Good Fortune

With a rich and fascinating history, Laura Walford’s elegant Surrey home doubles as the perfect exhibition space for the artists she represents through Belgravia Gallery Every house has a story to tell. A history woven within its walls, by those...

Creative Heart

Artist and fitness instructor Corinne Corbett-Thompsonhas had quite the 70th birthday year – from cycling 700 miles and planting 70 trees to going on 70 wild swims and circumnavigating the Isle of Wight on foot. Here, she tells Hilary Wilce...

What’s New?
For the latest education bulletins read on…

Marlborough House named Small Independent School of the Year in 2024 Shortlist Marlborough House are feeling like winners as they have been shortlisted for the ‘Small Independent School of the Year’ category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards...

The New Beacon

We hear from The New Beacon about their extensive and enriching beyond-the-classroom opportunities Iceland or Paris, Ightham Mote or Wisley, Reculver or Ypres, Italy or Ramsgate?! At The New Beacon there is no need to choose, 30 trips ran for our...

Churchers’s College

Penny Daniel, who teaches English at Churcher’s College, runs the school’s First and World Challenge expedition programmes, alongside her husband who also teaches at the school. She tells us all about their wonderful travels. Standing above the clouds on top...

4 Questions to Consider when choosing a boarding school

Looking for a Boarding School that is as unique as your child? Sotiria Vlahodimou, Headteacher at Slindon College, suggests boarding schools can benefit pupils of all abilities and backgrounds What does the child need? First and foremost, parents must think...

Top Tips To get you started at boarding school

Settling into a new school can be challenging, especially for first-time boarders. The Duke of York’s Royal Military School are experienced in providing a seamless transition for students, and their parents – here are their top tips Select a School...

How to be New

Invaluable advice on how to help your child settle into their new setting 5 Top Tips Sarah Nunn, the Deputy Head, Academic at Banstead Prep School, shares tips for starting at a new school or nursery Starting school for the...

First Steps

We hear how familiarity and positivity are key factors in settling in at Little Hearts Nursery, Sacred Heart School Settling a child into nursery can be a smooth process with a few thoughtful strategies. At Little Hearts Nursery, Sacred Heart School, we...

Growing Little Vines

Vinehall School explain how they help little ones settle at nursery Starting nursery is a significant milestone for both children and parents, often accompanied by excitement and anxiety. At Little Vines Nursery, we understand the importance of this transition and...

Introducing… Benenden School’s new Head

Benenden School is delighted to welcome Ms Rachel Bailey as their new Head this term.  Rachel is an experienced educational leader with a clear track record of delivering a holistic education centred on strong academics while building the confidence, resilience...

Introducing… Kent College Pembury

We hear about Kent College Pembury from the Head, Miss Katrina Handford Kent College Pembury is a school which ensures every student, whether they are 3 or 18 years of age, succeeds above and beyond their potential. Whatever a student’s...

Introducing… Hilden Oaks’ new Headteacher

Hilden Oaks Preparatory School & Nursery are delighted to announce that Mrs Sharon Wade is stepping up to become Headteacher from September. Mrs Wade has been Deputy Head at Hilden Oaks for the past nine years and has been instrumental...

Introducing… Millfield Prep School

Millfield Prep School is a co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2-13 in 200 acres of Somerset countryside. The school was recently named the Independent Prep School of the Year, Best Sports School in the country for the 10th...

deus ex machina

We learn about AI and its wide-ranging impact on education Ashford School Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not ‘coming to a school near you’, it is already there. Teachers, parents and children are only just starting to see what impact AI...

Sevenoaks Prep

Sevenoaks Prep tell us about their AI initiatives for both staff and students  At Sevenoaks Prep, we have always aimed to be forward-thinking when it comes to integrating new technologies into our educational framework.  We have proactively initiated a comprehensive...

Golden Tickets

Bursaries at Reigate Grammar School change lives and build futures Reigate Grammar School (RGS), the leading coeducational day school in Surrey, is dedicated to providing top-tier education while ensuring financial accessibility for all students. With a rich history dating back...

Guardians of the Galaxy

We’ve been getting to know Nattakarn (Ruk) and Jude, Cobham Hall’s Guardian and Deputy Guardian Ruk and Jude took time away from a whole school activity day celebrating the empowerment of women, to talk to us about life at Cobham...

Back to School

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and governor at two schools, here he looks forward to the new academic year What’s in the school toolkit? What’s in the pencil case? Parents may remember their...

7 Steps to Master Homework

The Learning and Development Team at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate share all their best homework tips Before starting, set up your homework space, making sure you have everything you need to hand and that you have limited distractions such as phones and...

Pecan pie

Lay the pastry over the tin and gently press in to shape, leaving an overlap. Line with baking parchment and baking beans (or dried peas, basically something to stop the pastry bubbling up). Bake blind for 5 minutes – this...

Thai-inspired duck salad

You will need: a heavy based frying pan Rub the skin of the duck breasts with a little sea salt and leave in the fridge for at least an hour prior to cooking. Pat dry and score the skin with...

Aubergine & chickpea tagine

You will need: a casserole pot or tagine Preheat your oven to 160°C. Gently fry the aubergines and onion until soft (5-10 mins), then add the rest of the ingredients to the casserole/tagine, combine well and bake for 30-40 minutes...

Run for your life!

