School offers this year have included: Bishops Stortford, Caterham, Cheltenham College, Cranleigh, Dauntseys, Downe House, Epsom, Haileybury, Hurstpierpoint, Lord Wandsworth, Malvern, Mayfield, Oundle, Radley, Roedean, Seaford College, Sevenoaks, St Georges (Weybridge), St John’s (Leatherhead), Tonbridge and Woldingham.
School Visits March 2023 - Roedean and Christ's Hospital
Roedean School
A return visit to Roedean in Brighton – my first in many years. Roedean is a quintessentially Enid Blyton-eqsue school on the outside, and walking up to the entrance I could not hide the smile on my face when I thought of reading Mallory Towers in the mid 1970s before I went to boarding school in the UK at 11+ from my primary school, Raeburn Park (part of the Tanglin Trust) in Singapore. As an aside, Mallory Towers is actually based on Benenden when it was evacuated to Cornwall during WW2 whilst Enid’s Blyton’s daughter was there.
After a couple of decades in the doldrums, Roedean has definitely caught up with the times and now offers a modern education for 21st century girls equally strong for both boarders and day girls. A school definitely on the up and worth looking at if you are moving back to the area or looking for an all girls’ boarding school.
Christ’s Hospital
When my son was looking to move schools at 16+ for the sixth form around 10 years ago, Christ’s Hospital was one of the three schools I considered, the others being Charterhouse and Tonbridge. In the end he went to Tonbridge which was definitely the right decision for him. However, although we did not choose it for him, Christ’s Hospital was and remains, an exceptional school.
Now in Horsham, West Sussex, it was set up originally in London as part of a Tudor endowment to education, under Edward VI. 75% of the school still receive a financial bursary from this endowment, many of them getting 100%, giving children who otherwise would never have had the chance to go to an independent school that opportunity. Whilst pupils still wear a Tudor style school uniform, the school is definitely up with the times and unusually, it is one of a decreasing number of schools which is virtually full boarding. An absolutely inspirational visit to see the power of education to change children’s lives.
Happy New Year 2023/Year of the Rabbit - Update and Schools Visits
Happy New Year – both 2023 and the Year of the Rabbit – to all our clients!
After a busy period with the lead up to many entrance exams, I wanted to update that our students have already received offers, including scholarships, from Bishops Stortford, Caterham, Cheltenham College, Dauntseys, Downe House, Haileybury, Malvern, Mayfield, Radley, Roedean, Tonbridge and Woldingham with other results due in coming weeks.
In addition, this is the time of year I try and fit in as many school visits as possible and just last week had visits to Haileybury, Queenswood and Bishops Stortford with further school visits planned in coming weeks. Also through my tutors; students I am guardian to; and feedback from many families I have helped place in schools, I have regular links to a whole range of schools so keep up to date with what they offer and their entry levels. Do get back to me if I can help with any schools advice.
And on the tutoring front, as well as my existing strong team of tutors, we have had new tutors join our team recently offering a range of subjects at all levels so do get in touch if we can help in any way – for GCSE revision, sixth form exams or if entrance exams are on the horizon.
Best regards, Fiona
January 2023
Prize Giving 2022 - Benenden and Tonbridge
After two years of limited school events, I was delighted to attend the Prize Giving at Benenden in their new centenary hall and to see NL graduate after five very successful years at the school and to wish her all the best as she heads to Cambridge to read HSPS. I also popped into Tonbridge for Skinners Day and saw JH who heads to Imperial to read Maths; and AS who is off to North East University (in the US) to read Business. It is such a pleasure to see how the school, which I recommended to both boys, has worked out so well for them.
School Visits - February 2022
In September, I was lucky to be able to visit Thomas’s Battersea Senior School as it opened its doors to Y9s for the first time.
Now that peak entry exam season is over, I am taking the opportunity to catch up on other school visits which could not take place over Covid.
In London, I have visited both Queens College School and Queens Gate School - both all girls London day schools from 11-18 with linked prep / junior schools. If you are moving back at the end of primary, it always makes the transition easier not to have to move schools twice. These schools make an interesting comparison with other London girls day schools I have previously visited including Francis Holland (Sloane Square and Francis Holland), Channing, Godolphin & Latymer, Putney High and Surbiton.
