We are delighted to report an outstanding 99% pass rate at Common Entrance (CE) from the year group as well as some notable individual achievements for best performance in the exam such as chemistry, geography and Latin prizes at Rugby and Cheltenham and a starred CE pass to Eton. In addition, an outstanding list of 38 scholarships and awards to senior schools was won by the leaving boys and girls. Among the long list of academic, all

rounder, classics, art, music and sports exhibitions and scholarships, Dragon pupils achieved the 2nd and 5th Eton Scholarships this year.

The diverse accolades awarded at Prize Giving in July also demonstrated the ability and individuality of the Dragon’s Year 8. The Dragon Awards, which recognise a breadth of interests, achievements and responsibilities across the school and service to the wider community, are a particular

feature of life in the Upper School. Pupils had responded energetically to this scheme over the last two years and 55 children received the Gold Award this summer. The Headmaster’s Prizes for year-round effort and Form Prizes for endeavour and good example given to Years 7 and 8 further underlined the success of the school’s wish for every pupil to try his or her best and to learn to set a good example to younger Dragons.

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Dragons TO D AY

Leavers Leap Ahead

“It is a pleasure to congratulate the leavers on some outstanding results: they have all passed successfully into some thirty different schools. Their significant number of awards and scholarships is also a real testament to the hard work put in by them and their teachers – I am delighted for everyone concerned.” JohnBaugh,Headmaster

Summer 2010 saw exemplary performances from Year 8 in their final year at the Dragon.

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Busy Dragons

WelcomeDragons Today contains news and views from the Dragon School in Oxford. We hope you will be interested to read about recent achievements, sporting success and life inside and outside the classroom. The school welcomes enquiries and visits - details of forthcoming events and contact information are given on the back cover of this newsletter.

Going GreekIn line with Dragon tradition, Year 6 performed the annual Greek plays in the Forum in the Easter term. Written by members of the Dragon Classics department the plays are designed to include every member of the year group. The Trojan War and Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, rendered with customary skill and suitably accessorised with swords and sandals, were met with general acclaim. Later in the summer, Year 4 also went Greek with their traditional outdoor performance of some well-known and much loved Greek myths. Each form presented a different story using the same costumes, props and wigs to great humorous effect.

London CricketersIn June the Dragon was pleased to welcome players from Primrose Hill Cricket Club to play the U8s, 9s and 10s on our fields. A summer barbeque by the river for children and parents was followed by an excellent sporting afternoon. The U10s came in for a shock when they realised that the opposition’s star player was a girl – she plundered 92 out of Primrose Hill’s total of 164 for 6 before the exciting match closed in a draw.

Maths? No ProblemThis spring, 80 pupils from the Dragon’s Years 7 and 8 entered the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge which is aimed at pupils up to Year 11. The top 40% nationally qualify for certificates – and the Dragon did extremely well. Bearing in mind that most of the opposition were significantly older children, we are especially pleased to relate that: 18 Dragons won bronze certificates, 6 won silver (putting them in the top 20% in the country) and 8 won gold. Only 7% of all the children who entered won the top certificate, so this is particularly impressive for pupils in Years 7 and 8.

All Out for a Good CauseProving it is never too early to learn about philanthropy, the children of the Dragon Pre-prep Lynams threw themselves into a run for Sport Relief in the spring. After limbering up they walked or ran a mile with their teachers who set the pace but were passed by many of the young pupils.

At Bardwell Road, the philanthropy phase of the annual Governors’ Challenge saw a ‘market’ day of frenetic trading in April. Year 7 were invited to ‘grow’ seed money of £2 with enterprising ideas and did so in the shape of 44 stalls of ingenious offers to tempt other Dragons. Charities selected by the children benefitted from all the profits.

The traditional Summer Fayre followed in June when the boarders threw themselves into a host of fun activities for 20p, including the obligatory ‘wellie wanging’. As is also

traditional the weather was perfect and a satisfying sum went to Water Aid.

Philanthropy in the classroom included a special visit from the Big Give who came to the school to hear pitches from Dragons on behalf of causes discovered through the charity’s innovative website. The Year 8 pupils had conducted in-depth reviews of the operations and finances of 54 charities before 9 projects were chosen for presentation. With the help of a generous sponsor, the pupils were able to give donations to their chosen charities, competing for the largest amount to go to the overall winner. The representatives of the Big Give were impressed by the quality of the children’s arguments and having developed this template with the Dragon will be using it in other schools to promote philanthropy and teach intelligent giving.

