Latest Homes Sussex magazine

West Sussex-based teenager, Nick Haynes, a pupil at Windlesham House School in Washington, has been selected by the Royal Yachting Association to join the Optimist National Junior Sailing Squad.

The Optimist dinghy is the official junior class adopted by the RYA for training talented sailors up to 16 years of age to compete for the UK at international sailing events. At 13 years old, Nick is one of the youngest competitors and has shown tremendous determination and strength to make his mark in the sport.

“At the moment I am ranked 20th in the UK out of 287 other competing British sailors,” explained Nick. “But with two more years left to compete in this age class, my ambition is to reach the number one spot!”

Nick earned his selection to the National Squad as a result of his consistent performance over the 2007 season. He achieved two outright race wins at the National Championships held at the Weymouth National Sailing Centre in August, which sealed his inclusion for National honours.

The sporting facilities at St Mary’s Hall are a big draw

People often refer to St Mary’s Hall as a ‘greenhouse’ rather than a ‘hot house’. They nurture their students’ growth to give them a high sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. One of the advantages of being a small school is that they know each one of their students personally and the aim is to instill a sense of success in every one of them and develop each individual’s potential.

Gloucester House is the purpose-built new junior school at St Mary’s Hall, Independent Day and Boarding School, Eastern Road, Brighton. They ensure that in the Junior School your child’s needs are recognised and fulfiled and that each child reaches their individual targets through a carefully structured curriculum.

To meet the needs of parents and to allow the pupils to take full advantage of extra-curricular activities, St Mary’s offer an extended day with pre-school care from 8am and after-school care until 6pm. The nursery is also now open 50 weeks of the year and nursery vouchers are accepted.

St Mary’s Hall is pleased to be able to offer 25 per cent awards to pupils joining the junior school in years 1 and 2 in 2007 – 2008. This can provide parents with up to £10,000 savings in fees throughout their children’s junior school education.

The sixth form day centre; Elliott House is celebrating its first anniversary. With state-of-theart facilities, the centre provides the students with a great sense of independence and prepares them for the transition from school to higher education and the world of work.

Elliott House is also the boarding house for the senior students who come from all over the world. St Mary’s Hall offer full, weekly or flexi-boarding from age 8.

The students really give off a good impression, even through the rather surprising medium of volleyball.

After a recent volleyball victory, one of the students, Lesley Tian, told us how she decided to move to the school based purely on the effect that the St Mary’s Hall volleyball team had had on her when she played against them.

St Mary’s Hall can make an amazing difference, especially when it comes to sports thanks to their wonderful modern facilities such as the indoor heated swimming pool and the newly resurfaced tennis courts.

Join the senior school in years 7, 8 or 12 in 2007 – 2008 for only £3,100 per term. Some spaces still available.

————–

For more information go online to www.stmaryshall.co.uk or contact St Mary’s Hall, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5JF, telephone 01273 606061, email info@stmaryshall.co.uk.

Hurstpierpoint College praised for its supportive community spirit

Every five years, independent schools in the UK are rigorously assessed by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Their judgements deliver important insights into the quality of education provided by a school. Hurstpierpoint College was assessed early in 2007.

Inspection Teams visited the College and examined pupils’ work, observed lessons and interviewed students. They held discussions with staff and governors, and observed extra-curricular activities.

Michèle Finnegan, Head of Hurst Pre-Prep, Tim Manly, Hurstpierpoint College Headmaster, and Heather Beeby, Head of Prep School

“We are, of course, not perfection but the Inspection Reports are very encouraging indeed”, commented the College’s Headmaster, Tim Manly. “The inspectors recognised that all our pupils learned and achieved well in relation to their ability and in line with an educational ethos that encourages challenging targets. Further, it was judged that all are well prepared academically, and in many other ways, for the next stage in their education”

Teaching throughout all three schools was judged to be good, excellent or outstanding. It was therefore no surprise to read, for example, in the Senior School report that, “Pupils are very well educated considering age, ability, gender, and ethnic origin and circumstances. They achieve good levels of knowledge, skills and critical and creative understanding in their subjects and activities, and they learn to apply them effectively”.

The inspectors’ long and comprehensive reports covered every aspect of school life and clearly identified the College’s many core strengths. Pastoral care, extra-curricular activities (including the creative and performing arts) and sport were described as outstanding.

“I am particularly pleased that the Inspectors recognise the extraordinary friendliness that, for so many, is the lasting impression they retain of the school”. The inspectors’ reported, “Relationships between staff and pupils and among pupils are outstanding. An excellent and supportive community spirit together with an appreciation of common values permeate the college; pupils have mutual respect and are happy, courteous and relaxed in their dealings with each other”.’

Tim Manly became Headmaster of Hurstpierpoint College at the beginning of 2005. Michèle Finnegan has been Head of the Pre-Prep for just under 3 years and in September 2006, Mr Manly appointed Heather Beeby as Head of the Prep School. The reports make it clear that these three ‘outstanding’ leaders, supported by their respective management teams and staff and the School’s Governors, have achieved a great deal in a remarkably short period of time. Tim Manly is the first to acknowledge that there is more to do and concludes “I am very pleased with the Inspectors’ findings; not only do they serve to remind us of the school’s great strengths but they also confirm our own judgement about how we can continue to improve the already exceptional quality of the education we provide here at Hurst.”

It’s not all exams and last minute revision for Roedeanians, but that helps

After only four weeks back at school, Roedeanians seem to have already packed an enormous amount in to the first term.

A trip to the Houses of Parliament; a Bertold Brecht play and Stephen Berkoff on stage. There’s been three careers lectures and a fireworks presentation (in their own theatre) with invited local junior schools, the celebration of International Peace Day and the European Day of Languages. Not forgetting plenty of netball and hockey matches, play rehearsals, choirs and orchestra practices… and classes of course. They seem to take it all in their stride and still have a spring in their step. Roedeanians apply the same enthusiasm, flair and gusto to acquiring knowledge as having tremendous fun.

Roedean ended the previous academic year on a high. The Independent Schools Inspectorate reported in May that: “Pupils (at Roedean) are fully supported by highly committed academic and pastoral staff who strongly contribute to (their) outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by ensuring (they) enjoy a wealth of experiences.”

“Within this community pupils develop an excellent understanding of their own and other cultures. (Their) social development is excellent and social skills are highly developed.”

It is undoubtedly the excellent relationship between staff and pupils that makes Roedean the exceptional school that it is. The trust of the teaching staff at Roedean is no doubt the greatest enabler for the girls. A prime example was the prank played by Year 13 students on their last day of school. It is a tradition for Sixth Formers to mark their final day at Roedean.

“What about results? This summer Roedean was once again the top girls’ school in Sussex in the examination tables”

This year the school was transformed into Hogwarts overnight. Staff arrived in the morning to a changed school sign and had to make their way through secret passageway portrait holes with the option of a snooze at Fred and George’s swamp. The smiles on the teachers’ faces mirrored the younger pupils’ in the corridors. Carolyn Shaw, Headmistress said at the time: “There could have been no better way of demonstrating their generosity of spirit and their unerring sense of what is right than the transformation of the school. Whatever their A Level or degree results turn out to be it is these qualities which will bring them success in the world beyond the school gates.”

What about results? This summer Roedean was once again the top girls’ school in Sussex in the examination league tables.