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St Mary’s Hall co-educational Junior School goes from strength to strength

St Mary’s Hall is celebrating the success of its Junior School since opening the doors to Gloucester House, two years ago in January 2006. The new purpose-built, architecturally feted junior school building on Eastern Road, Brighton, houses both the co-educational Junior School and the Nursery.

In Spring 2007, Huw May took on the role of Junior Head, attracted by St Mary’s Hall’s belief that students should be nurtured to develop their growth. The environment at St Mary’s Hall can be described as a ‘greenhouse rather than a hot house’ and ensures that each child’s needs are recognised and fulfiled.

Since November 2007 the Junior School has offered co-education for boys and girls up to age 11. A carefully structured curriculum is developed so each child attains their personal best. A keen musician himself, Huw May encourages every student to learn a stringed instrument as part of the core curriculum, as well as receiving recorder and ocarina tuition.

Staff in the Junior School recognise that many parents are working parents and offer an extended day with pre-school care from 8am and after-school care until 6pm. Children staying on are able to take full advantage of the extra-curricular activities offered, which range from movement art to knitting club. Increasingly working parents are taking advantage of the boarding facilities available at the Junior School. Parents may choose for their child to attend as a day pupil, a weekly boarder, a full boarder or a flexi boarder. Increasingly, the flexi boarding option is being chosen to help support parents meet their own work commitments.

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The overall development of the child is vitally important, says Carolyn Shaw, Headmistress of Roedean

Young people constantly surprise us by doing and understanding more than we ever thought they would. We must encourage them to recognise that their lives are full of opportunities to discover more about themselves.

The value added to a child’s education is rooted in their overall development. Part of the reason that girls do so well academically at Roedean is that they have so many opportunities to lead a rich and fulfiling life outside the classroom. These activities arguably have a greater influence on their future than the academic curriculum. The latter provides the all important entrée to university, which in its turn paves the way for career opportunities. We tend to be too prescriptive with our children, to give them too many instructions. Pupils from the earliest possible age must be encouraged to be independent and make their own decisions.

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Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is looking for volunteers to lend a helping hand with school children visiting its education centres at Woods Mill (Henfield) and Seven Sisters Country Park as well as with the Trust’s Outreach service which works in schools around the county.

If you like working with children and are keen to share your enjoyment of the countryside with others then why not consider joining the team. You don’t have to be an expert but some knowledge or an interest in wildlife is useful. You do need to enjoy being outside, as most of your time will be spent out-of-doors on the nature reserve.

One of the most popular activities is pond dipping where, under supervision, youngsters are encouraged to dip their nets to reveal newts, water snails, mayfly nymphs and other pond creatures. At Seven Sisters Country Park there is the opportunity for rock pooling – also a firm favourite with youngsters of all ages.

Half day training sessions are held on Thursday 14 February at Woods Mill or Wednesday 20 February at Seven Sisters, subject to an informal interview and successful CRB & reference checks. As a volunteer you would be trained to assist or, if you wished, to eventually lead a group of school children.

For further information please contact SWT People & Wildlife Officer
Email: annamariekyriacou@sussexwt.org.uk Telephone 01273 497562

In December a team of ten girls from Burgess Hill School for Girls went to East Grinstead to take part in the Under 18 Sussex Girls’ Chess Championship. The best three players’ scores from each school were compared, and the Burgess Hill School team were delighted to achieve second place in Sussex, and were awarded a trophy. Fonthill Lodge took first place.

Three members of the Burgess Hill team were awarded individual trophies; 3rd place in the Sussex Under 18 Championship, 1st place in the Under 14 section, and 3rd place in the Sussex Under 11 Championship. Three other team members were highly commended and were awarded medals.

Mrs Woroniecki, who runs the school chess club, said: “It was a very exciting day, and I am delighted that the girls did so well. Chess is a popular activity which appeals to students of all ages. Chess club gives them the opportunity to play with students from other year groups and to learn new tactics together”.