October 2019 Chair Head Bursar Registrar Staffroom School Office ...the professional journal for Management & Staff THE NEW 69 PLATE FORD TRANSIT MINIBUS HAS ARRIVED CAREFREE SCHOOL MINIBUS OWNERSHIP Choose from our complete range of versatile and fully type approved 9 - 17 Seat School Minibuses • Finance Options To Suit all Budgets Call today to arrange a quotation or free demonstration • Nationwide Service and Support • D1 and B Licence Driver Options 01202 091618 • New Euro Engine Technology redkite-minibuses.com • New and Pre-Owned available [email protected] VEHICLE CERTIFICATION AGENCY NATIONWIDE SUPPLIERS OF PEUGEOT, FORD & VAUXHALL 2 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] In this issue... 05 Fighting Back Against the Abolitionists countering Labour’s Conference vote 12 Growth Mindset what does it really mean? 14 Pupil Sleep should be higher up the pastoral agenda Young Sailor 24 Profile of the Year in conversation with Ken Young Royal Hospital School, Suffolk, pupil, Josie Ruffles, 17, has had an extraordinary year when it comes to her sailing accomplishments. As 30 School Assemblies – Talking Point well as completing the Royal Ocean Racing worthy moments... or a waste of effort? Club 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race this year like her brother Toby in 2017, she has been recognised by the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association 32 Mental Health in School for her success. They have named her the Young Sailor of the Year 2019. spotting the early signs of problems The final race of the season, the Buckley Goblets, which involved Josie and her father 39 Exercise with a Community Spirit racing across the North Sea for the sixth time this year. Josie has also crossed the Irish Sea new programme proves a success twice and undertaken around 2000 miles of hard yacht racing, including winning the Wallis Cup, in which she skippered the boat. 40 Salute to Sporting Success The final race proved tough with a force 6-7 countrywide round-up wind and waves of four meters, but Josie battled on and completed it in nine hours. High winds Is Your School Mentioned? See page 47 for an A-Z listing hit the sailors in the middle of the North Sea on the return, making it very rough with winds of over 40 knots. Josie and her father experienced damage to their mainsail and Genoa sails but Plus managed to get home in 13 hours. 08 New education partnership reaches out to all 10 Leadership initiative takes off Cover background 16 EAL ~ keeping up to the mark Going green 20 Free online Maths resource supports learning Prior Park College, Somerset, joined other 26 Changing Faces, Changing Places; Heads Hunted historic buildings around the UK in being lit up 29 TPS consultation expires soon green in support of Global Mitochondrial Disease 34 IR35 changes ~ is your school ready? Awareness Week last month (September). 35 Music, Drama & Dance Focus Feature The school was initially approached by Bath 47 Editorial Advisory Board; Free e-mag subscriptions; Contact Us resident, Sarah Moore, who tragically lost two daughters within six years of each other to Mitochondrial Disease. Sarah has been raising funds for The Lily Foundation, the UK’s leading charity looking to fight the disease, raise awareness and support affected families. To date, Sarah has raised over £12,000. Research into mitochondrial diseases could help 35 Music, Drama unlock cures for other serious illnesses including & Dance 40 Sport diabetes, epilepsy, dementia and Parkinson’s. Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Independent Schools Magazine 3 Merger looms Rugby School and Bilton Grange Preparatory School have announced that they will merge in January 2020. Rugby School, located in the centre of Rugby Town on a campus of 400 acres, is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 13 to 18, and currently has 815 pupils. Bilton Grange Preparatory School, located in Dunchurch, three PM Boris inspires miles from Rugby on a 90-acre site, is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged young readers three to 13, and currently has 315 Children at St. Helen’s College provided by the school. The school pupils. Prep School, West London, were was therefore delighted to be Peter Green (right), Head Master thrilled to receive a visit from approached by the Prime Minister’s of Rugby School, said: “For Prime Minister Boris Johnson, office to arrange a visit for Mr. some time, Rugby School has who is currently working with the Johnson to read to Year 1 children, been exploring the possibility of BookTrust children’s charity to and the pupils were enthralled as providing an educational pathway from the beginning of prep school promote children’s reading. he read them The Cave by Rob to university entry. Bilton Grange, Hodgson, which showed that Last month (September) the with whom Rugby has wide- things aren’t