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Widening horizons: enrichment activitiesRachael Hodgson, Principal of Howell’s School
Education at most independent schools has four main components which are closely interlinked, give breadth and depth to educational delivery and, I believe, help prepare pupils for the challenges of life after school in the 21st century. This is certainly the framework we follow at Howell’s School. Core skills are at the very heart of all that a school does and include the values of respect, responsibility, honesty and integrity as well as facilitating pupils to develop independent thinking, originality and creativity and, we all hope, to be risk takers in the very broadest sense. Academic excellence is a priority directly in relation to each pupils individual ability and within the curriculum are embedded many of the skills already referred to as well as the core elements of communication, numeracy and ICT. Enrichment is a third component and which should permeate throughout a school. I believe this is one of the great strengths of Howell’s School: enrichment activities, both on and off site, can be found within the academic curriculum (as illustrated by the Performing Arts delivery in Key Stage 3) as well as in lunch times, after school throughout the week, at weekends and within the school holidays. Pastoral care and support is the further key component and being a small school all who operate within our community have much to offer in this capacity. As our ESTYN Inspection report stated: “the school is very successful in promoting tolerance, mutual respect and understanding between pupils from diverse backgrounds.”
Enrichment is a particular strength of Howell’s School and as already stated, a key component of this is Performing Arts. Each year the school holds a “Fashion Show” when the four senior school houses select a theme and prepares a medley of five pieces, girls within the house dressing and choreographing each to perform and illustrate this theme. In the academic year 2008/9 one house selected Canines as their theme: to this end, Labradors, French Poodles, German Shepherd dogs, Chinese Boxer (the Hong Kong girls selected this particular canine breed) and Dalmatians danced and pranced along the stage and cat walk. Cruella De Vil, the House Captain, gave an appropriate introduction and in the finale brought some fifty “dogs” of diverse of breed “to heel” with a piercing whistle! Every girl volunteers to takes part in this popular production, even those who are usually more reticent to be in the limelight. This, in my mind, is where enrichment differs from extra curricular. There is a greater emphasis on involvement rather than ability, it promotes teamwork and harmony, and is fun!
Both the senior and preparatory schools hold an annual production at the end of the autumn term which involve every pupil within the school either front or back stage, several of the senior girls now being members of a skilled technical crew. Additionally at the end of last summer term, as part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations as Howell’s School was founded in 1859, a whole school concert was staged including short drama pieces, songs and dancing from a range of eras throughout the last 150 years. Children from the Kindergarten class through to the Sixth Form prepared for this themed concert presented on two consecutive nights at the end of term. To have children aged 4 to 18 performing together reflected the importance of performing arts as well as the inclusiveness of Howell’s School, a significant aspect of the school ethos.
The Equestrian Centre is a core element of enrichment provision at Howell’s School and is becoming increasingly a part of the academic curriculum with girls from Year 9 upwards preparing for their NVQ certificates and other equine qualifications. Riding lessons take place in enrichment time throughout the week and numerous additional activities take place particularly at weekends and in the evenings during the summer term as well as school holidays. Some pupils livery their ponies in school, as do some staff, but many pupils of all ages and abilities can ride the school horses and ponies. Many day girls also have their own horses and ponies and bring them to participate in a range of training, dressage and show jumping sessions, as well as competitions held in the riding centre and externally to the school. Last year the school hosted the North Wales Inter Schools Qualifier when some 15 teams from Howell’s and surrounding schools participated in a full day of show jumping competitions for a range of abilities. The school plans to again stage this event in the summer term of 2010. Pupils and staff also make full use of the country side within which the school is situated with regular rides up on to the Clwydian Mountain range, riding part of the ridge of Offa’s Dyke. Enrichment in its very broadest sense when pupils and staff alike share not only the love of riding but communication skills and friendship which generates further respect and tolerance, all within stunningly beautiful scenery. The Equestrian Centre also facilitates an opportunity for pupils to further their responsibility in learning how to look after and care for animals.
The Equestrian Centre hosts an Annual Dog Show open to pupils, parents, staff, friends and those who utilise the centre. The show includes the usual classes of obedience, dog handling ability and agility but to add an element of fun classes include for example the “two most opposite dogs”, the dog “with the waggeist tail” and the dog dressed most like their owner. This year also created an opportunity for one of the school staff to bring her dog who is a fully trained SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association) and give a demonstration of search and rescue as part of the days events.
The school has lakeside frontage at Llyn Brenig some fifteen minutes away from the campus and during the summer and early autumn term Water Sports days and afternoons are held when pupils, parents and friends can sail, canoe and wind surf from the centre. On occasion BBQ’s are organised to accompany the water sports activities and there are footpaths and trails around the lake so those who are not water orientated can walk or cycle. In the summer term 2009 the Parents Association organised a sponsored walk around the lake, (some ten kilometres), to help raise funds towards our Anniversary Appeal: despite appalling weather in the morning over 100 parents, children, staff and friends participated. The event was backed up by St John’s Ambulance Unit. St John’s training is provided for girls inside school on a weekly basis and they are then able to use their first aid expertise supporting events both in and outside school.
Senior and Junior choirs and soloists participate in singing and recitals in the Regional and National Urdd Eisteddfod every year. Girls participate in a range of music festivals and the Preparatory School choir sing carols in the local market hall in the run up to Christmas as well as in the local old people’s home; this year their Second World War songs prepared as part of the school anniversary celebrations were particularly appreciated in the latter. May Pole dancing in the market square in Denbigh gives the Preparatory School girls another opportunity to participate in festivities of the local community. Senior girls take part in the annual Shakespeare Festival, Public speaking, Salters’ Chemistry competition, and are Silver and Gold Crest Award participants. Many senior girls participate in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Overseas trips include the annual skiing holiday to North America, pupil exchanges to France and Spain and an expedition to Morocco is currently being planned for October 2010.
These give just a flavour of the breadth of enrichment which enhances the general educational experience at Howell’s School. There is no doubt that a broad enrichment programme is an essential element for a quality boarding school, and the wider the offering, the greater enjoyment of life at school for the pupils.
 Rachael Hodgson was born in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire and attended Yorebridge Grammar School, Askrigg. She has a BA Hons in History from London University and PGCE from Cambridge University. A Cambridge Full Blue in Hockey. She taught History and Politics at St Anne’s School in Windermere, also Housemistress, Head of Humanities, Director of Studies, Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head. She moved to Leighton Park School in Reading as Deputy Head in 2002 until 2006. Became Principal of Howell’s School in 2006. A member of the SHMIS Deputy Heads Committee 2002 -2006, Professional Development Committee 2003 – 2006. Rachael stepped down from being Principal in August 2010. Her interests are fell walking, skiing, horse riding, dogs, reading and music. |
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