HABERDASHERS’ SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

AGENTS’ HANDBOOK CONTENTS

Welcome

Overview

Admissions

Key Facts at a Glance

Boarding Life

GCSE/IGCSE and A Level Options

Fees

University Destinations

Term Dates

Contact Details WELCOME

I am delighted to introduce you to Haberdashers’ At all ages, pupils will be encouraged to take personal Monmouth School for Girls. Situated in an area of responsibility, to encounter challenge, to think ‘Outstanding Natural Beauty’, Monmouth was recently for themselves and to understand service to the acclaimed as the third best place to live in the UK by community. The Sunday Times. You will immediately discover pupils enjoying a unique, purposeful and positive approach to International Students play a very important part in the learning and life that you simply will not find anywhere life of HMSG. Currently we have girls from the UAE, else. USA, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Nigeria to name but a few living alongside our UK boarders. We combine the finest, modern education with the best traditional values, shaped by over a century It can be a daunting prospect moving, often half way of educational expertise. Academic excellence is around the world, to a new place, new school, full of important but it is the extraordinary individual touch new people. We can promise your student a HUGE which sets the school aside from its competitors. welcome and it won’t be long before she really does

With over 605 pupils of which about 145 are boarders, regard us as her ‘second’ family. We are extremely HMSG and its prep school, Inglefield House, are just proud of the pastoral care we offer to each and every the right size to really get to know each other; for the one of our pupils. girls to learn in small classes but still enjoy the masses of extra-curricular opportunities on offer. I hope that this brochure provides all the information you need when you are considering the right school Academic results are impressive, ranked top in for your clients. If you have any questions at all, please for GCSE results in 2013 and with 100% pass rate at do get in touch and we will get back to you promptly. A Level now a regular achievement, the vast majority of girls achieve places in their first choice university Please call my Registrar, to read subjects as diverse as medicine, law, languages, Mrs Karen Stafford-Smith, engineering and economics. Telephone: +44(0)1600 711104 or Email: [email protected]. Close links with our sibling, Monmouth School, provides a dynamic Sixth Form experience with seminar-style We look forward to hearing from you. classes in preparation for university. Our new Sixth Form boarding house, Augusta House, further eases Yours sincerely this transition between school and university.

But HMSG offers much more than just grades. Whether a pupil’s passion is for Sport, Music, Drama, Photography, Dance or CCF, the School will encourage Mrs Caroline Pascoe BSc(Hons),MSc,NPQH her to reach the highest standard. It nurtures a “can- Headmistress do” spirit, facilitating the girls’ growing self-confidence. OVERVIEW

Light, welcoming buildings in beautiful countryside, create an inspiring home from home where learning comes naturally.

Celebrating 400 years of educational excellence, the family of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools was founded in 1614. HMSG opened in 1892 as a sister school to . Their endowment income underpins life at the School enabling us to offer highly competitive boarding fees.

In fact, Tatler Schools’ Guide stated that “Monmouth’s fees are among the best value in the country”.

Even the buildings at HMSG embody the School’s ethos of combining the best of traditional values with the modern needs of today’s students. The Schools have co-ordinated term dates and key Ultra-modern, purpose-built facilities nestle alongside events, they share the same Foundation and have the beautifully restored listed buildings, providing a stimulating same Board of Governors. environment where pupils can focus on their academic goals, feed their personal interests and belong to a wider The Heads, teachers and pupils are often in contact on community. a day-to-day basis, although each school is proud of its individual identity. We passionately believe in the academic advantages of single-sex education but also enjoy many joint extra- curricular activities with Monmouth School offering the best of both worlds. ADMISSIONS FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS

