Michaelmas 2011 Contents
Editor’s letter What’s Inside...
It is almost the end of term and the festive season is invading our homes, halls, doorways and sitting rooms – not to mention the tops of street lamps, city
squares and every shop.
As schools organise carol services, end-of-term plays and parents’ meetings, we are busting a gut to balance the books while also giving our children their heart’s desire. Although I did say no to my daughter’s request for a Mac Notebook, I am quite tempted by the Tudor period Matilda doll reviewed by junior writer Lily Heathcoat-Amory in our pupil viewpoint. As it’s Christmas we have gone light on the
education and heavy on cosy Christmas ideas with presents, cuddly school pets (well, I’m not sure about Wizard the bull!) and ways of spending time away with our children. Of course, we couldn’t resist attacking a few thorny subjects: boarding schools, sporting schools, nature vs nurture, mathematical problems and safety on the rugby fi eld. Paranoid Parent is tackling a few of her own problems too as she is “out-numbered” on the delicate matter of Santa’s veracity and who’s really lying! As Tintin hits the big screen, we focus in on
comics, their history and their real value in encouraging reading. How I wish my children could look beyond the plastic water gun and choose them for content rather than be seduced by a cover freebie. As ever Parent’s Page gives you a few ideas of how to entertain little ones over the holidays and some good books too. Don’t forget, if you want to subscribe for free all you have to do is fi ll in the form to bring your own copy of First Eleven winging its way through the letter box. Just like Santa really... Have a lovely Christmas!
NEWS 4 News
A round up of school news 10 The Week
Education highlights from The Week
COMMENT 13 Head view
FINANCE 36 Conquering adversity
52 Pick a pocket or two?
Laura Hyde meditates on the benefi t of silence in school
15 Pupil view 18 Comment
Lily Heathcoat-Amory reviews Matilda, her new Tudor Girl doll
Richard Addis asks when is the right time to introduce children to current aff airs?
25 Conception Its all in the timing says Angus
Cater, a governor of Prior’s Field school, Surrey
EDUCATION 16 Educational profi le
20 Schools profi le
Schools weathering the recession by Charlotte Phillips
Twenty pence or £100? Is pocket money handed out occasionally or by a direct debit, asks Natalie Milner
HEALTH 56 Bringing up parents
58 Agony aunt
Academic Director of Montessori Centre International, Barbara Isaacs, on child development
Victoria Lambert answers your questions
LIFE 61 Paranoid parent
Jane Emerson explains dyscalculia, an innumerate cousin of dyslexia
Nursery school education for the under-fi ves by Glynis Kozma
26 Twelve School Pets and a
Parrot in a Pear Tree An old song with a new twist
30 When to board
Max Davidson tried it at ten and never looked back
41 Focus: the comic
Journalist Victoria Lambert, cartoonist Oliver Preston and special needs expert, Glynis Weston delve into the pages of an old favourite
46 Quirky sports 50 Rugby CNP Ltd, Liscartan House,
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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Annabel Heseltine Deputy Editor Claudia Dudman Editorial Assistant Natalie Milner Art Editor Dan Angel
ADVERTISING Senior Account Director Joanna Macpherson Sales Executives Andy Mabbitt, Freddy Halliday, Henry Davis Group Advertising Manager Justin Geale Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross
Alice Barlow considers some very English eccentrics
Sean Curry tells mothers not to worry just yet
Stocking fi llers
Ducks the Father Christmas dilemma and gets trounced
63 Christmas gifts and
First Eleven’s must-haves this yuletide
66 Learning abroad Travels with my child, by three
mothers, Louisiana Lush, Caroline Collins and Raff aella Barker
71 Satellite ski resorts Catherine Fairweather suggests a
few family friendly villages suitably far from the madding crowd
74 Property Anna Tyzack on swapping houses
SCHOOL’S OUT 78 Bright sparks
80 Parent’s page
What they did next
Where you talk to us and we talk to you
82 School memories
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
Artist Susannah Fiennes recalls her time at Marlborough
DISTRIBUTION First Eleven is read by 250,000 parents of children in private education. One Senior Schools issue and two Junior schools issues is published termly and distributed by UK and international independent schools to their parents
Cover: Children from The Dominie, Battersea, London Photographer: Hugo Burnand Assisted by: Radu Brebene
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.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk Michaelmas 2011 FirstEleven 3
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