Independent School Parent Prep & Senior Summer 2024 - Sample Issue

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT

From up the ground

What defines a place of learning?

From campus construction sites to on-site museums and observatories, Laura Sutherland visits the schools laying fresh educational foundations

“It’s going to be more than a boarding house,” Bilton Grange Prep’s Headmaster, Gareth Jones tells me. “It’s going to be the key that unlocks the school’s full potential.” He’s not wrong – the Warwickshire school’s ongoing development – due to be open to students in April 2025 – is set to be a game-changer. It’ll change the way pupils move around the school, allowing for expansion and a higher intake, as well as freshly dedicated spaces for SENS, sta , gappies and changing rooms.

It’s also going to be architecturally ambitious – the Rugby School Group – of which Bilton Grange is a part – tasked Oxford-based rm TSH Architects and construction contractor Stepnell with the job of creating an inspiring educational space that’s equal parts cutting edge, sustainable and sympathetic to the distinctively grand Pugin style of the school’s Grade II-listed main building and 90 acres of parkland.

And it’s a brief that’s certainly being delivered on. Built into the topography of the grounds, all of the soil dug up will be repurposed in the landscaping of a large open-air amphitheatre. e new building’s doors will open on to a central courtyard on level one, while the lower ground level will boast a multipurpose dining hall with piano and cascading glass-walled communal spaces. Instead of replicating the Pugin architecture in the building’s structure, there will be decorative nods to Bilton Grange’s heritage in the interior choices, with the same Arts & Cra s wallpaper as the design lining the House of Commons. e community can also look forward to new music and art hubs, a screening area for boarders’ lm nights and perhaps everyone’s most highly anticipated feature: a helter-skelter slide wrapped around the central staircase that will take

MAKE break

How do we help our children navigate friendships and fallouts as they grow older?

Kate Freud investigates

“FRIENDSHIPS ARE A CRUCIAL PART of childhood, so you have to let your child find their own way, even if it’s CHALLENGING NOT TO GET INVOLVED”

There must be few among us who don’t remember the all-consuming misery of being left out by friends at school, overhearing unkind words whispered in playground corners or falling out with your best buddy? As a parent, it can bring up some all too familiar feelings, but how can we step back and help our child navigate their friendships objectively, without letting our own heightened emotions get in the way?

“Friendships are a crucial part of childhood,” explains Dr Rebecca South, Consultant Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist, “so you have to let your child find their own way, even if it can be challenging not to get involved.”

Friendship difficulties can arise for different reasons. Your child might be shy or lack confidence with friends, or conversely, like to be in charge or be prone to saying unkind things. Good friendships involve skills learned over time, like how to share, listen and empathise. “Begin by talking to your child about what makes a good friend, and practise friendship skills like sharing, compromising, listening, and negotiating,” Rebecca explains.

Reassure, but don’t interfere

It’s important to reassure your child that it’s natural for friends to fall out sometimes. “Try to really listen and understand what your child’s saying,” Rebecca explains. “Once your child feels understood, they’ll be better able to move past the anger and the hurt and make steps to resolve any issues.”

Friendships will naturally evolve over time as children change and develop. “Something a child enjoyed at four might be of little interest by the time they’re seven, and likewise with their friendships,” says Rebecca. “As they gain their own sense of identity, it’ll naturally change who they gravitate towards socially as well.” And it’s essential to allow them to explore these new relationships too. “For parents, it can be very tempting to try and encourage certain friendships and discourage others, but it’s integral not to interfere with these too much,” Rebecca explains.

Unlocking opportunity

Vicki McDonald, Bursar at Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, explores how bursaries and scholarships are breaking down barriers and making independent education accessible to all

The notion that a private education is exclusively reserved for a privileged few is an outdated misconception. Many independent schools operate robust and impactful bursary programmes to ensure the doors of opportunity swing wide open, welcoming students from all walks of life.

As Bursar at Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, I’m a passionate believer that the transformative power of an independent-school education shouldn’t be con ned by nancial barriers. Parents deserve the freedom to explore educational options for their children without being constrained to either fee-paying or state-sector schooling based solely on their nancial capacity. Likewise, every child deserves the chance to unlock their full potential and thrive academically and socially, regardless of their

The bestbothofworlds

Seeking Cornish seaside

fun and formal fine

dining? In

The Nare Hotel, Natasha Foges and her family found a traditionally welcoming retreat that does both

There’s something nostalgic about Cornwall’s coastline.

Childhood memories of endless summer days, sandcastle-making and picnics on the beach linger in the salty air. It’s no wonder so many families are drawn back here year after year, looking to conjure the same magic for the next generation.

I’m on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula on Cornwall’s quieter south coast with my family – husband Will and sons Joe (11) and Laurie (7). Winding through country lanes fringed with wildflowers, we arrive at our destination, The Nare Hotel, whose tropical gardens slope down towards stunning Carne Beach.

The Nare describes itself as a ‘country house by the sea’, and while it couldn’t be any closer to the sea, in other respects the hotel is decidedly non-beachy, with a country-house sensibility that seems suspended in time. Entering the hotel, we’re enveloped in the ease and comfort

of a country house: there are tartan carpets, floral wallpapers, paintings lining every wall. The cosy lounges have squishy armchairs, newspapers and vases of fresh flowers. The boys spy a table of homemade cakes – our arrival has happily coincided with afternoon tea.