Around the M25 - which has been a popular area for families returning to the UK of late - I have recently visited Epsom College, City of London Freemans and Cranleigh. All co-ed schools which incorporate both boarding and day options. Epsom, with entry points at both 11+ and 13+ and with a day and flexible boarding options, is now a sought after option. Freemans (linked to the City of London schools in central London) is more of a day school but with a small boarding section and a new Sixth form conversion. Cranleigh, which starts at 13+, is more of a traditional boarding school, though generally children who live within an hour of the school so who go home most w/es. As nearby Charterhouse goes fully co-ed, it will be interesting how these schools fair against each other.
Each and every school I visit has something different to offer which is why I enjoy talking to families so much about what they are after and what suits their children’s needs best. I am also always grateful to schools for taking the time to show me around and answer questions which address the needs the mainly British expat community overseas I serve.
Upcoming visits are planned to Bethany School (Goudhurst) and St Johns (Leatherhead) with more to be scheduled into the Spring. I am also regularly at both Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, have strong student links with Eton, Benenden and Cheltenhams Ladies College, and I have colleagues closely involved with Ibstock Place School, Dulwich College (London), Lancing, Uppingham, Mayfield and Kent College (Tunbridge Wells). So, apart from specific school visits, we keep up with what is going on with a number of schools on a regular basis. However, rest assured we take no placement fees from any school so our advice is always impartial and focused totally on clients’ needs.
Fiona Hodgkins
February 2022
New School Year - Autumn 2021
Over the last couple of weeks, due to some overseas parents being unable to travel to the UK, I have taken an 11+ student to start at Cheltenham Ladies College; a 13+ student to start at Sevenoaks School; and returned a student to Eton for the Sixth form. My own youngest child having left school four years ago, and not having always been here to take my own children back to boarding school, it was interesting to see how things worked at these different schools.
I wish these, and all my other ex-students, all the best at their new schools.
Meanwhile, my team and I are already working hard to prepare this year’s cohort for their upcoming entrance exams.
Fiona Hodgkins
September 2021
Christmas Update - 2020
What an interesting term this has been. With schools overseas opening pretty much as normal as they could be from August, so schools in the UK tried to do the same from September. However, with boarding schools this was not always practicably possible firstly because many students coming from overseas had to quarantine on their arrival in the UK. Then, the day to day running of boarding schools has varied too – whilst some cancelled exeat weekends, others (usually with more day students) continued home weekend visits as usual. Some schools tried to test all students at the start of term and after exeats, but after finding so many asymptomatic positive cases caused them to have to send whole year groups home, most ended up following a more pragmatic approach and only tested students showing obvious symptoms. This was largely successful until near the end of term when quite a number of schools had to revert to online learning because of an increase in cases and not wanting to risk both staff and students not being able to be home for Christmas. We now know that these increased cases in schools in the South East were probably linked to the effects of the new strain which are still just coming to light.
With a return to online schooling for many at the end of term, and as is likely to continue in January too, this has knock on effects. Firstly, there is of course the on-going fear that public exams will be cancelled again in the summer of 2021, and schools are having to ensure that their internal assessments are inscrutable and can stand up to moderation if they are to self-allocate grades again. With children studying online, this makes it all the more difficult and schools have had to come up with various new solutions for internal assessments which whilst suitable for a handful of students, are harder to implement for whole year groups. As a byproduct of this, be aware that if you are looking to compare the grades of schools for 2020, be mindful to also look at 2019 for grounding as some independent schools’ grades were inflated by 10% last year. The main effect that we are already seeing is students with excellent GCSE results, ill prepared for the rigour of their sixth form studies. This is something we will monitor to avoid with this year’s GCSE students as their schooling continues to be disrupted.
With all that is going on globally, I know many of you are still moving ahead with plans to return to the UK and / or to send your children to board, and schools’ admissions are proceeding – not quite as usual, with some changing the format of exams; all moving interviews online, including with group activities in some cases; and many in the main, moving their main assessment window before Christmas.
