Coundon Primary School - This is The North East

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18 Education 2003HeadstartforThirskschoolQUEEN MARY’S, THIRSKOne of the region’sleading independentgirls’ schools isentering a new era with anew Head at the helm.Robert McKenzie-Johnstontakes up the role at QueenMary’s, near Thirsk, inSeptember and is committedto building on the school’sreputation for success. Heand his wife, Kate, arecoming to Queen Mary’sfrom a similar school inDorset, where they are jointprincipals. They are lookingforward to meeting parentsat an open evening at theschool on May 9.Queen Mary’s provideseducation for boys and girlsfrom three to seven, and forgirls, day and boarding, upto 16 years. As well asproviding an excellentacademic education, QueenMary’s is a school whereeach pupil is known andvalued.It has a happy, busyenvironment where music,sport, art and drama arealso important elements.Each year scholarships forparticularly talentedchildren are awarded, whilekey dates on the schoolcalendar include the openmorning held eachSeptember and the entranceexaminations in January.If you would like moredetails please do nothesitate to contact theschool administrator,Margaret Atkinson, on 01845575000 who would bedelighted to speak to youand arrange a visit.The school web site addressis www.queenmarys.org.ukLittle learners: Boarder Amy Yuen, 11, from Hong Kong, visits an infant class at Polam Hall School in Darlington to preparea Chinese dishMaking the most ofearly learning yearsTHERE is a wide variety of independentpreparatory and juniorschools for children up to theages of 11 to 13, either as day or boardingpupils.Some are the junior departments ofsenior schools, while many are unattached.For the age range three to eight thereare several day-schools, usually calledpre-preparatory, kindergarten ornursery schools, and mostly linked toa junior school or to a joint junior/secondaryschool.At the entry age of eight/nine there isa wide choice of preparatory and juniorschools, either day or boarding,for both boys and girls.At this age a child is expected to beable to read and write with reasonablefluency and to have mastered somesimple arithmetic.There may be an entrance test, whichis designed to make sure the child hasthe ability to benefit from the curriculumof the school and to help inplanning his or her work.Some schools have facilities for specialremedial tuition for children whoneed it.Children may be accepted at a laterage (though usually not much beyond11) particularly at schools which havechildren up to 13, provided there is avacancy available.The main aim of these schools is tohelp each child reach the highest standardof which he or she is capable.With their small classes and wide curricula,they offer a large measure ofindividual attention both in and out ofschool hours.The intelligent use of leisure, the development,from an early age, of a realsense of self-respect and of responsibilityfor others, the acceptance ofchallenging situations on the gamesfield and elsewhere, and an enthusiasticapproach to music and the creativearts, are all important parts ofthe tradition of these schools.On the boarding side, great importanceis attached to the creation of afriendly, family atmosphere.An increasing number of schools offerbefore and after-school care.What aboutthe cost?GOOD schools cost a lot of money torun and can never be cheap but itis not true to say that independenteducation is the preserve of the wealthy.Many parents with average incomesmake great sacrifices to afford such aneducation for their children. With expertadvice, moreover, much can be done toease the burden.Insurance: There are a number of waysof making provision for school fees bythe intelligent use of life assurance andcapital.Naturally, the earlier a plan can bestarted, the greater the benefit. The plan,or plans, can provide cover for feesoutstanding in the event of the parents’death.When choosing a school-fees plan it isvital to choose one that suits yourindividual circumstances andrequirements.You should remember that somefinancial advisers, being independent,are able to give financial advice on allproducts available and may, therefore, bebetter able to find plans appropriate toyou.Others are not independent and are ableto give advice on and makearrangements for investment productsprovided by themselves or by othercompanies for which they are “tiedagents”. You should, therefore, establishthe status of the adviser with whom youare dealing and whether he or she is paidby commission or charges a fee.Help with fees: Many parents will knowthat the Labour Government has endedthe Assisted Places Scheme.Schools who were in the scheme areanxious to ensure that pupils who wishto join them should be able to do so,whatever their parents’ income.It is unlikely that many schools will beable to be as generous in their awards asan Assisted Places Scheme, but parentswho would have applied for an assistedplace should approach schools in exactlythe same way as they would have done inthe past.Parents who want information about thelevel of help available should contactindividual schools.Schools may offer SCHOLARSHIPS foroutstanding merit in some field – theseawards are made irrespective of parents’income.They may also offer BURSARIES – wherethe amount offered by the school willdepend upon parents’ income.
