Private School News

STAINES PREP, MIDDLESEX – Discover the Magic of Maths

Staines Prep has introduced a special ‘Maths Week’ to its annual calendar of events. The new programme, designed specifically for the Lower School, is dedicated to all things mathematical. It aims to develop the children’s knowledge and enjoyment of numeracy whilst exploring the importance of maths and its links to other areas of the school curriculum.

Children from Nursery to Year 2 delved into the fascinating world of maths. Each had the chance to take part in a variety of fun and hands-on challenges, many of which took place in the playground. They ranged from Sudoku to building a metre cube, from measuring a snake to playing giant snakes and ladders.

As part of the special week, guest Mathemagician Andrew Jeffrey entertained each year group with his ‘Magic of Maths’ show. The show had been carefully designed to change children’s attitudes to maths, encouraging mathematical language and thinking. During the show Andrew’s book, Magic for Kids, was on sale, raising £54 for the charity Barnardos.

The final segment of the week required pupils and teachers to put their ‘thinking caps on’ as they were asked to design and make a ‘Thinking Hat for Maths’. Each hat was then modelled at a spectacular hat parade during Lower School assembly.

Mrs Carol Donnelly, Maths teacher, Year 2 coordinator and organiser of Maths Week commented;
“This week has given pupils the opportunity to explore maths, as well as encouraging them to work in teams and with different year groups.

“Maths has played an even more important role in the curriculum than usual and many other subjects carried a maths theme, pushing it to the forefront of people’s minds. We are delighted with the children’s response to this hugely successful event.”

KING’S SCHOOL ELY – Successful flautists

Former Ely Cathedral chorister Luke Cunnah is in final sixth form year at the King’s School Ely but already he has letters after his name and the right to wear an academic hood and gown.

The 18-year-old is a talented flautist and passed his grade 8 flute exams while he was studying for GCSE.

Now, in the midst of A-level exams, he has heard he has been successful at diploma level – something usually achieved after the first year of study at university.

Luke was awarded his diploma by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is now entitled to write Dip ABRSM after his name.

Fellow sixth former and flautist Charlotte Sivier was also awarded a recital diploma by Trinity College London and is entitled to write Dip ATCL after her name.

Luke is head of King’s Barbers, the close harmony group of ex-choristers, and is taking music, chemistry and biology at A-level. He plans a gap year before going to university.

Charlotte, who head of King’s Concert Band, is also taking music as well as drama and dance at A-level. She has a place on an executive PA course in Oxford.

Photo: Charlotte Sivier

KING’S BRUTON SCHOOL celebrates its 491st Birthday

Founded in 1519, King’s Bruton is one of the country’s oldest public schools and so it is with great pride that, every year, it celebrates its commemoration. Pupils, staff and governors process to church where they use the same order of service as followed by their predecessors centuries before. This year the preacher was The Rev. Jonathan Fletcher from Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon. After the service, the celebrations continued with drinks in the Memorial Hall and luncheon in the dining hall.

RHS provides a happy and fulfilling educational experience

‘The high quality of pastoral care and the commitment of the staff ensure a happy and fulfilling educational experience’ according to independent school inspectors in their report on The Royal Hospital School (RHS) issued last week.

The inspection of the Royal Hospital School, a coeducational boarding and day school for approximately 680 11 to 18 years olds set in 200 acres overlooking the River Stour at Holbrook, took place over two days in February and three days in March. It was conducted by an experienced team of Heads and teachers from other ISC (Independent School’s Council) accredited schools across the country. The objective of the inspection is to assess whether the School is meeting its stated aims and to ensure that standards are maintained and that relevant legal requirements are complied with.

