Education | ED04 | Summer 2017

PRICELESS
SUMMER 2017
Sponsored by
Kent | Sussex | Surrey

You are warmly invited to our
Prep School Open Morning
Saturday 30 September 2017
9.30am to noon
IAPS – Boarding, flexi-boarding and day
Boys and girls 3 months to 13
To register please contact:
prep.admissions@bedes.org
T 01323 734222
or online at bedes.org
Bede’s Preparatory School
Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne
East Sussex BN20 7XL
Rocky
Explorer
Age 6

Talisker
Lower Sixth
Politician
You are warmly invited to our
Senior School Open Morning
Saturday 16 September 2017
9.30am to noon (Entry at 13 and 16)
HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding
Boys and girls 13 to 18
To register please contact:
admissions@bedes.org
T 01323 843252
or online at bedes.org
Bede’s Senior School
Upper Dicker
East Sussex BN27 3QH

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
The pitfalls of
D.I.Y will writing
James Beresford,
Head of Wills, Tax,
Trust and Probate at
Slater and Gordon
There are a number of potentially disastrous pitfalls you can encounter when writing
your own will. We examine some of the more common problems.
Why should I make a will?
• It allows you to choose who you
wish to benefit from your estate
and who you do not wish to benefit
from your estate, on your death
• It allows you to appoint guardians
to care for minor children, in the
event that both parents die whist
the children are still minor
• It can be used to protect your
assets, for example, from a
spendthrift or from divorcing
family members
• It can be used to protect your
beneficiaries, for example,
from being taken advantage
of financially
This guide will help you understand
that having your will drafted
professionally is a small price to
pay, as it can save a substantial
amount of money in the long run.
Why should I get proper
legal advice?
Often, a home-made will is not
worded in such a way that makes it
legally enforceable. This may be
because the terms of the will are
ambiguous or because the will fails
to effectively dispose of your assets
in the correct manner. Can you
afford to take the risk that your
home-made will does what you
think it does?
• The Courts of Chancery entertain
a steady stream of litigants vying
to show that they were the
intended beneficiary from a
poorly drafted will
• Legal documents still use old
fashioned language, more often
than not, and yet the implication
of a single incorrect word can
affect completely what your
will does.
• The interpretation of will clauses
in professionally drafted wills
have stood the test of time for
centuries
• The legal rules surrounding
making a valid will are very
exacting and are strictly enforced
by the courts. One strike and
its out.
• Unqualified will drafters do not
always understand the intricacies
and nuances of will clauses. Legal
clauses can sometimes be cut and
pasted to a perceived template
which can put it out of sync and
result in errors.
For these reasons, and many
more, you should ensure that your
will is drawn up by a specialist
qualified lawyer.
If I make a DIY will, what
can go wrong?
In short, potentially everything!
At best some gifts in your will might
not take effect – at worst your will
might not be valid at all.
Your executors
• Do you know why you need an
executor?
• How many executors? (the
answer is not always the same)
• What if you don’t specify anybody
to be an executor: do you know
who then controls how your estate
is collected in and safeguarded,
and ensures that it is paid over to
the rightful beneficiaries?
Trustees
• Do you know if your estate will
need a trustee? And how many
trustees?
• What happens if you need a trustee
but haven’t specified one?
• Why are the executors usually
also the trustees and do they have
to be the same people?
• Why might you want different
types of trustees?
Guardians
• Do you know who will raise your
infant children if you do not
specify somebody?
• And what role might the Family
Law Courts then have in deciding
who should raise your children?
• Who has priority if you appoint
more than one guardian – could
this lead to a “tug-of-love”?
• Do you want a distant relative
raising your children if their only
motivation is getting access to
the money you have left behind?
Gifts and Legacies
Using the correct language in your
will is vital to ensure that your wishes
can be carried out after your death.
• What happens if somebody you
include in your will dies before
you – where does that gift go?
• Did you know that some gifts
automatically pass to somebody
else if you do not specify a
fall-back provision?
• What happens to a gift if you no
longer own that asset at your
death?
• What if you have several assets of
the same description but of differing
financial value, e.g. cars
• What happens if some items in
your will have to be sold by the
estate to pay debt, Inheritance
Taxes, or administration fees?
Even how you describe a gift in your
will can affect whether or not that
gift will take effect – so don’t take
that risk!
Beneficiaries
How would you feel if you knew that
your estate did not go to the people,
charities, or organisations that you
choose, or if it has not been used for
the purposes that you had intended?
• Do you know what the law say
about infants receiving assets or
money from your estate?
• How do you ensure that you can
leave inheritance for a minor and
it will be protected until they
reach an age that you feel they are
mature enough to be responsible
for it, for example at 21 or 25?
• Can you make financial provision
to provide for a family pet, and if
so how?
• How can you be certain that money
you have left to a charity is used in
the way you want it to be used, such
as for your local area?
• Why is the name, address, and
registered charity number
important?
Whilst you want to be certain that
your estate passes to those people
or organisations that you choose,
what if you want to ensure that it
does not pass to a certain individual
that you may have fallen out with,
or possibly worse – that you are not
yet divorced from?
How would you feel if that person
ended up inheriting your estate
because your will had not been
drawn up correctly, invalidating it,
just to save a bit of money?
What if I have already
written my own DIY will?
Contact us immediately for advice
and any assistance that you might
need to rectify it.
And… next time you want to write a
will, or make any changes to your
existing will, give us a call so that we
can draft your will professionally and
take the worry out of not knowing if
you have written your will correctly!
Our team of specially trained
lawyers prepare thousands of wills
every year and can advise you on
any of the more complicated or
specialist clauses that might be
relevant to your circumstances,
for example:
• What if I want somebody to be
able to live in my house after I have
died – what provisions do I need to
include in my will?
• What if I own my own company or
run a business and want it to carry
on after my death, or what if I want
to pass it on to my employees or
family members?
• What if I own property abroad –
do I need to know anything about
the law of the country where that
property is situated? And how
does that country’s inheritance
laws affect a will I write in England
and Wales? And is it relevant if I
already have a will made abroad?
• What if any of my beneficiaries
are receiving benefits from the
government? Can I leave them
something without jeopardising
their entitlement?
• Can I leave an inheritance for
somebody in a way that nobody
else will know who it is intended
for (that is, make a secret gift)?
These might sound like fanciful
provisions but our specialist will
drafting lawyers prepare wills
with highly complicated personal
and tax saving provisions like these
every year.
Increasingly, we are coming across
DIY wills that do not make the
provisions intended at the time they
were written and blissful ignorance
ensures that the errors in the will
are never corrected. And it’s then
too late.
A poorly drafted will can have
expensive tax consequences or lead
to expensive court litigation, just to
understand how the law says your
estate must be divided.
So don’t leave it to chance just to
save a few pounds now – it could end
up costing your estate considerably
more than you could ever imagine.
James is the author of a book
“No will – no say” which is a simple
guide to wills and estate planning
and covers the essential points you
need to consider when thinking
about writing a will.
To make an enquiry without
any obligation, call us on
0203 319 2685.

Education Magazine
Contents
FREWEN
The Dyslexia Specialists
Since 1910
COLLEGE
The cover image, and the image above, were photographed by David Merewether
in the nature reserve at Dulwich Preparatory School, Cranbrook. dcpskent.org
7
noticeboard
The latest school news
47
Road Trip
A rundown of school outings
11
13
17
21
23
33
37
39
41
45
early years
Explaining EYFS at
Junior’s Day Nursery
well read
Alex Preston’s preteen
book picks
the ripple effect
Hilary Wilce stresses the
importance of a wellconnected
child
Creative Healing
Why art therapy works
Meet the Heads
Getting personal with
headteachers
Lawnmower Parents
How to avoid being an
over-controlling parent
Kitted Out
A rundown of our
favourite childrenswear
Perfect Fit
Edward Martin gives
his shoe fitting tips
Make Health &
Fitness Child’s Play
Keep your children active with
fitness trainer Sarah Maxwell
Under Pressure
Susan Elkin analyses exam stress
51
53
54
58
65
69
70
71
72
A way with words
English teacher Milly
Potter shares her favoutire
poetry collections
Well Prepared
Back to school stationery
Family Flavours
Child-friendly recipes from
chef Claire Thomson
Mixed Media
Our school art showcase
Family Fun Days
Weekend activities for
the whole family
IB: Global Passport
to Education
ACS International Schools
discuss their International
Baccalaureate programme
Safe Journey
Motorists’ lawyer David Barton
explains how to keep new
drivers out of harm’s way
Getting Ahead
How entrepreneurial
spirit is being developed
at Sevenoaks School
The Great Escape
We speak to two students
about their decision to take a
year out and a year abroad
Prep
School
Senior
• •
School
A unique Day & Boarding school for girls and boys
aged 7-19 with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia & Dyscalculia
01797 252494
Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6NL
www.frewencollege.co.uk
Sixth
Form
“From the day our daughter started
at Frewen we saw her confidence and
interest in learning being totally rebuilt.”
Parent
“Pupils make very strong progress from
their starting points academically, socially
and emotionally.”
Ofsted 2016
Daily minibus service from:
Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells area, Wadhurst,
Hawkhurst, Hastings and Battle area,
Ashford & Tenterden area.
Published by JPS Media Ltd, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street,
Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 3HF. Tel: 01580 714705 Fax: 01580 715983.
Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk wealdentimes.co.uk
copyright JPS Media Ltd 2017©
3 wealdentimes.co.uk
FrewenCollegeED04.indd 1 13/06/2017 12:31

Junior King’s provides an outstanding all-round education for children
between the ages of 3-13, within a happy, secure, and caring environment.
We aim to build strong and confident foundations by developing each
child’s physical, social, spiritual, cultural and intellectual life.
Arriving at the Pre-Prep, you will instantly sense the welcoming atmosphere and
know that you are in a special place. A place of cooperation, collaboration and
achievement –the bright and stimulating classrooms, the extensive grounds
and Forest School in our own woodlands.
Founded in 1879 as the preparatory school to The King’s School,
Canterbury. In 1929 the School moved to a stunning 80 acre countryside
location just two miles from Canterbury, opened by Rudyard Kipling.
The Barn is one of the oldest buildings at Junior
King’s and has its roots as far back as 1580. It is
the main area for teaching drama and also used
for assemblies, orchestra and choir practice,
dance, plays and concerts.
Thanks to the remarkable
generosity of a number of
past and present parents,
the new Michael and
Vibeke Herbert
Music School
opened in
January 2016
fully equipped
with modern
facilities and
brand new
instruments,
including Blüthner
pianos.(Michal Herbert
pictured right)
Our facilities include a purpose built astro turf
surface, nine tennis courts, extensive playing
fields, a state of the art sports hall, cricket nets
and a heated swimming pool. The King’s
School Recreation Centre (fencing salles,
fitness studio, dance studio, pool, climbing
wall, astro turf pitches) and the 22 acres of
Birley’s field offer further opportunities.
We aim to nurture happy, confident children and
to see smiling faces. Encouraging an appetite for
learning and offering a dynamic and caring
environment in which to grow and flourish.
Open Day -
Saturday ay 6th May 2017
Open Morning - Saturday 7th October 2017
www.junior-kings.co.uk

02409_Babington_Wealden_Times_AD_Layout 1 08/06/2017 23:31 Page 1
Babington House School
Independent Day School from 3 to 18 years
Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES
Editor’s
letter
Inspiring Teachers,
Inspiring Children
our fourth Education magazine, published alongside
Wealden Times and Surrey Homes is a wonderful way
to highlight the fantastic schooling opportunities that
the south East of England offers. whether you’re just starting
to consider nurseries for your baby or are chatting through
year out options with your teenager, we’ve spoken to education
experts and interviewed students and teachers about the routes
that they have chosen to take along their schooling journey.
visit our noticeboard for the latest school news, find
out how to encourage connectivity (but not in the way
you may think!) with advice from education writer hilary
wilce and get to know a little more about seven prominent
headteachers as we delve into their own experiences at school.
alongside the serious business of academic subjects, exam
pressure and how to prepare for life outside the classroom,
we’ve peppered our magazine with delicious recipes to
enjoy together as a family, clothing and stationery shopping
pages, and fun days out to enjoy across the south East.
Marvel at the creativity of pupils in a showcase of
artworks, encompassing works in clay, paint, charcoal
and collage and, if your seventeen-year-old is on the
verge of taking their driving test, make sure they’re road
safe with tips from motorists’ lawyer, david barton.
i do hope you enjoy this special issue.
Education team
Editor ............................................................................................ lucy Fleming
Editorial assistant ........................................................................rebecca cuffe
design .........................................................................................powerful pierre
design team ..............................................................................anthony boxall
rob cursons
phoebe gilbert
tanya goldsmith
Managing director ........................................................................ Julie simpson
commercial director ............................................................... colin wilkinson
sales team ........................................................................................ Jude brown
sarah norwood
distribution ....................................................................................... Kate watts
Open
Morning
Saturday,
7 October 2017
9am - 12 noon
Register Online
www.babingtonhouse.com
5 wealdentimes.co.uk
BabingtonHouseSchoolED04.indd 1 13/06/2017 12:33