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Busy Dragons

Fair ExchangesSummer saw the ‘home’ leg of the Dragon’s regular overseas exchange programmes. In the spring, 31 Year 6 pupils had taken the Eurostar to Paris for a visit to Ecole Lully in Versailles. As well as experiencing French family life, the children had the chance to perform at the Conservatoire. The Dragons sang in French to a highly appreciative and discerning local audience. The French party came to Oxford in June to share the activities of Year 6 French Day including croissant making and petanque (naturellement). The highlight of the visit was an extravaganza of song, dance and instrumental music by the Ecole Lully with the Dragon musicians and singers. A happy exchange concluded with punting on the Cherwell with the aid of the Messieurs of both schools. The Dragon also welcomed teachers and pupils from both Keio Yochisha Elementary School in Tokyo and St Bernard’s School in New York to stay with Dragon families and enjoy activities at school. Look out for reports of Dragon adventures in Japan and Manhattan in the next issue of Dragons Today.

In July the Dragon hosted, and competed in, the Mercia Area Athletics Qualifiers at nearby Radley College (see front page picture). With 29 schools participating the standard was very high. Dragon athletes performed extremely well: ten qualified for twelve different events at the National finals and a new school and meeting record was set by a Dragon girl in the U14 Long Jump. (For more Dragon sport, see page 8).

Dragon Record Athletes

Steve Biddulph, renowned Australian psychologist and writer of parenting books including The Secret of Happy Children and Raising Boys, came to speak to Dragon parents as part of a UK tour of just five dates. An influential thinker on childhood and the development of boys in particular, Steve was warmly welcomed to the school. He spoke informally about the history of parenting boys and the unique importance of good male role models to help them mature into men. He argued that an industrialised and feminised modern world has brought about a significant shift in time-honoured male development patterns. His straightforward advice, put across with great humour, was striking and practical. Asserting that the attention and input of fathers is far more valuable to boys than any material gift, he concluded by saying that “time and love are the same”.

Bees!In late spring the bees for the new beekeeping activity arrived on site. They made themselves at home in two hives constructed by the Dragon’s Year 7 aspirant bee keepers. Under the experienced guidance of staff members, the children have already learnt a great deal about the complex and mysterious art of bee husbandry. By the summer the first nectar had been harvested and made into delicious honey.

Fathers and Sons

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4 I s s u e N O . 2

Headmaster John Baugh considers the role of the Dragon in equipping pupils with transferable skills for lifelong learning – to fit them for rapid change and a future we cannot predict.

Conventional training for jobs is insufficient when careers now rarely follow a set course. Equipping young people with transferable skills, particularly a life-long learning habit and an ability to work collaboratively, will be critical to their future happiness and prosperity. Our challenge is to focus on learning processes and on joining up the different subjects on the curriculum. This in turn places a premium on thinking skills, on which the pursuit of deep learning depends.

Dragon skillsThe Dragon’s curriculum and teaching

are designed so that children discover how to learn as well as what to learn. We help them develop learning strategies, thinking and communication techniques, and personal skills. Nurturing enquiry, building the confidence to question and debate, and encouraging children to work collaboratively lie at the core of this approach. In short, we aim to give Dragon pupils the expertise to learn throughout their lives – to take advantage of every opportunity life presents and to adapt positively to new circumstances.

What does this mean in practical terms at the Dragon? First, a rich and varied curriculum which naturally incorporates thinking skills: e.g. Logic - Maths and Latin; Problem Solving - Design Technology and Science; Conceptual Thinking - History and Geography. Second, we increasingly offer stand-alone modules of ‘enrichment’ such as: Learning Strategies e.g. Revision, Memory, Enquiry and Organisational Skills, Time Management; Thinking Skills e.g. Sorting, Analysing, Evaluating, Brainstorming, Critical Thinking, Concept (Mind) Mapping, Logical Reasoning; Reading and Writing Skills e.g. Essay Writing and Note Taking; Reading for Understanding and Speed Reading; Personal Skills e.g. Presentation Skills, Collaborative Skills, ICT Skills and Personal Welfare.

Varied and creative teaching methods allow staff to adopt individual approaches to every child’s learning style; a repertoire of visual, aural and practical methods is used to help different types of learners. As one of my colleagues expressed it to me: “We’re clear that lessons must be about learning, not teaching. As a teacher, if a lesson is focused on learning, then how and whether your pupils are learning will be at the forefront of your thinking. If a lesson is focused on teaching, a lesson can too easily be about you, the teacher.”

Preparing the Class of 2020

What do the following three events of the 21st century have in common? An Icelandic volcano erupts, closes UK airspace and disrupts travel all around the world for weeks on end. Banks’ lending on doubtful debt brings the economies of whole countries to their knees and triggers global recession. An earthquake in Haiti causes massive destruction to one of the poorest countries on earth – and within hours the news is around the globe and millions in aid start to pour in.

