BACK TO SCHOOL
Forging ahead Challenging though this might sound, schools aren’t simply undaunted, but are brimming with ideas and innovation for the new school year, with a growing emphasis on developing learning skills from a young age to give pupils the ability to understand and interpret information in a way that will stand them in good stead, not just during their school years, but into adulthood. At Stephen Perse Cambridge, a wealth of clubs, activities and talks showcase individual subjects or bring seemingly very different disciplines together in interesting ways – history and economics, for example – to present familiar subjects from a completely new angle. It’s all part of developing fresh ways to “excite students and pique their curiosity beyond the curriculum,” says Abbey Jones. “It’s about ensuring that
to independent schools,” says Claire Petrie, head of Kimbolton Prep School. Like other school leaders in our area, she cites AI – with its potentially seismic impact on so many aspects of our daily lives, including future employment prospects – as a top priority, not just this year but into the future. The challenge of equipping today’s pupils with the skills to give them the best chance of success later in life is one schools are tackling head on. “AI isn’t something that’s going to go away. We’re all going to have to learn to make the best of it,” says Abbey Jones, senior deputy head (11-18) at Stephen Perse Cambridge, where a working group has been looking at how to help teachers and students harness its power. This might mean being open with students and explicitly incorporating AI in class-based tasks or homework. “It’s about closely monitoring what’s going on with AI and keeping your finger on the pulse.” And, while AI is a powerful tool, John Maguire, head at Bishop’s Stortford College, acknowledges that it has its limits for now, though it’s rapidly evolving. “We’re waiting for the tech to catch up. Equally, we can recognise how it’s going to transform education,” he says.
extension opportunities are as varied and frequent as it’s possible to make them.” A new prep school curriculum at Bishop’s Stortford College, from September, focuses on independent learning and the development of higher- order thinking skills, encompassing everything from comprehension through to analysis and evaluation. It’s a different approach and an integral part of the process, to make sure that pupils have the reassurance they might need along the way, says John Maguire. “We have a phrase we use: ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’. Students shouldn’t always feel like they have to know everything, but should be happy being uncomfortable,” he says. The school’s role is to build up their confidence. “They know they’re not being judged and that they have a strong safety net below to scoop them up.”
BIG AMBITION Bishop’s Stortford College is launching a bold new languages programme and careers fair
• Help children transition into the school routine by gradually adjusting sleep and waking times so they’re fresh and raring to go when term starts. • To avoid a last-minute panic, get supplies, equipment and uniforms ready well in advance. • Keep conversations around the new school year positive, highlighting the new experiences and friendships it will bring. • If your child is moving schools, connect with other families who can share their experiences and help them feel at home. • Because children can regress by up to two months over the summer, keep their reading and interests simmering over the holidays, but aim to make these activities fun and relaxed. Smooth transitions How you can achieve as stress-free a return to school as possible after the long summer holidays
52 SEPTEMBER 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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