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| Bull Lane, SL9 8RJ, UK Gerrards Cross +44 (0)1753 882690
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| Welcome to Gayhurst School
Gayhurst school is a day preparatory school for boys from 4 to 13 years old and is divided into Junior and Senior departments which function in slightly different ways and are physically separated. Here, two of our prime considerations in the teaching of children are that they are happy in their environment and that class sizes remain small. At Gayhurst the happiness and well-being of the boys is of key importance to all our staff.
Reponsibility and the Individual:
All the boys at Gayhurst are encouraged from an early age to be responsible for their own appearance, property and actions. In the Senior School there are Heads of Houses who play an important role in the selection of teams and House Captains and these positions are rotated termly. The eighth form collectively are expected to set an example to the rest of the school but every pupil is given responsibility at some time during their school career. This might be as a form leader, librarian, Leader of the Orchestra or a dining room helper. It is important to feel confident about fulfilling any task and in a small way these aspects of responsibility help to generate the confidence to work in a community. Boys are encouraged to use their own initiative but at all times good manners and a sense of responsibility towards others are stressed. |
Gayhurst school is a day preparatory school for boys from 4 to 13 years old. It was founded in 1908 at Milton Avenue, Gerrards Cross as an independent day/boarding school preparing boys for entry into leading English Public Schools. The school moved to its present site in Gerrards Cross in 1930 and has remained here ever since. Attractively situated in Bull Lane, Gayhurst is on the edge of green belt land adjacent to a five acre playing field. A further four acre field is reached through pleasant woodland.
| Boarding ceased at the school in 1974 but the sentiments that are involved in caring for boarders live on. In a rapidly changing world, Gayhurst is not afraid to move with the times but there are certain fundamental values which the school strives to maintain. The happiness and well-being of the boys is one such value but the individual should also have a full understanding of what is right and wrong. Above all, each boy at the school should be given every opportunity and encouragement to develop his own talents to the maximum through whatever medium. On this website you will find an insight into what Gayhurst stands for and what we offer including up to date information concerning the school and the children. If you would like to visit Gayhurst, we would be delighted to meet you and show you around. For further information and how to contact us, please see the INFORMATION section on this website.
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| JUNIOR From 4 to 8 years
Boys are taught by their class teachers for the majority of their subjects. The concentration is on English:reading, writing, and speaking;Mathematics:tables and number work;investigative Science and projects. Every encouragement is given to help boys read fluently which surely is the basis for all learning tasks. There is a central library and each form has its own library to explore literature suitable to their ages. Geography, History and Religious Studies are all taught to broaden the child's awareness and understanding and to help him appreciate the complexities of the environment in which we live. French is taught orally from 5 years of age in a structured way. It is primarily designed to be fun but the course introduces the children to the concept of a foreign tongue encourages them to learn without self-consciousness. Art,Drama,Handwork and Music form an extension to the core subjects as well as introducing the boys to specialist skills in their own right. There are performances of music and drama regularly and all the boys learn to play the recorder. Indeed, many learn to play another instrument on an individual basis. Computers are a valuable learning aid. The boys will become familiar with Windows, word processing as well as developing the ability to explore databases and the latest educational software packages.
Religion:
Gayhurst was founded as a Church of England school. Today it retains that emphasis, and Christian values and perceptions remain a key note in the school's philosophy. The school enjoys close links with St. James' Church in Gerrards Cross where it holds its annual Carol Service. However, decency, commonsense, social responsibility, and a strong moral code are not the prerogative of Christians, and Gayhurst is truly a multi-denominational school. Religious Studies is time-tabled into the curriculum and includes a planned study of comparative religions. Religious Studies is an examination subject at Common Entrance. School assembly is held daily and is conducted along Christian lines.
SENIOR From 9 to 13 years
The boys move up to the senior side of the school in year 4 where thay immediately encounter some specialist subject teaching. By the age of ten the majority of their subjects will be taught in this way. In the first year of the Secondary School the boys are taught Biology, Physics and Chemistry as separate subjects. Throughout the school the emphasis in the Sciences is on practical work, learning through investigation. Written French is also studied at this stage and all the children are introduced to Classics in Year 4. At present half the boys study Spanish at eleven whilst several boys will study Greek in Year 8. Computers continue to play an important role in subject lessons and the boys are also taught Information Technology on the very latest equipment in the new computer laboratory. Mathematics, English, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Art, Design & Technology and Music are all taught by specialist subject teachers throughout a boy's career in the Senior School.
The boys are setted in the core subjects of English and Maths during their first year in the Senior School. At the end of Year 4 the boys can be either streamed and setted or a mixture of both depending on the year group. This is as important for the very able boys as it is for the less able ones: achievement and success are two vital ingredients for everyone, not just children, and the struggling or, the bored child is often an unhappy one.
