Rydal Penrhos in Colwyn Bay to stop taking boarders to fully become a day school

One of North Wales's oldest private boarding schools is set to become a day school as governors blame the current economic climate for the drop in boarders.

Rydal Penrhos in Colwyn Bay has been a boarding school since 1885, but is set to fully become a day school by 2021.

In a letter to parents, chair of governors Julian Barnes said: "Since early 2018, the school’s governing body has been undertaking a strategic review of all aspects of the school with a view to future-proofing Rydal Penrhos and ensuring that it is in a strong position for generations of pupils to come.

"In light of the changing market for independent education and the general economic climate, the governing body is working to achieve the following: by 2021, the transition of Rydal Penrhos to become a full day school, continuing to provide excellent independent education which more effectively meets the needs of local families."

The letter says day pupils currently account for 80% of children at the school and, from September, the school will move towards a shorter day.

Read more at: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/historic-school-stop-taking-boarders-15646810

A headteacher of one of Scotland’s most distinguished schools has said that it is important that careers advice begins before pupils reach double figures.

George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh teaches children from age 3 to 18, but principal Lesley Franklin said she thinks careers advice is important for children as young as nine.

She told Independent Education Today: “I believe P6-S2 (Year 6-9) is a critical time for careers advice. Although it may seem young, it is important to give the children as much information as possible prior to them making decisions on their subject choices,” she said.

Similarly, Sarah Styles, Head of St Hilda’s School, a school for girls up to the age of 11, said while formal careers advice is not given, it is still important to ask the right questions.

She told IE: “Because of the way we’re set up and the way the children get to know what they’re good at, careers advice comes through a conversation in a PHSE lesson, for example, or a general chat with a member of staff. For example, for a child who knows they are good at science and wants to be a medical scientist, it is about asking: ‘Why a medical scientist and not a doctor?’ It’s about posing those questions about why they’d like to do certain things.”

The top schools and colleges that sent the most pupils to Oxford or Cambridge were Westminster School, Eton College, Hills Road Sixth Form College, St Paul’s School, Peter Symonds College, St Paul’s Girls School, King’s College School and Magdalen College School.

Pupils from independent schools were over twice as a likely to attend a Russell Group university than those at state schools, according to Access to Advantage, with the gap even greater at Oxbridge.

Read more at: https://ie-today.co.uk/Article/careers-advice-should-start-at-nine-says-school-head/