Empowering Young Women at Notre Dame School

What are the benefits of an all-girls setting?

Academically, socially and emotionally, girls educated at all-girls’ schools are excelling. We see that every day at Notre Dame.
The ethos of our progressive foundress, St Jeanne de Lestonnac, who wanted girls to make a positive difference in the world, is the beating heart of our school. All our girls are encouraged and prepared to unleash their full potential and to go out confidently into the world.
Research reveals that girls in GSA (Girls’ School Association) schools possess higher mental toughness than girls in maintained and independent coeducational schools. They have greater commitment, greater control (particularly emotional control) and greater confidence. 
Being at an all-girls’ school is empowering, both pastorally and academically. Notre Dame enables learning without limits and we believe all ambitions are valid, encouraging each and every student to be the agents of their own future. We are laser-focused on academic excellence, which we balance with award winning pastoral care. We have been educating young women for more than 400 years and, put simply, we know that an all-girls’ educational environment works.
The GSA report also highlights that higher attainment continues to be seen at all-girls’ schools, compared with co-ed schools. The gap between girls in girls’ school and girls in co-ed schools is actually widening for most subjects. Additionally, girls in girls’ schools are more likely to take STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. They are more than twice as likely to take further maths, physics and computer science A-levels. The uptake in other sciences is also higher: (biology – 43% higher, chemistry – 85% higher and maths – 87% higher).
‘Value Added’ in education is the measurement of pupil progress during their time in a given school. This is quantified by the difference between the expected grade from a student’s baseline assessment score at the beginning of their course and the grade they actually achieved. At Notre Dame, we have been placed in the top 14% of schools nationally for our ‘value added’ at GCSE according to the data from the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, and at A-Level Notre Dame is in the top 12% of Sixth Form centres nationally.
We believe in the power of hands-on learning, and that’s why STEM plays a central role in our curriculum and co-curriculum. Beyond the classroom, we offer an extensive enrichment programme which includes our Prep STEAM and Science Club. This provides opportunities for students to delve deeper into scientific concepts through interactive projects and experiments. This lays the foundations for a continuous passion for STEM in the senior school, where we also offer extensive co-curricular opportunities. Nine weekly clubs enrich and broaden STEM learning outside the classroom: from engineering to maths, chemistry, textiles, robotics and astronomy!
Mathematical fluency is equally developed at all levels and we encourage our students to maintain a ‘can do’ attitude towards maths, teaching them that mistakes are part of the learning process. We teach our students to become experts at problem-solving, encouraging innovative thinking and curiosity. We inspire creativity and ingenuity whilst fostering collaboration and communication, building confidence and preparing students for university and high-demand careers.
Moreover, to give our students the best possible opportunities, in October 2024, we unveiled our new, multi-million-pound Innovation Space. This state-of-the-art facility provides students with access to the latest technology, integrating it into their everyday learning. 


To find out more, see notredame.co.uk


From Classrooms to Careers: STEM at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School

The school where industry work experience is key

At the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, students are inspired to embrace STEM through a range of innovative projects and hands-on experiences.
From Year 7 to Sixth Form, students benefit from strong industry links with organisations such as Pfizer, Infineon Technologies, and the James Dyson Foundation. Recently, students manufactured and tested Wi-Fi antennas for Infineon, ensuring they met professional specifications—a real-world challenge that brought STEM learning to life. The school’s generous alumni also fund cutting-edge equipment, including 3D printers, enabling students to create and innovate with advanced, industry-standard tools within the school’s exceptional facilities.
At the school, where 85% of students achieve A*-C at A Level, STEM initiatives prepare students for competitive opportunities, as seen in the success of alumna Daisy Yorke. With support from the school, Daisy secured an Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Apprenticeship with Amazon, beating thousands of applicants. “The school was my second home for seven years,” Daisy says. “The STEM experience and staff support were crucial in securing my apprenticeship.”
Offering full, weekly and flexi-boarding options, the school remains dedicated to nurturing a passion for STEM, empowering students to innovate, and preparing them for exciting futures.

