independent_schools_Autumn

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Newbury Weekly News

Thorngrove School

Director of sport Nick Harrison has brought in pre-season sports training with professional sports coaches, which is a real hit. Fiddler on the Roof was the big senior school musical last year, with 70 pupils taking part. The school also hosts a dance project with Mary Hare, a local special school for deaf children. In the summer, there was a dance project with Year 3 and Year 4 pupils. They experienced all forms of dance from ballet to street. Drama is on the curriculum with LAMDA teacher Julia Lee-Delisle. Every child this year who took a LAMDA exam achieved either merit or distinction. At Christmas, Thorngrove’s ballet teacher, Miss Holly, hosted a ballet project with local primary schools using The Nutcracker as her theme. Eighty per cent of pupils from Year 3 up learn a musical instrument. There is a plethora of music groups and all pupils take part in a Music Festival, with many forming their own groups and creating their own music. The choir went on tour to Wales in May and sung evensong in Llandaff Cathedral with the

in the school having their artwork professionally hung and judged. The school offers more than 30 activities every week. The quirkiest ones are disco roller skating, fishing, street dance, remote control car club, forest school, golf and Yoga for four-year-olds. The school recently taken up clay pigeon shooting and plans to host its own competition next term. Mindfulness is a big part of Thorngrove. The school has recently appointed a new Deputy Head Pastoral and also has a teacher who teaches mindfulness and meditation to all age groups. There is a school counsellor and next year they are planning to create a drop-in facility for pupils to pop in and chat to a trained counsellor if they have any worries. There is a strong learning support department that supports children in their learning inside the classroom and on a one-to-one basis. If you would like to see the school for yourself and find out how a Thorngrove education could benefit your child please call the registrar Bev O’Brien on (01635) 253172. Alternatively, you can call the school office on the same number and book a place at Thorngrove’s Open Day on Friday, October 5, from 9am- 11am.

THORNGROVE is a happy, nurturing school where children can be themselves, fulfil their dreams and ultimately become well- rounded, well-rooted and resilient young people. Most children will usually join the nursery or reception class. The other main points of entry are usually Years 3 and 4. At the end of Year 8, pupils go on to an eclectic list of senior schools. In most years 25 per cent of Year 8 pupils will pick up awards to their next school. Last year, leavers went to Abingdon, St Helen & St Katharine, Bradfield, Marlborough, Pangbourne, Millfield and Sherborne Girls. Roughly a third will board and two thirds will head off to independent day or flexi-boarding schools nearby. Thorngrove’s sports department prides itself on making sport for all. Everyone from Year 3 up plays in a team for the school and there is a wide-ranging fixture list. As well as the usual sports, there is so much on offer, including contemporary dance and ballet, archery and fencing. The school has also introduced girls’ cricket for the first time this summer and has built a brand new three-lane cricket net facility. Tours last year headed off to Barcelona and the West Country.

resident cathedral choir. Art is strong, with two

scholarships awarded this year to Bradfield and Pangbourne. The school’s art exhibition is loads of fun with every pupil

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Open Morning | 05 October | 09:00 - 11:00AM

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The Mount, Highclere, Newbury, RG20 9PS, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1635 253172