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...

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,...

Getting Out & About

Independent girls’ school, Manor House, explains why prioritising school trips enriches their pupils’ education Speak to any past pupil and a school trip is often one of their fondest memories, a time to stretch their muscles of independence and venture...

Soothing sounds

Sarah Maxwell melts away feelings of stress with the help of a healing gong bath  If anyone had told me that I was about to have the most relaxing experience and the BEST sleep I’ve had in my entire life,...

Busy Bees

Some news from our thriving education providers ACS International School Cobham is named an Apple Distinguished School ACS International School Cobham has been named as a prestigious Apple Distinguished School for 2022-2025 in recognition of innovative one-to-one iPad and MacBook Air provision....

Law & Borders

Local legal firms keep us up to date with their news Whitehead Monkton are getting the word out about new legislation and the importance of taking positive action during the tricky time of a divorce When the chips are down...

Art of the Home

There’s more to interior designer Charlotte Luxford’s suburban semi than meets the eye, with its charming, art-filled interiors – not to mention the view On the face of it, Charlotte Luxford’s 1930s home in central Sevenoaks is much like any...

Symmetry & Balance

This Kentish kitchen beautifully balances warm and cool, industrial and elegant, modern and classic The owners of this new build property in Kent, already had plans and designs created with an alternative high-end kitchen manufacturer, when they stumbled across Poggenpohl’s...

Colour Theory

The inspiring bathrooms of a Sussex manor show how to embrace vibrant colour This magnificent Georgian manor house in rural Sussex has undergone extensive renovation work in recent years, benefitting from Catchpole & Rye’s distinct brand of luxury in both...

Past is Present

Miscellanea show us how to breathe new life into a historical kitchen while respecting and enhancing original features What was the brief behind this project? Our clients’ main criteria was that as well as being fully functioning – offering all...

Going Home

I didn’t have much information about the person I was going to meet, just a name, address and a few emails arranging our interview, so it was with more than a bit of intrigue that I travelled to north Kent’s...

Jumping for joy 

Bounce your way to better muscle mass with  Sarah Maxwell, as she explains the benefits of one of her favourite forms of exercise – trampolining  As a child I always wanted a trampoline but it wasn’t until my twenties that...

Nourish to Flourish – the effects of alcohol on our bodies

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau takes a look at the effects of alcohol on our bodies For some, drinking alcohol can be part of a balanced lifestyle and a way of celebrating and marking social occasions. But everyone is...

Herb Appeal

Sue Whigham explores the rich history of herbalists So where to start. Perhaps with John Gerard, 16th century naturalist and herbalist (1545-1612) who had responsibility for many important British gardens including the Physic Garden at the College of Physicians in...

Up from the ashes

Jo Arnell picks drought-tolerant plants to soothe a parched summer garden It was a gruelling summer this year – nothing in comparison to what is happening in some parts of the world, but the fierce combination of extreme heat and...

Meet the Head – Mr Mark Scholey: Head of Sutton Valence Prep School

We get to know a bit more about the brand new Head of Sutton Valence Prep School, Mr Mark Scholey What are you most looking forward to about joining SVPS? As I join SVPS, I am especially looking forward to...

Dark & Interesting

A former shop in Horsham has been given a complete makeover by creative couple Calum and Jen No one wanted to buy it,” Jen says of the beautiful period home in Horsham that she and husband Calum have lived in...

Designer’s World

We speak to Ben Stokes – founder of KAGU in Tenterden – about his opinions on the latest trends, life as an interior designer, and design process What inspires you? Everything and anything. I love staying at hotels, drawing inspiration...

Changing Rooms

Berni and Peter Leach constantly tweak and switch up their house in Hastings Old Town – and their wonderful shop too The usual set-up for interviewing people about their beautiful houses for this magazine is one-on-one, because in the vast...

Keep Your Cool

With the climate hotting up, Sarah Maxwell get to grips with exercising safely in the heat Today I’m enjoying basking in glorious sunshine, contemplating doing a lunchtime workout. The usual excuses come to the surface, ‘it’s too hot to exercise’,...

Nourish to Flourish – tips for eating well on a budget

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau gives her tips for eating well on a budget With the cost of food increasing every month, and with shoppers trying to save money in all areas of our lives, buying habits are set...

Skandi Style

Sue Whigham reflects on the natural beauty of Sweden Rain at last and I think that we’re all sighing in relief and that goes for our gardens too. We were in Rye when it started yesterday and we passed a...

Totally Tropical

Work with nature to create a lush oasis in our unpredictable climate, as Jo Arnell explains   Making a tropical garden or border means choosing plants that will give the impression of the humid tropics – a lush-leaved oasis dripping...

Working Together

ACS International School Cobham STEM Club joins forces with disability charity, MERU ACS International School Cobham’s High School STEM Club has been working on a project to support disability charity, MERU. The charity helps disabled children and young people with...

Round and Round the Garden

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook tell us about their wonderful Sensory Garden project During our wellbeing week in January 2022, Dulwich’s SEN team looked at additional projects which could enhance our wellbeing and the seed of an idea took root – to...

Meet the Art Teacher

Meet Ellie Greenwood, artist and Art Teacher at Eastbourne College What inspired you to become an art teacher?   My degree course was very collaborative. I often led workshops for other pupils, but it was my experience as an artist-in-residence at...

A Recipe for Success

Claire Baker, Head of Lower School at Mayfield School tells us about their Cookie Project Dealing with the opportunities and challenges of life requires well developed soft skills, especially in the workplace, and Senior School provides a vital opportunity to...

Settling In

Laura Leigh-Hill, Head of Nursery at Bede’s, shares her guide to starting school in September It is that time of year again! Your four-year-old’s time at pre-school has come to an end and they will begin their school journey, starting...

Books Club

Find your next favourite read with recommendations from students and teachers The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell follows the story of Vita, who moves to New York after her grandfather was robbed of everything he owned. With the aid of...

Natural Identity

A unique family home – which also doubles up as an impressive holiday rental through Bloom Stays – caters for the needs of multiple generations in the idyllic Kent countryside  Over the past two years it has been the lack...

Past, Present, Perfect

The renovation of an early nineteenth century house was a labour of love for Caroline, Stephen and their family, who strove to keep the integrity of the building, whilst sensitively updating the interior for modern living  If you’ve found an...

Tomato Sauce

Having an easy and delicious tomato sauce on hand, or in the freezer, means that you will always be able to rustle up a quick pasta dish, pizza, or even a flavoursome tomato base for a ratatouille or caponata. Large...

Tomato Tarte Tatin

This is just an upside down tart, most often found in apple form, but for a simple – and it really is simple – savoury version, it works brilliantly with tomatoes, because (in theory at least), the pastry will stay...