file - Taunton School
Transcription
file - Taunton School
PAGES 2-3 PAGES 2-3 EXPERIENCE A NEW WORLD INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING www.tauntonschool.co.uk Spring 2013 PAGE 4 Established 1847 AN INSPIRATIONAL EDUCATION READING the newspapers, innovation and imagination seem very much to be in short supply. The desperate economic circumstances, coupled with a lack of confidence as well as money in doing new things, all creates a rather negative attitude in our country. In education Mr Gove is taking us back to ‘the good old days’. Having slain the dragons which were modules and coursework, he is challenging the education community to teach with more rigour and prepare pupils for examinations which are more academic. I applaud these moves by the Secretary of State for Education. Taunton School has always been ready to take on more rigorous academic challenges and ensure its pupils are given the best intellectual preparation for the world they move into. During a conversation with Mr Gove some months back, I encouraged him to make Britain a more competitive place. Clearly he wishes to do so. What makes Taunton School different, however, is its wish to move not only By DR JOHN NEWTON, Headmaster, Taunton School quickly and effectively to this new academic agenda, but also to provide a wealth of extra activity that will inspire and enrich the education of our students. No school I know speaks of the global challenge. No school I know is prepared to be innovative with its sciences and engineering. No school I know puts a strong 21st Century purpose on every single activity, visit and overseas expedition that it organises. Because while we are struggling to do the basics and finding innovation in short supply, the world is moving very quickly around us. Countries and continents, which once we thought were backward, are coming to the fore. Africa is now the fastest growing continent economically in the world. Outer Mongolia is the fastest growing single economy in the world. China is announcing new initiatives to improve the infrastructure and their way of life for the next 20 to 30 years. Other parts of Asia are equally ambitious to hold their own in the modern world. We need to prepare our young people to be globally minded problem solvers of the future. The jobs that are exciting, that pay well, that provide long lasting stimulus are no longer in Europe. And as we prepare our children with the mindset as well as the academic qualifications to take on the world beyond n Continued on page two 'We need to prepare our young people to be globally minded problem solvers of the future' OPEN MORNINGS April 27th (0-13 years) 9.30am-12.30pm 01823-703703 May 6th (0-18 years) 9.30am-12.30pm www.tauntonschool.co.uk more achievements CHARLIE Hutton-Pattemore has been presented with a coveted BAFTA by actress Anna Shaffer. He won the Game Concept Award and is now developing his game with computer experts. THE 2013 RaG week shattered its original target of raising £3,000 for school charities. Events included girls' rugby, a Prefect 'auction' and boys' body waxing. FOUR more Taunton School students have received offers of places at Oxford or Cambridge - Oliver Kelham, George Hallas, Audrey Sebatindira and Jeremy Soper. MICKEY Li reached the National Final of the European Piano Teachers' Association competition in Manchester and achieved a fantastic third place. SIXTH Form student Jodie Dibble moved another step closer to playing for the full England women's cricket team by going on the England Academy's tour to Sri Lanka. 01823-703703 WORK is well under way on the latest major development at Taunton School – a second Astroturf sports pitch, costing £675,000 and due to be completed by September. The pitch – in Olympicstyle blue with a red surround – is being constructed on the site of the old Shale games area. The scheme, which was approved in November after flood defence work in that area of the school proved successful, has received considerable Invest in your child's future support from a number of Old Tauntonians. Among them was the late Colonel Peter Durrant, who left a substantial legacy to the Taunton School Foundation, and the floodlit pitch will be called ‘The Durrant’ in his honour. Headmaster Dr John Newton said: “We have long needed an extra playing surface and I know this will be high quality as well as attractive to look at. We look forward to the grand opening in the autumn.” Who dares wins PROVIDING the best education for our children is one of the most important challenges we face as parents. And, in any challenge, there are brave decisions to be taken – decisions which sometimes involve an element of risk. Yet there is an easy way to remove that risk ... whether you are considering senior, junior, infant or nursery schooling. Come and discover that Taunton School may offer much more than you think. Have a coffee, take a look around and see for yourself what we do. For junior-age children, our Prep School offers a world of opportunity. The National Audit Office has warned that a quarter of a million extra school places will be needed in England by autumn 2014 to meet rising demand. The watchdog claimed one in five primary schools in England was full or near capacity and there were signs of "real strain" on places. Yet, at Taunton Prep School, our junior children benefit from smaller class numbers to allow the best opportunities for their development. They are also with us until the age of 13 – allowing them to develop confidence and become leaders in their own environment before moving up to our senior school. Children need to be allowed to take risks and learn for themselves how to cope with the unexpected. It is when they are out of their comfort zone that they learn the most. Alongside the main academic subjects, our children need to develop skills which will sustain them at school and in life. Taunton Prep School is introducing a two-year programme of study for pupils in Year 7 and 8 which aims to prepare them for the challenges of life as young adults academically, socially, culturally and spiritually. It does so by actively developing and tracking knowledge, skills and attitudes, alongside academic subjects. Remove the risk over your child's education by YOU paying us a visit. Who dares wins ... TAUNTON School has been developing its links with local primary schools by hosting a series of Take 5! workshops. Year 6 children from across the area are spending a day at Taunton School to learn about film making. The children devise, film and edit their all-singing, alldancing blockbuster ready for a red carpet premiere before parents and friends later in the day. The pupils are involved in every aspect of the production and are sent a free copy of the final DVD from their special day. Children from Enmore, Thurlbear, Milverton and Nether Stowey schools have already visited with Curry Mallet pupils due to Take 5! in May. An inspirational education Continued from page one America and the West, we will not have prepared them properly for the future unless these world transformations are uppermost in our minds. It is therefore an educational necessity that our young people are educated with others from different backgrounds. It is vital that we organise our visit to Shenzen in China and other parts of the fast growing world. Our visit is heavily subsidised as it is a profound educational statement. It remains vital that we organise expeditions to very different places such as India, South East Asia and Ethiopia. Our pupils will also enjoy the opportunity of visiting the Galapagos Islands in the summer of 2014 – a rare and wonderful opportunity to see the place where Charles Darwin conceived his Theory of Evolution. Because education is about the whole of life. Taunton School does not simply want to go through the motions. It is not simply a matter of crawling over the line into a university place. Education is a matter of inspiration. It is a matter of events and initiatives which remain alive in the minds of our pupils until they retire aged 70 or 75. Education is about nurturing fulfilled human beings in every way. Concerts that are worthy of public performance, shows whose standards are extraordinarily high, sport which is demanding and yet provides opportunity for all – all these things demonstrate the vibrancy and energy of the organisation. And when our guest speakers from public life come to address us, our pupils simply gain a more sharpened world view and a greater sense of their place within the world and its many changes. To conclude, Taunton School is all about ambition. It has no small ideas for your children so come along and visit us and feel the racing pulse of this imaginative thrusting 21st Century institution. I WROTE in a recent Taunton School Times article that there is no such thing as a Taunton School “type”. To mingle with our students will prove to anyone that the stereotype of a posh independent school pupil is a thing of the past. We celebrate the fact that our students come from all walks of life. They are not all brainy or sporty. They are typical children who are encouraged to make the most of their talents. Their parents are caring, hard working people who, in the majority of cases, did not go to an independent school themselves. Like all parents they want the best for their children. I have often heard people say “if only I could go back to my youth but with the confidence I have now”. It sits nicely with George Bernard Shaw’s “youth is wasted on the young”. As we get older we gain confidence and lose the fear of asking questions. What’s the worst thing that can happen in asking a question? We might get an answer we don’t like? However, the flip side is that we get the answer we do want which can sometimes considerably CHOOSING a school is a somewhat daunting task – deciding to move from one school to another is a decision not taken lightly. Jack was halfway through his first term in Year 9 when we started to look at what was on offer at various schools locally so he could pursue his real interests in languages, sport and music. Finny was the first to go and meet Dr Newton and see the school. It was 'Taunton School is all about ambition ... it has no small ideas for your children' OPEN MORNINGS By LEE GLASER, Deputy Headmaster, Taunton School enhance our lives. So what’s the worst thing that could happen if you got in touch and asked for support with school fees? There are many scholarships on offer at Year 9 and Year 12. Whether you consider your child to be sporty, academic, arty, musical, dramatic or an all-rounder, there are scholarships to suit them. If cost is a concern, we have a bursary scheme that may be available to you. All applications and awards are kept confidential and advice is available from our team. What harm would it do to pick up the phone and contact our Registrar, Mr Declan Rogers? The cost of investing in your child attending Taunton School is easily