One answer is that they are unprecedented in scale and unpredictability. Globalisation means that the worldwide effect of local events can be fast and widespread as economies interlink and communication is instant. The 21st century is giving us a lot to think about – from pandemics to iPads.

Deep learningWhat has this to do with education? Well,

we cannot predict the future, but we can help prepare children for it. I am reliably informed that it is estimated that a week’s worth of The Times today contains more information than an educated person was likely to come across in a whole lifetime in the 18th century. It is estimated that more unique,

new information will be generated worldwide this year than the whole of the last 5,000 years and that the amount of new technical information is doubling every two years. (By 2012 it is expected to double every 72 hours.) For students starting a three-year university degree, this means that half of what they learn in their first year will be outdated by the end

of their studies; many of today’s degree courses didn’t exist 10 years ago (New Media, Organic Agriculture, e-Business, Nanotechnology). What will students study in ten years’ time? We can barely imagine the world of 2020 into which today’s Year 3 children will emerge as adults – but it is our job to equip them to cope and to flourish.

I am reliably informed that it is estimated that a week’s worth of The Times today contains more information than an educated person was likely to come across in a whole lifetime in the 18th century.

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Head Dragon

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Preparing the Class of 2020

The Dragon launched a series of ‘spend to save’ environmental initiatives following a Carbon Trust survey in 2005. Things really gathered pace however after the school joined the Government’s Eco-Schools programme in January 2009 and the children became involved in recycling, energy saving and re-use policies across the school. As a result, the Dragon was awarded the prestigious Green Flag award for environmental excellence this year. Of 14,508 registered Eco-Schools, only 1,194 have achieved this.

Initiatives such as push and sensor taps, thermostats on radiators and energy-efficient hand-driers were fast-tracked at the suggestion of Dragons, who can be diligent when it comes to turning off lights (teaching staff a lesson or two).

Occupancy sensors – which switch off lights if they detect no movement after a while – are being introduced, with more efficient fluorescent lighting. Loft insulation has been installed or upgraded, urinals are being replaced with waterless versions, and windows are double-glazed (where planning restrictions allow).

High-tech sustainability solutions such as voltage optimisers ensure electricity use is volt-perfect. A building management system that is controlled by Dragon Estates Manager Steve Poyntz and his staff from their desks is also part of the solution. Steve works closely with Kate Heath, science teacher and house parent, who leads the children in eco-initiatives.

Back in 2005, the Dragon sent virtually all waste (except paper) to landfill. The school now recycles paper and magazines, glass, cardboard and green waste. Where possible, surplus furniture and other items such as learning materials go to charity.

Greener Dragon

Food waste that once went to landfill now feeds an off-site anaerobic generator that turns it into power for the National Grid.

In addition to financial savings currently running at £75,000 a year, which help to keep fees down, these initiatives are keeping the Dragon at the forefront of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and enable longer-term sustainability.

In autumn 2010 Dragon pupils will host a second annual eco-conference. Following a keynote speech from a prominent eco-campaigner, pupils and staff from 20 partner schools will pool ideas and expertise to save energy and further improve sustainability.

What colour is the future? Ask Dragons, and they’ll tell you: green. They are leading the drive to make the school more eco-friendly, with children and staff working hard to put a green vision into practice. This year has seen some significant achievements and real savings as a result.

Beyond the classroomWe are also clear that learning extends

well beyond the usual curriculum subjects. I will give three examples – although there are many more. Learning about philanthropy and social responsibility, a thread which runs throughout the Dragon, challenges children to understand the world beyond the school gates and to begin to recognise their responsibilities to those less fortunate than themselves. Practical involvement in enterprises such as ‘Make a Difference Day’ and the ‘Big Give’, teaches children the

Cutting Down and saving ££Saving water and reducing energy use to cut CO2 emissions have in particular been key to the Dragon’s green success.

Since 2006 the school has cut:

• water consumption down by 18%

• CO2 emissions from using gas down by 28%

• CO2 emissions from using electricity down by 11%

We aim to give Dragon pupils the expertise to learn throughout their lives – to take advantage of every opportunity life presents and to adapt positively to new circumstances.

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“essential lessons of weighing up competing causes, questioning methodology and anticipating outcomes. We also encourage children to take a leadership role in the school’s sustainability and environmental programme (evidenced by the recent award of the Eco Schools Green Flag status) and we work hard at developing the child’s EQ (Emotional Quotient) through structured use of Circle Time and the Family Links Programme.

The result is a school where children love to learn. It was, after all, in the words of my famous predecessor ‘Skipper’ Lynam, always the aim of the Dragon to give children “full scope for all of imagination and originality” that is in them. I heartily believe this is what we do as I see young Dragons emerge as imaginative, compassionate and intelligent young people, fit to be the leaders of tomorrow.

