Kathryn Bew, a partner at Thrings in Bath, meet Claire Lilley, Head of Royal High Prep School
Kathryn Bew: Tell us a little about Royal High Prep School.
Claire Lilley: We’re an independent all-girls school, part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), focused on high achievement and well-rounded development for our pupils, giving them a memorable and enjoyable learning experience from our beautiful home at Cranwell House on the edge of Weston Village, the former residence of the Mayor of Bath.
KB: What do you think makes this school special?
CL: Saying we’re an all-girls school isn’t enough to answer that question, but it makes a significant difference. For us, it isn’t just about our girls enjoying equal opportunities but about them enjoying all opportunities and being given the motivation and skills to thrive in whatever field they choose.
This is supported by the school’s flattened hierarchy, with everyone empowered by the knowledge that their voice is just as valued as their peers, helping them develop the respect and self-confidence they need to make long-lasting relationships as they go on to make their mark on the world.
I’m especially proud of how we consider learning in a holistic way. Rather than teaching subjects in silos, we take a cross-curricular approach with everything linked to a central a theme, whether that is Ancient Egypt or the Tudors, and always look at learning through the lens of a girl. This perspective brings subjects to life which is vital at this age as, if learning isn’t exciting at this point in their lives, when is it?
KB: It sounds very different from school in my day. What do you think is the most important change to the format?
CL: We have come an incredibly long way since I started teaching to knowing how to tap into children’s potential and encourage them to have more self-esteem and resilience.
Whereas teaching many years ago was a one-size-fits-all approach, we look at every child as an individual, getting to know their personalities, their idiosyncrasies and celebrate their strengths.
Knowing how to enthuse them can help them become more receptive. Taking a subject like maths as a prime example, it used to be that you were taught “this is long division and this is how you do it” – now it’s “this is the myriad of ways in which you can do long division – choose whichever one works best for you!”
KB: What do you see are currently the biggest challenges to education at this age?
CL: Nowadays, children are a lot more aware of what is going on in the world and are heavily impacted psychologically by things we wouldn’t have really come across – the pandemic and the war in Ukraine being two main examples. As such, we’re seeing more anxiety in children.
But that awareness isn’t all negative and has definitely sparked a change in behaviours amongst children that we can truly be proud of such as wanting to care for the environment. Our school’s eco-committee, made up of pupils who are very attentive to how the school can be greener, have even pulled me up recently for leaving my office light on whilst out for a meeting!
KB: How would you advise parents to choose the right school for their child and then ease the transition from nursery?
CL: Parents will always start by looking at the website or a prospectus which is a good first step, but nothing comes close to visiting the school. You walk around and feel the warmth, you see the interaction between the staff and the children and talk to the Head to understand their approach to learning. While you are doing all that, try to picture your child there. If you see them thriving, then it may very well be the right environment for them to shine.
The transition phase is important no matter what stage of education a child is at and the first point of contact is vital in settling them in. Often it is just as tense a time for a parent as for the child and it can even require more work to give the adults confidence.
At the end of the day, everyone wants what is best for the child as they start their educational journey and a strong level of communication and trust will lay the foundations for them to flourish into becoming the best possible version of themselves!
To find out more about the Royal High Prep School, visit www.royalhighbath.gdst.net/prep.
Kathryn Bew is a key part of the Thrings Family Team and a member of Resolution, an organisation for family justice professionals in England and Wales. She primarily advises clients through divorce and separation proceedings, working as a collaborative lawyer to minimise the strain of the process. Her work involves both the financial aspects of separation as well as disputes regarding children. In addition to divorce settlements, Kathryn has extensive experience in pre- and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation rights.
With a focus on cases where high financial values are involved, Kathryn helps clients understand the implications of agreements for related tax, pensions, trusts and businesses. She also has expertise in handling arrangements for farm estates.