Winter Edition 2017

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WINTER 2017
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& BOARDING
CONTENTS
Welcome
Winter has come! The autumn term has flown by here at
School Notices as we’ve been busy compiling our latest issue.
It’s all about creativity and is packed full of inspiring
interviews with talented artists and performers.
Hilarious former Downe House girl Miranda Hart shares
her pearls of wisdom on fame and friendship; literary legend
Michael Morpurgo tells us about life as an author and his
charity, Farms for City Children; and we have a laugh with
comic genius and old Marlburian Jack Whitehall.
Plus find out how we get on at The Royal Ballet School,
where we are given an exclusive look at some of the worldfamous
school’s most gifted students in action. Finally, there
are lots of festive treats within, including our cracking gift
guide to get the whole family in the spirit.
Raising funds for member schools is at the heart of what
we do by donating 25% of advertising revenues back to the
schools for charitable initiatives – and it’s all thanks to you.
We hope you enjoy the magazine as much as we have
enjoyed putting it together and we wish you all a very
happy holiday.
The School Notices Team
Follow us on
Just kidding!
Q: Who might be cooking Christmas
dinner at Number 10 this year?
A: Theresa May
5
13
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19
24
27
31
35
36
39
43
47
49
53
54
Winter issue 2017
Christmas Crackers
Gift ideas for the whole family
Winter Reads
Our picks to cosy up with
Seriously Funny
Miranda Hart shares her
advice on fame and friendship
The Art of Perfection
We go behind the scenes at
The Royal Ballet School
Our African Adventure
A family safari with a difference
Jack The Lad
Catch up with comedian and
actor Jack Whitehall
Force of Nature
Author Michael Morpurgo on his
farm-based children’s charity
The Power of Two
A look at Boodles’ collaboration
with The Royal Ballet
Pig Out
With TV chef Harry Eastwood
House Style
Meet designer Susie Atkinson
Top Table
How to make a wow centrepiece
Make or Break
Downe House headmistress
on the power of creativity
Our News
School Notices round-up
Fun Facts
Have a laugh this festive season!
Head Space
With Bede’s head Peter Goodyer
Publisher Annabella Ward
Editor-at-large Susannah Warren
Artistic Director Ruth Ellis
Design Reid Creative
Cover photograph Millie Pilkington
Printed by London Print
Co-Founder, Managing Director Clare Reid
Co-Founder, Managing Director Gordon Dawson
Head of Advertising Tracy Hoar
Head of Marketing Katie Wiggin
Head of Schools Tia May
For advertising and general enquires,
please email info@schoolnotices.co.uk
or call us on 01256 223 060
ultimate
CHRISTMAS
GIFT GUIDE
FREE!
Join us @
BACKCHAT WITH
Jack Whitehall
Miranda Hart
ON BOOKS, BANTER
EXCLUSIVE LOOK
AT THE WORLD-FAMOUS
ROYAL
BALLET
SCHOOL
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 3

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WINT ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 5

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SU WINT M MER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 7

PROMOTION
Stop
THE NOISE
Does your child work hard at school without success?
Psychologist Sarah Warley of The Key Clinic explains why
this might be and how you can unlock their potential
Alex always tried his hardest
to sit still in class and listen,
but could not help getting
distracted. He would try to
focus his eyes when reading,
but the words would jump, or
he’d miss a line. Alex’s parents
could feel his frustration and
sadness. The worst part was
that he was beginning to think
he must be stupid.
“Alex is smart, he tries so hard
and he is at a great school, so I just don’t get it,”
— his mother, Charlotte
First, Alex had a hearing test. Previous tests had
only looked for hearing loss. This more detailed
test showed Alex had hypersensitive hearing,
making it virtually impossible for him to block out
background noises. Nor could he hear every word
clearly, and some words were being heard back
Sarah, clinical director at The Key Clinic explained:
“A CHILD MAY BE PERFECTLY SMART
BUT UNABLE TO ACCESS THAT
INTELLIGENCE, AS SOMETHING IS
LITERALLY BLOCKING THE WAY. IT’S
OUR JOB TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE
BLOCKAGES ARE AND REMOVE THEM.”
to front. No wonder he was
distracted!
Alex carried out a 10-day
course of Bérard Auditory
Integration Training (AIT) at
The Key Clinic, listening to
modulated music through
headphones. A final hearing
test showed his hearing
had normalised and the
hypersensitivity was gone.
Further physical tests
revealed Alex also still had
some ‘primitive’ reflexes locked in place. These
normally inhibit by a child’s first birthday, but
sometimes they persist, making many tasks
extremely difficult. This is why Alex’s eyes struggled
to read without skipping over words, why he would
fidget, why catching a ball or getting dressed was a
challenge and why his handwriting was so messy.
Daily neurodevelopmental movements were
carried out with Alex over a few months to get rid
of the blockages that were tripping him up, giving
his nervous system a second chance to develop.
His mother was thrilled with the results: “On
returning to school, Alex gained an average 20 per
cent increase in his exam results across the board –
we could not believe it!” Perhaps most importantly,
Alex now has self-belief.
Alex — “I never really knew how it felt to be able to
concentrate before now.”
For an assessment, call 01635 761565, email admin@thekeyclinic.co.uk
or visit www.thekeyclinic.co.uk and fill in the screening questionnaire
8 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17

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WINT ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 9

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WINT ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 11

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BOOKS
WINTER
READS
As the nights draw in, it’s time to cosy up
together on the sofa with a really good
book. Here are our favourites
Early readers
THE BEST BEAR IN
ALL THE WORLD
by Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeanne Willis and Kate Saunders
Celebrate over 90 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Best Bear in All the World.
The official sequel to the classic children’s stories by AA Milne, it features new
stories from some of the most beloved children’s authors writing today: Paul Bright,
Brian Sibley, Kate Saunders and Jeanne Willis. Each will transport you back into the
Hundred Acre Wood for more adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh and the gang.
£14.99 Hardback, Egmont
Middle grade
THE CREAKERS
by Tom Fletcher
It’s time to meet the monsters we’ve
always feared might live under the bed
in this darkly magical new story from
bestselling author Tom Fletcher. One
morning, Lucy discovers that all the
grown-ups have disappeared. For most
kids it’s great, but Lucy lost her dad not
long ago, and she’s determined not to
lose her mum, too. She’s going to get her
back – and nothing is going to stop her…
except maybe the Creakers. Readers are
sure to love Lucy Dungston – and they
might even find they like the smelly,
bumbling and muttering Creakers, too.
£12.99 Hardback, Penguin
Young adult fiction
TWENTY
QUESTIONS
FOR GLORIA
by Martyn Bedford
When a mysterious boy bent
on breaking the rules strolls
into her classroom, Gloria is
ready to fall under his spell.
Uman can whisk her away
from the life she loathes and
show her a more exciting
one, in which the only limits
are her own boldness. But
Uman is not all he seems…
Alluring and mysterious in
equal measure, this gripping
tale has a Sherlock Holmes
feel to it that’s sure to
appeal to teenage readers.
£12.48 Hardback, Blackwell’s
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 13