Students benefit from strong industry links with organisations such as Pfizer, Infineon Technologies, and the James Dyson Foundation


Learn more at doyrms.com


Stem Projects at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

Mr Kevin Oldershaw, Academic Director, discusses their STEM offering

In an increasingly technical world, how important is STEM from an early age? Fostering an understanding of STEM early on teaches highly desired and transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, exploration, collaboration, and innovation. Children, particularly younger children, are built to learn through exploring their environments and encouraging this at an early age creates a passion for independent learning and the ability to tackle challenges confidently and creatively.
What does your school offer in science, technology, engineering and maths, both in and outside of the classroom? Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) offers a wide range of STEM subjects throughout KS3, GCSEs, BTECs, and A-Levels in applied science, mathematics, further mathematics, statistics, biology, chemistry. physics, computer science, 3D design and design and technology. In addition, QE’s broad range of extra-curricular STEM activities includes the Practical Science CREST Award, Critical Thinking Club, Advanced Mathematics Club, QE Motorsports, Medical Conference Collegiate Competition, and the Medicine and Veterinary Society.
QE students send items to space annually as part of the Mars Balloon national initiative and participate in events including QE’s Volcano Day and Bath Bomb Day. Pupils also compete in several STEM national competitions including the Olympiads, Bebras, ICE CityZen, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, UK Biology Challenge and the University of Warwick National Scientific Challenge.
What benefits can STEM learning offer for pupils, even if they don’t want to actively pursue a career in STEM after school? Students with a good grounding in STEM skills can adapt to many different environments where technology, analysis, creative thinking and creating solutions to problems is beneficial. This can be the traditional route of specialising in a STEM field or a different pathway such as art and design, where the way STEM education has influenced how they think and approach situations makes them an ideal candidate.

To find out more visit qe.org/open-day


Tonbridge School ignites curiosity with memorable experiments

Pupils here benefit from hands-on learning experiences

At Tonbridge, we believe that STEM is best learned hands-on. “Our goal is to ensure every lesson includes a memorable experiment or an eye-catching demonstration to anchor the theory,” says Nick Waite, Head of Science. “Whether it’s exploring diseases in biology, explosions in chemistry, or the high-speed world of Formula 1 in physics, these real-world connections transform abstract concepts into something tangible and unforgettable.”
Beyond the classroom, our students dive into co-curricular projects that bring STEM to life. Each year, our pupils take part in challenges such as the Model Rocket Championships (UKRoc) and CanSat. We host an annual Science Conference that brings Sixth Formers from all over the South-East and even from overseas to engage with cutting-edge research and interact with leading scientists.
Our goal is to create an environment that ignites curiosity from the moment boys step into our award-winning Science Centre. In the classroom, we leverage every tool at our disposal to foster inquisitiveness and encourage boys to apply their knowledge in creative ways. Instead of being confined to their desks, they’re often on their feet, collaborating, problem-solving, and presenting solutions on whiteboards that span all four walls of the laboratory. By integrating technology – whether it’s using ChatGPT as a virtual study companion, tackling online question banks, or exploring YouTube – we empower our students to dive deeper, expanding their understanding and making learning an adventure that extends far beyond the classroom walls.


To find out more about Tonbridge visit tonbridge-school.co.uk


Develop a love for science at Sevenoaks Prep

Generate some STEAM by adding an ‘A’ to the mix

Sevenoaks Prep is dedicated to inspiring a love for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) through engaging lessons, innovative clubs and exciting themed days. Across all subjects, teachers embed hands-on projects and problem-solving activities that encourage students to think critically and creatively. Beyond the classroom, STEAM-focused clubs like robotics, coding and engineering foster collaboration and real-world skills. Last term, we were delighted that one of our Year 8 pupils was shortlisted as a finalist in the Bafta Young Game Designers Competition for the second year running. 
Our senior students enjoy a popular lunchtime Engineering Club, where they independently design and build projects. We are also thrilled to have launched a robotics course, where pupils design, code and equip robots with sensors to complete certain tasks.
Special STEAM-themed days bring learning to life through inspiring guest speakers, including representatives from NASA, the Department of Space, Climate Physics and McLaren F1, as well as interactive workshops and competitions. We have explored themes such as Space, Motor Sport Sustainability and, most recently, Water – where the children participated in a range of activities that allowed them to explore the idea of water through different subjects. There were engineering activities of constructing water mills, boats and renewable energy sources, creating art inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave and experimenting with recyclable materials to construct water runs and Archimedes screws.
By embedding STEAM throughout the school experience, Sevenoaks Prep prepares students for tomorrow’s challenges while sparking their passion for discovery today.

Learn more at theprep.org.uk


The News

The latest information from schools across the South East Sporting Success St Andrew’s Prep St Andrew’s Prep has been celebrating a series of outstanding sporting achievements. The 1st XI football team and the girls’ 1st hockey team both advanced to...

Future Ready

Dr Robert Harrison, Director of Education and Integrated Technology at ACS International Schools, explores the skills our children need to thrive in the future Today’s students are facing complex challenges and changes, socially, in labour markets, with emerging technologies and...

Olympic Dreams

Excellence, respect and friendship – we find out how Olympic values are inspiring pupils across the South East Spring Grove School A special assembly gave pupils a little taste of Olympic success Spring Grove is a small school with big...