Education
The Ripple Effect: Battle Abbey School
How excellent pool facilities are enabling students to develop their strength in multiple swimming events Does your pool operate all year round? Yes, the pool is obviously used very extensively by Battle Abbey pupils during term time, but a variety...
Get Involved!
Parents of Parkside create a new Outdoor Classroom Parents of Parkside (PoP) is a PTA with a difference. They are an inclusive ‘Community’ of families connected to Parkside School, who have a variety of talents to bring to the table....
Meet the Head: Head of Claremont Senior School, Ed Dickie
Head of Claremont Senior School, Ed Dickie, chats career progression, teaching, and the rewards of overcoming learning challenges with students What were you doing before you joined Claremont? Before I joined Claremont I spent 13 years at Bedes/St. Bedes School...
Meet the Headteacher at Manor House School: Tracey Fantham
Tracey Fantham, Headteacher at Manor House School, reflects on her life-long passion for sport and many happy memories of her own school days What was your favourite subject at school? My favourite subject was geography as we had an excellent teacher and...
Recipe for Success
Vinehall School, Brighton College and Reed’s tell us about the famous former pupils inspiring the students of today “Sir Tim Smit KBE is a much celebrated member of the Vinehall alumni. Sir Tim is known for his work on the Lost Gardens...
Meet the Executive Head at Shrewsbury House School: Mrs Joanna Hubbard
Mrs Joanna Hubbard, Executive Head at Shrewsbury House School chats challenges, achievements and how she helps her students to thrive What did you enjoy doing most at school when you were a student? Most of my time was taken up on...
Inside out
Dulwich Prep Cranbrook explains the success behind its new PSHCEE program As every child’s inner world colours how they approach life, we believe it makes sense to start with the inside and work out, which is why in September 2019...
Meet the Art Teacher
With a BA Hons in Fine Art, Bansted Preparatory School’s Mr Matt Ayling has designed and adapted an excellent Art & Design curriculum, which makes full use of the school’s fantastic facilities and resources When and why did you become...
A World of Opportunity
Giles Perrin, Principal of Claremont School tells us how joining the International Schools Partnership is broadening its pupils’ horizons The independent schools landscape in the UK is changing. Challenged by an increasingly competitive market, new school groups up and down...
Meet the Head of Spring Grove School: Mrs Therésa Jaggard
Mrs Therésa Jaggard, Head of Spring Grove School, chats skill sets, hobbies and school values Why did you choose a career in teaching? I enjoyed a range of subjects at school and thought a career where I could both use...
Show Time
EM Forster Theatre is at the heart of the Tonbridge community, and is delighted to be opening its doors once again It is great to be open again. There is nothing quite like live performance, and the excitement and buzz...
What’s Cooking?
Benenden School describe their impressive food offering which has won them a Tatler School Award Can you run us through the school’s dining offering? Benenden is renowned for its excellent food – in fact it won the Best Food Award...
A moment of science
Dr Darragh Corvan, Head of Physics at Mayfield School shares his experiences as a science teacher When and why did you become a science teacher? When I was about five years old, my uncle bought me an encyclopaedia that contained a section...
Starting small
Deputy Head & Head of Early Years at Parkside School, Mrs Madeline McMurdo explains how to ease a child into their first experiences of school Can you tell us a little about your pre-school offering at Parkside? Parkside nursery is...
Meet the Music Teacher
Introducing Miss Sophie Brack, Director of Music at Lingfield College Have you always been musical? Since a young age I just knew I wanted to do something with music. My family are all musical, so it was always around me growing...
How does your garden grow?
Cranbrook Primary’s kitchen garden project is revolutionising how their pupils look at nutrition, teaching them about the natural world and giving them time to enjoy the outdoors, so how do they do it? Judith Caustin explains How has Cranbrook Primary’s...
Which extra-curricular activities will look good on my UCAS application?
Just how important are impressive lists of hobbies and copious amounts of volunteer work to universities? Dr Kirsten Dickers, Higher Education, Careers and Research Leader at Ashford School explains In nine years as an admissions tutor, this was probably the...
Welcome to The Writing Club
After a challenging year, Griffin Teaching’s Hayley Hobbs explains why she and her team decided to set up a club dedicated to strengthening and improving children’s writing skills Why did you decide to set up The Writing Club? My first head...
Meet the Head: Marlborough House School
Mr Eddy Newton, Headmaster of Marlborough House School, reminisces on his own school days and how they’ve shaped the Head he is today What did you enjoy most at school? Maths, Latin and History, as well as all sports –...
Meet the Head: James Thomas
We chat to James Thomas, the new headmaster of Sutton Valence School near Maidstone, Kent What was your favourite subject at school? I chose A Levels in Italian, Music and Religious Studies which struck a great balance and appealed to my...
Early Learning – Claremont Nursery and Pre-Prep
Claremont Nursery and Pre-Prep’s Head, Rachel Potter, talk through their early years offerings and how their younger pupils are prepared for joining big school How integrated is the nursery with the rest of the school? Our happy and very busy...