INTERVIEW
SERIOUSLY
funny
Miranda Hart is every bit as serious as she is funny. The actor and
comedian tells School Notices about her debut children’s novel, the
importance of being yourself and why fame is thoroughly overrated
What you were like as a child?
I was quite a serious child. I used to eavesdrop and
soak up people’s conversations – my mother had to
stop me staring at people with my mouth open –
and whenever I went to the
theatre or watched a comedy I
would be completely seriousfaced
and then say at the end:
“That was hilarious!”
Who inspired you and made
you laugh growing up?
All the greats of the 1970s
and ’80s, particularly
Morecambe and Wise.
When did you first realise
you could get a laugh?
I remember when I came home from school one
day and did an impression of my headmaster to my
mother, who fell about laughing, and I thought:
“Wow, that felt good!”
And did you always want to be famous?
I think there was a time I was intrigued by fame
and felt that it might solve any feelings of insecurity,
but as I got older it was just about wanting to be a
jobbing actor. Fame doesn’t provide anything you
think it might. You have to love the work you are
doing and that is what your job needs to be about,
not about any trappings that come with it.
You went to Downe House aged 11. How
formative was your schooling?
I have certainly used my schooling and some of
the people in my work – or exaggerated versions
of them. I think as a writer you absorb things,
knowingly or not, throughout your life. I adored
school so my main focus was just having fun there.
“YOU HAVE TO
LOVE THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING
AND THAT IS WHAT
YOUR JOB NEEDS
TO BE ABOUT”
What advice would you give your schoolgirl self?
Just be yourself, don’t be swayed by peer pressure
and stop worrying, it all turns out fine.
And those wanting a career in showbusiness?
I would ask them: ‘Why?’ If
the answer was because they
love to act; they want to tell
good stories; they adore to
sing; or direct; or whatever
role in the arts they love, they
can’t imagine not doing it, and
they want to move audiences,
then go for it! Because if you
have real desire and a real
purpose then that’s what’s
fulfilling and that’s what
will keep you going. The rest is just vacuous noise.
Sorry to burst your bubble. And it’s a hard job. It’s
a very real job. The arts are a vital business. Don’t let
anyone tell you they are second to anything, because
where would we be without them?
You’ve done radio, TV, the West End, Hollywood,
comedy, drama. Which do you enjoy the most?
It depends on the part, and the people around it. I
loved doing the Hollywood film Spy because some
of my favourite performers were involved in it,
and we filmed on location in Budapest so I got to
travel, too. The West End was wonderful because
the show got such a great response every night. And
my sitcom was probably the hardest work and most
stressful job, but the reward of people liking it gave
me huge pleasure.
Which has been your favourite character to play?
That is actually impossible to call. They all gave me
different challenges and characteristics I love. ››
14 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17

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INTERVIEW
PHOTOGRAPHY: © RACHELL SMITH
I learnt the most playing
Miss Hannigan [Annie], but
probably Miranda has to be
my favourite for all within
it I can do. I can get laughs,
dance, sing, be silly and share
the journey of what it is like
to be a woman coming into
their own. She goes on some
feminist rants – she’s got it all!
What prompted you to write
The Girl with the Lost Smile?
The story sort of landed in my
lap. I just saw this little girl who
had lost her smile at her bedroom
window feeling a bit desperate
for what to do, and suddenly
imagined some creatures coming
to visit her and take her on
magical adventures to get it back.
My imagination fired up in a way
it hadn’t before.
Do you write for yourself or
your audience?
It’s always important to have the
answer to why you are writing
something. With The Girl with the Lost Smile, it was
about the importance of sharing how you are feeling
with your friends. But then you just have to write,
because if you start thinking what people might
think of it, you won’t be free to write what you need,
or focus on your unique story and style.
How did the idea for the book come about?
It was about the notion of a young girl who was the
cheery one, the funny one, the positive one at school
who, through some difficult circumstances, lost her
smile, and then how that would play out. I wanted
younger readers who were perhaps going through
a tricky time to know that they weren’t alone, and
that there are ways to feel better. Chloe, the heroine,
goes through a number of life lessons to learn ways
to make her feel stronger and safer.
Tell us about the creative process.
It’s just a disciplined daily grind really. I wonder if
“FRIENDSHIP IS
SIMPLY ABOUT
BEING TRULY
KNOWN. TRULY
KNOWN FOR
WHO YOU ARE.
THAT’S THE THING
TO VALUE”
most writers would agree that
the joy of finishing a book
outweighs the doing of it!
Your book celebrates
friendship. What do you
value in a friendship?
I read a wonderful quote the
other day saying friendship
is simply about being truly
known. Truly known for who
you are. You suddenly realise
there are very few people you
can wholly be yourself with
and who really know you.
Those are your friends, that’s
the thing to value.
What are the distinctions
between you and the
Miranda of your sitcom?
Wow, these are some big, deep
questions! Sitcom Miranda is
my clown, she is my alter ego,
she is where I express some
of my attitudes to life in a
comedic way, but she is very
different really. It’s a role. Her
life is totally different. And with a clown alter ego
you don’t see the serious, pensive, reflective or shy
side to someone’s persona.
Do you feel the pressure to be funny and ‘on’
all the time?
Not at all. I am just who I am. Sometimes that is me
being silly and funny, and sometimes that’s someone
who is tired, or feeling pensive, or wanting to have a
deep and meaningful conversation – or just getting
on with work. We are all human and go through
every emotion and I am no
different. If I was on all the time,
I don’t think I would be very real.
The Girl with the Lost Smile
Hodder and Stoughton
Hardback £12.99
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 17

PROFILE
The Art of
PERFECTION
Photography by Millie Pilkington
Granted exclusive access into The Royal Ballet School’s inner sanctum,
Susannah Warren gets a rare taste of what life is like for the young
dancers training at the world-famous Covent Garden site
“C
larity and focus please
girls. You are performers.
This is your job.” Nicola
Tranah is taking the
morning technical class
for the 14 first-year girls
at The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School – and she
means business. “Look like you want to be here –
you are here!”
Here, at one of the world’s greatest centres of
dance training, that is. Here, where dreams are made.
The walls everywhere confirm it, adorned as they are
with stunning images of the school’s most famous
exports: Darcey Bussell, Anthony Dowell, Margot
Fonteyn, to name but a few.
This year’s intake are in their sixth week at the
Floral Street institution, and it’s been a baptism of
fire. “It’s very hard,” says Maddison Pritchard, a tall
16-year-old from Manchester who dreams of joining
The Royal Ballet “like everyone else”.
It’s not impossible. Seven of last year’s graduates
did join the company. And, astonishingly, for the
11th consecutive year, every single graduating
dancer secured a contract with either a national ››
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 19

