Ravenscourt Park Prep on why co-ed sport is a game changer
=Ravenscourt Park Prep School Head of PE and Games Chris Bryan discusses the benefits, on and off the sports field, of a 2017 move to co-ed sportsThere are moments in the development of a school where a relatively simple change to the curriculum can have a dramatic effect on outcomes. Moving from a single-sex to a co-educational sports programme at Ravenscourt Park Prep School (RPPS) was one…
Parent power: Imaginary friends and how to handle them
There's a new family member, only you can't see them. Imaginary friends are more common than you might think and your child's new buddy might be sticking around, so here's what you need to knowJulie, Frank, Unicorn or Luna – your child surprises you with an important new friend, a whole and complex figment of their imagination. It can be baffling, alarming even, but there are good reasons to…
Why The Mall School are phasing out Years 7 and 8
David Price, Headmaster at The Mall School, on the move to 11+In April 2017, I announced to parents at The Mall School that we were going to phase out Years 7 and 8 and that after 2020 all boys in the school would leave the school at the end of Year 6. It was a bold move, given our record of success in preparing boys for their Common Entrance exams and securing 13+ places for them at the…
Question time: Gabbitas answer your education questions
Gabbitas answer your questions on moving an unhappy child, separate schools for siblings and how the UKiset helps with the transition to the British education systemMy daughter is unhappy at school and this is now reflected in her behaviour and progress. We're looking to move her but are concerned about how current school reports will impact future school choices. How best should we go about…
Kew Gardens has launched a brand new, free Digital Learning Platform
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has launched a brand new, free digital learning platform for primary and secondary education funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the £15.6m grant towards the Temperate House Project. Bringing world-leading plant science and horticulture to the classroom, Endeavour offers teachers and pupils opportunities to gain a greater understanding of plants…
Gordon’s School on the co-curricular advantage
Sandra Radford, Head of Sixth Form and Careers at Gordon's School, discusses the importance of gaining extra skills and experiences for wellbeing and onward careersExam results may gain that place at university or a job interview, but increasingly employers are looking for the added extras – the participation in a sports team, dramatic arts or Duke of Edinburgh's Award – to separate one…
St Columba’s College appoints new Head and receives ‘Excellent’ ISI rating
St Columba's College in St Albans has announced that Karl Guest will be the new Head from September 2023, and the school has just been rated 'Excellent' in all areasSt Columba’s College in St Albans has announced a new Head, appointing Karl Guest, current Head of Alton School in Alton, Hampshire. Guest will take up his duties at the co-educational independent Catholic school on 1 September…
Worth School on community strength in Sixth Form
Worth School Assistant Head (Sixth Form) Matthew Doggett discusses why community is such an important element of 16+ learningWhether a student remains in the same institution for sixth form or chooses a fresh start somewhere else, the concept of ‘community’ for this 16-18 age group has, arguably, never been more vital in terms of instilling core values to last a lifetime. The social,…
Foreign languages – the state of play
Foreign languages are in decline as a subject choice, but not all schools are following that curve. Absolutely Education spoke to three independents that go out of their way to inspire and develop young linguistsThe teaching of foreign languages in the UK is in a parlous state. Half of Year 10 students were not studying a second language in 2021. While Brexit sometimes gets blamed, this is…
Girls on top: why ‘male sports’ are so cool for girls
The traditional male sports – football, cricket and rugby – are finding favour among girls and women and the opportunities are developing, but there's more work required to level the playing fieldEarlier this year, Oxford High School Year 11 pupil Apolline Harvey wrote a letter to a national newspaper questioning why the men's Six Nations Rugby had gone ahead – despite Covid-19 restrictions –…