ISM+Oct+2014+LowRes

October 2014Chair Head Bursar Registrar Staffroom School Office...the professional journal for Management & Staff

Tried and testedqualificationsfor sixth formstudentsCambridge Pre-U is developed with universitiesand taken by students across the UK.Cambridge International AS & A Level is a flexiblequalification with AS Level counting towardsA Level, taken by students around the world.Both qualifications are recognised byuniversities and offer stability,consistency and flexibility.Learn more about our post-16 qualifications byjoining our free event in London on 27 November.Sign up at www.cie.org.uk/eventsOur front page picturesNew music facilityBryanston School in Dorset officially opened itsnew state-of-the-art Music School building thismonth (October).Costing £8.5m the Tom Wheare Music Schoolreaffirms music’s place at the core of Bryanstonlife. It is named after retired headmaster TomWheare and is a replacement for Bryanston’sold Music School, which was built by pupils inthe 1950s.‘This is a hugely exciting and ambitiousdevelopment for the school,’ said Bryanston’sHead, Sarah Thomas. ‘Music has always beenat the heart of life at Bryanston and, with thecompletion of the new Music School, we nowhave a facility which meets the requirements ofthe talents and hard work of our pupils and staff.’The building’s centrepiece is a 300-seat concerthall with a 150 square metre stage designed tohold a large-scale symphony orchestra. The hallfeatures adjustable panels that can change thespace’s acoustics to suit a range of performersfrom soloists to a full orchestra.The concert hall itself has been named afterleading conductor Sir Mark Elder, who was apupil at Bryanston. The Tom Wheare MusicSchool also contains 35 teaching or practicerooms and offices, two large academicclassrooms, a recital room, a chamber musicroom, recording studios and a film-musicediting suite, two keyboard computer rooms, alarge percussion studio, a staff room, speciallysoundproofed band rooms and a courtyard areafor outdoor performances.Pictured: Bryanston School Head Sarah Thomas and Directorof Music Duncan Emerson outside the new Tom WheareMusic School at Bryanston.Pavilion underconstructionSee page 16In this issue...Head Questions Willshaw 05~ over his ‘better co-ed’ claimWill Faith in Marking Ever Return? 06~ ‘it’s hard to envisage when’Out of Character 10~ conference focus on emotional health & resilienceFresh Take on Learning French 14~ new approach gains popularity‘Fun & Exploration Can Disappear’ 15~ dangers of taking too many GCSEsProfile 24 ~ 25~ in conversation with Tim Hands‘Finding A Voice’ 26~ reflections on the HMC ConferenceWhy Study Classical Greek? 34~ after all it’s a dead language!‘Parental Support Should Never Be Underestimated’ 43~ head explains how mums & dads are deeply involvedEvery Pupil to Receive an iPad 44~ school goes digital in a big wayPlusHistoric unfairness in top grades 07Commemorating the First World War 08Changing Faces...Changing Places 09‘Real life isn’t about perfection’ 11Sporting elite inspire girls 12 ~ 13Energy/Green Focus Feature 17 ~ 19Schoolwear/Sport Focus Feature 20 ~ 23Music & Drama Focus Feature 27 ~ 32Are schools ready for parental leave? 33New teacher training programme 35Buildings Focus Feature 36 ~ 39Finance Focus Feature 40 ~ 42Tatler awards 44New Products & Services; The Digest 45 ~ 46Heads Hunted 47Is Your School Mentioned? See page 55 for an A~Z listingContact Us; Editorial Advisory Board; Key Personnel; Subscription Offer ~ page 47LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A SCHOOL OR NURSERYNational SchoolTransferFor a Professional – Confidential Servicewww.nationalschooltransfer.com Email: info@nationalschooltransfer.com Tel: +44 (0)1980 621251Independent Schools Magazine 3

New head at the helm...for the dayHeadmaster of Alleyn Court School,Essex, Gareth Davies, steppedaside for Mr David Hanson, ChiefExecutive Officer of IAPS in a jobswap initiative.After taking morning assembly,during which he talked aboutwhat makes an excellent school,Mr Hanson toured Alleyn Courtand visited many classrooms. Heremarked upon the confidence ofpupils, who willingly shared their4 Independent Schools Magazineknowledge and learning with their“new Head for the day”.Mr Hanson saw the school’snewly-refurbished netball andtennis courts, which he formallyopened in his capacity as the CEOof The Independent Association ofPreparatory Schools (IAPS) - theprofessional association for headsof the leading 600 independentprep schools in the UK andworldwide.On returning to his post asHeadmaster, Mr Davies remarkedthat it was a pleasure to welcomeMr Hanson to the school.“I was delighted with hispositive approval of the school’sfacilities,” says Mr Davies, “andhis kind compliments aboutthe excellent confidence shownby our children during his visithighlighted one of the school’skey strengths.”Pictured: Mr Davies (left) and Mr Hanson (right) cut the ribbon to officially open Alleyn Court’s new netball and tennis courts.Senior staff soakedTwo senior teachers and a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament went theextra mile at the Towers Convent School, Sussex, when the schoolheld its own version of the Ice Bucket Challenge.Sister Mary Andrew, who was Headmistress for 32 years, Mrs N Hanks,Teacher in Charge of The Junior School and Mrs Clare Trelfa, Headmistress,faced their soaking bravely.Pupils and staff bought raffle tickets in the hope that they wouldbe one of the three lucky individuals who could inflict the waterytorture on the volunteers! A once in a lifetime opportunity!Money raised will be sent to two charities; Wateraid and Children in Gaza.Ryder Cupgolf tipsRyan Scott, coach at LorettoSchool Golf Academy, EastLothian, was part of a team ofexpert PGA pros giving hundredsof free lessons at the Ryder CupSwing Zone at Gleneagles.Ryan commented, “It was a greathonour to have the opportunityto coach as part of the 2014Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Golf isa game that I have loved sincethe first day I picked up a golfclub, and one I continue to loveas a PGA Professional. I’m veryprivileged to be able to havea profession that I feel deeplypassionate about. As a PGAcoach, to have the skill sets tobe able to influence, enhanceand educate a golfer in his/herdevelopment is very rewarding.It is based on this underliningdesire to help educate golfers thatformed my decision to become aPGA Professional. It is this thatI enjoy about my work at theLoretto Golf Academy.”Head questions commentsfrom Ofsted leaderNottingham Girls’ High School Head, Sue Gorham, has questioned commentsmade by Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools in England andHead of Ofsted, in a report in a national Sunday newspaper where he wasquoted as saying that boys and girls do better in a co-educational setting.Sue Gorham said: “Sir Michael’scomments would appear to bebased solely on his personalexperience as a teacher – first atan all-boys school and then ata co-ed. In the face of repeatedresearch and reports, whichshow that girls always do betterin a single sex environment,his motivation for stating suchthoughts is disturbing. Howdisappointing that he wouldexpress such claims withoutreferencing any supportingresearch. Such comments couldimpact parents across the UK,who are making crucial decisionsabout their daughters’ futuresand academic paths. Parentalchoice absolutely should not beinfluenced by the likes and dislikesof one person talking from aclearly uninformed position. Thosewith such an ill-informed opinionshould think twice before usingsuch a high profile position toshare them.”These sentiments were echoedby Professor Alice Sullivan, Headof Department for QuantitativeSocial Science at the Instituteof Education, which specialisesin research into education, inan interview on BBC4’s PMprogramme. Professor Sullivansaid there was absolutely noresearch evidence to support SirMichael’s claims and that researchsuggests girls do better in termsof their educational attainment atCCF awardAn Exeter School Senior RoyalNavy cadet has been awarded theJack Sadler Award for outstandingcontribution to the combinedcadet force contingent (CCF).Cox’n and Deputy Head Girl TillyGilbert was presented with thebrass trophy of an artillery shellcase and an engraved medalduring the biennial inspection bysingle sex than at co-educationalschools. She discussed how genderstereotyping is greater in the coeducationalsector and how singlesexschools are bucking thosestereotypes with girls being morelikely to take maths and scienceat A Level and boys more likely totake English or modern languages.Nottingham Girls’ High Schoolbelieves that students in anall-girls environment are givenleadership opportunities anda chance to experience thebenefits and challenges that area part of those roles in waysthey wouldn’t at a co-ed school.Academically they are given thefreedom to take intellectual risks,ask questions or make decisionswithout worrying about howthey are perceived by their malecounterparts. Girls are more likelyto conform to gender stereotypesin the presence of boys but in adedicated environment educationcan be tailored to develop andempower girls to be confident,successful and adventurousyoung women.Sue Gorham added: “Girls arenow overtaking boys in mostsubjects at GCSE and A Level,but women are still very muchunderrepresented in seniorpositions in later life. An all-girlsenvironment provides the buildingblocks to tackle this issue asgirls naturally fill leadership rolesthroughout their education –Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty,who is Commandant of all AirCadets in UK.The trophy is a permanentmemorial to former Exeter Schoolpupil and senior cadet Jack Sadler,who was killed in Afghanistan on 4December 2007, halfway through asix-month tour as a trooper in theHonourable Artillery Company.Sue Gorham believes thatwhile a single-sex environmentbenefits girls’ education, it is alsoimportant to provide students withopportunities to mix with boys,both socially and academically.Nottingham Girls’ High Schoolstudents participate in a greatnumber of events and are involvedin voluntary work which engagesgirls and boys from acrossNottingham and the UK. Eventssuch as The National CitizensService Project, a three weekresidential event every summerwith a focus on teambuilding,leadership and social enterprise, TheChemistry Olympiad events, YoungEnterprise and debating.Nottingham Girls’ HighSchool and its neighbouringindependent boys’ school cometogether regularly for socialoccasions. The schools have ajoint choir and students fromboth participate in a socialcommittee to help plan eventssuch as the Sixth Form Ball.team captains and head of school,for example. It’s about an experteducation that is designed anddelivered with girls in mind, atall times and at all levels. I haveworked in co-ed schools beforeand I passionately believe thatthe experience and educationThe boys are also involved inNottingham Girls’ High Schooldrama plays and music concerts.“Single sex education is not aboutsegregating and isolating boys andgirls, but identifying opportunitieswhere students can gain value fromsocial and academic interactionwith the opposite sex, and where itis better for them to be in a singlesex environment,” added Sue.“We’ve welcomed this debate as ithas given us great opportunity tocelebrate and showcase who weare and what we do. We have seenparents become more aware ofthe importance of such a decision.They are doing their research andasking more questions so they canbetter understand what makes usso successful as an all-girls school.We are experts in girls’ education.It is as simple and as complicatedas that. We are passionate aboutgiving the next generation ofwomen the tools and skills tosucceed in life.”provided in a single sex school isexceptional. We would be quitehappy for Sir Michael to join us atNottingham Girls’ High School, sohe can appreciate the advantagesof a girls-only educationalenvironment and allow him to bebetter informed for the future.”Independent Schools Magazine 5

‘It is hard to envisage atime when faith in themarking will return’The failure of some examination boards to deliver reliable results has led to aculture in which neither pupils, parents nor teachers trust the grades that arrive onResults Day, writes Dan Gabriele, Head of Sixth Form at Brighton College, Sussex.For some years now, schools suchas mine have been geared up toquickly challenge those gradeswhich seem anomalous; however,the frequency of these anomalies,not to mention the scale of theerrors, has grown to such anextent that it is hard to envisagea time when faith in the markingwill return.As a former Head of English, Ihave had plenty of experiences ofsuch mistakes. Over the last threeyears we have challenged markingerrors and twice triggered wholecohort re-marks in the EnglishGCSE examinations across twodifferent examination boards;on each occasion, it has led to asignificant number of pupils – bywhich I mean upwards of twentyper cent of a cohort of onehundred and sixty or so boys andgirls – see their overall grades forEnglish Language or Literaturerise by a grade boundary. Suchexperiences are embarrassinglycommon, especially in subjectslike English and History.What has been striking this year,though, is the extent of the errorsin A level marking in essay-basedsubjects. These have seriousramifications that can warp thefutures of pupils whose universityplaces hinge on these results.For instance, one of our 2014leavers held an insurance offerof AAB from Newcastle to readGeography. On Results Day shegot BBB – unexpectedly – andtherefore missed both offers. HerA2 History exam, worth 30% ofthe entire A level, was awarded amark of 47/120 – a U grade. In6 Independent Schools Magazineher three other History papers sheaveraged a low A grade.Something was amiss. The paperin question was submitted for apriority re-mark. It took not thethree to five days to return thatis acceptable, but around tendays, leaving the pupil and herfamily on tenterhooks. It went upto 85/120 – a B grade for thatpaper, giving her an A grade forthe whole A Level in History, and- it turned out – good enoughfor Newcastle to take her forGeography. But it was a long andpainful wait, during which timethe university accommodation onoffer was rapidly diminishing.There have been around a dozenfurther examples of pupils whoseuniversity aspirations have beencompromised by initial markswhich subsequently proved to benot just wrong, but wildly wrong,to the tune of several grades.In one risible case, a Year 12 pupilwas awarded 48% in his EnglishLiterature AS exam having testedat upper A grade standard all year– and having been predicted anA grade on the board’s estimatedgrade sheet. We sought a copy ofthe script and submitted it for remarkat the same time. The copysent to us revealed that the marksfor one of the two essays he haddone had been omitted from thefinal addition. A day later, theboard responded to the re-markrequest by ratifying the original,erroneous mark – and chargingthe pupil £49 for the privilege.We had to point out to the boardthat the script copy they sent tous demonstrated incontrovertiblythat this was wrong – that eventhe basic administration of addingup two plainly stated marks hadnot occurred.For this to have happened in thefirst place was dreadful. But for itto have happened at re-mark toosuggests that the paper had noteven been glanced at, never mindre-marked.In the end, the mark was alteredto 96% - by which time, inmid-September, the pupil haddropped English Literature asan A2 subject, thinking thathis ambitions in this line weremisplaced. He has since returnedto the subject, having missedthree weeks of teaching, andis re-calibrating his universityapplication as I write. As weall know, your grades andpercentages have a significantbearing on your credibility withthe best universities.What happens to pupils in schoolsthat cannot afford the risk ofputting in for re-marks? It is veryexpensive and, if the grade on thepaper does not go up, the fee isnot waived. The fee is designedto discourage re-mark requests,as the cost is nonsensically high.So plenty of state schools simplyhave to settle for what they get.Our leading universities have astandard offer A*AA for a goodnumber of popular arts andhumanities courses. But it seemsto me that asking for A*s inHistory or English and rejectingon that basis when they are notachieved is untenable, given theobvious collapse in the accuracyof the marking.One of our pupils missed anEnglish Lit A* by 5/200 UMS(uniform mark scale), andconsequently was rejected byDurham. That’s three raw marksout of sixty, across two essays.To have awarded her those markswould have been within officialtolerance, and another markermay have done so.“exam boardsneed toreform, orbe made toreform, theirmarkingpractices”In short, it’s something of alottery, and everyone knowsit. The exam boards need toreform, or be made to reform,their marking practices, ensuringthat they secure the services ofexperienced teachers with goodjudgement. But this can onlybe done by making the job ofmarking a more attractive one,with better pay and greaterrecognition for the important taskthat is being carried out – a taskthat shapes the futures and livesof thousands of young peopleevery year.Historic unfairness in top gradesHeadteacher organisations (ASCL,NAHT, HMC) and universityexperts have welcomed a reportby the exams regulator, Ofqual,into unpredictable and inaccurategrades in A-level ModernLanguages. They particularlywelcome its commitment to takeaction in time for summer 2015exams.Ofqual’s investigation wasundertaken in response toconcerns expressed over a decadeby languages teachers about anunfairly low percentage of A*grades awarded in these exams,and unexplained variability inmarking.Teachers knew that the bestcandidates were not getting thehighest grades and Ofqual has nowconcluded that this was due to theway in which marking rules havebeen designed by exam boards.Scottish independencereferendum ~ pupilvoters mirror resultAs the people of Scotland went to the polls last month (September),pupils at Oundle School, Northamptonshire, around 40 of whom comefrom Scotland, did so too.Oundle’s Head of Politics, Matt King, opened the referendum with ashort introduction while a member of the School’s bagpipe ensemble,Freddie Wood played a warm welcome. For the ‘YES’ side, pupilsRuaraidh Richardson and Ed Willey gave their reasons for Scotlandbecoming independent. Then, preceded by a verse of the NationalAnthem, played by Ian Ostojic on the trumpet, the ‘NO’ side, pupilsMorgan Ball and Rupert Warre put forward arguments for Scotlandremaining part of the United Kingdom.After hearing the arguments, pupils and staff of Oundle headed to thepolls. The result? A 67% win for the ‘NO’ campaign.Head of Politics, Matt King commented, “Having an Oundle versionof the Scottish referendum ensured that all pupils were aware ofwhat was happening and the importance of the constitutionalconsequences.I think the Oundle results were as we expected, with the majorityof pupils and staff deciding it was best to keep the Union together.Turnout was a little larger in the main event and the result a littlecloser, but, we reached the same conclusions!”Ofqual’s technical report, publishedlast month (September) finds that:• the bunching of raw marksand the statistical calculationby exam boards in setting theA* boundary has, indeed, ledto inaccurate allocation of A*grades. It recommends thatthe exam boards ensure a widerspread of raw marks for thesummer 2015 exams so thata fair number of A* grades isawarded to the right candidates.• specific aspects in the designof the exam boards’ markschemes have led to unreliable/variable marking, with detailsvarying from board to board andlanguage to language. Ofqualintends to require changes atexam boards in time for nextsummer’s exams. This meansthat schools should find that the‘rank order’ of their candidatesis more in line with expectation.• other findings from theinvestigation, important forINCISIVESTRATEGYDISTINCTIVEPROSPECTUSESEMOTIVEPHOTOGRAPHYENGAGINGFILMINNOVATIVEWEBSITESTheSchoolBrandingExperts.cominclusion in the design ofnew ‘linear’ A-levels, includeways to improve assessment ofspeaking and writing elementsin particular.Peter Hamilton, Chair of the HMCAcademic Policy Committee andHeadmaster of Haberdashers’Aske’s Boys School said:Thanks to the joint persistence ofthe state and independent schools’languages associations, Ofqualwill now be acting to correcthistoric injustices that have hugelydamaged confidence in these examgrades over recent years.It is extremely important thatthe proposed changes are madefor summer 2015 as the currentA-level will continue to be offeredthrough to summer 2017. Itis also vital that the reformedlanguages A-levels currently beingdesigned for first examinationin 2018 have the Ofqualrecommendations built-in at thedevelopment stage.Independent Schools Magazine 7

