How Horris Hill develops student's identities

Like all good Preparatory schools in the country, we have a core aim of setting children up with the best start possible in their educational journeys, readying them for senior school. As we are all too aware (perhaps from some of our own experiences too), the move to secondary school can be a daunting one, and often coincides with a time in a child's life which provides great challenge to their self-esteem; puberty, and all the joys that come with it.

This is where I believe that Preparatory schools have a key responsibility in setting their children up to be the most confident versions of themselves and help them weather the undoubtedly rocky storm that teenage years bring. If a child feels a strong sense of self, of their identity and their values, they will inevitably find this period of their lives easier. If they have been taught how to connect with others, how to empathise and how to care for others, their relationships will undoubtedly be stronger.

As we all navigate the changing landscape of education and what modern day childhood looks like, it is my belief that human aspects of education must remain at the heart of what we do. We of course need to equip children to work with technology, AI and a world we do not yet know, but fundamentally I think that children need to learn to be able to understand others, and themselves, in order to be happy in life. One can go onto become a doctor, a lawyer, a leader or business person, but ultimately one cannot be successful in these roles without people skills. I believe that everybody needs human connection.

At Horris Hill we aim to give pupils as much chance to discover themselves as possible. By giving students immersive experiences in as many areas as we can, we believe that children will thrive. Whether that be testing out their horticultural skills in our Kitchen Garden, or perfecting their swing on the golf course, we offer an extensive site for exploration. Adventure is a feature of the everyday life here, be that in the classroom or during one of our outdoor learning sessions such as Rewilding class, the children are pushed in many areas.

However, underlying all of these amazing experiences our site can offer is a basic set of values, our School Charter. These values could be transferred to any setting, situation or school in the country and still be relevant. When dreaming up our School Charter, this aspect was in the forefront of my mind; a set of values that children can take with them anywhere in the world, anywhere in their futures, and they will still be applicable. It was also, of course, imperative that these values tie into our school identity of the 3 F's; Family, Freedom and Flair. 

I believe that if all of our Horris Hill pupils leave us with these core principles and values as a solid foundation of their identities, we will have done our jobs well.

To find out more about school life at Horris Hill, contact admissions@horrishill.com, or visit us on one of our open days.