Autumn 2011 Contents
Editor’s letter What’s inside
Welcome back after a not-so-hot summer! I am thrilled to announce that First Eleven is growing
again. Tis autumn, we are launching a senior schools magazine for older children in addition to producing two junior schools issues each term. Te second First Eleven Junior Schools will be in the schools just before the Christmas holidays, or you can order your own, to be delivered free to your home (please see page 77). Fired with a new burst of enthusiasm as I know you all are at the beginning of the school year, we have devoted this issue to helping you choose the right school for your child. Our Schools Directory will give you further insight into what’s out there for you. For those of you who have just
dropped off your child at their first boarding school, perhaps you will find a little consolation from Paranoid Parent in knowing that you are not alone. And why not spend some of that
newly found free time planning your next holiday? James Dunford Wood kicks off a series on How to show your child the world without spending the earth. Or you could enter our competition for a night at the fabulous Stobo Castle. After returning four feral children, who have run wild and roughshod around their parents for two months, I know I, for one, could do with a break!
NEWS 5 News
A round up of School News
11 Open Days 12 Te Week
COMMENT 14 Comment
Dates for your diary Education highlights from Te Week
HEALTH 55 Eyes
Paul Vanni on modern languages 18 Pupil view 21 Head view
How preparing for a trip was an education in itself, by GCSE student Tom Hall
Jeremy Lewis on why British schools need to think globally
29 Teacher Viewpoint A teacher in China, by Holly Tacker
EDUCATION 16 Educational Profile
23 Schools Profile 30 School Choices 37 First Impressions 40 Live-in Artists 45 Focus
50 Sport FirstEleven CNP Ltd, Liscartan House,
127-131 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9AS Tel (020) 7349 3150 Fax (020) 7349 3160
Email
info@firstelevenmagazine.co.uk For website and
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www.firstelevenmagazine.co.uk/register
EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Annabel Heseltine Deputy Editor Claudia Dudman Art Editor Martin Gannon Design Sofia Bakhsh, Karen Warren
ADVERTISING Senior Account Director Joanna Macpherson Sales Executives Andy Mabbitt, Freddy Halliday, Henry Davis Group Advertising Manager Justin Geale Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross
Eye check-ups are critical for keeping up the standards, says Tea Jourdan
58 Working Memory 60 Agony aunt
Veronica Bidewell suggests ways to help children with memory difficulties
Victoria Lambert answers your questions
LIFE 63 Paranoid parent
Literacy expert Ruth Miskin on writing and reading skills
Victoria Lambert considers the merits of an international school education
Annabel Heseltine on choosing the right school for your child
Charlotte Phillips navigates the school open day
Talia Tompson and Rupert Bathurst on artists in residence
Prof Sugata Mitra, Anna Evans, Max Trotter, Sue Palmer and Rebecca Wright discuss the impact of the digital era on children’s literacy
John Goodbody on why gymnastics and swimming are skills for life which need to be learnt early
65 Edutainment 66 Travel
72 Spa Breaks
FINANCE 53 More bang for your buck
Dan Townend asks so what do you get for your school fees
Starting boarding school
How recreational learning helps children by Emily Jenkinson
James Dunford Wood shows his kids the world on a budget
Charlotte Fairbairn relaxes at Stobo Castle
SCHOOL’S OUT 75 Property
76 Parent’s page 78 Bright sparks
SCHOOLS 82 Directory
PUBLISHING Publishing Director Sarah Arthur Commercial Director Vicki Gavin Publisher & Managing Director Paul Dobson Marketing Manager Will Delmont Subscriptions Francesca Lessons Production allpointsmedia
www.allpointsmedia.co.uk Printed in England by Wyndeham Heron, Essex Copyright CNP Ltd 2011. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. ISSN: 1756-7173
The information contained in First Eleven has been published in good faith and every effort 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.
Anna Tyzack on buying a second home close to your child’s school
Where you talk to us and we talk to you What they did next 81 School memories Ben Fogle remembers Bryanston
A directory of schools around the country
DISTRIBUTION First Eleven is read by 250,000 parents of children in private education. One Senior Schools issue and two Junior schools issues will be published termly and distributed by UK and international independent schools to their parents
Cover: Girls from Inglefield House, prep school for Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls Photographer Suzannah Beatson-Hird
www.firstelevenmagazine.co.uk
Autumn 2011 FirstEleven 3
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