“I need the whole
class to be electric. Our
audience should be
pulled in because of the
joy that you’re bringing
to the exercise, that is
fundamental.”
or international company. “This is the dream,”
Tobias de Gromoboy, a 17-year-old second year
from Bournemouth, tells me after his class.
Only those with exceptional artistic talent and
potential get the chance to train here, though.
Each year, around 750 young dancers audition for
just 24 places at White Lodge, the school’s base in
Richmond Park for 11- to 16-year-olds, and up to 30
places at the Upper School here in central London,
for those aged 16-19.
Contrary to what you might presume for such
a rarefied art form, though, the school’s students
rarely come from privileged backgrounds, as artistic
director Christopher Powney explains: “Admission
really is ‘needs blind’ and almost 90 per cent of our
students rely on bursaries.”
The sponsorship and bursary programme relies
heavily on philanthropic, arts-loving members of
the public, according to Powney. “We are indebted
to our supporters and ensure they
have the pleasure of seeing the
students progress through the
school onto the world stage.”
Tranah knows exactly what
it takes to make it on the world
stage as she spent 19 years with
The Royal Ballet, predominantly
as First Soloist. She expertly
demonstrates what she wants
them to do each time, with her
sing-song voice accompanying
the movements: “Ja ja jum, pa pa
pum, one, two three and four.”
The morning class is a chance to strengthen the
body and practise the component parts of the art
form. Although rigorous about perfecting every
movement they make, constantly pointing out flaws
in their exercise and correcting them – “Pull it down!
No! Not high, low” – Tranah is full of encouragement
when the girls get things right. “Oh yes, Lucy, look at
that foot. That’s incredible! Yes Maddie! Yes all of you!
Can you see the difference girls? Whoa! That’s it!”
Joy is key, Tranah tells the class. “I need the whole
class to be electric. Our audience should be pulled

PROFILE
in because of the joy that you’re bringing to the
exercise, that is fundamental.”
Although the training is extraordinarily intense,
there seems a real duty of care for these young girls.
They look happy and healthy and the atmosphere is
convivial between dances. It’s something the school
takes very seriously, hence the recent launch of its
Healthy Dancer Programme,
which sees a dedicated team of
physios, nutritionists, counsellors
and Pilates coaches on hand to
look after their health.
Staying injury free is one of
the biggest challenges, explains
Tobias. “It does happen;
everyone has a weak point. We
do a lot of work to prevent it. We
have a great sports science team
who do profiling to assess the
strengths and deficits in our body
and address them with a customised programme.”
Unsurprisingly, the girls tend to suffer most from
issues with their feet and ankles. As Maddison
swaps her ballet shoes for a pointe shoe, the agony
these girls go through is laid bare: bruised, battered,
purpling flesh punctuated by blisters and bunions.
One look at these feet and you see the struggle,
the passion, the hopes and the fears these girls go
through to achieve their dreams. “They pretty much
hurt all the time,” says Maddie.
“Commitment isn’t obviously something that
we struggle with,” adds Tobias, “but it’s sometimes
difficult to get up when you’ve had a long, difficult
day and everything hurts.”
After an hour spent intently watching the girls, I
see the second-year boys in action under the tutelage
of former English National Ballet soloist Paul Lewis,
also an RBS alumnus. And what action!
Their athleticism is formidable as they leap and
jump and twist and turn round and round the studio,
Paul prompting them with one French term after
another. The problem with such physical effort, of
course, is that it’s hard to make it look easy. “Just
conceal it,” says Paul. “Conceal the effort.” ››
“One look at these
feet and you see the
struggle, the passion,
the hopes and the
fears these girls have
to go through to
achieve their dreams”
Opposite: Students from all
around the globe come to train
at the famed school
This page: Nicola Tranah teaches
the first-year girls the importance
of bringing joy to the exercise
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 21

PROFILE
QUESTION TIME
PHOTOGRAPHY: © MILLIE PILKINGTON
Dream part?
Maddison Odette in Swan Lake
Tobias Spartacus is really cool.
Favourite movement?
M Anything with my arms,
port de bras
T Allegro, anything with bravado
and accents
Ballet hero?
M Marianela Núñez.
T Ivan Vasiliev
Best advice?
M “Go for it. Smile and enjoy
every day. And listen.”
T “Ask yourself what you want
from each class. Don’t just go
through the motions.”
Above: The boys
relish perfecting a
movement Below:
Girls and boys mostly
train separately
There are 15 boys in the class, which is a revelation.
To think that 20 years ago 89 per cent of the school’s
students were girls! Now the ratio is always around
50-50. And there is a huge mix of nationalities, too.
Why RBS, I ask Brazilian second year Davi Ramos?
“Because it’s the best school in the world,” he says.
“My teacher recommended it because it has an
amazing healthcare team, which will hopefully help
me to dance longer.”
The first and second years all live together in a
boarding house in Pimlico, but girls and boys
train separately for the most part. Academics
are important, too. They start every day with two
hours in the classroom and all students now do a
BA in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, the
school’s new degree programme. “They think smart
intelligent dancers are an important thing to have,”
says Tobias. “Even our ballet teachers ask us
how our academics are going.”
This brings to mind a quote I saw
on the stairs as I came in, from the
school’s former Artistic Director, the late
Gailene Stock: “We aim not only to
produce dancers of excellence but
also dedicated, balanced, wellmannered,
thinking individuals
who will be an asset to any
community and in any environment – not only a joy
to watch but a pleasure to know.”
These young dancers have certainly been a pleasure
to get to know, but with academics and training to
contend with, I wonder if there’s any time left for
fun? “We’re all too tired after class,” says Tobias. But
the weekends are different. “Then we get to relax and
let go,” says Maddie.
It seems the school has struck just the right
balance for these young stars. “Sometimes it does
feel like we’re being looked after a lot for our age
but we appreciate it because we can get the training
standard we want.”
This is borne out in class. Paul is a hard taskmaster,
but the boys relish it, practising every spare second in
between the music to perfect, perfect, perfect. As with
Tranah, there’s always a reminder that this is the final
frontier, the launchpad from which
their careers will rocket. “People are
going to be paying a lot of money to
watch you dance.”
Is the weight of expectation a
problem? “It’s difficult watching how
amazing people are,” says Tobias. “I
feel like you’ve got to let it inspire you,
though, not deter you. You just have to
watch it and say, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’’’
For more information on how to support The Royal
Ballet School (Registered Charity No. 214364),
please email development@royalballetschool.org.uk
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 23

OUR AFRICAN
adventure
Cheam School pupils Harry and Tom Miners
tell School Notices about their inspiring and
life-changing trip to experience the real Malawi
If you worry your kids are overindulged, then
you’re not alone. Concerned their boys, Harry, 10,
and Tom, 8, were living in “a cloistered, privileged
bubble”, Jennie and Stuart Miners decided to
organise a half-term trip with a difference to
Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest countries. The
idea of the trip, organised by social enterprise tour
operator The Responsible Safari Company, was
to expand their horizons and open their eyes to a
totally different way of life, where the basic need
to provide food, water and health are a priority
and where education is not a given, but a privilege.
Here, the boys recount their inspiring week setting
up solar power and mosquito nets in a school on
Lake Malawi and reflect on what the experience
in the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ taught them:
DAY 1
We landed in
Blantyre and drove
through town.
All the houses
are small, in poor
condition and
have tin roofs. Many are unfinished. There are
boreholes along the roads for people to collect their
water daily. We saw ladies carrying heavy piles of
firewood on their heads and men with machetes
trying to catch mice they can eat.
Harry and Tom
DAY 2
Last night we slept under mosquito nets. This
morning we made recycled paper by hand. Lots

