In this issue
We meet Matt Williams, head at Warminster. Prep school's purpose is education for the future at All Hallows. The greatest gift is a well-rounded child at Leehurst Swan. Channelling children's spirit of adventure at St Francis. Private is best say Cricklade Manor Prep. School productions create a magical community at Farleigh School. Dauntsey's is taking up the challenge to inspire female engineers. Providing opportunities for the engineers of tomorrow at Downside. Developing wellbeing through positive psychology at St Margaret's, Calne. Hanford: in these testing times, it is best to wait to move up from prep school. Monkton Combe: learning to navigate the binaries of school choice. Introducing Andrew Gordon-Brown, head of Kingswood. Plus all the latest news and achievements from schools in the area, and full listings information.
From the editor
It is always a pleasure to put together our Independent Schools Guide. No matter what has gone before, with the ups and downs of publishing and the challenges of the school holidays, I always find it inspiring to read the thoughts of those working in the south west’s leading private schools. I may have said it before, but these guides are eagerly awaited by my daughter, keen to see what the school’s in our area offer pupils.
It always strikes me how, free from the constraints of the National Curriculum, independent schools are able to place much more focus on pastoral care and not on the three Rs. A casual glance at the Contents to the right reveals a great deal: well-rounded child; spirit of adventure; wellbeing and positive psychology; school productions.
We also have two excellent articles on creativity: allowing children to follow their ideas through design technology; and encouraging future female engineers through STEM subjects. Both highly creative subjects with a broad scope for discovery. Schools from all sectors are facing challenges, but it is encouraging to find that wellbeing and creativity, positive and ongoing support and doing what is right for the child all feature heavily, not just in the articles in this guide, but in independent schools across Wiltshire and the south west.
