Small house,big ideas

Architect Sophie and civil engineer Sarah certainly brought their work home with them when they took on the tricky extension of their own Victorian end-of-terrace. Making use of every centimetre of space possible, they designed side and rear extensions which...

Performance Power

Eastbourne College and Bede’s School discuss opportunities which give their students time to shine Director of Music at Eastbourne College, Dan Jordan, sings the praises of music at the school. It is 6.30pm, the night before a well-needed half-term holiday....

True Grit

The Granville School talk us through their positive approach to developing resilience As a predominantly girls’ school (we only have boys in our Pre-school), resilience is high on our list of skills to develop in our pupils. Although we’d like...

Meet the Head: Sophie Bradshaw, Head of Dulwich Cranbrook

We get to know Sophie Bradshaw, Head of Dulwich Cranbrook Tell us about the changes at DulwichThis is an extremely exciting time at Dulwich with the opening of our senior school. Our Year 9s are already thriving in their new...

Artistic Achievement

Art is in itself such an abstract topic, so open to interpretation, that teaching it to a high standard can be an art form in itself. So we asked one high-performing local school how it’s done. Taught in their newly...

A Day in the Life

… of a boarder at Millfield Prep – named Independent Schools of the Year Awards’ Prep School of the Year, for proactively teaching about pupils’ mental health Pastoral care and wellbeing is at the heart of Millfield Prep School. Boarding...

Get with The Times

The world is changing apace, so how do our schools equip children for the future? Somerhill tell us about their innovative engineering tuition. Recent experience during the Covid pandemic made it clear how vital scientists and engineers are to our...

Green Shoots

Radnor House Sevenoaks is raising the next generation of eco-heroes Radnor House Sevenoaks, a day school for ages 2-18, is leading the way in environmental education by empowering students to make impactful changes. Already students have planted over 100 trees,...

Sensible Seniors

Joff Powis, Headmaster, tells us how Vinehall’s Year 7s and 8s learn leadership skills In today’s rapidly changing world, leadership has become a pivotal trait. Prep schools are instrumental in shaping young minds, fostering an environment that nurtures and develops...

Planning Ahead

We hear about how Parkside School empowers the next generation of leaders If one was to ask a Parkside pupil about Leadership, they could give you an abundance of situational evidence and skills that are used on a daily basis...

Young Voices

At Hilden Oaks, giving pupils an opportunity to speak and be heard is considered key to growing leadership skills It has long been a tradition at Hilden Oaks Prep to give pupils a ‘voice’ and for them to be heard....

Something to say: Sevenoaks Prep School

We hear all about the advantages of learning languages from Sevenoaks Prep School Sevenoaks Preparatory School incorporates three foreign languages into its curriculum, broadening students’ horizons and aiming to instil a lifelong love for languages. French – the language of...

Something to say: Claremont Senior School

Catherine Mower, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Claremont Senior School, tells us about their international outlook and opportunities At Claremont Senior School, we believe in providing students with enriching experiences that extend beyond the classroom, broadening their horizons, and...

Something to say: TASIS The American School in London

Chantal Gordon, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at TASIS The American School in London, gives us a glimpse into their approach to language education As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of education, language acquisition stands as a cornerstone in preparing...

Reaching out

Kat Portman-Smith, Tonbridge School’s Director of Community Engagement, takes a look at some of the initiatives and partnerships that form part of their students’ all-round education At Tonbridge we ensure our students are connected to the wider world: an important...

How to Revise

Reed’s School is a leading independent school in Cobham, which continues to evolve its approach to teaching, particularly the essential skills needed to learn, retain, and apply information independently. We asked them how it’s done Build a realistic timetable Include...

Cod Puttanesca

Fry the onion in some olive oil until soft, add the diced carrot and finely chopped garlic, and allow to cook down for a few minutes. Then throw in the finely chopped anchovies and chilli flakes. Stir, then pop in...

Chocolate & rum mousse with lemon & rose shortbread hearts

For the mousse: Makes 6 mini cups (but can be doubled easily) Melt the chocolate over a pan of barely simmering water. Beat the eggs whites until stiff, then add the sugar a tablespoon at a time. When the chocolate...

Take your pick!

Sarah Maxwell explores Pick‘n’Mix fitness If you struggle to maintain a regular exercise routine, feel bored with your current fitness schedule, or have a hard time fitting exercise, healthy eating, stress reduction and proper hydration into your busy life, then...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s kale Loaded with important micronutrients and antioxidants, kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available. It is abundant...

Retiring Naturally

Jo Arnell speaks to Pegasus Homes CEO Steve Bangs and floral designer Jonathan Moseley about the wellness benefits of interacting with plants, especially as we age As we age, our need to connect with nature and with plants remains a...

A few of my favourite things…

Sue Whigham chooses a few firm plant favourites that have left a lasting impression A girlfriend and I spent a few days in New York a decade ago. It was rather like being in a film set to be honest...

Joined Up Thinking

Not shy of a serious challenge, Emma and Terry Hazelwood undertook a complicated listed barn conversion, successfully blending old and new to create a stunning family home House renovation, like many other adventures, is not for the faint-hearted, requiring not...