Sarah Maxwell explains how to spring into action Following Keely Hodgkinson’s remarkable performance in the 800m at the Paris Olympics, where she clinched the gold medal, many of you may have been inspired to take up running.So, if you’re eager...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s peaches, pears & plums Common fruits like peaches, pears and plums, often found in our fruit bowl or lurking at the...

Daisy Daisy

Packed with nectar, resilient and bountiful in variety, Jo Arnell shares her love of the garden’s often overlooked inhabitants, the daisy family A daisy strewn lawn is a lovely thing – redolent of idle childhood days spent making chains and...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard looks into the reasoning behind the historic divisions of the farming year September, and specifically Michaelmas on September 29th, traditionally marks the end of one farming year and the start of the next. The crops have been harvested,...

Luxury Interior Design Duo

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: Cobham Based, Luxury Interior Design Duo Rosemary Ridgway and Charlotte, Small, From Studio April Hamilton, Reveal Their Top Interior Design and Refurbishment Tips With a studio based in Cobham, Elmbridge is a much sought after property hot spot, with neighbourhood...

Inspired by Modern European Design

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: Inspired by Modern European Design, Nôsa is the Home of Effortless Lifestyle Luxury, Featuring the Finest Materials and Guaranteed Quality Craftsmanship.  Nôsa promises to be a premier destination for bathrooms and kitchen homeware including exquisite stone baths, luxury vanities, kitchen...

Interior collective

Leigh Courtnage’s fascinating barn is packed with treasures she’s collected throughout her career and travels. From unique furniture to an extensive collection of artworks, her home offers the perfect canvas to show them off to best effect Friends and colleagues...

Happy Home

Through pops of colour plus plenty of pattern and texture, Vicky Kieldsen has applied everything she loves about interior design to her own Tunbridge Wells home For the uninitiated among us, starting a house renovation project and deciding to maintain...

Apple, cherry & hazelnut cake with honeycomb ice cream

Line the base of and grease a loose-bottomed cake tin and preheat the oven to 180°C. Beat the butter and sugar together – add the eggs gradually. If it curdles, add some of the flour. When all the eggs are...

Chicken with chargrilled courgettes & tarragon & local honey dressing

For the courgettes:Heat a griddle pan on the hob. Brush the strips of courgette with olive oil using a pastry brush. Also lightly brush the griddle pan. When the pan is hot, place the courgettes on leaving for 2-3 mins...

Sausage pasta ragu

Heat some olive oil in a heavy based pan. Add the finely chopped onion and allow to soften gently. Finely chop the carrots, celery and garlic. I put all mine in a food processor, until it looks like mince! Add...

Roast tomatoes & whipped feta served with Kent Crisps

I’m making the most of tomato season with this sensational dip. Slow roasting the tomatoes sweetens and intensifies their flavour, perfectly complementing the cool whipped feta. I love serving Kent Crisps, they are a real favourite with my family and...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s beetroot Beetroot is a vibrant and versatile vegetable known for its earthy flavour and aroma. In addition to bringing a pop...

Summer Survivors

Jo Arnell explains that no water isn’t necessarily an issue for members of the succulent family Alien looking, self-sufficient, popular with students and those of us that forget to water – succulents are a fascinating group of plants and can...

Happy Holidays

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon,reflects on the end of the school year The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.’ LP Hartley, The Go-Between. What a captivating, beguiling opening to a...

Out of the blue

Tricia Trend’s Goudhurst home is the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful countryside and forests that surround it – and what better place to stay than in a traditional Kentish oast! How many times have you stayed in...

In the clouds

In a central, yet completely private, location in Tenterden, a creative couple have lavished their Grade II listed maisonette with colour and personality We mortals are but dust and shadows,’ said the poet Horace, reminding us from long ago of...

Pot-roast chicken pot au feu

Set the oven to 180°C and remove the chicken from the fridge to bring to room temperature. Heat a deep-sided 2.5-3L casserole, with a lid, on the stove and add a little olive oil and butter. Season the chicken inside...

Cured trout, crème fraîche & pickled kohlrabi, cucumber & dill

The day before you want to eat, mix the salt and sugar for the trout together and sprinkle over both sides of the fish. Lay on a plate and put into the fridge for a minimum of 12 hours (no...

Gooseberry & elderflower fool

Make the custard by heating the milk and cream to just below boiling point. Dip the flower heads of the elderflower into the custard (leaving the green stems outside the mixture). Put the lid on the pan and leave to...

Heat Wave!

Sarah Maxwell explains how to exercise when you’re dealing with hot flushes Exercising during menopause can be challenging in many ways. If hot flushes are a familiar part of your journey, you’re not alone. Many women know all too well...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s cherries One of my personal favourites… English cherry season. This small, but delicious, stone fruit doesn’t last long, so make...

In the Night Garden

Jo Arnell explains how to make the most of your outdoor space once darkness falls Some enchanted evening you may see me outside – mainly searching for slugs in the garden, because the cool hours of night are when they...

Contain your excitement

Jen Stuart-Smith discusses how to get creative with your pots and planters My love affair with plants started with houseplants when I was a child. As my bedroom windowsill overflowed – resulting, occasionally, in waking up with compost under my...

Great Expectations

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, gives his opinion on tutoring There’s nothing wrong with ambition; indeed it is to be praised. Encouragement of ambition is inherent in parenthood and teaching.I have something of a...