We very much welcome enquiries from overseas Girls joining our prep school, Inglefield House, also need to students wishing to join Inglefield House or HMSG. sit an entrance assessment and we are usually happy to take There is currently a small number of overseas students those with a lower level of English provided parents agree and we take great care to maintain a good balance of to fund extra EAL (beyond normal expectation) if required. British and international students in the boarding houses. If a place is offered by the School then a deposit will be All international students will be taught in English and are, asked for. This is currently a term’s fees which is refunded therefore, required to have a good working knowledge of against the final bill when the student leaves the School the English language, both written and spoken. (subject to conditions) but is not refunded if the student changes her mind and chooses not to join the School. We offer English as an Additional Language (EAL) which is provided by experienced EAL teachers. The charge for What are the entry requirements? this is £200 per term and will be tailored towards the Our entry requirements are a satisfactory report from student’s individual profile. the current school, the passing of entrance exams, and, if appropriate, an interview by Skype or in person. When do students join? If boarding space is available, students can start at any Which year groups offer availability? time, for a minimum of one year. Shorter stays are We usually offer vacancies in Year 5 (9+), Year 6 (10+), available by negotiation. Students studying for GCSE Year 7 (11+), Year 8 (12+), Year 9 (13+), Year 10 (14+) and A Levels must be in school for the first day of the and Year 12 (16+). Michaelmas term. We strongly recommend that those seeking a strong What is the application process for overseas students? GCSE performance should join in Year 9 or earlier. First contact is Karen Stafford-Smith, the Admissions Registrar, with the details of your student and a copy of What are your application deadlines? her most recent school report (translated into English if We do not have a specific deadline but, given we only necessary). have 154 boarding places, there is usually a strong demand in the Michaelmas term for the following academic year. If the student is seeking Sixth Form entry we need to We would recommend that your client applies as soon know which four subjects your client wishes to study. as possible.

If the Registrar feels that your client is likely to meet What about Visa applications? our entry requirements she will ask for a completed HMSG is registered as a Tier 4 Highly Trusted Sponsor application form and £60 registration fee. with the UK Visas and Immigration.

If your client is seeking entry to the Senior School or Sixth Once a place at HMSG is offered, the Registrar will ask Form, you will be sent entrance examination papers for for a copy of your client’s passport so that she can apply your student to sit under strict examination conditions. for the necessary CAS. For GCSE a minimum IELTS of 4.5 is required. For A Level a minimum IELTS 5.5 is required. The CAS will only be applied for once the full deposit has been received by the School. KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE

HEADMISTRESS Mrs Caroline Pascoe BSc (Hons), MSc, NPQH

ADMISSIONS REGISTRAR Mrs Karen Stafford-Smith Telephone +44 (0) 1600 711104 Email: [email protected]

ADDRESS Hereford Road, Monmouth, NP25 5XT

PUPIL NUMBERS Inglefield House - 130 Senior School - 337 Sixth Form - 138

TEACHER : PUPIL RATIO 1 : 9

BOARDING 145 of which 49 overseas non EU students, 15 Overseas EU students, 81 UK students

ACCOMMODATION New boarding house 2012, all other accommodation refurbished 2013. In Top Twenty of Best Boarding Schools in UK. Six sitting rooms (with Wii, Xbox), computers, Pianos/Music Practice rooms, kitchens for boarders’ use.

SCHOOL CAMPUS School campus houses Inglefield House, Senior School and Sixth Form. 25 acres of sports pitches, all-weather astro-pitch, netball and tennis courts, indoor heated swimming pool, Sports Hall, state-of-the-art Language and IT suites, Library and Careers Library, Theatre, Sixth Form Centre, 12 fully equipped Science Laboratories, Music School and Art studios, lecture theatre space and panelled Dining Room.

SITUATION On a hill in the Georgian market town of Monmouth overlooking the Wye Valley in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. 2 hours train to London. 50 minutes to Bristol and Cardiff.