We currently have many students waiting to hear if they have been successful in their entry endeavours, but already we have had some good news at all levels from prep to 16+ and I am pleased to say that students have already been offered places (some with scholarships) at: Abingdon, Epsom, Fine Arts College, Harrow, Hurstpierpoint, Mayfield, RGS (Guildford), Rosemead, St George’s (Weybridge), St Swithuns, Streatham & Clapham, Sydenham and University College School, as well as students being put forward to the next round of 13+ assessments for Eton, Wellington, Westminster and Winchester. In addition, two of our students who began in Year 9 at Tonbridge in September have been awarded scholarships in view of their high performance this term. We are delighted to hear of everyone’s success and look forward to reporting on more next term.
In the meantime, we still have students working hard for Spring entrance exams for schools including Benenden, Cheltenham Ladies College and Sevenoaks, with others focusing on their GCSEs and Sixth form studies – keep up the good work.
The whole Ellipsis team wish all our families a very happy festive season wherever you are. Some of you have been isolating with your children, others have just had the return of your children from quarantine, but most have seen a lot less travel than usual and I suspect for all, Christmas will be quieter and more low key than normal wherever you are. With increased recent travel restrictions, I do hope that everyone’s loved ones make it home for Christmas.
Whilst of course we are hopeful for more stability in 2021, recent developments in the UK have put a lot of people’s January plans up in the air both regarding travel and schools, and so it looks likely that we will be starting the new term probably more unsettled than we ended this one. I for one will be watching the developments in many schools closely and will keep you informed if there is anything to report. And as always, if we can help you in any way with your children’s educational needs, please let me know.
For now, best regards from deepest Sussex, currently in tier 2 but just 5 minutes from the border of Kent and tier 4.
Fiona Hodgkins
December 2020
School Places 2020
As we come to the end of this year’s school offers, I am pleased to be able to share with you the list of schools in the United Kingdom that our students have received offers for this year at prep level, 11+, pre-test, 12+, 13+ and 16+.
Ardingly, Bancrofts, Bedes, Benenden, Bradfield, Brambletye, Brighton College, Channing, Charterhouse, Cheltenham Ladies College, City of London Boys, Downe House, Dulwich College (London), Durham School, Eton College, Forest, Francis Holland – Regents Park & Sloane Square, Godolphin & Latymer, Harrodian, Harrow, Hurstpierpoint, Kings College Wimbledon, Marlborough, Merchant Taylor, Notting Hill & Ealing, Putney High, Queens Gate, Radley, Sevenoaks, Sherborne – boys & girls, South Hampstead, St Michael’s, St Paul’s, Streatham & Clapham, Tonbridge, Wycombe Abbey, Walthamstow Hall, Westminster, Whitgift, Winchester College, and Worth Abbey
Many congratulations to everyone and best wishes for your future education in your new schools!
Fiona Hodgkins
June 2020
UK Schools in a COVID-19 Environment
Although it is too early to know what the longer term effect of COVID-19 on school places in the UK is going to be, from what I have witnessed over recent months, many schools are suffering financially with administrative staff being furloughed and teaching staff taking pay cuts, whilst parents have been given fee reductions to keep them on board. It is impossible to say how many students, from home or abroad, schools might lose in the immediate future, but I can tell you that schools who were turning enquiries away in January because they had no places for September 2020, have subsequently since around Easter, been able to offer clients places. So, for anyone looking last minute for this year, it is still worth a try to check around.
Likewise, many schools have been very flexible in arranging assessments for overseas students of late – pre-tests, the Common Entrance and some school entrance exams scheduled for this time of year have gone ahead in various overseas locations, including being administered in people’s own homes! For UK students there have been no exams, so some places have been offered on the basis of school reports, and in other cases the full offer of places has been delayed until the Autumn.