Education Magazine
award winners
battle abbey school has been
recognized for its excellence
in music education following
its award of an isM silver
certificate. this is the second
year running that battle
abbey have received isM
accreditation (following on
from the gold award they
received in 2016) and the
award celebrates the fact that
a significant proportion of
the school’s cohort achieved
a*-c in gcsE music.
battleabbeyschool.com
Mental wellbeing
as part of a commitment to further
enhance the excellent pastoral care
at the school, dulwich prep school,
cranbrook are working with children’s
mental health charity, place2be.
dulwich have appointed gemma
King as the place2be school project
Manager, and are the first school in
the area to have a dedicated in-house
team. dulwich prep school now has
two place2be therapy rooms where
one to one counselling and small group
drop-in sessions take place. typical
issues raised at place2be range from
friendship issues, bereavement, selfesteem
and anxiety. headmaster Mr
paul david said “in an increasingly
frenetic world children need time and
space to just ‘be’, and we see this as very
much a partnership between pupils,
parents and staff working together to
build children’s resilience and recognise
the importance mental health plays
in underpinning happiness, leading
to enhanced academic progress.” Mr
david continued, “the initiative is
another example of dulwich prep’s
dedication to removing all boundaries
that can inhibit children’s ability to
flourish in the classroom and thrive as
individuals. the philosophy is simple,
the school nurtures a sense of selfawareness
and self-belief so nothing
feels impossible. our partnership
with place2be will complement our
already outstanding pastoral care
which includes a mentor for each
child in the top two years and a pupil
to pupil buddy system.” dcpskent.org
Noticeboard
The latest school and event news from the South East
getting creative
students from sevenoaks school have been
undertaking weekly art therapy sessions
with patients at hospice in the weald.
a group of students visits the hospice
each week to draw, paint and talk to the
patients about art. students have been
working together with some of the patients
to create artwork, socialise and inspire
each other. sevenoaks school students
complete weekly voluntary service as part
of the international baccalaureate and
the school has over 400 students doing
voluntary service at the school every week.
combined, the students log over 30,000
hours of voluntary service every year,
helping both the local community and
causes further afield. sevenoaksschool.org
take the reins
set in over 15 acres, the new Equestrian
centre at lancing college will provide
riding for all abilities and stabling for up
to 20 horses. the centre will be open
for use by pupils at the college and also
the wider local community. pupils will
be able to choose whether to have their
own horse stabled at the centre or use the
centre’s horses to have riding and stable
management lessons. lancingcollege.co.uk
Early intake
From september 2017, cranbrook school have amended their intake
to welcome 30 year 7 day students, entering via the Kent 11+ exam. a
further 60 year 7 pupils will be enrolled in september 2018 in two forms
of entry. For more information email registrar@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk
7 wealdentimes.co.uk

Noticeboard
The latest school and event news from the South East
Summer Festival
St Edmund’s School Canterbury has
announced the line-up for its inaugural
Festival to be held this summer. The
Festival will be a week-long celebration
of the arts with concerts, drama
productions and workshops. Ivor
Novello award-winning composer and
eminent saxophonist, John Harle, is the
Festival’s Patron and will be performing
at the closing night ‘American
Serenade’ concert. The critically
acclaimed concert pianist and former
St Edmund’s pupil, Freddy Kempf,
will open the Festival on 28 June with
a stunning programme. The weekend
offers delights for a younger audience
too who can enjoy all the splendour,
fun and games of the Mad Hatter’s
Tea Party on Saturday 1 July and
‘Tippett’s Tuneful Tales’ an interactive
musical retelling of Julia Donaldson’s
‘Tyrannosaurus Drip’ on Sunday
2nd July. stedmunds.org.uk/festival
Prime Performance
A Year 2 pupil at Chinthurst School
in Tadworth was awarded honours
certificates in the Grade 3 Class, Junior
Recital, Duet, Junior Ensemble and
Intermediate Ensemble at Reigate &
Redhill Music Festival. He was also a
medal winner in the duet class and was
awarded the Anniversary Cup for the
most promising performer in the Junior
section. He has been invited to perform
at The Harlequin theatre in the Festival
Gala Concert. chinthurstschool.co.uk
Success Story
Sevenoaks School has appointed a
Director of Entrepreneurship, Julie
Redding, to lead the new Institute
of Entrepreneurship. Julie is an
experienced entrepreneur, and has
run businesses in Chile and South
America for over 10 years. Students
are enjoying a new varied programme
of entrepreneurial activities,
providing them with valuable
commercial skillsets, opportunities
to create business ideas, business
plans and chances to present to
prospective investors. In the last
few months students have launched
business plan competitions, run
a TedX Youth event, participated
in an entrepreneurial film-making
competition and enjoyed a number
of social enterprise events. External
entrepreneurial speakers are also
speaking at the school about their
experiences (including Karren
Brady from The Apprentice),
and the highs and lows of being
an entrepreneur, and starting
businesses. sevenoaksschool.org
Take to the Stage
The Mead School in Tunbridge Wells,
has won top prizes in a national drama
competition for the second year running.
The Independent Schools Association
Drama Festival is held annually in both
Northern and Southern venues in the
UK. Schools can perform complete plays,
extracts from full-length plays, musicals
or original work. The Mead School’s Year
6 won the Oxford House Prize for best
Junior Production with their performance
of an abridged version of Peter Pan. Mead
student Amelia James, age 10, also won
the Audrey Vowles Prize for best Junior
Girl Performer for her performance as
Wendy. Festival adjudicator Vivienne
Cunningham commented, “A high
standard was achieved in all age groups
with casts performing with confidence and
a strong sense of team work. It is obvious
that this Festival continues to thrive as
a platform for young people to produce
exciting drama.” themeadschool.co.uk
Get in the Groove
Running from 6-16 July, JAM On The Marsh returns with a dazzling new
programme. Now in its fourth year, the festival will include a world premiere
by BBC Singers for broadcast on Radio 3, the sensational London Mozart
Players, toe-tapping jazz with The David Rees-Williams Trio, an open-air
performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, an audience participation performance
of Peter and the Wolf, five stunning art and photography exhibitions, the
launch of a children’s community choir and a one day mini festival for
children packed with fun, music, art, theatre… and bugs! Furthermore, JAM
will continue its commitment to education, bringing new interests and skills
to all ages. In 2016, JAM on the Marsh reached 5,324 people through its
educational activity. Tickets for all events are now on sale via jamconcert.org
wealdentimes.co.uk
8

HURSTPIERPOINT COLLEGE

HAPPINESS FIRST
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST
INDIVIDUALITY FIRST
FRIENDS FIRST
ENRICHMENT FIRST
PROGRESS FIRST
ALWAYS FIRST
HEATHFIELD SCHOOL, ASCOT
Boarding and Day for Girls 11-18
VISIT US FIRST
OPEN DAY
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER
10am - 12 noon
PLEASE EMAIL:
registrar@heathfieldschool.net
TO BOOK A PLACE OR TO
ARRANGE A PRIVATE TOUR
heathfieldschool.net

Education Magazine
Early
Years
We go behind the scenes at Junior’s
Day Nursery in Cranbrook
istockphoto.com/artisteer
Tell us a little about your nursery: Junior’s Day Nursery
is a family run nursery with an experienced management
team in place which continues to develop and enhance its
practice. In 2014, we were awarded ‘outstanding in all areas’
by OFSTED and we received the Kent Quality Mark for the
enhanced learning and development of our outdoor areas.
How are days structured? The nursery is open from 8am-
6pm. Our fantastic qualified team of staff provide a safe,
secure and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment
in which babies and young children can learn and
develop. When batteries need recharging nutritional
meals are provided and dedicated sleep/quiet areas too.
Tell us about EYFS: The Early Years Foundation Stage
(EYFS) is the term used by the Government to describe
the time in a child’s life between birth and five years. Day
by day every child will be learning skills and acquiring
new knowledge. We use the seven areas of learning and
development in the EYFS to help all children demonstrate
their understanding. Under the EYFS, children learn by
playing and exploring, being active and through creative and
critical thinking which takes place indoors and outdoors.
Can you explain the key person system? The key person
approach is central to our practice and ensures each child
has consistent care which enhances their learning and
development. Every child’s key person will produce a
learning journey which will show their progression and
incorporates each child’s unique needs and interests.
How do you include parents in nursery
life? Our parents play a vital role within
the nursery and we understand the
benefits of a collaborative approach. We will keep all parents/
carers up to date with their child’s progress and encourage
them to share with us their unique needs and interests.
We hold parent’s evenings twice a year where parents have
the opportunity to discuss their child’s development with
their key person as well as view their learning journey.
We also host social events throughout the year giving
the opportunity for parents to meet other families.
What’s included in the sessions? Junior’s offers full day
sessions, morning sessions and afternoon sessions. All of
these include snacks, drinks, meals, nappies and wipes.
How do you ensure children get a balanced diet? All meals
are home cooked, nutritious and healthy and we cater for
all dietary requirements. Meals contain no added sugar or
salt and natural yoghurt or fruit is provided for dessert.
Water is available to the children all day and organic milk
provided during breakfast and snack time. Junior’s holds
a 5-star food hygiene rating and a healthy eating award.
Can you explain the government’s current free childcare
legislation? The government currently offer 15 hours of
funding for 2, 3 & 4 year olds. This funding is available
term time and is for all 3 & 4 year olds and for 2 year
olds that meet criteria set by the government. From
September 2017, 30 hours of funding will be available
term time for working parents of 3 & 4 year olds that
meet the criteria set by the government. For more
information, you can visit childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Junior’s Day Nursery in Cranbrook, Kent, provides childcare for babies and
children from 3 months old. 01580 713033 juniorsdaynursery.co.uk/cranbrook
11 wealdentimes.co.uk

time to
visit
Open Mornings
Visit one of our Open Mornings to learn
about our strong tradition of excellence and
integrity, outstanding academic results and
our renowned ability to prepare pupils for life.
Saturday 16 September • Sixth Form Open Morning • 9.30am to noon
Saturday 7 October • Open Morning • 9.00am to noon
Eastbourne College, Old Wish Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4JY
T: 01323 452323 • E: admissions@eastbourne-college.co.uk • Join us on
www.eastbourne-college.co.uk
HMC INDEPENDENT SCHOOL • BOARDING AND DAY • BOYS AND GIRLS 13 TO 18

Education Magazine
Well Read
Author Alex Preston picks his top five books for pre-teens
istockphoto.com/evgenyatamanenko
A
few weeks ago, one of the teachers at my
son’s school, who also happens to be the
mother of a particularly winning little
9-year-old, asked me to put together a
list of books I’d recommend to boys our
sons’ age. I agreed, thinking it the work of
a few moments to jot down the familiar names, the roll-call
of the pre-teen canon. I soon had several dozen,
either books that had illuminated my childhood
reading life, or books my own son had read and
adored (the cross-over was, as you might imagine,
not inconsiderable). It was only when I came to
whittling down the list that I was struck with
a kind of paralysing doubt, my pen poised but
unable to scratch through any of the names.
It’s partly that I know what it is to write a
novel, the pain and the drudgery, the sense of
laying out the most tender, transparent parts
of yourself to be picked over by the public. Every one of
these books had been the fever-dream of its author, had
been written out at night, or in the early morning, or while
shushing a baby in its pram. Each one had cost something
dear to the person who wrote it (and his or her family), and
because of this every book is precious, even the bad ones.
But none of these were bad, and that was also the problem.
Who was I to choose Swallows and Amazons over Coot
Club? Stalky & Co over Kim? Tom’s Midnight Garden over
“Each of these
books left a huge
mark upon me
and has in turn, I
feel, played a part
in making my son
the boy he is”
Goodnight Mr Tom? (All of these, by the way, were on
the list). I ended up putting the whole lot in a drawer and
writing five names on a piece of paper. These, then, are what
I conveyed to my teacher friend, and it feels like just about
the greatest gift I’ve ever given anyone. Each of these books
left a huge mark upon me and has in turn, I feel, played
a part in making my son the boy he is. Each, crucially, is
the first in a series, and thus the gateway to
several new worlds. Each is both a great story
and beautifully written (something we don’t
always associate with children’s literature).
For each, I was thinking particularly of novels
that would appeal to boys, notoriously more
difficult to persuade into the world of books.
Susan Cooper – Over Sea, Under
Stone. The first in The Dark is Rising
quintet. Cooper’s tale brings Merlin to
life in contemporary Cornwall in a novel both furiously
gripping and wonderfully atmospheric. I read the first
three books in the series to my son and was rather sad
that he wanted to tackle the last two on his own.
Alan Garner – The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. My
favourite book as a child and still a story I’ve been happy to
revisit with each of my children (I’m currently reading it to
my seven-year-old daughter). I gave it to the daughter of
13 wealdentimes.co.uk

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freeimages.com/JeanScheijenbooks
Education Magazine
a friend who was so frightened by
Colin and Susan’s flight from
the dark elves that she could
only read it during the hours of
daylight. She still loved it, though.
Madeleine L’Engle – A Wrinkle
in Time. These brilliant books are
a staple of every American child’s
upbringing, but I don’t often come across
fans over here. Full of science and metaphysics but also a
thrilling story: the word tesseract still summons shivers.
Brian Jacques – Redwall. A book that came out when
I was seven and had me waiting breathlessly for each
sequel. The inhabitants of Redwall Abbey fulfil that
crucial role of anthropomorphic characters: allowing
children to play out scenarios that might be too fraught
in the real world. This also served as a stepping-stone
to the joys of Duncton Wood and Watership Down.
Scarlett Thomas – Dragon’s Green. The best new
children’s novel I’ve read since Philip Pullman, this
is the first in a series called Worldquake. Has drawn
inevitable comparisons with JK Rowling, but is more
deeply imagined and much better written. Both of my
children are obsessed with the heroine, Effie Truelove.
A final piece of advice...
I think one of the most valuable things a parent can give
their child is an appreciation of the importance of books, a
sense that these should be a natural part of any happy life. I
recorded a show for Al Jazeera a few years ago in response to
the news that fewer and fewer parents, and particularly fewer
fathers, were reading to their children. A good book, I said,
when the mind is plastic and fizzing with imagination, can
be life-changing. Books enable us to rehearse our reactions to
the sometimes bafflingly unpredictable world, they develop
our emotional lives and smuggle knowledge into our brains
under the cover of stories, they make us better people. I
tried to read to my kids every night when they were growing
up, and still, now, when they’re launched on reading lives
of their own, we make time on a Sunday night to sit down
together and immerse ourselves in a favourite book.
More than that, I make sure that they know the pleasure I
get from reading, that they understand why books have always
had such a central place in my world. I want them to see me
put away the iPhone, switch off the TV, and turn to something
more stimulating and rewarding. Then, in years to come,
I hope they pass on Susan Cooper and Alan Garner – and
The Animal Family and Tarka the Otter and Aubrey and the
Terrible Yoot and all the other beloved books I’ve been unable
to mention in this piece – to their own children in turn.
Alex Preston’s book about birds in
books, As Kingfishers Catch Fire,
is published by Little, Brown
Mrs J –
Making Everything Easy!
Maths, English,
Times Tables ...
And Now
READING
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aimed at reluctant readers aged 9-13 years
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15 wealdentimes.co.uk
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Registered charity 1101358
Where are the skills our children will need
to mitigate the effects of war?
Well, negotiation skills are embedded in the
curriculum at Sevenoaks School, so in theory we need
look no further.
Our alumni certainly go on to achieve extraordinary
things; equipped as they are with the skills they need to
change the waiting world.
Stephen Hale for example, mastered negotiation at
Sevenoaks. He left in 1990 to work with Friends of the
Earth and Oxfam, amongst others. Now he has an OBE
and is CEO at Refugee Action, a UK charity that supports
people fleeing war.
It’s worth considering then, that many of the skills
your child may need to make a significant impact, can be
acquired here at Sevenoaks.
www.sevenoaksschool.org
Every day at Sevenoaks, students practise negotiation, service provision, team working, critical thinking, creative thinking and complex
problem solving – essential skills our alumni will use to excel at jobs which have yet to be invented and to reshape their world.

