Exclusive interview with Ms Sally Hancock, Principal of Highgate Pre-Prep School
Introduction
It was with the greatest pleasure that we interviewed Ms Sally Hancock, principle of Highgate Pre-Prep School on the 15th Of May 2023. Her warm, kind and gentle personality when you first meet her, belies the fiery passion and drive that shines through when she begins to speak about what is important to her in terms of educating the little people who pass through the pre prep. I sat with Ms Hancock for almost and hour and it would be an understatement to say that I was blown away. Not just by her enthusiasm and clear vision for the school, but also by the very honest commitment to doing her best for her charges. A topic that lit up her eyes and brightened her face when she spoke.
Delving into her past, Ms Hancock mentioned the wonderfully named, Mrs Winnypenny, the teacher who inspired her to always think about the bigger picture, the wider world and how to (safely) give as much exposure to little children as their little minds could muster. Growing up in York, Ms Hancock laughed at her youthful gamut of ideas, saying that she came back to teaching because having explored several avenues, she was faced with the realisation that this, was the most impactful job. The expression on her face was a clue to how much it meant to her when she spoke of the “joy you feel when you see a child progress”
She spoke at length about instilling the right attitude in a child, about restorative justice, the joy you get when you do something for someone else without comment or expectation. She spoke of the importance of empathy, of compassion, of thinking about how you may make another feel, all life lessons that in today’s somewhat insular, inward looking society are well suited to making sure the next generations (or at least those coming out of Highgate) are an the right path and are not just concerned with achieving personal or academic successes but are also growing up with a conscience. The enthusiasm with which the Pre-prep had launched into the Refugee project run by the school she said, warmed her heart. She was proud that the children were beginning to understand how doing things for others could bring happiness into your own heart. She spoke of how the school handles the daily friendship issues that children are often faced with. Again, the main lesson being imparted to the children at the Pre-Prep was the importance of looking outwards. She spoke of how valuable those early conversations about what is acceptable, what is right, how you may make someone else feel, are, in shaping a child’s mindset.
When asked why she chose Highgate, she talked about the fact that what had struck her most about the school was that it was adopting a child centric, age appropriate approach. She said that working as a deputy at the school helped her realise that this was a school that did not stifle the innate curiosity of a child and as such, she herself is firmly committed to giving children a voice. She talked about how much the approach to education at Highgate, its values and ethos had resonated with her. It was important, she said, that children learn from a young age that learning does not stop at exam learning geared solely towards exam success, but that most important, is in fact, learning for their own benefit.
The children at the Pre- Prep have weekly forest school lessons but as Ms Hancock, pointed out, their actual learning about sustainability and bio diversity is not limited to one weekly lesson but instead incorporated into the curriculum. She spoke fondly of the idea of having a pond at the Pre-Prep and mentioned that this was currently being explored mainly because it had in fact been suggested by the children themselves. There have been massive changes to the Curriculum made solely with the children in mind. She wanted all those fortunate enough to pass through the Pre-Prep and in her care, to be able to accept both change and failure, to understand that their voice is important too and to be unafraid in expressing themselves. Her aim in short, was to empower children to do what is right and grow up to be people who take pride in doing the right thing.
A recent convert to long distance running (though you wouldn’t think it looking at the sheer number of medals hung together), she has applied this love of marathons to her educational philosophy. In line with the Junior School and the Senior School she is all for relieving pressure but still ensuring that when it matters, children are motivated to do what is needed. Imbuing children with a love of learning is her most important adage. “We are lucky we don’t have SATs, and are not subject to the pressures of OFSTED”, she said. It helps us operate a much broader and deeper curriculum and expose the children to music, art, drama, computing and all the creative subjects that get equal importance. It is an approach that is clearly working throughout the school and is given credence by the excellent results this year. She was clear that she subscribed to the philosophy that the children being so young it is better to give them as much exposure and open them up to as many experiences as possible so that they can then decide later on, what they would like to specialise in. She also said that a great deal of importance is placed on outdoor learning as this is not only healthier but also helps maintain positive mental health in children.
There is no doubt that Ms Hancock is a firm advocate for the children. She has (or so it feels) effectively taken all that is valued as good across generations and has inculcated it as part of childhood learning, with values like empathy, politeness, kindness and respect for others and for oneself being as important as are the current trends of giving children a voice and instilling in them, a social conscience so that they are aware of the world around them, they care about each other and the environment we live in and that they are well balanced, well rounded young people with much to offer.