Commemorating the First World WarCentenary exhibitionThe story of a Victoria Crossrecipient, daring tales ofCheshire’s war heroes and theaccount of Cheadle HulmeSchool’s role as a militaryhospital have recently beenunearthed in a centenaryexhibition charting the life of theCheshire school and its studentsduring the First World War.The School has delved into itsthorough archive and workedwith the wider community todiscover stories such as that ofJohn Alexander Christie, who wasawarded the Victoria Cross andHaileybury, Hertfordshire,commemorated the centenary ofthe First World War with the officialopening of a section of a replicatrench within its grounds.At a ceremony attended byHaileybury pupils, alumni andmembers of the community, thetrench was officially opened by theRt Hon Mark Francois MP, Ministerof State for the Armed Forces. It wasconstructed to mark the centenaryof the First World War, in whichHaileybury lost 589 pupils and staff.The trench was created to provide avivid illustration of the experiencesof the First World War for pupils ofHaileybury and surrounding schoolsand is fitted with duckboards, firesteps and dugouts. A thousandchildren from local state andpreparatory schools will experiencea sense of life at the front and in8 Independent Schools Magazinepaid a yearly subscription to theSchool to safeguard his children’seducation following the war.A replica of his medal featuresin the exhibition and he is alsocommemorated with plaques atBramall Hall and Euston Station inLondon.Other valiant accounts include thatof John Foulkes, the grandfatherof a former student, who foughtalongside famous war poet,Wilfred Owen in the crossing ofthe Sambre–Oise Canal, both ofwhom were awarded the MilitaryCross for their service.Historic replica WWI trencha trench during 36 visits scheduleduntil December.Historian and military adviser on thefilm War Horse Andrew Robertshawhas designed the full-size replicatrench section exclusively for theschool with the help of historyenthusiast and author Ryan Gearing.Joe Davies, Master of Haileybury,said: “We are delighted that RtHon Mark Francois MP was ableto join us in commemorating thecentenary and the opening of ourreplica trench, a tangible symbolthat will be shared not only with ourpupils but also local schools. Theconstruction of the replica trench isa grim echo of the school’s history,as Haileybury pupils during thewar traded their physical educationlessons for trench building trainingon the College’s grounds. Creatingthe Haileybury Trench Trail hasTrench designer and historian Andrew Robertshaw discusses construction with theRt Hon Mark Francois MP, Minister of State for the Armed ForcesThe special exhibition is part ofa range of events taking place atCheadle Hulme School to markthe centenary of The Great War,with staff, students, parents andOld Waconians (former students)coming together to gather awealth of artefacts, photographsand historic information.The School’s Archivist andLibrarian, Mrs Kay Moore says,“Until now, we have never hadany information about individualpatients from the time the Schoolserved as a military hospital but,thanks to the work of our Researchallowed us to create alearning experience toconnect to our past,and to explore personalaccounts of the warboth on the front lineand at home.”The trench has beenconceived as partof the ‘HaileyburyTrench Trail’, whichuses the school’sarchive material,architecture,chapel andmemorials totrace Haileybury’shistoric links withthe First WorldWar and reflect onthe struggles andsacrifices madeboth at homeand at the frontduring the conflict.Stories aboutthe school’s notablealumni includingfuture Prime MinisterClement Atlee as wellas his brother Tom,who was imprisonedfor his stance as aconscientious objectorduring the conflict,are featured as part ofthe trail.Assistant, Charlotte Dover, we havebeen able to build a clear pictureof what life was like for the Schoolcommunity during that time,including those whose familieswent away to fight.”Haileybury Master Joe Davies and the Rt Hon MarkFrancois MP, Minister of State for the Armed ForcesHaileybury’s replica WW1 trench, constructed on school groundsThe interior of the trench ‘Headquarters’The HeadMaster of ThePrebendalSchool, Sussex,has taken overthe reins of theChoir Schools’Association. Tim Cannell succeededRoger Overend as Chairman of theCSA on 1st September.Tim says he is delighted andhonoured to serve: “The ChoirSchools’ Association is anorganisation that promotes andhelps to ensure the future of ourcultural heritage. Our Choristersregularly enhance the worshipin our Cathedrals, Abbeys andChurches throughout the countryand the quality of their singing isrenowned throughout the world.“Choir schools offer a uniqueeducation not just for theChoristers themselves but for allthe other children that attend theschools. The quality and love ofmusic is often awe inspiring andcertainly our Choristers’ close linkswith Chichester Cathedral givea real richness to the life of thecommunity.”Hull CollegiateSchool, Yorkshire,has seen thearrival of MrsRebecca Gloveras Headteacherfollowing theretirement of the long standingHeadmaster Mr Rob Haworth.Educated at Rishworth School,Rebecca then went to LeedsUniversity and studied a B.Ed. inPhysical Education and Geography.Before taking up the post at HullCollegiate Rebecca was the DeputyHeadteacher at Tadcaster GrammarSchool in North Yorkshire.Rebecca has worked in both theIndependent and State sector andhas worked in both the North ofEngland and the South East.She is a keen marathon runnerand charity fundraiser and has twochildren Archie 9 and Mathilde 7.“There is nothing betterthan to end the day in quietcontemplation listening to theChoir sing Evensong. This timeof quiet reflection and worshipis a time that encourages therecharging of batteries andkeeping a real sense of balance inone’s life.”Mr Cannell studied ComparativeReligion/Theology at King Alfred’sCollege, Winchester and has anMA in Educational Managementfrom the Open University. Hebegan his teaching career inprimary schools and was CareOfficer at the Royal School forthe Deaf. He was Head of aninternational school in Papua NewGuinea before moving into theindependent sector.The CSA is the umbrellaorganisation for 34 choir schoolseducating choristers for cathedraland collegiate foundations inthe UK. A further 10 choralfoundations and five schoolsoverseas also belong to theAssociation which was founded in1918 to oversee the welfare andeducational needs of choristers.Broomwood HallSchool, London,has announcedthe appointmentof Katie Paynter,currently Directorof Studies atOakfield Prep, London, as the Headof the Broomwood Hall Pre-Prepfrom January.Prior to working at Oakfield,Katie worked for five yearsCfor Shell Global Education atMSakhalin International SchoolYand she has also travelledextensively as the English Leader CMfor Learning all over the world.MYKatie has also worked at Queen’sCYPark Lower School, Bedford, andWinchester House.CMYIn her spare time Katie is a keen GirlKGuider and is a leader for Rainbowsand Brownies as well as singing in aLondon choir.Deputy Head, Lee Glaser, has been appointed as InterimHeadmaster of Taunton School, Somerset, with effectfrom January 1st, following the departure of currenthead Dr John Newton for Australia.The Governors are aiming to appoint a permanentsuccessor to Dr Newton from September 2015, by theend of the Autumn Term.Mr Glaser (left) is pictured with Dr Newton.Sarah Morrishas beenappointedthe newHeadmistressat NorfolkHouse Schoolin Birmingham. Prior to takingup the post, Sarah was DeputyHead for seven years at BirchfieldThe King’s School, Chester, hasbeen recognised by the Institute ofPhysics as “outstanding”, amongschools in England, in terms ofthe progression of girls’ A-levelPhysics and Head of Department,Dr. Neil Heritage, has been given aprestigious Teaching Award.The Institute of Physics Teacherawards celebrate the success ofsecondary school Physics teacherswho, by their outstanding practicein the classroom, have raised thestate of Physics and science inschools. Dr. Heritage, has playeda pivotal role in the School’ssuccess through his leadership,encouragement and enthusiasmSchool in Shropshire. She alsospent four years as Director ofStudies at Tettenhall Collegein the West Midlands. Sarahhas been teaching in theindependent sector since 1999.Having studied English andFrench at university, she is nowworking towards a Masters inChildren’s Literature.Outstanding in Physicsfor the subject. Dr. Heritage ishonoured alongside distinguishedresearch scientists and industrialistswho, too, are dedicated teachersand without whom there would beno Physics research community ortechnological base in our society.Independent Schools May 14 135x90.pdf 1 13/05/2014 09:12:15Independent Schools Magazine 9

Schools_Ad_90x277_PR.pdf 1 16/04/2014 10:20Out of Character?Promoting emotional health and resilience in school were the subjects of a conferenceheld at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle Upon Tyne, last month (September).Dr Bernard Trafford, Headmaster, and Sue Baillie, Pastoral Director, report...One in ten children will suffer froma mental health disorder at somestage of their school career. That’stwo or three in every class a teacherencounters.We can’t always prevent suchoccurrences: but by recognisingthe individual and helping themconsciously to develop character(sometimes termed resilience orgrit) we can give them, and us, theenvironment, tools and strategiesto cope with the bad times and, ingeneral, get through them.The statistics on teenage mentalillness aren’t new: as many asone in twelve children and youngpeople self-harm; one in four adultswill experience poor mental health;a victim of bullying is four timesmore likely to suffer depression at alater date.The paragraphs above outline thethinking behind the conferencewe hosted at Newcastle’s RoyalGrammar School on 24th September2014. The two of us had beengalvanised – along with the entireschool staff – by an address on astaff training day in January byDick Moore of the Charlie WallerMemorial Trust.As a staff we were all agreed. Wewanted to do more to be proactiveAre you concerned about eatingdisorders in your school?Adolescents are at the highest risk of developing eating disorders.Teachers and staff in schools and colleges are well placed to spotthe early signs of an eating disorder. Beat, the UK’s leading charitysupporting anyone affected by eating disorders, offers training andsupport for teachers, school staff, parents and pupils to ensurethat they are active in the prevention, detection and support ofindividuals affected by eating disorders.• Delivered at a time and locationconvenient to you• Costs include all trainer expenses,Beat literature and materials• CPD certified certificates ofattendance for the staff sessionsTo find out how we canwork with your school...Email: training@b-eat.co.ukTel: 01603 753303“One of the best trainingsessions I have attended in24 years in education.”Elizabeth BurtonDirector of Student GuidanceStrode’s CollegeQuote discount code BEATIS for a 10% discount on your booking.with students and parents alikeabout adolescent emotionalwellbeing (and, arguably, theflipside, being approachable,confident and effective in dealingwith the onset, even the first signs,of mental illness).Staff confidence is a major factorand challenge in this area. Therewas a demand for training. We weredelighted that, within a few months,we had more than a dozen (teachersand others, such as the school nurse)trained in Mental Health First Aid –that is, trained to deal with that firstdisclosure or discovery of a mentalhealth crisis, actual or impending,in a student. Like physical First Aid,this is not about attempting to applythe emotional equivalent of stickingplaster, rather concerned withassessing the scale of the problemand the risks involved, and makingwell-informed decisions about whatnext steps to take.So we decided to host a majorconference in the North (we area long way north, and welcomeddelegates from Edinburgh to the Isleof Wight!), in some ways movingon from previous conferencesheld elsewhere. Out of Character?brought together professionalsto explore practical strategies forimproving emotional wellbeingand resilience in our schools. Theemphasis of the day was verymuch on how to respond to issues,to explore what good supportstructures look like across the wholeschool and, at a very individual level,how we support our students andstaff too.We were able to attract suchspeakers as Dick Moore (backagain!), who outlined, as ever, thenature and the scale of the issuesaround wellbeing and mentalillness in the young: psychologistDr Nihara Krause outlined theimportance of teaching anddeveloping resilience in the young;psychologist Dr Pooky Knightsmithdescribed what schools and teacherscan do when CAMHS cannot help(especially when the problemsare still small and do not put thechild over its high threshold forintervention).Workshops offered perspectiveson staff wellbeing (the RGS’s owncounsellor, Dave Merritt): self-harm(Sally Ingram); great counselling(Karen Cromarty); eating disorders,supporting the loner (PookyKnightsmith again); charactereducation (Anthony Kerr-Dineen);and promoting wellbeing holistically(Drs Ursula Crawthorne and ChrisBonnett).The pressing nature of this areaof work was illustrated by thesomewhat unexpected mediainterest the conference attracted.The Sunday Times ran with thestory which was then picked up,with an angle on young boys’eating disorders which wasn’tparticularly a focus of the event, byITV’s Good Morning, Britain whichinvolved a live interview at schoolat 6.40am! (see picture).That’s the sort of thing thathappens: but, if we can’t alwayschoose the angle the media take,we can always be pleased that theytake an interest in an importantissue. Indeed, local news (Tyne Tees)visited the conference and ran astory that evening.A success, then? Certainly. Indeed,so rewarding was the event thatdelegates pledged to keep in touch– and agreed that we should make itan annual event in Newcastle. That,surely, is a successful outcome! And,while we keep talking, learning andsharing best practice, so that weare all better prepared to promoteemotional wellbeing and deal withmental difficulties when they occur,the outlook for young people looksever better.Real life isn’tabout perfection...Encouraging pupils to be realistic aboutschool life and examination performance- an inevitable mix of success and failure,Chappiness and disappointment - is anMimportant part of pastoral care. Three seniorYfigures at the Girls’ Day School Trust were CMMYasked for comment...Kevin Stannard, Director ofInnovation and Learning:“Anxiety about getting everythingright can be debilitating,particularly when it stops studentsanswering questions for fear ofgetting them wrong. Likewise,hesitating over written work untilthey are sure it is word perfecthinders real learning, which canonly take place through trial and,crucially, error. Adaptive tests arean extension of great teachingbecause they don’t persist withasking questions that the pupilknows the answer to and focusinstead on those that require thepupil to think and work out anappropriate response. Good testquestions don’t ask the pupilwhat she knows, they ask them totake what they know and apply itin an unfamiliar situation.”Judith Carlisle, Head ofOxford High School, said:“Real life is not about perfection.Even the most successfullives has its share of setbacks,disappointments and failures.It’s as much my job to prepareCMYstudents for this uncompromisingKand often unfair real world as itis to ensure that they have theA-level grades to get them touniversity. That’s why Little MissPerfect, I’m afraid, just has to go.”Hilary French, Head ofNewcastle High Schoolfor Girls, said:“Some children, especially girls,have a tendency to perfectionism,but in many cases, outsidepressure can be to blame.Examination grades do not definewho you are. The point is thateach student, and the value oftheir education, is much morethan the piece of paper with theexam results on. So while resultsare very important, they are not‘success’ or ‘failure’ for life. Manyvery successful and fulfilled adultsdid not get strong As or even Bsin their exams and schools andparents alike must recognise, andvalue, the other dimensions ofan excellent rounded educationwhich provides sound foundationsfor adult life.”CY10 Independent Schools MagazineIndependent Schools Magazine 11

