life in tack so that it doesn’t come as a way. By understanding that it is lessons, which our pupils are learning surprise. Mention that you will no acceptable to forget, but crucially alongside their academic, sporting and longer be able to recover any forgotten that this ultimately affects their creative pursuits, is vital. We would items from home, and so they need enjoyment of the day and their ability encourage all parents to partner to be responsible for remembering to fully participate in activities, will with us to truly embrace a no rescue what they need for the day. The most reinforce positive mind-sets and policy – and to see how pupils excel at behaviours. Our Junior School girls working out solutions for themselves.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 37 House System

The joys of the house system Philippa Studd, an Assistant Principal (Juniors) at Highgate School, explains the benefits of having a house system in place at her school, encouraging development amongst individual students and as a community too

For hundreds of years, house systems Poetry’ or ‘House Countdown’. It of the nominated Year 6 House have existed across independent gives opportunity for those unsung Charity Reps, the houses organise schools as a way to build identity and heroes in the background, who their day for the whole school to belonging, instill pride and create a bit quietly help during team tasks in the fundraise for their chosen charity. of fun and healthy competition within ‘House DTE Challenge’ or discreetly The most recent event celebrated schools. There is no greater champion show compassion to their peers was Number Day for NSPCC, where of this than J.K. Rowling who – with whilst making their way around the the children came to school wearing Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff ‘House Fun Day Obstacle Course’, to numerically themed fancy dress and and Ravenclaw – demonstrated how be celebrated and rewarded in equal saw a team of teachers and support enriching a successful house system measure too. staff battle it out against each other can be to a child’s school experience In a world where everyone is striving in a maths challenge assembly to win and development. to prove themselves as individuals, points for their house. As we continue As the Assistant Principal responsible the house system encourages children to develop our house projects, it is for the pupils’ personal development, to reflect on the importance their hoped that, in the future, we will be I find the house system to be a individual contributions can make to able to include the donation of time, vital tool in engaging children their team. As a standalone number, as well as money, to a good cause in identifying their strengths individuals’ House Point scores are and, spending hours volunteering or and learning how to use them to nominal but when contributing to helping in the local community will contribute to their team. The focus is their House Total alongside one translate into points. less on the individual demonstrations hundred other children, the results The sense of identity and belonging of talents and more on developing an can be pivotal in winning the the house system cultivates is, for understanding of how it is important, coveted House Trophy. Encouraging me, one of the greatest benefits it within any organisation, to have the children to be motivated to try offers. I enjoy walking the corridors a breadth of people with different their hardest for the good of their and seeing Year 4 pupils’ high fiving strengths, interests and ideas to community rather than just for their their fellow Year 5 house members contribute to its success. With that in own personal recognition is one of or hearing the pupils engaging with mind, we have designed a programme the principal reasons that our positive our vast and varied team of support that offers something for everyone; behaviour management system is staff whom they know to be in their orators or mathematicians; sports intrinsically linked to contributing house. More recently, I discovered stars or musical enthusiasts; leaders towards the success of their house the Year 6 pupils, with the support or followers. The four Heads of House alongside their individual recognition. of their Head of House, conducting monitor personal engagement and Another important factor in our house participation questionnaires and give termly awards to those who have system is facilitating our pupils with using the results to identify younger inspired, collaborated, encouraged and occasions to be charitable. Each house children, who are unsure what they contributed to their house’s success. holds an annual event for a charity have to offer, in order to mentor them. This ensures that children are not of their choice and the pupils are These examples demonstrate how a only recognised when they take to engaged in deciding whom they will house system can enrich and enhance the stage in events such as ‘House support and how. Under the direction the school community; bringing

38 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world House System

groups of people together that may be complete without a bit of healthy have a go at things they might not otherwise not have the opportunity to competition and the inter-house necessarily consider themselves interact. The children take great pride events provide many opportunities strong at. in welcoming their younger siblings for that. In contrast to competitive In our final assembly each term into their house and our own sorting sport games, auditioning for the we take the time to not only reveal ceremony is an event which all the lead part in a play or achieving a where each house is placed, but also children look forward to attending high score in an assessment, house to summarise the key successes to to hear where the new cohort of events provide an opportunity for the remind the pupils why, alongside the Year 3s will be placed at the end of children to learn that competition can announcement of who is in the lead, their first half term in the school. be fun, inclusive and light hearted. it is important that we recognise Although our current house system It gives those children in the E team and remember the process they all in the Junior School is relatively new the chance to play with the A team undertook to help their house get in contrast to the age of the school, or mathematicians, whose skills there. A personal highlight of my job it is hoped that a legacy will be built may normally only be seen in the is hearing four hundred hands drum whereby generations of a family will classroom, the platform to take to the rolling excitedly on the floor to reveal pass through; knowing that they will stage and impress with their problem which house is victorious and I cannot contribute to the success of a house solving capabilities. It gives younger help but think that a school without that once included their parents or pupils something to aspire to, whilst a house system is missing something even grandparents. also feeling involved in the process, very special indeed. Of course, no house system would and all pupils the opportunity to

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 39 STEM

The engineers of tomorrow Nigel Helliwell, Headmaster of St Faith’s School, Cambridge, discusses the growing demand from the engineering and science sectors and the important role that schools play in transforming stereotypes

In March, Adam Hargreaves, son of Engineering and Deputy Vice- the issues of gender stereotyping in the late Roger Hargreaves, creator of Chancellor at Cambridge University, STEM subjects is vital. the well-known Mr Men and Little spoke at our Prize Giving in 2015, Schools have a crucial part to play. Miss books, introduced his latest she pointedly referred to the image While the focus of many educational, personality called Little Miss Inventor. of the typical engineer, a man on a political and industrial advisors has I suspect that the timing of the arrival building site wearing a high visibility been on STEM education in secondary of this character, empowered by her jacket and hard hat. Why, she asked, schools, I believe that this is too late. ability to create new inventions to would young women want to pursue a By the age of 12, gender stereotypes help her friends, is no coincidence. profession that is so visibly male? may already be influencing pupils’ 2018 is the UK Year of Engineering Most commentators on this subject views of subjects. The answer is to – a time to celebrate the considerable agree. We must do more at the deal with the issue earlier, even at an contribution of engineering to our earliest stages to encourage children age when children first read the Mr society and, more importantly, to develop naturally, without gender Men and Little Miss books! to recognise the importance of determining their choice of subjects In 2015, St Faith’s introduced engineering in our children’s futures. in schools and ultimately, their future According to the CBI, over the next Engineering as a core curriculum careers. Given the importance of subject for all pupils aged 7 to 13, a five years the engineering, science STEM in the modern world, tackling and high-tech sectors expect a new discipline in which pupils work 90% increase in employer demand. Engineering UK estimates that the UK needs to produce 180,000 engineers per year and currently there is a shortfall of 70,000 per year. The timing of the arrival of Little Miss Inventor is not, I believe, the only coincidence. As a youngster who uses her brainpower to create solutions to solve practical problems – the true essence of engineering – Little Miss Inventor is the perfect role model for our young generation, both girls and boys. Barely a week passes by without the role of women in STEM industries featuring in the news and the need for schools to do more to break the stereotypical male image of these school subjects. When Dame Ann Dowling, Professor of Mechanical