Education 200319TeessideHigh –puttinggirls firstTEESSIDE PREPARATORY & HIGH SCHOOLLearning in style: Bright, modern and colourful classrooms are a hallmark of Teesside Preparatory and High SchoolOptions open for entry to senior schoolINDEPENDENT senior and secondaryschools come in several guises - some aresingle-sex schools, others totally coeducationaland some partly so, perhapsadmitting girls or boys at sixth form level.Parental choice is, therefore, extensive - betweenboarding and day, single-sex and co-educational.Many of these schools admit pupils at 11-yearsold.In nearly all the senior day schools (many ofwhich were previously direct-grant grammarschools) and in co-ed schools this is the normalage of entry.Some boys’ boarding schools have an entry frommaintained schools or from overseas at 11.In girls’ boarding schools, entry at 11 is usual,either by the Common Entrance Examination forGirls’ Schools (which can also be taken at 12 or 13)or by the school’s own test.In general, entry at 11 is by means of a writtenexamination combined with an interview. Detailsmay be obtained direct from schools.Most senior schools, particularly the boys’boarding schools, also admit pupils at 13, eitherby the Common Entrance Examination frompreparatory schools, or by their own test.Transfers from the state sector can also be madeat this age. Details can be obtained direct from theschools.It is often possible to transfer to an independentsecondary school direct into the sixth form aftertaking GCSEs elsewhere.Once started in the senior schools, pupils follow abroad curriculum leading to GCSE. Thereafterpupils choose the subjects which they wish tostudy to A-level.Sixth form teaching, with its emphasis onpreparation for university entrance, is aparticular feature of independent schools.Time is also made available for general andtechnical studies and independent schools are inthe forefront of the movement to link school andindustry.Teaching staff are well-qualified, with the time todevote much care to pupils of very differingability. It is common to find teachers with goodhonours degrees teaching regularly in the lowerforms.Independent schools have taken advantage oftheir freedom by being alert to new types ofteaching and new areas of study.They have been in the vanguard of the Nuffieldscience projects, the schools mathematics project,the Cambridge Latin course, and the use of audiovisualmethods in the teaching of modernlanguages.Full attention is paid to the development ofpupils’ leisure interests. Music, drama and artflourish and there are facilities for various craftsand hobbies.Games of all kinds are played, with opportunitiesfor individual pursuits such as riding, fencing,judo, as well as organised team games.There may be scouts, guides, cadet forces and avariety of clubs and societies catering for specialinterests.TEESSIDE Preparatory & HighSchool is an independent dayschool offering a caring yet challengingenvironment for girls agethree to 18.With an impressive record of providingexcellent education, the schoolspecialises in fostering the talents ofeach girl entrusted to its care and willhelp her to achieve her full potential.Our success is evident in the regionalleague tables for GCSE and A-levelswhich we consistently top.In 2002, 98 per cent of GCSE studentsgained five or more A*to Cgrades, with over half at A* or A. OurA-level candidates attained a 100 percent pass rate, with 65 per cent of thegrades at A or B.The standard of facilities throughoutthe school is excellent.Each student has access to state-ofthe-artIT facilities in one of three dedicatedICT suites.Bright, modern and colourful classroomsare complemented by purposebuiltart and music departments and asports hall.As well as academic, sports and musicalexcellence, the school offers anincredible choice of extra-curricularactivities, ranging from cake decoratingto yoga.The school programme is backed byour naturally supportive pastoralethos which ensures the developmentof positive attitudes and warm personalities.Beautiful grounds on the banks ofthe River Tees are an ideal setting fora school where girls do not just haveequal opportunities – they have everyopportunity.We would be delighted to show youand your daughter/s around theschool.Please call 01642 782095 at any timeto arrange an appointment.‘Who would have dreamed that oneday our little girl could be reportingthe news on national television’Shiulie Ghosh,Home Affairs Editor ITN News desk.it all starts here...uccessGCSE pass rate100%5 Grades A* to CSummer 2002A level pass rate100%Grades A to ESummer 2002Scholarships and bursaries available from age 7TEESSIDE PREPARATORY & HIGH SCHOOLThe Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees. TS16 9ATTel: 01642 782095www.teessidehigh.co.uk
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Coundon Primary School - This is The North East

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