Sporting elite gatherto inspire girlsOlympic and Paralympic medal winners have gathered together at aspecial conference to inspire school girls to pursue a career in sport.Paralympian Baroness Tanni GreyThompson DBE and Olympic andWorld Champion rower HelenGlover were among the eliteathletes who spoke to almost 600girls at the Girls Go Gold event.They were joined by Europeanindoor champion (800m) JennyMeadows, London 2012 doublesculls Olympic gold medallist AnnaWatkins and former England netballinternational Tracey Neville.The conference was organisedby members of the Girls’ SchoolsAssociation (‘GSA’) and took placein two venues, one north and onesouth, to make sure as many girls aspossible could attend.Girls Go Gold is an annual eventthat aims to inspire up and comingsportswomen – some of whom arealready competing nationally andinternationally – and to inform12 Independent Schools Magazinegirls about the many careers thatare available to them in the worldof sport.Delegates include 14-17 yearold girls from the GSA and otherschools.During the course of her speech,Olympic rower Helen Glover toldgirls “You really do need to believein yourself and that you can doanything. At age 15 so many girlshave decided on a particular sportor, worse still, no sport at all. Youneed to know that you can stillchange your options and yourfuture. I did not get into rowinguntil I was 22!”And double sculls Olympic goldmedallist Anna Watkins announcedthat she would be unlikely to defendher championship in Rio de Janeiroas she is four and a half monthspregnant with her second child.Girls Go Gold NorthBolton School Girls’ Divisionhosted the GSA’s Girls Go Gold2014 conference (north). TheSchool welcomed a variety ofexpert speakers from the worldof sport: athletes, journalists,and specialists in sports injuryprevention and rehabilitation.Bolton School welcomed twohundred girls aged 14-17 who hadtravelled from across the UK.Ellie Broome attended theconference. Aged 15, Ellie, in Year11, is an aspiring golfer. Here’swhat she made of the Girls GoGold experience…Opening Keynote Speech:Helen GloverHelen Glover’s opening speech wasreally interesting. She talked aboutaiming high and seizing youropportunities.One main theme which she keptreferring to in her speech was ‘TheDecision’ – the fact that thereis a reason behind why you arewhere you are. This was the fact toremember at tough times: why youmade the decision to commit tothe sport you are doing! She saidyou also have to remember thatyou’re doing this because you loveit. Helen also talked about howshe started out as a cross-countryrunner and enjoyed sports, butonly later became a rower. Sheadvised everyone to stay open tonew and different opportunities, aswe may not have found the sportthat’s right for us yet. This wasreally inspiring to hear.Bolton University:Sports RehabilitationIt was good to find out actuallyhow many different jobs thereare and paths that you can takein sports rehabilitation – I had noidea!Bolton University:Sports ScienceThis was a good session, as youcould find out your own differentphysical strengths – such ashow strong you are with a gripstrength test, how fast your feetmove with an agility run, and howflexible you are with a sit andreach test.As well as key note speakers,there was a range of additionalpresentations, workshops andseminars on topics such as sportsjournalism, sports photography,podiatry and nutrition plus careersadvice and information fromuniversities and UCAS.Alice Phillips is president of theGirls’ Schools Association and headof St Catherine’s School, Bramleywhich hosted thesouthern event. Shesaid:“Britain’ssportswomen areproving that theyare among thebest in the world.As the educatorsof thousands ofyoung girls, it’s ourresponsibility toPodiatry WorkshopDr Lindsay Hill’s activity wasinteresting as it explained in detailhow you can damage your feet ifyou don’t run in the proper way.Dr Hill also talked about whatpodiatrists can do to supportathletes and correct any issuesthey have.Life as a Sports JournalistThe talk by Sonia Oxley gave aninsight into sports journalism.She spoke about how it is “in realterms a privileged position”, as sheput it. What was interesting is thatyou get to see everything up close– which I didn’t realise!Netball WorkshopThe Netball Workshop with TraceyNeville was a fun thing to have inthe middle of the day, as it wasphysical.The Work of a BBC Sport ProducerThis was a really interesting talkfrom Victoria Cotton. I didn’tactually realise the amount ofthings that go into broadcastingan event such as the Olympics! Itinspire and inform them about thetremendous opportunities that sporthas to offer.”Sue Hincks is head of Bolton SchoolGirls’ Division, which hosted thenorthern event. She said:“We have been staggered by howmuch interest there has been in thisconference. We could have easilyfilled the seats several times over.”was fascinating to listen to all thedifferent things she has to thinkabout as a producer in order tocreate a good programme.Closing Keynote Speech:Jenny MeadowsJenny reiterated some of Helen’spoints from the Opening KeynoteSpeech and talked about doingsport because it’s what you love.However, her focus was differentto Helen’s – where Helen onlyfound rowing at the end of hertime at university, Jenny found herpassion for running at age six andthree-quarters! She dedicated herwhole life to the one sport thatshe loves.Her speech made you realise thatif you have a dream that you wantto pursue, you should do it! Don’tlisten to what other people think –they may not have got there, butyou may be able to, so go for it.Jenny’s advice was not to be putoff by knock-backs and losing: allathletes have to lose to becomegreat. It was a really inspiring wayto end the day!Girls Go Gold SouthSt Catherine’s, Bramley, hostedthe GSA’s Girls Go Gold 2014conference (south). The Schoolwelcomed a variety of expertspeakers from the world ofsport: athletes, journalists, sportsphotographers, and specialists insports physiology and nutrition,along with 360 girls aged 14-17who had travelled from across theUK for the conferenceFrancesca Tamblyn attended theconference. Aged 17, Francesca, inYear 13, plays tennis, netball andlacrosse. Here’s what she made ofthe Girls Go Gold experience…Two incredible Olympic goldmedallists, Baroness Grey-Thompson and Anna Watkins,told their remarkable successstories and gave valuable advicefor aspiring sportswomen.A highlight for many of thedelegates was when Annaallowed her Olympic gold medalto be passed around during hertalk. Holding her medal madeher success seem so much moreof a reality and also made heraccomplishments seem far moreachievable for those listening,especially since Anna didn’tdiscover rowing until after sheleft school. The clear message ofher talk was that you don’t haveto be perfect to accomplish greatthings and that you shouldn’t tryand fit the mould of someoneelse. Her description of herselfas an ‘Olympic Champion andImperfect Rower’ encompassedthis belief entirely. Anna explainedhow different people succeedin different ways, particularlyspecifying examples of how otherboats in Team GB obtained theirmedals. Anna also elaborated onher relationship with KatherineGranger and how they fitted sowell and were so close, despiteAnna’s love for facts and figuresand Katherine’s more emotionalattitude. The exciting news thatAnna is expecting her second childwas received with delight and I amsure all the attendants wish herwell for the future.Baroness Grey Thompson alsogreatly motivated the girls whenshe described her determinationto succeed after being paralysedat the age of 7. She encouragedthe audience never to fear puttingyourself on the line in order toachieve your goals. Baroness Grey-Thompson, who has competedin 5 Paralympic Games and won11 gold medals, explained howshe refused to listen to those whodoubted her and overcame her fearof failure. Her dedication to hersport was clear – the revelation thatshe missed just 4 training sessionsduring her entire career and didnot win a race for the first 4 yearsof her career was very inspirational,if a little daunting. She urgedus to make the most of our timeas athletes and get on with thetraining we know has to be done,but also to value education.During the day, we also had theopportunity to attend miniseminarsput on by the Universityof Surrey. These varied from anoutdoor practical session basedon improving agility and speed toan informative session about hownutrition can affect performance.Tamsin Greenway’s talk aboutprogressing from county levelto the Commonwealth Games innetball was particularly memorablesince she spoke with such honestyabout the challenges of bothplaying and coaching. Mark Pain,twice Sports Photographer of theYear, also shared some of his mostspectacular photos with the group,many of which were taken duringLondon 2012.‘A piece of Olympic history brought to vivid life’Former Daily Mail sports journalist Malcolm Folley attended the southern event:Anna Watkins described herself asa ‘geek’ and an ‘imperfect rower’.Paradoxically, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson disclosed that her firstattempt to find sporting stardom,in wheelchair basketball at the ageof 12, ended in ignominy as shewas banished from the court forfighting. ‘I deserved to be sent off,’admitted Tanni.This self-effacing humour, andnatural modesty, of Anna andTanni offset stories of dedicationand fierce competitiveness,coloured by tales of sweatand tears, when they spoke atthe GSA’s Girls Go Gold 2014conference (south) at St Catherine’sSchool, in Bramley, Surrey, onSeptember 18. An audienceof 360 sportswomen, from 34schools, listened spellbound totwo women who have made aninspirational contribution to therich narrative of British Olympicand Paralympic history.Anna is unlikely to defend herOlympic championship in Riode Janeiro in 2016… becauseshe revealed: ‘I am 4 ½ monthspregnant with my second child,’ shesaid, with a huge grin. The warmthof the applause that greeted thenews is something Anna is unlikelyto forget – just as those privilegedto listen to her speak will rememberher story and, hopefully, absorb hermessage that you must always setthe bar to its maximum height.Similarly, Baroness Grey-Thompson, 45, had provedan inspirational and powerfulspeaker. Having becomeparalysed at seven, her fatherurged her to turn to sport toimprove her strength. ‘Back then,disabled people were lockedaway from society,’ she said.Few facilities existed for thoseconfined to a wheelchair, addedTanni. Starkly, she explained: ‘Myfather wanted me to be strong soI could crawl up steps and dragmy chair behind me.’If that was an unpalatable truthfrom our recent history, Tanni wasnever, ever, going to be deniedfrom making her mark on thesporting landscape. ‘It feels likeonly yesterday that I was yourage with aspirations to be anOlympic athlete,’ she said. ‘I wasalways competitive.’ Once shediscovered wheelchair racing – aftera brief, unsuccessful flirtationwith basketball – her life changedforever. ‘I knew that was it, I lovedit,’ said Tanni. ‘I felt in control, thiswas my destiny.’She would like State schools in thiscountry to follow the example setby Independent Schools. ‘I thinkwhere the Independent sector isamazing is by having trained PEteachers at prep school level. Thatteaches good skills. If there is onething I’d like to change it is tohave trained PE teachers in juniorschool. At the moment, it is toooften taught by teachers assumedto be the sporty one because theydo Zumba.’In closing, Tanni told heraudience: ‘Never be afraid to putyourself on the line. Never beafraid to wear your heart on yoursleeve. Never be afraid to say, “Ireally want to be good at this.”It’s about being what you wantto be.’Deservedly, accolades for theGirls Go Gold 2014 conferenceflowed in. Nathalie Boyer-Castle,Director of Sport and Head of PEof St Mary’s School, Shaftesbury,encapsulated the mood of thosewho attended when she wrote:‘Our girls thoroughly enjoyed theday and much of what they heard– and did – today will remainwith them and, hopefully, assistthem on their sporting paths.’Independent Schools Magazine 13

Fresh take on French learningA textbook example of a freshapproach to language learningis being pioneered by a nativeFrench speaker at WisbechGrammar School, Cambridgeshire.Swiss-born Mrs NoemieNeighbour, who is head of Frenchat the school, has produced a newtextbook for her year nine pupilsto use – and other schools arenow starting to order the bookfor their own use.Mrs Neighbour attended a series ofContent and Language IntegratedLearning twilight sessions atComberton Village College nearCambridge and the message wasthat students learn better if thereis real content in the languagethey are trying to access.The idea was to talk to youngstersabout a concept drawn fromscience or history – or even justchocolate – and by focusing onthe message they would find thelanguage beginning to seep in.14 Independent Schools MagazineDuring the course, Mrs Neighbourput two and two together whenshe remembered a school friend– who lived in a French speakingarea of Switzerland where theyboth grew up – attendinggeography lessons conducted inGerman, and the idea of a freshtake on learning French was born.She sounded out teachers ofother subjects, including history,art, food and nutrition, biologyand geography, and agreeda joint approach involvingfollowing the curriculum usedin these other areas for onehalf-term at a time and coveringtopics such as the Frenchrevolution which are widelystudied in schools across thecountry.Initially, Mrs Neighbour, who readEnglish linguistics and literatureat the University of Lausanne,piloted the new approach witha series of worksheets for herpupils, but found that they hadno textbook to use when theyhad handed in their homework formarking.The exercise books began to bulgewith all the material building upin them and the photocopyingwas starting to become expensive– and she decided to self-publishthe complete course as a 108-page full colour textbook entitled‘Contexte’, because languagelearning was being put into thecontext of other study.In a competition staged in schoolto design a front cover, ‘Eiffeltower’, drawn by Zara Jutsum(14) in felt pen, was declared thewinning entry and the colourfulimage gives an impressionistic feelto the book.Mrs Neighbour, who combinesher teaching role with acting assecretary of the Wisbech Arlestwinning club committee, said:“Year nine is the year before thepupils choose their GCSEs and itis important to have somethingreally exciting and very interestingwhich makes them feel that thelanguage is relevant.”Initially she requested a 50-bookprint run from Peterboroughbased BookPrintingUK and afurther 65 copies have since rolledoff the presses following ordersfrom a leading independentschool and a secondary school inLondon.The message has also started tospread to other schools via the‘Times educational supplement’website, which Mrs Neighbourhas used to upload some of theresources that she has prepared.She said: “My aim is not to makemoney out of this idea, but tospread good resources and goodmethodology. People who havebeen in touch with me aboutthe project are quite enthusiasticabout it.”Pictured: Mrs Neighbour (centre) looking at thebook with two A Level French students whose yeargroup trialled the new approach. They are (left)Jasmine Clench (17) and (right) Laura Temple (16).“As well as balancing the curricular and co-curricular,we must also manage breadth and depth of study”Too many GCSEs?Before changing roles, former Education Secretary MichaelGove announced sweeping changes to A Levels, claiming thatthe current system did not help pupils to develop a “deeperunderstanding” of their subjects. He stated that from 2015, pupils undertaking ALevels will take exams at the end of two year courses and that AS Levels will remain,but as stand-alone exams that do not count towards the overall A Level. David Lloyd,headmaster of Solihull School, West Midlands, reflects...Whilst many schools welcome areturn to linearity and the loss ofdisruptive modular programmes,an important yardstick will belost. The current AS Levelsare useful to pupils, parents,schools and universities for betterunderstanding an individual’sstrengths and weaknesses andfor advising on upper sixthsubject options and universityaspirations. They also providevaluable motivation for pupils towork hard in the first year of ALevel study. I welcome a focuson teaching rather than testingand a movement away frombite-size learning, but the linkbetween AS and A Level is usefuland successful; it is certainly notbroken.What does this mean foruniversities? Well, with the lossof AS Levels at the end of thelower sixth year, universities willincreasingly turn to other factorsfor differentiating betweencandidates, such as the UCASapplication, their own entrancetests and pupils’ GCSE profiles.However, the GCSE playing fieldis not a level one with schoolsadopting a variety of strategies -some entering pupils for as manyOn the world stageas possible, others advocating asmaller number and a few callingfor a complete end to testing at16. Is there a best way?On average, pupils study 10 GCSEsbut in some cases they study asmany as 15. Whilst decisions arebest left to individual schools, theco-curriculum should share topbilling with the curriculum, and Isuspect that pupils sitting a highnumber of GCSEs are doing soat the expense of co-curricularactivities and enrichment. Thisapproach, combined with theequally dubious approach ofentering pupils for examinationsearly, is damaging to the widerlearning process. Pupils who arecapable of 8 or so A*-As are, insome case, getting up to 15 passesat lower grades. Universities arelooking for quality, not quantity,a demonstrable passion forthe subject and the confident,articulate and reflective all rounder.Sadly for some pupils, poor advicehas irrevocable university andcareer limiting consequences. Lessis often more and academically selfconfident schools enter pupils forfewer assessments.This is a relatively complexequation and as well as balancingThe start of the Autumn Term witnessed Hereford Cathedral School hosting andeducating five visiting pupils from St Catherine’s School, Sydney, in Australiaand ten pupils from Phillips Exeter Academy in America. This is in addition tothe seven students from China who are all studying for A Level at the School.Later this term 21 pupils from a secondary school in Fledberg, Germany, willspend a number of days with pupils from Hereford Cathedral School.Paul Smith, Headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School said: “By the time themajority of our pupils reach the age of 25 they are as likely to be dealingwith colleagues from Europe, America or the Far East as they are fromWorcestershire or Gloucestershire. By providing our pupils with opportunitiesto meet and study alongside international students we are helping to developwell-rounded people that are ready for tomorrow’s world. ”the curricular and co-curricular,we must also manage breadthand depth of study. Of course,it is important that we do notforce our 14 year olds to narrowtheir options too far too soon,but just how many GCSEs arenecessary and which ones shouldbe compulsory? As a nation, weseem increasingly obsessed withexaminations and league tables,testing everything that pupils do.I believe that our boys and girlssit too many exams at 16 and Isupport those schools that havecapped the number of subjectsat GCSE, encouraging pupils tospend more time on sport, music,drama, outdoor education andnon-examined enrichment. Surely,teaching our pupils about personalfinance, health and nutrition, ethicsand wider global issues is moreimportant than GCSEs 9, 10, 11 andso on? Having said that, I was verydisappointed to hear an admissionstutor from a leading UK universityrecently tell parents at my schoolthat the co-curricular side of life isfar less important to them than itonce was. This narrowing view ofeducation will only serve to increasethe already damaging exam factoryapproach to schooling.Fewer GCSEs will give pupilsmore time to study, exploringeach subject in great depth andallowing for more off-syllabusdiscourse. A criticism of thecurrent regime is that GCSEs arenot necessarily a good indicatorof future A Level success. Well,if pupils could spend more timeon fewer subjects, then maybethe predictive ability of GCSEsmight improve. Fewer GCSEsmight also mean less notorietyfor Exam Boards if fewer papersare sat and fewer fringe markersrequired.Education is about fostering alife-long passion for learning andbuilding critical thinking skills,and there is a danger that funand exploration disappear fromthe experience as pupils take ontoo many subjects. Learningshould be enjoyable and it is ourduty to do the very best to makesure that every pupil fulfils hisor her potential, both in and outof the classroom, examined andnon-examined. Racing throughtoo many courses, exam driventeaching and the banking of belowpar results is not, in my opinion,the way forward.Headmaster and Hereford Cathedral School’s Chinese international students togetherwith five girls from St Catherine’s School, Sydney, visiting students from Phillips ExeterAcademy, USA, and visiting staff from a School in Fledberg, Germany.Independent Schools Magazine 15

HRH The Princess Royalhonours the fallenHer Royal Highness The PrincessRoyal visited Stonyhurst College,Lancashire, in her capacity asPatron of the Woodland Trust’sCentenary Woods Project. TheWoodland Trust has overseenthe planting of three milliontrees across the UK this year tocommemorate the fallen. ThePrincess Royal planted a treeat Stonyhurst alongside 301oak saplings planted by theStonyhurst College CombinedCadet Force. Each tree representsa serviceman who died in theFirst World War, and otherconflicts, who had attended theschool, which has a proud historyof military service.The Contingent Commanderof Stonyhurst Combined CadetForce, Lt Col Andrew Barber,escorted The Princess Royal tothe new tree plantation, whereshe chatted to cadets, and wasgiven a tour of the College by theHeadmaster Andrew Johnson. Shewas shown two Victoria Crossmedals which had been awardedto former Stonyhurst pupils inthe First World War. One of thesewas the first VC of the conflict,awarded to Lieutenant MauriceDease for his bravery in theopening engagement of 1914 atthe Battle of Mons. The PrincessRoyal met pupils and staff fromStonyhurst and representativesfrom the Woodland Trust.At a Reception in the TopRefectory, which is lined withthe portraits of Stonyhurst’sseven VCs, The Princess Royalsaid in her address: “Stonyhurstis the perfect place for thiscommemorative tree planting,with its long history andunderstanding of service.”Andrew Johnson the Headmastersaid: “It was a tremendous dayfor Stonyhurst, the CCF andthe Woodland Trust. We weredelighted to be able to welcomethe Princess Royal to the College.The staff, cadets and pupils verymuch enjoyed meeting her.”Pictured: The Princess Royal meets cadets at Stonyhurst College, escorted by Lt Col. Andrew Barber, Contingent Commander of the Stonyhurst CCFInspirational Paralympic SprinterThe Froebelian School, Yorkshire,welcomed Paralympic sprinter LeeWhiteley to give an inspirationaltalk and host a question andanswer session about his career asan athlete. He then led the childrenin a sponsored fitness circuit. Themoney raised will be used to buysports equipment and supportTeam GB and Paralympic athletes.Lee faced an enthusiastic questionand answer session from thechildren who were keen to findout about the life of an athlete. Hegave them advice about healthyeating, and gave them exercisetips, including how to start a raceproperly. The fitness circuit wasgreat fun; with staff andpupils all doing star jumps,leg drives and press ups.The Froebelian Schoolplaces great importance onsport and healthy eating.The school cook makeshome-cooked schoollunches and children areencouraged to try newfoods. Lee explained how importanta healthy diet is for athletes andmotivated the children to keepeating well.Pavilion underconstructionOundle School, Northamptonshireis investing in the future of cricket,with work now underway on abrand new pavilion, designed toan innovative specification yet inkeeping with its surroundings. Thenew pavilion will provide amplechanging facilities for the School’snumerous pitches for players andumpires alike, as well as excellenthospitality for spectators and guests.Last summer saw Oundle Schoolplay host to a magnificent threeweeks of back to back cricket finals,with both the LSCA (London SchoolsCricket Association) and the ECB(English Cricket Board) choosingOundle to host their respectivefestivals.The festivals were capped byappearances from three Englandcricketers (including former T20captain Eoin Morgan), all keen topass on their tips and experiences tothe players and coaches alike.Medals again!Year 11 pupil Hannah Grunwergfrom Sheffield High School hascollected a set of 1 gold, 4 silver and3 bronze medals from the MaccabiGames.Hannah was one of 75 Maccabi GBathletes who travelled to Cherry Hill,New Jersey, for the JCC Maccabigames. A total of 1700 athletes(making it one of the largest juniorsporting competitions in the World)aged 13-16 from all USA States,Canada, Mexico, Israel and GB tookpart in the competition across avariety of sports.Hannah was one of the seven girlsin the GB dance team competingagainst 50 other dancers in variousdisciplines. Hannah won 8 medals:1 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze bothfor performance and choreography.Hannah was also given the honourof carrying one of the Great Britainflags at the opening ceremony.Advertorial FeatureBudgeting for thenext financial yearAt this time of year budgeting is a high priority in many schools, so now is alsothe perfect time to drill down into those cost centres, to gain greater efficiencieswhere possible and to, perhaps, consider alternative strategies, writes Henry Drake.Avoiding feeincreasesRunning an independent schoolis a costly affair – the natureof independent schools and thelevel of facilities on offer meanthat bursars can have a tough jobon their hands when it comes tobalancing their budget. Decisionsregarding increasing tuition feesneed to be carefully assessed andmet with full approval across theboard along with the GoverningCommittee and most schoolswill try to contain the need toincrease fees as much as possible.However, for some schools thereis a real need to access morefunds and if fee increases are offlimits one of the best alternativesis to ensure that the costs areas efficient as possible. Thereare, of course, lots of ways that,in theory at least, costs can bereduced across the independentschool environment whilst notcutting the quality or consistencyof the education and pastoralcare that is offered to students.For example, there has beenevidence recently that bytendering out day-to-daymaintenance programmespotential savings of up to 25%can be gained. Or, if the facilitycomprises of different schoolsor houses the centralisation ofstationery and paper or othersupplies, can also provide costefficiencies.Cutting costs viarenewable technologyAlongside these savingopportunities lies one that willrequire an initial investmentin order to then achieve, somequite significant savings. And,it is one that the ISBA (theIndependent School’s BursarAssociation) recently highlightedin their quarterly review - theneed for independent schoolsto look more closely at theirenergy usage and costs. The ISBAtook this further and recognisedthat independent schools,perhaps, need to question howto move forward in a moresustainable way and look at theimplications that this has for theschool. Renewable technologyhas developed tremendouslyin the last 5 years and theopportunities for schools toinvest in this technology andto reap the rewards from notonly a cost saving perspectivebut also the reduction in theircarbon footprint should be takenseriously.Financing of the technologymeans that for many schoolsthere lies a very real opportunityto significantly reduce theirenergy costs as well as gain fromthe Government backed nondomesticRHI scheme, whichoffers payments linked to theuse of renewable technology.The Association noted renewabletechnology as a key theme forthis year and one that surelyshould now be on the agenda formany independent schools.Cutting the carbonfootprint tooA school striving for optimumenergy efficiency is illustratingnot only a commitment toensuring that they carefullymanage their costs for theforthcoming year but also forthe long-term future of theestablishment. Alongside that,their commitment to reducingtheir carbon footprint shouldalso resonate with many ofthe stakeholders. With thesector developing strategies toensure that disruption to theschool environment is kept toa minimum and financial helpensuring that the numbersalso work, now could be thetime for your school to discusscreating a more economicallyand environmentally sustainableenergy budget.Henry Drake is the Managing Director of Sprint Fuels. If this is something that you feel your school would like to explore further please contact Sprint Fuels on 01634 865 000,biomass@sprintfuels.com for an informal discussion on the costs and benefits of renewable technology.Cutting your energy bills as well as your carbon footprintBiomass boilers - offering more than just reduced energy bills- Cut fuel bills by up to 50%- Take advantage of the Government’s RHI scheme- Get paid to heat your school- Explore the possibility of subsidised installation- Significantly reduce your carbon footprint- Develop pupils’ understanding of climate change- Demonstrate to pupils & parents a commitment torenewable energyTo find out more about how renewableenergy could work in your school, includingthe potential payments available to you, tobook a survey or simply to talk through thepossibilities please call 01634 865000.T: 01634 865000 E: biomass@sprintfuels.com T: 01634 865000 E: biomass@sprintfuels.com T: 01634 865000 E: biomass@sprintfuels.com T: 01634 865000ISM banner 2.indd 1 13/03/2014 10:3416 Independent Schools Magazine Energy/Green 17