Having had my own children at three different boarding schools whilst I lived overseas and having been involved in guardian duties with children at six other schools, the recent global pandemic has made me re-assess the provision of care for overseas boarders in some schools. Things I might have taken for granted in the past; I would now encourage parents to check. For example, in my mind, everyday provision of a school should include helping parents arrange airport transport and being flexible about students arriving at different times on the day that school re-opens at the end of the holidays depending on their flights. From my experience of my own children, this has always been the case, but over the past couple of years, I have discovered that this is not standard at all schools.
Secondly, you might like to check about provision when a child gets ill. For example what the regulations are if a child returns to school unwell or on medication at the end of a holiday (even if an overseas doctor has deemed them fit to travel) and generally in what situations a child can be kept at school if they become unwell at school or when they would be sent to a guardian. This is worth knowing because a friend who offers to let you use their name as guardian, may not realise what they are letting themselves in for, or if you are paying for a guardian agency, the daily rate for having a sick child to stay can mount up over time.
And then that bring us to the current pandemic – since the start of the year, most schools have had their own quarantine regulations in place for children travelling from Asia and some have been quite strict so that many students were unable to go home over February half term as they would have to have isolated for two weeks when they got back. So, in such a scenario you need to make sure that unless schools stay open to overseas students in such situations, you need to have someone you can turn to, who can have your children to stay.
Since lock down began, most expatriate students have gone home overseas but some schools have kept boarding houses open for overseas students who were unable to get home. In addition, with current UK quarantine regulations, some schools are offering to open two weeks early in order for international students to fulfil their quarantine in boarding houses before schools open for the start of the new academic year. Of course, the government quarantine regulations might have changed by the end of the summer, but where schools are not offering quarantine accommodation, you need to think about what your children would do in a situation like that.
Some schools are going even further than this and talking about the possibility of cancelling exeat w/es for next term so that a bubble can be established in a boarding community. In addition, there has been talk about reducing the length of half terms (because of the problems of overseas children travelling) and increasing the length of the Christmas holidays instead.
Whatever September and beyond brings in the wake of the current situation, the issue really just is that with an unprecedented global pandemic like now, no one really knows what is up ahead, so be wary that a school that is generally inflexible about flights and sickness, is unlikely to be one to take the lead in being flexible for their international students in times like these. Just ensure you are aware of this, and if this is the case, make sure you have someone who is prepared to stand in whatever the issue.
Fiona Hodgkins
June 2020
Summer Learning Loss
As the half term break comes to schools in the UK, and as schools in both Singapore and England are tentatively planning to open in early June, in other countries, the academic year is already coming to a close. I therefore thought that this article, a re-written version of one I edited in July 2017, might be useful for parents to think about the effects of annual summer learning loss on top of the academic consequences of Covid-19.
Summer learning loss
Research by educationalists has established that most children’s progress on standardised tests regresses by a month over the summer holidays and more alarmingly, there is specifically a two-month regression in Maths.
Consequently, there has been much debate about whether it is sensible to organise the school year with a long summer holiday. Indeed, the long summer holiday is not an academic construct but an archaic relic of a predominantly agricultural society when families needed their children to help get the summer harvest in. If today, we were to redesign the school year from scratch based on educational needs, it is likely that we would come up with a very different calendar, yet the school year does not look as if it will be experiencing dramatic change anytime soon.
Given the disruption to education caused by Covid-19 so far this year, the summer learning loss is likely to be even more pronounced: Primary age children are being taught little new material through their online schooling as this has been more about consolidating past learning (though don’t get me wrong, this is no bad thing in itself); and with the cancellation of public exams, for many Secondary school students, some of the impetus has gone out of learning.
However, despite the prospect of learning loss, don’t just think of the summer holidays as a damage limitation exercise. With the freedom from the routine of school, those 6 or 8 weeks are a glorious opportunity for diverse learning: a chance for your child to return to school with neurological pathways both rested and refreshed, fully prepared for a new year of learning. As such, there is much that you can do informally to help: think about helping your children’s English by challenging their book choices and engaging in what they are reading; extend their Maths in practical ways such as cooking or a DIY project; develop the Humanities by international and historical visits and where these cannot be done in person, there are many virtual website visits now available; or get your children involved in new interests.
