Portland Place School 25th anniversary celebration
Portland Place School in central London has celebrated its silver anniversary this year with activities including an art installationPortland Place School has celebrated 25 years with the installation of a mural created by students with artist Tom Berry – unveiled as part of a Celebration Day in late June. The school was founded in 1996 by the head of science at St Paul’s Girls School,…
How to find the best school for your SEN child
When you have a child with special educational needs, finding the best school can be a difficult and emotional process. Cavendish Education is a small group of boarding and day schools around the UK with varying specialisms for children with unique learning profiles. Here, they share how to find the best school for your SEN child, and what to consider when looking.Take a tourDon’t just…
Portland Place School introduces new musical initiative, Symphonfree
Leading independent school, Portland Place School has introduced an innovative new scheme, ‘Symphonfree’, to benefit budding-young musicians attending the school.The Symphonfree initiative welcomes Year 7 pupils at Marylebone-based Portland Place to express their musical creativity by selecting and learning an orchestral instrument of their choice. Pupils will receive complimentary tuition in a…
Knightsbridge School’s woodland wonder
Harry Scrymgeour, a parent at Knightsbridge School, explains the inspiration behind a mighty school oak forest in Scotland, made up of acorns grown and nurtured by pupilsAs for many of us, the Covid pandemic and the various lockdowns gave me a chance to slow down and reflect, and I have been lucky enough to do much of this surrounded by trees. After my mother died, in the spring of 2019, I…
Heathfield School on preparing for boarding
The Headmistress of Heathfield Sarah Wilson gives her advice for preparing your child for the big boarding school adventureChoosing to educate your child in a boarding school is one of the most important decisions you can make – and often it is a step into the unknown for both you and your child. Boarding is an exciting time. Helping your child to build a realistic picture of what to expect,…
Mastering our minds | Growth mindset in a state school
The Headmaster of Churchill Academy, a state school in north Somerset, on the challenges of introducing a Growth Mindset ethos in his schoolIn Becoming a growth mindset school, I wrote about my work as a Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher as we worked to scale up Professor Carol Dweck’s work on mindset into a whole-school culture. A growth mindset culture seeks to tackle motivation by…
The Making of Me: Dr Jess French discusses her school days in Norfolk
The vet, author and CBeebies Minibeast Adventure presenter Jess French talks about eventful schooldays in Norfolk and her passion for challengesWhere did you go to school and when?Norfolk in the '90s.What was school like for you?I went to quite a few different schools, so I got to experience a whole spectrum of different education settings. I was really fortunate to attend the…
St Dunstan’s College merges with Rosemead Prep
St Dunstan’s College and Rosemead Preparatory School are to merge, with the two south London schools joining forces this monthSt Dunstan's and Rosemead Prep – two London day schools located in south London – will come together to begin a new chapter in their shared histories. The merger will allow for closer collaboration between the schools, sharing best practice, knowledge and expertise.…
Broomwood Hall Upper on ensuring pupils are better prepared
Broomwood Hall Upper Head Louisa McCafferty argues there are huge benefits for some girls in staying on at prep school for longerChildhood is all too short – and seems to be getting shorter by the day – particularly for girls. The pressure to ‘grow up’ can be overwhelming and leads to anxiety and falling self-confidence at a time when the stakes seem to be higher than ever. The accepted…
Ravenscourt Park Prep on the importance of looking outwards
Carl Howes, Head of Ravenscourt Park Prep, on how school initiatives help build wellbeing, agency and a spirit of communityAt Ravenscourt Park Prep School, Community Responsibility is a value that permeates every aspect of our school culture. Throughout the year, our children are engaged in a wide range of activities that aim not only to support various causes but also to forge a strong sense…