Rural Energy savesschools £70,000 paSummer 2012 saw Rural Energy initiate a two phase biomass installationproject at the Highfield & Brookham Independent Schools, which to date hassaved an estimated £70,000 per annum in fuel costs.Highfield & Brookham Schools are made up of prep and pre-prep schoolson one large estate near Liphook, with a minimum 600kW heatingrequirement for numerous buildings. Overall, the site has a heat loadconsumption of 1.3 million kWh per annum. Two, 300KW Herz BioMaticboilers were specified to replace 20 oil-fired boilers and associated oil tanksfrom around the site, in order to route a district heating scheme fromone central energy hub. The boilers were installed over two phases into apurpose-built energy centre plant room that has been designed to suit athird phase should the Schools expand.The boilers also have separate wood chip feed augers so that they can runindependently, enabling no need for oil back up. This is also ideal for earningthe RHI separately for each boiler. The boilers typically provide in excess of21,000 litres of hot water to be stored in the system at any one time. Thisunique design has afforded the Schools the opportunity to upscale theirbiomass installation and add a third biomass boiler and other renewabletechnologies as required over the coming years.To date, it is estimated that there is a saving of 140,000 litres of oil perannum – an estimated £70,000 per annum at 50p per litre of oil. Instead, thebiomass boilers now installed consume an estimated 450 tons (1592m3) ofwood chip every year at a greatly reduced cost.Overall the Schools have made an estimated annual carbon saving of 288tonnes of CO2 – with an expectation to save 5,760 tonnes over 20 years.Visit www.ruralenergy.co.uk or call 0203 189 067618 Energy/GreenSpace-saving recyclingbin stacks upLeafield Environmental hascreated a modern space-savingrecycling unit for Bath SpaUniversity’s newly completedhalls of residence, which formpart of the landmark LearningCentre that opened its doors inSeptember.The discreet and compactEnviroStack fits snuggly intothe student kitchens and allowscollection of up to four typesof recycling in one flexible andstackable unit. The affordabledesign costs just £99 for each2-bin unit including recyclinglabels.The lightweight bins will beused bag-free as part of theuniversity’s pledge to become‘bagless’ as part of its strategyto save money and increaserecycling rates by 80% by 2016.EnviroStack is one of fourbespoke recycling unitsdeveloped by Leafield to deliverthe best solutions for thebuilding’s diverse spaces whilecomplementing the contemporarylook and feel of the new centre.Tel: 01225 816529 www.leafieldrecycle.comEnviroStack slimline units havea spacious capacity of 52 Litresand can be used as a single unitor in stacked groups. The unitscan be used with or withoutplastic bags. The space-savingdesign easily fits into anymodern setting and the WRAPcompliant, colourful lids can suitup to 7 different waste streams.The bin body can be produced ina wide variety of colours and ablack version can be made from100% recycled plastic.Reduce your heating bills and generatean income with a Biomass SystemSoaring fuel costs are creating financial headaches for schools across thecountry. Heating costs take a major share of operating budgets, so it willcome as no surprise that more and more schools are seeking alternativeforms of heating such as biomass to reduce their heating overheads. At thesame time biomass can reduce carbon emissions by around 90%. Biomassor wood fuel is sustainable and eco-friendly with typical savings of 50% ormore, dependent on the current fuel type.Ashwell Biomass is one of the leading manufacturers, suppliers and installersof biomass solutions in the UK with over 450 successful installations to date.We manufacture our own range of Green-tec automated wood pellet boilers.We also supply and fully support a comprehensive range of wood chip andpellet biomass boilers to suit virtually every application.Our comprehensive range of services includes: Design, installation,containerised plant rooms, full engineering facility, unrivalled after salesservice and technical Support.Biomass boiler systems can be quite costly, so to offset the costs thegovernment has introduced the Renewable Heat Incentive, RHI. The RHIoffsets the costs of an installation by paying an amount, in many casesmany thousands of pounds, every quarter for 20 years and the payment isindex linked.Often we find schools wanting to reduce their heating costs and cutcarbon emissions but their funds are tied up with other projects so, weoffer a Heat Supply Agreement, HSA. With an HSA we design, install,maintain and fuel a biomass boiler at your school without any up-frontcosts whatsoever. The school only pays for the heat generated from theboiler with typical savings from 15 to 30% per annum from year one.Ashwell Biomass will be happy to answer any questions you may haveregarding the benefits of changing over to biomass heating.If you would like to know more or to book a no obligation feasibility survey at yourschool please contact: darren.wright@ashwellbiomass.com 01162 604050www.ashwellbiomass.comAdvertorial FeaturesIndependent schools set to benefitfrom free biomass initiativeAccording to the Carbon Trust, UK schools could reduce energy costs by around £44 millionper year which would prevent 625,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere bybeing more energy efficient.Annual energy price rises have hitschools hard – given the amountof energy they use – and forthose off the mains gas network,that use Oil or LPG, that financialpain has been even greater.When it comes to schools, the twobiggest energy drains are:• Space heating - 60%,• Hot water - 16%Looking at BiomassFor those schools off the mainsgas network one of the mosteffective ways to save energy, savemoney and significantly cut theirCarbon Footprint is to install aBiomass Boiler.The traditional educational plantroom can be a black hole forenergy consumption with ageing,inefficient equipment that is highon maintenance, often highlyinefficient to run and extremelyexpensive to replace.A biomass boiler burns eitherwood chips or wood pellets andis extremely efficient with lowor zero carbon emissions if theCO2 absorbed by the tree is takeninto account. When correctlydesigned, biomass boilers can runfor several months before the fuelstore needs replenishing or theash cleaning out. Through theGovernment’s Renewable HeatIncentive (RHI), payments willbe received for 20 years offeringreturns on a 200kw boilerupwards of £500,000 from aninvestment of circa £150,000.For those schools unable tomeet the £150,000 capital coststo purchase a Biomass Boileroutright, energy efficiencyspecialist Happy Energy haslaunched a multi-million poundinitiative to offer Independentschools a free CommercialBiomass Boiler.Aimed at Independent schoolsnot on the mains gas networkthat currently have heatingbills of £15,000 a year or more,applicants meeting the criteriawould receive a £150,000 stateof the art Biomass Boiler systemfitted and fully maintained free ofcharge which will also be servicedannually and fully maintained byHappy Energy for 20 years.A biomass boiler will cut heatingand hot water bills by around30% from the moment they arecommissioned which for a schoolspending £15,000 a year on heatingis a saving of £4,500 a year.The RHI payments go to HappyEnergy to offset the cost of thesupply, installation and ongoingmaintenance of the boiler andFor more information contact Happy Energy on 0800 0 246 234 or via their websiteat www.happyenergy.co.ukthe school receives the benefits ofsignificantly reduced heating andhot water bills, which, if energyprices remained static for the next20 years could see a businesscurrently paying £15,000 per year,save around £90,000 over the 20years,” he added.Energy/Green 19

Advertorial FeatureNew total-play practice facilityboosts cricket performanceWhen Solihull School’s HeadGroundsman, Karl Brotherhood,embarked on a project to upgradethe school’s cricket practice facilitiesto include a state-of-the-art nonturfpractice net system, investingin a quality solution was key. Withcricket facilities in use for only a fewMore information - call 01604 864575 or visit www.total-play.co.ukmonths of the year, the impact ofthe system on coaching needed tobe such that it made the investmentwell and truly worthwhile; so Karlresearched the market thoroughly tofind the right supplier:“Until we installed this system, thecricket practice facilities consisted ofthree non-turf and three natural turfwickets that simply weren’t up toperformance standards. The naturalwickets were getting little use dueto poor weather, so to ensure thatwe had a system that could not onlyperform to the required standardsbut also could be used whateverthe weather, we decided to installa non-turf practice facility built toECB approved specification.“We researched a number ofsuppliers, but it was a visit toBishop Vesey’s Grammar School thatmade us realise total-play were oursupplier of choice. The system wasexcellent, David Bates impressed uswith his knowledge and advice andwe liked the fact that the companyundertook in-house fitting andmet the ECB’s code of practice forinstalling non-turf systems. To topit all, the quote was very close tothose for the other three supplierswe approached; so the decision wasmade.”total-play’s solution to the school’sneeds came in the form of a sixlane,33m fully enclosed practicefacility based on the company’s ECBapproved tp365 non turf system.Before the installation started, thetotal-play team cleared the site ofthe existing practice pitches andundertook all preparatory groundworks ready for the laying of thenew dynamic sub-base, shockpads and carpets. The team theninstalled tailor-made steelwork andfitted it with total-play’s unique HDProtection Tunnel netting system;which creates a ‘cocoon’ in eachlane to not only protect playersfrom errant balls from adjacentlanes but also reduces repairs andmaintenance due to consistenttension throughout the netting.The specification was completedwith the inclusion of white coachinglines in four of the six lanesand provision of space suitableto locate the school’s new spinbowling machine. The school’sMaster in Charge of Cricket, formerWarwickshire and England Test allrounderDarren Maddy, says:“The new total-play cricket surfaceshave made a huge improvement toour practice facilities. The enclosednetting structure creates a safepractice environment and thepace and bounce of the surfaceis consistent - I would highlyrecommend having stump lines onall of the practice wickets as this isa great coaching tool to help bothbatsman and bowlers.”Advertorial FeatureSchoolwear industrytrends in 2014As we move into the last quarter of the year Stevensons reflects on the trends and developments of 2014.Cricket MUGAs that make the grade...20 Schoolwear/SportDesign - Construction - Maintenance - RefurbishmentBased on the ECB approved tp365 non-turf system our cricket-based Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) offer cricket practicefacilities that perform to ECB standards - but within a few minutes can be transformed into a synthetic pitch suitable forfootball, hockey, tennis, some athletic disciplines and general play. Space-saving, cost-effective and flexible – it’s littlewonder the total-play cricket-based MUGA is a popular choice with leading independent schools…MUGA - General games areaMUGA - Cricket practice nets deployedT: +44(0) 1604 864 575 | E: info@total-play.co.uk | W: www.total-play.co.ukThe power of a unified brandThe biggest trend we’re noticingis that increasingly when schoolsrebrand they are looking to extendthe same uniform theme across thewhole school, from early years rightup to seniors. Instead of juniorand senior school pupils sportingoften quite different looks, schoolmanagement teams are recognisingthe power of a unified identity forall their pupils, whether they are3 or 18 years old. Over the pastdecade schools have had to becomeincreasingly marketing-savvy tocompete for pupils and they knowthat when it comes to branding,consistency is key.Consequently, we are seeing juniorand senior schools collaboratingon uniform choices to agree astyle that works well across allage groups from tots to teens.Leading independent school StSwithun’s, Winchester is one ofseveral Stevensons customers thathas recently introduced a newuniform and sports kit acrossits junior and senior school toreinforce a single, distinctiveidentity across all age groups.Disruption in theschoolwear industryThe normally steady school uniformindustry was thrown into turmoilin April this year with the failure ofschoolwear provider John Cheatle,which supplied 1,200 UK schools.The firm’s collapse came at theworst possible time – in the periodwhen uniform would traditionallybe delivered, rather than ordered -giving retailers and manufacturerslittle time to respond in time for thenew school year.While other retailers, includingStevensons, have stepped into thebreach to help supply those schoolsleft in the lurch, manufacturingand fabric supply times can runinto months so the whole industryis playing catch-up. Even schoolsthat were not customers of thefailed business are experiencingthe ripple effect as demand hasoutstripped production capacity.Much of the stocks which uniformsuppliers were holding in Mayand June earmarked for “just incase top-ups” was instead used byretailers to supply these ex-JohnCheatle schools, meaning retailerswho had not accurately forecast fortheir own needs had limited facilityto acquire top-up orders during theBack to School selling season.We understand schools, and parents,have been frustrated by the lack ofsupply but stress that this upheavalhas affected all UK schoolwearsuppliers to a certain extent.Stevensons’ customers are in a muchbetter position than most as we haveclose, long-established relationshipswith our suppliers who are doingtheir utmost to supply products tous within the agreed timescales.The appeal of a one stop shopSchools continue to see the sense inworking with a schoolwear partnerthat can handle the entire uniformTo find out more about Stevensons’ multi-channel school uniform retailing service or if you would like a uniform redesign consultation, call us on 01727 815715.supply process and Stevensonscurrently works with more than300 schools – including 20% ofThe Times Top 100 independents– to provide a full schoolwearand sportswear service. Fromadvising on redesigns to sourcingcompetitively-priced productsin the latest fabrics and sellingthrough multiple channels, wefree school management teams toconcentrate on what they do best.We understand that happy parentsmean happy school administratorsand consistently provide a firstclassservice you can rely on. Thisincludes giving parents a choiceof ways to buy – through our ownnetwork of shops, the internet oron-campus school shops.As we approach the end of aneventful year, Stevensons continuesto make significant investmentsin our infrastructure to ensurewe remain a reliable and stablepartner for schools, capableof withstanding such industrychallenges.Schoolwear/Sport 21

Advertorial FeatureSelecting TeamwearA Director of Sport’s Perspective...In my time as Director of Sport,most recently for Royal HospitalSchool I’ve seen hundreds ofTeamwear presentations, receivedlots of “free” samples and triedmany of the brands.Some have great designers, buthopeless logistics – these are theworst. Everybody is excited aboutthe new kit but then deadlinescome and go and on more thanone occasion I’ve found myselfscrabbling around for kit beforea critical match, when the team’sattention should be on the game.Kit does make a bigdifference, but distractionsand a lack of focus make abigger one!Some claim to have great logistics,but solve that problem by producingboring, generic designs.Some appear never to have fittedout a Schoolchild, and the productall has to go back because itdoesn’t fit.So here are my simple tips forselecting a sportswear supplier1 – Get the Logistics Right. Dothese people have a track record ofdelivering on time? – If they’ve letyou or your contacts down beforethen the chances are they’ll do itagain. I’ve also got better things todo than spend hours on the phonechasing kit!2 – Get the Product and FitRight. Does the supplier have agenuine focus on, and expertise in,producing kit for all ages? I want tobe sure that the products I use havefabrics and fit which are right for myteams. Too many brands have comeout of providing kit to adult teamsand don’t understand this as I’velearned to my cost.3 – Is the price right? My parentsare value conscious and like toremind me that, even for the firstteam. I’m spending money on theirbehalf. I need to ensure I spendit wisely. It turns out they are lessswayed by bug brand names than bythe overall look and I’ve learned thatI need to appreciate that.4 – Is the design right? Finally,once all of those questions areanswered, I’ll choose the design.I’ve learned the hard way thatdesigns can be changed anddeveloped as the process movesforwards, but the Logistics, Fitand Price stay the same!So who have we chosen?For our latest kit we’ve chosenSquadkit, who ticked all of theboxes:• They are the fastest growingteamwear brand in IndependentSchools, with a total commitmentto delivering on time, every time.• They are focussed on supplyingkit for the next generation,meaning that their sizinghas been honed throughtheir experience kitting out250,000 kids per year withtheir intelligent Sizing systemwhich makes sizing selectionstraightforward and ensuresthat things fit.• The value is excellent, I know I’mpaying for the kit, not the name• They’ve got some great youngdesigners and have producedsome stand-out kit for RoyalHospital which shows a genuineunderstanding of our ethos.We’ve beendelighted, and thebest news of all isthat since adoptingthe new kit our 1stXV are unbeaten?An unbeatablesupplier and anunbeaten team.The perfectcombination.Paul HardmanDirector of SportRoyal Hospital SchoolSays Alistair Bennett, Product Development Manager for Squadkit:We’ve enjoyed working with Royal Hospital. They are a school with a passion for sportand a commitment to high performance. Squadkit is a British Performance sportswearbrand which is 100% focussed on providing kit for the next generation of Sports menand women. Squadkit is worn in over 100 of the country’s leading Independent Schools.We recognised that directors of sport wanted great service and great kit. I’m proud tosay that Squadkit delivers.Committed to Innovation,Dedicated to style.60% COTTONOUTERPOLYESTERCORE40%Bringing Real Innovation to SchoolwearThe ProblemParents love the non-iron and durability of polyesterbut want the comfort of cotton.Our Solutionis a unique fibre. Developedby the world’s leading mill and exclusively availableto Schoolblazer. The central polyester strands deliverdurability and non-iron properties. The outer cottonstrands sit next to the skin for comfort.Another Solution from Schoolblazer.Schoolblazer was founded with a simple mission;to bring real innovation in schoolwear through fabric,design and service. Performance Cotton is just oneexample of what makes us different: A relentless focuson the customers’ needs and the drive and ability todeliver a genuine solution.Schoolblazer ethically sources the best fabrics fromacross the world. Our designs are fresh, contemporaryand smart using bespoke colours patterns and styles.Our revolutionary website allows simple online fittingand sizing choice with individualised name-tapes sewnin free of charge.01832 280011 info@schoolblazer.com www.schoolblazer.comCall 01832 280011 info@schoolblazer.com www.schoolblazer.com22 Schoolwear/Sport

