For the latest news from schools in London and beyond.
Our round-up of education news for our November Journal takes us from East London to Surrey via Finchley as we get the low down on school meals, art and open days.
Charterhouse Square School hosts first Open Day
Charterhouse Square School will open its doors for the first-ever Open Day on Tuesday 21st November. The school welcomes prospective families seeking an outstanding education for children aged three to 11. Charterhouse Square School aim is to provide a safe and nurturing environment serving as a home away from home, where students are encouraged to have a go, embrace challenges, and step out of their comfort zones. This approach not only enables pupils to achieve exceptional academic results but also secure places in some of the most prestigious senior schools in London and beyond.
The Open Day will provide an opportunity to explore the school’s brand-new spaces in action, meet the headteacher, witness classroom teachers bringing their subjects to life, and interact with their pupils! It’s the perfect occasion to discover what sets Charterhouse Square School apart and why it recently earned an ‘excellent’ rating from the ISI.
Prospective families will have the chance to learn more about the admissions process and ask any questions that will help them feel confident that their child can achieve their full potential at Charterhouse Square School.
Reserve your place through the Charterhouse Square School website at charterhousesquareschool.co.uk/book-an-event
New scholarships at St James
St James Preparatory School is launching three new scholarships in Creative Arts, Sports and Academics for 2024/5 entry. Each will be awarded to pupils showing outstanding potential in their given area.
Available to external and internal applicants who are currently in Year 2 and moving into Year 3 in 2024-25, each scholarship will be covering 25% of fees from September 2024-25.
Candidates will be awarded one scholarship but can apply for up to two. The scholarship awarded will be following children for the remainder of their time at St James Preparatory School.
The deadline for applications is Monday 1st January 2024, and assessments will take place on Monday 15th January 2024.
Read more here.
Dulwich Prep London Expands
Dulwich Prep London will be extending its offering for boys to 16 by opening a senior school encompassing Years 9, 10 and 11. Alongside the school’s 140th anniversary celebrations in 2025, Dulwich Prep London will continue to support families to find the right senior school or, indeed, sixth form at the right time for their son. Dulwich Prep London will continue to provide an outstanding, values-driven, and academically excellent all-round education in the boys’ best interest whilst maintaining the widest choice of the best senior schools in the country and firmly offering families the best of all worlds.
Dulwich Prep London has successfully placed boys in 50 different senior schools over the last five years, with 95% securing their first choice. Schools include Dulwich College, City of London School, Trinity School, Westminster School, and Whitgift School, and further afield, such as Eton College, Harrow School, The King’s School, Canterbury, Tonbridge, and Winchester College. In addition, since 2020, their boys have been awarded over 260 scholarships.
dulwichpreplondon.org/senior-school
The Big Draw at Danes Hill
In October, Danes Hill’s art department hosted The Big Draw, to celebrate the school’s love for creativity and to raise money for their local charity, the Oasis Children’s Trust. The Big Draw gives pupils and parents the opportunity to come together and work on a community art project as a collective. The Oasis Children’s Trust supports families that are in crisis and struggling to cope, those that have no voice and no power to change their home environment. The charity services include outreach, crisis support, legal services, emotional wellbeing, and their annual Christmas Appeal. This Christmas, the Danes Hill School community are overjoyed to be supporting the Oasis Charity with their provision of Christmas food hampers.
The Dining Room at Danes Hill School was transformed into a large and bright art studio for the Big Draw and special guest Steve Chapman led the evening’s events. Steve is an artist who specialises in nurturing freedom of spontaneous self-expression, creativity, and innovation.
Maxine Shaw, Head of Danes Hill School said, ‘A Danes Hill education is a privilege and with that privilege comes the responsibility to give back. This wonderful family event, to support families who are struggling, was wonderful to be part of. The Big Draw was an opportunity to bring the school community together in celebration of World Mental Health Day whilst raising funds for a very worthy cause.’
From Great British Menu to Christ’s College Finchley
Amber Francis, hailed as one to watch in the Great British Menu, is taking on a new challenge at Christ’s College Finchley. She’s joined as Head Chef and Senior Food Educator, to introduce a pioneering way of working that serves up restaurant standard food to hundreds of students every day.
It’s a big change for Amber, who recently won the coveted Young Chef of the Year award, headed up the restaurant Maene, in Shoreditch, and – hailing from Bristol- represented the South West in the cooking competition Great British Menu.
However, Amber believes in the power of food in changing young lives and is delighted to take on this new role.
As well as serving up incredible food, all made from scratch – such as aubergine curry with pilaf rice, fresh fish – prepped and breaded in house, she has plans to start an orchard and grow produce on site.
Amber says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t say no to. I’m absolutely thrilled and really excited to get stuck in. Teens and kids are the toughest customers – their feedback is more intimidating and honest than most food critics and I can’t wait for the challenge!”