Education Magazine
the ripple Effect
Hilary Wilce explains how a contented, well-connected childhood
could be the key to happiness in adulthood
is your child well connected? i don’t mean, do they go
to nursery with triple-barrelled playmates, or lounge
through their older years alongside celebrity teens.
neither do i mean, are they permanently on superfast
broadband with an ipad attached to their hand. i’m talking
about something much more important than that.
Every child psychologist in the world will tell you that
a child needs to feel well-anchored inside themselves
in order to grow up secure and well-adjusted. but one
well-known child expert goes much further than this,
saying a child needs to acquire many onion skin layers of
connectivity in order to become a strong, independent
adult at ease with themselves and in the world.
Edward hallowell is an eminent us clinical psychiatrist,
a best-selling author and adhd expert, who has wealthy
new york parents queuing at his door to discover the secrets
of successful child rearing. and he believes that bringing
up a well-connected child, with ever-wider ripples of
connectivity around them, is the key to adult happiness.
in his model, there are twelve distinct
circles of connectivity, some of them obvious
but some surprising. they are:
• HOME •
where your child feels loved,
wanted, understood and
paid attention to.
• SCHOOL •
where your child feels treated fairly,
able to make friends and get along
with other students and teachers.
• FRIENDS,
NEIGHBOURHOOD
& COMMUNITY •
where your child feels part of a
local or personal network
of interlinked people.
• WORK & RESPONSIBILITY •
where your child learns the feeling
of making a contribution.
• ACTIVITIES •
where your child learns to have a go,
and to learn and master new skills
through sport, music and hobbies.
• THE PAST •
where your child learns they
are part of history and that other
people have gone before them.
• THE ARTS •
where you child learns to connect
with beauty and the emotions through
music, dance, literature and art.
• NATURE •
where your child learns to respect
and feel part of the outside world,
and its natural rhythms and seasons.
• PETS & OTHER ANIMALS •
where your child learns about
responsibility, life, loss and
emotions through bonding with
and caring for an animal.
• INFORMATION & IDEAS •
where your child learns to feel at
ease with things such as learning,
debating, questioning and finding out.
• INSTITUTIONS &
ORGANIZATIONS •
where your child comes to understand
how these work, how societies are
organised and run, and the pitfalls
and pleasures of people coming
together for a common purpose.
• GOD •
where your child learns to feel
comfortable with the big questions
of spirituality such as why are
we here, does evil exist, and
what is the purpose of life?
• THEMSELVES •
where your child learns to know
themself, feel at ease with
who they are, and know they
are neither better or worse
than others, only different.
obviously all these are interlinked and crop up all the time in
growing children’s lives. and many of them develop organically.
but as parents it can be helpful to hold in mind that picture
of spreading ripples, and to consciously try to develop them.
this might mean double-checking that home and
school are providing the right sort of environments for
good connectivity. it might mean enrolling your child
in a neighbourhood scouts or guides group, or talking
about the affairs of the day around the dinner table. it
might mean initiating more family outings to concerts or
exhibitions, creating a chore rota for everyone who lives
at home, or deciding to spend more time out-of-doors.
perhaps more than anything, it might mean taking
care not to think that school grades and achievements are
everything in life, and making the effort to open up the
wider world to your child in every way possible.
17 wealdentimes.co.uk

Co-educational, day & boarding school for 3-18 years in South East England
Co-educational, day & boarding school for 3-18 years in South East England
With small class sizes and exceptional facilities, St Lawrence College provides
outstanding opportunities for all pupils academically, in sport and in the arts.
Junior School Open Day: Fri 6 October 2017
Senior School Open Day: Sat 7 October 2017
T: 01843 572931 E: admissions@slcuk.com www.slcuk.com
St Lawrence College, College Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 7AE
Sutton Valence School
StLawrenceCollegeED04.indd 1 09/06/2017 10:20
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Open
Mornings
Prep School - 6th September 2017
Senior School - 7th September 2017
Book online now
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18
SuttonValenceED04.indd 1 01/06/2017 10:52

Education Magazine
freeimages.com/ChristopherBruno
How to encourage connectivity...
MODEL a connected life. Let your child see
that you value friends, family and neighbours,
that you take your job seriously, enjoy hobbies
such as drawing, singing or sport, and make
time to do things for others.
CHAT to your children about anything and
everything – nature, films, politics, family
history. Keep it simple when they’re young, go
deeper as they grow. Use family mealtimes as
opportunities for discussion, learning – and
arguments.
LISTEN to what your child has to say
and take time to try and understand their
viewpoint. Show your child the same respect
you would want them to show you. Help
them learn about their emotions and feelings,
and about how they come and go. Allow them
to be unhappy and to get over it.
INSIST on the things that you think matter –
doing family chores, taking responsibility for
homework, showing good manners, turning
up on time to soccer training or regularly
practising a musical instrument. Children
flourish when they know what’s expected.
ENCOURAGE you child to try new things,
join local groups, sign up to a workshop or
have a go at an untried sport or hobby. Help
them to enjoy learning and not mind making
mistakes. Help them see that school grades are
only one aspect of a rich and happy life.
GET OUT AND ABOUT to more
local activities, to museums and galleries,
and into the great outdoors. Make
sure the real world stays more real to
your child than the digital one.
Of course, if all this seems too
complicated, you could just follow one
of Edward Hallowell’s main and favourite
pieces of advice. “GET A PET, GET A
PET, GET A PET…” Nothing teaches
a child quite as much about life, loss,
listening and responsibility, he believes,
than loving and looking after an animal.
For more information The Childhood
Roots of Adult Happiness by Edward M.
Hallowell, is available on Amazon.
Hilary Wilce is an education writer and
life coach. Her two e-books for parents,
Backbone: how to build the character your
child needs to succeed and The Six Secrets of
School Success are available on Amazon.
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For further information and a prospectus please contact Karen Cooper
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19 wealdentimes.co.uk
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FIGHTING FOR A FIRST
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20
ChinthurstSchoolED04.indd 1 06/06/2017 12:47

Education Magazine
How does it help?
The art therapist functions as an emotional regulator enabling
the child to process emotional experience effectively. He
or she works with the child’s inner world safely and nonintrusively,
with respect for the child’s own pace and state of
being. For example, a drawing may be used to process feelings
that the child cannot find words for and clay modelling can
act as a calming activity which enables emotional regulation
and develops self-soothing mechanisms in the brain.
freeimages.com/FlavioTakemoto *names have been changed
Creative
Healing
Mary Kain explains the benefits
of using art as therapy
What is art therapy?
Children often find it difficult to express their feelings. At this
highly formative period of their lives, the behaviours that they
develop will have an impact on the whole of their future lives.
When a child cannot talk about their painful and difficult
feelings, these feelings can find expression in challenging
behaviours, neurotic symptoms and/or physical ailments.
Art Therapy uses various media – drawing, painting, sand
play, music, poetry, puppetry, movement and mental
imagery – as the primary means of communication.
Although creative techniques are used, no previous
experience or skill in art is necessary. The art therapist
facilitates the exploration and communication of
children’s thoughts and feelings through the use of art.
Children/adolescents meet with a person with whom
they feel comfortable, at the same time each week. In
this way, they can build a relationship in a safe space
with an empathic adult who offers quality listening and
understanding. Art therapy is not dependent on spoken
language and can be helpful to anyone who finds it
difficult to express their thoughts and feelings verbally.
Who can benefit?
Children and adolescents with a range
of issues including those:
• In danger of exclusion from school
• Experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties
• With social and communication difficulties
• Struggling with bereavement, changes
in family structure or illness
• Suffering abuse, bullying or trauma
• With autism spectrum disorders
• With child protection concerns, including experience
of abuse or exposure to domestic violence
• Any child who may appear withdrawn or
anxious, angry, depressed, moody, violent or
disaffected may also benefit from art therapy
How are children referred?
Most of my referrals happen through word of
mouth, when teachers and parents contact me
about children that have been identified as having
challenging behaviours or emotional problems.
Why did you become an art therapist?
I initially qualified as an Early Years school teacher
and, after having three children of my own, I became
fascinated by the intricacies of child and adolescent
development. So, I decided to go back and train as a
child and adolescent psychotherapist, using the arts.
Can you give us an example of how art therapy has helped?
Katie* is an 8 year old girl who has witnessed domestic
violence. Her anger would constantly erupt into violence
towards her peers at school. Through using clay modelling
she has found a medium to calm her intense emotions
and been able to talk about what lies behind her anger.
Charlie* is a 14 year old boy. He has grown up in a
household where drug dealing is the norm. Beginning
with the shared reading of graphic comic novels, he has
gone on to tell the story of his own life in the form of a
series of cartoon drawings. He has learned to understand
and communicate his feelings to others which has helped
him navigate the difficult challenges of adolescence.
Art Therapist Mary Kain can be contacted on 07912
521055 and emailed at mary.kain@btinternet.com
21 wealdentimes.co.uk

Class sizes of only 15?
That’s thinking
differently.
A leading co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18
At Dover College, we support each other in
an environment that feels more like family
than school.
With a maximum of 15 pupils per class, our
creative teaching encourages independent
and critical thinking. Together, we achieve
exceptional results.
Day pupils and UK boarders mix with
friends from across Europe, Africa, Asia
and the Americas and this inclusivity
teaches everyone to think differently, to be
unprejudiced, cosmopolitan and outwardlooking.
Our pupils are encouraged to discover and
foster talents in academia, sport, music,
drama and the arts, develop confidence and
realise their dreams.
Isn’t it refreshing to think differently?
Think Dover College.

Education Magazine
Meet the Heads
Go behind the scenes at seven leading schools to find out more about the headteachers in charge
Gareth Doodes MA Hons
headmaster of dover college
Favourite subject when
you were at school
i absolutely love history. My
imagination as a child was vivid,
and i had an exceptional teacher
who made history something
interesting and something relevant.
a love of history in itself developed
a fascination with theology and
politics. it demonstrated how
all we learn is so inter-related.
Favourite teacher when
you were at school
Mr polden, my English teacher.
debonair, witty, with a rich irish
brogue, he read poetry to us that
made our ears feel like we were
eating fudge. he made shakespeare
come alive, laughed incessantly,
was eccentric in the right ways and
clearly cared. Quite a character.
Favourite children’s character
from a book or film
it would have to be Mole, from wind in
the willows. he’s modest, humble and
thoughtful. he tries new things, and is
ambitious, yet at the same time doesn’t
forget his own roots. it is the best
character from a perfect book although
ironically, it has greater relevance when
read by adults than by children.
Best school memory
too many to choose from! probably the
day i was appointed head boy at prep
school. nothing has ever surpassed that,
both in terms of the feeling of being
honoured, and also excited. seeing
my parents’ beaming faces that day is
a memory that will never leave me.
Is there anything you wish you had
studied at school that you didn’t?
i would love to have done further study
in theology and philosophy. i love
thinking, and love stretching my mind.
there’s always a place
for that in what we do.
What is your proudest
achievement at your
current school?
our recent isi
inspection, which
turned the school
completely around
from the situation i inherited. there
is nothing better than being tested by
external agencies in what you believe
is right, and found to be without fault.
it’s a magnificent achievement by a
superb team of teachers at the college.
What are you looking forward
to this coming year?
we’re about to embark on an exciting
development plan, with investment
in teaching, learning, buildings and
facilities both for the Junior and the
senior school, and sport. it’s an exciting
time for the college and its pupils.
dover college is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-18. dovercollege.org.uk
23 wealdentimes.co.uk

