LIVE24SEVEN // Education Meet Gavin Roberts, HEAD OF JUNIORS AT RENDCOMB COLLEGE
We are surrounded by 230 acres of beautiful grounds and we encourage our pupils to make the most of them! Pupils attend weekly Forest School sessions until Year 5 with our older Junior School pupils enjoying Bushcraft sessions throughout the year. Trust, care and support are key elements of any family and being a family is what Rendcomb is all about.
What is the vision for the school going forward over the next five years?
We’re currently gearing up to celebrate the school’s centenary in 2020. Although that feels far away at the moment, plans are well under way to commemorate this event.
We know that the world is constantly changing and we will always aim to adapt quickly so as to provide our pupils with the best chance of future success. Last year saw us add a Science lab to the Junior School and we have just held our first Junior School production in our brand new performing arts centre.
These are exciting times at Rendcomb College as we gather you have recently been appointed as Head of Juniors. What is your background in education?
I began my teaching career in a small, rural primary school in Mid-Wales before entering the independent sector at the Cathedral School, Llandaff. Over the course of my 11 years in Cardiff, I was Head of English and Senior Tutor for the Junior School and also taught Maths and English up to GCSE in the Senior School. I joined Rendcomb College in 2014 as Deputy Head of the Junior School.
Rendcomb College is now able to offer up to 30 hours of Government funded childcare for pre-schoolers each week. What are the parameters for parents to receive this?
The only parameters are those laid out by the government. For us, we feel that by offering the 30 hours of funding, we are staying true to the ethos of the school’s founder by broadening access to a Rendcomb education.
What is Rendcomb’s fee structure from Reception onwards?
The 30 hours funding may apply for some Reception pupils and we have also recently reviewed our fee structure from Reception to Year 6. Some fees have been reduced by 30%.
For parents who are just beginning the process of thinking about their child’s future education, please tell us more about the schooling you offer in the early years and what makes Rendcomb College different from others in the independent sector?
We offer something unique at Rendcomb in terms of both education and setting. Ours is a family school which is small enough to value each and every pupil as an individual.
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We aim to produce thoughtful, adventurous and academically ambitious young people and that's what we will continue to do well into the future.
Rendcomb College has an excellent reputation for providing an all-round, encompassing education. Are there particular areas where you feel the school stands out?
I think the question probably answers itself: we stand out in being able to offer that all round educational experience. The holistic element has not been lost at Rendcomb; we believe that every pupil has their own talent and it's our job to provide them with as many different opportunities as possible to allow that talent to flourish and thrive. Small class sizes (of no more than 16) allow us to get to know our pupils as individuals.
What are the school’s academic achievements?
Academic standards are consistently higher than the national average. Our aim as a Junior School is to prepare our pupils for the next step and their next adventure on their educational journey. This past year, over 80% have chosen to continue on to Rendcomb College Senior School with many gaining academic, drama, art and sport scholarships. We also had a number of pupils who were successful in gaining grammar school places.
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