TRAVEL
of children gathered to
watch – they had not
seen many tourists. Then
we hiked to the top of
Thyolo Mountain. It was
stunning and we were so
proud to reach the top.
DAY 3
We drove to Liwonde National
Park. We are staying in a safari lodge
with solar power. We saw animals,
including elephants, baboons, buffalo,
impala, antelope, mongoose, jackals,
warthogs, porcupines and an owl.
DAY 4
We got up at 5am for a safari. We saw
a dazzle of zebra, 200 buffalo and
some beautiful elephants. We then
went on the River Shire and saw
hippos and crocodiles. After a twohour
drive we arrived at our thatched
lodge on Lake Malawi, which was
powered by generators.
DAY 5
We went to the Rainbow Hope
School. It was so different to Cheam with just two
buildings and four tiny classrooms. We saw the
solar equipment we had arranged for them. This
will let the children use computers and stay and
do their homework after dark. We joined a lesson
on agriculture and how to grow better crops. We
showed the students how to use a mosquito net.
They had a debate on the advantages of sleeping
under a net (no malaria) against using them to fish,
protect crops or build fences. We gave every student
and teacher a net, and they were so happy. Then we
joined The Book Bus to give English lessons. As
the sun went down we played football with some
local children and visited their home, which had
no electricity and where all five children slept in
one bed. We saw the mummy cook dinner on an
open fire for her children. It is called nsima, which
Pumping water at school
is water and maize flour. We didn’t
like the look of it!
DAY 6
We went to another
school and took part in
two English lessons. There
were 50 children sitting
on the floor, most with
dirty clothes and no shoes.
When we left we gave the
children exercise books,
pencils, pens and sweets.
Malawi football
Back at Rainbow Hope
we gave footballs, netballs,
rugby balls and a talk about how to play rugby. The
headmaster thanked us for the solar power and a
girl read a poem about how her sister and brother
had died from malaria, but now the net protects
her. We ended the day playing a game of tag rugby.
COMING HOME
Malawi is known as the
‘Warm Heart of Africa’
and everyone was very
friendly. Even though
they are poor, they are
educated, happy and work
so hard for a better life.
The children wore old
clothes and no shoes but
they spoke English. Our
visit to Malawi made us
realise how lucky we are
to have the simple things
in life like food, water and
electricity. This experience has been life-changing
and we hope to return in the future.
The Miners travelled with Orbis Expeditions
and The Responsible Safari Company
www.orbis-expeditions.com
www.responsiblesafaricompany.com
English lessons
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 25

INTERVIEW
JACK The Lad
Jack Whitehall is flying high. As the
Netflix special of his stand-up tour
and new Sky series hit our screens,
the award-winning comedian, writer
and actor tells School Notices how
he made it and why the grass is
greener on the other side
When did you first realise you
were funny?
Probably when I started doing
sketch shows at Marlborough.
They went down a storm as it
was me in front of all my friends.
Then you go out into the real
world and get a nasty shock
when it’s actual punters and they
don’t laugh.
How did your school years
influence your career?
Hugely. Not only has my
background been a source of
huge amounts of material but
I also met like-minded people,
many of whom I still work with
- like Freddy Syborn, who was
in my boarding house. We still
write together to this day.
When did you get your first
big break?
Getting a solo show at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival was
definitely the moment that
people in the industry started
taking notice of me.
Brits love to bash posh people.
How did you make your accent
work for you?
I think I owned the fact that
everyone loves a bit of posh ››
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 27

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INTERVIEW
“IF POSHNESS NEEDS TO
BE BASHED A BIT, WHICH IT
PROBABLY DOES, THEN WHY
DON’T I DO THE BASHING”
bashing. If poshness needs to
be bashed a bit, which it
probably does, then why don’t
I do the bashing?
Tell us what you’re up to at
the moment.
I’ve just released my latest
stand-up special on Netflix.
It’s a great company to work
for and it feels exciting to
be doing something at a
place that’s always evolving
and growing across the
world. People will be able
to see my stand-up on every
corner of the globe.
You do such a variety of stuff.
What work gives you the
biggest buzz?
Whatever I’m not doing, that’s
what I miss the most. As in, if
I’m doing a long tour, I yearn
to be on set acting or in a room
doing some writing, but then
whenever I’m doing either of
the latter I start getting the itch
to be on stage again. I’ll never
be happy!
You’ve collaborated with your
dad several times. Tell us a bit
about him and why you ended
up working together.
I used to talk about him loads on
stage and finally got to the point
where I was like: ‘I need to stop
making jokes about him.’ That
coincided with my producer
suggesting we do a chat show
together. We did it at Edinburgh
initially and only planned to do a
couple of shows. But I’ve woken
a monster. I can’t stop him now.
How was it travelling with him
for your Netflix series?
Long. We did six weeks on
the road. That’s a long time to
spend with anyone… but your
dad?! We did have some great
moments, though, and he does
genuinely make me laugh a lot.
If anyone’s thinking of taking
a gap year reading this, take a
parent. They get all the bills.
What was the funniest
moment on your travels?
Probably seeing my dad get
a henna tattoo. I’m gutted it
came off.
Which work are you most
proud of, and why?
Probably [Paul Pennyfeather in
the adaption of Evelyn Waugh’s]
Decline and Fall that I did for
the BBC. It was something
completely different for me and
I think we did a really classy job.
What advice do you have for
kids wanting to do comedy?
Develop some thick skin.
Tell us a joke.
This question.
What next?
Singing career.
Jack Whitehall: At Large and
Travels With My Father are both
available on Netflix now
Bounty Hunters is also available
now on Sky One
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 29

PROMOTION
CODING for
kids
Cypher courses inspire children to learn the language of the future
Founder of Cypher coding camps
Elizabeth Tweedale believes
Cypher is a great way to get your
kids ahead of the game: “Our
fun and welcoming camps teach
children to unlock the code to
the future.”
For those unfamiliar with
it, code is the language of
technology, the way the next
generation will create and
control the world around us.
Cypher’s innovative curriculum
features intriguing creative
themes, including fashion,
architecture and Minecraft,
so kids are engaged from the
moment they arrive.
Elizabeth adds: “The brilliant
Cypher teachers combine
child-focused practice and
expert knowledge in computer
science. The combination of
our creative approach plus the
best teaching methods enables
students to build on their natural
curiosity and enthusiasm whilst
genuinely equipping themselves
for a more confident and
successful future.
“We also ensure that each
child’s learning progression
is tailored to their interests
and abilities. Cypher goes
beyond the national curriculum
for computing and exceeds
expectations on what’s possible
with technology.”
“What’s more, the kids love
the snacks and their personalised
code passports.”
For more information and to see if
Cypher is available at your child’s
school, contact hi@cyphercoders.com
IS YOUR
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> Cypher inspires children to
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30 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17