40 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world in project teams to solve problems by which won an Oscar and BAFTA for Educational Supplement awards, applying their knowledge of science, their computer graphics on the film for the introduction of engineering maths, computing and design. Even Inception. The fact that she created to the curriculum. The judges the younger children in the pre-prep special effects for some of the Harry commented: ‘It is a STEM dream. An have exposure to our engineering Potter films elevates her ‘hero’ status admirable, innovative and challenging curriculum, testing their creativity amongst our pupils! During maternity project, using local expertise and skills in age appropriate challenges. leave, she spent time in secondary encouragement with superb results. To Teaching Engineering from such an schools teaching A Level maths. introduce engineering as a curriculum early age normalises the subject for When discussing gender stereotyping subject from age seven is a bold and the children and makes it part of their in STEM, Dr Hoyle comments, ‘I inspirational step. We were deeply day-to-day vocabulary. Young minds soon realised that A level was too impressed.’ at this age are not biased in terms late. Pupils had already chosen So why not consider introducing of gender and ability to perform a their subjects and their courses for engineering to your prep pupils? We task – girls and boys alike will attack university. I realised that a love for would be more than happy to help. a challenge with great gusto, showing problem solving had to come at a very In November we will be running a little or no inhibition! young age, to open up the world to course, on behalf of the IAPS, on Of course, the role models that young the children and show them what is the introduction and teaching of minds are exposed to will have a possible.’ engineering to young children. This considerable impact on their views. After just two and half years of will be aimed at teachers of science Whilst schools cannot and should not teaching engineering at St Faith’s, and design technology, as well as select staff according to gender, it is we are beginning to see the results. senior managers, who want to learn remarkably effective when teachers In a recent careers survey, the most about how to teach this new subject, assume roles that fly in the face of popular option chosen by Year 8 and introduce it to the prep school gender stereotypes. At St Faith’s, both pupils was engineering, with as curriculum. Alternatively, you would our engineering teachers are women, many girls as boys selecting it. In be welcome to visit St Faith’s at both are engineering graduates and computing, a subject incorporating another time, to see the engineering both are our very own Little Miss coding, introduced at St Faith’s in lessons in action and speak with our Inventors! 2012 and now taught to all pupils engineering teachers. Indeed, our Head of Engineering, Dr from age five, more girls than boys Given that 2018 is the Year of Nicola Hoyle, studied maths at Oxford feature in our top sets, another Engineering, I believe there could University at the age of 16, completed pleasing statistic given the traditional be no better time, and indeed no a PhD at Southampton University, male image of this subject. better place than our prep and junior worked for the Williams Formula In February 2018, we were honoured schools, to develop a young generation 1 team and led a team at a visual to be given the ‘Strategic Initiative of of little inventors. effects company, Double Negative, the Year’ award at the annual Times

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 41 L NEW MUSICA

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Blast from the past Back in the day, how did Lawrence Sheriff School cope with snow? Headteacher Dr Peter Kent tells us more in his school newsletter, The Weekly Word

In December 2017, I reluctantly and bedraggled decided to close the school for two youngsters. So the days, following heavy snowfalls. practice became Indeed, schools all over Warwickshire common of allowing and neighbouring counties were those children closed too. The closures were who arrived into received with varying degrees of school where a fire understanding and/or protest. Such had been lit. The closures have been mercifully rare, but children would they always trigger the assertion from cluster around the the older generation that ‘they never fire, notwithstanding used to close schools for snow when I spitting coals or logs. was young. Why can’t we cope now?’ They would spend I always take great interest in these a shortened day claims both as governor and as sharing stories, table does) where about half a dozen spaces unofficial archivist. It seems a fair tests, singing songs… any communal could be filled. It was never full. The question. If schools never used to activity that was both educational headteacher parked ‘at home’. and able to be tailored to a wide range close for snow, why do they have to So, the key ingredients of the vibrant now? First of all, did schools ever close of age and ability. The school was officially designated ‘closed’. Registers school: pupils, and staff, could be because of snow? The simple answer mustered on any day. Teachers who is yes, they did. But the truth is more were not marked. Would those children who did get in, doubtless lived too far away to travel on foot complex than that. On many occasions were required by their contract to snowfalls were so heavy that schools in some cases sent by hard-hearted parents who knew the children would report for duty at the nearest school were closed. Those, for example, in to their home. Imagine a system today outlying villages with limited road never be turned away, have memories of a school that was opened or closed? where strangers reported for teaching access, or those on top of windswept duty at Reception. What would hills would be almost inaccessible. But Not only was the headteacher nearby, our Safeguarding Policy permit? If in those days (e.g. for much of the last but often staff too. In the 1950s, heating broke down, children would century) most parents did not have when I attended Lawrence Sheriff be taught in their outdoor clothes telephones. There was no local radio. School, nearly every teacher lived and wear mittens. Periodically, they So, there was no easy means of letting within a two-mile radius. Many would be sent out to run about and parents know. walked or cycled in every day. At warm up. There are logbook reports of Closed or not, children would be Eastlands School (not far from temperature inside as low as 4 degrees sent to battle through deep snow Lawrence Sheriff), the same was Celsius, and stories (perhaps folklore) and arrive at school ready for work. true, except that a few came in by of frozen ink. For better or worse, In those days, both at small village train from places like Coventry or schools then and now were very schools and at Lawrence Sheriff Leamington. Villages like Clifton, different places. And the regulations School, the headteacher lived on Dunchurch, Wolston and Brinklow within which they once worked bear site. They could get in, provided had regular rail services. Car travel little comparison to those today. One they cleared a path for the few miles was rare. Such schools had no car thing schools have always had to do is from home to school. They could parks. Lawrence Sheriff had a space to observe the law. not turn away shivering, exhausted alongside the main entrance (and still

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 43 Reading

FOMO and the book Charlotte Weatherley, the Deputy Head and Head of English at Knighton House School, Blandford, explores reading and books during the age of social media

Recently, I had a startling our pupils connect with each other, also be felt when reading a great conversation with a teenager. Not how they (and we) access information book? Here is how I think it might a grunting teenager, but a highly about the world. In a 2016 survey, work: listed below are social media articulate, ‘out there’ sort of teen – 28% of teens were getting their news sites/websites and book titles. Each think Teen Vogue and shopping at via social media. For some, it may be listing explains the site, followed by Brandy Melville. The conversation seen as an addiction, for others it is a how the book taps into the themes between us went something like this: positive platform for self-expression. of its digital counterpart. So, before ‘I am thinking of cancelling my I worried greatly (as do most adults) naturally reaching for your device this Instagram account.’ about the impact social media was time (the heaviest users check their having on the mental well-being of phones 5,427 times a day, according to ‘Wow!’ young people, but it had not occurred researcher Dscout), reach for the book. ‘My friends and I are unhappy with its to me for one moment that perhaps Not an instant return, it must be sapping of our free time and finding these thoughts chimed with those of admitted, but an effort worth making: the energy required to monitor the young people themselves. no one to criticise your thinking, no permanent traffic of pictures is killing Antidotes to social media’s non-stop one to demand you answer now and us; plus, it’s exhausting to be in a search for new audiences do in fact no one to derail you with their views, constant state of visual perfection exist; a quick look online gives us just your own judgement and your readiness.’ humour (you laugh in the face of the own enjoyment – solo. ‘Gosh!’ Photoshopped), the Liberal Arts (I Social media site and its book think that means acting and painting ‘Doesn’t it say in that book you counterpart your way through the pain of 50 not https://www.boredpanda.com/ keep quoting at us (she meant 100 Likes) and detox (asking your funny-pinterest-fails/ and Why We Swimming Upstream, Parenting Girls parents to hide all devices, trying Took the Car by Wolfgang Herrndorf. for Resilience in a Toxic Culture by to make it through the day, cold There is almost nothing funnier than Laura H. Choate) that girls have turkey), but what about books? Could the melted wax crayon art fail, but taken up ‘online’ as simply another the printed word be, once again, at the ‘fails’ in Why We Took the Car way to judge themselves (often as the forefront of a revolution? Could resonate even more deeply because wanting) and it’s a further obstacle reading be the counterweight to what we recognise them as our own, small, to a productive, fulfilled life? I don’t we hate about social media: the cats every day failings as well: ‘When want to be judging and scrutinising and cucumbers are funny, we really someone doesn’t have any nicknames, the microscopic, better-left-private love our connected life, but how we it’s for one of two reasons. Either details of my contemporaries’ lives, abhor the need to fashion an online you’re incredibly boring and don’t get and I don’t want everyone judging and persona so alien to our real selves. any because of that, or you don’t have scrutinising mine.’ Gutenberg would be tickled pink to any friends. But there is one other ‘Goodness!’ think books could do this, and as for possibility. You could be boring and My part in the conversation the lads who invented Cuneiform, have no friends. And I’m afraid that’s was clearly negligible, my usual one of the earliest known writing my problem.’ Ouch. loquaciousness on matters relating to systems (invented about 5000 years YouTube – What Went Viral in 2017 the young consisting only of a series ago), they wouldn’t need convincing. and Stolen by Lucy Christopher. If you of sprightly exclamation marks. Like But how could it work? How could we Google ‘What Went Viral in 2017’ many teachers, I see social media as persuade a generation of YouTubers one result is the Los Angeles-based established and necessary to life –­ that the ‘rush’ induced by a sneezing choreographer Kyle Hanagami’s, specifically, adolescent life. It is how baby panda or a laughing goat could ‘Shape of You’ routine. The dancing