Born: 1956Married:To Jane, a solicitor; two children,Nicholas (21) and Edward (19)Schools andUniversities attended:Emanuel School, Guildhall Schoolof Music, King’s College London,St Catherine’s and OrielColleges OxfordJobs:Lecturer at Oriel College; SecondMaster at Whitgift School1994; English teacher at King’sSchool Canterbury; Head of thePortsmouth Grammar School;Appointed Master of MagdalenCollege School 2008Favourite piece of music:Currently Mozart Piano ConcertoNo 22 in E! – music doesn’tget much better than the lastmovementFavourite food:Too predictable to mentionFavourite drink:Red or white burgundyFavourite holiday destination:Italy or IrelandFavourite leisure pastime:Music; any sportFavourite TV or radioprogramme:I don’t watch TV other than sportSuggested epitaph:Teacher24 Independent Schools MagazineProfilecurriculum.In conversation with Tim HandsQYouhave recently completedyour year as Chairman of HMC(Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’Conference). Looking back over thistwelvemonth, what achievement gives you thegreatest satisfaction?AThequantity and quality ofinformation circulated to Headshas improved substantially. That’snothing to do with me – it’s all done by theamazing William Richardson, the HMC GeneralSecretary, and his team. It’s this quality ofservice which has drawn more schools intoHMC, especially, recently, so many girls’schools; a trend which I really welcome.QItmust have been a gruellingtime for you, combining theleadership of your school withsuch a headline role in the independent sector.What time-management or general tips canyou offer other heads contemplating takingon association work as well as their schoolduties?AGet up earlier in the morningthan I do.QYouread English at King’s College,London, and are now an acceptedauthority on the life of authorThomas Hardy, having written several booksabout him. What have you made of the recentdebates over the future direction of EnglishLiterature?AIteach every pupil in the LowerSixth who does English A-Level. Igive them a kind of chronologicalguide to English poetry, and the introductionto the year explains that English languageand literature belong to everyone. Most ofthe time, people speak English rather thanwriting it. So we should value its oral side, notget rid of it from our exam system. Englishliterature contains a vast diversity of textsand genres, not just Shakespeare plays andVictorian novels, magnificent though theseare. Everyone should feel they can do English.That doesn’t happen if what you put in front ofpupils are texts they don’t understand.QOneof the initiatives you havedeveloped at MCS has been theWaynflete Studies Project, anextended essay with external tutorials foryour sixth-formers who want to widen theirqualifications. Although this is still in its earlyyears, have students embraced it and found itof help for their post-school aspirations?AYes,students have loved it,and staff who teach them, andexternal experts who tutor them,have loved it too. William Waynflete owedhis huge success in life to his educationalopportunities. He gave one clear indicationof what he wanted for his school. In ourfounding charter, he crossed out the Latin word‘instructio’, meaning didactic teaching, and putin its place the word ‘illuminatio’, a broader,more wide-embracing and inspirationalintellectual growth. That’s the principle ofthe Waynflete Studies scheme. Pupils haveembraced the project and many have foundit helpful in deciding what they want to dobeyond MCS.QMCShas an illustrious historystretching back to 1480, amongyour predecessors as Master isThomas Wolsey. It was exclusively for boysuntil 2010, when you began to admit girlsinto the sixth form. Four years on, how hasthe change dovetailed in with the traditionsof the school? Would you consider acceptingyounger girls?AWeall tend to think of Wolseyas a power hungry cleric, whoate and drank too much. In fact,although he may not have been Anne Boleyn’sfavourite, this extraordinary man was a toprate intellectual, with a passionate interest inhigh quality education and humanist learning– the earliest advocate, in fact, of a nationalTim Hands has been Master of Magdalen CollegeSchool, Oxfordshire, since 2008. He was previouslyHead of The Portsmouth Grammar School, Hampshire.Admitting girls to Magdalengave young people the chance to choosethe kind of education they wanted. Somecommentators like single sex education; somedon’t. I am a feminist; I believe in choice, notin simplistic notions of right and wrong. Youwouldn’t expect me to say anything otherthan that I like the school the way it is; but, inaddition, we have a very cramped site, and itjust wouldn’t be possible to put more pupilson to it.QAdvocatesof single-sexeducation often say boys andgirls learn in different ways,and that girls do better in traditionally-malesubjects if they do not have boys alongside.How would you answer this point if raised bya prospective parent?ALife,some dramatist said, istoo complex a matter to besettled by hard and fast rules.The best schools pay attention to the needsof the individual. They don’t treat therather complex and manifold proposition ofhumanity as dividing in a simple binary way.Think individuals first; think gender a distantsecond.QPeerpressure has been describedas the single most importantinfluence on outcomes. Examresults tend to be better in independentschools and grammar schools than otherstate schools. Is the principal reason thatpupils are with peers who want to learn,and do not tend to suffer from a disruptiveminority?AIonce put that question to asenior prefect at my previousschool, who had transferredfrom a state school in Chichester. She hada Board prize for being in the top five in thecountry at both English language and Englishliterature, so she was literally one in a million.The reason she moved and liked it is exactlythe reason you outline. The pupils who comeinto the Sixth Form at 16+ tell us they wantthe academic rigour, the dynamic teaching,the university advice, and the extra-curricularprovision. You can find disruptive minoritiesin some independent schools too, you know!QYouhave long been an advocatefor partnership betweenmaintained and independentschools, and for forging links with the localcommunity. These aspirations seemed tobecome widely fashionable when charitablestatus was under threat a few years back,perhaps one hears less of them now. Is therelonger-term educational substance behindthe ideals?AVeryfew teachers who work inthe independent sector don’thave philosophical reservationsabout it. Teachers tend to be idealists, andthey tend to like children. So there is a hugeamount of philosophical commitment topartnership schemes, and indeed I’d say thatthe more governments have tried to applylegal pressure, the less enthusiasm there’sbeen for taking part. Perhaps there’s amessage there.However, beyond private school sponsoredacademies, there are many more localinitiatives being pioneered by theindependent sector to support the localstate community. MCS runs, amongst otherinitiatives, a gifted and talented summerschool for primary school pupils everysummer holiday. We also run numerousoutreach programmes throughout the yearfor state educated pupils – be it communityservice projects, science fairs, dramaproductions, or advice to aspiring medics.QHow do you monitor what reallygoes on in the classroom? Areyou an enthusiast for reviews ofteachers by pupils?AYes:at my previous school, youcouldn’t rise to being a seniorteacher, unless you agreed tohave pupils rate your classes every term. Ialmost never go into a classroom to watcha teacher teach myself: you need to build uptrust, and to make the school child-centred.QMCS has close links withMagdelen College itself, formany centuries sharing the samebuildings though now quite separate. Withthe ongoing debate about widening accessto top Universities, and some pundits evensuggesting positive discrimination in favourof state-educated applicants, what canindependent schools do to forge closer linkswith Admissions Officers both in the UK andabroad?AThere’sa lot of rubbish talkedon this issue. Newspaperswant to promote two myths;one is that there is discrimination in favourof independent school pupils; the othermyth is that there is discrimination againstthem. Both the myths can’t be true, andin fact neither is. Admissions Tutors arecompetitive people. They want the best andmost promising irrespective of background.Research shows them that prior attainmentin public exams is the best guide to who thebest students are. What we really need to dois to get rid of the political posturing, whichis there to win votes, and just concentrateon getting every child everywhere the bestpossible results.QIf a new head asked you for a fewwords of advice on his or her firstday in the job, what would you say?ABeyourself. In the end yourschool, like your family or yourboarding house, will grow to belike you. That’s why Heads should move onafter about 10 years. So set the alarm clocknow, and enjoy yourself in the meantime. It’sa great job – but may not always appear thatin the first instance.Independent Schools Magazine 25

“Finding a Voice”......was the theme chosen by HMC Chairman, Richard Harman for the2014 Conference, which took place, appropriately, in the beautifulsurroundings of Wales’ Usk Valley.Ruth Mercer, Head Mistress of The Godolphin and Latymer School,London, reflects on the event...HMC members may nothave required the extensivesecurity arrangements of ourpredecessors in residence at TheCeltic Manor- NATO’s MessrsObama, Cameron et al- but wewere just as well looked after.Did we “find a voice”?Proceedings began in apromising fashion with theChairman’s apposite speech,followed immediately by aninvigorating session led by thedynamic and inspiring musicianand conductor, DominicPeckham. He spoke barely aword to the assembled delegatesbut immediately had us on ourfeet exercising our vocal chordsin a variety of ways, culminating30 minutes later with somequite tuneful singing! Eachmorning began with a similarlystimulating vocal session led bythe inimitable Peckham, thoughnot all of the delegates seemedto appreciate this particular timeto find their voices! The musicaltheme followed us throughoutour time in Wales- we weretreated to some wonderfulperformances from, amongstothers, Only Boys Aloud! ,Fflur Wyn and our very ownPeckham –led Heads’ Choir! Theclosure of conference with anWorld Record achievedHMC Eisteddfod, celebrating thestudent winners of the variousannual Arts’ prizes was a fittingend to our visit to Wales.But singing was certainly notthe only way in which RichardHarman envisaged we wouldfind a voice. He hoped that wewould have the opportunityto strengthen our own voicesas leaders, as well as reflectingupon how we help young peopleto find a voice, and finally,deciding upon how best to“speak” as the Headmasters’ andHeadmistresses’ Conference, theranks of which are being swelledby increasing numbers of Headsof GSA schools.We benefitted from hearinga range of speakers frommany areas of life offeringus a variety of viewpoints. SirHoward Stringer, speaking on“Technology and you: fromadolescence to obsolescence”and Dame Julia Cleverdon whoexhorted us to devote time,“In the Service of Others”stood out for me; so too didthe sobering reflections of theReverend Nicholas Mercer andShami Chakrabarti discussing,“Speaking Truth to Power”.Perhaps the highlight for manyof us was the conversation1000 volunteers took part in the‘Big Picture’ event held in thegrounds of Hamilton College,South Lanarkshire. This majorfundraising event supported thework of the Mission AviationFellowship (MAF) and achieved aworld record in the process.Each of the volunteers tookpart in the Zip Slide Challenge,sliding 110m across HamiltonPark Racecourse at a height of 26between Anthony Seldon,David Blunkett and StephenDorrell which finished withquestions from delegates beinganswered most pertinently, notleast by Cosby, Mr Blunkett’sguide dog, who responded,through his owner, that thenew examination system and itsintroduction in England was “ adog’s dinner”! (No delegate washeard to disagree!)As ever, one of the mostimportant ways in which we“found a voice” was in theseminar sessions. These covereda diverse range of topical issuesand those which are everpresentin the mind of a schoolleader. “Engaging positivelywith Social Media”, “Findinga Voice… then Walking theTalk: Top Tips for a MentallyHealthy School”, “Growing greatteachers”, “Managing Change:key principles for schoolleaders” and “Performance–Related Pay; Giving yourCommon Room a Voice”, shouldgive you a flavour of the varietyof seminars available to us. Ledby fellow Heads and others,specialists in their fields, thesesmall groups provide one ofthe most effective ways ofexchanging views. As too, dothe opportunities during breaksfeet and carrying a piece of the‘Big Picture’. The mosaic picture,designed by well-known artistGraeme Hewitson, was completedonce all 1000 people had crossedthe slide.Hamilton College Principal, MissMargaret Clarke, pictured takingpart on the day, was delightedthat the event was held in thecollege’s grounds. She said: “This isa wonderful way to raise funds forand meals to participate in themany and varied conversationsand discussions with fellowHeads that took place. Ahot topic was how individualschools might respond to theaforementioned “dog’s dinner”of the English examinationsystem, about which we nevertired of talking but for which awide range of suggestions andsolutions are being found. Eachschool has to consider the needsof its own students in reachingtheir decision about how totackle this pressing concern butit is always invaluable to be ableto compare notes with othersfacing the same challenges.Was it a successful conference?Without a doubt! We not onlyfound our voices but we alsoenjoyed the opportunities tostrengthen them as leaders. Weappreciated the time to be ableto reflect on the work that ourschools are doing to help youngpeople to find their voices andI hope that as our numbersswell, we will continue to beheard, and be listened to, bythose who exercise power andinfluence within our nationaleducation system. We havemuch to contribute as thosewho attended this conferencecan confirm.the life-saving work of MAF, whichis an amazing organisation.”MAF is an internationaldevelopment charity, establishedin 1946, which uses light aircraftto bring help and hope to someof the most isolated people in theworld. The event involved MAFworking closely with HamiltonCollege, with many staff andpupils now world record holders.Over £36,000 was raised.Advertorial FeatureGetting ready for Christmasshows with portable stagingNot all schools enjoy the benefitof a permanent stage for theirproductions, but portable stagingsolutions can quickly transforma hall into a theatre, or a smallerspace into a rehearsal facility.Another scenario is the need forrisers for choral performances. Forboth staging and risers there aresome essential requirements whichinclude simplicity of assembly anddisassembly, ease of transport,convenient storage when not in useand of course safety. With Christmasshows and concerts at the end ofthis term it is an opportune time totake a look at some staging options.When it comes to portablestaging, then Wenger StageTek,supplied by Black Cat Music is wellworth consideration. It meets therequirements of being quick andeasy to set up – in fact due to itsclever design no tools are neededat all. Now available with metricdimension floor panels and differentheight supporting legs it can beconfigured in many ways and atvarious levels. The strong plug-inlegs are secured by hand-turnedlocking knobs making hundredsof configurations possible tomeet a wide variety of needs. Themodularity of design also allowsthe system to be added to lateron should needs change. Some20% lighter than conventionalportable staging it is easy totransport and store, yet is strongand safe. This simplicity of usederives from extensive research,engineering design and technicaladvancements in materials andmanufacturing techniques. Thereis no compromise on safety either.In fact this staging system actuallyexceeds standards for the threecritical loading capacity measuresfor uniform load, point load and01732 371555 www.blackcatmusic.co.ukdynamic load. Plus it is easy tohandle, lighter to lift and with nicesmooth edges for safety it is reallyeasy to set up too. Configurationsinclude single or multi-level stages,thrust stages and runways. Whenit is time to dismantle, legs can bestored on the underside of the deckand panels quickly loaded on toa storage and transport cart thatfits through standard door sizes.Designed to save as much as 50%in storage space compared to othersystems, StageTek can be wheeledto a storage place or transported toanother venue.From the same supplier comeSignature Choral Risers. Assembly ismostly a job for one person with afew basic tools, the Signature Risersare lightweight and easy to movearound yet offer excellent stability.A back rail gives added safety forperformers and it all folds down toa compact 1.8m wide x 0.7m deepx 1.7m high for storage. Available in3-step and 4-step versions puttingthe choir on show for performances.And thinking about Christmas showscoming up, how about equippingthe choir or choral groups withmatching folders for their sheetmusic. These can be customised withgold blocking with the name andcrest of the choir.For rehearsal and early readthroughstake a look at FlipFormstaging, which is a flexibleclassroom seating, standing riser andperformance platform in one unit.Designed to turn classrooms intoexciting educational environments,FlipForms flip into whatever shapeyou need and go wherever you needthem. Their moulded, high-densitypolyethylene design makes themnearly indestructible.For all yourmusic education& performance equipmentFREEPHONE0800 072 7799to join theeducation discountprogramme andsave money onyour purchases!www.blackcatmusic.co.ukMusic Stands,Lights & AccessoriesMusic FoldersMusic Chairs &AccessoriesInstrument & SheetMusic StorageConductor’sEquipmentStaging & RisersTheatre ProductsAcoustic Products26 Independent Schools Magazine Music & Drama 27independent schools mag Ad 90x135mm MAY11.indd 1 6/5/11 13:08:41

Four Star Fringe ReviewHead of Drama Annabel Hooper, took a group of herWarminster School pupils to perform at the EdinburghFringe Festival... this is her report:Theatre’s opening galaThe Upper 6th pupils performedan extended version of theirA2 practical exam piece, TheCanterbury Crawl. This was animaginative and mischievousadaptation of three of GeoffreyChaucer’s famous CanterburyTales. Our pupils were inEdinburgh for eight days. Duringthat time they had to work hardeach day, promoting their showby giving mini performances inthe streets of Edinburgh.Despite the multitude ofcompeting shows on offer,the audience numbers forThe Canterbury Crawl wereexceptional and included a sellout on the last night. The sixboys - Ben Ecclestone, TomJaggs, Jack Osborne, OliverPitts, Matthew Stone and BlakeScammell - styled themselvesThe Lord Weymouth Playersand performed over six nightsat a central venue on the RoyalMile. Warminster is immenselyproud that this show - devised,planned and performed by theboys themselves - was given afour star review in the TheatreGuide London. We cannot resistquoting Gerald Berkowitz’sreview in full below.A half-dozen guys on a pubcrawl decide to fill the travellingtime with stories, and suddenlywe’re in a twenty-first centuryversion of Chaucer’s CanterburyTales. With a lot of inventiveness– no director is credited, but asthese are sixth-form students atWarminster School, we can intuitthe hands of both English andDrama teachers – they presenttruncated and appropriatelymangled versions of the Knight’s,Pardoner’s and Wife of Bath’sTales. The guys are personable,the direction is tight andpolished, the physical theatreelements (i.e. a lot of muggingand pratfalls) are funny, and theclash of modern sensibilities andold tales, while it occasionallygrates (Go easy on the attemptsat rhymed couplets, Englishteacher), just as often producessurprise bits of whimsy andcomedy. It runs out of steamand coherence toward the end,but then so does Chaucer. Whoknows – the students may evenhave learned something from theexercise, and certainly audiencesget an hour of good dirty fun.Shakespeareat schoolFarlington School, Sussex, playedhost to The Lord Chamberlain’sMen, an open-air touring theatrecompany which, as the namesuggests, performs Shakespeare’splays. In the morning, thegirls in Years 7-9 took partin four different workshops,including stage combat, theuse of costumes and props, andthe issues associated with anall-male cast playing women’sroles. The company constructedan impressive multi-tiered stageon the South Lawn and in theafternoon the girls, joined bymembers of Year 10, were treatedto a performance of ‘Romeo andJuliet’. Owing to the skill of theactors, it was possible to forgetthat Juliet, her mother and theNurse were all men, and the girlshad obviously been transportedinto the world of the play.Cello MasterclassThree Yarrells School, Dorset, pupilswere inspired by a cello masterclassled by world-renowned cellist,Natalie Clein.Natalie Clein was born in Poole andis now a world-renowned cellist.She won Young Musician of theYear in 1994 and then studied inVienna for five years. She plays allover the world but still returns togive inspiration back to Dorset. Shereminded the musicians to believein themselves and their talent, butmost importantly, to work really hardand with great passion.Vinehall School, Sussex, hasopened a newly renovated schooltheatre, renamed The ChaplinTheatre. The name is recognitionof the work by formerHeadmaster David Chaplin OBE,whose vision and commitment toperforming arts at Vinehall overhis 25 year tenure as headmasterraised the standard and turnedthe vision of a theatre at Vinehallinto reality.The Chaplin Theatre is a purposebuilt facility with 260 new tieredseats, floor level air conditioningand an acoustic sound canopy.Vinehall Headmaster RichardFollett said “The Chaplin Theatreis long-overdue recognitionof the lasting impact DavidChaplin had on the school andin particular music and drama,which were great passions ofhis. The theatre celebrated its25th birthday this year, so itwas a fitting time to completelyrenovate it with the end result ofa professional standard theatreto last long into the future.Generations of Vinehall pupilswill really reap the benefits, nodoubt following in the footstepsof a great many former Vinehallpupils who have gone on toforge successful careers on thestage and musically.”Following an opening ceremonyfor pupils, a gala eveningfor parents and Vinehallgovernors took place. DavidChaplin unveiled the plaquecommemorating the naming ofthe Chaplin Theatre and gave abrief history of performing arts atthe school, complete with videoclips from past productions anda performance of ‘Summertime’by former Vinehall pupil CarolineJones.The highlight of the eveningwas when David Chaplin’s sonTom, lead singer of the bandKeane and former Vinehall pupilhimself, took to the stage. Tomsang a collection of Keane hitsas well as two of his new soloproject songs which will appearon his forthcoming album.The Chaplin Theatre at Vinehallis also venue for the VinehallMusic Society, now celebratingits 26th season, which holds aseries of classical music concertseach year. World-renownedprofessional musicians visit toperform and most concerts sellout quickly.28 Music & DramaMusic & Drama 29

