Putney Park School, an independent educational establishment, located in four attractive Edwardian villas in leafy Woodborough Road, exudes a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere as soon as one steps over the threshold.

An assembly on the theme of Remembrance Sunday was just about to start when I arrived last Friday (Nov 9).

About 15 children holding large crepe, handmade poppies recited a peace tribute, including the Laurence Binyon poem For the Fallen They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old' before saying a prayer for the people of Afghanistan.

Headteacher Jane Irving read a letter from the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London complimenting the behaviour and appearance of the pupils on their recent visit.

The school has 370 pupils who come from the immediate area as well as Clapham, Cheam, Richmond and Kensington.

There is an average of 12 pupils to each class, which has both a teacher and teaching assistant.

The school, which started as a kindergarten in 1953 with five pupils, takes both sexes up to 11, but girls can continue to 16 and take GCSEs.

Mrs Irving said: "We are very proud that we can offer individual support and guidance to our students.

"One of the important things is that no child is overlooked. We work as a whole school and older pupils care for the younger ones. They are encouraged to have a responsibility for one another.

"We hope they will leave here as confident, thoughtful individuals, mindful of the needs of others and well-equipped to take their place in the world."

She said every year a group went on a term trip linked up with their study and there was an annual residential trip to the Isle of Wight.

Children come from many countries including Japan, Korea, India, as well as Europe and have extra lessons if their English is poor, learning to speak the language in a few weeks with the help of specialist staff.

Mrs Irving said the school based its timetable on the National Curriculum but exceeded it.

"We choose to work with the National Curriculum as it is a good, basic teaching framework, but create our own curriculum.

"We use specialist teachers from the upper school to teach subjects throughout the school. In the reception class, pupils are taught French, drama, music and PE with science in Year 1 and IT in Year 2."

There is a large range of school clubs, including sports clubs, every day. The school uses facilities at the Bank of England sports field in nearby Priory Lane.

In GCSE exams, 100 per cent of pupils achieved seven or more A* to C grades with 49.5 per cent of results A to A*.

Mrs Irving is proud of the artwork the children produce which adorns the school's walls and there is a dance production with a movie and musical theme this year.

Roxanna Tooti, nine, likes arts and crafts and said: "I made a poppy and enjoy making things like pots and mosaics."

The school's mission statement includes fostering a sense of community and traditional values based on courtesy and mutual respect in an orderly, attractive and stimulating environment'.

Children are entered for external exams at age seven, eight and 11.

Putney Park School offers a limited number of academic scholarships which reduce fees up to 50 per cent.

November 16, 2001 13:30