44 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Reading

is intense, sensuous and absolutely Hitler, is all told through the voice word is risky, but The Ghost Child mesmerising, rather like Lucy of the brutalised Yael, child of the has a cinematic quality that is quite Christopher’s novel – kidnapped at concentration camps. staggering, with parts of the book an airport, the main character is torn https://www.boredpanda.com and The playing out in your head like stills between desire for, and fear of, her Illustrator’s Notebook by Mohieddine from a film reel: ‘His royal spirit, young captor. The book is written Ellabbad. Bored Panda showcases disturbed winging like a dark bat into as one intensely felt letter to the art and design by incredibly talented the sky.’ ‘He was a kestrel, an eel, a perpetrator. people across the globe and describes lacewing.’ YouTube’s Cat vs Cucumber itself as the only magazine for pandas; Making the landscape of books too compilation and All Dogs Have The Illustrator’s Notebook takes a separate from their online lives, as ADHD by Kathy Hoopman. Cats similar broad view of art, from both though young people can juggle only and cucumbers are just enduringly the Western and the Arabic traditions, one or the other, has been a mistake funny (although who doesn’t love the without the pandas. that we adults have made for them. fainting goats), but whilst the laughs https://www.instagram.com and The teen of the original conversation in Kathy Hoopman’s book are genuine, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. is from a well-read family, but she the message is much more in earnest. admits that among her peers, talking Instagram tells us all we want to about books was about as likely as https://www.youtube.com/ know of breaking news, but the watch?v=xuCn8ux2gbs and Wolf Kim Kardashian being made UK novel Persepolis represents the reality ambassador for Start-rite shoes, by Wolf by Ryan Graudin. In The to an adolescent, already grappling History of the World, I Guess by Bill because nowhere was it given a boys, spots and personal identity, of platform. Teachers try to incorporate Wurtz, the creation of the universe repressive regimes, war and refugee is explained in a 20 minute video – the best aspects of social media into status; in its use of the graphic novel their teaching in the hope of retaining clever, extremely clever, but not the format, it is even more powerful for sustained cleverness of our universe the interest of their pupils, losing the seeming disconnect between form sight along the way of the powerful re-imagined, as in Ryan Graudin’s and content. novel: ‘The year is 1956, and the benefits of being a reader, not least Axis powers of the Third Reich and Netflix and The Ghost Child by Sonya that readers are happier, healthier and Imperial Japan rule the world...’ Hartnett. more connected to their communities than their non-reading opposites and, The poignancy of this novel, the Nothing can be better than watching consequently, much better placed energy of the motorbike riders who a great film and to compare the to balance the demands that social race to win an audience with Adolf genre of film with that of the written media makes upon them.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 45 Sports

A swimming pool or a water park? With 30 years of experience as the Director of Sports in prep and senior schools and the Director of Independent Coach Education, Neil Rollings reflects on the crossroads that physical education faces in schools today

If the only aim of schools were to facility development has gathered worthwhile, enduring and provide pupils with fun, investment unprecedented pace, has this been illuminating. It goes far beyond the decisions would be very easy. Water suggested because there is more to temporary appeal of the frivolous. slides would replace swimming pools education than fun. And that’s the The challenge since schools began and roller coasters would be preferred same for physical education. has been to engage young people in to libraries. But never in the history The foundation of schools is activities that have a medium-term of the arms race, in which school experiences that are deep and impact, not an immediate appeal. And

46 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Sports

Sport is busy changing its character in the hope of making itself more accessible to youth – shorter, less intrusive, more convenient and constant excitement.

to find satisfaction in overcoming gratification. If the sole purpose was but they are still at the root of challenges that are not immediately fun, then school sport is becoming achievement and satisfaction. easy. This is not the same as fun. obsolete. Students resent ‘giving up’ Sport is busy changing its character Physical activity is perhaps the time for sport that could be used for in the hope of making itself more best example of this. Meaningful other, instantly attractive and less accessible to youth – shorter, less achievement comes at the end of the demanding activities. The games intrusive, more convenient and effort. Often it doesn’t reveal itself experience has to be as brief and low- constant excitement. Of course, that until the end of a prolonged period of key as possible. Activities requiring is not irrelevant. But the same pupil gruelling training and preparation. patience and application, such as surveys that want games to be less There are defeats, discomfort, cricket, are becoming hideously intrusive would want the same for disappointments and reverses along unfashionable. Those demanding maths. The soul of sport is lost when the way. commitment and selflessness are in it becomes meaningless. Instant sport apparently terminal decline. It has always been like that, but the may be appealing on the surface, but, contrast between these enduring But what are the ‘other activities’? like ‘Snapchat’, it soon disappears. The features and the everyday life of a What is so compelling that it relegates waterslide ride may be thrilling, but it teenager has never been so stark. This sport as the Saturday activity of is soon over and forgotten. Learning is a world of instant and frivolous. choice? Social media? Shopping? to work for something that has Activities and communications Underage drinking? ‘Hanging out’? enduring value may be unfashionable, that have immediate appeal, which Are these the activities that will but it is not irrelevant. It has a solid fade equally quickly. Social media replace the satisfactions, relationships history that should not be summarily might provide more welcome and lifetime memories that games dismissed. The answer is not to make distraction than Shakespeare, but brought to previous generations? it easy, but to teach children to love it the latter conveys a greater and more The dramatic growth of wealth being hard and worthwhile. substantial meaning. The 20-year life and material possessions of recent However, fun is not without of instant communications has not generations has not been accompanied significance. It should not be been enough for humans to evolve; by growth in satisfaction and dismissed as a Puritanical irrelevance. man’s search for meaning has a happiness. The average Briton is less Fun accesses brain processes that history that goes well beyond 2000 satisfied with life than they were make learning more real. Learning years. 50 years ago. Possessions, instant linked to humour is stickier and Physical activity in schools is at a communications and money have not longer lasting. Fun is part of the crossroads. On the one hand, it offers produced the paradise that economists process of sport, but it is not the successes that are only achievable predicted. Meaning and purpose have entire process. There is something on the far side of effort, and this not been made more accessible and deeper at work as well. is increasingly distant from the freely available at the same rate as So the challenge for education is to inclination of teenagers addicted to texting. Dedication, application and combine the two. instant distraction and immediate commitment may be less fashionable,

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 47 Book Review

Treachery at Traitors’ Quay Alex Osiatynski, Headmaster of Bilton Grange Prep School near Rugby, having previously been Director of Music at the Loughborough Endowed Schools, reviews Treachery at Traitor’s Quay