But, it is clear that for many parents working from home during lockdown who have had to be more involved in their children’s online schooling of late, as life returns to some form of normality, there is the possibility that they will have less time than usual to dedicate to their children over the Summer holidays and this is where professional help from tutors can be useful.
My tutors and I, here at Ellipsis, have continued to support our students with their learning for a variety of reasons during lock down, but as I have said to many of you, my advice for most is that you let tuition lapse as schools start to open for the end of the summer term, and just let your children embrace being back at school, seeing their friends and making the most of cross curricular activities.
Then, as everyone can get out and about more, try and restore life to a bit of normality before thinking about tuition again. However, as the new school year starts to beckon, then I would suggest that that is the time to embark on a programme to get your children’s minds academically focussed again ready to start the next school year.
As many students face important exams in coming months – Common Entrance 13+ pre-tests and 16+ (6th form) school entry exams in the Autumn; 11+ entry exams in the Spring, as well as mocks for the next cohort of GCSEs and A level / IB - we should not underestimate the exacerbated effects of normal summer learning loss on top of an already disrupted school year and just expect things to pick up after the summer. And particularly where CATs and MidYis might be done early in the new school year, and where these are used to inform future school choices, it is prudent to have your child’s brain fully engaged before school starts.
In addition, where end of year assessments and reports may have highlighted areas of weakness, use the time whilst your children are off school and fresh over the Summer to address these before they go back to school in the Autumn. And if they are moving school or starting a new curriculum, this is a good time to get familiar with the basics of what to expect.
Normally, the long hiatus between the end of GCSEs and the start of the Sixth form leaves many students struggling early into their Sixth form courses. Sixth Form academic work is intellectually a step-up from GCSE, and usually these pupils' skills take a huge step down over the long break. This year however, these students are not my main concern, as many schools are sensibly using online schooling to introduce GCSE students to their Sixth form studies this term. The Secondary School year groups I now worry about more are Year 10 and 12 who have not had the benefit of being taught in full this year. If you have children in these year groups, the summer holidays might be the time to ensure that they are where they should be in the middle of their exam courses.
So, my message is, whilst I would encourage you to grasp whatever opportunities you can to embrace new learning for your children away from the confines of formal education over the summer, there are also good educational reasons why you might feel that the support of tuition is needed at some stage over the holidays. If so, do get back to me and we at Ellipsis team would be happy to help.
Fiona Hodgkins
May 2020
FAQs: 11+ / ISEB pre-test /Common Entrance / 13+ - what are they?
I hope that this message finds all our families well and coping with their respective lockdowns and online schooling.
As most UK schools are due to return after the Easter break this week, but in essence are just joining other schools around the world embarking on a programme of online learning for the Summer term, I thought this was a good opportunity to answer questions I am frequently asked about entry exams at 11+ and 13+. Some of you have been through this, whilst others are embarking on part of the process and the attached might help. And, as I start work with new students beginning the process for next year, it serves as reminder, that there is life ahead of the pandemic we are all now living through.
Best regards,
Fiona
FAQs: 11+ / ISEB pre-test /Common Entrance / 13+ - what are they?
A perennial question I am asked is about the above and there is no surprise that parents navigating the system of school entry for the first time with their children are confused. I hope the following simple explanation will help take some of the haze away …
First of all, the phrase “11+” is a bit of a misnomer as it refers to any exam taken by a child in Year 6 for Year 7 (or 11+) entry. It can be used to refer to the entry exam that Local Education Authorities (LEAs) use for grammar (selective state school) entry and whilst its exact format varies from LEA to LEA, it usually involves some form of multi choice Verbal Reasoning (VR), Non Verbal Reasoning (NVR), English and Maths assessments.
The 11+ also refers to exams that independent schools have in Y6 for Y7 (11+) entry. The process often begins in the Autumn of Year 6 and is usually over by the January of Year 6. Year 7 entry is typical of most London day schools as well as girls’ boarding schools. Generally, this independent school entry exam consists of traditional format written English and Maths papers and sometimes VR and NVR papers too. However, some schools, such as the London 11+ consortium schools (including such schools as Godolphin & Latymer and Francis Holland) now don’t do any traditional format papers at all, but only multi choice VR, NVR, English and Maths exams similar to the state grammar entry.