GCSE RESULTS 2015 99.61% pass rate 74.8% A*/A 2014 98.0% 73.9% 2013 97.6% 76.4% 2012 97.1% 67.55% 2011 98.93% 71.65%

A LEVEL RESULTS 2015 99.1% pass rate 79.6% A*- B 2014 100% 77.2% 2013 99.6% 80.6% 2012 100% 80.6% 2011 100% 80.6%

FEES 2015/2016 Boarders per term (including tuition fees) £9,267 External Sixth Form entrant £8,741 Overseas Senior School £6,333 Overseas Inglefield House

EXTRA LESSONS Music: Approximately £220 per term, per instrument/voice (10 x 30 minute 1:1 lessons per term) Learning Support: £200 per term. BOARDING LIFE

Everyday in Boarding is special as there is Girls aged between 13 and 16 live in Twiston Davies House. so much to share and be involved with. Our Girls in Years 9 and 10 share study bedrooms in doubles aim is to ensure that everyone feels welcome or triples. All of the rooms are spacious and comfortably and supported and that all girls have an furnished and the girls are encouraged to personalise their own spaces with photos of their families, pets and opportunity to contribute to boarding life. favourite pop groups. They complete their evening prep whilst supervised by a member of staff, either in classrooms, the school Library or the Computer Suite. Girls in Year 11 have their own study bedrooms and are granted a greater freedom for their academic studies. They may choose to work quietly in their bedrooms during prep time or may elect to work in a more structured environment with a member of staff. Each year group has its own common room, equipped with plasma television, DVD players and Wii consoles. There is also a Library and a Computer Suite exclusively for boarders’ use, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, which the girls use for baking cakes and preparing sumptuous meals for special occasions.

Junior boarders, aged 7 – 13 (Years 3 – 8) live in School House, in the main school building. Girls share with two or three other girls in recently refurbished rooms, all of which have been decorated and furnished with a fine eye for detail and comfort. The House has a common room for relaxation, with TV, DVD and Wii games and a quiet room which is equipped with up-to-date computers, Skype and school internet access. They are provided with a wide variety of books and junior newspapers in order to keep in touch with the world outside Monmouth.

Girls aged between 16 and 18 live in Augusta House. We were delighted to have opened our brand new Sixth Form boarding house in September 2012. Augusta House is the newest addition to HMSG facilities, containing 45 en-suite study bedrooms for Sixth Form pupils, in the centre of the school campus. Each bedroom is furnished with the ultimate in modern boarding facilities, providing spacious single accommodation for the girls, giving them their own personalised living space as well as comfortable, stylish common rooms for socialising and entertaining guests. Augusta House provides the perfect stepping stone to university. BOARDING LIFE

What about access to the internet and telephone? Whilst the School can provide a list of guardianship There is Wifi throughout Twiston Davies and Augusta organisations, it is the parents responsibility to arrange a House boarding houses. School House girls use school guardian for their daughter. Overseas students will not computers in a quiet room. Telephone for incoming calls be allowed to join the School unless they have a guardian. in a private space. AEGIS aims to promote high standards and best practice Does the School provide transport to and from the in guardianship in order to safeguard the welfare of airport? overseas students in Britain. They may be contacted as At the beginning and end of each term, coach, minibus and follows for more information: AEGIS – Association of taxi transport is provided, in conjunction with Monmouth Educational Guardians for International Students. www. School, to and from Heathrow airport. On the first day aegisuk.net for further information. of term, there is normally one main pick-up time. Those travelling by air should arrive before 7.30am for the first What welfare arrangements do you provide? coach. Later flights are accommodated as required. Each boarding house is run by a dedicated team of house staff, managed by a Housemistress. Separate arrangements can be made for other times and other airports, most notably Bristol or . The boarding staff run in close co-operation with academic day staff so that every girl receives the highest A fee will be charged per journey to/from the airport and possible standard of care and support. will appear on the School account. What extra-curricular activities are available? The School must be informed of a pupil’s travelling All boarders are encouraged to participate in the wide arrangements and if she is registered with the airline as range of extra-curricular activities on offer at lunchtimes travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor. Unaccompanied and after school during the week. Minors will be met at the airport by a member of staff. For the outward journey transport can be provided and At weekends we provide a wide variety of activities and our staff will normally be able to check in Unaccompanied trips for boarders, often combined with the boys from Minors. If travelling at times other than the end of term, Monmouth School. These activities range from sailing, guardians must meet the student to wait and check them quad biking and rock climbing to more sedate activities in and adhere to the airline rules. such as craft, cookery and shopping in nearby Cardiff and Bristol. We work hard to ensure that there is something Taxi Service on the menu for everybody and always welcome new If the above transport arrangements do not cater for suggestions from the girls. a pupil’s requirements, we can arrange individual taxi transport to a particular destination and this can be What is Monmouth and the surrounding area like? organised through the School. Monmouth is a very pretty Georgian market town surrounded by open countryside and rolling hills. The What are the Guardianship requirements? Forest of Dean provides space for riding or mountain Overseas students are required to appoint a guardian. biking, while the provides a perfect spot to We also strongly advise that, in line with the Boarding train our rowers, in fact HMSG won the Silver Medal at Schools Association’s recommendation, the guardians live the 2013 National Schools’ Regatta. within a suitable proximity to the School. This person must be available at all times to act on their behalf and The School is within easy walking distance of town and respond to the needs of both the child and the School. offers an array of shops, cafés, cinema and theatres. This is someone with whom the pupil can stay during Monmouth is small enough to feel safe but large enough half-term holidays and provide the necessary support in to be interesting, a perfect backdrop for teenagers case of an emergency. learning to become more independent. CURRICULUM OPTIONS