Open Mornings
7 October & 17 November
9:15 am -11:30 am
(Headmaster’s Talk at 9:30 am)
T:01372 372311
www.downsend.co.uk
• 100% success rate at
Common Entrance
• 80% A*- B grades
• 190 senior school scholarships
awarded since 2014
We never hold our children back
(Unless we have to)
At Downsend when our pupils are actively involved in their learning, they fly.
We find sitting still in a classroom, is no way to investigate the nature of
forces and their effects. It’s much more exciting and memorable to get
the parachutes out and experience air resistance in action for yourself.
Kinesthetic learning is effective because the children are highly engaged
and they remember what they are learning.
Fosse Generic Postcard Rev2 13/9/16 1:30 pm Page 1
Leatherhead • Ashtead • Epsom
An independent prep school for
boys and girls aged 2-13
DownsendSchoolED04.indd 1 12/06/2017 15:14
Fosse Bank is a small independent school in a stunning building set in 26 acres
of beautiful grounds. Fosse Bank is for children aged 2-11 years who enjoy an
extensive curriculum and the individual care that being in a small class allows.
Fosse Bank School, Mountains, Noble Tree Road, Hildenborough TN11 8ND
www.fossebankschool.co.uk • Tel: 01732 834212 • E-mail: admissions@fossebankschool.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
24
FosseBankSchool-ED04.indd 1 02/06/2017 12:36

Education Magazine
Ian
Thorpe
Headmaster
of Downsend
School
Favourite subject when
you were at school?
Games (outside the classroom)
and French (inside it).
Favourite teacher when
you were at school?
Mr Knight, our Director of Sport, who
had been a British Lion rugby player.
Favourite children’s character
from a book or film
I loved Danny, from Danny the
Champion of the World, as he encouraged
me to believe in myself, whatever the odds.
Best school memory
Winning the International Schools
Sports Tournament at Tennis, aged 16.
Is there anything you wish you’d
studied at school that you didn’t?
I wish I’d known more about metacognition
then: learning how to learn.
All too often education is about forcing
square pegs through round holes, and I
would have loved to know more about
how I, as an individual, learned back then.
What’s your proudest achievement
at your current school?
Watching our children represent their
school with such pride. Whether
singing as a Choir in places like
Belgium, winning Surrey Cups and
National Swimming Titles or guiding
parents at Open Mornings, they are
the perfect ambassadors for Downsend,
the stars of the show, certainly!
What are you looking forward
to this coming year?
I want to complete a project which
will deliver a new multi-million pound
Creative Arts Centre to Downsend.
Downsend School is a co-educational
independent school for pupils
aged between two and thirteen in
Leatherhead, Ashtead and Epsom.
downsend.co.uk
Alison Cordingley
Headmistress at Fosse
Bank School
Favourite Subject when
you were at school
As now, I enjoyed whatever I
was doing at the time. Had I to
choose a favourite, then probably
sport. I was no great athlete, but
through encouragement to practise
and improve, I relished playing
in hockey and netball teams.
Favourite teacher when
you were at school
I loved each teacher in turn at primary
school but at senior school my
biology teacher was a favourite. She
was the first teacher to suggest that
we pupils were part of the learning
process and that we had some control
over what and how we learned.
Favourite children’s character
from a book or film
At primary school my favourite
character was Mary Lennox from The
Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson
Burnett. To me she seemed a very
exotic person. Having lived in India
with servants she was transported
to a different life in England
where she had to be independent.
And it has a happy ending.
Best school memory
One of my best school memories
is when I was aged five and in the
Reception class. One of the other
girls in the class was absent on the
day we had to cut out our selfportraits.
I was asked to finish her
work because “You are so good at
cutting out.” It reminds me as an
adult, how easy it is to make a child
feel proud with a kind comment.
Anything you wish you had
studied at school that you didn’t?
Technically I did study Latin but
failed to understand its relevance
and by my second year at senior
school I was relegated to the class
which read Winnie the Pooh in Latin
rather than grasping the grammar.
I wish I had persevered at the time
but I enjoyed learning Latin properly
much later, after I had left school.
What is your proudest achievement
at your current school?
I am proud of our eleven year olds
who are going to the best senior
schools this September. It is pleasing
that our pupils will be going to
their new schools as confident,
independent people, ready to
embrace change and challenge
and that these traits are a result of
their experience at Fosse Bank.
What are you looking forward
to this coming year?
We began taking two year olds this
year and their presence really focused
my mind on the many benefits of
children learning in the open air.
Following our official affiliation
to the Forest School Association
we are rolling out provision for
Forest School sessions to all our
children as part of the curriculum.
I intend to join in on occasion!
Fosse Bank School in Hildenborough, Kent, is an independent school for
children aged two to eleven. fossebankschool.co.uk
25 wealdentimes.co.uk

OPEN MORNINGS
Nursery & Junior School
29 – 30 September 2017
College & Sixth Form
30 September 2017
Call 01932 839437
Book now at www.stgeorgesweybridge.com
Leading independent co-educational Roman Catholic day schools in
Surrey offering a values-led education for 3 to 18 year olds.
A Registered Educational Charity No.1017853

Education Magazine
John Southworth
principal of Mpw london
Favourite subject when
you were at school?
i loved car maintenance and
woodwork! that is probably
why i then went on to study
Engineering at university. the skills and knowledge i gained
from these subjects has stayed with me throughout my
teaching career as i went on to teach systems and control
and in my spare time i have restored a couple of old
porsches, and frame all of my wife’s paintings and prints.
Favourite teacher when you were at school?
Mike cook at haberdashers’ aske’s. he taught me
English and rugby and i still remember him giving
me a lift to school each day in his Mgb when i
would try to cram my ’cello into the back seat!
Favourite children’s character from a book or film?
i really liked Joe 90! the idea that someone could be
given another’s knowledge by a transfer of brainpower
is very much like the teaching profession.
Best school memory?
being part of the rugby team was a great experience.
we had such a great team spirit and it was always
such fun playing under the tutelage of di davies,
doug yeabsley and ralph warmington.
Is there anything you wish you’d studied
at school that you didn’t?
at my college we offer 47 different a levels, many of which
were not available when i was at school. if i had the choice now i
would like to study an EpQ (Extended project Qualification) as
i believe this has real merit in terms of university entry. i would
certainly do something on robotics. From my school time, i
would probably have liked to have done geography as i really
enjoyed this at o level, especially a project i did on viticulture.
What’s your proudest achievement at your current school?
although i have been at Mpw for over three years, i have
only been principal this academic year. i have lots i want
to accomplish as long as it focuses on my students having
opportunities to achieve to the best of their ability and that
they are happy and contented throughout their time with us.
What are you looking forward to this coming year?
i really enjoy interviewing prospective students and
then welcoming them to my college. given all the exam
reforms, i think this year could be the most exciting.
Mpw london is a fifth- and sixth-form college offering a wide range of gcsE and a level subjects. mpw.ac.uk
27 wealdentimes.co.uk

Fleur, Year 3
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Education Magazine
Tracey
Fantham
headteacher
at Manor
house school
Favourite
subject
when you
were at school
My favourite subject at school was
geography. i loved learning about
the world and the way the physical
features were formed. this was closely
followed by English; writing and
reading literature also inspired me and
i still enjoy getting lost in a new novel.
Favourite teacher when
you were at school
i had two favourites! My pE teacher
was a definite favourite, she inspired
many students to continue playing
sport long after leaving school and i
am still in touch with her now. My
second favourite was my geography
teacher who was a fabulous teacher,
he not only taught us geography but
taught us how to learn for the
exams and consequently his classes
always performed really well.
Favourite children’s character
from a book or film
when i was a child, i was
besotted with ‘black beauty’ and
would look forward to sunday
afternoons for that very reason.
Best school memory
Most definitely the school ski trip.
here i developed my passion for
the mountains and for skiing which
have been a part of my life ever
since. school trips are undoubtedly
so valuable for children and at
Manor house school we aim to
create unforgettable experiences
for our girls which i hope they will
remember for the rest of their lives.
Is there anything you wish you had
studied at school that you didn’t?
during my teaching career i have
taught psychology. this wasn’t an
‘a’ level on offer when i was at
school which is a shame as i have
enjoyed teaching how the brain
works and human behaviour. i now
offer psychology club for the senior
girls to share my passion for the
subject with them and introduce
them to the content they will learn
if they choose the ‘a’ level.
What is your proudest achievement
at your current school?
to select one achievement is difficult,
each and every day i am proud to be
the head of such a wonderful school.
the girls and staff are incredibly
enthusiastic and positive and i am very
happy to be leading the school into an
exciting new phase of development.
What are you looking forward
to this coming year?
i am looking forward to building on
the success of my first year. developing
opportunities for sport has featured
highly this year and we are currently
in the process of drawing up plans
to cover our swimming pool and
build further facilities for pE. we
are also changing the structure of
the school day to maximise learning
and it will therefore be exciting to
see these plans come to fruition.
Manor house school is an independent day school in leatherhead, surrey, for girls aged 2-16. manorhouseschool.org
29 wealdentimes.co.uk

OPEN MORNINGS
Thursday 14 September
Saturday 30 September
Please register via reigategrammar.org
Top Co-Educational Independent Day School in Surrey
The Telegraph and The Sunday Times
“RGS is rocketing up the rankings...
pastoral care is second to none”
Tatler
“EXCEPTIONAL”
ISI Inspection 2016
Reigate Grammar School is
“Definitely one to watch”
The Good Schools Guide
Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0QS
reigategrammar.org | 01737 222231 | info@reigategrammar.org
facebook.com/reigategrammarschool
@reigategrammar

Education Magazine
Shaun Fenton
headmaster of reigate grammar
Favourite subject when
you were at school
i was lucky that i enjoyed all my
subjects at school and especially the
chance to throw myself into sport,
drama and other activities. because
of my own school days, at reigate
grammar school i believe that it is
the extra-curricular programme that
helps develop the qualities of character
that are required for later life.
Favourite teacher when
you were at school
rev david lyndsay was my
favourite teacher and has been a
mentor and inspiration to me ever
since – in fact we met for a cup of
tea and a chat just last week.
Favourite children’s character
from a book or film
well i suppose, as headmaster, it would
have to be dumbledore from hogwarts!
Best school memory
when i played pharaoh in the
school production of Joseph and
his amazing technicolour dream
coat, there was a small flash bang
explosion that set my Elvis style wig
on fire. it was a few moments of
madness that i will never forget but,
as they say, ‘the show must go on’!
What is your proudest achievement
at your current school?
i am always proudest when i shake the
hands of the school leavers in the upper
sixth as they move on as happy, healthy
high achieving young adults ready to
make the world a better place. i am
struck, each year, by what impressive
young adults they have become.
What are you looking forward
to this coming year?
Each year the day i look forward
to most of all is the first day of the
new academic year when the school
floods with new students and those
returning from the summer break. at
that moment, i feel an overwhelming
optimism for the year ahead and realise
what a privilege it is to be headmaster.
there is so much more to look forward
to this year as we complete a major
new building, as our sports teams look
to build on their national trophies
and our arts produce dozens of shows
and concerts. i always look forward
to congratulating the students who
secure their pilot’s licence through the
cadets or talking to those returning
from scuba diving in belize. there is
always so much more to look forward
to in the weeks and months ahead
as our young people discover talents
they didn’t know they had and reach
standards they hadn’t dreamed of –
can you tell that i love my job?
reigate grammar is an independent school for girls and boys aged eleven to eighteen. reigategrammar.org
31 wealdentimes.co.uk

Opening doors to a world of possibilities
Open Mornings
Friday 22 September 2017 9.30am to 12 noon
Saturday 23 September 2017 9.30am to 12 noon
Call us on 01323 733203 or email admissions@standrewsprep.co.uk
www.VisitStAndrewsPrep.co.uk

Education Magazine
Lawnmower Parents
It goes without saying that every parent wants the very best for their child, and most
will bend over backwards to achieve it. But what happens when these good intentions
become all-consuming? Hilary Wilce gives us the signs to watch out for
freeimages.com/Aaron Murphy
T
hrough my work as a life coach, I know
a young woman who is a well-qualified
City lawyer with a good job and excellent
prospects. But she is unhappy. She wants
to be a lawyer in the arts, she told me,
where the pay wouldn’t be as good, but
where she would feel she was doing something vibrant and
worthwhile. Then change jobs, I said. Take the pay cut and
do what you want. She looked terrified. “But my parents
work in finance,” she said. “They wouldn’t know who to ask.”
This young woman was 27, a successful young
professional, yet she still believed that her parents
should open doors for her then lay out the red
carpet so she could step through them.
When I quizzed her more closely the pattern became clear.
Her parents had always been closely involved in her life,
asking teachers to give her extra help, buying her tutorial
support, organising her out-of-school time and making
sure any bumpy patches in her friendships were swiftly
put to rights. They had suggested what she should study at
university, had quizzed admissions officers, and asked one of
her father’s old senior lecturers to put in a word for her at his
university. They had even set up this life coaching with me,
to sort out her dissatisfaction and “get her back on track”.
As a result, she had got off to a flying start, but now found
herself floundering. She didn’t have the autonomy, selfconfidence
or coping skills to follow her own life’s path.
Her mother and father are part of a fearsome new breed
of parents who believe it is their job to smooth their child’s
path into the adult world so completely that there is no
danger of them ever meeting an upset, set-back or obstacle.
These parents have been dubbed lawnmower parents. Or,
in icier parts of the United States, the country where they
first emerged, snowplough parents. They move heaven and
earth to clear the way for their precious offspring, while
remaining oblivious to the needs of anyone else around
them. If their child wants the best swing in the playground,
another child must give it up. If their child gets into trouble
at school, the teacher must be castigated for daring to
reprimand them. If their child struggles with a homework
assignment, they will sit down and do it for them.
These parents are quite different from that other wellknown
breed, the helicopter parents, who like to hover
around over their children making sure they do their
homework, checking on their safety and micromanaging
their lives. While helicopter parents fuss and worry over
their children’s lives, lawnmower parents take matters into
their own hands and make sure that their children’s
33 wealdentimes.co.uk

