Editor’s letter

We are delighted to announce the launch of the London edition of First Eleven, the magazine written for parents of children educated in the independent sector. The most dependable of British institutions, the British public school need no selling when you consider that 40 per cent of all privately educated children are fi rst generation, including many overseas pupils. London schools have a unique ethos.

Nowhere in the country is there such a concentration of excellence but competition is intense. This can mean that pressure starts young, especially at exam time. In anticipation of exciting results, Tim Oates of Cambridge Assessment opens the debate on exam standards (page 39), while Mike Nicholson, Admissions Director of the University of Oxford, argues that predicted grades alone don’t make a successful UCAS application. Tinkering with conception dates can

infl uence academic success but the ‘birthdate eff ect’ (page 30) can be mitigated by good schooling. In our Focus, we fi nd that even one term’s tutoring can up a child’s grades. Choosing the right school is a popular

dinner party debate. Is co-ed better than single sex? Will you tailor school selection to

individual talents? Is drama important? Left- wing classicist Mary Beard explains why she voted with her head, not her heart (page 34). British schools reside in some beautiful

buildings and these infl uence us but perhaps not in the way you think, says Dr Simon Thurley of English Heritage (page 82). The summer is my favourite term, when

schools celebrate their successes in our gloriously green parks, and pupils, fi nally free of exams, entertain us with speech days, plays, and sports days. Even if Paranoid Parent (page 65) does dread the mother’s race. There are oodles of ideas for the summer

holidays. Our parents page (79) has great holiday rentals. Better still, follow Kirstie Allsopp’s advice and buy your own. We have competitions, promotions and even a spa off er for mothers needing to recover from weeks of ferrying children from sports camp (page 41) to surfi ng beach (page 74). For me, it will be Saunton Sands and Devon while I prepare my children for new schools in the autumn. Enjoy the summer.

FırstEleven

CNP Ltd, 26-30 Old Church Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5BY

Tel: (020) 7349 3150 Fax: (020) 7349 3160 Email: info@fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk

EDITORIAL

Editor: Annabel Heseltine

Deputy Editor: Alex Reid Editorial Assistants: Penelope Camburn,

Oliver Morley-Norris, Francesca Lessons

Production Design: Martin Gannon,

Tim Nolan

Art Editor: Karen Warren Managing Editor: Sam Pears

ADVERTISING

Senior Account Director:

Joanna Macpherson

Sales Executive: Francesca Barrow Advertisement Director: Steven Ross

PUBLISHING

Associate Publisher: William Delmont Commercial Director: Vicki Gavin Publisher & Managing Director:

Paul Dobson

Distribution First Eleven is supplied free on request to parents and UK and international independent schools. Please contact us for more details.

Printed in England by Wyndeham Heron, Essex.

Copyright: CNP Ltd 2010. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. ISSN: 1756-7173

Cover: Clare Kemp-Welch with Norland Place daughters. www.trikidoo.co.uk Photographer: Hugo Burnand

The information contained in First Eleven has been published in good faith and every eff ort has been made to ensure its accuracy. All liability for loss, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded.

WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK

SUMMER 2010 FIRST ELEVEN

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