It’s that time of the year, with the summer quickly speeding to a close and the new academic year pending. Anxiety, tension and excitement saturate the atmosphere.  

Still, the sun is shining (the BBQ summer has finally arrived), the Ashes have returned home, Michael Owen has just netted his first ‘official’ goal for United and, despite the fact that the bulldozers are still on site, I have been assured that all sections of the school will be ready for opening.

I really enjoy the start of each school year…a new leaf to be turned, new goals to be set, new opportunities to be embraced…I could not be happier.

Early in the term I will have an opportunity to speak with you regarding exciting developments at DCPS, but as a little taste of things to come…

 

From the day we broke up for summer, our campus has been a hive of building and refurbishment activity, and it continues. Apart from the routine, yet all-important works, such as the installation of a new school-wide fire alarm system, the construction of new offices and the fitting out of the school uniform shop...several works have been completed that will make a hugely positive impact on the site, physically and visually.

The Annexe Building, although still crawling with builders, is quite stunning! Its refurbished sports hall (complete with sun pipes) and kitchen, alongside the new-build facilities of the entrance hall, art room, library, ICT suite and outside creative play spaces, have served to create a truly inspirational learning environment.

A much needed, bright/light Learning Support department has been created from a suite of rooms adjacent to the library, enabling boys to avail of first-rate accommodation and resources under the direction of our new SENCO, Mrs. Amy Meigh.

No longer will senior boys fall foul of the weather as they queue for lunch. A glass-canopied walkway extends the length of the dining hall, providing shelter from wind, rain and, hopefully, sun. I am sure you will agree that the structure is a perfect aesthetic fit!

Full marks go to Nick Holliday, our Bursar, and his team, for once again ensuring that scheduled works are completed to such high standards, in such tight time-frames.

 

The school has taken time to absorb the findings, conclusions and recommendations of last year’s inspection and as a result, the major focus going forward will be on ‘Teaching and Learning’ and ‘Curriculum.’ As a prep school we are extremely fortunate, and quite unique, to have in our Senior Management Team two vastly experienced ISI Inspectors…and so I am delighted to be able to call on the expertise of Mrs. Liz Hill and Mr. Thomas Noble, two of our Deputy Heads, to lead the focus.

We are determined to promote our classroom teaching, across each section and in every subject, into the category of ‘outstanding’ and to realise this ambition, Mrs. Hill, formerly responsibly for ‘Pastoral,’ takes on the  new school-wide responsibility for ‘Teaching, Learning and Training.’ 

‘Teaching and Learning’, will focus on professional standards, classroom observation, methodology…basically, how we improve our teaching to improve our pupils’ learning. Mrs Hill will also oversee the training and mentoring of teachers, ensuring our NQTs ( Newly-Qualified Teachers) or those who are embarking on the GTP (Graduate Training Programme) make the very most of their opportunities and develop as model professionals.

Mr. Noble is our Deputy Head (Curriculum) and he will oversee a complete school-wide review of the subjects we teach, why we teach them, when we teach them and who teaches. Thomas will also lead the Heads of Departments in the carrying out of a critical review of the content coverage in their subject. Quite simply, this initiative represents a whole school review of what we teach. The review starts with the focus on Mathematics. In addition, Mr Noble takes on a new role as Master of Scholars, ensuring that the boys sitting for scholarships to their chosen schools have as wide and intellectually stimulating a programme as possible, both before, and after, they have taken their examinations.

Much of this work will be behind the scenes, but it will not be long before the benefits are felt in every classroom.              

This coming academic year sees significant managerial changes to the structure of the present ‘Upper School’.

The Upper School currently comprises of four year groups (Year 5 to Year 8), 20 forms and 400 boys, making this section of DCPS larger in pupil numbers than most prep schools in the UK.

As of now, the Upper School will operate as two sections; Years 5 and 6 will be known as ‘The Middle School,’ whilst Years 7 and 8 will retain the title of ‘The Upper School.’ The structural change has created two new senior management positions with Heads appointed to oversee each section, as is the case in The Lower School, The Annexe and The Nursery.

I am delighted to inform you that Miss Catherine Solomon has been appointed as Head of the Upper School, whilst Mr. Simon Severino is Head of the Middle School.

You may already know Simon and Catherine, but by way of formal (and informal!) introduction… 

Both Miss Solomon and Mr. Severino bring experience, energy, insight and inventiveness to their respective roles, roles which will ensure a drive towards excellence, academically, pastorally and socially.

They will be responsible for setting the tone and establishing the supportive structures that will enable each and every boy to ‘stretch their wings,’ excel and thrive. They will be responsible for all pastoral matters, including issues relating to discipline and behaviour. The Heads of Upper and Middle School will be supported by Heads of Year.

I am equally delighted to announce the appointment of a new pastoral team comprising four new Heads of Year: in The Upper School, Mr. Craig Gordon to Y8 and Mrs. Jeannie McElroy-Gordon to Y7; whilst in The Middle School, Mr. Ed Bowden to Y6 and Mr. Jonny Spowart to Y5.

The Heads of Year will be primarily responsible for the day to day management of the year group.

The Heads of Year will have the support of new teams of Form Tutors. First and foremost, the Form tutors will make it their duty to know each boy in their form and therefore he or she will be the main point of contact for you. They will ensure all communication is dealt with promptly.

Pupils will meet daily in their forms under the guidance of their form tutor. Form tutors will be responsible for registration, the academic-tracking, behaviour, and well-being of the pupils in their form. They will know their pupils, know and communicate regularly with you, write analytically on progress and guide future learning opportunities for each individual.

I am confident this new structure will improve communication between home and school as well as creating a very supportive and positive atmosphere for the boys.

