C E L E B R AT I N G T H E V E R Y B E S T I N E D U C AT I O N
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT Broadening F R E E | P R E P E D I T I O N | AU T U M N 2 0 2 3 | i n d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l p a re n t .co m
From extracurricular clubs to community activism
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ON HOLD
Gordonstoun gets tough on mobiles
STARTING SENIOR SCHOOL How do you know you’ve picked the right one? A LOVE OF LITERACY Author Cressida Cowell writes about reading for pleasure
WELLBEING
It’s the thought that counts With World Kindness Day taking place on 13 November, Becky Dickinson looks at the importance of championing kindness in schools
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independentschoolparent.com | AUTUMN 2023
WELLBEING
Educational Psychologist and Director of Inner Circles Psychology, Stacy Moore. In schools, adopting kindness as a key value helps to create an environment that is positive, respectful, supportive and inclusive. “It’s important that children see this modelled not only in the classroom from child to child but also systemically in the way staff interact, how their parents are spoken to and in the way the school responds to wider issues in school and in the community,” says Stacy. She adds that practising kindness also helps to counter “messages of competitiveness.” Kindness doesn’t just benefit the receiver, but the giver too. It’s well-documented that when we act kindly towards someone else, this triggers the brain to release ‘happy hormones’ like serotonin and dopamine. It’s simple, yet hugely important neuroscience. “When we’re
kind, it makes us just as happy as if someone is kind to us,” says psychotherapist and author of 365 days of Kind by Becky Goddard-Hill (HarperCollins). Becky believes that making kindness part of a school’s ethos leads to “happier children who get on better with their peers and are more willing to try new things, speak up in class, contribute to group work and ask for help as they know they expect to be met with kindness, not ridicule.” Besides simply fostering a good atmosphere, incorporating kindness into school life can also create a better learning environment; one in which children thrive both emotionally and academically. Growing evidence suggests that as well as having a positive effect on mood, serotonin is also involved in enhancing learning and memory. So, where kindness
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PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/CHINNAPONG
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ou can’t measure it, quantify it, or take a GCSE in it. Yet, most of us would (hopefully) argue that it’s one of the most – if not the most – important qualities we can nurture in our children. Kindness: those little acts of care, consideration and compassion that help to make the world a better place. Like most parents, I hope that my children will do well academically and in other areas of life. But more importantly, I hope that they’ll develop into caring, empathetic human beings. The importance of kindness rose to the forefront of national consciousness during the pandemic. But this trait isn’t just for tumultuous, unprecedented times; it should be the bedrock of society. “Kindness underpins collaborative cultures and communities,” says
KINDNESS DOESN’T JUST BENEFIT THE RECEIVER, BUT THE GIVER TOO. It’s well-documented that when we act kindly towards someone else, THIS TRIGGERS THE BRAIN TO RELEASE ‘HAPPY HORMONES’ LIKE SERATONIN AND DOPAMINE
AUTUMN 2023 | independentschoolparent.com
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LITERACY
Between
the lines
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LITERACY
THE BENEFITS OF READING ARE ENDLESS.
Studies have shown that children who read for pleasure do better in all areas of their lives.
SOCIALLY, EXAMS... THEY’RE HAPPIER TOO!
How do you turn your reluctant reader into one who picks up a book for pleasure? Liz Pichon, author and illustrator of the bestselling Tom Gates books, shares her guidance and advice
AUTUMN 2023 | independentschoolparent.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY: FREEPIK
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’m a huge advocate of letting children choose what they want to read – and if they read the same thing over and over again – try not to worry about it! I’ve heard parents telling their children in a bookshop, “Don’t pick that book” or “No, it’s too babyish…” or “that’s not a proper reading book!” I have to bite my lip. Nothing puts children off reading more than forcing them to read a book they don’t like. If they’re reading and enjoying it, that’ll be a good experience and they’re far more likely to want to try more books. Encourage your children to visit a library. When I was young, I’d go to my local library and take out books of all different genres, from crafting to comics. I’d try out books that I wouldn’t be able to buy – especially the oversized books. It was always exciting to pick whatever I wanted. Libraries are so important for children of all backgrounds to get free access to a wide range of books. The benefits of reading are endless. Studies have shown that children who read for pleasure do better in all areas of their lives. Socially, exams… They’re happier too! I particularly loved funny books when I was younger, so making a book that I would have loved at that age was exactly what I wanted to do. I’m always trying to add humour to the story. In my latest book, Tom Gates: Five Star Stories, Tom is remembering how he got some of his odd collections of objects and the funny stories that are attached. He wants to write his own funny story – and he’s getting inspiration. Humour is so important. People always remember funny stories! Within humour, you can also talk about all kinds of other subjects as well. I love to write about everyday subjects that children identify with. I don’t write about technology as I try not to date things. There are some things that are timeless and universal – like sibling relationships. As well as being funny, the Tom Gates books are known for their different fonts, drawings, music lyrics, makes and pictures. Everything to add to those page-turning moments. All these elements help to tell the stories and the children really engage with it. I think children enjoy my books because they can relate to them, and I’m sure it’s the same with other diary-type books. I particularly love that unconfident readers enjoy the books. I think it’s because they can get into the stories really fast with the help of the drawings. I write anything from 16 to 19,000 words in the books, so they’re taking in lots of information quickly and enjoying it. One of the great things about the Tom Gates books is that children don’t realise how much reading they’re actually doing. I’m dyslexic myself, so before I start writing I visualise the story and draw lots of sketches – imagining scenes and what they’ll look like. I often work out the whole book in
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BURSARIES
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independentschoolparent.com | AUTUMN 2023
BURSARIES
Paying it forward Offering fee-assistance in the form of bursaries to promising students not only continues an independent school’s legacy of supporting social mobility, it also enhances the community culture. Read on for some bursary success stories...