The spirit of National Curriculum, which is essentially a distillation of traditional and modern teaching techniques, is incorporated into all our schemes of work. The boys are tested at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and the results are externally moderated. Children going to Senior Independent Secondary Schools are prepared for Common Entrance and Public School Scholarship.
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THE SCHOOL DAY For the youngest children this begins at 9.00 a.m. and ends at either 3.00 p.m. or 3.15 p.m. They have regular breaks during the day including lunch break during which they eat a cooked meal. For the older boys in the Junior School lessons end at 3.30 p.m. These boys are also able to take part in some optional after school activities which end at either 4.15 p.m. or 4.30 p.m. There is an after school club for Junior School pupils if parents wish to collect their children after the normal school day has finished. Boys can arrive at school from 8.00 a.m. The official day ends at 4.00 pm for Year 4, 4.15 pm for Year 5 and 4.30 pm for Years 6, 7 and 8. Optional activities and a supervised prep mean that many Senior boys go home at 5.15 p.m. Although the school operates from Mondays to Fridays, there are some occasions during the year when boys attend on Saturdays.
CONTACT WITH PARENTS The Headmaster and staff are always willing to see any parents at the school. Parents' evenings are held regularly and a wide variety of activities and functions take place at which parents are always welcomed.
There is a flourishing Parents' Association which has over the years helped to finance many projects. Members arrange functions at which staff and parents can meet informally.
REGISTRATION AND ADMISSION The registration form registers a child for entry and the deposit reserves a place for that child subject to him being successful on assessment. Should a child not be offered a place after assessment the deposit will be refunded. However if a place is declined after being offered the deposit is not refunded.
INSURANCE No remission of fees can be allowed for the absence through illness, quarantine or any other cause. It is therefore recommended that parents use the School Fees Protection Insurance Scheme, particulars of which will be sent with joining instructions.
FEES AND NOTICE FEES FROM SEPTEMBER 2007
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Tuition Fees (includes lunch) PER TERM |
*School Fees Protection Scheme PER TERM |
Deposit |
*Personal Accident Insurance |
Registration Fee |
Reception Class(YR) and Year 1 |
Ł2517 |
Ł37.75 |
Ł750 |
Ł4.95 |
Ł40 |
Year 2 |
Ł2736 |
Ł41.05 |
Year 3 |
Ł2996 |
Ł44.50 |
Year 4 - 8 |
Ł3198 |
Ł48.00 | * Opt-out scheme Some text books are supplied by the school and charged at the end of the Term. ALL fees are payable in advance and due by the first day of term. A full term's notice of withdrawal must be given in writing; or a full term's fees must be paid in lieu of notice. Governors hope to give no less than a term's notice of an increase in fees but they reserve the right to raise them without prior notice if necessary. The Headmaster has the right to request that a pupil be removed from the school on account of unsatisfactory progress or conduct. An Entry Form and the specified Registration Fee are required before a boy is interviewed for a place at Gayhurst. The deposit (Ł250 of which is held until the boy leaves the school) is required to confirm a place has been accepted. The full deposit is non-returnable in the event that the offer of a place is not taken up or is refused. A return of Ł500 is made on the second term's fees.
VOLUNTARY EXTRAS
Individual Music Lessons (Brass, Drums, Clarinet, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Saxophone and Violin |
Ł14.00 per lesson |
Instrument Hire |
Ł30.00 per term |
Fencing Lessons |
Ł45.00 per term |
Judo Lessons |
Ł52.00 per term |
Judo Kit Hire |
Ł6.00 per term |
Professionally Coached Chess |
Ł25.00 per term |
Remedial Lessons |
Ł10.00 per lesson | A half a term's notice of withdrawal must be given in writing; or a half a term's fees must be paid in lieu of notice.
STAFF LIST ( ) years at Gayhurst
Teaching Staff |
Mr A.J. Sims (14) M.A. Cantab Headmaster
Mrs S. Anderson (4) H.Dip Ed. Witwatersrand Univ.,
Mr H.E.A. Astley-Jones (23) M.A. Oxon, Cert. Ed., Bristol Director of Studies
Mrs S. Baker (4) DPP, Teaching Assistant
Mr R. Baker (3) MA Oxon. MBA
Mrs J. Barrow (2) MA, St. Andrews
Mrs E. Brown (2) G.T.C.L., PGCE Trinity, London
Mrs C. Clark (7) B.A.(Hons) Cert. Ed., Sheffield
| Mrs H.Colton- Parr (4) B.Ed (Hons), Hertfordshire University
Mrs B. Fairgrieve (13) Cert Ed., B. D. A. D.
