The Downs Malvern / Building bright futures

The Downs Malvern Headmaster Andy Nuttall on the school's long track record of providing a rounded education, with plenty of stretch and challenge – and fun – to prepare children for future academic and life successCan you explain more about the history of The Downs Malvern and its development over the years?Our school was founded in 1900 as a Quaker school for boys. Evolving over time,…

Academic and co-curricular learning: helping pupils develop essential ‘soft skills’

Academic track record will always be one of the first things parents look at when considering a school. However, although good grades are important, developing 'soft skills' will help prepare your child for life after school and the world of work. Many soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication can be learnt in the classroom. However, activities that complement the curriculum –…

Guide: How to get your child into the best London day schools

From balancing extracurricular activities with academic excellence to finding the right preparatory school for your child, there are many things to consider when preparing your child for a place at one of the top London day schools. Absolutely Education has teamed up with Eaton House Belgravia, an all-boys’ Pre-Prep and Prep school for boys aged 4-11 (with a co-educational Nursery) to provide…

Art openings with Kings Education

With bases in three great cities, Kings School of Art + Design offers an inspiring and flexible foundation for students keen to pursue creative pathwaysFor any student looking for a grounding in art and design, finding the right place to develop technique and confidence is critical. So too, finding a setting where you get the opportunities to test and develop your skills and prepare for…

How schools are helping to boost children’s mental health and happiness

A holistic approach to education is helping schools to nurture children's mental health and focus on creating happy childhoods...From wellbeing lessons, to onsite counselling, schools are really stepping up their game when it comes to mental health. Pastoral care has become about so much more than simply safeguarding children. Looking after children's mental wellbeing now goes hand-in-hand…

STEM’s the Word: Encouraging Girls in STEM subjects

Felna Fox, teacher of Design and Technology at James Allen’s Preparatory School on encouraging girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsSTEM subjects are the backbone of our world. From the economy to our general wellbeing, we are wholly dependent on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). These subjects underpin everything - the world as we know it could not exist…

Focus on St Dunstan’s College / Raising the game

With its new Chelsea FC Foundation partnership, St Dunstan's College is raising the game when it comes to sport, academic and life opportunities. Head Nick Hewlett explains where this fits into the school's wider goalsQ: Your partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation is ground-breaking in many ways – how did it come about?A: At St Dunstan’s College, we have created an environment that…

Day in the life: Head Girl and Head Boy of Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

Emily and Clarke, Head Girl and Head Boy of Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE), talk us through a day in their livesEmily, QE Head Girl7:00 – My roommate and I wake up, shower and go down for breakfast together in the Atrium, preparing ourselves for a busy day ahead at QE. 8:30 – Form time and my tutor encourages me to make this a productive day. Then it's on to assembly where we…

Out to play

The right to play outside, on the street where you live, is a campaign with momentum – and it's not only good for children, but for parents and neighbourhoodsHow many times have you heard talk about the way things used to be when it came to play? In that far off world – before soft play and activity centres were even a thing – children would just head outside and get on with it. This is where…

Going for Gold: Absolutely meets Alex Paske from the Mintridge Foundation

A dashed dream spurred on Alex Paske to build The Mintridge Foundation, a sport mentoring charity that is benefiting young athletesLike so many young people, Alex Paske had a dream to play sport for England. And for a while it looked as though that dream might come true when she qualified for the Under-16s England hockey trials. But she got injured, and following a long recovery, she no…