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How the senior school admissions process works
The senior school admissions process: how does it really work? Are pressurised prep schools and tutoring the only ways to succeed?
Is fee assistance really making independent education accessible?
Explaining who is eligible to apply for a scholarship or a bursary and how schools are widening the net further.
Special Educational Needs (SEN): getting your child assessed, and getting the right school
Dyslexia, dsypraxia, dyscalculia, attention deficit and executive dysfunction are just some of the neurobiological conditions being diagnosed in our children today. Without diagnosis and appropriate treatment they cannot improve. Our panel discusses what that means and what parents can do to help and support their children.
Ban homework to help children do their best?
With the 'right' amount of homework a subject of intense debate, and academic excellence ever more important for future success what role does homework play and what approaches are independent schools and tutors taking to get the balance right?
The challenges of modern parenting and how to manage them
The challenges facing modern parents are myriad; from separation anxiety to reconciling technology with a happy and carefree childhood. Our panel of working mothers discuss these issues and how they are choosing to handle them.
How hard is too hard to push your child?
Every parent wants their child to succeed, but in this world of fevered exam pressure more children than ever are experiencing mental health issues. This talk helps parents to understand their children and how they can offer tailored support to help them get the best out of their school careers.
Where's the value in league tables?
What is the real value of league tables? What impact does attending a highly ranked school have on your child's chances at future success? Eton, St Paul's and more recently Wellington College have decided not to submit exam results for national rankings, so are league tables on the way out?
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Ralph Lucas
Editor in Chief , Good Schools Guide
Is single-sex schooling still relevant?
The relative merits of co-ed and single sex schools is one of the most debated subjects in education. Our experts will guide you through the key issues to help you decide what's best for your child.
Do independent schools foster sporting greatness?
7% of the UK population are in independent education, yet a significant proportion of British olympians, rugby premiership players and others are independently educated.
Is a well-rounded education still useful?
The world of work is moving on apace, so much so that it is difficult to know what sort of roles the pupils in school today may fill. How can an independent education equip them to successfully take on anything that the world of work has in store, from portfolio careers, to retraining for a number of specialist roles over their working lifetime.
When is the right time to board?
Your child can start their boarding adventure at a range of ages. We’ll talk you through the different considerations pertinent at each potential entry point, and how you can help to make sure that your child is ready to enjoy the next stage of their school life to the full.
Nursery, pre-prep & prep explained
How does school choice reflect on parents?
Does a good parent choose a school for their child, but a bad parent choose a school for themselves?
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Sir Anthony Seldon
Vice-Chancellor, The University of Buckingham
Improve your US university strategy
Outlining all of the ingredients and factors that the world's leading universities will be looking for in your child. This talk will clearly detail how to maxmise your child's chances of getting into the university of their choice.
Can fee assistance make independent schooling affordable?
With rising school fees, scholarships and bursaries provide a lifeline for many parents. But with each school having it's own requirements the choices can be confusing. Our experts will unravel the options.
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Susan Hamlyn
Director Emerita, The Good Schools Guide Education Consultants
Independent and state curricula: are they really that different?
What's the point in paying for the same curriculum that state schools provide for free?
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Ralph Lucas
Editor in Chief , Good Schools Guide
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Patrick Derham
Head Master, Westminster School
Does independent education make you more employable?
Children from independent schools have been given every opportunity to fulfil their potential and succeed in life, but does this make them better job candidates and perform better throughout their careers?
Are Independent Schools being outpaced by social and technological change?
Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College opens the 2018 Show speaking in The Sunday Times Education Theatre about the 'future of education' 1980 to the present and beyond. What is a great education, the new paradigm, making learners employable, creative, team players, and empathy.
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Julian Thomas
Director, JPT Consulting
Is there a right way to push your child?
Eve Jardine-Young, Principal, Cheltenham Ladies' College and Dr Crispin Hyde-Dunn, Headmaster of Dragon School discuss the pro's and con's of tiger parenting, helicopter parenting and lawnmower parenting at the Independent Schoos Show.
Helping summer-born children reach their fullest potential
Stephen Hammond, MP, Sarah Seagrave, Headmistress, Eaton House The Manor School and Annabel Heseltine, Editor of School House Magazine discuss why 20% less 'summer-born' babies go onto university - why is September the marker for starting school?
Do independent schools prepare your children for the commercial world?
James Palumbo, Baron Palumbo of Southwark, and Dr Anthony Wallersteiner, Headmaster of Stowe School discuss education in the context of the challenges and the opportunities brought by globalisation, competition and AI.
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Dr Anthony Wallersteiner
Headmaster, Stowe
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Charles Bonas
Founder, Bonas MacFarlane
What if it doesn't go to plan?
