Top 20 UK schools for the #sport of #rugby

Parents often ask which schools have strong coaching in the sport of rugby, when considering their future senior school choices for boys.

Here are some ideas below (according to the Daily Mail Trophy Merit Table).

However, parents should bear in mind that rugby should only be one element of choosing the right school and most senior schools for boys offer the sport of rugby at a good level, offering opportunities to take part in a comprehensive fixture list. 

Academic level, subject strengths, ethos. location, boarding vs. day, strength of boarding, co-ed vs. single sex, to name just a few which are also important factors to take into account.

More details on school rugby in the Daily Mail Trophy via this link

http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/DailyMailTrophy.aspx

Some might find the history of rugby interesting when Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School, first picked up the ball and ran with it during a match.

http://www.rugbyschool.net/a-history-of-rugby-football

DO YOU NEED ADVICE CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL?

Our team of friendly professional consultants are here to help.

For an informal chat about how we might help you, call Claire Coker on +44 (0)1865 522066

or Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

School Name	School Sport Website
Wellington College	http://www.wellingtoncollegesports.org.uk/?ID=46
Sedbergh School	http://www.sedberghschoolsports.org/?ID=236 .
Kirkham Grammar School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=158
Monmouth School	http://www.monmouthschoolsports.org/?ID=47
Epsom College	http://www.epsomcollegesport.org.uk/?ID=109
Bromsgrove School	http://www.bromsgrove-schoolsport.co.uk/?ID=51
Abingdon School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=2
The Grammar School at Leeds	http://www.gsalsport.org.uk/?ID=163
Dulwich College	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=99
Reed’s School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=206
Stowe School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=248
Stamford School	http://www.sessport.co.uk/?ID=243
The King’s School Macclesfield	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=153
Kingswood School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=157
Sherborne School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=238
Hymers College	http://www.hymerscollegesport.co.uk/?ID=136
Lymm High School	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=424
Trinity School, Croydon	http://www.trinity-school-sports.org/?ID=253
Royal Grammar School Newcastle	http://www.schoolssports.com/school/?ID=69
Royal Grammar School High Wycombe	http://www.rgshwsports.com/?ID=278

#Parents, are you up to speed on the A level reforms from Sept 2015?

Here are a few tips from our new Director of Consultancy Services, Brian McGee

You will no doubt have read in the press recently about changes taking place to A level reforms starting in September 2015. These changes are taking place over the course of the next three years and can be very confusing for parents.

The reformed A levels have been brought in as part of a proposed drive to raise standards, the idea being that the modular approach of recent years has made A levels easier, leading to grade inflation and a decline in our young people's skills compared to international comparisons. The result is a move towards less coursework and more terminal examinations at the end of two years of study. The AS level will disappear in its current form, with students studying three subjects for A level over two years and just one supplementary AS level in the first year, which will not be examined at A level standard.

The process of these changes has been staged, depending on how quickly the examination boards and Ofqual can ratify the new specifications along the lines of the new more stringent standards. Therefore some subjects will be introduced in September 2015 (English subjects, biology, chemistry, physics and social science subjects) with others following in 2016 (geography, modern languages, arts subjects, PE and RS). Mathematics has been delayed until 2017 because the complicated range of options made it too much of a rush. Many other smaller subjects will disappear altogether by 2017.

Many parents, and indeed schools, have been waiting for further guidance with regard to how the changes will be implemented during this transitional phase, with students beginning courses in September 2015 being offered a mix of the current and the new specifications. What does this mean for AS choices? And what does it mean for university entry in September 2017? The answer is still somewhat unclear. The University of Cambridge, which has relied very heavily on the AS results in recent years as the best indicator of future undergraduate performance, has come out strongly in favour of continuing to study 4 AS levels as a requirement for entry (see http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/8162). Other universities are advising schools that they will accept a range of combinations during the process of change.


As parents, the best advice is to contact your son's or daughter's school and to ask them about their plans for implementing the changes. There is very little they can do except to reassure you that the universities are fully aware of the changes and if necessary a call to one or two university admissions departments might serve to reassure you about A level choices and their implications for applications to particular courses. For more information visit the link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-the-facts-gcse-and-a-level-reform/get-the-facts-as-and-a-level-reform

Do you need help with A level choices or planning a university application? 

Our friendly, professional team of education consultants can help. Please get in touch for an informal chat about your requirements.

Tel 01865 522066 or email Claire via  consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

#Scholarships and #Bursaries to Independent Schools-solving the perceived mystery

One of the queries that regularly comes my way at this time of year is that of the perceived mystery surrounding scholarships and bursaries to independent schools. What are they, what’s the difference and how do parents go about securing one?