48 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Book Review

Treachery at Traitors’ Quay is one of be forgotten that putting on plays The excellent backing tracks are the latest releases from Out of the Ark of this nature is not just about the authentically sampled, including Music, from whose dramatic stable performance. It is understandable that sound effects to use during the many nativities and other productions compressing a whodunit into a sub- performance. The accompanying have emanated over the years – all 60 minute musical is going to involve CD-ROM (I honestly didn’t realise those witty and inventive ways of cutting a few corners, and to that end they still existed) has a function to retelling the Christmas story have the audience can’t really engage in the show the song words dynamically on always been well worth performing process of solving the mystery, but an interactive whiteboard or screen, and watching. Treachery at Traitors’ I doubt they will mind. The Agatha which is useful during the rehearsal Quay is, however, as far as I can tell Christie-esque dénouement, in which process, and also provides for PDF the second musical play created by the possible guilt of virtually every versions of the script, score and Mary Green and Julie Stanley for Out (adult) character is considered, is good ancillary pages of the showbook. If of the Ark, the first being Mystery fun with a suitably unlikely outcome: purchased online, these features can at Magpie Manor, which the Year 3 I shan’t spoil the surprise for anyone also be accessed through an online children at Bilton Grange performed wishing to enjoy the moment for the player via your online account. by chance last summer. It was a good first time. I suspect that Treachery at Traitors’ yarn, a whodunit simplified down The songs are almost universally Quay will become a favourite with for the sake of younger children with brilliant, starting with the locomotion teachers and pupils; add to this some vaguely toe-curling gags and a of ‘The Evacuation’ as the children the fact that schools with a CCLI few silly character names. Treachery at leave Paddington station. Syncopation licence can use the handy song list Traitors’ Quay certainly builds on this and a motoring accompaniment as a reminder of which song lyrics theme but, by transporting the action (pausing for a reflective middle they have projected, for logging on to the 1940s and involving the issue verse as the children consider the their CCLI return, together it is a of evacuee children, cleverly builds in enormity of leaving home) give the compelling package that Green and a topic which is frequently introduced show an energetic start, in a way not Stanley, and Out of the Ark Music, to children at Key Stage 2 (at whom dissimilar to the driving rhythms have put together. I will certainly be this play is firmly pointed), namely of Tim Minchin’s ‘Matilda’. ‘The recommending it to our team for a WW2 and the impact domestically, Jitterbug’ allows for a focus on the performance next year! especially on children. Land Girls (another good learning Note: If this musical is being The play charts the adventures topic built in) as well as having at least performed to anyone other of a group of evacuees who travel one number, which allows for more than school staff and pupils, an from London to the West Country involved choreography. ‘Letters’ is a Annual Performance Licence with their teacher, and you have poignant dialogue between children will need to be obtained directly to quickly get over the stereotype writing letters home and their mothers characterisations that abound! The receiving them. ‘Doing Our Bit’ helps from Out of the Ark Music local posh family are snooty, the to expand on the learning topic of ‘dig village folk are endearing, apart from for victory’, and although stylistically it those characters whose puffed-up self- is very similar to ‘The Jitterbug’ I don’t importance has been rather obviously think this matters; I was, however, borrowed from Dad’s Army, and bemused by the sudden attempt at then you have the comically named four-part vocal close harmony in the Wheeler and Dealer, Jolly and Jape. last two bars, which would be taxing Although the point of naming them for most schools to attempt. ‘Spying on thus, when the script doesn’t really the Spy’ is a dark, chromatic contrast to exploit it, eludes me somewhat. The the other songs as the children begin children become aware of sinister their manhunt. ‘Go Home Hitler’ is an goings-on and, of course, single- excellent play on the patriotic songs of handedly expose a traitor in their the time (a la Vera Lynn) and the show midst. ends with ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. The script is generally strong, and This is the only moment where I have the interjection at scene changes a slight criticism, which is that the of Churchill reading extracts of his very ending, after a suitably rousing speeches adds an extra dimension, I key change before the last verse, is suspect both in performance and in somewhat limper than it might be – the learning process: it should not and if that sounds like nitpicking, it is really…

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 49 Outdoor Learning

Participation, respect, excellence and independence James Mundell, Headmaster of Giggleswick Junior School in North Yorkshire, tells us how the school uses outdoor adventure as part of the school’s repertoire

When I arrived in Giggleswick as a We foster independence in our pupils they feel they are capable of to fully NQT in 2004, I knew I was coming and encourage outdoor education and develop their potential. to teach in an attractive part of the adventure. Because we have small A crucial component in developing country, but I was unprepared for class sizes, staff really know the pupils is the work we do with them the sheer beauty of the surroundings pupils and can plan for individual outdoors. Since 2011, every Year 6 here. Giggleswick Junior School, needs. Pupils gain confidence in student attends an Outward Bound® where I have been Headmaster since speaking and answering as there week-long residential course in the 2015, is just outside the Yorkshire is no opportunity to fade into the Lake District with two of our teaching Dales National Park and this has background in a small class. staff. We took our time deciding on many advantages for our pupils. It Another strength is the community the right outdoor adventure provider means we can engage with our natural feel we have developed, where parents, for our pupils and decided on The surroundings by taking the children pupils and staff work as a partnership Outward Bound Trust because of the out for various activities, such as team. I believe that the combination way it balances physical skills with forest sessions, weekly ‘out and about’ of our size and rural location, our core personal development and reflection and daily sport/PE. We are fortunate values and the fact that we are lucky and because its aims and ethos chime that the school is set within beautiful enough to have specialist staff, means so well with our own. As a well- grounds, so it’s unsurprising that that we offer a wrap-around holistic established educational charity with we place so much emphasis on being experience for our pupils. royal patronage, the Trust has many outdoors and are fully aware of the years of expertise embodied in its benefits this can bring. Participation is key: every child sings in the school choir and we offer a instructors. We chose a water-based There has been a school on this site broad curriculum that includes drama, course for our pupils because this since 1512, although it has undergone design, music, art, computer studies supplements the activities we can a number of re-incarnations since it and a range of sporting activities, all do already in our own environment. was founded. A restructure in 2007 with a child-led emphasis. Respect is The Trust centre in Ullswater offers a established the Junior school and fostered by strong pastoral support different experience and this benefits we have an Early Years unit and the during an extended school day, and the children partly because of the Senior school, taking students up by our tutoring system that builds contrast with school. During the to age 18. Giggleswick is a relatively on these foundations to instil pride, residential, they spend a lot of time small school with 80 pupils in the compassion and independence in our on the lake, swimming, kayaking and Juniors and 360 in the Seniors, pupils. Pupils are incredibly tolerant undertaking outdoor challenges. including some boarders, mostly at of each other and we have a very low Every year, we meet with the Learning Senior level. incidence of behavioural concerns. and Adventure Manager based at the The school’s core values include We encourage children to strive centre before the course begins to participation, respect and excellence. for excellence and go beyond what agree our learning objectives, which

50 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Outdoor Learning

are tailor-made for the specific year what they learn is hugely rewarding in children who might be full of group we are taking. Both individual so many ways. trepidation come away feeling excited and team goals are important and we It’s easy to forget that some young and impatient to experience the discuss these fully when structuring people and perhaps their parents, residential course themselves. the activities for the week. find a week away from home quite Like all Heads, I want my pupils to be Until I saw The Trust at work for daunting but I can safely say that happy, well-rounded individuals able myself (I now spend a full day each all our pupils come away achieving to fully participate in the life of the year with the pupils during the something and benefiting from school and outside it, and to go on to residential) I didn’t realise quite the experience. One anxious and the next stage of life with confidence. how they work to develop strong introverted boy, afraid of water I have seen for myself how our team-building and leadership skills, and long walks, really came out of emphasis on outdoor education helps alongside resilience, confidence and himself. With encouragement, he every child feel valued, independent creativity. Pupils do learn outdoor took part in all the activities and and confident. The residential skills, which will hold them in managed to climb one of the fells, course with The Trust develops good stead as preparation for more so going way beyond his own and our holistic approach to education: advanced outdoor courses in Senior others’ expectations. Another rather developing key skills for life in School, but just as importantly they shy child was the only one to climb children, and enhancing our aim to are nurtured to develop their self- the telegraph pole and stay on the nurture the personal development worth and to take pride in whatever top, unlike other more confident and in all our pupils, including resilience, they achieve. This is priceless, outgoing children in his peer group. confidence, independence, empathy, especially for those children who may So, it really is the highlight of their and collective ownership, in a have experienced challenges socially, final year in the Juniors and it is a carefully planned and delivered intellectually or emotionally. The joy to see how the Year 6s enthuse environment. course moves them out of their safe- the younger pupils at the post-course zones and into a stretch zone where assembly they present. Younger

