independent schools September 2019

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Newbury Weekly News

Moulsford Prep School

MOULSFORD Prep School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged four to 13, set in idyllic grounds of 30 acres beside the Thames near Goring and Streatley. Moulsford offers boys superb opportunities for learning while having fun. A restructured curriculum was successfully introduced in September 2017, which moves away from the traditional Common Entrance preparation. The focus is not only to prepare boys for senior schools, but also to ensure they have the skills for life beyond. The new curriculum encourages boys to have a go, take a well-thought-out risk, and, on occasion, fail. Exploration and enquiry is strongly encouraged and Mouls- ford life aims to develop boys’ resilience. Through the school’s activities programme, boys are offered opportunities to develop new Our programme gives boys the chance to try magic tricks, bike maintenance, bushcraft, photography, drama, sailing, genealogy, Subbuteo, chess and bridge, pantomime, parkour, night-running, golf, stand-up comedy, geocaching and many more. The most popular activities are kayaking, climbing, archery, cooking and ceramics. This non-compulsory activities programme has a 75 per cent skills and talents, while becoming a conscientious citizen.

the boys respond accordingly. There is a strong rapport between staff and boys, and a sense of mutual respect. Mental wellbeing for both staff and pupils is taken very seriously. The school is in regular contact with mental health charities to understand the latest research. There is also an independent school counsellor who is available to meet boys weekly. One measure of Moulsford’s success is the broad range of scholarships and exhibitions awarded each year. For 2019 at 13+, three boys have gained awards to Abingdon School, three to Radley, three to Magdalen College School, two to Cokethorpe, one to Bradfield, one to St Edward’s Oxford, one to Wellington and one to The Oratory, all across a range of academic, sports, music, drama, art, design & technology and all-rounder awards. In addition to these schools, others to which Moulsford boys progress this year include Marlborough, Eton, Shiplake and Pangbourne. A network of minibus routes offers easy daily transport to Moulsford, please contact the school for details. To find out more join the school an informal visit and tour at their next open days on Friday, Septem- ber 20 from 10am-noon or 1pm–3pm, or on Saturday, September 21 from 9am-noon. Please email admissions@mouls- ford.com for further details and to book a place.

take-up rate and the talented staff are able to offer these activities in-house and therefore most are free of charge. Moulsford’s reputation for sport, and particularly rugby, remains extremely strong. While sporting glory is always the goal and often achieved, the primary aim at Moulsford is to achieve opportunity across the

ability range, with all boys in teams A to F regularly playing competitive matches. Minor sports have also seen significant successes in golf, skiing, fencing and judo, with some of the less overtly sporty boys finding their niche and talent in these arenas. Music and drama remains popular at Moulsford and roughly

three-quarters of the boys from Years 3-8 play an instrument, with 14 per cent learning two. Places in the choir are hotly contested, with a total of 58 boys in the senior choir and 80 in the junior choir. As well as two outstanding productions a year, the highlight of the musical calendar is the open-air Summer Concert, with

the choirs, orchestra and various ensembles (wind, string, jazz) performing on a July evening on the lawn beside the river, with parents bringing picnics. The core values of respect, compassion and independence are at the heart of all that Moulsford does. Expectations are high in terms of manners and discipline, and

OPEN DAYS Friday 20th Saturday 21st September

Independent day and boarding school for boys aged 4-13

To attend an Open Day or to arrange an individual visit, please contact us: admissions@moulsford.com • 01491 651438 • www.moulsford.com Moulsford Preparatory School, Moulsford-on-Thames, Oxon, OX10 9HR Getting the Best out of Boys