INTERVIEW
Force of NATURE
More than 40 years after he set up Farms for City Children, prolific
children’s author Michael Morpurgo tells Susannah Warren how the
charity has shaped his work and life and what a difference it’s still making
They say
everyone has a
book in them.
Well, Michael
Morpurgo is
not everyone.
The best-selling children’s author
has written so many he’s almost
lost count - about 150 in total.
The latest, Toto: The Dog-Gone
Amazing Story of the Wizard of
Oz, has just been released and
retells the magical story through
Dorothy’s dog’s eyes. “Dorothy
we know and love, but we never
know what her little dog thinks
of all that is going on,” says the
former Children’s Laureate.
Animals have often taken
centre stage in his books – most
famously in his much-acclaimed
bestseller War Horse – and he
never grows tired of exploring
how humans interact with them.
“I think [animals] often bring
out the best in us because they
listen without passing judgement
and accept us for who we are
without prejudice.”
This was part of the thought
process behind he and wife
Clare’s decision over four
decades ago to set up Farms for
City Children, a charity aiming
to expand the horizons of urban
children through living and
working on farms. As young
primary school teachers, the
pair felt that “at best only half
of the children were benefitting
from their education. The other
half were failing, and we were ››
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 31

Struggling to get your child to enjoy reading?
Follow Michael’s advice…
“Don’t force it. The main thing as a parent is
to try and pass on a passion for stories to our
children. When you read a
story you love to a child
or that the child loves,
you hold hands through an
adventure, have a tiger for
tea, go for a walk in the
woods together with
a Gruffalo, find out
together what the ugly
duckling really is. You
live the story together
and imagine it together.”
failing them as teachers.”
“These children seemed to be
on a road to nowhere, and most
of them were beginning to know
it, beginning to resent school,
beginning to give up. There had
to be another way.”
To their minds, self-worth
was the key: “Get children to feel
good about themselves and that
their contribution was valued,
then maybe, maybe, things
could change.”
And so it was, in Devon in
1976, that the couple, together
with the neighbouring farmers,
the Ward family, pioneered a
Above: Children who visit
the farms learn to work in a
team and also start thinking
for themselves
programme of work
designed to extend
children physically,
mentally, emotionally,
intellectually. “They
would become the
farmers, work alongside
their teachers and the
Ward family, and me,
and Clare, so that they
could be involved in every aspect
of the farm. It is hard work, real
work, and they know their work
is essential, that it matters to
the animals, to the farm, that it
simply matters. They matter.”
A lot has changed since
the first lot of pupils, from
Chivenor Primary School in
Birmingham, came to stay with
the Morpurgos. There are now
three farms – the original one in
Devon, another in Wales and a
third in Gloucestershire – and
more than 3,200 primary
school children now visit
every year.
But the concept remains
almost exactly the same. The
children do everything that is
important to the farm. “They
get up at the crack of dawn to
feed the animals, take part in
the milking, see lambs being
born, dig the vegetables and
mend fences, collect the eggs
and clean out the stables,”
explains Michael, who has an
MBE for services to youth, as
well as literature.
What are the most valuable
lessons children take away from
the experience, I wonder? “They
learn to work in a team and
look after one another. They also
become more independent and
start thinking for themselves. It’s
often surprising to the teachers
to see that pupils who aren’t very
good at school are the ones who
really blossom and thrive.”
Michael experienced both
city and country life as a child,
having grown up near Bradwell
in Suffolk, “where I would
watch the sea-birds diving and
dipping,” and also in Earl’s
Court in London, where he
went to school and remembers
“playing in bombsites just after
the war.”
The children who visit the
farms often find the differences
in the environment strange,
though, according to Michael.
“Because [the countryside]
smells so different. It’s so quiet
at night when the wind blows
and the owls hoot. The
darkness of the lanes
PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK

INTERVIEW
walking down in winter evenings
can be frightening.”
“But it all opens their eyes
to a totally different world, a
real world. They often go back
with a stronger sense of where
their food comes from and the
importance of looking after the
natural world but, we hope, also
a sense of belonging.”
There are no screens
at the farm, either.
“It is extraordinary,”
reveals Michael, “but really none
of them miss their gadgets. They
learn to communicate with each
other without them.”
As a master storyteller,
it’s something Michael is
passionate about. “I think it is
Above: The Duchess of Cambridge is
one of the charity’s many influential
supporters Left: Children do real,
hard work on the farm
vital that children spend time
just thinking or dreaming or
making something. This is where
creativity comes from.”
Time away from devices
is something the charity
encourages beyond the farm,
too. It recently launched an
UNPLUG for the day campaign
to help raise funds for the
charity, which has to raise 1.2m
every year for its work. Luckily,
it has a glut of influential
supporters to help achieve this.
Michael always had a vivid
imagination, something that
was fostered by his mother. “I
did love having stories read to
me. Listening to her voice as she
acted out the characters really
brought the stories and poetry
that she loved to life for me. It
was a huge influence.”
Indeed, it was telling stories
to his pupils during his time as a
primary school teacher in Kent
that actually led him to become
an author. “I could see that the
story I was reading my class of
year 6s was really boring them.
I went home that night and my
wife suggested that I tell them
one of my own stories. I went in
the next day, took a deep breath
and started to tell them my story.
Slowly, they started to listen, and
then intently on the edge of their
seats, and by the time the bell
went for the end of school, I had
them in the palm of my hand.
It was a great feeling and I have
really never looked back.” And
thank goodness for us that the
prolific author, now 74, never has.
Find out how to support the charity
at farmsforcitychildren.org
Toto The Dog-
Gone Amazing
Story of the
Wizard of Oz
Harper Collins
Hardcover £14.99
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 33

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DESIGN
The Power
of TWO
Head of design at Boodles,
Rebecca Hawkins, tells us about
its Royal Ballet collaboration
How did Boodles’ Royal Ballet-inspired
collection, Pas de Deux, come about?
During discussions to sponsor a performance,
it became clear how much the two companies
had in common, and the idea to
collaborate on a new high-jewellery
collection was born.
It’s a departure from Boodles’
usual approach to design. How so?
There is a greater sense of geometry
and sharper angles than we would
traditionally include to bring
the feeling of choreography and
dynamic movement.
What parallels did you discover
between the two art forms?
The high regard for artistry and
production values that we both
share; that jewellery, like dance, is
evocative, emotional and expressive;
and that both art forms seek to
create the illusion of lightness and
delicacy when, in reality, incredible
strength is required.
Tell us about the artistic process?
My first step was to visit the
Royal Opera House. I was able to
watch the dancers in rehearsal, to
view the archives, the costumes,
set designs and to get a general feel for all the
elements involved. I asked questions like: what
makes the perfect dance partnership? What makes
ballet different from other forms of dance? What is
unique about the Royal Ballet? It was the answers to
these questions that formed the foundation of the
collection. The process took nearly two years.
Why the pas de deux theme?
Everything seemed to lead towards the idea of ‘two’
being the key. The equal importance of the physical
and emotional side, the classical technique paired
with the ability to tell a story and take the audience
on a journey. The perfect dance partnership: an
intuitive understanding of the other, ability to
mirror, complementary physicality. Two art forms,
two companies. And so the collection itself has two
halves: jewels that represent the physical side and
jewels that add emotion and narrative.
How did you apply what you experienced at the
Royal Opera House to the tangible pieces?
I translated the dancers into shapes, tracing a
line from the tip of a toe to the dancer’s head or
fingertip, adding an arch or elongating the shape to
illustrate the extension.
Explain your use of diamonds.
Kite-shape diamonds were chosen to represent the
dancers in abstract form and the sense of balance
and alignment.
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 35