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HIghfield & Brookham offers Centenary Awards funded jointly by the school and its bursary fund
AUTUMN 2023 | independentschoolparent.com
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ALUMNI
Movers and MAKERS
Whether working as architects or running globally-renowned businesses, this generation of school leavers are making their mark on the wider world
MARIA MENDOZA GUERRERO, 24
MARIA MENDOZA GUERRERO
Architect Sedbergh School, Cumbria After leaving Sedbergh, I went to UCL to read architecture. It was an extremely challenging time, but the endurance that Sedbergh taught me, whether it was running up the fells or facing academic courses in my second language, really helped me. I worked in London for a year before doing an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Cambridge. There, I was able to take on a very similar approach to my time at Sedbergh: try as many things as you can and make as many friends as possible, as everyone was a great source of knowledge and fun. I boxed, rowed, and led a society alongside my studies, which was made a little easier having previously been Head of School. It taught me a great deal, especially in public speaking. Now I’m back in London working as an architect. I live with two other Sedberghians and I’m about to complete my first ultramarathon (100km), which would have seemed impossible to me before Sedbergh.
JAMES BURNS, 33
JAMES BURNS
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Head of North America, The Bright Agency, New Jersey Giggleswick School, North Yorkshire At 11 years old, I arrived at Giggleswick as a nervous, anxious boy with no real expectations of doing well academically, or otherwise. To everyone’s surprise, seven years later I departed with a core set of values and abilities that go far beyond anything that can be taught in a classroom: resilience, curiosity and self-assurance. Upon reflection it’s clear to me that Giggleswick’s team of talented, passionate faculty members facilitated this transformation. Giggleswick was there to identify and then develop on each individual’s strengths. For me, that was creativity, entrepreneurship and overcoming severe dyslexia. Since leaving school, I attended Central Saint Martin’s (Art Foundation), discovered university wasn’t for me and relocated to the eastern United States to build the American division of an illustration and literary agency, originally a twoyear assignment, which has been repeatedly extended. The agency and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2024.
ALUMNI
TIA NASIR, 22 Analyst, Goldman Sachs DLD College London I studied A-level computer science, mathematics and history, before progressing to the Royal Holloway University of London where I obtained a first-class bachelor’s degree in computer science. Attending DLD was an invaluable experience and pivotal step in my journey to becoming an analyst at Goldman Sachs. You’re treated as an adult there, and it introduced me to the all-important art of self-guided study. You’re supported on a personalised pathway in terms of careers and studying, but also personality-wise; you’re encouraged to become who you want to be when you’re at DLD. The diversity of DLD was very different to the traditional boarding school that I’d previously attended, and the central London location gave me independence like no other. The international community provided me with the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world, which has helped me in my career with an international company.
TIA NASIR
SAM JONES, 32
SAM JONES
Founder, Gener8 Canford School, Dorset I left Canford in 2009 to read philosophy at Cardiff University. Alongside my studies, I founded 212 – a nightclub promotions company – and Hit the Town – a ticketing app, so I had energy for business early on. Having engaged with Red Bull as a student brand manager, post-university I rose through the ranks and seven years later became their Global Brand Manager. In 2021, I appeared on Dragons’ Den to pitch my business, Gener8. Like Frequent Flyer miles for the internet, it’s a digital innovation that allows you to control your data online. My pitch went well, with all of the Dragons competing to win my business. I convinced Touker Suleyman and Peter Jones to share a 10 per cent equity for £60,000, with Touker offering free workspace for up to eight people in his offices. Fast-forward two years, Gener8 has more than 600,000 users, more than 6m visitors and further funding from investors, including Harry Redknapp, Tinie Tempah, and ex-cricket captain Chris Gayle. gener8ads.com
MADELEINE LANDIN, 28
MADELEINE LANDIN
HR Business Manager, McLaren Racing St Swithun’s, Hampshire I was deciding between pursuing physics, engineering or French at university, so I attended a Cambridge Engineering Masterclass session, and after listening to some lectures, I was hooked. St Swithun’s supported me to achieve the A-levels I needed to attend the University of Cambridge to study mechanical engineering – including supporting me to take AS maths in year 13, so I could make my university offer. As a graduate, I joined The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, a new degree apprenticeship provider, in a project management role. As it was a small team I had a lot of responsibility. I led a variety of projects, before focusing on the professional development of the engineering students. This led me to a role at McLaren Racing, where I was responsible for the development needs across the whole racing team, including Formula 1. I now work as a HR Business Partner to the McLaren Formula 1 Aerodynamics team. AUTUMN 2023 | independentschoolparent.com
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TIME TOGETHER
ENJOY THE SEASON
FAMILY LIFE
Autumn activities, staycation inspiration and a Caribbean-holiday competition
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMA DONNELLY
Made in a rich pumpkin-spicelatte palette of caramel, cinnamon and cream, American children’s fashion label Gingersnaps’ latest collection is full of rustic seasonal styles that are perfect for staying cosy, whether your youngster’s enjoying rainy-afternoon playdates or out jumping into crunchy piles of autumn leaves. gingersnaps.com.ph
AUTUMN 2023 | independentschoolparent.com
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