Kent

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks.jpeg" alt="Philippa Lang head Radnor House Prep Sevenoaks" class="wp-image-101968" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks-800x532.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks-1000x665.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Philippa-Lang-Radnor-House-Prep-Sevenoaks-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Philippa Lang (pictured above) took over as Head of <a href="https://www.radnor-sevenoaks.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radnor House Sevenoaks Prep School</a> this January (2024). With an educational background that has seen her take on the role of both Director of Sport and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator before moving into Senior Leadership roles, she has both a focus on physical activity and outdoor education plus a strong passion for pastoral provision.



So what are her plans for the future? Keen to build on Radnor Prep School&#8217;s current successes, here Philippa Lang reveals the 5 key features she aims to enhance during her time at the helm…



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-it-s-a-through-school">1. It&#8217;s a through school</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="920" height="525" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu.jpg" alt="Radnor Prep School Sevenoaks aerial view" class="wp-image-29536" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu.jpg 920w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu-150x86.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu-300x171.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu-768x438.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/Radnor-Prep-slidemenu-720x411.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.radnor-sevenoaks.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radnor House Sevenoaks</a>&nbsp;is an independent school for girls and boys divided into a Nursery, Prep and Senior School on the same site so allowing children to transition through the school all the way from 2 – 18 years old (little ones can start straight after their second birthday). 



Facilities are top notch &#8211; from a 25m indoor swimming pool, sports hall and full indoor fitness suite to a Music block, STEM Building and Performing Arts Theatre &#8211; to name just a few. 



Lang says: &#8216;All children from the Prep benefit from access to the kind of facilities normally only found at a Senior school. For example, as soon as little ones are out of nappies they start swimming weekly and continue to do so throughout their time at the Prep.&#8217;



&#8216;Also, while Radnor House Sevenoaks is non-selective, it is still academically ambitious. When their time in the prep is coming to an end there&#8217;s lots of discussions with parents regarding the best next steps for pupils &#8211; and if your child is a good fit for the 11+ they are certainly supported if they choose to take it.&#8217;



&#8216;Perhaps it&#8217;s no surprise that most children choose to stay on, moving up from the Prep in Year 6 to join the Senior School in Year 7. This year 32 out of 38 pupils moved up to the Senior School from the Prep.&#8217;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-stunning-setting-and-facilities">2. Stunning setting and facilities</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2.jpeg" alt="Radnor House Sevenoaks Nursery Forest School children sitting on logs" class="wp-image-101971" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Sevenoaks-Nursery-Forest-School-2-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The Nursery, Prep and Senior School sit on the same site, but in different buildings with their own identity, reaping the benefits of 30 acres of stunning scenery and all the opportunities this brings for sports and outdoor education.



Children in the Prep enjoy the security of a separate gated building &#8211; the handsome stable block &#8211; and from Nursery to Year 2 they use the Pre-Prep garden, which is their own contained space. 



Lang says: &#8216;Prep School children also head out into the school grounds and make good use of it for Games and play. Whether that&#8217;s skipping along to Beech Walk every day at break and lunchtimes &#8211; where they can play amongst the trees and build dens &#8211; to enjoying Forest School.&#8217;



&#8216;Forest School takes place weekly when a full 90 minutes is timetabled for all children making sure there&#8217;s plenty of time for both structured learning and free play.&#8217;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-the-building-blocks-of-learning">3. The building blocks of learning</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom.jpg" alt="Radnor House Prep School Sevenoaks classroom" class="wp-image-102466" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-classroom-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Being a Prep that&#8217;s part of a through school brings benefits beyond the facilities, grounds and strong community. It also brings access to top quality teaching. This starts with the very youngest children in Pre-school, when they are just 2 years old and specialist teaching starts in Music, Drama, PE, French, Computing, Swimming and Forest School.



Lang says: &#8216;An exciting development here is the new Radnor&nbsp;Archway Curriculum &#8211; a thematic, cross-curricular approach to learning. Active, and experience-based, we make our education more meaningful, and memorable.&#8217;



&#8216;Lessons are not taught in discrete, subject-based, 60-minute slots within a timetable. Instead, learning flows through each day, inside our immersive classrooms &#8211; based around termly themes &#8211; and all 30 acres of woodland and fields in our wonderful grounds.&#8217;



&#8216;The results are palpable: children who love learning, who absorb and remember more, who achieve beyond the expectations of their age, and who can apply an impressive toolkit of skills to any challenge set before them. The habits of mind that will make them sought-after and highly successful leaders of the future, are embedded early-on.&#8217;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-the-family-feel">4. The family feel</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling.jpg" alt="Radnor House Prep School Sevenoaks children smiling" class="wp-image-102464" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-children-smiling-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



A lot of the families here are open-minded, entrepreneurial, London commuters (often all three!) and – with no boarding facilites – local. Parents talk of a lack of pretension and a huge sense of community. A parent herself, Lang has four children and a proven track record for providing an exceptional pastoral provision. 



Lang says: &#8216;The community of the school is highly encouraged. Every week Core Value Awards are given out for those pupils that demonstrate the school&#8217;s chosen values for Excellence, Perseverance, Courage and Respect. The proud winners enjoy a hot chocolate with Arlo the school Wellbeing dog.&#8217;



 &#8216;The family feel of the school is extended beyond the pupils too. Parents are very present and included in the fabric of the school &#8211; from courtyard teas with the Head and Senior Leadership Team to Radnor rambles.&#8217;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-life-long-skills">5. Life Long Skills</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket.jpg" alt="Radnor House Prep School Sevenoaks cricket" class="wp-image-102465" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Radnor-House-Prep-School-Sevenoaks-cricket-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



As well as focusing on the all-important academics, at Radnor there&#8217;s a big emphasis on a character-building education. Today’s students are the next generation of business, political and community leaders. Radnor recognises it&#8217;s their responsibility to shape the way in which children understand, prepare for, and respond to the world’s challenges both now and in the future.



Lang says: &#8216;The modern world poses challenges for our children that we could never have imagined. Advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and global interconnectivity means that human qualities &#8211; personal character, values, leadership, creative and critical thinking skills &#8211; matter more than ever before.&#8217;



&#8216;We aim to equip all pupils with the skills that will allow them to face the future beyond the classroom. We are a Round Square School, part of a group of 250 schools, across 50 countries which provides an international, co-operative network. At Radnor Prep School a wider view of the world is seen as just as important as the basic curriculum.&#8217;



&#8216;Also, although this is a through school, there are many opportunities for pupils at The Prep School to take on leadership roles, so they experience the feeling of being at the top of the school and in important positions of responsibility before transitioning onto the Senior School site.&#8217;



And we aim to build character and confidence with co-curricular and and enrichment opportunities including our incredible performing arts and sports departments. Pupils are encouraged to try everything from our Join in Award Scheme (a bit like a junior kind of Duke of Edinburgh Award) to national chess championships. There are so many opportunities here.&#8217;



GO SEE FOR YOURSELF: Visit the school for their <a href="https://www.radnor-sevenoaks.org/opendays-tours" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prep and Senior Open Morning on Sat 5&nbsp;Oct</a>.



Radnor House School, Combe Bank Dr, Sundridge, Sevenoaks TN14 6AE, Tel: 01959 563720,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.radnor-sevenoaks.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radnor-sevenoaks.org</a>

Talking Heads: Philippa Lang, Radnor House Prep, Sevenoaks

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