Advertorial FeatureTalking about floors and stagesSometimes the last thing considered when equipping a schoolhall, drama studio or performing arts centre, is the floor. It isjust something actors and dancers walk on, isn’t it?Harlequin....not just dance floors...we also manufacture a range of ballet barres and brackets.Well, actually it can be moreimportant than that and althoughthe opportunity to be involvedwith the design and build of a newschool performing arts facility mayonly happen rarely, it is as well tobe aware of some of the issues toconsider. There are safety issues,performance requirements andvisual considerations.Harlequin Floors has specialisedin stage construction and floorsfor performance for nearly fortyyears, and has built up a wealth ofexperience and gained a worldwidereputation. Whether it is designingand installing a stage in a newtheatre or refurbishing old stages,Harlequin has the expertise todeliver an effective solution.Stages for theatres, opera houses,performing arts centres, cruiseships and education establishmentsare all covered. Stage floors havebeen designed to accommodatestage engineering requirementsfrom revolves to traps, tocomply with acoustic criteria,be aesthetically sympathetic toarchitectural needs and throughthe use of printed vinyl, integralto the set design. Harlequin hasused this experience in providingcustom-built stage floors toproduce a guide which outlinesthe scope of the subject. Some ofthe issues involved are referencedby using recent installations toillustrate the solutions. A free copyof ‘Stage floor construction andtechnical solutions’ is availableon request from Harlequin Floors(01892 514888) or a PDF versioncan be downloaded from thewebsite. (http://uk.harlequinfloors.com/en/faqs-downloads/downloads/)There are recent developments invinyl floors which can dramaticallycontribute to the look of thestage set. Viewers of some ofthe popular TV shows may havenoticed the super shiny, glossylook of the sets owes much tothe floor. An extremely popularfloor is Harlequin Hi-Shine whichgives a mirror-like finish that isgreat for adding an extra gloss toChristmas shows or pantomimes.Another recent development isthe adoption of large scale inkjet printing techniques allowingintricate designs, logos or colourmatches, to transform an otherwiseplain floor.Where any form of dance ispracticed, whether in rehearsalstudios or performed on stage,then some important safetyconsiderations come into play.There are several different stylesof dance and footwear frombarefoot or ballet shoes throughto steel tipped shoes used in Irishor flamenco dance. The latteris clearly going to have a harsheffect on the floor. Accordinglyfloor surfaces have beendeveloped to suit different danceforms. Riverdance has toured theworld with a floor developed byHarlequin that not only standsup to such a harsh regime, butalso provides the right degree ofgrip or ‘traction’ to avoid slipsand falls. When dancers haveconfidence in the floor, they canput maximum effort into theirperformance without holdingback, cautious that they couldslip and injure themselves. Otherinjuries are caused by frequentlydancing on hard unyielding floorsthat can result in longer-termstress related damage. This iswhere a suitable sprung floor hasbeen shown by research to reducethe impact of landing from jumpsfor example and reduce the stresson limbs and muscles.A performance floor is not onlysomething to walk on – the rightchoice can make a big differenceto how it wears, how performerscan be better protected andeven contribute to the stage setvisually. Happily there are provensolutions to suit the various needsof performers and Harlequin Floorsare on hand to provide free advice.Ballet barres are a prerequisite for dancers. Bothamateurs and professionals can minimise the risk ofinjury by stretching and warming up properly beforerehearsing or performing.Harlequin offers a range of freestanding, wallor floor-mounted ballet barres and brackets to suit allneeds and budgets.Barres available for purchaseonline www.harlequinfloors.comAmanda Restell Academy of DanceBritish Harlequin plcFestival House, Chapman WayTunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3EFTel: +44 (0)1892 514888Fax: +44 (0)1892 514222Freephone: 0800 28 99 32www.harlequinfloors.comenquiries@harlequinfloors.comLONDONLUXEMBOURGBERLINPARISMADRIDLOS ANGELESPHILADELPHIAFORT WORTHSYDNEYHONG KONGIf you have a smart phone, scanthe code below to go directly tothe Harlequin Shop.Contact us for more information 0800 28 99 32enquiries@harlequinfloors.com30 Music & Drama

Year 3stringsinitiativeAs part of Bromsgrove School’scommitment to and developmentof the Performing Arts, all Year 3pupils now have the opportunityto learn a string instrument ina group for free. There is noadditional cost to parents for thisscheme and pupils have been ableto choose for themselves whetherthey want to play the violin, viola,cello or double bass.Launched at the beginningof term, the School’s team ofspecialist string teachers, ledby Miss Fiona Swadling (Headof Strings), will work with MrsJessica Russell (Prep SchoolMusic Teacher) to deliver a newcurriculum for Year 3.James McKelvey, Director of Musicsaid “Their class music lessons willbe a valuable extra group learningexperience in addition to anindividual or shared lesson option,if they choose to take up separate32 Music & Dramainstrumental lessons. Thereare huge gains to be found inlearning an instrument includingthe development of many lifelongskills: concentration, patience,motor skills and memory,confidence and sense of publicperformance, creativity andsensitivity, independence, teamwork and interaction with peersand adults.”The scheme will run throughoutthe academic year, culminating ina concert showing off the skillsthat the pupils have learnt.Sound-isolatingMusic teacher plays atLast Night of the PromsMs Natasha Wright, head ofinstrumental music studies at StSwithun’s School, Hampshire,played viola as part of the BBCSymphony Orchestra at the LastNight of the Proms at the RoyalAlbert Hall, London.Natasha, who was a member of theBBC Symphony Orchestra for eightpractice roomseducation > home > recordingOur sound-isolatingMusic Practice Roomsenable musicians torehearse in controlledconditions that limitnoise escape to theadjacent areas. Builton a modular design,the practice rooms canbe adjusted to fit thespace available.years prior to joining St Swithun’ssaid ‘It was an amazing experience.I’ve played in the Last Night Prombefore, when I was a member ofthe BBC Symphony Orchestra, butthat was about 10 years ago. It’s along concert, but the atmosphereis like a big party. I think the piecewe all enjoyed playing the mostwas the arrangement of the MaryPoppins songs’. This sing-alongsection was led by musical WestEnd star Ruthie Henshall.Natasha was also invited by theorchestra to join them for theopening night of the Proms and twofurther Proms during the summer.Three St Swithun’s pupils also sangduring Prom season at the RoyalAlbert Hall. Bridget Burkill, age15, Rebecca Bird, age 13 and AnnaRodrigues, age 18, joined other girland boy choristers from WinchesterCathedral for Prom 66, which wasPeter Sellars’s staging of Bach’s StMatthew’s Passion, with the BerlinPhilharmonic Orchestra conducted bySir Simon Rattle.Get in touchTelephone: 0844 846 9740www.musicpracticerooms.comAre schools ready forshared parental leave?...asks Donald MacKinnonMuch attention has beenfocused on the UK Government’scontroversial reforms of theemployment law landscape,including the introductionof tribunal fees, which manycommentators have seen as abarely veiled measure to preventemployees asserting their rightsagainst their employer. Lessnoticed, however, has beenthe Government’s continuedimplementation of a variety ofnew ‘family friendly’ provisions,designed to promote a work/life balance in the workplaceand encourage a moreequitable sharing of parentalresponsibilities between parents.Chief among these changesis the introduction of a newentitlement for employees whohave recently become parents(whether by birth or adoption), totake shared parental leave duringthe first year of their child’slife or in the year following thechild’s adoption placement.Under the new regime, themother of the child (or adoptivemother as the case may be) willbe able to share with her partnerall of the maternity leave towhich she is currently entitled,other than a mandatory twoweek maternity leave periodimmediately following the birthof the child, providing that shegives at least 8 weeks’ noticeto her employer indicating herintention to return to work.Similarly, her partner must give8 weeks’ notice to his employeroutlining his intention to takeleave.The right to take parental leavewill apply to any child born,or due to be adopted, after 5April 2015. Employers, however,would be ill-advised to waituntil then to have new policiesand procedures in place. Giventhe fact that the parents of anychildren conceived now will beentitled to this leave, employerscan expect, and ought to beready, to receive inquiries relatingto shared parental leave.The proposed new leave regimehas had mixed reactions. Formany, a scheme that seeks tofacilitate an even distribution oftime between both parents andtheir child can only be beneficialto the child’s development.However, the regulationshave already been branded a“nightmare” by the DeputyDirector of Policy at the Instituteof Directors.What worries many in thebusiness community is that, atpresent there are no clear-cutprovisions in relation to thedistribution of leave betweenboth parents. It is hoped thatdetailed regulations, due tobe published in October, willanswer some of these questions.However, what is clear is that allemployers will require a rewritingof internal policies, as well assome tricky strategic issues toconsider around pay (in particularenhanced maternity pay). Inpractical terms, there will also bethe difficult task of orchestratingleave between both parents withthe consent of each parents’respective employers.The potential difficulties forthe employer will be amplifiedif the mother opts to take herentitlement to leave on a noncontinuousbasis, shared betweenher and her partner, as therewill need to be a discussion andagreement between all partiesconcerned.Donald MacKinnon is Director of Legal Services at Law At Work. 0141 271 5555The actual effects of these newprovisions may not, however, beas burdensome for the employeras they may, at first blush, appearto be. In 2011 the Governmentintroduced additional paternityleave which was the firstattempt to share a portion ofthe mother’s unused maternityleave between the mother andher partner. The number of new(predominately) fathers who havetaken the option of additionalleave has been surprisingly small,with only 0.6% of employeeseligible to take this leave initiallydoing so, increasing onlymarginally to 1.4% in 2012-13.Whether or not the newprovisions succeed in recastingthe traditional notion of mothers,rather than fathers, taking thebulk of time off work during achild’s early years, remains to beseen. What is clear, however, isthat the new rights to time offwill require a substantial amountof work for busy HR departmentsin the months ahead.Legal 33

Why studyclassical Greek?Last year, Dorset House School, Sussex, re-introduced the studyof classical Greek for those who would benefit from tackling this tricky language. Thosewho were chosen for the challenge certainly enjoyed their studies. There is little doubt,however, that learning classical Greek takes time and commitment. So why, when studentsare already working so hard, should they study what is, after all, a dead language?Head of RS and Greek, Fr David Twinley reflects....There was a time when afirst-rate education at one ofour great public schools wassynonymous with a classicaleducation. However, this focuson the ancient civilisations ofGreece and Rome was not borneof mere fascination with thedistant past, but the realisationthat these ancient peoples hadmuch to teach us about our owntimes. One can imagine the smileon the schoolmaster’s face whena hapless student, strugglingwith his Latin declensions, wouldmutter the perennial question:What have the Romans ever donefor us? Here was his chance, hisopportunity to enlighten thestudent’s mind and demonstratethat those who desire to reachnew heights must first learn tostand on the shoulders of thegiants who have gone beforeus. The Roman world mayseem like ancient history tothe uninformed, but to those34 Independent Schools Magazinewho care to enquire it is thefoundation on which muchof our western civilisation hasbeen built. But if the westernworld looked to the Romans forinspiration, to whom did theRomans look? The Greeks.Few today appreciate that muchof what we take for grantedstems from ancient Greece.Turn on the television to watcha drama or go to the theatreand immediately the world ofancient Greece is near. Indeedthe words drama (δραμα/drama) and theatre (θεατρον/theatron) are themselves takenfrom Greek. Or exercise yourright to vote and the Greeks arepeering over your shoulder. Boththe notion of democracy andthe word itself (δημος/dēmos =people, κρατεω/krateō = rule)come from classical Greek. Ifmathematics is your subjectthen you will want to look toPythagoras and Archimedes—weFr David Twinley is also Vicar of Bury with Houghton & Coldwaltham & Hardham, and Rural Dean of Petworth.Girls inspired into scienceGirls at Dame Allan’s Schools, Tyne & Wear, have been inspired to pursuescience, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers after a lesson withDurham University Professor and former pupil at the school, Ruth Gregory.Professor Gregory, who specialises in Maths and Physics, took a Year 11 girls’physics class entitled ‘Time and Extra Dimensions in Space’ discussing blackholes, the galaxy and more, with a Dr Who inspired twist.The lesson aimed to encourage girls’ involvement and engagement inthe sciences and also touched on the exciting career prospects it canhold for them.Professor Gregory was a role model to inspire the girls, having been the firstwoman to win the prestigious Maxwell Medal by the Institute of Physics forher work into understanding the structure of the universe.all need the occasional eureka(εὑρηκα/heureka = I have foundit). Personally, I enjoy philosophy(yes, another word that comesfrom Greek: φιλος/philos = love,σοφια/sophia = wisdom), andso Plato and Aristotle are neverfar from mind. If you are stillunconvinced that the ancientGreeks are ever-present in ourmodern world then open amedical dictionary and you willdiscover that many medical termsare based on Greek words, or doa little research into Herodotusand you will discover that everyhistory book you have read oweshim a debt of gratitude.Of course, we can learn all aboutthe influence of the ancientGreeks on western civilisationwithout taking the trouble tolearn the language. So, thequestion remains: why learnclassical Greek? Well, thereare those who argue that theexercise of grappling with sucha difficult language is a greatway to stretch the mind andimprove overall academic ability.It also looks very impressive ona CV! Others argue that learningclassical Greek is a sure wayto improve our knowledge ofEnglish grammar and enrichour vocabulary (many modernEnglish words have Greek roots,especially scientific terms). Forme, however, it is the sheer joyof being able to read some ofthe world’s greatest literature,not least the New Testament, inits original language. The poetryof Homer is legendary, andno translation can ever do fulljustice to the rhythm of his epicpoems Iliad and Odyssey. Andalthough a fine translation ofthe prologue to St John’s gospelis not without beauty, it is onlywhen those immortal lines arespoken in their original tonguethat my breath is truly takenaway.HMC develops newteacher training andrecruitment programmeThe Headmasters’ andHeadmistresses’ Conference(HMC), is launching a newsecondary school teacherrecruitment and trainingprogramme – HMC TeacherTraining - to encourage newteachers into the professionand enable them to train in asalaried post while working atan HMC school.Over a two-year programme,trainee teachers will gain aPGCE with Qualified TeacherStatus, preparing them for acareer in teaching in eitherindependent or maintainedschools in the UK.All 260 HMC schools acrossthe UK, as well as HMCinternational schools, canparticipate in the scheme, andit is anticipated that in thefirst year around 100 traineeplaces will be available.Recruitment will start inNovember, with candidatesattending training sessions inAugust 2015 before taking upteaching posts at HMC schoolsin September 2015. Employerschools will set out the criteriaand a job specification foreach role advertised by HMCTeacher Training.Richard Harman, Headmasterof Uppingham School andChairman of HMC, said:‘The identification, training,recruitment and retention ofgood teachers are vital to anyschool’s success. And goodteachers are remembered bytheir pupils for the rest of theirlives. Teaching can be a toughjob but it can be wonderfullyfulfilling. Yet, there is a woefulnational shortage of teachers.By introducing this scheme,HMC gives would-be teachers aflexible route into initial trainingand a strong foundation for acareer in teaching, and possiblyschool leadership. I look forwardto welcoming one of the firstrecruits to Uppingham nextyear.’Chris King, Headmaster ofLeicester Grammar School andChairman Elect of HMC (2015-16), who has been responsiblefor the development ofHMC Teacher Training, said:’Shrinking numbers of PGCEplaces in universities meansa risk of reduction in highqualityteacher traineesentering the profession. HMCis committed to ongoingprofessional development,and this new scheme,established in response todemand, offers our schoolsthe chance to help those newto the teaching profession.It will be available to thosetrainees who demonstrate astrong motivation for teachingand who have an excellentacademic background.’HMC Teacher Training willenable trainees to gainQualified Teacher Status (QTS)while teaching their specialistsubject at an HMC school.The training will include aPGCE leading to QTS in Year1, and statutory inductionvia the Independent SchoolsTeacher Induction Panel (IStip)in Year 2. The PGCE will bedelivered by the University ofBuckingham for the majorityof trainees. The contract willinitially be for two years,though it is anticipatedthat many trainees will beemployed by their school afterthis period.The two-year full-timeprogramme will providea blend of professionaldevelopment, including: ‘onthe job’ training across a widerange of subject specialisms,with support from a trainedin-school mentor; tutorsupport from the PGCEprovider; HMC-led residentialtraining events; peernetworking opportunities; andplacements and visits to otherparticipating schools.School launchesinnovative6th-form awardLady Elizabeth Godolphin, thefounder of the Godolphin School,Wiltshire, was a woman of energy,tenacity and vision, and a newaward which bears her name is atwo-year programme available togirls studying A-levels at Godolphindesigned to offer girls an extensionto their academic education.At the launch held last month(September), Mrs Emma Hattersley,Head said: “As educators I believeit is our responsibility not onlyto help our students achieveoptimum academic results but alsoto educate them for the broaderchallenges of life and work beyondschool. The Elizabeth GodolphinAward will directly address the skillsdeficit that many organisations haveidentified in young adults emergingfrom education. The award willfacilitate Godolphin leaverswho are confident, independentindividuals and who can articulatean informed point of view on arange of subjects both globally andwithin specific communities. It willalso teach competence in a raftof practical skills spanning topicsincluding for example: computerliteracy, financial matters, andcommunication and presentationskills. The overarching idea is to giveour girls an accredited qualificationthat will carry weight and meaningin practical terms and also givethem a real edge as they progressinto the world.We are very proud and excitedto launch this new initiativeand to name it after theschool’s founder, Lady ElizabethGodolphin. We feel the awardfully endorses the spirit of heroriginal passionate commitmentto providing an excellent anduseful all round education forgirls but places it firmly in a21st century context. I hopemany generations of Godolphingirls will benefit from achievingan EGA and that it will boosttheir confidence, expertise andemployability.”Guest speaker at the launch was MrJohn Beard, who has had a careerin businesses recruiting both newlyqualified graduates and schoolleavers. He was proud to lead acompany that was consistently inthe top ten of The Sunday TimesBest Companies annual awardsand his three daughters wereeducated at Godolphin. Mr Beardsaid he thought the programmewas innovative and exciting andwould certainly give girls educatedat Godolphin an advantage whenlooking for employment.Pictured: Mr John Beard, businessman, Mrs Bethan Ferguson, EGA coordinator, portrait ofLady Elizabeth Godolphin, Mrs Emma Hattersley, Head, Dr Alistair Dougall, Head of Sixth FormIndependent Schools Magazine 35

