The house on the hill

With the help of a practice of skilled architects, the Elms have succeeded in creating a stunning multi-functional family space that works in perfect harmony with both their professional and home lives Garry and Camilla Elms had first glimpsed the...

Finding the light

Alex Jørgensen guides us around his Edwardian townhouse, a renovation project that he’s managed to complete in just one year It was a Monday in November and despite some unseasonably good weather recently, the rain had settled in today. Nevertheless...

Creature Comforts

From rugby-loving donkeys to an immortalised duck, we’ve enjoyed hearing all about Saint Ronan’s school farm We opened our school farm with the aim to have a few rescue chickens – modest and easy to maintain. Our first batch of...

Meet Matthew Bryan, Headmaster at Longacre School

From chart-topping ex-pupils to psychology podcasts, we get to know Matthew Bryan, Headmaster at Longacre School What makes Longacre school special? It’s a combination of the people and the ethos. The children are so lucky to come here, but equally...

Cracking the Code – St Andrews Prep

St Andrews Prep share their coding education know-how How is technology integrated into your curriculum and school life? Our rich and varied D&T curriculum encompasses a wide range of technologies. As early as year 5 children work with and use...

Cracking the Code – Radnor House Sevenoaks

Pavel Malik, Assistant Head & Director of Digital Learning at Radnor House Sevenoaks (below), discusses the benefit of teaching coding skills from a young age Learning coding offers many educational benefits. From helping to develop digital skills and building future...

Go for it!

Ashford School explains how broadening options enhances enjoyment and participation in sport Ashford Prep School wholeheartedly believes in an ethos of ‘Sport for All’ which means every child – no matter their ability – is provided the opportunity to represent...

STRONGER TOGETHER – Eastbourne College

Eastbourne College tell us about a wide variety of projects which enrich their school life and beyond Eastbourne College is one of thirteen schools/colleges in the Coastal Schools Partnership (East Sussex). We love working together as it provides a high...

STRONGER TOGETHER – Reed’s School

Reed’s School tells us about their award-winning outreach and community projects The school’s own charitable Foundation was established in 1813 as an orphanage. Ten percent of the pupils are helped to attend the school because they have lost the support...

Social Life: Bede’s

Richard Mills, Registrar at Bede’s tell us how they build their boarding community For boarding pupils, building relationships at school is even more vital because their school peers are more than just classmates — they are a close–knit community, a...

Social Life: Sutton Valence School

Sutton Valence School share how they build social skills in students At Sutton Valence School, we place a high value on the importance of developing students’ and boarders’ social skills. We believe that these skills are essential for success in...

Meet the School Principal

We’ve been getting to know Claremont School’s new Principal, Severine Collins What excites you most about joining Claremont School? Claremont’s principles align with my own belief that every child is an individual who needs to be nurtured, developed and challenged...

Mayfield girls attend Model United Nations Conference in Poland

In October, six girls from Mayfield School attended the 7th Annual Model United Nations (MUN) Conference in Poland, with pupils from across Europe.  MUN is an educational simulation of the United Nations in which students can learn about diplomacy and...

Spring Grove School on broadening horizons

From visits to the local beach to week-long residential trips to France, school trips play an important part in school life at Spring Grove School. Experiences that take children out of the classroom - and sometimes out of their comfort...

Flying the Eco Flag

Battle Abbey School have had a very exciting outcome from Antarctica Day For Antarctica Day in early December, schools across the UK and beyond were prompted to send flag designs to be displayed in Antarctica by the ‘Island Impact’ Expedition,...

Squash, Caramelised Onion and Feta Filo Pie

Filo pastry is tricky to handle as it dries out as soon as you look away from it, so have a damp tea towel/kichen roll handy to cover it if needed – and ensure that all the other ingredients are...

Apple and Rhubarb Lattice Pie

You will need a nice deep pie dish (26cm) and a pastry brush I have made this pie with two types of pastry – shortcrust for the base and puff for the latticed top. It works just as well with...

Easy Fish Pie

Supermarkets sell ‘fish pie mix’ containing pre-cut chunks of salmon, cod and smoked haddock, which works well, but feel free to choose your own selection. I like to go for a white fish, a smoked type and something with a...

Keep in the know

Sarah Maxwell shares a second instalment of vital menopause info Menopause is a hot topic at the moment and has had a seismic shift in interest, giving us information and essential knowledge that we didn’t have previously. With this in mind,...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau looks into post-natal dietary requirements It’s no secret that the food we eat fuels our daily activities and it is especially important when those activities include caring for a newborn or breastfeeding. The time...

Green Attraction

Jo Arnell looks into houseplants with benefits Keeping houseplants will make you more attractive. This is not just a ploy by the houseplant marketing board – according to some research commissioned by The Joy of Plants, all you need to...

Patience is a Virtue

Sue Whigham advises it’s worth taking your time to discover how your new garden grows as she contemplates the revamp of her son’s new outside space near Bath Having lived in a Brixton flat with a small but perfectly formed...

The best laid plans

The Surrey Homes house writer shows us round her own home – which didn’t turn out as she expected, but better When you buy a new house which is a bit of a project, you think you know exactly what...

Escape to the Country

The refurbishment of an elegant Georgian farmhouse has been a labour of love for talented interior designer Jessica Bax It was Monday morning and I was excited to be travelling to somewhere with a familiar name. Shoreham village in Kent...