always what they BookTrust charity launched their ranging links, shares our ethos and ‘Time To Read’ campaign, which seem, and that life can be full of commitment to high standards Those parents wishing for a senior school other than Rugby will, of encourages families to share books surprises! of teaching and learning so we are looking forward to this new course, still have my support and and stories each day and to use Mr. Johnson also visited Upper partnership. guidance.” books as a way of exploring issues School (pupils in Years 2-6) and Both schools, which are financially that impact on wellbeing, such as was impressed by the interesting Alex Osiatynski, Head Master of secure, experiencing growing pupil anxiety or friendship issues. and immersive STEAM Day Bilton Grange, said: “Merging with Rugby School is a natural numbers and looking to further St. Helen’s College places a activities going on all around on progression for Bilton Grange strengthen day and boarding heavy focus on reading, both at the day of his visit. He particularly provision, are already collaborating at this time and there will seemed to enjoy burning crisps on outreach projects within the school and in the home, believing be many advantages for our to see whether their fat content local community. A pilot scheme that successful readers become community. Both schools provide is about to be launched to provide successful independent learners. made a difference to how they a truly rounded education and a sessions on Saturday mornings to Parents at the school are asked burnt, and chatting to the school’s pioneering curriculum. Not only children from local primary schools. to read daily with their child Director of Studies, Mark Lewis, will a more formal, defined and and question children to ensure about whether a cardboard kayak recognised route provide continuity Bilton Grange will retain its name comprehension; they are supported would be likely to survive on the in our pupils’ education, but it will and identity, will be separately in doing so by special bookmarks river! bring tangible benefits too: both registered with the Department for schools’ extensive facilities and Education, and have a separate Pictured: with Mr Johnson, (l to r) Teresa Stark (Deputy Head), Shirley Drummond (Head), Dominic Crehan (Principal/Proprietor), Catherine (Head Girl), Anish (Head Boy), Jill Crehan specialist teachers will enhance inspection regime. Both schools will (Principal/Proprietor) the opportunities for all pupils. retain their educational autonomy. Dolly good fund-raiser Denstone College, Staffordshire was a break in the weather as they The whole challenge took 11hrs Medical Centre team – Ange Smith, cycled down to Lake Thirlmere and 10 minutes. The Denstone Gill Lear, Michelle Edge and Bobbie (approx 2.5 miles) in order to kayak Dollies were one of only two all- Rees took part in the Race The a course along the Lake. Mixed sun female teams out of 25 teams of 4 Sun challenge in the Lake District. and showers accompanied them and they came in ahead of several for the final 25.5 mile cycle to This involved a 25.5 mile cycle to of the all-male teams. They have the finish. They had support from the foot of Helvellyn followed by raised over £2000 for Action former school nurse Liz Ogle and a climb up Helvellyn. Strong winds Medical Research for Children. and rain made this quite scary at school counsellor, Kathy Swords who fed them, cheered them on at times creating difficult walking There is still time to donate to this every changeover point and then worthwhile cause by visiting conditions for the team. met them at the finish with a well- www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Bobbie Rees, Ange Smith, After the mountain climb there deserved glass of prosecco! denstonedollies Gill Lear and Michelle Edge 4 Independent Schools Magazine Advertisement Sales: 01242 259249 [email protected] Fighting back against the abolitionists Last month’s Labour Conference pledged to abolish independent schools and “integrate” them into the state sector. This would include scrapping charitable status and “all other public subsidies and tax privileges”. And independent school property, land and other assets will be seized and redistributed across the country’s other educational institutions. Although later watered down by some Labour MPs from a pledge to an aspiration – ‘we just don’t want education to be a commodity’ said one – the ideas have prompted swift reaction from sector leaders... “We face attack from those who wish to destroy our schools rather than help them build better futures for more children...” Fiona Boulton, head of Guildford High School for Girls and chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) opened their recent conference... I do not have time to list all the independent schools have for Budgets are running tighter and and out of touch.