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 51 Wizard Video Production

To act or not to act Patricia Ellis, from Wizard Video production, shares some tips with readers on how to stage and record your own school show

Over the last 30 years, Wizard Video schools? They may be able to lend Speeches and positioning of Wizard has recorded thousands of school you just what you want. microphones: we will take a feed from shows. I also have experience of Scenery the sound desk and set up radio mikes staging them as I ran my own dance • A backcloth can add interest to the near the stage. If you are having end- school in Surrey for 44 years. Shows stage. It’s surprising what can be of-show speeches, please stand by our add creativity to National Curriculum hired and delivered to your school. mikes or ask your sound operator for work and enables less academically an extra roving mike. Be aware that able pupils to shine and gain • Of course your Art department may our microphones are not intended to confidence through teamwork. be persuaded to produce scenery as amplify the sound for the audience. a project. Think big! So here are some of our tips for Filming successfully staging and video Lighting for video A show video is a great memento for recording your school show: • Some white light mixed into colour children and parents. It is a record of will ensure that the performers’ the production, which you probably • Once you have settled on a show faces show up. date, ask parents for help. You may won’t have seen from front of house. have hidden talent in the way of • One-colour lighting washes are a Older students will appreciate what prop-makers, make-up artists. problem, e.g. blue lights to match you are trying to achieve with your blue costumes results in blue faces! staging and choreography. • Before selling any seats decide on the position of the camera. • Side lighting from the wings gives Filming live performance is not easy. outline and shaping to performers. It’s an acquired skill, with specialist • Many schools forget to do this techniques for achieving a visual • Most high-end digital cameras can and compromise the success of the balance combining wide and close up cope with strobe and UV lights. video. shots. Even in a single camera shoot, • In a school hall, some firm staging • Video cannot see down to such we ensure smooth transitions from for tripod and camera will enable a a low level as the human eye, wide to close up and good sound clear view over audience heads. therefore have even lighting, not recording. just a bright spot in the middle of Costumes the stage On the day of the show • It’s wise to have costume colours You should have already reserved that contrast with the background. Sound space for our camera operators (and a If you are relying on senior pupils to parking space for them to unload) to • Black leotards may look good in operate your sound or lighting, make set up their equipment. Floor space your dance studio, but may look dull sure they have training and plenty of 1.5 square metres (each) is a good on stage. In fact, go for blocks of of practice. Many school shows have rule of thumb or if this is in theatre colour – bright cyclamen, yellow or been ruined through the loudspeakers seating rows, make sure you place turquoise look great when well lit. blasting out or emanating a loud ‘reserved’ signs on the six seats that • The bigger the venue, the brighter earsplitting squealing noise. the cameras will be using. you can go with costumes and • If it isn’t ’in-house’ it’s worth getting Spare ten minutes to meet the camera makeup. professional help to supply and man operator for a brief chat about the • Inexpensive and accessible face your sound desk. show. paints are a useful alternative to • It’s fun to add some pre-recorded costly, professional make up. Backstage sounds to your CD soundtrack – e.g. It’s important to have some basic • Have you contacted other nearby storm, rain, traffic and voices. backstage rules and etiquette that

52 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world Wizard Video Production

will aid the smooth running of the personal belongings in to save lost wings, if you can see the audience, performance and keep everyone safe items and tears after the show. they can see you – and so can the and happy. Patience can run thin at • Tell them to stay in their designated camera. Stay out of sight, especially times of high stress so it’s important area at all times so that they can be arms, legs, hands and feet. Using everyone knows and understands easily ‘found’ when called. There masking tape, place a line to mark what the rules are before the are lots of performers to keep track the area over which performers performance. of who could miss their entrance if should not cross. Also organise chaperones fetching they are not in the right place on • Lay props out ahead of time and children from dressing rooms and in cue. stress that props go back to the the wings to supervise. • Each performer should be props table after use. • Have your list displayed showing responsible and not rely on others Don’t forget to rehearse the finale and which child is in each dressing to know what’s happening next. make it clear to the children what is room. They should know where they need going to happen afterwards. • Allocate dressing rooms so that the to be at all times and make sure Allocate some help to clear up ‘busiest’ performers are closest to they are there. otherwise you will be left doing it on the stage and locate ‘quick change • Quiet at all times and keep the your own. areas’ for seniors at the side of the noise to a minimum backstage. And, finally, expect to be exhausted stage. • Be conscious of bleeding light from for at least a week but delighted at • Get each child to provide a labelled doors opening backstage. Tell the what you and your students have bag or container to keep their children that when waiting in the achieved!

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 53 Redwood Collections

Out of order? Grant Murray, head of Risk & Compliance at Redwood Collections, explores both the moral and business cases for applying for an Order for Sale

According to the Independent Schools may not be secure. Depending on how debtor’s assets were liquidated. Financial Benchmarking Survey the charge was registered with HM Depending on the value of their assets 2015, 38% of surveyed schools Land Registry, the debtor may still this could result in their debts being have an unpaid debt that is secured be able to sell the property without cleared, their monthly outgoings via a charging order on a property. the consent of the school, leaving the greatly reduced and substantial net However, very few charge holders charging order redundant and the funds given to them at the end of the realise that they may apply for an debt unpaid. This is something that process. order for sale that can result in the needs to be clarified. Any reputable solicitor or debt property being sold and the debt There will always be those who collection agency should have cleared. Charging orders have long are simply taking advantage of the measures in place to spot sensitive been a common way of enforcing system. Often such debtors know circumstances and take them into a County Court Judgment (CCJ). that the debt to the school will consideration when weighing up It is believed that around 100,000 not immediately affect their credit whether to issue an order for sale, charging orders are granted to worthiness in the same way that, for then advise the school accordingly. claimants each year for anything from example, missing mortgage payments This helps to reassure the school an unpaid credit card, a water bill, or would. Priority may therefore be given that legal action is not issued unpaid school fees. to their other outgoings rather than inappropriately. There are many reasons why a creditor their obligation to pay the school. An Further protection for the vulnerable may choose to secure their CCJ application for an Order for Sale has is provided by Section 15 of the Trusts with a charging order. In the case of been shown to reverse this standpoint for Land and Appointment of Trustees schools, it is often because there is and often produces favourable Act 1996, which requires courts to a tacit agreement with the debtor to repayment offers or settlements in consider the interests and the welfare secure the debt against the property full. of the debtor, other members of the until such time as the pupils finish It is perfectly reasonable to take into debtor’s household (and dependent their examinations or otherwise leave consideration someone’s net worth children in particular) when at the end of the current year or key (where possible to determine to a fair considering a creditor’s application stage. This is sometimes accompanied degree of accuracy) when assessing the for an order for sale. Therefore if a by an agreement for the parents to appropriateness of an order for sale judge ultimately approves a school’s make token payments to clear the against a recalcitrant debtor. Some application for an Order for Sale, that debt. may be experiencing genuine financial school can be sure that the decision So you have a charge on the property hardship in terms of their income/ has given appropriate consideration to and the debt is ‘secured’ against an expenditure, but also have a very high the debtor’s circumstances. asset. But when the child has left, net worth. For these ‘cash poor, asset Finally, schools seeking assurance of the payments have stopped and rich’ debtors, does it really constitute the fair treatment of their debtors the debtor is no longer responding fair treatment of them to perpetuate should consider instructing a debt to letters – what happens next? their financial difficulty by accepting collection agency that is authorised The debtor will often be content to a low value instalment arrangement, by the Financial Conduct Authority simply let the charge remain on their keeping them indebted for an (FCA), the new regulator for the property. This can almost seem to be extended period of time, incurring financial services industry. Such a guaranteed long-term investment even more interest? Perhaps it would agencies are bound by the principles (charging orders generally accrue 8% suit all parties if the court granted of the FCA’s Treating Customers Fairly statutory interest pa) but the charge the school’s Order for Sale and the initiative.