• A school that is really going places
• Excellent in every area (ISI)
• Year 7 Entrance Exam 24th Jan
Join us in 2017
COME AND BE PART OF OUR SUCCESS
• Scholarships available in Years 7, 9 and 12
Senior School
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BRINGING LEARNING TO LIFE
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To arrange a visit, please contact Clare Harrison:
admissions@theprep.org.uk • 01732 762336
www.theprep.org.uk
An independent day school for boys and girls aged 2-13
CHALLENGE • CREATIVITY • COMMUNITY
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34
SevenoaksPreparatoryED04.indd 1 05/06/2017 12:56

Education Magazine
lives are exactly what they, the parents, say they will be.
Lawnmowing like this can pay off in good grades and
successful qualifications. But it can also cause terrible damage.
Parents can end up stressed, exhausted, and disappointed,
while their children can grow up into flabby, entitled adults
expecting the world to deliver them a charmed life with no
effort on their own behalf, or into angry, rebellious ones
desperate to claw free from their over-controlling families.
In America things have got so bad that some college
campuses have banned parents from entering their
gates. It would never get that bad here. Or would it?
Are you a lawnmower parent?
Your childminder/nanny/babysitter suggests that
your child’s behaviour is not entirely perfect. Do you
sack them on the spot? Without a reference?
Have you ever completed a homework assignment
or project on your child’s behalf? Is that perfect
cardboard model windmill actually yours?
Your child biffs a playmate on the head, starting a squabble.
Is your response, “That horrible little bully! He provoked you.
I’m telling his parents he’s never coming to our house again.”?
Your child gets a B, not an A for an important piece of
work. Do you drive up to school to demand it be re-marked?
Your child is not given a big enough part in the school
concert, or picked for the top sports teams. Do you protest
vehemently to the school until they put the matter right?
At university entrance time, do you write your child’s
glowing personal statement for them, then organise toplevel
summer internships to help them on their way?
freeimages.com/Krishnan Gopakumar
And here’s some ways of avoiding
the lawnmower trap
Let your child do things for themselves as soon as possible –
tie shoes, put laundry in the basket, do their own homework.
Encourage them to develop their own voice – by asking
for what they want in shops and restaurants, and by
talking to their friends’ parents and your adult friends.
If a problem comes up, talk with your child about ways
to solve it. Let them start to have ideas and discuss with
you what they could do to solve their own difficulties.
Let them fail and learn from it. If they’ve got a bad mark
for a piece of work, or been mean to a friend, or played
rough on the soccer pitch, encourage them to consider what
went wrong and what they could do next time round.
Back off on the expectations. Praise participation and
effort whenever you see your child trying, but don’t make
them feel a failure if they don’t come top of the class.
Leave them alone. Let them sometimes get bored and
dirty, and be free to follow the dreams in their head and the
winding paths of their friendships. Always remember that
your child’s lives and achievements belong to them, not you.
Hilary Wilce is an education writer and life coach.
Her two e-books for parents, Backbone: how to build
the character your child needs to succeed and The Six
Secrets of School Success are available on Amazon.
35 wealdentimes.co.uk

‘T
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pupils and learners is outstanding.
They develop quickly into intelligent,
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contribute their skills, knowledge and values
to the wider world’ - Ofsted 2016
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Education Magazine
Perfect Fit
Edward Martin from The Golden Boot highlights
the importance of proper shoe fitting
VOICE TRIALS
for boys aged 7 & 8
11 th November 2017
When should a toddler get their first shoe? when
a child starts to crawl or shuffle and pull themselves up onto
their feet, a parent should look into a cruising shoe. cruisers
are very soft, flexible shoes that are lightweight and provide
just enough protection and support for when toddlers are out
and about. as a general rule we say that barefoot is best, but
for children starting at nursery at a young age this isn’t always
suitable. it also allows little ones to get used to wearing shoes.
when a child is able to walk across the room completely
unaided, and is hardly crawling at all, we would suggest that
a proper walking shoe should be fitted. some styles are firmer
than others, but they generally have a slightly harder sole and
offer enough support when learning to walk confidently.
How often should they be measured? after the child has
had their first pair of cruisers fitted, we recommend you come
back for another fitting in around 6-8 weeks. after this, every
3 months is a good time period to make sure the shoes are still
fitting properly. new shoes might not be needed every time, but
children do tend to have sudden growth spurts – we’ve fitted
feet that have grown a whole shoe size in one go! as children
grow older, their feet will need to be checked less frequently.
How long do school shoes last, and what should we
look for when choosing? we like to find out what each child
is going to be doing in their school shoes before we try any on.
if they scoot to school, play football and ride their bike in them,
then a more robust style with a chunkier sole unit is going to be
more suitable and last longer. it starts to get tricky when fashion
is desired over function as children grow up and head off to
secondary school. a smart lace up, or delicate ballet pump is not
going to handle bike rides and skidding in quite the same way.
we recommend parents to budget for two pairs of school shoes a
year, depending on the age of the child and how quickly they grow.
children have to wear these shoes everyday, and good quality leather
school shoes means feet can breathe and be comfortable all day.
Are there any types of shoes that should be avoided
for little feet? sports trainers are often very hard and not at
all flexible. professional shoe makers design their footwear with
little feet in mind, meaning the toe shapes are wide and round,
following the natural shape of the foot. they’re made
from high quality materials so feet can breathe and
grow. properly made shoes also offer support
at the arch and heel, where as some
cheaply made trainers fit very
tight and are tapered into a
narrow shape, constricting
those little toes.
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Enquiries are welcome at any time
Substantial scholarships are awarded
and choristers benefit from an all-round
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The Master of Choristers, David Flood,
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For further details please telephone
01227 865242
davidf@canterbury-cathedral.org
@No1Cathedral
CanterburyCathedralChoirED04.indd 1 06/06/2017 15:31
39
wealdentimes.co.uk
SpringGroveSchoolED04.indd 1 12/06/2017 16:23

“The Quality of Pupils’ Academic and
other Achievements is EXCELLENT”
Independent Schools Inspectorate Report, March 2017
Lancing College
Senior School & Sixth Form
AN EXCEPTIONAL INDEPENDENT EDUCATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 13 TO 18
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS OF OUR SCHOLARSHIPS
www.lancingcollege.co.uk
Tel 01273 465805 West Sussex BN15 0RW
Registered Charity Number 1076483

Education Magazine
Make health
and fitness
child’s play
Fitness Trainer Sarah Maxwell explains how
to engage the whole family in exercise
L
ife’s lessons are much easier to learn if we start
our children on them when they’re young.
Doing so means regular exercise, improved
overall fitness and eating healthy food can
become the norm almost before children
have had a chance to do things differently!
But our busy lifestyles as working parents, with technology
being aggressively marketed to youngsters, stringent
safeguarding legislation and the appeal of coffee bars,
means that keeping children active has never been more
challenging. It’s often difficult to schedule time together
as a family and my clients often say they feel guilty when
they use ‘family time’ to do their fitness programmes.
But group exercise encourages better communication
and closer relationships. Fit families who live a healthy
lifestyle are more likely to enjoy their time together.
Schools play an incredibly important role in encouraging
our children to be more active. But whilst traditional team
sports are generally well supported, these don’t cater for every
child’s needs. Girls’ low participation rates in
sports at senior school is well documented
but it also affects many boys who don’t like
gender typical team sports. Increasingly I am
seeing children lacking in self-esteem due
to their own perceived poor performance
in team sports. This dropping out of team
sports continues into adulthood and is
amply illustrated by 3 questions I ask in my teen self-esteem
workshops. “Who here regularly plays football/rugby/
netball?” – lots of eager hands go up. “Whose parents used
to regularly play football/rugby/netball at school?” – a few
raised hands drop. “Whose parents still regularly play football/
rugby/netball?” – almost without exception all hands drop.
We need to find and learn to love activities that will stay
with us throughout our life and can fit into busy schedules.
So it is important to stop labelling children ‘not sporty’
– a tag that can stick for the rest of their lives – because
they aren’t good at team sports, but to encourage a love of
“Keeping children
active has never
been more
challenging”
fitness activities and help them find what works for them
instead. I’m a firm believer in having fun while getting/
keeping fit, which is exactly how children think, and I
feel there is an activity out there for everyone that will
help keep them healthy and put a smile on their face.
Encouraging and engaging children at a
young age will last a lifetime in health and
fitness. The best schools work hard (often in
conjunction with passionate parents) to ensure
that a diverse range of sports are available
for children which might include rowing,
sailing, badminton, fencing, girls’ football,
dance and gymnastics along with the more
traditional staples of hockey, football, rugby and netball.
If you’re looking at schools for your child ask about the
breadth of sports on offer and how they cater for the needs of
children who might not fit into gender typical team sports.
Penny Snowden got so fed up with the drop off in the
physical activity of her GCSE-studying teenager, she started
a business to combat it. She has created a new scheme which
focuses on the enormous benefits an active, healthy lifestyle
has on long term employability. Using physical activity as
the medium, Active Leaders trains teenagers to support the
introduction of sporty games to children, whilst they gather
41 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education Magazine
valuable, transferable skills in the process. The one week course
offers a new route into sport, practical workplace experience,
the chance to be active and an understanding of how the
acquired skills are relevant to employment regardless of
whether this is in sport. The course supports the establishment
of good habits – leading children by example. Some secondary
schools are linking with feeder primary schools to stage
courses, others are seeing the course as an option for work
experience, an opportunity to train pupils to help in extracurricular
clubs for younger children, or as skill acquisition
and volunteering towards Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Holiday camps are hosting Active Leader courses which
could lead to work placements during the summer break. It
is early days, but the pilot scheme which ran in the summer
of 2016, supported by the Youth Sport Trust, resulted in a
100% increase in the self-confidence of the participants, all
attendees became engaged in physical activity themselves
(only 50% were engaged beforehand), and all have been
involved in the delivery of sport including working on
holiday camps, teaching swimming, helping on rowing
development courses and taking lifeguarding qualifications.
Engagement in physical activity needs to become a habit as
important to our education as learning to read and write. We
need to lead by example whether as teachers, parents, carers
or siblings. Perhaps we should all become “Active Leaders”.
Sarah Maxwell is a professional Fitness Trainer currently
running school workshop and talks in the South
East. She can be contacted on 07973 233668
or email sarah@sarahmaxwell.com / sarahmaxwell.com
For more info about Active Leaders courses in your
school, Penny Snowden can be contacted on 07767
778541 or emailed at penny@psconsulting.uk
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42
HoeBridgeSchoolED04.indd 1 10/05/2017 09:54

Be all
you can be
St Ed’s is a school where every pupil is connected by a love of learning, the pursuit of possibility and the
challenge of being the very best they can be.
01227 475601 | www.stedmunds.org.uk
Open Morning
Saturday 30th September
Steyning Grammar School
Day & Boarding in West Sussex
StEdmundsSchoolCanterburyED04.indd 1 09/06/2017 16:21
TOP 10% NATIONALLY
FOR STUDENT PROGRESS
STATE BOARDING
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SINCE 1614
Boarding Admissions open for September 2018 with places
for GCSE (13-16 yrs) and Sixth Form College (16-18 yrs)
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BOARDING judged by
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Find us online
www.sgs.uk.net +44 (0)1903 817601
43 wealdentimes.co.uk
SteyningGrammarED04.indd 1 01/06/2017 10:48

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
CHORISTER EXPERIENCE
Tuesday 10 th October 2017, 2.00–6.00 pm
Visit the School to discover more about life in the Cathedral
Choir and why being a chorister at St Paul’s is the experience
of a lifetime. St Paul’s choristers sing in one of the most famous
and beautiful places of worship in the world, perform in
concerts around the globe, and receive a fi rst-class academic
education at the Cathedral School. Boys are not expected to
have fully-developed voices or much formal singing experience –
enthusiasm, intelligence and musical potential are the keys.
— 100% tuition fees for all choristers
— One of the country’s top preparatory schools
— The most famous cathedral choir in the world
Entry is in Year 3 or Year 4. If your son shows musical
promise, he could become one of the next generation
of choristers at St Paul’s.
For more information please contact:
Clare Morgan, Registrar, St Paul’s Cathedral School
020 7248 5156 · admissions@spcs.london.sch.uk
Cranmore School
StPaulsED04.indd 1 15/06/2017 09:42
SEP 17 SEP 17
Independent Preparatory School
for girls and boys 2 ½ - 13
22 23
OPEN MORNINGS
Friday 22 September
Saturday 23 September 2017
09.30 -11.30
Assisted Places available
01483 280340 www.cranmoreprep.co.uk
admissions@cranmoreprep.co.uk West Horsley, Surrey KT24 6AT
wealdentimes.co.uk
44
CranmorePrepED04.indd 1 09/05/2017 11:47

