Education, Courses & Classes

The right school

When looking for the best school for your child, it is important to find out what admissions criteria your chosen school uses.  

Ask for a school prospectus or, for state-funded schools, request an ‘Information for Parents’ booklet produced by your local authority.

Admissions criteria vary from school to school, so check how closely your child meets the criteria. For instance: a faith school may ask for confirmation of attendance at a relevant place of worship; a grammar school may have an entrance exam and an independent school may require an assessment or audition.  

There are many types of schools available including community schools run by the local authority; trust schools where the school forms a charitable trust and parents have a say; specialist schools, which follow the National Curriculum, but focus on a particular subject area, eg sports; community and foundations special schools catering for children with specific special educational needs, which may include physical disabilities or learning difficulties; faith schools where the faith status may be reflected in the religious education curriculum; grammar schools, which select most or all of their pupils based on academic ability and independent schools.  

There are around 2,300 independent schools in England. These fee paying schools set their own curriculum and admissions policies. Just over half have charitable status and all are regularly monitored by Ofsted or an inspectorate approved by the Secretary of State.

The education establishments on this feature would like to help you make the right choice for your child, so please read what they have to say and study their advertisements before making your final decision.

Personal excellence through commitment and service
Poole Grammar School is a unique environment where each individual is valued and can achieve his full potential.

We give boys many opportunities to help them grow into politely self-confident, able young men.  They are equipped for the world of the 21st century where critical thinking, an international perspective, ICT skills, teamwork and independence of thought are essential for success.

Our academic results place us in the premier division of grammar schools and are achieved by hard work, from both our capable and committed staff and from the boys themselves with the support of their parents.

We hope to challenge the brightest boys and instill a love of learning and a respect for scholarship.

This is based upon a well-organised, supportive pastoral system where an open home-school dialogue enables all pupils to make progress and develop self-discipline and good judgement. 

Our watchwords are “personal excellence through commitment and service.”

Scholarship awards more than double
Dumpton School pupils has broken all records this year with the number of scholarships awarded to senior schools.

There have been fifteen awards in each of the past two years, but for September, 2010, the number has risen to an incredible thirty-six.

Canford, Bryanston, Clayesmore, Millfield and Talbot Heath have all featured with some Dumpton pupils winning up to five scholarships.

Headmaster, Andrew Browning, said, “The hard work and quiet ambition of the pupils has been very impressive and we wish them all the best for the next stage of their education.”

Moyles Court School - very successful in meeting its aims and aspirations
With one class per year group and a strong pastoral ethos, Moyles Court is a small school with a big heart.

The atmosphere is purposeful, friendly and warm. This, combined with teachers who are accessible on a daily basis for informal feedback, gives an atmosphere of a vibrant village school, very much in touch with its parents.

The historic buildings combined with modern facilities in the setting of a stunning 14-acre site, all within the New Forest National Park, provide an excellent environment for a child’s education. The average class size is 14. Pupils are expected to work towards at least eight GCSEs with the majority taking more than this (up to 12).

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is being implemented in the Junior School, reflecting the need to prepare children for life in an increasingly connected world. Junior pupils benefit from senior subject specialist teachers in design technology, music, PE, mathematics, humanities and languages (both French and Spanish are offered). Being part of the Early Years Funding Scheme gives access to affordable Nursery provision within a Monday to Friday private school setting.

You can find out more, book a tour of the school and for your child to experience a taster day at Moyles Court by contacting the school office on 01425 472 856 or email info@moylescourt.co.uk

Caring day nursery
Moonacre and Moonbeams Baby Unit in Verwood provides a stimulating, educational, loving and safe environment to enable children to develop naturally at their own pace.

Situated within an acre of grounds, Moonacre gives the opportunity for children to play outside, while both the nursery and the baby unit Moonbeams, offer a homely environment providing high quality full-time or seasonal care for babies and toddlers. Moonacre is open from 8am-6pm, 5 days a week, 51 weeks per year. Telephone 01202 822338 and speak with Rhona, or visit www.moonacredaynursery.com for more information.

Studio One is certainly Dorset’s centre for performing arts!
Studio One provides daily classes in classical ballet, tap, modern/jazz, acrobatic dance, musical theatre and singing for children and adults.
Children are accepted as soon as they can walk, and the ‘Tots & Tiddlers’ groups (Walking - 3 years), held at the Ferndown Royal British Legion, are extremely popular.

Principal Denise Booth established the school in Wimborne in 1981, and in 1997 moved to  specially designed and fully equipped dance studios on Ferndown Industrial Estate.

Denise’s daughter Kate is now senior teacher and choreographer at the school which sees more than 300 students through the door each week.

Students regularly take examinations through the Royal Academy of Dance & the British Theatre Dance Association, and results are excellent – see the website at www.lacombe.co.uk. 

Twelve year old student Susannah Hawker (pictured) recently achieved three Platinum Awards for her intermediate examinations – gaining over 90% each time.

Examination work is balanced with the fun and excitement of annual shows which are produced each spring at the Lighthouse in Poole or the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth.

“We’ve got Style” will be their 30th anniversary production at the Lighthouse from 23-26 February 2011. Tickets are £12 from the school.

The future for local dance students is certainly in good hands – and feet!