Another exam also taken in Year 6 is the ISEB pre-test. Unlike the above examples, it is not for Y7 (11+) entry but is an early assessment for 13+ (Year 9) entry into various independent schools, mainly boarding. Previously, many schools did their own form of pre-testing, but in recent years, more and more schools are opting for the ‘Common pre-test’ administered by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) which is why the exam is commonly referred to as the ‘ISEB pre-test’. Its format again is similar to the 11+ consortium and state grammar entry and is used diagnostically by schools to decide whether a child should proceed to their next level of entrance testing. The next stages may be more multi choice cognitive tests and interviews and are usually followed by more traditional written tests in either Year 7 or Year 8.
The name ‘ISEB pre-test’ can lead to confusion, as ISEB also administer other common exams – for example, if schools use a Common Entrance (CE) exam rather than one they made themselves. These exams can be the Common Entrance at 11+ but the phrase ‘Common Entrance’ is most commonly used to refer to the exam sat at 13 (Year 8) for entry to independent schools at 13+ (Year 9). Firstly, there is nothing common about it at all as in fact very few schools still use the Common Entrance exam (and those that do mainly use it for setting purposes only) and the vast majority who have exams at 13+ exams, actually make their own exams. And for schools that do sit the CE, there is not a standard mark scheme, but schools will mark it as severely (or not) as is required by their own academic selection procedure.
So, that is it in a nutshell, as clearly as I can explain in one page. But, you can see that it is a bit of a minefield to get through. Each family’s requirements are different so don’t worry, I am here to steer you through the process. What I hope I have shown above is that although some parents go and buy Bond books and get past CE papers to practice, this is not necessarily the most effective thing to do, unless you know specifically which set of exams and schools you are going for.
I am here to help and ensure that your child is best prepared for where they are going and taking the best route possible but I hope that the above provides some clarification on the schools entry process.
Fiona Hodgkins
Navigating through these uncertain times
Children’s education across the globe is being significantly disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 Virus outbreak, whether as a result of school closure; postponement and/or cancellation of exams for school entrance assessments, GCSEs, A level and IB; or merely because of the disruption to daily life and the anxiety that this is causing families everywhere.
I have been in contact with a large number of you over the last couple of weeks with children of all ages studying in both the UK and internationally, including families with students preparing for their new schools in the UK in September 2020. Based on things people have been asking me, here are a few suggestions for dealing with the education of your children at this challenging time for all:
· Utilise the revised learning schedules being offered by your child’s school. Some schools are undoubtedly doing better than others by being able to set up “live” lessons for when schools are shut, whilst others are more focused on time filling activities to keep students occupied. However, the Easter holidays are being used by many schools to prepare suitable programmes for the summer term, not just for where online teaching is required, but also to deal with the cancellation of public exams. So, give schools time to show you what they are offering before looking for alternative solutions.
· Have a view on longer term educational goals
o for younger students, see closed schools as a time to consolidate prior learning and take the time to extend breadth of their thinking (rather than just learning more).
o for students moving school at 13+ or 16+, the syllabus still needs to be covered so that they can make the most of their start at new schools in September. This is particularly true if they are moving country or educational system so use this hiatus in normal schooling wisely.
o for older students whose public exams have been cancelled, once internal assessments have been confirmed, they are best focusing on their proposed next level of study so that momentum is not lost over the next five months.
· As parents, don't think that home schooling can work in the same way as students learn at school. Education is far more than doing pieces of work, but involves interaction and thinking outside the box. I home schooled two of my children, then in Y4 and Y7, when we could not get school places for a term during one of our international moves, and even as a teacher, I learnt how much less it was about “doing schoolwork” than experiencing living.
How can we help you as you cope with the current situation? Firstly, whatever their next steps, once you know what is being offered, we can help your children by supplementing what their schools are providing. In addition, where schools are shut, and many younger students in particular are not getting the benefit of “live” online learning, Skype sessions with our tutors can add some interaction to their learning and be more focused on your child’s individual needs. Higher up, our tutors can help develop what schools are doing with sixth form and university subject taster sessions.