Education Magazine
Under Pressure
Susan Elkin looks into exam stress and how to relieve it
freeimages.com/Picaland
Managing your children (and yourself) through
the exam season is never going to be easy.
Everyone gets stressed. Not least the teachers
at your child’s school who are probably psyching
their pupils up because they’re worried about results,
Ofsted ratings outcomes and all the rest of it.
Of course we all want our youngsters to acquit themselves
as well as they can. But remember too that every year
there are tragic cases of teenagers getting so stressed and
distressed about examination performance that they take
their own lives. What a dreadful, horrifying, terrifying
distortion of the truth about examination passes.
If your child fails his or her eleven plus, or doesn’t get the
GCSE or A level grades you were all hoping for it is not the
end of the world. But it would be if s/he (or you) were to
become so anxious that illness or worse followed. So try to keep
it all in proportion and help your youngster to do the same.
There are plenty of very successful people out there doing well
in public life who didn’t leave school with much in the way
of pieces of paper. Richard Branson, for one, Russell Brand
for another and Kate Moss gave up schooling at age 14.
None of that, obviously, is to suggest that we actually
want our children to fail but it’s worth clinging on to
the thought that failure is part of life and experiencing it
can be used constructively in learning. And if Emma or
Olly messes up Common Entrance, well there are other
good schools nearby. GCSE and A level can be re-taken.
Or maybe it’s time to look at another way forward.
Bearing all this in mind and keeping calm will help the
whole family to come through the examination season
with health, humour and realism. There are smaller
more practical things you can do at this time too.
Take revision for example. The word means, from Latin,
to look again. Exam preparation should be a case of simply
reminding yourself of the work you’ve already done. It
shouldn’t involve hours and hours of rote learning.
No one of any age, least of all a child whose brain is not
yet fully developed, can “study” for hours at a stretch. I once
taught in a school one of whose year heads, a foolish woman
in my view, told her GCSE students that they must reckon to
“revise” for seven hours a day throughout the Easter holidays.
That, of course, is absurdly unrealistic. Two hours in the
morning followed by some exercise, rest and fun would be
much more sensible. Balance is all. Common sense helps too.
Help your youngster to construct a workable revision timetable
so that each subject gets appropriate attention in the month or
two before the exam/s. I’m dead against last minute revision,
though. The best thing a youngster can do the night before an
exam is to play tennis, go for a swim, listen to some music or
do whatever it is that he or she really likes to do. An early night
with an unrelated enjoyable book will help to get the candidate
into the exam room feeling calm and confident too. Remember
that if you’ve been diligently studying a subject for two or five
or seven years (or your entire school life) then you’re not actually
going to learn any more about it in the last few hours before
an exam. But you can get very anxious by trying to do so.
Discussing the paper afterwards and comparing notes
on who wrote what can add to panic too. The best thing
to do at the end of an exam is to walk away and think of
something else. There is nothing more you can do about
it now. You simply have to wait for the result. If you, as a
parent, can pick your examinee up immediately after the exam
and whisk him or her away then do it. And resist the urge
quiz about which questions were answered and how too.
At home before and during the exam season keep the
atmosphere as tranquil as you can. Provide good healthy
food – salads, soups, jacket potatoes, fruit and the like
– at regular intervals. It keeps the brain working well. Junk,
comfort foods can do the opposite. Family meals and an
insistence that everyone partakes are obviously best if you
can manage that. Spoil the candidate by taking cups of
whatever he likes up to the revision room from time to
time. Biscuits are probably not the best plan. Sugary foods
are never a good idea. Put a handful of dates or raisins on
the saucer instead. Or what about plain oatcakes which,
for me at any rate, go down well with a hot drink?
Above all – and obvious as this is it’s worth spelling out –
make it absolutely clear that you love your exam candidate
unconditionally. That’s why you want him or her to do well.
But at the end of the day your love and support will still be
there more strongly than ever, irrespective of the results.
Further reading
• bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/helping_with_exams/
• nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/
Pages/Coping-with-exam-stress.aspx
• How to Support your Teenager through the Stress
of Revision and Exams by Bernadette Jones (2014)
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Author and education journalist, Susan Elkin taught
English in secondary schools for over 30 years.
45 wealdentimes.co.uk

Dulwich Preparatory School
Cranbrook
Independent day and flexible boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 to 13
‘Intriguing and
breathtaking art’
Visitor to Senior
Art Exhibition May 2017
• Supportive art department nurturing talent at all levels.
• Art Scholarship and Bursary Scheme for Year 5 & 7 entry
• 8 Art Scholarships won to senior schools 2017
registrar@dcpskent.org • 01580 712179 • dcpskent.org

Education Magazine
Road trip
We explore the educational
excursions currently on offer
Dulwich Preparatory School
Marlborough House School
What type of school trips do pupils go on? typical
educational day trips range from the national
gallery, battle abbey, Eastbourne Jazz Festival, olympic
park, richborough, the science Museum, herstmonceux
observatory and every year our year 8 children visit the
houses of parliament. if a trip deepens the children’s
understanding and love for a subject – we schedule it in.
Are there trips available for every subject? we offer a
broad range of trips that will enhance learning potential
across the whole school curriculum. those that provide
opportunities for cross-curricular learning are particularly
special. Music plays an integral part in school life so we
are currently researching an overseas trip for our choirs.
Do pupils get to travel abroad? absolutely. Most recently,
our spanish pupils took in the sights and sounds of Madrid,
our latin students visited the wonderful archaeological
sites and paths less travelled through Medieval rome and
our senior school geographers have been lava tubing
and geyser watching in iceland. our annual ski trip to
switzerland and French exchange trips are always popular.
Do they always take place during term time? not always.
we run an action-packed leavers’ programme in the summer
term, which includes a week of team-building and highenergy
physical challenges at skerne lodge in devon. when
exams are over, year 6 cycle also get to bond with the peers
outside the classroom when they try their hands at canoeing,
mountain biking and orienteering on dartmoor as well as
boogie boarding and a visit to boscastle in cornwall.
What type of trips prove to be the most engaging? those where
pupils can interact with pupils from other schools and countries.
recently, our spanish students spent a day in a large primary
school in Madrid. our children also love living history and any
opportunity to ‘experience’ learning. this year, our children have
tried on space suits at herstmonceux observatory, learnt to tie
a roman toga, re-enacted the battle of hastings and ventured
30 metres underground in a tin mine in the south west.
What type of trips do pupils go on? a vast array of trips,
linked to the curriculum, from a visit to a local fruit farm in
nursery to a one week residential outward bound course to
snowdonia in year 8. our boarders enjoy regular outings and
trips ranging from an evening at the beach at camber sands
to visits to climbing centres and gravity trampolining.
we have a progressive programme of residential outdoor
activities from years 5-8 where the children stay away
from home, camping and exploring the great outdoors.
Are there trips available in every subject? yes, ranging from
visiting lullingstone roman villa for our latinists, to trips
to the west End for drama, a residential trip to Felixstowe
studying coastal erosion for a geography project. we make
use of the fantastic countryside closer to home as well with
walks in the bluebell woods, pond-dipping at sissinghurst etc.
we visit cranbrook town regularly, to learn about the history
of the church, visit the museum and study the different
types of business and industry available in our local town.
recently reception looked at the different shops on offer in
cranbrook and visited the butchers and other local shops.
Do pupils get to travel abroad? there is a whole year group
trip to paris in upper school, with children visiting famous
paris landmarks and practicing their French over a 3 day
period. there are optional trips to a chateau in France for
total language immersion, having fun with outdoor activities
such as canoeing, and even learning to make bread – all in
French! there is an annual ski trip every Easter which is
very popular, particularly the après ski activities. and the
annual trip to wales for the outward bound activities has
been a fixture in the dulwich calendar for over 20 years.
Do they always take place during term time? no,
the optional ski and French trips are at Easter.
What type of trips prove to be the most engaging?
anything which helps to bring the topic to life, such as
our visit to battle, where the children re-enact the battle
of hastings. visits to art galleries to see a picture close up,
listening to live music in a large venue, singing in the o2
stadium with thousands of other school children, these are all
experiences that children will remember for years to come.
Marlborough house school, hawkhurst, Kent
01580 753555 marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk
dulwich prep school, cranbrook, Kent 01580 712179
dcpskent.org

Not too big,
Not too small,
Just right.
By deliberately maintaining a school roll of under 350 pupils,
we remain nimble enough to deliver on our promise: to offer a high
quality education where the focus can truly be on each individual child.
We have an enviable record of Cranbrook entry success over the past 10 years, a 100% CE pass
rate and each year our pupils win scholarships to many leading independent senior schools.
Call us on 01580 753555 to arrange a visit and find out for yourself why ‘Some children really
do skip between lessons here.’ Good Schools Guide Review July 2016
MARLBOROUGH
HOUSE
SCHOOL
Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN18 4PY 01580 753555
marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk/toptenreasonstoregister

Education Magazine
The King’s School
What type of school trips do pupils go on?
There are a variety of school trips on offer for the
children including ski trips to Europe and our ever
popular sports tours. There are foreign exchange
programmes for our linguists. We also run the Milner
Challenge Expedition, which is our very own version
of a mini D of E and our younger pupils visit many
of the wonderful locations a bit closer to home.
Are these trips available for every subject?
There tend to be day trips for most subjects and year
groups. Our Pre-Prep children go on trips to Canterbury
Cathedral, The Marlowe Theatre and Tonbridge Castle
and Years 3 & 4 head off to the British Museum, The
Beaney Institute and The Roman Museum. The Milner
Challenge is available to Years 5-8 and they all undertake
a challenge, ranging from a 1 to 5 day residential trip.
Do pupils get to travel abroad?
Yes, we actively encourage our pupils to take the opportunities
available to experience and enjoy new surroundings and
cultures. Recent sports tours have travelled to Holland
and France, the Spanish Exchange visited Madrid and our
Chapel Choir recently enjoyed a tour of Northern France.
Feltonfleet School
Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1DR
“Where individuals really matter”
Do they always take place during term time?
Whilst our day trips often occur during term time
in order to link with our curriculum, the majority of
our longer trips take place during the school holidays
in order to have the least possible impact on our
academic timetable. Our Milner Challenge Expedition,
however, does take place during term time.
What type of trips prove to be the most engaging?
All of our trips offer something unique. The language trips
present opportunities to transfer the skills from the classroom
to the real world. Our sports tours promote camaraderie,
teamwork, sporting activity and include cultural experiences
too. The Milner Challenge brings out leadership, teamwork
and co-operation. There’s something for everyone.
The King’s School, Canterbury, Kent
01227 595501 kings-school.co.uk
An independent day, weekly and flexi
boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-13
‘Pupils display a maturity, vivacity and sense of fun….
Fab facilities…. A breath of fresh air.’
The Good Schools Guide 2016
‘A wonderful sense of vibrancy and strong academic focus.’
Tatler 2017
‘Excellent’ in every way.
ISI Inspection 2013
Open Mornings
Saturday 30th September 2017 9.30am until 12 Midday
Friday 23rd February 2018 9.00am until 11.30am
Friday 4th May 2018 9.00am until 11.30am
Visits are welcome at other times by appointment
For further details contact Mrs Jackie Williams, Registrar on 01932 862264 admissions@feltonfleet.co.uk
www.feltonfleet.co.uk
49 wealdentimes.co.uk
FeltonfleetED04.indd 1 07/06/2017 10:21

Independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 years
in Kent, near A2/M2, A20/M20 & M25. Local daily transport available.
• ‘Pupils’ academic achievement is excellent.’ ISI Report 2015
• Individual development through adventure, challenge, and international understanding
• An inspirational setting where high levels of success are achieved in all areas including
Art, Drama, Music and Sport
• Arrange a visit and discover everything Cobham Hall can offer your daughter:
www.cobhamhall.com/visit
www.cobhamhall.com
T: +44(0)1474 823371

Education Magazine
a way with words
English teacher Milly Potter shares the reasons
behind her enduring love of poetry
p
oetry, particularly in the
form of nursery rhymes,
is crucial to children’s
language development.
as a relatively new mum,
i have found myself
in the throes of learning to recite once
more: suddenly i know a whole litany of
poems again; albeit a jumbled mass of
mostly first stanzas (who really knows all
the verses of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?!)
and i have others where i have combined
the ‘real’ lines with a few of my own (my
personal bedtime version of Lavender’s
Blue is very nearly accurate, or at least, i
have learned my own version perfectly).
have these poems been easier for
me to learn because they have actions,
or is it because i have a greater sense
of purpose to the learning (the all
important entertainment of my toddler)?
i have found myself reuniting with
many a childhood character recently:
grand old dukes; sleeping bunnies;
teddy bears and mice to name a few.
why then, if we love rhymes so freely
as young children, do we tend to lose
this appreciation as we get older? we
continue to learn and sing favourite songs
but, i fear, don’t often choose to curl up
with a book of poetry. prose and stories
win our selection: their meanings and
characters are often easier to decipher,
but poems are different: each reader
gives their own nuances to them and
actually, i would argue, this makes them
ultimately more exciting and accessible.
something i love about poems is
their ability to tell an entire story in a
foreshortened piece. the Once Upon a Poem
collection is brilliant and includes some of
my favourite narrative poems, written by
various authors. Each is championed with
an introduction by a famous storyteller.
in just a few pages it is possible to be
swept away on noah’s ark (which has set
sail without a unicorn because of the lazy
nature of one of noah’s sons, ham); to
fall in love with a
highwayman by
moonlight, as bess
the landlord’s
daughter does, and
laugh out loud at
naughty goldilocks’
mischief.
Each poem is
accompanied by
beautiful illustrations; it’s an eye-catching,
exciting read for children, that’s for sure.
in the introduction to his collection
of poems entitled Now We Are Six, a.
a. Milne exclaims that reciting poems is
something we never do (he is nearly right:
i draw your attention once again to my
recent return to nursery rhymes), however,
for me his poems cry out to be read aloud:
Binker is my personal favourite. the secret
of his own – an imaginary friend whose
constancy is ultimately important when
parents are busy – surely bears resemblance
to many children’s own toys and imaginary
characters who come to life? coupled with
E. h. shepard’s well known illustrations,
this classic collection, accompanied with
When We Were Very Young is a delightful and
amusing read to be shared (aloud please).
carol ann duffy, our current poet
laureate, is one of my favourite poets and
her New and Collected Poems for Children
is a real feast. the first in the collection
calls the words of poems ‘fishing-nets,
stars and spells’ and her words cast all
sorts of magic. dip in and out at your
leisure and you’ll meet a variety of
characters: people and animals alike and
be reassured by her portrayal of emotions,
no matter your age. as for me? i hope i
am as inspirational to some as her teacher
who has chalk dust that sparkles.
Milly potter teaches English at dulwich
preparatory school, cranbrook dcpskent.org
51 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Our alumni certainly go on to achieve extraordinary
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Robyn Exton for example, mastered complex
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It’s worth considering then, that many of the skills
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acquired here at Sevenoaks.
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Every day at Sevenoaks, students practise complex problem solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, negotiation, team working
and service provision – essential skills our alumni will use to excel at jobs which have yet to be invented and to reshape their world.