Headmaster, Mr. Howard Blackett, who has been in post since 2004, explains that the School’s aims are “to provide a civilised, caring, Christian community where pupils are helped to develop their full potential and encouraged to develop qualities such as personal responsibility, honesty, reliability, truthfulness, integrity, independence, adaptability, perseverance, initiative and self confidence.” He was therefore delighted at the findings of the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) report which state that that “pupils have outstandingly well-developed personal qualities: they are ready to become active, responsible citizens who will contribute to society in a positive manner, exercise good judgment and show tolerance, courtesy and respect for others. They are friendly, confident and outgoing and loyal to their house and school. The school very successfully fulfils its aims concerning the development of values and personal qualities.”

The report is divided into specific sections and, in each one, the conclusions made were “overall extremely pleasant reading” according to Mr. Blackett. Comments such as ‘standards are high. Pupils are well educated in accordance with the school’s aims. They are articulate, confident and capable of independent thought. Results in GCSE and A Level examinations over the last three years, for which nationally comparable data is available, have been high’ were received and Mr. Blackett goes on to say, “we are dedicated to further improving on these high academic standards and results, not least through our new Gifted and Talented programme which has been put in place to support and extend pupils who are more able in specific subject areas”.

The ISI Inspection team recognised that the School has been through a period of enormous structural change and development under Mr Blackett’s leadership and the positive feedback and recommended actions reflected this. Not least, the £18 million house-refurbishment which the inspection team believed has created ‘first class accommodation which is both warm and welcoming’ and they praised the pastoral care and support provided by the House system by saying ‘the Houses are the heart of the school community; their friendly, family ethos fosters the pupil’s loyalty and respect’.

The full report can be read at www.royalhospitalschool.org and the School can viewed on Saturday 8th May when an Open Morning will be held from 9am.

Party manifestoes scrutinised by the Head on the BBC

Mrs Taylor in ‘Manifesto Corner’
Head of Christ College Mrs Emma Taylor has been part of a panel who have been scrutinising the main political parties Welsh manifestoes on the BBC Radio Wales ‘Good Morning Wales’ programme.

It has become affectionately known as ‘Manifesto Corner’ – a corner of the BBC Canteen – and it is where Mrs Taylor has been joined by Dr Jonathan Deacon, a senior lecturer in marketing & entrepreneurship at Newport Business School, and BBC Wales’ Political Editor Betsan Powys. The discussions have been facilitated by ‘Good Morning Wales’ presenters Rhun ap Iorweth and Bethan Rhys Roberts.

On Wednesday 14th April, the panel examined Plaid Cymru’s manifesto and on Friday 16th April it was the turn of the Labour Party’s manifesto for Wales to come under scrutiny. On Saturday 17th, Mrs Taylor and Dr Deacon were joined by the BBC’s Welsh Affairs Editor Vaughan Roderick to analyse the Liberal Democrats manifesto for Wales. On Monday 19th, the panel ran the rule over the Conservative Party’s manifesto, and finally the manifesto of UKIP and some of the other minor parties were analysed on Tuesday 20th April.

OXBRIDGE BECKONS FOR SEVEN AT STONYHURST

SEVEN Stonyhurst pupils have been offered places this year at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Sixth formers Joe Lea from Stonyhurst, Gabriel Cohen for Hebden Bridge, Lucy Wang from Shanghai and Sarah Whitehouse Chichester, have conditional offers at Oxford.

Joe will read Mathematics, Gabriel will study History, Lucy Engineering, and Sarah will read Theology.

Cambridge University has offered places to Elizabeth Graffius and John Watts. Elizabeth from Stonyhurst is looking forward to studying the History of Art and John from Clitheroe will read Social and Political Sciences.

One other pupil has also gained a place at Cambridge, studying Natural Science.

Andrew Johnson, the Headmaster, said: “We are delighted to have seven places offered, it’s the highest number for some years. They have all worked extremely hard and Stonyhurst pupils have been successful in this most competitive of intellectual ordeals. It is a great credit to them and we wish them every success with their studies.”

Picture Caption: Left to right, some of the Oxbridge successes – Gabriel Cohen, Elizabeth Graffius, Joe Lea, Lucy Wang, Mr Andrew Johnson Headmaster and John Watts.