54 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world SATIPS Broadsheets: Pastoral Development and PSHCE

The SATIPS Broadsheets are a superb practical resource for schools. The editor of the Pastoral Development and PSHCE broadsheet is Tim Pitman.

‘Happy New Year’ That has got to be worth smiling lends itself perfectly to a circle time Further into the future we go. about. delivery. There is a teacher’s book Some find the Easter term the most and copious follow up activities. The difficult and return post festivities The Practical Tip For Pastoral stories have captivated our Year 3 with the dread of cloud-filled skies, Themes and PSHCE children but can be used down to Year illness, cold and exams. This pivotal ‘Emotional Intelligence’ 1 with some adaption. term has built its reputation based PSHCE with younger pupils can The effectiveness of story telling on recurring trends. There can be be difficult to deliver, and often has encouraged us to search out constant disruptions and loss of younger and even older learners will more titles which will put serious direction. At the beginning and end of respond to the old faithful methods, issues in an acceptable and engaging the academic year we have Christmas in particular the oft-neglected format for youngsters. I have and the summer holidays which are class reading or story-telling. This, to say that Dr Seuss’ The Lorax very pleasant goals. There is apparently coupled with the need to guide has come to my attention when little to sell the dark hours of the pupils in developing their emotional planning environmental topics and middle term. This is where resilience intelligence in their formative years sustainability. Story- telling is an is needed most. Through a strong has led me to devote almost all of ancient art and I would love to feel pastoral system and reactive PSHCE we my Year 3 curriculum to exploring that it has a very solid place in our can transform our Spring Term into a emotions through shared stories. pastoral care of the children. Whether hive of productive activity. The focus I often feel that areas of empathy, it be bedtime stories in the boarding on well-being must be clear though and courage, dealing with challenges and house, end of day stories or even the it will be hard work, but worth it. growth mindset are left until trends reading of the Lorax as part of forest The starting point of course is of behaviour have been established school, sitting amongst the very optimism and what people may feel and even reinforced. An early forming characters of the book. at the beginning of term is that they of positive emotional intelligence can www.feelbrave.com/stories are descending further and further only be advantageous. into darkness. In fact the reverse is I came upon an excellent resource true: the day is increasing in length Whole School Strategy For which we have used successfully. It Pastoral Themes and PSHCE every day by between two and three is the ‘Feeling Brave’ series which ‘Joining the dots for maximum effect’ minutes. consists of five stories that revolve Sunset times: around the experiences of a wolf and Integrated and cohesive planning At the beginning of term 16:11 they explore; self confidence, feelings of pastoral themes and PSHCE will At half term 17:05 of loss, change, fears and bullying. It really affect the impact of their At the end of term 18:20 is beautifully illustrated and the size precious messages. Many leaders of of the books mean that there resource PSHCE bemoan the limited amount

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 55 • Early support and screening for English and Maths • Easy to follow programmes • No preparation required • 5 minute sessions that work • Excellent for English as an Additional Language (EAL)

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of time allocated to a subject of such can be seen below, the themes are Perseverance importance. We have to be creative cohesive. The term looks tuned. Topic for PSHCEE and find ways of ensuring that our This school operates in vertically ‘Outside In’ – Diversity, disability and curriculum is high profile, recycled grouped sections: Mental Health and reinforced. Joined up thinking in terms of the curriculum is important, Years 7&8 forming the senior school Weekly Form Time Activities but I am not sure how well Geography, Years 5&6 forming the middle school Form Teacher– John Amaechi (LBGT) Biology and History, for example, Years 3&4 forming the junior school Year Group Assembly really sync with PSHCE coverage of A term’s planning for the middle Head of Sport sustainability. It’s a case of finding school could work like this: Week beg 5-5/2 as many strands as possible outside Week beg 1–10/1 the curriculum to weave into a thread Key Topic which draws the school along in a Key Topic Participation clear direction. What is the school focus? Topic for PSHCEE How does PSHCEE fit in? A strategy which might be adapted to ‘International Women’s Day’ suit schools’ differing structures could Topic for PSHCEE Weekly Form Time Activities use the following threads: Be the best that you can be for Form Teacher – Malala Yousafzai yourself and the wider community PSHCE Year Group Assembly Year group assemblies Weekly Form Time Activities Form Teacher – ‘Finally winning the Whole school assemblies N/A vote’ Form time Year Group Assembly Week beg 6–19/2 Whole school termly focuses N/A Key Topic These are all excellent vehicles for Week beg 2–15/1 Participation approaching a theme. The impact is Key Topic Topic for PSHCEE huge if they work together. Effort – How do you show effort? ‘News Stories and philosophy’ The The first question is, ‘which end of the Topic for PSHCEE ‘Conceptometer’ telescope do we use?’ Is it important Resolutions – planning for improvement Weekly Form Time Activities to establish a whole school focus Weekly Form Time Activities Pastoral Tracking based on mission statement and then Pastoral Tracking ask the school to follow on in its coat Year Group Assembly tails? Or do we try and concoct a Year Group Assembly Music Dept, Communal singing consensus with all parties involved, Head of Year – Inspiring story about Week beg 7–26/2 determination from bottom up? There does need Key Topic to be an initial consensus from SLT, Week beg 3–22/1 Presentation – Be smart, think smart pastoral leaders, the head of PSHCE Key Topic and SMSC coordinator. Topic for PSHCEE Perseverance Personal Hygiene Throughout the age groups Topic for PSHCEE Weekly Form Time Activities approaches and exact topic areas in Working effectively independently PSHCE vary but they have enough Form Teacher – Jonny Wilkinson cohesion for whole school assemblies, Weekly Form Time Activities Year Group Assembly year group assemblies and form time Form Teacher – Nelson Mandela Form teacher - TBC to be relevant. With the school geared Year Group Assembly Week beg 8–5/3 up for ‘Helping others be the best Director of Studies – Academic – Key Topic that they can be’ PSHCE obliges by Growth Mindset focusing on emotional intelligence, Presentation Week beg 4–29/1 relationships, setting goals, diversity, Topic for PSHCEE citizenship and mental health. As Key Topic ‘So, how have you done?’ Resolutions

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 57 SATIPS Broadsheets: Pastoral Development and PSHCE

Review There are also free resources available day, in every way. If it is simply by Weekly Form Time Activities to download. being role models in how we deal Personal Hygiene Pastoral Themes and PSHCE in a with conflict, or investigating how Global Context we might approach social problems. Year Group Assembly ‘We cannot solve our problems with The danger is that if we do not act Head of Art - TBC the same thinking we used when we we will let another generation slip Week beg 9–12/3 created them.’ through our hands, ill prepared and ill informed to make good decisions. Key Topic Albert Einstein Punctuality It is an inescapable fact that many Hopefully we are some way towards of our future decision makers and Topic for PSHCEE changing thinking, the next step influencers will have been privately Personal Hygiene is practically acting on changing educated. We have an opportunity to Weekly Form Time Activities behaviour. help change the mindset which got us Form Teacher – J K Rowling I am delighted that I am not the only into the trouble we are in. Year Group Assembly one who seems a little jaded by debate My call is to those who are doing a Head of Drama- punctuality Role Play and rhetoric. very good job of raising awareness Week beg 10 -19/3 Author and education journalist Peter of problems, whether it be mental health, sustainability, border control Key Topic Tait recently tweeted: or financial situations. Those who Celebration of achievements and ‘My hope for 2018 is that we stop speak to our teachers at conferences summary making education an industry with all and CPD sessions must give practical Topic for PSHCE the opining, back-slapping + interest strategies which can be implemented ‘Eco Committee’ groups and do something practical.’ in schools immediately. Weekly Form Time Activities I think that we have managed to make My worry is that of the many, many Contributions to a sustainable ourselves painfully aware of the mess pupils I have taught, I can’t think of environment that we are in. Moaning about current many who have practically made a regimes and personalities without significant contribution to a more Year Group Assembly a positive contribution to resolving Celebration Assembly sustainable future. There are some big future problems is a waste of time. decisions to be made and trends to be You can follow the progress of this Navel contemplation is... broken. Time for action. planning each week by clicking on As teachers and educators we are https://learning4lifewhs.blogspot.co.uk/ in a perfect position to act, every

58 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 1

SATIPSSupport and training in Prep Schools Why should my school be in membership?