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Education Magazine
Family Flavours
Professional chef Claire Thomson shares three childfriendly
recipes that the whole family can enjoy together
Old-school fish finger sandwiches, but better! Using
ready-prepared smoked fish means that these fish cakes
are easy to make. Serve in buttered soft rolls. Tomato
ketchup has also been known to make an appearance.
• 800g floury potatoes (about
2 large potatoes), peeled
and cut into 4cm cubes
• 400g smoked fish (trout
or mackerel), skin and
bones removed
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise,
plus extra to serve
• 1 large egg, beaten
Fish-Cake Sandwich
• salt and freshly ground
black pepper
• 2 tbsp fine dried
breadcrumbs, plus about
• 50g to coat the fish cakes
• Small bunch of chives or
parsley, finely chopped
• vegetable oil for frying
• buttered soft rolls, to serve
• soft lettuce leaves, to serve
• ½ lemon, to serve
1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until
cooked through – about 15 minutes.
2. Drain well and leave to steam dry in the colander,
then mash the potatoes and set aside to cool.
3. Meanwhile, shred the smoked fish into flakes.
wealdentimes.co.uk
54
4. Stir the mustard, mayonnaise, egg and ½ teaspoon
salt into the mashed potatoes. Gently fold in the
flaked fish with 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs and the
chopped herbs until everything is evenly distributed
and holding together nicely. If you think the mix is
too wet, add another tablespoon of breadcrumbs.
5. Scoop a tablespoon of the fish and potato mixture
and roll it between your palms to form a ball.
6. Pat each ball into a flat patty (round or oblong to match
the shape of your rolls) about 3cm thick, set aside on
a plate and continue with the remaining mix. Sprinkle
the fish cakes both sides with additional breadcrumbs.
7. Coat a non-stick frying pan with vegetable oil and place
the pan over a high heat. You want the oil very hot before
you add the fish cakes. Fry them in a single layer, being sure
not to overcrowd the pan, for about 2 minutes on each side
until the fish cakes are golden brown with a good crust.
8. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen towel to soak up
excess fat while you fry the remaining fish cakes.
9. To serve, add the fish cakes to the rolls with a
leaf or two of lettuce, some mayonnaise, salt
and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

Education Magazine
three bean & cheese Quesadillas
tinned beans are the stealth ingredient to boost protein,
fibre and nutrients in many dishes. they are a thrifty
and reliable store cupboard ingredient: supermarket
own brand beans (cannellini, borlotti, kidney, butter,
black-eyed, haricot) are extremely cheap and easy to
come by. this is a meal that everyone enjoys, young
and old, give or take additional chilli sauce.
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves,
finely sliced
• 1 tsp sweet smoked
paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 3 x 400g tins assorted
beans, drained and rinsed
• chipotle chilli paste
or dried chilli flakes,
to taste (optional)
• salt
• small bunch of coriander,
roughly chopped
• salad
• 1 ripe avocado, diced
• 2 ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 red onion, finely
sliced or diced
• juice of 1 lime
To serve
• 4 large tortilla wraps
• grated cheese, such
as cheddar
• chilli sauce
• sour cream
1. heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan over
a moderate heat and fry the onion until soft and
golden – about 8–10 minutes. add the garlic and
spices and fry for another couple of minutes.
2. add the beans to the pan and mix thoroughly with
the onions. give the beans a good mash with a
potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon.
3. add the chilli if using and season with salt to
taste. cook over a moderate heat for about
5 minutes so the beans heat through.
4. take the pan off the heat and add the coriander.
5. to make the salad, combine the avocado, tomatoes and
onion with the lime juice and a good pinch of salt.
6. to assemble the quesadillas, lay the wraps on a work
surface and smother one half of each wrap with the
mashed bean mix. cover the bean mix with about a
tablespoon of grated cheese and fold the wrap over.
7. in a dry frying pan over a moderate heat, cook
the half-moon-shaped wraps until the surface is
crisp and golden in patches and the cheese within
has melted – about 2-3 minutes on each side.
8. chop the quesadilla into two or three triangles and
serve with chilli sauce, sour cream and salad.
55 wealdentimes.co.uk

Ardingly College
Bedes, Bryanston, Benenden, Bethany,
Brighton College, Box Hill, Bedales
Croydon High, Caterham, Canford,
Cedars, Charterhouse, Cranleigh
Dunnotar Epsom College
Find the right school for your child
Grab the chance to interrogate these
and eighteen other leading Independent
Senior Schools
H is for Hazelwood Senior Schools’ Fair
Saturday 9th September 2017
10.00am until 12 noon
www.hazelwoodschool.co.uk. Contact Nick Tappin on 01883 733841

Education Magazine
sausage & tomato pasta on ricotta
ricotta is a terrific ingredient to have on standby in
your fridge. halfway between cream and cheese, these
soft milky curds are great in both sweet and savoury
dishes. a heady sausage and tomato pasta sauce resting
on the ricotta makes a brilliant combination.
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil,
plus extra to serve
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• ½ fennel bulb,
finely diced
• 4 pork sausages
• 2 garlic cloves,
finely chopped
• ½ tsp fennel seeds
• 6-8 fresh sage leaves
or 1 tbsp rosemary,
finely chopped
• chilli flakes, to
taste (optional, but
rather good here)
• 400g tin chopped
tomatoes
• salt and freshly ground
black pepper
• 300g penne pasta (or
similar robust pasta shape)
• 100g ricotta, at
room temperature
• freshly grated
parmesan, to serve
1. heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan
over a moderate heat and fry the onion and
fennel until soft and translucent.
2. squeeze the sausage meat out of the casings and add to
the pan. turn up the heat to high and fry until the sausage
meat begins to colour at the edges – about 6–8 minutes.
3. add the garlic and fennel seeds and cook for a further
30 seconds. add the chopped herbs and chilli flakes if
using, then add the tomatoes and season with a little
salt and pepper. simmer for 15 minutes or until the
flavours have melded and the sauce has thickened.
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta as instructed on
the packet. when cooked, drain and add to
the tomato sauce. check the seasoning.
5. put a spoonful or two of ricotta on each plate or
bowl and divide the pasta among the
dishes, drizzling with a little olive oil
and plenty of grated parmesan.
National Trust Family Cookbook by claire thomson is published by national trust books. images: Jill Mead.
57 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education Magazine
Mixed
Media
A visual showcase of student art
▼ Angelina Ivanyuzhenkov, Year 8 Feltonfleet School
▼ Alexander McGregor-Todd, Year 7 Downsend School
▲ Emily Kerr, Year 8 Hazelwood School
▲ Alisa Dozorceva, Sixth Forrm Lancing College
▼ Emily Worby, Year 7 Feltonfleet School
▼ Kirsty Gaston, Year 12 Reigate Grammar
▲ Kathy, Year 13 Heathfield School
▼ Tamsin Anderson, Year 8 Hazelwood School ▼ James Manning, Year 7 Hoe Bridge School
Henry White,
Year 8
Feltonfleet School

Education Magazine
▲ Gemma Mawdsley and Leo Nichols, year 4 hoe bridge school
▲ Alexandra Codd, year 7 saint ronan’s school
▲ Annabelle Quessy, year 8 hazelwood school
▼ Max Ingleby, year 13, reigate grammar
▲ Grace Parsley, year 8 saint ronan’s school ▲ Jo Xiao, year 13 hurstpierpoint college
▲ George Wilson, year 5 hoe bridge school
▲ Sam
Rivers, year 7
lanesborough
school
▼ Benji, year 13, acs cobham
▲ Zach Mayhew, year 2 saint ronan’s school
▲ Charlotte Pay, year 6 hazelwood school
▲ Aidan Golding and Tom Foote, year
5 hoe bridge school

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Painting Illustrated : David Atkins - Entrance to the Harbour, Poole - Oil on Canvas - 110 x 150 cm

Education Magazine
▼ Freddie Lacey, Year 8
Lanesborough School
▲ Romy Gardiner, Year 13 Hurstpierpoint College
▲ Alisa Dozorceva, Sixth Form Lancing College
▲ Ben Glynne, Year 8 Feltonfleet School
▼ Sasha Year 12 Heathfield School
▲ Charlie Mhyre, Year 13 Hurstpierpoint College
▲ Tattie, Year 12 Heathfield School
▼ Dylan Toulson, Year 8 Lanesborough School
▲ Lily Stewart, Year 7 Saint Ronan’s School
▲ Lavinia Webb, Year 8 Dulwich
Preparatory School
Elliot King, Year 5
Lanesborough School

May fi eld
CATHOLIC DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11 TO 18
EXTENSIVE MINIBUS SERVICE ACROSS SUSSEX AND KENT
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EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT
EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME - SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE
JENNIFER GANDY REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG 01435 874642
MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG
Open Mornings
WEDNESDAY 20 TH SEPTEMBER 2017
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Education Magazine
▼ Henry White, Year 8 Feltonfleet School
▲ Lily Stewart, Year 7 Saint Ronan’s School ▲ Maisie Kirby, Year 8 Saint Ronan’s School
▼ Ben Cooke, Year 11 Hurstpierpoint College ▲ Toyin, Year 12 Heathfield School ▲ Emily Kerr, Year 8 Hazelwood School
▲ M.Stanley, Year 11 Frewen College
▼ Maddie McDonald, Year 8 Saint Ronan’s School
▲ E.Daniell, Year 11 Frewen College
63 wealdentimes.co.uk
▲ Darcey Ralph, Year
2 Marlborough House

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Top academic results from a broad ability intake
Extensive Sports facilities • Boarding from 11
Wide range of scholarships for 11+, 13+, 16+ entry
Cathedral Chorister scholarships for 8+ boys & 10+ girls
First rate independent education for boys and girls aged 3-18
01634 888590 admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk www.kings-rochester.co.uk
Extensive daily minibus service including: Blackheath, Gravesend, King’s Hill, Maidstone, Rainham, Sevenoaks
wealdentimes.co.uk
64
KingsSchoolRochesterED04.indd 1 14/06/2017 16:36

Education Magazine
Family
Fun Days
Our pick of weekend activities
and days out for families across
Kent, Sussex & Surrey...
A Royal Invitation...
A family ticket to Hampton Court
Palace starts at just £35.60 for 1
adult and up to 3 children if you
book online, and gives you and your
family access to the palace, maze and
gardens. The palace has all that a
family could want with its children’s
activity trails, babycare, buggies, the
great time quest game and multisensory
sessions for under fours on
top of all of its fascinating historical
experiences and exhibitions.
hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
Ape Escape...
Leeds Castle’s Go Ape!
adventure is a wild and
wonderful opportunity for
families of all ages to try out
zip wires, a Tarzan swing and
all sorts of hair-raising tree top
activities. Plus, once you’re all
worn out, the loveliest castle in
the world, with its 9 hole golf
course, swan filled moat, and
500 acres of stunning parkland
and gardens, is right there to
explore. Check out: goape.co.uk
Set Sail...
Step onboard one of Dover Sea Safari’s
special vessels at Dover Marina to explore
Kentish fishing villages, meet the secret seals
of Pegwell Bay, or walk the Goodwin Sands,
with a choice of marine adventures that are
perfect for families. doverseasafari.co.uk
Blue Reef Aquarium...
The strange and exotic
creatures of the underwater
world gather together at
Hastings’ Blue Reef Aquarium.
Take the whole family to
explore over 40 naturally
themed habitats and discover
the world’s most venomous
fish, Nemo’s cousin clownfish,
jawsome sharks and so much
more. bluereefaquarium.co.uk
This art of mine...
Bring out your creative side with
This Art of Mine, a friendly local
studio in Thurnham, Maidstone.
Drop-in and paint some pottery,
design a t-shirt or bag and relax
in the laid-back atmosphere
with a free cup of tea or coffee.
Or, if you book ahead, there
are classes and clubs for adults
and children, or baby hand
65 and wealdentimes.co.uk
footprint keepsake making
sessions. thisartofmine.co.uk

OPEN DAYS
13+ Entry - 14th October 2017, 10th March 2018, 16th June 2018
Sixth Form Entry - 7th October 2017, 28th April 2018, 6th October 2018
www.kings-school.co.uk

Woodland
Adventure...
Perfect for families
with additional four
legged friends, Alice
Holt Forest is very
dog friendly and is
also ideal for cyclists
and wheelchair users,
with its wide open
forest landscape and
fantastic variety of trails
including the Gruffalo
trail which works with
an augmented reality
Gruffalo Spotter app
to help you track down
the forest’s beasties.
forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt
Blackland Farm
Outdoor Activity Centre
Come and join us for
fun-filled activity days.
Why not have your
birthday party here too?
Kayaking
Canoeing
Bungee trampolining
Rock climbing
Archery
Crate challenge
Zip wire
Abseiling
Aeroball...
...and many more!
01342 810493
blackland@girlguiding.org.uk
www.blacklandfarm.org.uk
Jump Around...
With active
amusements including
dodgeball, basketball
slam dunk, foam
pit and a main
court full of 50
interconnected wall
to wall trampolines,
AirHop Guildford will
have you jumping for
joy over weekends and
bank holidays. And for
any readers with teeny
toddlers under 5 there
are now Tuesday and
Wednesday sessions for
mini AirHoppers too!
airhop-guildford.com
Blackland Farm
BlacklandFarmWT138.indd 1 10/07/2013 17:31
All about the
Animals...
Visit the birds,
butterflies, wildlife,
creepy crawlies and
farm animals of the
Rare Breeds Centre
for a day of outdoorsy
animal-orientated
activities. They have
everything you could
ask for; pig-racing,
falconry, even free
parking and a little
shop. Check out:
rarebreeds.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 239992. Company No. 633098
wealdentimes.co.uk
KentWildlifeTrustED04.indd 1 15/06/2017 14:30

Open Days
www.acs-schools.com/opendays
Your dreams. Their future.
At ACS we believe a love of lifelong learning starts early. Our carefully selected activities nurture essential skills, strengthen meaningful
social interaction and encourage critical thinking from a young age. Our teachers promote creative thinking and inspire children to succeed
at every stage of their educational journey with us. That is why so many ACS graduates go on to attend the finest universities in the UK
and around the world, and why more and more local and globally mobile parents entrust us to deliver on their precious academic dreams.
To find out more about us, and our world renowned programmes, please visit www.acs-schools.com. Alternatively call either
ACS Cobham +44 (0)1932 869744, ACS Egham +44 (0)1784 430611, ACS Hillingdon +44 (0)1895 818402. ACS schools are
non-sectarian and co-educational (day and boarding) for students 2 to 18 years of age.