Nearly all independent schools offer financial assistance of some kind. Firstly, let’s talk about Scholarships. These require pupils to demonstrate excellence in some or several areas such as music, sport, academics or ‘all-rounder’. Exhibitions, or mini-scholarships, can also allow for financial assistance with extra-curricular music or drama lessons.

Both are awarded on the basis of performance in written and sometimes practical tests, depending on the area in which they’re being awarded. There will almost certainly be an interview too. Scholarship testing usually takes place on set dates each year and these can usually be found on the school’s website, alongside details and deadlines for applications. Allowing at least a two year lead-time for applications is the norm.

Scholarships tend to be awarded on merit in sport, art, academics, music or all-round ability. In most cases, they’re not linked to parents’ financial need. Some can even be honorary accolades, with no financial benefit at all.

Feeder prep schools work very closely with senior schools and know the process inside out. So taking advice from your current Head on the likelihood of your child gaining a scholarship is crucial. They will also advise on the process and help with the application. A strong reference will be important, as well as help with preparing for interviews and tests.

Scholarships are often reviewed annually since there will be conditions attached, such as working hard and making a positive on-going contribution to the school community in the area in which they’ve been awarded. Sometimes an award can be made to internal candidates who’ve made a strong contribution in a particular area, since joining the school. A good example could be applying for a sixth form scholarship if your child has contributed at an exceptional level throughout their time at the school to date. Some schools may consider awarding a scholarship to encourage retention of an able student, who may be in two minds about moving school for sixth form. If this describes your child, it’s always worth asking. In a similar way, some scholarships require repayment if your child leaves part-way through their school career, such as at sixth form.

Next week, some advice on Bursaries. Follow us on Twitter so we can keep you posted on our latest Blog topics. Click here  https://twitter.com/CatherineStoker

Do you need help preparing for a senior school interview? Our friendly, professional team of education consultants can help. Please get in touch for an informal chat about your requirements.

Tel 01865 522066 or email Claire via  consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

The future’s not so much about the big idea - it’s about having the #technological skills to make the big idea happen.

I spend quite a proportion of my week visiting #schools. One of the most noticeable changes over the past couple of years has been the advent of teachnology, in other words, technology to support teaching and learning across all areas of the curriculum. Ipads and Apps are increasingly becoming vital classroom tools and many teachers have initiated creative ways to engage and inspire children’s interest in learning through their use.

The I.T. curriculum is no longer about PC skills such as learning how to touch-type or use Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These skills are now almost second nature to children who, surrounded by technology from a young age, have grown up using them for almost as long as they have been able to read and write. Instead, programming through learning to code is fast becoming the future of technological learning in schools.

Learning how to write and understand the language of computer code gives youngsters an insight into the logic behind the technology they come across every day via Apps, smartphones and programmable gadgets, enabling them to engage more within the world in which we now live.

As important as learning French, Spanish or Mandarin, computer code has possibly become, the most powerful and useful language of all. Even if they never intend to pursue a career in programming, the logical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills it requires will certainly prove useful, whatever career path youngsters take.

Coding, competent use of technology and an ability to exploit the internet will be future essentials for the CV, since they are fast becoming fundamental to all aspects of innovation and communication.

As entrepreneurial adults most of us can fantasise about the next big money making idea. However, our children will be able to go one step further and actually bring their ideas to life, programming their own App, gadget or web-based platform.

Feel like you are missing out and want to get involved in learning alongside your children at home? Here is a selection of simple websites which support the learning of coding and programming skills.

https://www.tynker.com

http://scratch.mit.edu/

https://www.gethopscotch.com/

http://www.bee-bot.us/

Beware #school #league tables. How to choose a senior school the right way.

Today saw the publication of the latest senior school league tables. 2014 senior school league tables

We’re all familiar with the format which ranks each school’s performance at GCSE and A level, so parents can supposedly compare the merits of one school with another, when considering their future school choices. Of course the results of these examinations play an important part of evaluating the success of a school, however all parents should remember that there’s so much more to the educational programme of a school than simply their past examination results.

In terms of league table position, one should review carefully the admissions criteria for entry to the schools you are considering. Highly competitive schools, which admit only the brightest of the numerous applicants, should be delivering top examination results. Better than that in my opinion, are the schools which are less academically selective in their admissions process, but still achieve top grades in exams, since these would appear to have delivered beyond expectation, rather than simply meeting it.