Simon O'Malley, Headmaster, Thomas's Battersea and Emily Turner, Co-founder of angels&urchins - Matching your 'plan' to your child's abilities and happiness and finding a positive way forward when things aren't quite right.
Why do parents in the know choose boarding school?
Dr Niall Hamilton, Admissions Tutor, Marlborough College and Arabella Stuart, Admissions Director, Sevenoaks School talk about a Boarding education, the 24/7 learning environment and the reasons for considering this type of education.
Do League Tables Really Matter?
Ralph Lucas, Good Schools Guide and Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times Schools' Guide, Parent Power discuss how to choose a school and how to interpret the League Tables when choosing your childs' school
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Ralph Lucas
Editor in Chief , Good Schools Guide
Can fee assistance make Independent education affordable?
Susan Hamlyn, Director of The Good Schools Guide Education Consultants tackles the issues of affordability and value in the fee-paying school sector and how to access the considerable financial assistance.
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Susan Hamlyn
Director Emerita, The Good Schools Guide Education Consultants
What makes a truly great school?
Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Buckingham gives visitors his views on selecting schools, raising happy children and managing modern day pressures
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Sir Anthony Seldon
Vice-Chancellor, The University of Buckingham
Hot off the Press
An overview of the current state of the sector in the UK, covering the latest political challenges and developments.
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Andrew Jack
Global Education Editor , Financial Times
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Patrick Derham
Head Master, Westminster School
Year 5-8 Conundrums
What's going on with Pre-tests and Common Entrance? Every parent needs to be up-to-date.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Surviving London's pressure cooker
Exams every year from the age of seven, hyper competitive entrance exams for boys and girls at 11+ and 13+, Common Entrance; many parents are asking is there another way?
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Helen Lowe
Head, Bute House Preparatory School for Girls
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Neil McLaughlan
Head Master, Westminster Cathedral Choir School
How to pay for your children & grandchildren’s education?
Whether a grandparent, new parent, high earner or international parent, our experts will aim to help you consider all of your options.
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Paul Jones
Financial Adviser, Hawkins Thomas Wealth Management
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John Solosy
Chartered Financial Planner, Solosy Wealth Management
Single sex or co-ed?
This is one of the most debated subjects in education. Does single-sex education really benefit girls more than boys?
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Sarah Kerr-Dineen
Headmaster, Oundle School
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Dr Dominic Luckett
Headmaster, Sherborne School
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Cheryl Giovannoni
Chief Executive, Girls Day School Trust (GDST)
Thriving at school
Elaine Halligan explores the concept of growth mindset and looks at ways of motivating our children to do their best.
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Shona Colaço
Head, Knightsbridge School
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Jemima Davidson
School Project Manager, Place2Be
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Elaine Halligan
London Director, The Parent Practice
Moving at Sixth Form
Sixth form is a critical time in any young person’s education and many students move after GCSEs. Our experts will discuss the wide variety of options available.
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James Barton
Director of Admissions, Mander Portman Woodward (MPW)
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Gareth Collier
Principal, Cardiff Sixth Form College.
Busting the Myths of the Independent Schools Admission Process
What independent schools are really looking for and what you should be too!
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Julian Thomas
Director, JPT Consulting
State until eight?
Where is the value today? Comparing state and independent schools, and if combining how to manage changing lanes.
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Ralph Lucas
Editor in Chief , Good Schools Guide
Into Switzerland
This was an online event for parents who are considering moving their family to Switzerland.
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Alex Koch de Gooreynd
Partner, Knight Frank
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Aline Dénéréaz
Partner, Transforma
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Charles Bonas
Founder, Bonas MacFarlane
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Richard McDonald
Executive Director, Aiglon College
Lets Talk About School Fees...
Financial strategies to help families manage through the C-19 crisis.
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James Alder
Director, Brewin Dolphin
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David Quintrell
Director, Brewin Dolphin
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Reception admissions - how to keep ahead in lockdown
Schools have been closed but admissions have not stopped. This online event was designed to help parents to understand how the leading London nurseries and Pre-Prep/Prep schools are managing the admissions processes for 2020 and 2021.
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Lucinda Byron Evans
Head Teacher, Young England Kindergartens
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Sebastian Hepher
Principal, Eaton Square Schools
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Senior School Admissions
Our distinguished panel explain how open days, school tours, interviews/assessments and registration are working under the current circumstances.
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Dr Andy Mayfield
Director of Admissions, St Paul's School
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James Dahl
Master, Wellington College
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
What price an education? Grandparents, Tax & Equity Release
How grandparents can best help with school fees.
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James Alder
Director, Brewin Dolphin
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David Quintrell
Director, Brewin Dolphin
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David Forsdyke
Equity Release, Knight Frank Finance
The Return to Boarding School
This online event was designed to help British and international parents prepare their children to return or start at boarding school this autumn.
