60 Seconds With Jane Gandee of St Swithun’s School
The Headmistress of St Swithun's School in Winchester on her background and educational philosophyWhat is your background?I went to a state girls’ school, and this was followed by reading French and Spanish at Cambridge University, and lots of netball, athletics, cross county and football. After graduating I flirted with accountancy before taking up a teaching role. Initially, I was at…
Famous faces mark the launch of Blackheath High’s New School
Blackheath High School GDST’s £18 million redevelopment was officially opened on 2 May with a star-studded line-up including prominent women’s rights campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez and ITV News Anchor Charlene White, as well as Cheryl Giovannoni, CEO of GDST.Above: Criado-Perez, Chandler-Thompson and GiovannoniCriado-Perez, author of Invisible Women and who led the campaign to put…
How to tell if your child is anxious about returning to school and what to do about it
How to tell if your child is anxious about going back to schoolYoung children have experienced a tumultuous time over the last few months. Many will be overjoyed to be returning back to school or nursery to see their friends but, for some, this could be an anxious time as they have become used to being around parents or carers, every day, at home. The Montessori approach knows children…
Oakham School on co-ed confidence
Oakham School’s Headmaster Henry Price discusses how a co-educational environment can help pupils develop as confident communicatorsCommunication is an essential instrument when it comes to developing confident and compassionate young adults. In striving to equip our boarding and day pupils with the skills they need to thrive in life, one of the most important things we can teach them is how…
Let’s play | National Theatre primary school initiative
Launched last year, Let’s Play is an initiative from the National Theatre that aims to put drama centre stage in state primary schools. What makes it encouraging for anyone who cares about arts provision in education is that it is delivering both original plays and training for teachers in professional theatre-making skills.Apart from addressing the ongoing debate about an over-focus on SATS…
Emanuel School on building community strengths
Emanuel School's Stuart Turner and Lisa Irwin describe its successful partnerships with local schools, benefiting its own young people and children in the local communityEmanuel School has a long tradition of supporting charitable causes and helping others in the community. When the school was established by Lady Anne Dacre in 1594, her primary aim was to educate 10 girls and 10 boys for…
Oakham School talks about the rise of entrepreneurship
Oakham School Headmaster Henry Price discusses why entrepreneurship is on the rise among young people and explores how the school is responding to this trendWith the wealth of opportunities that we offer our pupils both inside and outside the classroom, we are always seeking new and innovative ways to equip our girls and boys with the skills to succeed in life, whatever career path they may…
What does mean to be a school with social conscience?
Katherine Woodcock, Headmistress of Sydenham High School, on what it means to be a school with a social conscienceRecently I had the enormous pleasure of reconnecting with Kiko Matthews, a British adventurer who became the fastest female to row the Atlantic, solo and unsupported in March 2018. She raised over £100,000 for King's College hospital which saved her life and, inspired by her…
What outstanding school facilities can do for your child
Secondary school is all about opportunities. These formative years are when young people discover interests that will last a lifetime, and learn skills that prepare them for the future. So as parents, we’re looking for schools that offer as much as possible by way of subjects and facilities to give our youngsters a wide spectrum of inspiration and engagement. Teenagers can all too easily become…
New Head for Mayfield School
Deborah Bligh took on the role of Headmistress of Mayfield School at the start of AprilDeborah Bligh became Headmistress of Mayfield School at the beginning of April. She joined the Sussex day and boarding school for girls aged 11-18 in September 2023 as Senior Deputy Head.Deborah Bligh was previously at St Richard's Catholic College, where she was part of the senior management team for…