Early Learning – Hilden Oaks Nursery
The team at Hilden Oaks Nursery, talk through their early years offerings and how their younger pupils are prepared for joining big school Can you tell us a bit about your nursery?The Hilden Oaks Nursery offers outstanding, unique and flexible...
Lockdown Lessons
Spring Grove School explains what its families and teachers have learnt from lockdown
Welcoming Day Boarders
Benenden School explains how, from September 2021, day pupils will also be able to enjoy the school’s offering alongside its boarders
Meet the Head: Mike Piercy, Headmaster of The New Beacon boys
We chat to Mike Piercy, Headmaster of The New Beacon boys’ school in Sevenoaks
The Right Foot
After a year of home schooling and social distancing, sport represents a unique challenge. How will we get up and running with a new-normal after lockdown? As the winner of the Sporting Achievement award in the 2020 Independent Schools of...
Adapt Adopt Improve
The last year has been anything but an easy ride, especially when it comes to education, but our schools have worked tirelessly to keep their students engaged and maintain a sense of normality – and this is how they’ve achieved...
Meet the P.E. Pros
We get to know two P.E. teachers that were once professional sports people – Mark Howell, Director of Sport and Head of Rugby at Sutton Valence School and Emily Starr, Assistant Director of Sport at Mayfield School Why did you...
Meet the Head: Cranbrook School
The Cranbrook School student who grew up to be its headmaster, we get to know Mr Will Chuter
We need to talk about tech
In a world filled with more online socialisation than ever, how do parents and teachers keep up? We found out with the help of Battle Abbey School At Battle Abbey School we very much see parents as partners in a...
Taking Responsibility
Dulwich Prep Cranbrook explains how they’re fostering planet-friendly values throughout the school The majority of the eco initiatives introduced at Dulwich Prep Cranbrook have been very much child led, we have found that the children genuinely care and want to...
Meet the Head: Sevenoaks School
Mr Jesse R Elzinga reflects on his career so far, how Sevenoaks School has overcome the challenges of 2020 and what he looks forward to in the year ahead Why did you choose a career in teaching? I have always...
Beyond the Student Council
Ed Dickie, Head of Claremont Senior School, explains how prioritising communication with students is key to a school’s evolution
Ask the Expert
Hayley Hobbs, founder of Griffin Teaching, explains how your child may benefit from out-of-school academic help
Help’s Only A Click Away
For dyslexic students, learning from home can pose a variety of extra challenges. Sally Welch, Head of Frewen College Prep in East Sussex, explains how they’re easing the pressure
Meet the Head
Bryan Nixon, Head of School at TASIS The American School in England, talks us through his own experiences of school
Bursaries: what you need to know
Sarah Guri explains how the key to a future at Kent College, Canterbury could be applying for a bursary
Professional Standard
Rising to the challenges of running a drama department during a global pandemic, ACS Cobham enlisted the help of industry professionals to create a film together
A Very Bright Future
Headmaster of Babington House School, Tim Lello, explains how the school strives to provide its students with the support, advice and expertise needed to secure a successful career when they finish school
Meet the Head: Mr Nick Waite, Head of Beechwood Sacred Heart School
We find out a little bit more about Mr Nick Waite, Head of Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells What was your first ever job? My first paid job was at a cling film factory when I was a...
Reading Pleasure
Hilary Wilce emphasises how settling down with a good book can considerably boost your child’s progress at school Last month we celebrated World Book Day, the annual international event that champions reading, especially among children. Students were given £1 book...
Mental Health Matters
New Beacon School will host a children’s wellbeing conference in April, Emily Pavey finds out more New Beacon School is shining a light on child mental health. In April they host Helping Young People Navigate the 21st Century, a conference...
Fresh Thinking
Hilary Wilce looks at the impact of environment on learning outcomes March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers, the old rhyme tells us. But according to many teachers March winds bring forth something altogether less welcome – classrooms...
Join the Club
We talk to schools about what goes on outside the classroom Mayfield School, East Sussex “Mayfield School has a tradition of developing academic excellence. Our curriculum encourages questioning, reflection, creativity and the freedom to learn from mistakes. While maths and...
A Dietary Alternative?
Hilary Wilce shares new research into ADHD from King’s College Anyone who has to cope with an impulsive and hyperactive child – and that’s hundreds and thousands of parents and almost all teachers – will know how challenging it is...
Starting Out
Your child’s first steps into education can be daunting. These local independent schools share advice to get things started on the right foot Pre-School – Spring Grove School Why choose an independent pre-school? The choice of pre-school is a very...
Use Your Brain Power
Make 2020 the year you learn something new, and you’ll reap the benefits (regardless of your age) says Hilary Wilce New year, new start! Most of us feel like blowing off the cobwebs and turning to something new after an...
Season’s Teachings
Hilary Wilce pays tribute to the life-changing work of our teachers It’s the season of joy and goodwill so let’s give a great big shout-out for our country’s teachers. Every day they get up, go to work and very often...