Scones duly devoured, we’re escorted to our room, the Polvarth suite, which lays claim to being the largest sea-view suite in the country – so vast, in fact, that Joe and Laurie are soon playing hide and seek in its various rooms. A huge sitting room with a decked terrace overlooking the sea (the Atlantic is close enough to shush you to sleep at night) adjoins a luxurious double room and a cosy twin that’s perfect for children. The boys each find a gift on their bed – a book to read during their stay, thoughtfully chosen to suit their ages.

The Nare is the sort of hotel where, no matter how salty and sandy you get during the day, when the sun goes down everyone dresses up for pre-dinner drinks.

Dressed in our finery – 11-year-old Joe proudly wearing a tie for the first time –we head to the bar, where we’re warmly greeted by Toby Ashworth, whose family has owned The Nare for more than 30 years. He enjoys mingling with guests, many of whom return year after year, and hosts a popular weekly drinks party.

THE NARE IS THE SORT OF HOTEL WHERE no matter how salty and sandy you get during the day, when the sun goes down EVERYONE DRESSES UP FOR PRE-DINNER DRINKS

of the sea far below, and explore the jungly Lost Gardens of Heligan, with its wobbly rope bridge and play meadow. Returning to The Nare (just in time for more scones and tea) we relax into the hotel’s cossetting atmosphere and the comfort of its established routines.

It’s impossible to tire of the hotel’s incredible views out over the postcard-perfect Carne Bay

The hotel’s reputation was built on genteel, old-fashioned service, and in the early days children weren’t allowed. Families are now welcomed – the hotel is especially well-suited to multigenerational stays, and some of the suites can be combined into their own private wing. But while other five-star hotels vie to outdo one another with child-centric o erings, from kids’ discos to gaming rooms, The Nare remains a place of simple pleasures – beach fun, board games in the lounge, splashing around in the pool. Unashamedly traditional, it o ers something precious: the chance for children to dip a toe into the world of grownups.

Needless to say, there’s also plenty of child-focused fun during our stay. We swim in the indoor and outdoor pools, go rockpooling on the beach and play croquet on the lawn. We borrow wellies from the boot room to walk the South West Coast Path through swathes of purple foxgloves, taking in dizzying views

Days here culminate in dinner – a full table d’hôte a air – and I find myself in two minds about the children joining us in the very grown-up, elegant Dining Room with its starched tablecloths, gleaming cutlery and refined atmosphere. Children’s supper can also be served in the more casual Quarterdeck restaurant, but it seems a shame to miss out on the buzz of the Dining Room – and to my surprise, the children love it.

The traditional five-course menu has dishes such as grilled local lobster and Cornish beef fillet, but a children’s menu – sausages, chicken, pasta – is served

until 6.30pm. Silver-service waiters wheel around trolleys groaning with hors d’oeuvres, desserts and cheeses; choosing between the dessert trolley’s possets and pavlovas is an experience Joe and Laurie won’t forget. On our last night we treat ourselves to dessert flambéed tableside. The children gasp as the flames nearly reach the ceiling, before tucking into a feast of sticky caramelised berries with ice cream. A bastion of tradition yet welcoming to the youngest guests? The Nare Hotel hits the sweet spot. narehotel.co.uk

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS

Cornwall’s must-visit spots

• Navigate the Roseland Peninsula’s picturesque creeks and hidden beaches by kayak; book through stmaweskayaks.co.uk

• Pick up buckets and spades at The Nare and stroll to Carne Beach, whose calm, sheltered waters are perfect for children.

• Roam the fairytale Lost Gardens of Heligan. Cross the wobbly rope bridge and meet rare-breed pigs, sheep and horses. heligan.com

• Follow the children’s trail at Henry VIII’s St Mawes Castle and clamber on the cannons for photo opportunities. english-heritage.org.uk

• Visit the futuristic biomes of the Eden Project and wander round the lush green rainforest – the world’s largest indoor jungle. edenproject.com

CALENDAR

Our roundup of inspiring events, exhibitions, and activities to check out this summer

Think outside the fox ONGOING

London

Calling all mini detectives… The Mayfair Townhouse’s mischievous mascot is hiding somewhere, can you find him?! This tucked-away London hotel has launched The Dandy Fox Trail, a new experience for young VIPs, which will see families enjoying a self-guided tour through the capital’s bustling streets to find The Dandy Fox himself. Guests will be provided with their very own trail pack upon checking in, containing a number of clues to be opened in order as you pass some of Mayfair’s most vibrant art galleries, museums, renowned restaurants, and leafy parks before unveiling The Dandy Fox’s final location. Collect your prize from the hotel concierge team and debrief over a mocktail or hot chocolate in the bar. themayfairtownhouse.com

Spirit of adventure

FROM 28 JUNE

Oxfordshire

Blenheim Palace has launched its new Palace & Play Pass which gives families unlimited access to the property’s Adventure Play playground, as well as to the palace, park and gardens and its ongoing events over the summer.

Blenheim’s biggest ever family-themed attraction, Adventure Play is an immersive, hidden world of intrepid fun for children of all ages and abilities, featuring secret chambers, clamber nets, tunnels, slides, rope bridges and so much more.

Be sure to check out the myriad events happening at this 300-year-old country house over the holidays, too, including the Battle Proms Picnic Concert on Saturday 6 July, which will feature everything from daring cavalry and live cannon fire to good-old vintage sing-alongs. Passes from £40, or £150 for a family of four.

blenheimpalace.com