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Ben Evans
Head, Windlesham House School
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Julia Harrington
Headmistress, Queen Anne's School
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Grace Moody-Stuart
Director, The Good Schools Guide
How to apply to NYU
This was a unique opportunity to get your questions answered by an admissions director from one of the US universities most popular with international students.
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Charles Bonas
Founder, Bonas MacFarlane
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Lisa Mortini
International Admissions Director, New York University (NYU)
Start Planning For School Fees
Our third webinar in this series is designed to help families at the start of the education journey make sound financial plans.
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James Alder
Director, Brewin Dolphin
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David Quintrell
Director, Brewin Dolphin
Into UK Senior Schools
In an hour we visited six leading schools within easy reach of London, saw them in action, gained exclusive insights and gave parents the opportunity to ask questions. This was a highly efficient way to focus your search and find the school that is the right fit for your child.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Choosing a London School
This online event, organised with the Good Schools Guide, is designed to help parents living in (or moving to) the capital deal with the extra pressures and complexities in finding a London school.
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Mike Kirby
Founder & Principal, Ashbourne College
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Magoo Giles
Founder & Principal, Knightsbridge School
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Grace Moody-Stuart
Director, The Good Schools Guide
INTO Boarding Prep Schools
A unique opportunity for parents to look around eight of the UK's leading boarding prep schools. This is a highly efficient way to focus your search and find the school that is the right fit for your child.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Applying to highly selective US universities
With over one million international students applying to the US for university each year, competition for places at top universities is at an all time high. This online event is designed to help British and international students who are applying to US universities.
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Jamie Boygo
Specialist US College Consultant, Bonas MacFarlane
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Paul Burgess
Director of International Admission and Global Initiatives, Tulane University
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Sayaka Smith
Assistant Director of Admissions, Tufts University
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Brendan Graham
Senior Assistant Director, Northeastern University
Choosing an independent school online
This session will give an overview of the best online tools and will then provide a detailed introduction to two of the most comprehensive sources of information - The Good Schools Guide and the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
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Vivien Kelly
Communications Manager, Independent Schools Inspectorate
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Melanie Sanderson
Managing Editor, Good Schools Guide
INTO the West of England
Featuring Cheltenham College, Marlborough, Millfield, Monkton Combe, Pangbourne, Queen Anne's, Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls, in an hour we visit these eight leading schools, see them in action, meet pupils, heads and admissions directors and gain exclusive insights.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
INTO the Home Counties
Featuring Bedales, Berkhamsted, Bradfield, Haileybury, Heathfield, Sevenoaks, St George's Ascot and Shiplake, in an hour we visit these leading schools, see them in action, meet pupils, heads and admissions directors and gain exclusive insights.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
INTO the Girls' Day School Trust
Join us on Tuesday morning for a brilliant overview of the UK's leading group of girls' schools. This is a unique opportunity for parents to look around ten of the Girls' Day School Trust's leading independent girls schools.
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Dr Kevin Stannard
Director of Innovation & Learning, GDST
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
How to Choose an Independent School
In the independent system there are hundreds of schools to look at, so how do you find the right one for your child? For this Parents Forum we are delighted to welcome Barnaby Lenon, Chairman of the Independent Schools Council, who will be answering your questions.
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Barnaby Lenon
Chairman, Independent Schools Council
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Charles Bonas
Founder, Bonas MacFarlane
Support your child's home learning - Part 1
Bonas MacFarlane has organised two Parent Forums to help parents manage and support their child through lockdown. Part 1 explores how parents can help their child to engage with learning during lockdown. Tuition and home-learning experts will offer tips, strategies and advice to help your child overcome barriers and learn something new.
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James Frome
Tutor, Bonas MacFarlane
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James Bonas
Lead Assessor, Bonas MacFarlane
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Harry Cobb
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Part 2 - struggling with home learning?
Home learning in lockdown is making many parents aware that their child is not reaching their full academic potential and might well have learning, behaviour and socialisation differences. This Parent Forum will help parents with these concerns and discuss how to understand your child’s learning style, providing strategies and tips to help.
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Fintan O'Regan
Behaviour and Learning Specialist, ADHD and Neurodiversity
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
London Senior School Options
This Parent Forum is designed to help parents living in (or moving to) the capital deal with the extra pressures and complexities in finding a London senior school.
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Siobhan McGrath
Executive Principal, Southbank International School
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Brendan Pavey
Executive Head Teacher, North Bridge House Senior Schools
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Candida Cave
Principal, Fine Arts College, Hampstead
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Sebastian Hepher
Principal, Eaton Square Schools
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Choosing a school for your SEN child
Selecting the right school for a child with learning difficulties can seem an overwhelming task. From the biggest school to the smallest, to the ultra-selective to totally inclusive, all schools have a policy devoted to learning needs. So, if your child has an identified need, how do you work out which is right for them?