Advertorial FeatureExploding the myths ofmodular construction’The Portakabin Group, the UK’s leading modularbuilding manufacturer, has published a newreport to help building occupiers, architects andcontractors separate the misconceptions aboutmodular construction from the facts.The report titled ‘Exploding theMyths of Modular Construction’is the latest in a series of freeguides from the PortakabinGroup, which can be downloadedfrom its website – www.portakabin.co.uk/reports.Commenting on the report,Kevin Jones, Director ofBusiness Development at thePortakabin Group, said, “Modularconstruction has changedradically over the past 60 yearsso it can be difficult to tell justwhat is fact or fiction when itcomes to assessing the approachand whether it is suitable for aparticular project.”“Add to that the diversity ofsuppliers – from sellers of lowvalue second hand cabins tomanufacturers of multi-storey,purpose-designed landmarkbuildings – and the ingrainedperception issues that stemfrom the draughty, leakingprefabricated classrooms thatwww.portakabin.co.uk/reports36 Buildingswere supposed to be temporarybut had to be endured by schoolsacross the country for too manyyears, and it is easy to see whythe picture is confusing.”“This myth-busting reportaddresses some of the mostcommon misconceptions aboutmodular construction to helporganisations and specifiersin every sector have a muchclearer understanding about thepotential of this highly efficientalternative to site-based buildingmethods.”The myths covered in the reportinclude:• Modular means temporary• Modular is all about ugly greyboxes• Modular buildings have bouncyfloors• Modular construction isrestrictive in design• Modular means sub-standardaccommodation.£8m expansionFairfield Preparatory School,Leicestershire, is laying thefoundations for an £8m expansionplan to create additional learningspace and a new Kindergarten.Work is underway at the school’stown centre site to develop thenew facilities for children agedfrom three to eleven.The state of the art developmentat Fairfield, part of theLoughborough Endowed Schools,will see the creation of newclassrooms, a larger gymnasium,a specialist art and craft room,designated social areas andessential office space. It isscheduled to open in the nextacademic year.The Kindergarten, which willhave capacity for 40 children, willopen in January 2016 giving theEndowed Schools the opportunityto educate pupils from threeLord Rogers visitsKingswood House School, Surrey,former pupil Lord Rogers - theworld renowned architect -opened the school’s brand newbuildings.The school has embarked on anambitious building programmeand it was fitting that LordRogers was shown around thesite, bringing back memories ofhis time at the school.Headmaster, Peter Brooks and theHead Boys Albert Trant, OliverKennedy and Max Fryer spentan hour showing the famousarchitect around the school.Mr Brooks later reflected on theday, “It was such an honour tomeet Lord Rogers. It was thefirst time he has returned tothe school since he left in 1946and he was very relaxed, happilychatting to staff and pupils alike.years all the way through to sixthform.Andrew Earnshaw is theHeadmaster at Fairfield. He isexcited that construction hasbegun and is looking forwardto seeing the new building takeshape.He said: “All of our pupils willbenefit from the extra spacewe’re creating, which, combinedwith small class sizes and asuperb range of indoor andoutdoor facilities, will enable usto deliver first rate teaching.“Our new Pre-Prep centre will bestaffed and equipped to deliveroutstanding early years educationfor the 21st century. I wouldencourage parents to enquireabout the new Kindergartenas soon as possible, as it hasalready attracted a great deal ofinterest.”The boys found it particularlyfascinating to hear how duringthe war, pupils would hide underthe desks when the air raid sirenswent off.”Shortfall in school places?A report by the National Audit Office warnsthat an extra 256,000 school places will berequired in England and Wales by 2014.Elliott has developed a new standard rental fleet designedto meet the needs of the shortfall in school places.TECHNICALSOLUTIONRegulatory compliantHeating and cooling optionsVentilationUp to 50 year design lifeRobust fixtures& fittingsBENEFITSLow cost rental ratesAvailable from stockAllows early occupationVariety of sizes & layoutsQuality learningenvironmentElliott is the market leading education specialist with over50 years experience, and is the UK’s largest supplier ofportable accommodation and secure storage solutions.Other layouts, sizes, and toilet options are available torent or buy.For more information please contact us onFREEPHONE 0800 0858 202or email education@as.elliottuk.comwww.elliottuk.comElliott standard layouts:>>SC384 - 30 person single classroomDC584 - 60 person double classroomTypical rentalrate fromas little as£156per week*Typical rental rate from as little as £265 per week**Rates are based on a 2 year rental period. 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Investing in 6th-form facilitiesRoyal openingManchester High School for Girlswelcomed Her Royal HighnessThe Princess Royal, to theSchool to officially open its newSixth Form Centre last month(September).Rachel Edwards, head of the Preparatory Department;Claire Hewitt, head mistress; and HRH The Princess RoyalDignitaries including The LordLieutenant and The Rt Worshipfulthe Lord Mayor of Manchester andher consort were in attendance atthis special ceremony along withguests from the School community.HRH The Princess Royal touredthe facilities of the Sixth FormCentre which include the 120seat Zochonis Lecture theatre,the Carole Nash Café Area,common room, ICT suite, threescience laboratories, classrooms,workspaces and offices. HerRoyal Highness spent timetalking to staff and A Leveland International BaccalaureateDiploma students beforeunveiling a plaque to mark theofficial opening of the building.In a short speech The PrincessRoyal said she appreciated theopportunity to return to MHSGto see how well the School iscontinuing its traditions and itsstrengths. Her Royal Highnessreferred to her role as Patronof Women into Science andEngineering and expressedgratitude for the School’sconsistent support of sciencesubjects. She commented onthe value of looking back andremembering why schools suchas Manchester High were startedand spoke about how well thecurrent pupils respond to thestrong traditions that werecreated in the very early days andthat still remain important today.Mrs Claire Hewitt, Head Mistress,said: “We were delighted andprivileged to welcome Her RoyalHighness The Princess Royal, toofficially open our new SixthForm Centre during our 140thanniversary year. When ManchesterHigh was founded in 1874, itoccupied two converted Victorianhouses in Portland Terrace. TheSchool has come a long waysince those early days, and wecontinue to develop our purposebuilt, state of the art facilities tobenefit successive generations ofManchester High students.”Mrs Hewitt said: “The newSixth Form Centre is an excitingdevelopment for the School and itwill offer our students everythingthat they need to gain maximumbenefit from their Sixth Form studiesand prepare for life at university.”Amanda Protheroe, head of mathematics,with HRH The Princess RoyalCommonwealth championopens centreThe Fulneck School, Yorkshire,Sixth Form centre, extensivelyrefurbished during the summerbreak, has been officiallyreopened by a CommonwealthGames gold medallist.Leeds-born gymnast Nile Wilson– who won a total of four medalsat the recent Glasgow games;two gold, one silver and a bronze– performed the honours.The school has invested £200,000in its Sixth Form centre, fillingit with state-of-the-art ITresources; including over 30new computers, three interactivewhiteboards, a 50-inch televisionand high-speed wireless internet.Its interior has also undergonesignificant changes, with newcarpets and furniture throughout.The walls feature a series ofgraphics designed to create arelaxing, positive atmosphere forthe pupils, including a number ofinspirational quotes.The centre’s common room –which has been fitted out with abrand new kitchen with breakfastbar – contains a mural of a forestscene covering an entire wall.In addition to the block’supdated aesthetics, its bathroomfacilities have also beencompletely refurbished.Fulneck School Principal,Deborah Newman, said: “Weare delighted with these newimprovements to our Sixth Formfacilities. Senior pupils can oftenfeel under pressure given theweight of decisions they makeabout their futures at this timein their lives. So, in addition tomodernising our provisions andupdating our infrastructure wehave tried to create a relaxingand positive atmosphere thatallows them to really thrive.Pictured: (From left) head of sixth form, Emma Nulty, head girl, Kara Farrar, principal,Deborah Newman, Commonwealth champion Nile Wilson and head boy, David DoldingNew £4.5m facilityBuilding work has been launched on a stunning new £4.5m SixthForm Centre for Solihull School that will transform teaching andlearning for Sixth Form pupils.David E J J Lloyd, Headmaster of the independent school for boys andgirls aged from 7 to 18, celebrated the occasion by cutting the firstsod on the state-of-the-art building on the Warwick Road campus inthe company of the main project parties.Kingswinford-based contractor Speller Metcalfe has been appointed bySolihull to build the facility, which aims to provide the perfect environmentfor developing independent learning and intellectual curiosity.Scheduled to open its door to pupils in September 2015, the fourfloorbuilding will include state-of-the-art teaching rooms and privatestudy areas incorporating the latest multimedia technology.The top floor will provide open-plan space for teaching, examinationsand social events, along with an external terrace garden withpanoramic views.The building will also be a model of sustainability, with high levelsof natural light and ventilation, low energy lighting, and an energyefficient heating system.The new Sixth Form Centre is being built on vacant land previouslyoccupied by the Old Gymnasium, and will be surrounded by the BushellHall, Mathematics and Science departments and the Sports Hall.New building projectsTwo building projects are set to transform St Benedict’s School,London – a new Sixth Form Centre and Art, Design & TechnologyBuilding and a purpose-built extension to the Junior School, totalinvestment being around £12million.Work began in mid-August on the Sixth Form/ADT project. The newbuilding will create a purpose-built space for the Sixth Form to studyand also relax and socialise. Art, Design and Technology will gain afit-for-purpose and inspiring new teaching and learning facility. Thesenew facilities should be ready for use by the end of 2015.The second project will follow on once the Sixth Form/ADT buildingis complete and will create a coherent identity for Early Years andJuniors in a single new building. Landscaping around the newbuildings will provide an improved whole school pupil entrance,improved external play areas, a new Nursery entrance and a relocatedSixth Form entrance.Headmaster Chris Cleugh said: “These projects are hugely exciting andwill ensure that the School offers the very best accommodation forteaching and learning. The decision demonstrates the commitmentof the Governors to lead a School that will continue to flourish in theyears ahead.”Pictured: Solihull School Headmaster David E J J Lloyd inspects the start of buildingwork on Solihull’s new £4.5m Sixth Form Centre in the company of contractors38 Buildings Buildings 39

Outward Bound?Outdoor activities form animportant part of the educationexperience at most independentschools, but the benefits topupils do not come without risk.Jon Taylor, head of education atMarsh, looks at the steps thatschools can take to ensure anenriching, and safe, time can behad by all involved.Ask any child what they mostlook forward to during the schoolyear and activities away fromthe normal academic routine willfeature high on the list. There isno doubt, of course, that outdooractivities – from orienteeringto sailing – can be extremelybeneficial, but as with any activitythat represents a break from thenorm, they must be carefullyplanned to ensure that pupilsafety is as highly prioritised as itis in the classroom.To that end, identifying risksand putting measures in placeto minimise them has to be animportant element of the widerplanning process. This begins witha thorough risk assessment.In essence, a risk assessment, andsubsequent development of riskmanagement processes, shouldbreak down across five broadareas.Location, Location, LocationIt is vital to investigate the areawhere outdoor activities willtake place, looking in particularat potential safety hazards, aswell as the availability of safetyequipment and skilled support.Identifying risks should span boththe mundane (such as unevensurfaces and stairs) and themore specific issues related toproposed activities – particularlyif the location is not already wellknown to members of staff andvolunteers accompanying the trip.On the RoadIt is also important to carefullyconsider travel arrangements andput in place those that are mostappropriate to the size of thegroup and length of the journey.For small groups travelling ashort distance, the use of privatecars may be the best optionproviding of course that driversare properly qualified and insured.For longer journeys and largergroups, however, it is likely thatminibuses and coaches will benecessary. In these cases, it is vitalto check that vehicles are properlyequipped with safety features,well maintained, and drivenby experienced, qualified, andinsured drivers.Safety in NumbersAs a general rule, outdoor tripsaway from the school, particularlythose involving long journeysand unfamiliar locations, requirehigher staff to pupil ratios. It isalso important to consider thenature of the activity, and howstaff would cope in an emergency.For instance, if the worst shouldhappen, will there be enough staffto both deal with the emergencyand to look after the rest of thegroup?Medication and First AidThere are two main areas toconsider here. First, the lengthand nature of the trip mustOn 17 November 2014, Marsh is delighted to be attending the 3rd NationalConference for Leaders of Outdoor Education at Malvern College. The day iscentred on the learnings from a “mock trial”, where a legal action is raisedfollowing an outdoor trip that goes badly wrong. It will be suitable for staffwith responsibility for adventurous activities, educational visit coordinators, andbursars and deputies, especially those who act as health and safety officers fortheir schools. For further information and to book a place at the conference,please visit www.independentoutdoor.org.uk.Marsh Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Copyright © 2014 Marsh Ltd All rights reservedPromoting excellence in businessPlymouth College, Devon, has won two moreendorsements with a Young Enterprise Centreof Excellence accolade and the launch of theEntrepreneurial Society.The Young Enterprise award is given toorganisations that make a high-quality enterpriseand entrepreneurship contribution to studentsthrough courses and initiatives. PlymouthCollege has a reputation for success in businesscompetitions having won 15 national titles,including the UK Young Enterprise title in 2009.On the back of this award, Plymouth College islaunching an Entrepreneurial Society, a new venturebe taken into account whendeciding the level of first aidsupport required in terms of bothexpertise and equipment. Second,the specific health needs of pupilson the trip – from allergies toepilepsy – must be ascertainedand catered for with appropriatemedical supplies, to be retainedand given out when necessary bya responsible member of staff.If Things Go Wrong…No amount of planning cancompletely eliminate risk, so it isimportant to have clear plans inplace should something go wrong– from vehicle breakdown toaccident and illness. In particular,it is essential that membersof staff have access to mobilephones, and know precisely whoto contact and how in the eventof an incident.Further ReadingFurther useful informationabout the risk management ofoutdoor activities can be foundat Health and Safety Executivewebsite www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/links.htm as well thefollowing specialist organisations:• The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award– www.dofe.org• Royal Geographic Society –www.rgs.org• Outdoor Education Advisers’Panel – www.oeap.info• Independent Outdoor –www.independentoutdoor.org.ukthat will see a series of guest speakers help to bringbusiness and economics alive for students. Otherinitiatives for Plymouth College students under theEntrepreneurial Society banner will include a Year 10Enterprise Challenge in conjunction with Burts Chips anda Sixth Form project with Wrigley’s.“These are really exciting times for our businessstudents”, said Young Enterprise lead teacher JonathanShields (pictured with sixth formers Paul Vallis andAnnie Cobbold.) “Having the opportunity to engagewith successful business leaders and be involved in reallife projects will really put our students ahead of thegame – critical in an increasingly competitive educationalenvironment.”NOT ALL PERSONAL ACCIDENTCOVER IS THE SAMECan your pupils’ personal accident insurance scheme extend to includethe school’s teaching and support staff?To find out how we may improve your current personal accident insurance cover, please contact ustoday (quoting ISOCT14):( 01444 313174 * termly.schemes@marsh.com 8 uk.marsh.com/educationMarsh Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Copyright © 2014 Marsh Ltd. All rights reserved.40 Finance