• SATIPS offers a breadth of training, networking and supportive opportunities to schools in membership. • It is the ONLY organisation in Britain which is dedicated to the needs of teaching staff in Prep Schools.

• SATIPS is absolutely concerned to cater for staff ranging from NQT to Head of Department or Senior Leadership Team. We also aim to cover all age ranges from Nursery to Key Stage 3.

SATIPS offers a four-part core of activities and support:

Broadsheets These are published each term, covering a wide range of curriculum interests, as well as specific concerns: eg Senior Management, Special Needs and Pre-Prep.

Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will1 not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on their classroom practice and curriculum development.

BroadsheetsSupport and are training edited in Prep by SchoolsPrep School teachers who, with proven track records SATIPSin their field, have taken on the role of subject ambassador. For further information about the Broadsheets, go to http://satips.org/ and, for sight of recentWhy editions, should follow my school the links be to in “Specimen membership? Broadsheets”.

• SATIPS offers a breadthCourses of training, and INSET networking and supportive SATIPS offersopportunities a wide range to ofschools training in membership.courses, Conferences • It is the ONLYand other organisation In-Service in opportunities. Britain which is dedicated Courses can beto accessed the needs on of the teaching web-site staff at in http://satips.org/courses/ Prep Schools.

Courses are• SATIPS designed is toabsolutely cover a wide concerned range of to interests. cater for Attentionstaff ranging is given to course feed-backfrom NQT which to Head helps of Department to shape our or programme. Senior Leadership School requestsTeam. for We also aim totraining cover allis particularly age ranges fromencouraged. Nursery to Key Stage 3.

Course presentersSATIPS offers are very a four-part carefully vetted. core of Our activities aim is always and support: to make use of known experts in their field who are also first-class presenters. Members schools receive aBroadsheets substantial discount on course fees. These are published each term, covering a wide range of curriculum interests, as well as specific concerns: eg Senior Management, Special Needs and Pre-Prep.

Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on 1their classroom practice and curriculum development.1 Broadsheets are edited by Prep School teachers who, with proven track records Support and training in Prep Schools Support and training in Prep Schools SATIPS SATIPSin their field, have taken on the role of subject ambassador. WhyWhy should should my my school school be be in in membership? membership? 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SATIPSSupport and training in Prep Schools Why should my school be in membership?

• SATIPS offers a breadth of training, networking and supportive opportunities to schools in membership. • It is the ONLY organisation in Britain which is dedicated to the needs of teaching staff in Prep Schools.

• SATIPS is absolutely concerned to cater for staff ranging from NQT to Head of Department or Senior Leadership Team. We also aim to cover all age ranges from Nursery to Key Stage 3.

SATIPS offers a four-part core of activities and support:

Broadsheets These are published each term, covering a wide range of curriculum interests, as well as specific concerns: eg Senior Management, Special Needs and Pre-Prep.

Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will1 not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on their classroom practice and curriculum development.

BroadsheetsSupport and training are edited in Prep Schoolsby Prep School teachers who, with proven track records SATIPSin their field, have taken on the role of subject ambassador. For further information about the Broadsheets, go to http://satips.org/ and, for sight of recentWhy should editions, my follow school the belinks in to membership? “Specimen Broadsheets”.

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Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on their12 classroom practice and curriculum development. Broadsheets are edited by Prep School teachers who, with proven track records Support and training in Prep Schools SATIPSSupport and training in Prep Schools SATIPSin their field, have taken on the role of subject ambassador. Why should my school be in membership? Competitions,Competitions, Exhibitions andand eventsevents for for pupils pupils SATIPSSATIPS• SATIPS offersFor offers a offers variety further a variety a breadthof pupil-focussedof pupil-focused of training,information events. networking Over Over many many and yearssupportive years about schools Schools have have the Broadsheets, go to http://satips.org/ and, for enjoyedenjoyed entering enteringopportunities their theirpupils pupils in to events inschools events that inthat hold membership. how a nation-widea nationwide attractionattraction with • It is the highONLYwithsight standards. organisation high standards. Currently,of in recent TheseBritain these events which events include: iseditions, dedicated are: follow the links to “Specimen Broadsheets”. to the needs of teaching staff in Prep Schools. • SATIPS• SATIPS Challenge Challenge Annual (annual Generalgeneral knowledge Knowledge quiz) quiz • SATIPS• National is absolutely Handwriting• National concerned Handwriting Competition, to Competitioncater held for in staff conjunction ranging from NQT to Headwith of CambridgeDepartment• Poetry Competition University or Senior PressLeadership Team. Courses and INSET We also aim to cover all• agePoetry ranges• SATIPSKI Competition from Nursery to Key Stage 3. • SATIPSKI• Annual the annual Art Exhibition Ski competition SATIPS offers• Challengeheld a at four-part Hemel HarrySATIPS PagetHempstead core ([email protected]) of activities indoor offers ski and centre support: a wide range of training courses, Conferences • Annual Art Exhibition • National Handwriting Competition Paul Jackson ([email protected]) • Poetry CompetitionBroadsheets Stephen Davies ([email protected])and other In-Service opportunities. Full details of all these events are at http://satips.org/competitions/ These are published• SATIPSKIeach term, Gillian covering Gilyead a wide ([email protected]) range of curriculum interests, as well as specific• Annual Artconcerns: ExhibitionCourses eg SeniorAlayne ParsleyManagement, can ([email protected]) be Special accessed Needs and Pre-Prep. on the web-site at http://satips.org/courses/ “Prep School” Magazine Full details of all these events are at http://satips.org/competitions Broadsheet“Prep School” articles is published are usually three written times by a practisingyear. It offers Prep readers School in teachers Prep Schools with a broad range of authoritative articles on educational matters with an emphasis occasional contributions fromPrep leaders School in their Magazine field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, theon reader issues canthat be concern certain all that Prep he Schools. or she will not only share ‘Prep School’ is published three times a year. It offers readers in prep schools a subject and age-groupCourses relevance are but also designed cultural assumptions: to eg parentalcover a wide range of interests. Attention is given to broad range of authoritative articles on educational issues. expectationsWhat or next? what Joining “works”. Satips Writing or articles seeking for thefurther Broadsheets information? encourages staffWe are to proudreflectcourse of on what their SATIPS classroom feed-back offers. practice With alland Council curriculum which members development. and helps Officers to shape our programme. School requests for stillWhat working next? in Prep Joining Schools SATIPS we believe or seeking we understand further the information? demands on staff BroadsheetsWe are are proud editedworking of what by in PrepSATIPS schools School offers. and teachers are With here all who, Councilto support with members proven trainingthem. and track Officers records is particularly encouraged. stillin working their field, in prep have schools taken we onbelieve the rolewe understand of subject theambassador. demands on staff For further informationPlease workingdo contact about in schoolthe us Broadsheets,if youand arewould here like goto supportto more http://satips.org/ information them. and, for sight of recent editions,or if wefollow can the be oflinks any to assistance. “Specimen Broadsheets”. Chairman CourseCourses presentersDavidChairman and Kendall INSET are very carefully vetted. Our aim is always to make use of SATIPS offers a wide [email protected] of Newbould training courses, Conferences and otherknown [email protected] opportunities. experts in their field who are also first-class presenters. Courses can be accessed onDirector the web-site of Education at http://satips.org/courses/ MembersDirectorPaul of Jackson Education schools receive a substantial discount on course fees. Courses are designed to cover [email protected] widePaul range Jackson of interests. Attention is given to course feed-back which [email protected] to shape our programme. School requests for training isDirector particularly of Training encouraged. Director of Training Sarah Kirby-Smith Sarah Kirby-Smith Course presenters are very [email protected] vetted. Our aim is always to make use of known experts in their [email protected] who are also first-class presenters. Members schools receive a substantial discount on course fees. GeneralGeneral SecretarySecretary BillAlec Ibbetson-Price Synge [email protected]@satips.org 1

SATIPSSupport and training in Prep Schools Why should my school be in membership?