A Place in the Country

A true labour of love, Ian and Penny Ledger have tirelessly renovated their idyllic farmstead in Mayfield to be able share a slice of their beautiful, rural seclusion with groups who hire their multi-award winning retreat venue Tucked away in...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s chia seeds Chia seeds are highly nutritious tiny black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant that make an incredibly versatile...

Don’t Look Backin Anger

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, explains the importance of healthy self-reflection and learning from our past in order to move forward positively 'You’ve never been to Rome? Really?’New year’s resolution: book long weekend in...

Griddled Harissa Chicken

Place all the harissa ingredients in a blender and blitz to a paste. Spread over chicken and leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Heat griddle pan and cook the coated chicken for 5-10 minutes on each side, until chicken is...

Jewelled Salad

Combine salad leaves, sliced oranges and pomegranate seeds in a serving bowl, add dressing and toss together gently. Sprinkle with crumbled feta and walnuts to serve.

Carrot and Ginger Soup

Sauté the onion gently in butter (or oil) for 5 minutes until soft. Transfer to a large saucepan, add all the rest of the ingredients bar the coriander and seasoning, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 20 minutes....

Lettuce Bowl

Slice off the bottom of the lettuce and carefully unwrap it – discard the outer couple of leaves and the central ‘core’, so that you are left with four ‘that are bowl’ shaped. Any leftover bits can be shredded to...

Winter Sparkle

Jo Arnell highlights the seasonal gems primed to light up your garden Not much is actively growing out in the garden – it is the dormant season and our plants are gently ticking over, preparing themselves for the year ahead,...

Honey Fungus the Bogeyman

Sue Whigham shares experience and advice on how to deal with honey fungus We’ve always had a part of the garden where I’d try out interesting shrubs only to find that they turned up their toes after a couple of...

All is Calm

Architect-trained interior designer Hannah Benton’s relocation from London to Deal has opened up lots of new opportunities for her and her young family, including the chance to combine expertise with her interior designer mum, Belinda, to rebrand Evernden Interiors as...

A house, transformed

Following her appearance on Season 4 of Interior Design Masters, Charlotte Fisher’s interior design confidence has rocketed. Here, she guides us round her own home, a complete renovation project that she’s tackled over the past five years with her husband,...

Lamb tagine

Heat some olive oil in a large casserole pan and gently fry the onions until soft. Add the spices and cook for a further couple of minutes. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan and brown the lamb. Add...

Giant cous cous with roasted winter vegetables & pomegranate molasses dressing

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Drizzle some olive oil on two baking trays and brush with a pastry brush. Add the squash slices on one tray and sweet potatoes on the other. Brush with olive oil, season with sea salt and bake for...

Smoked Mackerel Pâté

Remove the skin from the mackerel and check for bones Put in the food processor with all the remaining ingredients (except the lemon zest), add black pepper and whizz to a smooth paste.  To taste: You may want to add...

Spicy smokey sticky party nuts.  

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking sheet with non stick parchment. Mix all the ingredients, except the nuts, in a large bowl to form a sticky syrup. Add in the nuts and coat well with all the sticky...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s root veg Root vegetables are starchy vegetables including sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrot, beetroot and turnips. Low cost and readily available...

’Tis the Season

Jen Stuart-Smith – co-founder of Blooming Green – gets real about truly seasonal flowers “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” people sometimes say, as an excuse to have a daytime tipple… The expression always pops into my mind when I see a...

Communication is Key

Mike Piercy, educational consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, shares advice on how parents can support their children at school Trust is such a fragile thing. It can take an age to build; but a moment to break....

Stalwart Friends

Jo Arnell edits down a selection of her favourite reliable plants to see you through the whole season 'That can’t be your favourite plant, surely?’ People are too polite to say this to me out loud, but they may well...

A house well travelled

Alec and Heidy’s very unusual oast house is a delightful cultural melting pot of styles from all over the world Human resources leader Alec and his Mexican wife Heidy didn’t set out to become interior designers. However, having now renovated...

View Finder

Photographer Mel Smith has combined his work and home requirements to create the ultimate welcoming studio – a homely and stylish space to work from where his creative approach to reuse and recycle takes centre stage It is a rare...

Homemade ricotta with slow roasted pumpkin, sherry, walnut & sage

Serves 6 Prep time: 20 mins, plus resting time For the ricotta: Measure out the lemon juice and vinegar into a bowl and set aside, while you heat the milk, cream, and oregano in a saucepan over a medium heat,...

Rolled pork belly, crushed potatoes, soft herbs, mustard & capers

Ask your butcher to remove bones and score skin for you – a very important step. For the pork: Preheat the oven to 220°C fan assisted, or 230°C if not. Combine the thyme with the salt and black pepper. Massage...

Bay & vanilla panna cotta, roasted quince & crumble

Serves 6 30 minutes prep, plus overnight setting time in the fridge Soak the gelatine in a small bowl of cold water and set aside. In a small to medium sized pan, combine the milk, cream, sugar, bay, and vanilla....