New business and finance centreAlderman Sir David Wootton, LordMayor of the City of London inHM The Queen’s Jubilee Year andVice President of Bridewell RoyalHospital, officially opened a brandnew Business and Finance Centre atKing Edward’s School, Surrey.The launch of the Business andFinance Centre marks the arrivalof an innovative resource designedfor pupils following Economicsand Business Studies options atthe School. It will be used primarilyby those studying at IB / A-levelbut will also be pivotal to theintroduction of financial andbusiness education throughout theSchool. The latest stage in a multimillionpound investment into theSchool’s facilities, the Business andFinance Centre, which was solelyfunded by the School, provides alearning environment which mirrorsthe business world rather than aschool classroom.Work was completed on theBusiness and Finance Centre intime for the start of term andfollows the conversion of the topfloor of an existing teaching block,transforming it into a state of theart business centre. Key featuresinclude a boardroom which seats 24with full conferencing facilities andmulti media screens; two glasswalledmeeting rooms (seating 16)that can be opened up to createa further large meeting roomalso incorporating conferencingand projection facilities, and adepartmental office that can alsofunction as a breakout room.Pupils studying for the IB, IGCSEEconomics and Business Studiesand – from January 2015 – thenew A-levels, will take all theirlessons in the new Centre, wherethey can work in teams and videoconference with partner schoolsworldwide. Longer-term, a financialeducation curriculum will beextended to all pupils. In addition,Investor Clubs, Young Enterpriseand other financial / careersfocused education will be based inthe Business and Finance Centreand the School has future plansto share the resource with otherschools and the wider community.Commenting on the opening of theBusiness and Finance Centre, theHeadmaster, John Attwater, said“We are delighted to be honouredwith Sir David Wootton’s presencetoday. As a leading figure in theCity, but also Vice President ofBridewell Royal Hospital, which isthe School’s parent foundation,it is particularly fitting that SirDavid is here to witness the nextexciting development in KingEdward’s Witley‘s rich history.The new Business and FinanceCentre is a strong reminder ofthe School’s celebrated links withthe City of London, which stretchback to our foundation 460 yearsago. We intend to build uponour City heritage, along with ourexcellent network of contacts inthe world of business and finance,to evolve as a centre of excellencefor business education. Effectively,we want to introduce a little bitof the buzz of the modern SquareMile into school life to help ourpupils prepare for the increasinglycompetitive world of work thatawaits them when they leave KingEdward’s.”Although the facility will initially beknown as the Business and FinanceCentre, branding opportunities areavailable for businesses / individualsponsors who recognise the potentialassociated with being aligned withthe School’s visionary approach tobusiness and financial education.• School Fees Income ProtectionScheme for Parents•School HealthcareScheme for StaffParental support shouldnever be underestimatedRushmoor School moved from London to Bedford 96 years ago; it is a smallschool, with 323 pupils currently on roll from age 2 up to 16. Head Ian Danielexplains how he has involved parents in the running of his school...The secret to the success ofRushmoor is the reputation it haswithin the community and thesupport it receives from parents.At the most recent inspection theISI stated “the school maintainsexcellent relationships with parentsin accordance with its aims, andthe parents are extremely happywith the school’s provision fortheir children”.We must reach out to parentsand we do this at every availableopportunity. I have regular parentcouncil meetings where anyparent can become involved withthe major decisions we have tomake, from curriculum changes,through to general maintenanceissues. When schools and familieswork together, children have abetter chance to do well. Parentalinvolvement is invaluable forteachers to understand what achild needs to be successful inschool. An ‘open door policy’ is inplace which welcomes parents andencourages them to express theirchild’s needs.We often discuss the schoolimprovement plan to ensureparents understand they aremajor stakeholders in the school’ssuccess. As a consequence of theparent councils the school’s wifiwas upgraded and the technicalhitches that we sometimesexperienced sorted out becauseone of the parents works for acompany specialising in this area.This was a service donated to theschool as a result of the meeting.The Parent Council meetings haveincluded discussions on enrichmentopportunities and parents havebeen able to offer their expertisein making suitable suggestionsfor trips. We have explored thearea of differentiation and how wemark work and provide suitablefeedback to allow the parents andpupils to understand expectationsand the levels of attainment. Theparents have been keen to see theeffective use of the virtual learningenvironment and use it to keepwatch of their child’s homeworktasks. We’ve had the suggestionthat lost property items that arenot labelled are put on-line, soparents have the opportunity toview items instead of relying ontheir child to locate things. We’vediscussed the option choicesavailable for GCSE. How parentscan get involved in school life,for example one has introduced agardening club. Communicationis vital and understanding howschool and home can help eachother ensures that the childrenexperience the best the school andtheir parents can provide for them.By encouraging the parents tobecome involved in school life theyunderstand they are truly valued;such successful relationships withparents are formed that thesecontinue long after children haveleft Rushmoor. Former parents arehappy to help the school in manyways, such as PTA fundraisers.By engaging with parents thishelps us meet the needs oftheir child and the influence aparent provides can never beunderestimated. I believe that anyPE teacher wins silverteacher working in an independentschool must ensure they appreciatethis fact.This year Rushmoor was named as afinalist in the Independent SchoolsAssociation’s annual award for excellence.The school also won the award forfinancial innovation, which means thatthe judges were looking at how the schoolis managed in terms of competitive fees,fundraising and sound financial planningfor the future. Ensuring funds are usedefficiently to provide the best possibleenvironment for the pupils to learn andenjoy their time at school.Since September Rushmoor has beensharing the expertise of its governanceand leadership by forming a partnershipwith another local school, St Andrew’s.The aim is for the two schools toeventually combine on one site.SFS GroupInsurance, finance and risk managementfor Independent Schools, their staff, governors, students and familiesCall 01306 746 300www.sfs-group.co.ukSFS Group is an independent intermediary, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (ref 311801)Ian DanielLVS Ascot, Berkshire, PE Teacher,Anna Murawska, won a silvermedal at the Long DistanceTriathlon World Championshipsheld in Weihai, China, last month(September).After a 4K swim, 120k bike ridethen 20k run Anna came in 2ndplace for her age group (Womanaged 25-29) against competitorsfrom around the globe.Anna spent 9 days in Chinagiving herself time to acclimatiseto the different conditions inWeihai and prepare for thecompetition.She has been a PE teacher at LVSAscot for the last 6 years. Mostof Anna’s spare time is spenttraining as she swims three timesa week, runs three times a weekwith at least one of those beinga long (3 hour) run and rides atleast three times a week with atleast one of those being a long(6 hour) ride.42 FinanceIndependent Schools Magazine 43

iPads for all pupilsGoing digital in the classroomBedford Girls’ School hasunderlined its commitment tothe use of technology in thecurriculum, with every pupil andteacher receiving an iPad over thecoming year.Following an in depth 18-monthtrial period with Year 9 (nowYear 10) pupils and teachers, theSchool found that iPads can beused in a myriad of ways in theclassroom, enabling studentsBest School Food:Winner: Foremarke Hall, Milton, DerbyshireBest Head of a Prep Schoolto create their own learningjourneys, encouraging greaterlevels of research, collaborationand creativity.Such was the success of the trial,every girl in the Junior School atthe start of term was given aniPad to use during school hours,when and where teachers feelappropriate. In the Senior School(Years 7-11 and Sixth Form), thedevices will be rolled out over theWinner: Phillip Evitt – Highfield School, Liphook, HampshireRunners up: Anthony Goddard – Aysgarth, Bedale, North YorkshirePeter Phillips – S. Anselm’s, Bakewell, DerbyshireGiles Delaney – St John’s Beaumont, Old Windsor, BerkshirePhil Ward – Thomas’s Clapham, London, SW11Prep School of the YearWinner: Bruern Abbey School, Chesterton, OxfordshireRunners up: Lambrook, Bracknell, BerkshirePerrott Hill, Crewkerne, SomersetWellesley House School, Broadstairs, KentWestminster Cathedral Choir School, London, SW1Power Behind the ThroneWinner: Sarah Wilson – The Elms, Malvern, WorcestershireRunners up: Sandra Bath – Hall Grove, Bagshot, Surreycourse of the next academic yearand will be used across all areasof the curriculum.Bedford Girls’ School HeadmistressJo MacKenzie said: “We are veryexcited by the potential iPadshave in enhancing the learningexperiences of the girls.“A good teacher cannot bereplaced by an App, but there isa shift in education and we needto provide the girls with the skillsand confidence they will need inthe 21st century world. We willcontinue to value a large range ofteaching methods, but by placingiPads alongside these, we canpursue innovation and creativityin the classroom.”Marking the handing over of iPadsto Year 9 earlier this week, a DigitalCitizenship Day was organisedfor the year group, involving aseries of talks from internal andexternal speakers about their digitalfootprint, the appropriate use of theinternet and their digital rights andresponsibilities.Miss MacKenzie added: “Withthe levels of exposure increasing,it’s essential that the girls knowhow to use the internet properlyand remain safe. Gaining advicefrom a wealth of qualifiedprofessionals through aninitiative like Digital CitizenshipDay can only be of benefit.“Some of the iPads’functionalities are disabled in thelower part of the Senior School,to deter girls from using it as adevice for social networking. Butas the girls become increasinglymature and digitally responsible,we will give them more freedom.”Bedford Girls’ School is onlyone of 90 schools in the worldto have received the prestigious3rd Millennium Learning Awardfrom the National Associationof Advisors for Computing inEducation (NAACE). This wasin recognition of its positionas a leader in ICT innovation inEducation.Schools awardsThe winners of the 11th Annual Tatler Schools Awards 2014 have been announced:Carey Lankester – Maidwell Hall, Maidwell, NorthamptonshireNigel Barratt – Prospect House, London, SW15Coral Craik – St Leonards, St Andrews, FifeEmma Trelawny-Vernon – Saint Ronan’s, Hawkhurst, KentBest Head of Public SchoolWinner: Vivienne Durham – Francis Holland School, Regent’s Park, NW1Runners up: Sarah Thomas – Bryanston, Blandford, DorsetJoseph Spence – Dulwich College, London, SE21Marion Gibbs – James Allen’s Girls’ School, London, SE22Dr Anthony Wallersteiner – Stowe, Stowe, BuckinghamPublic School of the YearWinner: Marlborough College, Marlborough, WiltshireRunners up: Canford, Wimborne, DorsetFettes, Carrington Road, EdinburghSt Mary’s Ascot, Ascot, BerkshireStephen Perse Foundation, Union Road, CambridgeLifetime AchievementWinner: Robert Orme – Latymer Upper School, London, W6Stunning performancesA pupil at Barnard Castle School,Co Durham, seems to be provingunstoppable in her chosen sport.Year 9 pupil, Charlotte Martin hashad one success after anotheras the showing season comes toan end. Charlotte and her ponyBrookfarm Heaven Scent (Poppy)have competed at some of the verybest shows in the country.She was placed in 3rd positionand highest placed amateur at TheRoyal International Horse Showat Hickstead. She has either wonor been placed in every show thatshe has competed in this season,including Chaps (UK) NationalChampionships.Official RFU coach education centreLord Wandsworth College,Hampshire, has been presentedwith a plaque officiallyacknowledging it as a RFUCoaching Education Centre.The college hosts England RugbyLevel 1 and 2 coaching courses aswell as Entry Level Referee Awardcourses. Fergus Livingstone,headmaster of Lord WandsworthCollege, said, “We are delightedto be able to support EnglandRugby by making our excellentfacilities available to develop thecoaches and referees who are soimportant to the game.”Clive Cashell, RFU Area TrainingManager said, “We reallyPictured: Nick Bryon, Head of Rugby atLWC, being presented with the plaque byIan Kerr, President of Hampshire RFUMore recently Charlotte andPoppy were competing in theBSPA (British Skewbald &Piebald Association) NationalChampionships where shequalified to ride in 3 classes andwon all 3 – Open pony, JuniorRider and Children’s Ridden Pony.Through this success she wasprogressed to the Evening GalaPerformance and an importantChampionship called The RiddenPony of the Year, a spectacularevent involving music andspotlights and a title Charlottehad always coveted was finallymade hers as she was announcedthe winner.appreciate Lord WandsworthCollege’s support for EnglandRugby’s coaching & matchofficial development schemes.The outstanding facilities helpus to deliver high-quality coursesto allow coaches & referees todevelop their skills which canonly be of benefit to the playersand games they are involvedwith. We have an aspiration toprovide the highest quality rugbyexperience for all participantsand without quality deliveryvenues like LWC we would notbe able to achieve this, especiallywith World Cup 2015 on thehorizon.”Forward-thinkingthrough to inclusivityOne of University of Cambridgecolleges, which claims to be one ofthe most forward-thinking academicinstitutions in the world, is provingits point as far as student inclusivityis concerned...Churchill College has furtheradapted one of its student housesto accommodate the specificrequirements of a new Ph.Dstudent. But the adaptation hasbeen executed in such a way tomaximise its suitability for other,future students. Central to theadaptation is installation of a Closo-MatPalma Vita automatic shower(wash and dry toilet) and washbasinthat can be adjusted both in heightand its position left and right alongthe wall.Looking like, and capable of beingused as, a conventional WC, theClos-o-Mat Palma Vita has in-builtwashing and drying. After toileting,hand or body pressure on the flushRainbow storage trolleysget the thumbs upLeafield Environmentalhas developed a newrange of mobile heavydutytrolleys in brightcolours for handystorage in classrooms,sports halls andoutdoor areas.Versatile and lightweightthey are easy to wheel aboutand when not in use the trolleyssimply stack one inside the othersaving valuable space.Leafield Environmental MD PhilMaddox said, keeping indoor andoutdoor areas neat and tidy andfree from hazards has always been achallenge for schools.”“The vibrant, portable storage boxeswere designed as a practical storagesolution for schools in rainbowcolours to complement our popularrange of novelty bin characters.”Heavy-duty Rainbow Trolleys arepad, or touch-sensitive switchtriggers simultaneous flushing anddouching, followed by warm airdrying. The douche process ensuresthe user is effectively cleaned, toa consistent high standard, withno need for manual cleansing,hand:body contact with toilet tissueby either the user or a carer; thewarm air ensures the user is properlydry afterwards.Since Clos-o-Mats were firstintroduced in the 1960s, over 40,000have been sold.Tel: 0161 969 1199www.clos-o-mat.comavailable in three sizes and can bemade in any colour to blend in withany school’s identity and branding.Strong and sturdy with wheels foreasy transit are ideal for storinganything from sports equipment towaste items such as large cardboardboxes and plastic bottles.Smaller 100L trolleys can be storedneatly under tables or in cupboardsand the generous 305L trolleys areperfect for tidying away large itemssuch as sports equipment.Trolley prices start at just £80 for100L. Lids are available on requestfrom £15 each.Tel: 01225 816539www.leafielddirect.com44 Independent Schools Magazine Products and Services 45

TheDigestDESIGN : INSTALLATION : MAINTENANCEPitch Construction : Piped Drainage SystemsSand Slitting : Blec Vibro Sand BandingKoro Surfacing : VertidrainingTopdressing : OverseedingWillow Farm, Red Cat LaneBurscough, Ormskirk L40 0RFt 01257 255321 f 01257 255327e office@duncanrosslanddrainage.co.ukwww.duncanrosslanddrainage.co.ukA BRAND YOU CAN TRUSTSports turf expertsSports turf constructionNatural & artificial surfacesDrainage & irrigationRenovation & maintenanceCall 01722 716361www.mjabbott.co.ukCreate a winning team with the ULTIMATE inCustom Performance SportswearVisit our website: gforcesportswear.co.ukCall our sales team on:Or send us an email at:0116 255 6326gforce@gymphlex.co.ukSchool Cricket Specialists to Sri Lanka• Play on Test match Grounds• Sri Lankan Test coaches• Fully Escorted• Free Staff PlacesTel: 01273 845117 www.qualityplayer.co.ukHeads HuntedAmong the upcoming headand principal appointments:Avalon SchoolMerseysideBarfield SchoolSurreyCastle House SchoolShropshireFairstead House SchoolSuffolkLavant House SchoolSussexMonmouth School MonmouthshireNorthampton High School NorthamptonshireOratory SchoolOxfordshireStroud SchoolHampshireTaunton SchoolSomersetWorth SchoolSussexIf you would like mention made of yourupcoming head or principal appointment forwhich applications are sought please let usknow – there is no charge for a listing.News items, contributions, comments andsuggestions are always welcomed by the editor.Please email to:mail@independentschoolsmagazine.co.ukSchools featured in this issue include:Alleyn Court SchoolBarnard Castle SchoolBedford Girls’ SchoolBolton SchoolBrighton CollegeBromsgrove SchoolBroomwood Hall SchoolBryanston SchoolCheadle Hulme SchoolDame Allan’s SchoolDorset House SchoolExeter SchoolFairfield Preparatory SchoolFarlington SchoolFroebelian SchoolFulneck SchoolGodolphin & Latymer SchoolGodolphin SchoolThe Independent Schools Magazine is read by decision-makers– Governors, Heads, Bursars, Departmental Managers – andreflects news, ideas, influences, and opinions in the independenteducation sector. A personal copy is mailed to heads and other keypersonnel in fee-paying independent schools plus opinion formersin governments, political parties and educational associations. It isalso available on the internet.Polwhele House School, Cornwall, school celebrated helpful members of the community andenjoyed a very special ‘flying’ visit from the Royal Navy’s Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter.The school held a ‘People Who Help Us’ day as a chance for its Pre-Prep students to learn aboutmembers of the community who provide help to others.Other visitors included representatives from the RNLI, a local GP, a vet, a dentist and a PoliceCommunity Support Officer.HaileyburyHamilton CollegeHereford Cathedral SchoolHull Collegiate SchoolKing Edward’s SchoolKing’s SchoolKingswood House SchoolLord Wandsworth CollegeLoretto SchoolLVS AscotMagdalen College SchoolManchester High School for GirlsNewcastle High School for GirlsNorfolk House SchoolNottingham Girls’ High SchoolOundle SchoolOxford High School for GirlsPlymouth CollegeVires per Verum – Strength through TruthPolwhele House SchoolPrebendal SchoolRoyal Grammar SchoolRushmoor SchoolSheffield High SchoolSolihull SchoolSt. Benedict’s SchoolSt. Catherine’s SchoolSt. Swithun’s SchoolStonyhurst CollegeTaunton SchoolTowers Convent SchoolVinehall SchoolWarminster SchoolWisbech Grammar SchoolYarrells Schoolplus all schools receiving aTatler Award this yearEditorial Advisory BoardThe publishers are grateful for the interest, advice and support of a distinguished Editorial Advisory Board whose members currently include:Design - Construction - Maintenance - RefurbishmentExperts in natural &non-turf sport surfacesT: +44(0) 1604 864 575E: info@total-play.co.uk W: www.total-play.co.ukFor further details contact Frances BlockTelephone: 07743 797762 Email fb@training4officials.co.ukor visit my website at: www.training4officials.co.ukRosemary Brown, OBE, FRSA: Director and Chairman of the Gabbitas,Truman & Thring Educational TrustDeborah Leek-Bailey, OBE: 2008 Chair of the Independent SchoolsAssociation (ISA), Independent School representative with the NationalCollege for School Leadership and former Head teacher of BabingtonHouse School, KentTory Gillingham: General Secretary of AMDIS – the Association of Marketingand Development in Independent SchoolsAlex Beynon: Former Head of Press Relations, Independent Schools Council (ISC)Subscriptions: £3 per issue, or £20 perannum (ten issues) payable in advance bycheque to Bull Nelson Ltd (please rememberto include your name and full address) to:The Independent Schools MagazinePO Box 4136Upper BasildonReadingBerkshire RG8 6BSwww.independentschoolsmagazine.co.ukKey Partners:Commercial – Jeff RiceEditorial – Kimble EarlProduction – Andrew WicksDirect Lines & email addresses:Editorial, Accounts, Distribution: 01491 671998mail@independentschoolsmagazine.co.ukAdvertisement Sales: 01235 838560ads@independentschoolsmagazine.co.ukProduction: Andrew WicksEmail: studio@independentschoolsmagazine.co.ukSir Chris Woodhead, formerly Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education andnow chairman of the independent schools group Cognita and a Professor atthe University of BuckinghamHenry Briggs: Senior Partner, HW, Chartered Accountants Birmingham and aformer school GovernorElisabeth Lewis-Jones: a governor of Bloxham School, Oxfordshire; 2008President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Director of LiquidPublic Relations, a consultancy with expertise within the education sectorKevin Fear: Head, Nottingham High SchoolTracy Cook: Head of Press, Independent Schools CouncilAll rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of this magazine in partor whole is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be thoseof the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and images areaccepted by the publisher on the understanding that the publishercannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Allmaterial, copy, and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright freeunless otherwise advised in writing. Advertisement bookings areaccepted subject tonormal terms and conditions – see website.Independent Schools Magazine ispublished by Bull Nelson Limited.Reg in England No 2876999.Copyright Bull Nelson Ltd.Printed by Manson Group.46 Independent Schools MagazineIndependent Schools Magazine 47

Express Yourself. . . what better way than through your uniform?With our flair for design and our innovative product range, we can help you createthe right image for your school that complements your school colours.“The new sportswear designs andsamples met all our requirements andwere of an extremely high quality,”Ben Evans, Head, Edge Grove“Stevensons has guided us through amajor uniform redesign with soundprofessional advice and great patience,”James Fowler, Head, Aldenham School“We made the decision to appoint Stevensons for their excellent quality of clothing at realistic prices.We were very impressed with the professional service, extensive range of schoolwear and accessories.Their specialist advice gave us confidence to make an informed decision regarding the new uniform,”Elaine Bivins, Bursar, Grace Dieu Manor SchoolUniform partner to the top Independentand State schools in the country01727 815700 info@stevensons.co.uk www.stevensons.co.uk