FOOD
PIG OUT
TV chef and author Harry Eastwood shares a real crowd-pleaser
from her latest cookbook, which celebrates meat in all its glory
If you don’t have one of
her cookbooks, you
might remember
British chef Harry
Eastwood from her stint
presenting primetime
Channel 4 series Cook Yourself Thin.
Unexpectedly for a former vegetarian,
her latest cookbook, Carneval, is
a celebration of meat. It explains
how to get the best out of the whole
animal and focuses on easy and
reliable recipes.
Brought up in France, “where
being passionate about food was
considered legitimate, even noble”,
Harry’s food philosophy is simple:
“Hunger is an opportunity for
something magical to happen; for
pleasure and joy. I don’t like to waste
it on a soggy petrol station sandwich.
I cook and eat simple food (no cheffy
squiggles or emulsions), with a strong
emphasis on quality ingredients.”
Here, she shares one of her
favourite recipes: “The crackling is
so crispy and the meat is silky and
surrendered underneath. And it’s
super easy, too. You put it in the oven
and pretty much forget about it.”
What’s not to love?
Carneval: A celebration
of meat, in recipes
Penguin Books, £25
Garlic and Fennel Crispy Pork Belly
Serves 6, or 4 with leftovers
Ingredients
• 1.6kg pork belly, with skin on
(I prefer a slightly fattier belly but
this works just as well with lean)
• salt flakes
For the rub
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and
minced
• 1 tsp light muscovado sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds, smashed in a
mortar and pestle
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds, smashed
in a mortar and pestle
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• a small pinch cayenne pepper
or red chilli flakes (smashed in a
mortar and pestle)
Instructions
1. Mix the rub ingredients together
to form a paste. Slather this all
over the meat, avoiding the skin
side, which you should just score
and sprinkle with salt – please go
for flakes, if you can, as this will
draw out the moisture without
over-salting the skin. The easiest
tool to score a belly of pork is a
Stanley knife and I like my score
lines to be close together to give
the best possible crackling.
2. Line an ovenproof dish roughly
the same size as the belly
with baking paper and lay the
marinated meat (skin side up) on
top. Place in the fridge uncovered
(this is very important) overnight.
3. The next day, take the meat
out of the fridge, wipe away
the moisture from the skin with
kitchen paper and sprinkle again
with salt. This is to extract as
much moisture from the skin
as possible. Leave at room
temperature for 2 hours before
cooking (so 6 hours
before serving).
4. Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan
150°C/gas mark 3–4 – this works
best with a fan setting.
5. Wipe the surface of the skin
again and repeat the sprinkling
of the salt flakes. Scrape the
marinade ingredients away from
the flesh and put the meat back
into the dish skin side up. Cook for
2 hours, then turn the temperature
of the oven down to 150°C/fan
130°C/gas mark 2 – now it is best
without the fan. Cook for another
1½ hours.
6. Once the meat has had a total
of 3½ hours cooking, set the oven
to grill mode. Prop up the meat
with a scrunched-up piece of
tin foil, if necessary, so that the
crackling surface is more or less
level and place the dish at the
bottom of the oven to prevent
burning. You want to keep an eye
on it at this stage as the crackling
will puff up like popcorn and can
catch. Once the whole of the top
is bubbly and crackled up, remove
from the oven and rest in the oven
dish for 10 minutes.
7. Cut the meat into medium
slices and serve with celeriac
mash, crispy seaweed (find recipe
in Carneval) and a little heated up
hoisin sauce or Dijon mustard.
36 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17

COOK’S TIP
If you have any meat left over, you can warm
it up and use it to make the most gorgeous
Asian twist on a bacon buttie. Warm a plain
white roll and slather some hoisin on one
side and a tiny bit of Sriracha (chilli sauce)
on the other. Put the warm pork in the bun
and top with thinly sliced spring onions and
cucumber. It is frankly amazing!

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INTERIORS
House STYLE
Interiors guru Susie Atkinson tells us about her work with
Soho House, why she loves her job and what’s hot in design
How did you get into design?
I went to the Inchbald School of
Design for three months and was
very lucky to get a job as a trainee
with Chester Jones.
Who has inspired and
influenced you most?
I am very influenced by Chester.
I’ve always looked to him for
the traditional ways of
decorating. But when I started
to work for Soho House, it was
quite nice to break out of and not
follow convention.
How would you describe your
design style?
My ambition is to create an
environment that feels welcoming
the moment you step through
the door.
Tell us a bit about
your work with
Soho House.
I finished off
Shoreditch House.
From there I did
Dean Street, Soho
House Berlin,
Babington. Babington was
supposed to be a country house
to escape to, but with an edge.
It was huge fun to do while
it lasted.
What makes Soho House
interiors so admired?
It’s a home from home. The
remit for me was to create
something that feels ››
Above: One of 42 bedrooms at Soho
House Berlin Left: Red fabric dining
chair, made by artisans especially for
Studio Atkinson
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 39

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INTERIORS
PHOTOGRAPHY: © ROQUES-O’NEIL PHOTOGRAPHY, SIMON BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
homely, so when you arrive you
feel like you can kick your shoes
off and totally relax. Understated
glamour, really.
Who are your go-to product
designers at the moment?
I very much like Nicky Haslam’s
new collection. It’s got a lot of
rattan and wicker. Also Howe
London in Pimlico.
What’s hot right now?
Bolder colours and prints;
indoor plants; rattan, cane and
bamboo furniture; and graphic
prints. I still think mixing family
heirlooms with more modern
pieces is current.
Why do you love your job?
No two days are the same. I
could be on a building site up a
ladder with a hard hat on, out
sourcing fabrics, at an auction or
antiques fair, in the office doing
schemes, or with clients looking
for accessories. I never get bored
of doing schemes because there’s
always something new. No two
sites are the same and that’s what
gets the creative juices flowing.
Our studio is quite unique in that
we focus on bespoke pieces.
What advice do you have for
teenagers wanting to design?
Work experience in a design
studio is a very good way to learn
SUSIE’S HOTLIST
Owen Lounge Chair, £4,540
Paolo Moschino for Nicky Haslam;
Terracotta Large Bowl,
£35 and Terracotta
Medium Shallow
Bowl, £240 both by
Silvia K Ceramics,
The New Craftsmen;
Joy fabric in pink ochre
by Mimi Pickard,
£98 a metre
on the job. It is vital to research
designers and makers that appeal
to you. I’ve always got a hunger
to learn more and am constantly
searching for new inspiration. It’s
about expressing yourself – that’s
how it should be in a creative
environment.
Which project are you most
proud of ?
Probably Soho House Berlin
and Beaverbrook [a new luxury
country house hotel in Surrey].
Berlin was a hugely challenging
project. It was effectively like
turning Selfridges into a hotel.
Clockwise from left: Farleigh
morning room; Soho House
Berlin; Babington House and
the bar in the newly finished
Beaverbrook Hotel
Dream project?
A beach house or hotel would be
the cherry on top. I love going to
the Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall.
There’s so much I’d love to do on
that. I’m currently pitching on a
project on a lake in America, and
that comes a close second.
How do you go about designing
for tweens and teens?
It’s a collaboration. [It’s]
absolutely key to get into their
mindset. We guide them so their
eyes are opened to things they
might not see anywhere else.
www.susieatkinson.com
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 41

