Papplewick School, Windsor Road, Ascot. www.papplewick.org.uk Registrar, Mrs Rebecca Lindley , on 01344-621488 or registrar@papplewick.org.uk
It was of course disappointing that at the last minute Papplewick boys, like the rest of the nation, are unable to attend school in person, but living with Covid-19 is a grim reality for the time being, and schools have to reflect this whether they like it or not. Hopefully though, with the positive vaccine news, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With many parents’ hearts sinking at the thought of remote learning, at Papplewick parents needn't worry as they are not required! Building on the first experience, it has been remarkably easy to resume the normal rhythm of school life with staff teaching a full timetable of 'live' lessons for all boys from year 2 up to year 8 through Microsoft Teams…and all this delivered across 13 different time zones! With the very simple mantra: "If it is to be, it is up to me", the boys have launched back in to school life with huge enthusiasm and have been delighted to 'meet' with their friends, including ‘boy foreign correspondents’ reporting in from all over the world in whole school assemblies on Teams.
Headmaster Tom Bunbury said "This time, although bitterly disappointing not to see the boys in person, the staff have worked incredibly hard in building on the remote programme delivered last year, and parents can be relieved that the full school day, albeit 'virtual' but including art, music, DT, PE and ICT plus extra curricular activities, requires no input from their side!"
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Papplewick is a day, weekly, and full boarding preparatory school for around 210 boys between the ages of 6 and 13. Situated in 15 acres of land opposite Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, Papplewick has an excellent record for academic achievement and feeds many of the UK’s top independent senior schools including Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, Stowe and Bradfield.
In the last three years the school has maintained its academic record, gaining no less than 38 awards to top independent schools, including three King’s Scholarships to Eton. Through its strong commitment to sports, the school also builds skills of teamwork, sportsmanship and responsibility.
As well as academic, sporting and cultural excellence, Papplewick aims to provide boys with the confidence and security they need to fulfil their potential, and the school strives to promote enthusiasm for life contribution to the community and kindness to others amongst all its pupils.
A report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in 2013 remarks that relationships between pupils and teachers: ‘are an outstanding strength of the school and are seminal in creating the strong sense of a mutually supportive and trusting community.’
Papplewick operates three daily return services from London, from Chiswick and Brook Green, Hammersmith and Ashburn Place, SW7. It also offers a daily run to and from Maidenhead.
(Daily transport services running from Chiswick, Brook Green, Gloucester Rd, and Maidenhead).