Age 11 to 13 - Years 7 and 8 A LEVEL OPTIONS - Years 12 and 13

A broad curriculum is provided, including english, Co-operation with Monmouth School operates at mathematics, science, art, technology (combined DT this level which allows a breadth of choice. Certain and HE course), drama, music, PE, religious studies, combinations of AS study will be taught at MS and French, German, Latin, history, geography, ICT and HMSG. Subjects currently available at AS and A Level classical studies. French will be the initial language. Latin are: art and design, biology, business studies, chemistry, is introduced in the Lent term of Year 7. German is classical civilisation, computing, design and technology introduced in Year 8. (product design), drama and theatre studies, economics, English literature, ethics and philosophy, French, geography, german, Greek, history, home economics Age 13+ - Year 9 (food, nutrition and health), ICT, Latin, mathematics, further mathematics, music, music technology, physical Biology, chemistry and physics are studied as separate education, physics, psychology, Russian, Spanish and sciences. The majority of pupils continue with Latin. Statistics. Pupils have a choice of modern foreign languages and may choose two from French, German and Spanish. Pupils select four courses to be examined at AS Level In addition, students begin to specialise with subjects at the end of Year 12. Most will then proceed to take ranging from art, music, home economics, design and three subjects to A2 Level at the end of Year 13. Pupils technology and drama. will, in addition, have the opportunity to pursue the Extended Project Qualification. GCSE/IGCSE OPTIONS - Years 10 and 11 The majority of pupils also take enrichment courses Students begin their GCSE or IGCSE subjects. in the Sixth Form which are academically challenging Compulsory subjects are English, English literature, and stretching. mathematics, science and a modern foreign language. In addition, students select three or four optional subjects From Year 10 and above, certain subjects can only be which include ICT, history, geography, ethics and run if sufficient demand is forthcoming. philosophy, physical education, design and technology, music, art, drama, home economics, Spanish, French, German and Latin. BLOCK A BLOCK B BLOCK C BLOCK D BLOCK A BLOCK B BLOCK C BLOCK D Art English Lit Psychology Biology RS Geography HE Food Geography German German Chemistry Phil & Ethics Music ICT Ceramics Triple Spanish Geography History Maths French History RS PE Psychology Phil & Ethics Geography HE Food HE Food German Latin History Biology Physics Computing English Lit Geography Art PE History Chemistry Business Business History DT DT Latin Physics Art Art Drama FEES 2015/2016

What commission do you offer to boarding agents? We will draw up a contractual Agent Agreement with you, and commission will be offered at an agreed rate of the basic fee, paid by the student, for the first year at HMSG.