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ENTERTAINING
TOP TABLE
Want to go all out this Christmas? Florist Susie Babington
shows you how to create a super-stylish centrepiece
that’ll last for the whole season
Christmas is the perfect
time to flex your creative
muscle and make your
own festive decorations.
The whole family can be
involved in this project. Foraging
for the greenery is one of my children’s
favourite pastimes and poking bits of foliage
into foam is surprisingly fun. Here, I show
you how to create a table centre that can be
watered and therefore kept fresh throughout
the whole festive season. ››
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 43

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ENTERTAINING
Christmas Table
Centrepiece
You will need:
• enough Oasis foam blocks to cover the length
of approximately three-fifths of your table
• an Oasis tray to hold the wet foam
• floristry wire
• a mat or mirror to protect your table
• enough greenery and accessories to cover the
foam – try using fir, eucalyptus and holly for
greenery; pine cones, dried fruit, berries
and thistles as accessories
• miniature potted plants – I have used cyclamen
• candles
Instructions:
1. Soak the Oasis foam in cold water for 10 minutes.
2. Cut the greenery into equal lengths
(approximately 10-15cm) and remove any leaves
from the bottom inch of each piece, leaving a bare
stem. This is the part you will poke into the foam.
3. Next, wire your dried pine cones, fruit etc. Wrap
the wire around the belly of the pine cone, like
a belt, and then pull the wire horizontally down,
away from the cone, to create a spike. You will use
this spike to fix the cone into the foam. If wiring
dried fruit, push the wire through the centre of the
fruit and bend it in half to create a spike.
4. Place your potted plants, evenly spaced, into the
Oasis tray and surround with the wet Oasis foam.
5. Create a ‘skirt’ of greenery around the bottom of
the foam, covering the tray, using alternate foliage
to mix up the colours. Cover the foam from the
bottom up and start including the accessories.
Continue until all of the foam is covered and there
are no holes.
6. Place the centrepiece on your table (don’t
forget to put the matt or mirror underneath to
protect your table) and surround with candles. I
added miniature olive trees to give height, finished
off with fairy lights. Use the remaining foliage to
decorate your place settings.
7. Pour a little water into the tray every three to
four days.
8. Alternatively, just order your decorations, sit
back and relax!
SUSIE’S TIP
Get your kids involved.
They will love hunting for
foliage outside and sticking
the greenery in the foam, so
look out for fir, holly and pine
cones on your next outing
10% off all table decorations for
School Notices readers.
www.susiebabingtongardens.co.uk
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 45

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SPOTLIGHT
MAKE or BREAK
Creative subjects have never been more important and
will help pupils thrive in today’s fast-changing world, writes
Head of Downe House Emma McKendrick
It is very hard for us to be sure
what the working environment
will be like for our pupils.
What is clear is that the pace of
change and the speed with which
technology advances will not
slow down. To thrive, our young
people will need to be creative,
adaptable, resilient and able to
express themselves effectively.
The place of creative subjects
– Art, Drama, Dance, Music,
Textiles, Design and Technology
– has therefore never been more
important, and is an area of the
curriculum that is extremely
important at Downe. One of our
pupils expressed recently to an
inspector that studying Art “gave
her a window into the beauty
of the world”. It made her stop,
look at the world thoughtfully
and with care; it helped her to
interpret it and appreciate it.
It also enabled others to see it
through her eyes. She, in turn,
could appreciate others’ views.
These subjects also provide an
outlet for self-expression and
enable problem-solving skills,
perseverance and resilience to be
developed – the wooden box that
does not quite close will require
the right solution to be found
to make it work. Effective
teamwork will be found at the
heart of every successful dance
routine, play, orchestral or
choral piece, and each individual
involved will have to have the
humility to enable and encourage
others to shine.
Girls study all of the creative
and performing arts during Years
7 to 9; they can then choose
whether to follow any for GCSE
or beyond. They can also join
a creative club, take individual
lessons or participate in the
popular House Competitions.
I have no doubt that Downe
is a kinder, healthier, more
interesting and more generousspirited
community as a result of
all that these subjects teach our
pupils. I am equally sure pupils
are better prepared for their
world as a result of the creativity
that is encouraged, and that the
sense of awe and wonder about
the world that will have been
gained will be a precious gift that
will last a lifetime.
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 47

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NEWS
OUR
news
Founders Clare Reid & Gordon Dawson
SCHOOL NOTICES
BY NUMBERS:
PAGE VIEWS
774,509
MEMBER SCHOOLS
125
The mission to raise funds using
our eyeballs, rather than our wallets,
is officially working!
It’s been a fantastic term of growth for School Notices,
with more of the top schools in the country joining our
already illustrious ranks. This term we welcomed the
parents and alumni of Marlborough College, Abingdon
and St Hugh’s, amongst others, and the number of new
members is growing faster than ever.
We have expanded further overseas with our launch
of School Notices Oz in Australia, as well as into the
state sector here in the UK with Academy Notices, so the
fundraising ball is well and truly rolling! All this is only
possible because of the many free notices you are posting
to each other, so a huge thank you to all those who have
joined us online.
Many of our schools have elected to put the funds
raised through School Notices towards bursaries to help
children attend their schools. If you have not already
joined us, please do! It is painless, completely free and
every new member helps us in our effort to raise money
for some incredible causes.
In return for joining our fundraising mission,
you’ll have access to some amazing offers from
brilliant businesses keen to attract your attention.
A world of fabulous buying and selling, talented
alumni looking for jobs and more will be at
your fingertips. The power of our community is huge.
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a
magical Christmas and a very happy New Year!
USERS
89,806
Clare Reid, Co-founder
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 49

PROMOTION
Protecting
WHAT
MATTERS
Introducing School Fees Insurance
It’s not unusual for parents to
begin the search for the perfect
school even before their child is
born. It may take them months,
even years, of careful planning,
visits and research to select the
right place.
Many factors go into the
decision-making process -
academic excellence, outstanding
facilities, inspiring surroundings
to name but a few. A school is far
more than just a place to learn; it
is where a child will make friends,
explore new activities, form ideas
and opinions. In short, it will
shape the rest of their lives and
become like a second family.
Once a child is really settled
in a school, losing all that it
provides can be truly devastating.
It makes sense to protect
something so precious.
No one likes to think about
serious illness or death. We
all assume it won’t happen to
us. Unfortunately, there are no
guarantees when it comes to
good health. According to Child
Bereavement UK, unfortunately,
one in 29 school age children will
be bereaved of a parent. If this
was to happen to you or your
partner, could you continue to
pay the school fees?
Julie West, who had two
children at Warwick Prep School,
sadly lost her husband in 2012
when they were just six and five
years old. She was forced to
move to a small flat, in a different
area, uprooting her children
from familiar surroundings.
Fortunately, when her children
“WHY WOULD YOU NOT
WANT TO PROTECT YOUR
CHILDREN FROM UNDUE
LOSS AND TRAUMA? JUST
AS WE ARE REQUIRED
TO INSURE OUR CARS,
SURELY IT IS OUR ETHICAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO
INSURE OUR CHILDREN
AGAINST LOSS TOO.”
had begun their education she
and her husband had taken out
School Fees Insurance. This paid
a pre-selected sum of money
directly to the school each term
following the untimely death of
her husband.
School was the one constant
the children had left in their
lives and Julie’s School Fees
Insurance means their education
is protected until the end of
the school year in which they
turn 18. “My children’s social
and educational lives were
maintained and sustained” says
Julie. “Losing a father is traumatic
and life-altering enough, but to
lose a child’s friends, teachers
and routine would only have
significantly added to their loss.”
School Fees Insurance is
a unique product, that from
as little as £20 a month can
protect the most important
years of a child’s life. It is easy
and simple to take out as no
medical underwriting is required.
As payments go directly to the
school, they will not be taxed or
delayed by probate.
To find out more about School Fees Insurance and how it could protect your
child’s future go to SFS-group.co.uk
50 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17

