The longer I spend in education, the more I value the holistic education that schools like Westbourne House provide. If you consider the word ‘holistic’ alone, a definition would come out something like ‘the parts of something being connected and explained only by reference to the whole’. In medicine, it is the treating of the whole person, taking into account things such as mental factors. So in education, in my view we are not just dealing with children as academic machines producing exam grades, but something a great deal more complex, subtle and delicate - the development of the whole character as a preparation for life.
Westbourne House has an incredibly broad curriculum, with timetabled lessons in drama, music, cooking, resistant materials, art, textiles, ceramics and science in addition to the more traditional subjects. There are a plethora of opportunities in some of these subjects in the co-curricular programme, in addition to a wide range of sporting activities.
You may hear that one of the reasons families choose independent education is the development of confidence in their children. But how does that come about? Some
children are naturally less confident, while others seem to exude it from such an early age.
I would argue that exposure to a wide range of experience helps enormously in the development of confidence and cultivates a ‘can do’ attitude. It is very likely that children
will take on new challenges if they are used to being exposed to them, and of course receive the correct guidance in order to make the best of them.
A further benefit of this approach is that children learn how to fail, but also see other children fail. Schools that place too much emphasis on one particular area tend to find that certain children who are talented in that area of strength are held up as superior beings, which can never be healthy for a community. Of course a very small minority of children seem to be good at many things, but I would wager that many of them are using confidence developed in other areas to pull them along. It is very healthy for children to see that they all have talents, but also weaknesses – a child who is a superstar on the sports field may be far less happy singing a solo or reciting a fantastic poem, and it is
good for other children to see that. It has a levelling effect.
We are very fortunate at Westbourne House to have such wonderful teaching facilities, but also an inspirational staff who enjoy working with the children. Most activities can be
undertaken in school, rather than having to ferry children around wasting hours of time
each week.
Saturday school is not loved by everyone, but the ability for children to spend time in school with their family and school friends altogether is quite unique, and I am certain
only serves to socialise the children positively. If you haven’t tried a Saturday picnic as yet, you must give it a go – meet your children’s friends and their parents – your children will be much happier for it, I am sure. Even then, the day is just beginning – a sporting fixture follows and all the teamwork, camaraderie, winning and losing, sportsmanship, etiquette etc. etc. make for amazing learning experiences. All of which is topped off by tea with your opposition - think of something to say to them, win or lose!
Of course we realise the need for our children to develop academically, but learning about oneself, developing healthy relationships and positive social behaviours, social and
emotional development, resilience and appreciation of culture are all what go to make up a happier more fulfilled human being. These are the types of people that I hope we are developing at Westbourne House.