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Abercorn school celebrates 25 years

Education

Abercorn school celebrates 25 years

The investment in technology at Abercorn School over the last 25 years has dramatically changed the way the curriculum is delivered.  It's intuitive, fun and the children can connect with two sister schools in New York and Austin.  We caught up with the dynamo behind the schools, Andrea Greystoke, founder and head of the London school which now spans 3 sites in North West London.

 alt=It seems these days children are able to operate electronic devices such as smartphones and ipads practically moments after they have learned to sit up unaided.  And at Abercorn School in north west London, children are technically savvy too.  "Children at Abercorn move seemlessly between personalised laptops, class whiteboards, ipads, music composition software, video editing tools.  It's an exciting journey for both children and staff to see what's coming next", says Andrea.

Andrea Greystoke has witnessed the technological advance over the last 25 years and loves the way her team have cleverly weaved it into the curriculum without the children realising they are learning.  And with 6 children of her own, she loves the bustling classroom atmosphere.  "It was always fairly chaotic at home, running the schools and keeping family life on track.  Now we have expanded to three sites in London; the nursery in St John's Wood, Years 1-3 on the Marylebone Road and Years 4-8 just two blocks away on Wyndom Place.  That way children do get a change of scene and experience a different learning environment as they mature".

How do parents manage with children in different age groups?  "We help coordinate that by allowing parents to drop children in one location, and then organising who goes where.  The last thing we want is to make it complicated for parents".  

This helping hand for parents is very much what Abercorn aims to achieve in transferring to senior schools too.  "We have a non-selective admissions policy and a rounded curriculum, but achieve excellent academic results - getting the children to their chosen senior schools," confirms Andrea.  The list is impressive: Latymer, South Hampstead, Francis Holland, City of London, St Paul's Boys and Girls, Godolphin, Mill Hill and Wesminster.  Not many prep schools can manage such a broad base of entrance exams.

"Our parents come from a range of cultures and backgrounds - which is very reflective of London as a whole.  And although senior schools like to keep French and Latin on the curriculum, we are also keen to introduce Spanish and Mandarin as the demand amongst parents rises."  With an international clientele, it comes as no surprise that children at Abercorn have electronic pen pals at the sister schools in New York and Austin.  "The children have enjoyed using webcams to share learning experiences with the other schools, and in Year 8 children have an exchange experience which is great for broadening their horizons".

As you can imagine securing a place at Abercorn is difficult.  It has a siblings priority policy, then places are allocated in order of registration. However, you do actually have to have had your baby before you register.  Could they fit more children in?  "We'd love to - just need to find the right premises!" laughs Andrea.

For further information, or to arrange a visit on one of their termly open days (October, February and May) please contact: Edward Hill, e.hill@abercornschool.com, or visit the website www.abercornschool.com.

 

 

 



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