Our member
SCHOOLS
Raising funds for over 100 schools and growing fast!
If your school is not on the list and you’d like to join
School Notices, contact us on info@schoolnotices.co.uk
SCHOOL NOTICES UK
Abingdon Prep
Abingdon School
Aldro
Ashdown House
Beachborough
Beaudesert Park
Berkhampstead School
Bradfield College
Brambletye
Brockhurst & Marlston
House School
Broomwood Hall
Bruern Abbey
Chafyn Grove
Chandlings
Cheam
Cheltenham Ladies College
Clifton Hall
Cothill
Cottesmore
Craigclowan
Cumnor House
Dorset House
Downe House
Eaton Square Upper School
Eaton Square School
Elstree
Farleigh
Finton House
Fulham Prep
Godstowe
Great Walstead
Hanford
Harriet House
Hawley Place School
Horris Hill
Hyde Park School
Junior King’s School,
Canterbury
Kilgraston
Kitebrook House
Laxton Junior School
Leweston
Little Crickets Nursery
Lucton School
Ludgrove
Maidwell Hall
Marlborough College
Marlborough House
Merlin School
Miss Daisy’s Nurseries x 3
Moulsford
Mount Kelly
Mowden Hall
Northcote Lodge
Papplewick
Pinewood School
Pippa Pop-ins x 4
Polwhele House
Port Regis
Redcliffe School
Rupert House
Sancton Wood School
Sandroyd
Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Preparatory School
Sherfield School
Shrewsbury House & Lodge
St Andrew’s School,
Pangbourne
St Hugh’s School
St Edward’s, Oxford
St George’s Ascot
St Ronan’s School
Summer Fields
Sunningdale
The Eaton House Group x 7
The Harrodian School
The King’s School, Canterbury
The Lyceum School
The Marist Schools x 3
The Pilgrims’ School
The Study School
Thomas’s, Battersea
Thomas’s, Fulham
Wellesley House
Westbourne House School
Westonbirt School
Windlesham
Woodcote House
Young England Kindergarten
SCHOOL NOTICES ASIA
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Singapore American School

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FUN FACTS
For every human
on Earth there are
1.6
million
ants
Charlie Chaplin
once entered a
Charlie Chaplin
look-a-like
competition
and lost
PEANUTS
are one of the
ingredients
used in
DYNAMITE
Jingle Bells is the
only Christmas
song that doesn’t
mention Christmas,
Jesus or the Nativity
A 6ft Christmas
tree grows
for around
eight years
before it’s sold
Saudi Arabia
imports
CAMELS
from
Australia
James Bond’s code
“007” was inspired
by a Canterbury to
London bus route
taken by author
Ian Fleming
Hamsters
run up to
8 MILES
PER NIGHT
on a wheel
You’ ll NEVER
guess what?
We’ve rounded up our favourite festive facts and more
for you to quiz your friends with this winter
France was still
executing people by
guillotine when the
first Star Wars film
came out
ALMONDS
come from
the same
family as the
PEACH
There are over
30,000
people with the
name John Smith
in England
Before turkey, the
traditional Christmas
meal in England
was a pig’s head
and mustard.
PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK
It rains
DIAMONDS
on Jupiter
and finally…
27%
of families sit
down to watch
the Queen’s
Speech on
Christmas Day
Some pirates
wore earrings
because they
believed it improved
their eyesight and
cured seasickness
Mammoths
were alive
when the
Great Pyramid
was built
It’s been technically illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day in England since
the 17th century when Oliver Cromwell banned anything to do with gluttony
W I N T ER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 53

HEAD SPACE
What or who inspired
you to teach?
Probably my schooling
experience in South
Africa, but most notably
it was my dedicated and
inspiring English teacher,
Miss Baws.
would love to spend
a day as a game ranger
in the African bush in
the presence of some
majestic wildlife.
All-time favourite book?
The joy of getting lost
in a book is something
I genuinely value.
Rian Malan’s book,
My Traitor’s Heart, a
journalist’s
harrowing
narrative about
attempting to
understand
apartheid in
South Africa,
is definitely
my favourite.
What is your favourite
piece of music?
I thoroughly enjoy a
wide range of musical genres.
However, for my wife and
me our favourite is Ludovico
Einaudi’s Melodia Africana III.
Favourite Shakespeare play
and why?
Macbeth, as a result of my
inspirational English teacher.
What is your
personal motto
for life?
Do all you can in the
time you can, and
have fun.
HEAD space
We chat to Peter Goodyer, Bede’s
head, about his formative years
in South Africa and what makes
him tick at school and beyond
If you could only bring three
things with you to a desert
island, what would they be?
My family (my wife, Laura, and
son, Seb), a lighter and a tent.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve
ever done?
I would say it has to be climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro.
Who would you
most like to be for
the day?
Having grown up
in South Africa, I
What would be your act
on Britain’s Got Talent?
If it were allowed, my
talent would have to
be barbecuing. I love
outdoor eating.
What is your biggest
achievement?
It’s got to be being the
headmaster of Bede’s,
and personally, having a
wonderful family.
Why is your school
the best?
We nurture distinction
in all our pupils, and
we give them the
opportunity to develop their own
skills and interests. We believe
it’s important to put the interest
of the pupils first.
What three things do you need
to be a successful headmaster?
Compassion, integrity and a
good sense of humour.
What is the best advice you’d
give a school leaver?
Never undersell yourself. Strive
to be the best version of yourself
and never underestimate your
abilities in achieving your goals.
PHOTOGRAPHY: © SHUTTERSTOCK, PIXABAY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
54 schoolnotices.co.uk ★ W I N T ER 17
Mount Kilimanjaro

Alina
Lower Sixth
Artist
You are warmly invited to our
Senior School Open Morning
Saturday 10 March 2018
9.30am to noon (Entry at 13 and 16)
HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding
Boys and girls 13 to 18
To register please contact:
admissions@bedes.org
T 01323 843252
or online at bedes.org
Bede’s Senior School
Upper Dicker
East Sussex BN27 3QH

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