She has publicly stated many a time about the magical experiences and the complete enjoyment she herself gets, by participating with the children in their many activities. She is committed and involved and nothing is more important to her, than the wellbeing of the children in her care. She and her very able staff have created a space where education is at its finest and everything that is important, truly important in life is being taught in the best way possible. How popular the school is as a result of this, is evidenced by the ever growing waiting lists at all entry points and particularly at reception. For those, fortunate enough to have entered its gates, there promises an educational journey that will inspire, excite and above all, teach, not just to succeed within traditional academic boundaries, but also to succeed in having cultivated the right mind set and attitudes both towards others and for themselves.
Question
Being fairly new to the position of head of pre-prep, what is your vision for the pre-prep? What changes if any would you make?
Answer
I feel incredibly proud and privileged to be the Principal of Highgate Pre-Prep and plan to build on the solid foundations which are already in place. This includes providing a nurturing and stimulating environment that fosters a love of learning in our pupils. The Pre-Prep recently moved to a project-based approach to learning, and I plan to develop this further by embedding an exploratory, child-centred curriculum which has sustainability, diversity and inclusion at its core.
Whilst academic excellence is a key part of what we do at the Pre-Prep, I believe that it is equally important for us to foster a sense of community and social responsibility in our young pupils. As such, I hope to instil in the children the values of kindness, empathy, and respect, and encourage them to become active and engaged members of their local community.
I think that it’s also important to state that I don’t see any of this happening in isolation at the Pre-Prep, it’s important to recognise that parental involvement is crucial to the success of our children, and I am working to build strong partnerships with parents, ensuring that they are well-informed and involved in their child’s education. With these principles guiding our work, I believe we can create an environment that supports every child in reaching their full potential and lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Question
Are there any short- or long-term changes you’d like to see implemented at the pre- prep? What are the unique selling points of the pre-prep at Highgate?
Answer
I think one of the key areas of development, as briefly touched upon in the previous question, is my vision of the Pre-Prep as a place where children are empowered to become positive agents of change. By engaging in projects that give them a voice and allow them to identify and address real-world issues, we can help them develop a sense of agency and social responsibility. This will not only benefit the children themselves but also contributes to creating a more just and sustainable world. As such, we are developing a curriculum which ensures that all children are involved in initiatives that encourage them to think critically, collaborate, and take meaningful action on issues that matter to them.
Question
What is a typical day like in Reception at Highgate?
Answer
I’m not sure there is a typical day as we have an incredibly full curriculum which gives children a fantastic wealth of experiences. Over the course of the week children will have daily phonics, Maths and English sessions. Teacher led sessions usually involve the whole class gathering for a short time, during which the teacher will do some direct instruction and address any misconceptions which may be present. Following the teacher input, children will have time to explore the classroom activities and provision available or be directed to complete specific tasks with an adult or independently. Activities in the classroom are always carefully planned to ensure they are purposeful and embrace children’s natural curiosity.
Quesiton
Some parents regularly look at school league tables, inspection reports or online parent’s forum/chats to find out what the best school options for their children are. What should parents look for when they are selecting nurseries and how much importance do you feel parents attach to nurseries that are recognised feeders to schools like Highgate?
Answer
It’s essential that parents choose a nursery that aligns with their own values and beliefs and that suits their child. What works for one child may not necessarily be right for another. Visit the nursery and get a feel for it, talk to other parents and staff.
When it comes to league tables, I’m not sure they’re particularly helpful. There is much more to education than academics, and league tables don’t tell the whole story. Ultimately, your child’s happiness should always come first, so choose a nursery or school where you envisage that being the case.
Question
What ‘type’ of children do you look for when you have the chance to meet them? Which character traits would be the right fit for the school? How significant is a child’s personality when compared to academic ability/potential, sibling policies (if any) and birth date, when offering places?
Answer
Our 4+ assessment is very much based on characteristics of learning rather than academic attainment at this age. We’re looking for children who will thrive in our Pre-Prep setting which is built on exploration. As such, we are looking for children who demonstrate curiosity and who are excited about the world around them. We’re careful to give all the children who visit us an opportunity to shine, including those who might be naturally more introverted.
We don’t have a sibling policy at Highgate; however, we do give all siblings an opportunity at both rounds of the assessment. Places are offered based on the results of the assessments.
Question
Highgate have a specific window in order for parents to apply to be considered for an assessment. Are there any options for late applications if parents miss this window?
Answer
Our applications process is an online form via our website – we usually open this up in mid-September and parents/carers have two weeks to apply. Our 2024 entry is now open until 12 noon on Friday 29 September. We also have an Open Morning in September but this has limited capacity and usually gets filled very quickly. We would advise anyone thinking of finding out more about the school to visit our website (highgateschool.org.uk) and register their interest to receive our regular email updates, these inform parents when dates are coming up for open days and applications. Due to the number of applications we receive and the logistics of scheduling assessments, we are unable to accept late applications after the deadline.