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Koen Claeys
Headmaster, The Moat School
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Tanya Moran
Headteacher, Abingdon House School and College
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Charlotte Phillips
SEN consultant and schools reviewer, Good Schools Guide
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Tim Martin
Head of Learning Support and PSHEE, Kingham Hill School
INTO the Cotswolds
If you are considering a relocation to the Cotswolds, this Parent Forum is a highly efficient way to focus your search and find the school that is the right fit for your child.
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Susan McLean
Headmistress, Kitebrook Preparatory School
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Nick Seward
Headmaster, Kingham Hill School
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Matt Way
Headmaster, Stonar School
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Emma Taylor
Warden of the Dean Close Foundation, Dean Close School
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Kate Reynolds
Head, Royal High School
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Charlie Taylor
Partner & Office Head, Bath, Knight Frank
Move or Stay Put? The Financial Implications
There's a well-worn quandary for those who swap their London home and head out of the capital, would you be better off staying put? Brewin Dolphin will model some common scenarios and answer your questions.
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Emma Cowley
Divisional Director - Investment Management, Brewin Dolphin
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David Quintrell
Director, Brewin Dolphin
The great outdoors - learning outside the classroom
The outdoors is the ultimate enabling environment. It is full of resources for open-ended play, adventure training and learning, providing huge benefits for children. In this Parent Forum we explore the educational opportunities of outdoor learning with Gordonstoun, Camp Bonas and Liberty Woodlands School.
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Harry Cobb
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
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Richard Devey
Head of Senior School, Gordonstoun
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Leanna Barrett
Head of School & Founder, Liberty Woodland School
Senior Boarding in Action
For our first Family Forum, aimed at children as well as parents, we go behind the scenes to visit six senior schools in the evening and see what modern boarding is really like. There will be plenty of opportunities for Q&A so that you and your children can get answers to all the vital questions about boarding.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
INTO Central London Prep Schools
This Parent Forum provides a unique opportunity for parents living in (or moving to) London to look around nine of the capital's most sought after prep schools. In an hour we visit the schools, see them in action and gain exclusive insights. Knight Frank will then give an overview of the market for family homes in Central London.
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Will Petty
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
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Eleanor Dixon
Headteacher , Falkner House (boys)
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Suzy Dixon
Head , Francis Holland Junior School
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Alison Melrose
Headmistress, Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School
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Alex Philo
Partner, Wimbledon Office, Knight Frank
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James Stenning
Head Teacher, North Bridge House Prep School
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Giles Entwisle
Headmaster , Durston House School
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Sara Williams-Ryan
Headmistress, Falcons School for Girls
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Liz Mclaughlin
Head, Falcons Pre-Preparatory School, Chiswick
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Nicola Swales
Deputy Head (Academic), Notting Hill Preparatory School
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Benedict Dunhill
Headmaster , Redcliffe School
Preparing your child to thrive at Boarding School
Boarding schools offer a unique opportunity for children to deep-dive into learning and community, but, going to boarding school is a big step for children and families alike. This Parent Forum looks at how to prepare your child for boarding, helping with the transition from living at home to living at school.
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Liz Hutchings
Deputy Head (Pastoral) & Head of Boarding, Junior King’s School, Canterbury
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Paul Curran
Deputy Head Pastoral, St Edmund's College & Prep School
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Augusta Faulkner
Joint Head of Boarding, Head of PSHEE, Dragon School
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Harry Cobb
Director, Bonas MacFarlane
Talking school fees
This week we look at affordability - discussing bursaries, second child discounts and school fees planning with two of the UK's leading school fee experts.
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Camilla Smiley
Scholarship & Bursary Consultant, The Good Schools Guide
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James Alder
Director, Brewin Dolphin
Rethinking the future of Independent Education
Leading figures from the sector discuss the prospects for British independent schools in the 21st century. How will schools meet the challenges of affordability, diversity, the state/independent divide, the likely impacts of mitigating climate change? What will be the most exciting developments? How will British education rethink itself?
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Barnaby Lenon
Chairman, Independent Schools Council
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Sally-Anne Huang
High Master, St Paul's School
Town v Country - Girls' schools
In conversation - a girls’ London day school & a senior girls’ boarding school
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Eve Jardine Young
Principal, Cheltenham Ladies’ College
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Ed Vaizey
Member, House of Lords
Preparing for competitive entry schools
A leading prep school and senior school discuss the kinds of children who thrive in highly academic schools.
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Tom Rogerson
Headmaster, Cottesmore School
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Dr Andy Mayfield
Director of Admissions, St Paul's School
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Ed Vaizey
Member, House of Lords
Town v Country, Co-Ed options
In conversation with a London day school & a senior co-ed boarding school
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Jesse R Elzinga
Headmaster, Sevenoaks School
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Ed Vaizey
Member, House of Lords
