Further News

From 1 September 2017 to 1 July 2024, Tony Jackson was Headmaster of Barnard Castle School. It was his dream job at his dream school, as he announced in his last speech at the end of the school year. In his role as Headmaster, he spoke to hundreds of parents and asked them what they wanted for their children. Almost every answer mentioned three things: Happiness and self-esteem, confidence without arrogance, and the ability to grasp opportunities and the resilience for failure, as well as, third, being life ready and "armed with the skills to not just survive in this rapidly changing world we live in, but to thrive in it". He said he also has these three wishes for his own children, which is why he wants them to remain Barnardians, as this is the best place to combine all of these things.

Tony's speech was so good that we want to share it here with you: Tony's Farewell Speech

Theresia's original plan was to join a British boarding school for just one year in Year 9. This turned into four years and an A-level qualification. In a video Theresia talks about how special her time at Monkton was, how close the friendships were across all year groups and how perfect her English is. And: the food there is great!
Watch the video: From Germany to Monkton - Life as an International Boarder with Theresia

A new parliament will be elected in Britain on July 4. The possible changes in the balance of power in favor of the Labour Party could have an impact on the financial situation of British boarding schools. Independent schools in Britain, whether boarding or day schools, currently enjoy a VAT exemption as they are recognised as charities. This exemption has a long tradition dating back to the 19th century.

In the current election campaign, this tax exemption for independent schools is once again playing a significant role in the Labour Party's campaign programme. Although it is unclear whether and when changes will actually be implemented if the Labour Party wins the election, many independent schools - including our boarding schools - are preparing for the possible introduction of 20% VAT (Value Added Tax) on school fees as a precautionary measure. They will be able to reclaim part of this through deduction of VAT paid to third parties, and offset significant amounts through new revenue streams (summer courses, vacation lettings). Many schools have also been able to reduce their operating costs through energy-efficient renovations in recent years.

It is currently assumed that the schools will have to pass on about 8-12% of the additional costs from the introduction of VAT to the families. All schools are of course very keen to find a fair and balanced solution and minimise the financial impact on families. Many experts assume that the introduction of VAT on school fees will drag on legally, as Labour currently has no intention of introducing VAT on university tuition fees.

The current situation therefore is still very unclear. As soon as any concrete decisions are published, we will of course inform our families immediately.

Further information (added 27.06.24): Article on VAT and School Fees by the Good Schools Guide

Gareth Parker-Jones, Head of Rugby School, supports the thesis of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt in his book ‘The Anxious Generation’ that excessive safety concerns by parents and the frequent use of smartphones give children a restricted and unhappier childhood. Haidt, who is known for his research on moral psychology and social issues, argues that children are growing up in an over-regulated environment and are being deprived of formative experiences.

At Rugby School, as at most British boarding schools, access to smartphones is deliberately restricted to allow pupils to have a healthier development and happier childhood. According to Parker-Jones, these measures are showing positive results: Pupils and parents often welcome the relief from social media exposure. The headteacher sees the school as a pioneer in this area and emphasises the importance of providing opportunities and activities away from screens. You can read the full article here.

Our student Friedrich and his Boys' 1st XI Hockey Team of Ardingly College won the National School Championships (Tier 2) this week. Congratulations to this amazing achievement! The final was played in the Lee Valley stadium in London - a large number of Ardingly supporters were there to cheer on their team, some had travelled over especially from Germany. Well done to the team and to Friedrich!    

We are delighted to host the IB Schools Fair in three German cities again this year. Our guests will be Headmasters, Deputy Heads or Directors of Admissions of six of the best IB boarding schools in Britain: Ardingly College, Bromsgrove School, Haileybury, Malvern College, Sevenoaks School and Worth School.

The IB Schools Fair will take place in Hamburg, Cologne and Munich on 24, 25 and 26 April 2024. The six attending schools may be of interest to your son or daughter if he or she is planning to attend a British boarding school for at least one year in the school year 2025/2026  and has good or very good grades. If you would like to gather some preliminary information or schedule a personal meeting with one or more of the attending schools, please get in touch with us.

Further details and the online registration form can be found here. We look forward to three exciting days with your family and the schools.

Each year, Woodbridge School's "Young Enterprise competition" encourages Year 12 students to create their own business ideas and selling the final product to the public. This year a cookbook focused on local recipes was created: "The Suffolk Sensations Cookbook". The Cookbook contains recipes that are both family friendly and easy to make and tells personal stories behind the recipes. Further information about the competition and how to purchase the cookbook can be found here:: Young Enterprise Cookbook from Year 12's Suffolk Sensations - Woodbridge School

Rick Valentine, former head of the Loretto Golf Academy, has recently started offering sports coaching for pupils in golf and hockey during the English holidays as a Guardian Organisation. There are still places available at his intensive golf camps in Scotland for the half-term holidays in May and the summer holidays in July 2024. The courses played are in St Andrews and Fettes.

If you are interested, you can contact us.