Mr K. Fannin (-) B.Ed. (Hons) University of Auckland
Mrs C. Frisby (1) B.Ed., Avondale College
Mrs A. Goldson (2) B.A. (Hons) Winchester, PGCE
Mr D. Halford (18) Cert. Ed. St. Lukes, Exeter Director of Activities and Games
Mrs A. Jarvis (25) Diplome Romand, Lausanne
Mr S. Kearns (6) B.SC (Hons), Rand Afrikaans University
Mrs S. Kearns (6) B.Sc (Hons), Rand Afrikaans University
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Mr N. Kemp (26) B.A. London, Dip. Ed., Brunel Deputy Headmaster
Mrs C. Kirkbride (10) N.N.E.B.
Mrs S. Kunzig (25) B.A. Vassar P.G.C.E.
Mrs B. Laduron (-) B.Sc (Hons) Louvain, QTS Cambridge
Ms M. Legg (-) B.Ed (Hons) Oxon Head of Middle School
Mrs R. Lingley (5) B.A. (Hons), Leeds University, P.G.C.E., Bristol University
Mr W.P. Louw (3) Higher Dip. Ed. Boland College
Mrs F. Maclean (7) B.Ed. (Hons), Westminster College
Mrs C. Miller (4) B.Ed (Hons), Waikato University
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Mrs L. Morris (7) Cert. Ed. Borough Road
Mrs K. Robbins- Begg (8) B.Ed (Hons)
Ms J. Sears (-) B.Sc (Hons) Exeter, PGCE
Mrs J. Seddon (-) BA (Hons) Middlesex, QTS
Mrs A. Sims (8) Cert. Ed. Homerton College
Mrs J. Terrar (13) Cert. Ed., Southlands College Head of Junior School
Mrs V. Twinning (5) MA St. Andrews, MSc, PGCE, PDSL
Mr G. Whitaker (5) Cert. Ed., University of Manchester
Mrs S. Whitaker (4) B.Sc (Hons) PGCE, Edinburgh
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Administrative Staff |
Mrs C. Mitchell (27) Bursar
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Mrs F. Copp (1) Headmaster's PA & Registrar
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Mrs S. Harper (9) School Secretary
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Mrs A. Durning (1) Accounts Manager |
Visiting Teachers |
Mrs L.McLaren Violin
Mr N. Tillyer and Mr D. St James Guitar
Mrs C. Carter Clarinet
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Mr B. Corden Clarinet & Saxophone
Mr D. Robb Saxophone & Clarinet
Mr A. Garratt & Mr D. Hughes Brass
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Mrs D. Kemp,Mr D Darby & Ms I. Tuson Piano
Miss T. Cramp Flute
Mrs D. Ivens Singing
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Mrs F. Gillett Cello
Mr J. Graham and Mr S. Vintner Percussion
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Governors |
Mr A. Middleton Chairman
Mrs F. Balcombe
Mr W. Gibbs |
Mr J. Gilbert
Mr N. Hague
Mr P. Hanscombe |
Mrs A. Hatton
Mr D. Harrod
Mr A. Waddingham |
Mrs J. Watt | |
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Games and activities are an integral part of education at Gayhurst. The chief sports are Rugby, Soccer, Cricket and Athletics and they are time-tabled into the working week. The specialist staff who supervise Physical Education are assisted in the coaching and supervision of outdoor games by many of the teaching staff and some external specialists.
Matches are arranged against other schools at a variety of levels in order to give as many boys as possible a chance to represesnt the school. Some competitive matches begin when the children are at the top of the Junior School. Besides the main sports, Cross-Country, Hockey, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis and Basketball are encouraged as are a multiplicity of other sports and activities. |
Although the main sports are obligatory for the children of this age, one of Gayhurst's key aims is to expose children to as many sports as possible.
There is a thriving house system in the Senior School which is competitive both on the sports field, in the classroom, and in the general running of the school. House Captains are appointed termly to assist in the selection of house teams.
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Both the Junior and Senior School put on productions annually. These are usually major works of theatre involving as many boys as possible.
The use of grease-paint and instant fame can daunt those who do not seek the limelight but all the boys are encouraged to be involved in the production in some way whether it may be with lighting, sound systems, scene-changing, programme design or other support roles. French plays are also performed regularly by the senior boys, whilst public speaking examinations and debating competitions all provide an opportunity for some facets of a boy's charcter to develop. Drama highlights individual flair on the surface but it also demands close teamwork and a high degree of personal discipline. It is pleasing to note that Gayhurst has been particularly successful in this field. |
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