While the coronavirus crisis continues to make face-to-face meetings difficult, parents are invited to explore this academically selective independent day school in north east London ‘virtually’

The team at Forest School has created a series of resources to help guide families through the admissions process, get a feel for what the school is like and help them make that critical decision in choosing the right school for their child.

The content for the virtual Open Day, taking place on Saturday 19 September 2020, is targeting the school’s two key entry points: 4+ and 11+ entry in September 2021.

The virtual Open Day will feature a series of ‘broadcasts’ on the day, all be designed to help families get a sense of what life is really like at Forest. The broadcasts include:

1. The Warden in Conversation with the Head Boy and Head Girl
The Warden (Head) Marcus Cliff Hodges will give a brief introduction to the school, but the main focus of this session is the experiences of the Head Boy and Head Girl at Forest School. Prospective parents and pupils will be able to hear them describe the opportunities that Forest has opened up for them, some of the highlights from their time at the school and the advice they would give new pupils joining the school community.

2. Younger Pupils’ Experiences
Hear members of the leadership team talking to the senior school’s younger pupils on their experience of joining Forest School and how easy they found it to settle in and make friends, as well as the opportunities they have been able to take advantage of in their time at Forest.

3. Admissions and Scholarship Webinars
In addition to the live interactive sessions, there will also be short webinar presentations from the Registrar covering key information on the admissions process, followed by specific presentations from the Director of Sport and the Director of Music on the scholarship process. These presentations will all cover frequently asked questions, but there will be an opportunity for families to ask questions via the live chat function.

4. Introduction to the Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory School
For families interested in 4+ entry, the Head of the Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory Schools will give an overview of what Forest School is like for children joining Reception. They will also talk to Year 6 pupils so parents can hear direct from the children about their experiences at the school.

5. Online Resources
Alongside the live content on the day, a range of online resources will offer more detail on the breadth and depth of opportunities on offer at Forest School, with further content from the wider leadership team on the school’s academic, pastoral and co-curricular provision, plus more insights from pupils themselves.

To find out more and to register for Forest School’s 4+ and 11+ Virtual Admissions Events, see forest.org.uk

More About Forest School

Forest School in Snaresbrook, north east London, opened in 1834 as Forest Proprietary Grammar School. It is an academically selective independent day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 18 years old, with a Senior School, Sixth Form, Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory School on a single site.

Forest School is also the only school in London that is both a coeducational (mixed sex) and single-sex school. Boys and girls are taught together from age 4 in the Pre-Preparatory School, then they are taught separately from ages 7-11 in the Preparatory School and from ages 11-16 in the Senior School, which maximises the benefits of single-sex teaching for children of that age. Students then join coeducational classes in the Sixth Form.

The school provides an outstanding all-round education for 1,430 boys and girls, combining excellent academic teaching with superb pastoral care – thanks to the traditional House structure – and extensive opportunities outside the classroom for pupils to learn and develop in individual ways.

Located on the very edge of Epping Forest in north east London, Forest School is accessible to those both in London and Essex. It’s just 20 minutes from London Liverpool Street on the Central Line and a 25-minute drive from Canary Wharf. A city school surrounded by forest is a rare find indeed.

Thanks to its vast amount of open space, the school also has great sporting facilities. In fact, Forest School’s Sylvestrian Leisure Centre was used as a secret training camp for Team GB in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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