League tables should be only be a teeny tiny part of the long list of factors to take into consideration when putting together your potential senior school short-list. Education is not just about examination results, it’s also about:

1. Offering individual support to every child so that they can attain their unique potential in a whole range of curriculum areas, at whatever level that may be.
2. Developing the ability to think for oneself, challenge and question.
3. Developing communication skills, confidence and independence.
4. Developing a sense of community and awareness of others.
5. Acquiring knowledge and learning how to apply it effectively within the world of work.
6. Engaging in a whole range of diverse experiences to find new hobbies and interests which can be continued into adult life.
7. Identifying potential careers of interest, as well as being advised on the best education pathway towards achieving them.
8. Developing employability skills including those needed for presentation, interview, time management, reliability, responsibility, decision making and leadership.

There are many successes achieved annually in schools, quite apart from those achieved in examinations. Sport, drama, art, music, public speaking, design and technology, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh, to name but a few. These in my view should be taken into account as proof of success an attaining all-round education, which, alongside examination results, is so important in these days of highly competitive university entry, internship or job interview.

For advice on choosing the right school please contact our team of experienced, professional consultants.

Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Phone 01865 522066

Click here to visit our website Choosing the right school

It’s all too easy to go into ostrich mode if your child is having challenges with #learning.

Roshni Shah is a Neuro-Developmental Therapist and mother of a child with additional needs.You will find her useful advice below, in her guest post to our blog this week.

Navigating the system can be long and arduous so the sooner you get the ball rolling, the better the outcome for everyone.  Here are a few points to help guide you.

1. Warning signs –   Unless your child’s difficulties are severe or very obvious, it quite often occurs that they are only identified when they start pre-school or nursery. Nursery staff interact with many children and are in a far better position to identify what is outside of the normal parameters.   Signs to look for are poor fine and gross motor skills, poor social and communication skills, significantly delayed speech and language,  hyperactivity (beyond the normal boisterousness of childhood) and a general failure to thrive.                
2. Don’t panic!  If a problem has been identified, keep calm.  Children are extremely sensitive to the emotional status of their parents.  If you’re anxious so will they be and the learning and developmental challenges may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. The school is not your enemy  –  talk to your child’s teacher and the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENco).  They may be able to put into place a support system at school which will help your child to catch up.  This may include a contact diary between teacher and parent, one-to-one support during lessons, extra supported homework, and peer-mentoring to encourage social integration.
4. Seek Professional guidance – if further intervention is required, talk to your GP.  Depending upon your child’s difficulties, they can refer on to your local Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), a Paediatrician, an Occupational or Speech and Language Therapist and many other specialists with child developmental training.
5. Alternative Therapies - The internet is a wonderful tool to learn about the problems that your child is having and what alternative interventions may be able to help them.  Many have a strong scientific basis and proven research, though they are not always recognised by the NHS.  Due diligence is a must before undertaking any therapies; parents of children with special needs are equally vulnerable as the children they are trying to support.  Claims of being able to ‘cure’ an array of conditions must be viewed with extreme caution. If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is.

You can contact Roshni via the following her website link below  www.help4learning.com

Tips for helping your teenager with effective internet research

When I was at school our first port of call for homework and school project research were the heavy, gold embossed volumes of Encyclopaedia Britannica which decorated the shelves in my father’s study. Not so now, since children have such wide access to a wealth of information at their finger-tips via the internet.

Here are a few tips to pass on to your teenager to advise on how to use the internet effectively for research.

Establish rules for browsing which should be discussed and keep an eye on what they are up to. Ideally put the computer in a central location or if they’re using a laptop in their room, insist the door stays open and pop in regularly.

Encourage them to vet the author by looking into experience and level of expertise via their website. Are they a recognized, reputable or credible source of information and hence can their opinion be trusted?

Ask yourself, is the opinion one-sided? Researching both points of view and both sides of the argument is critical to forming a balanced view, once in possession of all the facts and several different opinions.

The internet has the huge advantage of making it possible to research information, opinions and ideas globally. However it’s important to be aware of where the site you’re looking at originates to truly understand the background to the information source.

Be sure to select search keywords and phrases carefully. The closer they are to your specific topic of interest or question, the more likely you are to find what you’re looking for. Getting the keywords wrong may mean you become bogged down with heaps of irrelevant information.

Look beyond page one of Google search results and be wary of sponsored links to boost posts for commercial reasons.

Remember that Google is not the only search engine. Using others will bring up different results.

Beware of plagiarism and respect copyright. Information found on websites should not be reproduced word for word through use of copy and paste. Always give credit to research resources.

We advise families from the UK and all over the world, helping them to make the right education choices at the right time.

Please visit our website for more information  /http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/