Marlborough House School’s new programme for Years 7 and 8

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: For parents grappling with the age-old question of 11+ or 13+ entry, we spoke to Marlborough House School in Kent who have a new solution: an individualised enrichment programme for Years 7 and 8. A more bespoke path and greater...

Celebrating Difference in a Boarding Environment

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: By Simon Bird, Deputy Head, and David Mulae, Assistant Head Pastoral, Cranleigh School Cranleigh celebrates difference by first seeing and recognising that individuals are all unique and that each individual has worth and should feel valued. Considerable time and expertise...

Cod with Smokey Black Bean Cassoulet

This gloriously satisfying but healthy dinner is so delicious and really easy to prep. Sweet cod, married with deeply savoury smokey black beans, is heaven on a plate. Prepare the cassoulet in advance if you want – even the day...

Homemade Nutty Granola with Berries & Greek Yoghurt

This a super delicious healthy granola, and so tasty you can enjoy with yoghurt, fruit, milk or even as quick snack on its own. It is so much healthier than the shop bought ones as it has very little sugar...

Watercress Soup with Cannellini Beans

I love the peppery flavour of watercress, which is also incredibly good for you. The cannellini beans, for fibre and protein, create a warming hearty meal of soup. This freezes beautifully so it’s a good one to have on standby. ...

Lemon Roast Chicken with Pomegranate Molasses & Cauliflower on a Bed of Lentils

This dish sounds fancy, but it’s so simple, totally flexible and utterly flavoursome, filling and feel good food. Pulses are so good for our health and longevity. These little lentils vertes are simply boiled while the chicken roasts, and then...

Curves in all the right places

Jo Arnell takes a look at the (frustratingly) skilled art of topiary There’s something soothingly barbaric about topiary. A tightly pruned tree growing exactly how we want it to grow – forced into submission and yet still happy enough to...

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Mayfield School, which has been named one of the top 20 all-girls schools for cricket Mayfield School has been named as one of the UK’s best cricket schools. It features in the Top 20 all-girls schools in The...

Stop seeing music as a ‘nice to have’

Benenden School’s headteacher Samantha Price is fighting the cause to prevent musical education being sidelined in our schools It’s time to stop considering music in schools as a luxury, Benenden School’s headteacher Samantha Price has said. Describing music as “transformational”...

Welcome to the Fun House

Justin and Imogen open the doors to their fabulously cool renovation project, tucked away behind the shops in Rye High Street It takes a brave man, or woman, to leave the buzz of East London for a quiet coastal town...

Take me to church

Jane Robinson has worked with the unusual fabric of a former church to create a comfortable and stylish family home   Church conversions can be tricky. The windows – although beautiful and large – are a peculiar shape and size,...

Festive Feast

We have collected advice from local chefs to revolutionise your Christmas dinner Dennis Duncanson, who is holding residency at The Leicester Arms in Penshurst and The Rock in Chiddingstone this winter, suggests trying something different this Christmas! Turkey is in...

Top Tricks

James Hickson from The Royal in St Leonards, shares how to elevate festive food plans Think as carefully about the drinks you’re serving as you do the food. Start the celebrations with a sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne before a lightly...

Perfect Prep

Mark Charker, Head Chef at The Bell in Ticehurst, explains how to take the stress out of Christmas cooking by getting some prep work in early Get ahead by pre-cooking your potatoes and side dishes to be heated up on...

Twelve Days Of Fitness

Sarah Maxwell counts down to Christmas Day the healthy way The festive season can be a magical time but often means that good habits are thrown out of the window. However, maintaining your health and fitness levels during this time...

Nourish to Flourish – Managing Christmas Stress

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explains how to manage Christmas stress Tis the season to be jolly (fa la la la la la la la laaa!) but it’s also an incredibly busy time of year! Our diaries are bursting...

Keeping it Real

When it comes to lush winter foliage, the magic’s in the authenticity, as Jo Arnell explains Fake plants are getting more and more realistic – I often have to pinch a leaf, or even myself, when I see an impossibly...

Beechwood’s Beautiful Game

With the aim of uniting football and academic excellence, Beechwood School have created an Elite Football Programme headed up by Director of Football, Greg Thurstans and Head of Coaching, Matthew Rose. We find out all about it… Who will the programme...

Living Over The Shop

A creative couple found the perfect spot for their home – and their boutique – in the very centre of Hastings In a first for all the many (lovely) houses I have written about for this magazine, my visit to...

’Twas Brillig

A family home over a shop in St Leonards is as otherworldly as its Lewis Carroll-inspired name The first time I noticed the name painted over the windows of a new shop in St Leonards’ London Road, (right by my...

Nourish to Flourish – Sugar

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau gives us the lowdown on sugar There are so many different types and classifications of sugar that it can be very confusing trying to figure out what it all means and how it affects...

Duchess Diaries

Jo Arnell goes behind the scenes at Belvior Castle to find out how Emma Manners, the 11th Duchess of Rutland, has tranformed its formal gardens in line with a treasure trove of plans rediscovered in the castle’s archives Imagine plunging...

Emerald City

Sue Whigham looks into evergreen trees and shrubs that can cope with drought conditions  In the 1980s we were custodians of an absolutely enormous holm oak (Quercus ilex). First introduced in the 1500s, these evergreen trees grow to a considerable...

Meet the Head

ACS Egham’s new head of school Mark Wilson talks us through his own teaching journey  How are you settling into life at ACS Egham? It has been a fantastic start. I have been made to feel so welcome by students,...