Education Magazine
acs cobham’s
sports facilities
ib: global passport to Education
ACS International Schools explains why they consider the
International Baccalaureate programme so valuable
world map: freeimages.com/Martin Fabricius
t
he international baccalaureate diploma
programme (ibdp) is taught at over
3,000 schools and is one of the fastest
growing education programmes in
the world – for good reason.
an alternative to a levels
and other post-16 qualifications, the ibdp is a
recognised entrance qualification at universities
worldwide and is highly valued for its academic
rigour whilst instilling an international mindset.
acs international schools, which has campuses in
cobham and Egham, has offered the two-year ibdp, for
students aged 16 to 18, for over 30 years – making it one
of the most experienced ib world schools in the uK.
university admissions officers consistently cite
the ibdp over other exams systems, including a
levels, as the best preparation for university.
as part of research carried out on behalf of acs
international schools, the ib and ib schools and
colleges association, admissions officers were asked
to rate different exam systems according to how they
develop 14 essential qualities in students. the ibdp was
rated top in developing 13 out of 14 factors considered
crucial for preparing students to thrive at university.
skills best provided by the ibdp for university and
the world of work include encouraging independent
inquiry, developing self management skills, nurturing
an open mind and developing intercultural skills.
the ib is often referred to as the global passport
to education and recent acs graduates have gone on
to study at universities all over the world including
higher education establishments in the uK, as well as
argentina, australia, canada, Japan, the netherlands,
russia, spain and the us, to name just a few.
through the ib diploma and exposure to a diverse mix
of students at an international school, students benefit
from an enriching education allowing them to mature
into well-rounded individuals with a better understanding
of the world around them – an outlook highly prized by
international employers and global universities alike.
For more information on acs’ upcoming open days,
visit acs-schools.com.
69 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education Magazine
Safe Journey
Motorists’ lawyer David Barton
explains how the law differs for
new drivers and gives his advice
for staying out of harm’s way
freeimages.com/CYazici
Road traffic law can be complex and the internet is
full of inaccurate information. Most laws apply to
all drivers but there are some that apply just to new
ones. A new driver is someone who is in their “probationary
period” and that is a period that runs exactly two years
from the date you pass your test. Most newly qualified
drivers are young but the law applies whatever your age.
Some road traffic offences result in a straight disqualification
but many lead to penalty points. You need to understand how
this works.
• If you get 6 or more penalty points as a result of offences
committed in your probationary period your licence will be
automatically revoked and you won’t be able to drive. You will
have to apply for a new provisional licence and retake the theory
and practical tests. You should be very careful to note the exact
date you passed your test because even offences committed during
the last few days of the two year period will count against you.
• The penalties for mobile phone/device use have just
increased from 3 to 6 points, so if you even pick it up you
risk having your licence revoked. If you have an accident
because you are distracted by your phone the penalties
are far more severe and include prison. My advice is
don’t do it. The police are really hot on this now.
• Speeding offences carry a minimum of 3 points and so two
modest ones in two years will lead to a licence revocation. Fines
for serious speeding offences have just been increased and the
courts are treating them much more harshly. You can also be
disqualified for speeding even if it’s your first offence. This
will also result in a big increase in your insurance premium.
• Check you are properly insured for the type of driving you
do and extend it for work if you need to. It’s your responsibility
to check you have proper insurance. Many new drivers use
cars that are in a family pool policy, where someone else
makes the arrangements. If that person makes a mistake and
the car is not insured, you will be responsible. If you are not
insured properly your car will be impounded by the police
and driving without insurance carries 6 penalty points. That
will lead to licence revocation. So just check it’s all in order.
• Don’t try and guess how much alcohol you can drink and
stay under the legal limit. It varies from person to person
and guessing is risky. It’s not difficult to be just over the
limit, even if you feel ok. Again, the best advice is don’t do
it. You will be banned for at least 12 months with a criminal
record that could be a problem with job applications and
travel abroad. The cost of insurance will shoot up and you
may not be able to afford to drive again for a long time.
David Barton can be contacted on 01580 292409 or
07876 711708 and see his website motorists-lawyer.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
70

Education Magazine
getting
ahead
Julie Redding, head of Entrepreneurship
at sevenoaks school explains how
entrepreneurial and enterprise skills are
being nurtured amongst their students
What is the Institute of Service &
Entrepreneurship? Why has it been created?
the institute of service & Entrepreneurship is a virtual
institute, or strategic area of focus for the school. it was
created as part of the vision for the future, and in order
to strengthen the school’s position at the forefront of
international education. the institute has three pillars:
service, charity and Entrepreneurship and a clear mission
“to inspire contribution to society in a sustainable
fashion throughout life by developing a service ethos,
entrepreneurial activities and community spirit”.
Is it suitable for everyone? How does it
work alongside the curriculum?
we hope that the institute will have an impact on all
of our students. we currently have a wide range of
local service activities conducted by a large number of
our students every thursday during our allocated vsu
(voluntary service unit) afternoon. charitable activities
are conducted around the timetable with a huge host of
fundraising initiatives, an annual charity week held for each
separate area of the school, and international ‘proMo’
trips that include both service activities on the ground
in a developing country, and substantial fundraising.
both service and charity activities are an extremely
useful vehicle for teaching entrepreneurial skills to our
students, however we have now put a further focus on
developing entrepreneurial skills and the mindset of a
social entrepreneur. at present, we have a number of
activities organised through which we take the students
off timetable to develop their entrepreneurial skills. these
include a social Enterprise day for sixth Form students,
plus a variety of co-curricular activities such as competitions
during global Entrepreneurship week, a business plan
competition and a Dragons’ Den style pitching Final.
various activities run in conjunction with our hE
department such as ‘insight days’ in which we take
students to learn about businesses and different industries,
and work related training including working on real life
challenges for local organisations. we have also introduced
specific workshops on topics like ideation, and product
design, negotiation skills, and networking aimed at
developing specific skills. we are planning to further
integrate these activities into the curriculum over time.
How does it help to prepare students for the future?
we no longer know which jobs will exist, and so instead
we concentrate on developing the entrepreneurial skills,
knowledge and mindset that students will need to
succeed in the rapidly changing future work environment.
we are also aware that our students will be leaders of
the future, and as such we want to prepare them to
be responsible, ethically minded leaders, who will act
for the good of society in their future ventures.
What type of skills do they learn?
specific skills include creativity, complex problem solving,
communication skills, collaboration, and resilience
as well as digital competency. relevant knowledge
is important such as developing an understanding
of the business environment and financial literacy.
we also look at risk taking, one’s entrepreneurial
intentions, proactivity, and the ability to make
decisions with the information available at hand.
Find out more about the institute of service & Entrepreneurship at sevenoaks school by visiting sevenoaksschool.org
71 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education Magazine
The Great
Escape
We speak to two students from the South East about why they
made the decision to take a year out and a year abroad
Fergus
Doyle
23
Fergus Doyle took a year out to
study abroad after his second year
of a degree course in English and
American Literature at University
of Kent. He is currently writing
his final year dissertation
Katherine
Gomes
19
Katherine Gomes decided to take a year
out before heading off to university. She
explains why she made the choices she did
and how her year has worked out so far
What made you take a year out
before starting university?
A lot of people consider there to be
a stigma regarding Gap Years – that
Universities frown upon students that
don’t immediately prioritise academia and
will favour those that have. However it’s
simply not true! I believe that I have had
the same opportunities as those who went
straight to uni and it’s even favourable in
some respects as I already have my grades.
I think there’s a lot of pressure for students
at school – it’s drilled into you that there’s
one route to take, i.e. you get your GCSEs
to get your A Levels to then get your
degree at uni. When it came to writing
a personal statement I kept putting it
off for lack of knowing what subject I
wanted to do and where I wanted to
go, and when I realised that’s why I had
been procrastinating, I knew a year out
was the right choice for me. I definitely
think it’s worth having extra time to make
the right decision rather than plumping
for the wrong choice for the sake of it.
What did you do for your year?
I’d like to say it was non stop travelling
but, alas, the reality is more full time
work. However I far from resent that – I
do love my job. I have been working as
a sales assistant at Levi’s Ashford Outlet
and, although this doesn’t immediately
relate to what I’ll be studying at uni, I
value having the experience of what life
will be like in a permanent position in
the workplace once I have my degree.
It has also shown me that, as much as I
love my job, I am ready to go back into
education rather than starting a career. I
have ultimately been saving to travel, and
in June I will be doing exactly that! I will
be jetting off to Peru to climb Machu
Picchu and I could not be more excited.
Why did you make the
decision to travel?
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long
time, really. Simply put, there’s a big wide
world out there and I haven’t seen enough
of it. Plus, I’m a firm believer that travel
broadens our understanding of culture in
a way academia or a classroom cannot.
What will you be going on to study?
English with Creative Writing at
The University of Nottingham. A
decision I don’t think I would have
made if I hadn’t taken my year out.
What advice would you give to
someone looking to work for a
year before starting university?
I would say get the best grades you can
and if you’re not sure what the next step
for you is then a year out is the way
to go. Although, I don’t think a year
of solely working should be how it’s
done. Yes, it’s all good experience and
it’s money for university or to kick-start
your independence, but I think there’s
so much that can be done in a year apart
from working, so make use of that time!
Whether it’s volunteering, travelling or
perhaps landing work in a field related to
a career you’d like to pursue one day. After
all, it’s about getting your foot in the door,
and universities are looking for that drive
and initiative to make of the world what
you please, so show them you have it.
What made you decide to
study abroad for a year?
It just always seemed like an
amazing opportunity, and
one which the university I
did my undergrad at (Kent)
offered quite freely, especially
for Erasmus programmes.
Where did you go and
what did you do?
I went to Charles University
in Prague to study Literature
(I stopped saying English, as
everyone I met on Erasmus
assumed I was talking about
English Language, which I
actually know very little about!).
Did you feel that it
enhanced your studies?
Definitely. The workload was
quite a lot higher and, even if the
expected standard was slightly
lower, it helped me with planning
ahead with regards to essay writing.
Has your placement influenced
any decisions you may make
about your career path?
It has encouraged me to look
at a career in publishing, as one
aspect of the course was to intern
at a small publishing house which
ran out of the university. I found
this work very interesting and
would like to put this experience
to use later in my career.
What advice would you give to
someone looking to study abroad
as part of their university course?
Don’t worry about culture
shock; it’ll seem a bit weird at
first, but by the end of the year
you’ll feel weirder at home than
in your chosen destination.
wealdentimes.co.uk
72

Think you need
a strong partner
when your
marriage ends?
I do.
Talisker
Lower Sixth
Politician
You are warmly invited to our
Senior School Open Morning
Saturday 16 September 2017
9.30am to noon (Entry at 13 and 16)
HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding
Boys and girls 13 to 18
You’ll want
Rupi Rai as yours.
Rupi, part of the award winning
Divorce and Family Team at Slater and
Gordon, London, is one of the most
accomplished lawyers in her field.
Her cases often involve international issues
and she frequently acts for clients with
complex financial arrangements,
including business, trusts, third party
interests and foreign property. She also
boasts a wealth of experience advising on
pensions, helping you start your next
chapter with everything you’re entitled to.
Call us on 0203 319 2685
slatergordon.co.uk
Offices in London, Watford, Cambridge,
Milton Keynes and throughout the UK
To register please contact:
admissions@bedes.org
T 01323 843252
or online at bedes.org
Bede’s Senior School
Upper Dicker
East Sussex BN27 3QH
Family | Employment | Estate Planning | Wills and Probate | Property | Business Legal Services
Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

@saintronans
/SaintRonans
www.saintronans.co.uk
© Sarah Clark Photography
“What’s not to love...”
Good Schools Guide 2016
...about academic success at Saint Ronan’s?
‘Excellent’ teaching, learning and pupil achievement (ISI)
25 academic scholarships won in last 5 years
100% Common Entrance & Cranbrook pass at 13+
Close links with a wide breadth of Senior Schools
Growth mindset an embedded philosophy
Integrated approach to learning and pastoral care
“This lot achieve loads of
scholarships, with leavers to more
than 60 different seniors
in the past decade”
Tatler Schools Guide 2017
Discover Saint Ronan’s
Book an appointment on 01580 752271 or e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk
Boys & Girls 3-13 years | Founded 1883 | Hawkhurst, Kent | 01580 752271