• SATIPS offers a breadth of training, networking and supportive opportunities to schools in membership. • It is the ONLY organisation in Britain which is dedicated to the needs of teaching staff in Prep Schools.

• SATIPS is absolutely concerned to cater for staff ranging from NQT to Head of Department or Senior Leadership Team. We also aim to cover all age ranges from Nursery to Key Stage 3.

SATIPS offers a four-part core of activities and support:

Broadsheets These are published each term, covering a wide range of curriculum interests, as well as specific concerns: eg Senior Management, Special Needs and Pre-Prep.

Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will1 not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on their classroom practice and curriculum development.

BroadsheetsSupport and training are edited in Prep Schoolsby Prep School teachers who, with proven track records SATIPSin their field, have taken on the role of subject ambassador. For further information about the Broadsheets, go to http://satips.org/ and, for sight of recentWhy should editions, my follow school the belinks in to membership? “Specimen Broadsheets”.

• SATIPS offers a breadthCourses of training, and networkingINSET and supportive SATIPS opportunitiesoffers a wide range to schools of training in membership. courses, Conferences • It is the ONLYand organisation other In-Service in Britain opportunities. which is dedicated Courses canto be the accessed needs of on teaching the web-site staff in at Prep http://satips.org/courses/ Schools.

Courses• areSATIPS designed is absolutely to cover concerneda wide range to of cater interests. for staff Attention ranging is given to coursefrom feed-back NQT to which Head helpsof Department to shape our or Senior programme. Leadership School Team. requests for We also aim to covertraining all ageis particularly ranges from encouraged. Nursery to Key Stage 3.

CourseSATIPS presenters offers are a very four-part carefully core vetted. of activities Our aim is and always support: to make use of known experts in their field who are also first-class presenters. Members schools receiveBroadsheets a substantial discount on course fees. These are published each term, covering a wide range of curriculum interests, as well as specific concerns: eg Senior Management, Special Needs and Pre-Prep.

Broadsheet articles are usually written by practising Prep School teachers with occasional contributions from leaders in their field. This ensures that, whatever the article is about, the reader can be certain that he or she will not only share subject and age-group relevance but also cultural assumptions: eg parental expectations or what “works”. Writing articles for the Broadsheets encourages staff to reflect on their classroom practiceSATIPS and courses curriculum and directory development. Officers Chairman David Kendall Finance Director Stephen Coverdale [email protected] [email protected] Vice Presidents Trevor Mulryne & Richard Tovey MBE Director of Training Sarah Kirby-Smith Broadsheets are edited by Prep School teachers who, with proven track [email protected] General Secretary Bill Ibbetson-Price Director of Education Paul Jackson in their field, have taken on the role of [email protected] ambassador. [email protected] For further information about the Broadsheets,Members go of to Council http://satips.org/ and, for Lisa Newbould ([email protected]) Mark Middleton ([email protected]) Emma Goodbourn ([email protected]) Alayne Parsley ([email protected]) sight of recent editions, follow the linksJason to Hyatt “Specimen([email protected] ) Broadsheets”.Anna Wheatley ([email protected]) Brenda Marshall ([email protected]) Paul Baker ([email protected]) Julie Keyes ([email protected])

Courses and INSETSATIPS Broadsheet editors Art Jan Miller, Moreton Hall ([email protected]) SATIPS offers a wide range of trainingClassics courses,Ed Clarke, Conferences Highfield School ([email protected] ) Design Technology Vacant Drama Gabriel French, Ludgrove School ([email protected]) and other In-Service opportunities.English Charlotte Weatherley, Knighton House ([email protected]) Geography Ben Mono, Eagle House ([email protected]) Courses can be accessed on the web-siteHistory at http://satips.org/courses/Matthew Howorth, Twickenham Prep ([email protected]) ICT Vacant Mathematics Matthew Reames ([email protected]) Modern Foreign Languages Richard Smith ([email protected]) Music Vacant Courses are designed to cover a wide rangePhysical of Education interests. & Games Liz Myers Attention ([email protected]) is given to Pastoral Development & PSHCE Tim Pitman, Westbourne House ([email protected]) RE Richard Lock, Northwood School ([email protected] ) course feed-back which helps to shape ourScience programme. Luke Busfield, School Ludgrove ([email protected]) requests for Special Needs/Learning Development Abigail Farndon, Bilton Grange ([email protected]) training is particularly Classroomencouraged. Management Mark Philpott, The Elms, Trent College ([email protected])

Courses and events Course presenters are very carefully vetted. Our aim is always to make use of known experts in their field who areA selection also of forthcoming first-class courses from Summer 2018 onwards: presenters. 03/05/18 Don’t Miss! – General Data Protection Regulation London 18/05/18 Lesson Observation and Performance Management London Members schools receive a substantial14/09/18 discountPastoral Conference on course fees. London 24/09/18 Ongoing Learning and Development in the 2nd Year of Teaching London 25/09/18 Leading Prep School Music to Outstanding London 05/10/18 Differentiating the Learning Experience London 12/11/18 Staff Wellbeing and Pastoral Care London 13/11/18 Critical Thinking London 15/11/18 Preparing for CE English at 13+ London 28/01/19 Preparing for CE English at 11+ London

These courses will run as training days in London, Bristol, Birmingham and York. The cost of the day courses includes follow-up project based work and one to one feedback. They are also available as inset days. Bespoke training packages for schools are available with discount for more than one course booked. For more information please email the team on [email protected] or telephone 07584 862263.

PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world 61 StrapViewpoint Line

On headship matters…

I was recently talking to a friend about a trip he was planning to visit his wife’s family in Australia. The trip he was planning was to be in term time and he had already contacted his children’s school. ‘The school say that if we go they will fine us,’ he told me, ‘so we have added that into the cost of the trip.’ I have already shared that when I was seconded for a year as President of ASCL, the professional association for secondary school leaders, the majority of media enquiries related to term time holidays and parental fines. I was never a popular choice with broadcasters when put up for interviews, because when asked the inevitable question ‘have you ever fined a parent for taking a term time holiday?’ my answer was always a truthful ‘no’. The reason for my reluctance is summed up by the story I started the article with. I think that fines are not a good way to build a relationship with parents, but they can also serve as a way of bypassing the real issue by creating the impression that paying the money to the school is just another part of the cost of the trip. My preferred approach continues to be to reason with parents by seeking to explain the damage that term time absence does, both to their own child and to everyone else in the class. I have yet to hear about a planned absence that is not seen as educational and a valuable opportunity. The point is, when all of these opportunities are put together they damage the continuity of learning, both for the child concerned and for the rest of the group who experience regular disruption through classmates not being there and then requesting help with catching up. Of course, there can be genuinely exceptional circumstances and in the end parents are the ones who have to balance the damage that the absence is certain to cause against whatever the urgent set of circumstances are. In the end, the issue is a much broader one that goes far beyond something that can be addressed through the payment of a fine. I will continue to keep our policy under review with the Governing Body, but my plea to all parents remains the same: please do not take your child out of school during term time.

Let us know what you think of Dr Peter Kent’s views – get in touch with us at [email protected]

62 PREP SCHOOL Reflecting the best in the prep & junior school world

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