Question
The 4+ assessments at Highgate are considered gentle compared to those at most North London prep schools and schools that go all the way. Is this intentional? How likely is it to change given that the change in entry from 3+ to 4+ is now more established?
Answer
We continually review our assessment processes and make adjustments every year. As previously mentioned, we are looking for children who will thrive at the Pre-Prep. There shouldn’t be any need to academically prep children at this young age for an assessment. We are looking for children who are keen and ready to learn; it’s our job to teach the children once they arrive.
Question
Once new building is completed (maybe take this out as building is finished) Is there a likelihood of the pre-prep expanding even more? How many classes do you currently have and how many children are in each class?
Answer
The recent building extension has provided us with three additional classrooms and a wonderful new library. From September 2023, we will have expanded to our full capacity, with three classes in each year group, from Reception to Year 2, with 20 children in each class. There are no current plans to expand further.
Question
How does the pre-prep manage the curriculum to ensure that all children going through the pre-prep reach the required standard when entering the Junior school especially as there will be an external contingent who will have prepared extensively to sit the 7+ and gain entry into Year 3?
Answer
We recognise the importance of ensuring that all children in the Pre-Prep reach the required standard when entering the Junior School. We have established a collaborative approach between the Pre-Prep and Junior School, working closely to ensure a seamless transition for all pupils.
We have developed a comprehensive curriculum that is carefully designed to equip children with the necessary skills and knowledge they need to succeed academically and socially. We provide a wide range of learning opportunities that cater to different learning styles and abilities. Our experienced teachers are committed to ensuring that every child is given the support and guidance they need to reach their full potential.
To further support our students, we regularly assess their progress to ensure that they are meeting the required standard for their age group. If we identify any areas where a child may need additional support, we work closely with parents to develop strategies to address these areas of concern.
Question
What does the Pre-prep offer in terms of community initiatives if any and how are the children taught about the world around them?
Answer
Currently, staff members support at local schools and libraries, but I am keen for the children to be involved in community action too. Crucially, I want community initiatives to be embedded within our curriculum rather than as add-ons. So far, this has included Reception children having regular visits to a local care home and our Year 2 children did a project on refugees which culminated in them making care packages for new arrivals in the area which they delivered – it was an incredibly impactful and meaningful project for all involved. We plan to expand and develop our community projects further in the coming years.
Question
What specific extra-curricular activities are on offer for the children in the pre-prep?
Answer
Our extra-curricular provision is reviewed and updated regularly according to demand. Currently we offer a number of before and after school clubs including chess, karate, teddy tennis, multi-sport, and Spanish. School staff also run a selection of lunchtime clubs according to their passions and the children’s interests, these have included Lego, coding, science, litter picking, and choir amongst others.
Question
How much outdoor activities are the children involved in and are these activities seasonal?
Answer
At Highgate we value outdoor education and recognise the benefits it brings to young learners. The school boasts exceptional outdoor spaces, including a purpose-built outdoor classroom area which allows for a wide range of activities. All of our pupils have the opportunity to participate in a weekly Forest School lesson for half a term every term. These lessons take place in all weathers (except for strong winds and lightning) to provide children with a full seasonal experience in the forest.
In addition, class teachers utilise the outdoor spaces for various lessons. These activities are designed to be both engaging and educational. For example, Reception children have recently been on a bear hunt in the forest, Year 1 have been exploring the habitats around the school grounds, and Year 2 have been conducting wildlife surveys.
Conclusion
Having had the privilege of being one of the first visitors to the brand new Pre-Prep building, I ventured up the beautiful winding stairs but spacious stairs to the top to take in the truly breathtaking views across the fields. There seems to be a nautical theme which is complimented by the porthole windows along the walls of the new towering building. Complete with a wet day play area, the playgrounds on three levels spread covering an enviable area and houses every possible piece of equipment to engage minds and bodies from climbing frames to carved snakes and ladders, play houses, trains, water play, sand play and most other things you could imagine. The children are incredibly well behaved and excited shouts of what they did do are interspersed with exclamations that “we didn’t have to do any work..it is so cool” which ofcourse bears witness to the statement made by teachers that “children are learning without realising they are learning”. The classrooms are very well equipped and spread out with each having an enormous amount of light streaming through. Work adorns every wall and it easy to see the pride in both teachers and children as they show their work. The new See-Saw app gives parents an insight into what is going on in the classroom and the fact that children can control and sometimes take pictures of and upload their own work which gives them the motivation and confidence to strive to do better each day.
All in all, Highgate Pre-Prep is a warm, nurturing and caring place, where all the teachers are perfectly in tune with the principle and seem to work seamlessly in making sure that all who go through the pre prep are well prepared, well balanced, well cared for youngsters who are academically sound, confident and above all kind. It is little wonder that it is possibly the most heavily over subscribed school in the area.
