2 Aclos er look Dean Close Foundation Annual Report Summer 2020 Contents Growing Close 4 Close Together 6 Close Formation 8 Close Foundation 10 Close Circles 16 Close Accounting 24 Close Talk 26 Close Community 28 Close Quarters 30 Close Friends 32 Close Contribution 38 Dean Clos eFoundation Annual Report 2020 ‘ Every pupil has a thirst for knowledge and an ’ excellent attitude to learning, reflecting the school s ’ DCS ISI inspection 2019 aim to encourage independent thinking. 3 Growing Clos e 4 ‘ I am deeply pround of all that has been achieved and look forward to building strongly ’ on it in the next academic year. he Atacama Desert in Chile is learning, of exchanging ideas and of using one of the most unpromising technology have emerged, and all with a environments on the planet for profoundly human character; mind, body and plant life. In an average year, spirit equally engaged and a healthy dose of T the desert receives no more humour and fun at every turn. than 12mm of rain. However, occasionally, in years when the El Niño effect is at work, The Dean Close Foundation has this year rainfall increases in the months of September established our ‘Foundation Stones’ – the to November, and suddenly the desert is a overarching aim and values which unite us sea of blooms. Over 200 species of flowers all. The first stone, the overall aim, is appear, most of them only found in this part ‘Flourishing’, and I hope you will find of the world; the barren landscape is watered evidence in this Annual Report of the and bursts into life and vibrancy. organisation itself and the individuals within it doing just that, in a range of conditions from In the early part of 2020, as the coronavirus the temperate climate of the start of the pandemic began its sinister worldwide academic year to the more inhospitable spread, the immediate future for all of us environment of the lockdown period. looked bleak. However, it is at times of crisis that the true nature of a community is most I am deeply proud of all that has been clearly seen, and at the Dean Close achieved and look forward to building Foundation there has been a remarkable strongly on it in the next academic year. flowering of innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and mutual care as we Emma Taylor have tackled the very real challenges posed Warden, Dean Close Foundation by the pandemic. New ways of teaching and 5 Clos eTogether THE bENEFITS • Economies of scale – centralisation of administration and sharing of resources and facilities helps us keep costs down. • Profile – the scale of the Foundation gives Dean Close a We are a Foundation: the Senior School, higher profile, enabling us to our two Prep Schools, our Pre-Prep and our nurseries. Our scale gives us breadth of influence. educational vision. It makes our schools more sustainable and gives us a broader • Minimisation of risk perspective and a longer view. – our diversity The Foundation portfolio has helps insulate us against some of strengthened our finances. the threats faced by independent schools. The diversity of activities in the Dean Close Foundation portfolio has strengthened the • Best practice financial position of Dean Close and thus – our teachers have a our ability to improve facilities, keep fees bigger and more diverse group of manageable and offer the very best to pupils of all ages. colleagues with whom to After considerable investment and collaborate and share best changes in structure, the schools and practice. nurseries are all thriving. • Focus With centralised Foundation business – with some leadership tasks functions, the schools and nurseries can now handled centrally, each of our concentrate on looking after their pupils schools’ Heads can focus fully on and delivering the best education possible to each and every one. leading their school. 6 Dean Close Timeline 1886 Dean Close School For boys aged 9 –18 1938 1968 The first girls come to Dean Close Schools, Dean Close Junior School formed, gaining Senior and Junior membership of IAPS in 1949. Now known as Dean Close Preparatory School 2003 2015 Dean Close Pre -Preparatory School ‘Squirrels’ established St John’s on-the-Hill School, Hedgehogs, Robins and Teddies Nurseries join the Dean Close Family 2016 2017 Formation of the Dean Close Foundation. Dean Close House becomes ‘DCHQ’ – the administrative Treetops Nurseries base of the Foundation Cheltenham and Gloucester join the Foundation 2020 7 Clos eFormation This year, we have made some key senior appointments to strengthen the leadership of important areas of the Foundation’s work, particularly in the areas of HR, Marketing and Admissions. 8 Foundation Leadership Team Emma Taylor Warden Carolyn Shelley Paddy Moss Bradley Salisbury Jason Dobbie Dean Close Pre-Prep Head Dean Close Prep School Head Dean Close School Head St John’s on-the-Hill (until Dec 2020) Nick Thrower Adrian Bowcher St John’s on-the-Hill (2021 onwards) Dean Close Foundation bursar Senior Team Leaders Jennifer Thomas David Evans Emily Harris Rebecca Chaplin Steve Ewence Directo(arp opfo HintRed, F2o01u9n) dation Director of External Relations, Director o(fa pMpaorinkteetdin 2g0,2 F0o) undation Director of Admissions, Foundation Operations bursar, Foundation Foundation 9 Clos eFoundation learned the secre ave t of I h be 3 ing –1 co 12 Joh n : n te 4 l. 1 n s l t n ches. If y 0 i ia u bran ou : n p f e rem 1 a p th a n i e i 0 y il e r n a i a h n n P h u o m d . t y e I e h ; v t e a g n n e i c r n o d v y e I o r t e s t i i h n t s t u t m e y a o i m t m i a u o s I , n e e y , v e o 5 i w : u g 5 h v t 1 o w e h t h a i n h l l w h e b r a o h J e m w i a . t h r e g l m n l h d i t g u f h e t c h u d o n h o n r f o r e a o u h r d t i t ; h y n , s a a i p c u a u r h e n t o y f t m r e o m f m g l i l r l y a a , y e w o v h a d h e n t a h c e I r 3 l i 1 v . i n t g n a i n w p n i l e r n o t y During the year, we have worked hard to establish our ‘Foundation Stones’ – a clear statement of the aim and values of the Foundation. In the new academic year, we will develop these further, considering how they should make a practical difference to the life of every pupil and member of staff, and to the way we think about ourselves, other people, the world and God. Each area of the Foundation has provided some practical examples of the Foundation Stones at work. 10 Love s, do good to th mie em, ene and ur le in practice yo nd ve Galati to o .’ an t t l lf s h u e 5 e s from : m B r comes God. 8 1 u ve …G 4 w 5 r lo od i :3 o fo i th Julie & Becky (Catering) 6 y r, s l he ov F o e ot e. u – Julie and becky k s n 9 o t a u a e T r e L h x n is r o t p have very important jobs keeping us all . e is v h e d u h c lo o e t w e i k o s u n nourished and care deeply about the welfare c G i t g b e o e l w d t , o h s s n d d h of staff and pupils. They are never too busy to g o n g n t e e w a i i t r i e l f r e d a r lend an ear and will always stop to ask how u n f a h e e y e i n s t t D l h a o l r people are getting on. They regularly keep an i r v a 9 n g e – g n 7 a w u : m u b 4 eye on those who perhaps need a little extra o o a n e n c h h i g y k o t s J u . s support now and again. Their love for the 1 o T : e t f H . h u v e d m e i s n n h e i whole community is very strong. l o n h k f y t g L i h o u s ‘ i o i l s u r l o h r e t : n e Annika e e h r v i a e d l d n e t d w – Annika in Pre-Prep was a very h s g o n i n a i u m l y a e n r a S w o d t n c a i h n t t o d l e r t h o e w m k w b caring friend to a new EAL pupil in Year One e i , m l e l h o p b c g i i n e e g n o H g t r when she started, who spoke very little s e a o t , M a e n h d t f y o o u n e English.