Tatler UK - 10.2019

LONDON

PUBLIC

HARROW SCHOOL

Sally-Anne Huang. Given the

school’s location in southeast Lon-

don, Huang – who will move to St

Paul’s School for boys in 2020 – is

keen that it reflects the social fabric

of the area, and a key objective is

increasing the number of bursaries

available: currently, approximately

16 per cent of the students receive

means-tested assistance. The aver-

age award is 87 per cent of the fee

but each case is calculated on a

family’s financial circumstances.

All bursary pupils are offered free

lunches, a uniform grant and free

travel on the school coach. In ad-

dition, the cost of public exam fees

and most educational trips is cov-

ered. Results are soaring: in 2018,

the girls and the staff rose to the

challenge of the new 9-1 GCSE

syllabuses, gaining 56 per cent 9s

in these new qualifications; 12 per

cent of leavers went to Oxbridge.

Music is a speciality (not surpris-

ing: Gustav Holst was a music

teacher here), and there is a Gospel

Choir, a series of jazz and pop

bands, and an in-school Fri-

day Night Live. In 2018, the

school’s 500-seat Community

Music Centre opened, with 15

rooms used by local schools and

communities too. Drama is with

Dulwich boys to complement the

all-girls learning environment. ]

JAMES ALLEN’S

GIRLS’ SCHOOL

144 East Dulwich Grove,

SE22 8TE

Website jags.org.uk Head

Sally-Anne Huang, MA, since

2015; previously Head of Kent

College, Pembury Pupils 814 day

girls Faith C of E Ages 11–18

Term Fees £6,267 Oxbridge 12%

Registration By October of year

before entry; £100 fee Admission

School’s own exam and interview

Alumnae Sally Hawkins, Anita

Brookner, Lucy Boynton

PREP Head Finola Stack

Pupils 301 day girls Ages 4–11

Term Fees £5,679

JAGS might be the oldest girls’

school in London, but this is a

diverse, dynamic school that pro-

duces bright, bold students. ‘A

JAGS pupil uses and develops

their own academic, creative, ath-

letic and social skills to act upon

concerns for others, while develop-

ing their own self-confidence and

independence,’ says the Head

and put forward their selection of

the best books ever written. The

result, known as Highgate 21, is a

list of books for seniors to work

through during their time at the

school; its aim is to foster a lifelong

love of reading. Given Highgate’s

leafy location near Hampstead

Heath, it’s fitting that there is a

growing emphasis on sustainability:

the school has introduced a flag-

ship Highgate School bus service

in order to cut parental reliance on

cars, slashing 13,000 car journeys.

In one term they estimate the

service prevented 10 tonnes of

CO 2 emissions: nearly the weight

of two elephants. The school’s

devotion to philanthropy is well

known, and through its Chrysalis

Partnership it supports over 50

state schools in seven London

boroughs. These feed sixth formers

to the acclaimed London Academy

of Excellence in Tottenham, where

Highgate has been primary educa-

tional sponsor since 2017. Head

Adam Pettitt is energetic, ambi-

tious, academic and renowned for

his commitment to helping the

local community, and the same

could be said for his pupils.

IBSTOCK PLACE

SCHOOL 

Clarence Lane, SW15 5PY

Website ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

Head Anna Sylvester-Johnson, BA,

since 2000; previously Head of

ArtsEd Schools Pupils 680 day:

340 boys, 340 girls Ages 11–18

Term Fees £7,245 Oxbridge 5%

Registration By November of year

before entry; £150 fee Admission

School’s own exam, interview and

previous school’s reference Alumni

Nigella Lawson, actor Oliver

Johnstone, Georgia May Jagger

PREP Head Kate Bevan Pupils

280: 140 boys, 140 girls Ages 4–11

Term Fees £5,870

Head Anna Sylvester-Johnson has

been at Ibstock Place for 19 years

and, when not busy adorning the

school with fresh flowers (‘make

learning beautiful’ is the Ibstock

ethos), she has implemented a se-

ries of necessary changes rolled out

under the grand umbrella of her

Highgate has introduced a school bus

service – in one term they estimate it

prevented 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions

almost-complete 10-year plan –

which leaves a collection of

glass-clad, university-like build-

ings in its wake. The Maccreanor

Lavington-designed refectory will

soon be finished, and the theatre is

the jewel of the school. With a

well-stocked bar, pale blue leather

seats and stunning views of Rich-

mond Park, it’s the perfect setting

for Romeo and Juliet and the like.

This is good news for the school

and locals too: they now have li-

cences to show National Theatre

Live, meaning it’s geared up for the

community as well as pupils. Al-

though the school starts at age

four, there is no automatic entry

into the senior school – juniors

must sit the exam and entry is not

easy: there are six applications for

every place. This year saw a record-

breaking six Oxbridge offers.

‘While there is no “gingerbread

person” cutout of an IPS pupil, so-

ciability, persistence, resilience, cu-

riosity and intellectual ambition

are likely to be helpful attributes,’

says Senior Master Chris Banfield.

‘Our pupils are our best ambassa-

dors and exemplify all that we

strive for in development of the

whole person. Co-curricular school

life “after four” is as important as

all that we do in the classroom.’

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