Finally, I am also aware that already the situation is causing job changes and possibly global moves that might not have been expected even a few weeks ago. I am helping families with schools’ advice for September 2020 (and beyond) and although the situation for schools is not normal, most are still being very open in their discussions so do contact me if you need more information regarding this.
Here’s hoping that the education for our children normalises in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, please let me know if I, or any of our tutors can help you in any way. However, fundamental to everything, I hope that everyone, stays safe and healthy at this difficult time.
Further School Visits (December 2019 and February 2020)
Following visits to Surbiton School and Putney High (London) before Christmas 2019, Fiona enjoyed a return visit to Stowe in early February 2020 and recently took the opportunity to visit some prep schools around Sevenoaks where she received a great welcome at Solefields Prep, St Michael’s Prep, Bickley Park Prep and Sevenoaks Prep.
If you wish to know more about these and any of the other schools that I have visited (some on many different occasions) please contact me at enquiries@ellipsislearning.com.
Further School Visits (September 2019)
Recent school visits to Radnor House, Sevenoaks; Channing Senior School; Highgate School; and Oxford International College.
If you wish to know more about these and any of the other schools that I have visited (some on many different occasions) please contact me at enquiries@ellipsislearning.com.
School Placements 2018-2019
As the final results from this year’s Common Entrance and late school applications are through, I am pleased to share the final list of independent schools that students we prepared for exams went on to get offers from:
Alleyns, Sevenoaks, Caterham, Epsom, The Old Palace, Croydon High, Woldingham, St Edwards Oxford, Brighton College, Ibstock Place, Harrodian, The Kings School Gloucester, Rugby, Downe House, Fettes, Kings Macclesfield, Stockport Grammar School, Ardingly, Millfield, Tonbridge, Eton, Malvern, Stowe, Benenden, Winchester College, Harrow, Uppingham, Oundle, Francis Holland (Regents Park), Northwood and Radley.
I, and the tutors who worked with them, wish all our students all the best as they embark on the next stage of their education whether it be at a new Prep School, or Senior School at 11+, 13+ or 16+.
In addition, we await this year’s A level and IB results and hope our University bound students achieve what they need for the Universities and courses of their choice.
June 2019
Bede's Senior School Visit - 9 July 2019
Return visit to Bede's Senior School to meet the Registrar Mr. Richard Mills, following a phone conversation with the Head of 6th form before the end of term. Interesting to find out more about their provision of BTECs in the 6th form, and in particular to visit their zoo which is part of their Animal Husbandry course as well as being used for Biology A level. Met an ex student now studying Zoology at University having studied both Biology A level and Animal Husbandry BTEC whilst at Bede's. Still returns in the holidays to help out in the zoo.
Bede's campus layout
Bede's zoo
Francis Holland Regents Park School Visit - 28 June 2019
Delighted to see around the school and meet the Registrar, Mrs. Fran Whitehead to discuss changes to the new London Consortium 11+ entry procedures and assessments.
Tonbridge School Visit - 25 June 2019
A pleasure as always to visit Tonbridge school. Said goodbye to the outgoing Director of Admissions and Marketing, Andrew Leale and met his successor Richard Burnett. Also visited the new Barton Science Centre as well as Park and Parkside boarding houses. Cricket match, Tonbridge 1st XI v the MCC going on in the background - an idyllic English scene.
Website Update
This website is now being updated to coincide with Fiona’s moving her Educational services from Didicimus back to Ellipsis Learning.
Communication with family members of Bahau internees
We are always delighted to hear from family members of Bahau internees either helping us to update our records or seeking further information from us. Apologies if there is sometimes a delay in replying but we are happy to help when we can.
Recent communication has been had with:
- a granddaughter of Laura deSouza and Edward Phillips
- the grand nephew of Brother Brophy
- a relation of the Perry family
- members of the Schelkis family
- the son of Hilary Paul Woodford
It is a pleasure to know that over 2 and a half years since the publication of my books, there is still feedback and books sales in both Singapore and the UK continue.