Independent Schools

Thursday, September 15, 2016 The Abbey School THE Abbey School invites

Newbury Weekly News

of the IB programme. At GCSE, 84 per cent of pa pers were awarded A*-A grades. Upper Sixth students ha ve secured places at leading univer- sities in the UK and Europe and on blue-chip corporate programmes. As an HMC accr edited school, The Abbey offers an education of exceptional quality with a f ocus on balance and well-being that prepares girls to live fulfilled and happy lives in a fast-paced and swiftly-changing future.

subjects, helping students to discover their own areas of interest. Extra-curricular oppor tunities play an important part in school life, with music, drama, art and sport – plus more than 240 different interest clubs – contributing to a happy, ener- getic atmosphere that is highly valued by the girls. Girls with particular strengths are invited to apply for the sport, drama, ar t and music scholarship programmes, which are available from Year 7. Opportunities to develop lead- ership skills are offered throughout the school, from organising charity after noons and cross-curricular projects to Young Enterprise and the Duk e of Edinburgh’s Award. Students are encouraged to actively engage in all areas of school life, building friendships and experience alongside the resilience needed to embrace new challenges. When the time comes to mo ve on to university and beyond, pupils continue to be suppor ted through www.theabbeycon- nect.com, a mentoring network for alumnae of The Abbey, where advice is shared on everything from career deci- sions and oppor tunities to balancing work and home life. Head of The Abbey School Rachel Dent is a passiona te believer in the impor tance of inspiration, aspiration and balance in life. She said “At The Abbey we create an environment where pupils are inspired by the genuine enthusiasm they see in

The Abbey School’s ethos, embedded throughout the school’s 130-year history, empow- ers girls to become confident, independent and enthusiastic learners. A proactive and compassiona te approach to pastoral car e, with formal and informal suppor t from teachers and peers, creates a caring community tha t values and suppor ts individuals. Inspirational and highl y-quali- fied teaching staff share their genuine passion f or their

your daughter to star t a jour- ney of discovery and inspir a- tion, which will give her a love of learning and friendships for life. The Abbey is consistentl y one of the country’s top-performing schools academicall y. This year 89 per cent of A-le vel examinations were awarded A*-B grades, while the average points score for the International Baccalaur eate was 39, confirming the school’s world-class delivery

remain that way throughout their lives.” The Abbey School is located in Berkshire, close to Reading town centre, just a 10-minute walk from Reading Station. There is also an extensi ve coach network. The school’s autumn open events are an excellent oppor tu- nity to experience all tha t The Abbey has to of fer. Visit the school and share in the remarkable journeys of some of the cur rent pupils and to talk to the inspira tional teaching staff. For more information, visit www.theabbey.co.uk

their teachers. “We encourage girls to follow their natural curiosity and discover interests and talents inside the classroom and beyond. “Our ethos centr es on enabling each girl to develop her own identity and self-awareness, to know where her strengths lie and to become a g rounded, resilient individual with a posi- tive approach to life. “Intrinsically linked to this is the importance of balancing academic studies with extra- curricular activities, ensuring that their jour ney is rich, diverse and fulfilling and will