 

Tutors and teachers are the key to success for the pupils of any school… and we are extremely fortunate to be able to attract some of the very best teachers to come and work at DCPS. Our teachers, their personal qualities, their professional experience and expertise, and their commitment, make the school the success it is.

Once again, this year’s recruitment is nothing short of excellent and I am truly excited at the prospect of what these new members of staff will bring to the school.    

Miss. Niav Fisher has an MA in English from Ulster, a BA in Spanish and English Literature from Queen’s, Belfast and a PGCE from Canterbury Christ Church. Miss.Fisher comes to us from Mulberry House School, where she taught Reception and had responsibility as SENCO for the early years.  Niav, a fluent Spanish speaker, has worked and travelled extensively in South America. She is passionate about children’s literature.

Miss. Amy Scott attended Sherborne School for Girls, before taking sociology at Bristol. She has recently gained a Montessori Teaching Diploma from Montessori College International. Apart from working with pupils in the early years, Amy is a keen artist and chef, and is extremely interested in sport. She is an accomplished skier (having worked for several seasons on the French slopes) and played hockey for her county and West of England.

Miss. Kristy Waymouth and Miss. Harriet Swanwick join the Annexe having transferred over from the Lower School.

Miss. Ellen Bretherton is providing maternity cover for Miss. Bonnar. Miss. Bretherton has a B.Ed from ACU National, the Australian Catholic University and comes to us from Loreto Mandeville Hall Junior School, Victoria, Australia. To date, Ellen’s career highlight has been working alongside Dr. Ron Ritchart from Harvard on a ‘thinking skills’ research project.

Mrs. Julieanne Steedman is providing maternity cover for Mrs. Bertora. Mrs. Steedman has a BA in English and Fine Arts from Laurentian University in Ontario and a MA in Education from Griffith University in Brisbane. She has taught in Ireland, UK and Hungary and joins us from Bonn International School. She has a love of the outdoors, camping, canoeing, and hiking and has just returned from her break in Canada where she and her husband are building a log cabin in the wilderness!

We also welcome to the Annexe our new teaching assistant and receptionist, Miss Kate Burrett.

Miss Charlotte Ashe has just completed a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages from Canterbury Christ Church. Prior to her recent studies she gained a BA in French and Spanish from Trinity College, Dublin. Charlotte has spent a considerable amount of time working as a translator and tutor in Madrid, teaching in Chile and doing voluntary work in an orphanage in Costa Rica. Alongside her obvious interest in MFL, Charlotte’s second love is choral music.

Mrs. Mary Thorneloe obtained her music degree from The Royal Northern College of Music, followed by a postgraduate degree from the Royal Academy of Music in 2001, after which she worked as a professional music teacher and performer (flute), playing with, amongst others, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Mary has just completed her PGCE from Goldsmiths, her seventh London marathon and got married during the holidays!

Ms. Pearl Rieder also joins the Lower School team as Receptionist.

Miss Charlotte Stonehouse comes to us from Prospect House School and joins our mathematics department. Prior to her teaching and tutoring, Charlotte obtained a 1^st in Maths and Philosophy from Mansfield College, Oxford, where, in her final year, she assisted with admissions. Her main interests are skiing, pottery and teaching English as a foreign language.

Mr. Levi Oliver gained his BA in History and Geography, followed by his PGCE, from Rhodes University. He joins the geography department from Emanuel School where he taught middle school geography, was a Year 8 form tutor and coached Under 15 rugby and Under14 cricket. He enthuses about the physical world and craves the outdoors…evidenced through his former work as a Tour Leader and Ski Guide in Austria.

Miss Jo Rose has worked in the city since 2001: she has an MA in Economics from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, before qualifying from the College of Law in London. She joins the mathematics department. Jo has travelled extensively in South and Central America and Australasia, she plays flute, piano and viola, is a marathon runner…and also a former Head Girl!

Miss Faye Cunningham joins our science department from Harris City Academy. Faye qualified with a BSc in Medicinal Chemistry from Leeds and then stayed to complete her PGCE in Secondary Science. She is passionate about practical science, enquiry based learning and the development of ‘Virtual Learning’ opportunities. Faye is a member of the Tate Galleries and is an avid reader and Radio 4 listener.

Please go out of your way to make our new staff feel welcome.  

 

And to conclude, it has been reported that Sonja Lyubormirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, has identified several happiness-enhancing activities, things happy people do naturally.

Her research compared happy and unhappy people, and underpinning this is the 40% solution: the degree it is within our power to change, through how we act and think. As she states, ‘The activities may sound corny, but they are scientifically proven.’

So, how to be happy, or even happier! Ten activities identified by Professor Lyubormirsky…

One, express gratitude. Two, cultivate optimism. Three, do not pay too much attention to what others are doing. Four, practise acts of kindness - more than you are used to. Five, make time for friends; be supportive and loyal. Six, develop coping strategies. Seven, forgive. Eight, immerse yourself in activities and be open to trying new ones. Nine, exercise, take part in sport. Ten, work towards meaningful goals.

Our theme for the term is ‘Think Happy, Be Happy.’ We are going to take a lead from the research and, by following some of the activities, how easy it will be to have smiles all round for everyone at DCPS...saying thank you; playing rugby; being keen; sticking by your friends; joining a new school club or learning a new instrument; not bearing grudges; focusing on what you are doing and not comparing yourself with others; helping; and finally, working to achieve a goal...perhaps moving up sets!

 

I know this term is going to get off to a superb start and now cannot wait for my first full academic year at DCPS to begin.

 

I look forward to welcoming everyone back on Thursday 3^rd September.