independent_schools_Autumn

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Newbury Weekly News

t Helen and St Katharine

expeditions and productions, the choice is vast. At the heart of St Helen’s is a question: what will you find? An invitation to each pupil to discover opportunities and develop her strengths, enabling her to fully know herself and how best to use her talents. Wellbeing comes from being known and appreciated for being herself. It comes from the ethos which celebrates, but does not revere, success; it rests on intuitive support systems that are there for the best and worst of days; it hails from the award-winning food and the most loveable of all school dogs. It also comes from a commitment to physical activity through sport and fitness programmes – the aim is to create habits that will see physical wellbeing be a lifelong priority – and a focus throughout the school on

Sixth form pupils studying government and politics get to grips with the UK and US political systems, while familiarity with non-European languages is fast becoming a major asset for any young learner. Pupils from Year 8 to Upper Sixth can study Mandarin and Arabic, broadening their cultural awareness as well as linguistic skills. Outside the classroom all pupils are encouraged to live fully and to give anything that interests them a go. Opportunities are provided for this with the Beyond programme, in which more than 100 extracurricular clubs and societies flourish, some run by the pupils. From philosophy and fencing to photography and musical theatre, as well as numerous

nurturing individual character. Screens are an inevitable companion in 2018 and there are important lessons to be learned about digital selfhood. Part of this is teaching a healthy balance between engagement in social forums and being able to willingly put down a phone in order to read, compete, play and converse. Good and safe tech habits are encouraged from Year 5, and the school works closely with pupils and parents to manage online lives and the bombardments of social media. Year 9 pupils undertake a digital detox week – locking away their phones, iPads and laptops. This encourages discussions rather than Snapchat exchanges and exploration of different activities. Pupils’ reactions progress from doubt to resolutions to spend less time

of St Helen’s role in each pupil’s development is to help them prepare for life beyond school. As the job market toughens, graduates need friends on the inside in order to break through. A final piece of the St Helen’s jigsaw is the Kate Scheme, where sixth form students are mentored by alumnae as they make deci- sions about their careers. Inspiring and helping them as education and their careers, the Kate Scheme provides the hand reaching from the other side, the beginnings of a professional network. they make the transition between school, higher

on their phones. They sleep better and enjoy more profound interactions with friends and family. Yet the school is also aware that working in the digital age will require digital literacy. Computer science is an integral programming and algorithm design are studied from Year 7, while Year 5 and 6 begin with cryptanalysis, enriched by visiting Bletchley Park and examining the Enigma machine. Pursuits in this area show pupils a broader side of the subject – just as performing a Shakespeare play or visiting CERN may do for English literature or physics. In GreenPower, pupils use computer science to design and build a battery-powered car, which they then enjoy racing. One of the most important parts part of the St Helen’s curriculum. Coding,

ST HELEN and St Katharine prepares girls and young women for their whole lives, not just the next educational step. The school’s aim is for young women to leave with confidence in their abilities and a strong curiosity about the world. The educational environment fosters passion and excitement about learning in the generations of pupils who attend and the school takes pride in its culture of kindness and breadth of opportunity. In these changeable and volatile times it is more important than ever for schools to evolve and adapt so that every pupil can thrive on her own terms. Pupils are active, independent learners, able to think for themselves and prepared to take risks. The curriculum inspires confident futures.

St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon, Oxfordshire – Independent day school for girls aged 9-18 – open day September 29. www.shsk.org.uk

Open Day Saturday 29 September, 9.30am–1.30pm

shsk.org.uk 01235 530593 admission@shsk.org.uk

A-level Options Open Evening Thursday 4 October, from 5.00pm

School bus service with collection points across the Thames Valley

Bursaries available up to 100% of fees fromYear 7

Independent day school for girls aged 9–18

ABINGDON • OXFORDSHIRE