calculated. But, using the words of an old advertising campaign, watching your child develop into a confident, independent minded, well-qualified young adult: Priceless. Eye-opener to a whole new world NIGEL Muers-Raby tells why he and his wife Finny chose to send their son Jack to Taunton School ... April 27th (0-13 years) 9.30am-12.30pm more opportunities clear from that first meeting that there was something special about Taunton School. First and foremost it is obviously a very happy and welcoming place where students are encouraged to pursue a wide range of interests. Even more importantly there were no ‘barriers’ to getting Jack in – he was able to join after half-term on the basis of a report from his previous school and the meetings we had with Dr Newton. Jack settled in incredibly quickly with the help and support of teachers and students alike and, within days, it seemed as if he had been there for ever! Jack has been inspired to pursue his interests and others which he didn’t even know he had. He finds the environment stimulating and the range of activities open to him has been an eye-opener to a whole new world. LEFT: Jack Muers-Raby, front centre, with some of his friends. SIX Year 9 students exchanged Britain's winter for the heat of AUSTRALIA to spend six weeks in Melbourne on the first leg of an exchange. Their partner students visit here in the summer. FORTY children went on the 11th Choir Tour this time to ROME. The group, all members of the senior or junior choirs, performed in two of the most prestigious venues in the city. THE Design and Technology department took a group of Lower Sixth students to SAN FRANCISCO to study everything from an electric commuter vehicle to jelly bean production. FIFTEEN students from Years 10-13 spent nine days in SHENZHEN, CHINA, on a cultural exchange during the recent Easter holiday and took part in a wide range of activities and visits. BUSINESS and Leisure Studies students had a busy itinerary as they went to BARCELONA. It included a visit to the F1 Circuit de Catalunya, a guided tour of the old city and a boat trip. May 6th (0-18 years) 9.30am-12.30pm www.tauntonschool.co.uk Taunton School Nursery and Infants More choice and options Let us make your life easier… tĞŽīĞƌLJŽƵ͕LJŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚĂŶĚLJŽƵƌĨĂŵŝůLJƚŚĞďĞƐƚ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͘ dŚĞƐĞǀŝƚĂůĨŽƌŵĂƟǀĞLJĞĂƌƐ͕ǁŚĞƌĞĂƫ ƚƵĚĞƚŽůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŝƐƐĞƚ͕ŝƐƚŚĞŵŽƐƚŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƉŚĂƐĞŽĨLJŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚ͛ƐůŝĨĞ͘ /ƚŝƐĂŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƚŽƚŚŝŶŬƚŚĂƚŽŶůLJĂϭϮLJĞĂƌŽůĚŶĞĞĚƐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ͊ It is now!tŚŝůĞLJŽƵŶŐĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂƌĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐĂĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚƉŽƐŝƟǀĞĂƫ ƚƵĚĞĨŽƌůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͕ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ƐƚĂŵŝŶĂĂŶĚƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶĐĞĂŶĚĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐĞŶƋƵŝƌŝŶŐŵŝŶĚƐ͘ dŽŽůŝƩůĞ͕ƚŽŽůĂƚĞŵĞĂŶƐůŽƐƚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ͘ ACT NOW͕ǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞďƌĂŝŶŝƐŐƌŽǁŝŶŐĂŶĚĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐĂŶĚďƌĞĂĚƚŚŽĨŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ͘ Specialist taught Language Enrichment Programmes tŚĂƚŝƐƚŚĞ>ĂŶŐƵĂŐĞŶƌŝĐŚŵĞŶƚWƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ͍ >ĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐǁŝƚŚĂůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝƐƚŝŶ&ƌĞŶĐŚ͕'ĞƌŵĂŶĂŶĚ^ƉĂŶŝƐŚ͘/ŶEƵƌƐĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶďĞŐŝŶƚŽůĞĂƌŶ&ƌĞŶĐŚĂŶĚƚŚŝƐŝƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚŝŶZĞĐĞƉƟŽŶ͘/ŶzĞĂƌƐϭĂŶĚϮƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĐŽŶƟŶƵĞǁŝƚŚ&ƌĞŶĐŚŝŶƚŚĞƵƚƵŵŶƚĞƌŵďƵƚĂƌĞƚŚĞŶŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚƚŽ'ĞƌŵĂŶŝŶƚŚĞ ^ƉƌŝŶŐdĞƌŵĂŶĚ^ƉĂŶŝƐŚŝŶƚŚĞ^ƵŵŵĞƌdĞƌŵ͘>ĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞϯůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐŝƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚŝŶƚŽzĞĂƌƐϯĂŶĚϰĂŶĚďĞLJŽŶĚŝŶdW^͘ ŵƉŚĂƐŝƐŝƐŽŶƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐĂŶĚůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƚŚĞůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŐĂŵĞƐ͕ƐŽŶŐƐ͕ƌŽůĞͲƉůĂLJƐ͕ƵƐŝŶŐ ƉƵƉƉĞƚƐĂŶĚĮŶŐĞƌƌŚLJŵĞƐĂƐǁĞůůĂƐĐƵůƚƵƌĂůůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŶŐŵĂũŽƌ ĨĞƐƟǀĂůƐʹŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐĂŶĚĂƐƚĞƌĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ͘ LJKATHY McLAUCHLAN͕ ,ĞĂĚŽĨEƵƌƐĞƌLJĂŶĚWƌĞͲWƌĞƉ Returning to work after maternity leave? 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You will need to register in advance to avoid disappointment. Movers and Shakers For babies and toddlers on Wednesday mornings from 9.30-11.30 in the Pre-Prep Hall. Discover your child’s learning profile. How does your child learn to read? Is your child an enquirer? Who knows at this tender age what talents your children have. Let them experience breadth and opportunity so that they can grow and flourish. OPEN MORNINGS April 27th and May 6th 9.30am-12.30pm 01823 703703 Get a flavour by visiting our vibrant website: www.tauntonschool.co.uk Our fees have no hidden extras!