What are the current fees per term for tuition and boarding (Academic Year 2015/2016)? Boarders per term (including tuition fees) £9,267 External Sixth Form entrant £8,741 Overseas Senior School £6,333 Overseas Inglefield House

What are your advance fee deposit requirements? Once your client accepts a place here, we will require a term’s fees which is refunded against the final bill when the student leaves the School (subject to conditions) but is not refunded if the student changes her mind and chooses not to join the School.

What are the different payment options? Your client can either pay termly in advance, or can pay in monthly instalments by arrangement with the Bursar.

What are the additional expenses? The only additional expenses will be for the purchase of uniform, private tuition for music, speech & drama, EAL, learning support, optional school trips, some extra-curricular activities, the annual School Magazine, minor specialist art equipment, public examination fees for entry at GCSE, AS and A2 Level.

Can my client send their child pocket money? Cash can be held securely by the boarding staff until the pupil requires it. It is then released on signature. Older students often have their own bank account which can be accessed via the local branch in Monmouth.

Do you offer any discounts? If your clients are able to pay for one or more years in advance, we may be able to offer an early payment discount. We do not offer international (means-tested) bursaries but we do offer scholarships. Academic, music, dance and sport in years 7, 9 and 12 and drama and art in years 9 and 12.

What do the termly fees include? - School tuition and accommodation - All meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks - Textbooks - Weekend activities* - Weekend use of sports facilities - A range of extra-curricular activities* - On-site medical care, UK national healthcare, registration with local General Practitioner & Dentist - Pupil’s Personal Accident insurance - Pupil’s Personal Belongings insurance

* please note that there are occasionally small charges for more expensive (and optional) weekend excursions or clubs. UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2015

Virtually all our Sixth Form girls are successful in securing places at their first-choice universities. On average, 65% gain places in Russell Group Universities, Britain’s leading research institutions. ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY KING’S COLLEGE LONDON International Politics and Intelligence Studies Classics UNIVERSITY OF BATH Psychology Modern Languages and European Studies (French and UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS German) English Literature THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Fine Art International Relations with French French and International Business Materials Engineering Law UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought History UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER Law Chemistry Mathematics THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL Mechanical Engineering (two students) Medicine Medicine (two students) LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY BRISTOL SCHOOL OF FINE ART Aeronautical Engineering Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Psychology UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Corpus Christi Politics and Modern History Classics NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY Newnham Biomedical Sciences Modern and Medieval Languages UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Finance, Accounting & Management Biomedical Sciences NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy) Primary Education Geography (Human) PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Animal Behaviour and Welfare Sports Development Architecture Foundation leading to Health Sciences UNIVERSITY OF READING CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON Art Child Nursing Biological Sciences DURHAM UNIVERSITY Microbiology Chemistry (Industrial) ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, CIRENCESTER Theology & Religion Equine Management THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON International Business with French Drama & Music (2016) Japanese Management with Marketing (Year in Business) UNIVERSITY OF EXETER Zoology Engineering Geology and Geotechnics THE ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITY Music Rural Property Management UNIVERSITY OF SURREY Veterinary Nursing and Practice Management Nutrition/Dietetics UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK Social Sciences English and Hispanic Studies IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Politics Geology with a Year Abroad TERM DATES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

AUTUMN TERM 2015

Wednesday 2nd September*: New Girls’ Day

Thursday 3rd September - 4:00pm on Friday 16th October

Half-Term Break (Monday 19th October - Friday 30th October)

Monday 2nd November* - 12 noon on Friday 11th December

LENT TERM 2016

Tuesday 5th January* - 4.00pm on Friday 12th February

Half-Term Break (Monday 15th February - Friday 19th February)

Monday 22nd February* - 4.00pm Wednesday 23rd March

SUMMER TERM 2015

Monday 18th April* - 4.00pm Friday 27th May

Half-Term Break (Monday 25th May - Friday 27th May)

Monday 30th May* - 4.00pm Friday 8th July

*Boarders return the evening before

Contacts

For Admissions Registrar: Mrs Karen Stafford-Smith, +44 (0) 1600 711104 [email protected]

www.habs-monmouth.org