So who knows? Next time volcanic ash looms, it may be a (not so very) Old Dragon who assesses the risks. When economic meltdown threatens, Old Dragons may find a better answer than quantitative easing. Even natural calamities may be alleviated by ODs of tomorrow who are equipped not only to give intelligently but to work out how to avert disaster in the first place. I hope so.

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Green Dragons

Music Matters

Dragon Director of Music, John Madden, sums up why music is such an important element of the curriculum and of Dragon life.

Dragon musicians rounded off a busy musical summer with a trip to Germany where the Concert Band, Big Band and Dragonetti Strings gave four concerts in the Moselle region.

As well as this energetic tour, the spring and summer saw a cornucopia of concerts, trips and other musical events: a wind, brass and percussion workshop day at Eton, a choir trip to Lisbon, a string workshop at the school with Tasmin Little and the appearance of the Dragon Big Band in the final of the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Sir Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham were just some of the highlights. There were also the regular delights such as the small-scale Informal Concerts and the flagship School Concerts featuring the main ensembles. The season ended with our annual appearance at Oxford’s Jaqueline du Pré Music Building in an evening showcasing the very best of Dragon musicians.

These public and whole school performances are just part of the music story at the Dragon. John Madden, a composer and keyboard specialist, heads a strong team who run a lively and diverse music programme for all the children. He gave Dragons Today some thoughts on why music matters.

Making Moselle music

Musical Dragons

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and activities at all stages of the school, from Year 2 upwards, and lots of children choose to take part.

Music is also so important to Dragon drama, from incidental music and songs for straight plays to full blown musicals, such as Guys & Dolls or even Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten. The Pirates of Penzance this spring was a wonderful experience with children singing and acting to such effect accompanied by a staff orchestra. I am also struck that many of the same children, at one minute donning Victorian costumes and taking on Gilbert and Sullivan, will the next be performing in a jazz band or recording their own rock tracks in our studio.

In making music a natural part of every Dragon’s life, we achieve a great deal, not just musically, but socially and in the development of so many transferable skills, both practical and intellectual. An important part of the so called ‘best days of your life’, but an important foundation too for a life-long love and interest; that’s where the long-term value of music teaching lies.”

“Making music is normal – it’s what children do! Given the opportunity to make music, they grasp it with both hands. The potent combination of sparky teachers and serious intent inspires them. Music isn’t easy – the best things aren’t – and the level of commitment from pupils and their parents is humbling.

One really important thing is that music at the Dragon doesn’t have to compete with other subjects, it is squarely in the timetable, with protected time for ensembles within the Activities programme. From Reception Music & Movement classes to preparation for music scholarships at senior school, music is part of the mainstream. It is also a big thing: including all our instrumental specialists, the department is 50-strong and we deliver over 600 individual music lessons a week as well as classroom music for every child in the school.

Music really is an essential part of Dragon life. It parallels our approach to sport with a huge active programme involving every child and ability. I think we can say we nurture the elite without being elitist! It is music learning that is both aspirational and inspirational. Everyone can learn an instrument, play in an ensemble and sing in a choir without having to choose between those options; they can try things, play for pleasure or pursue it to the highest levels. All the traditional instruments are on offer as well as those more unusual for prep schools, such as the harp, bagpipes, organ and drums. The department has scores of first class starter instruments, so everyone can make a good noise from the very first lesson. With the right tools children really can do extraordinary things and don’t even realise they are difficult. Our aim is to involve every child who shows interest from the earliest age. And they are very keen - this year of the 66 pupils in Year 3, 59 play an instrument. There are music clubs

Scenes from The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan performed at the Dragon in March 2010

I am also struck that many of the same children, at one minute donning Victorian costumes and taking on Gilbert and Sullivan, will the next be performing in a jazz band or recording their own rock tracks in our studio

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Musical Dragons

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Summer Sports Roundup

U13A team setting the example by losing just once. On the tennis courts, too, the girls were busier than ever: of thirty-eight separate matches played by various teams twenty-four were won and a particular highlight was the Dragon U12 1st pair winning the Malvern College U13 Tournament. Head of Boys’ Tennis Rob Overend selected as many boys as possible for the opportunities open to them and some superb matches were played. The 1st VI lost just once, to older players at Abingdon Senior School. One Dragon boy also represented Oxfordshire at the Boodles National Tournament and in the County Cup.

Athletics saw more victories. The boys won the Caldicott Trophy for the 4th year running; at Stowe’s inaugural meeting for prep schools the squad came home with four trophies; Years 7 and 8 added to the haul at Farleigh and, together with the girls, the entire squad won the Pinewood meeting for

the first time. The girls were narrowly beaten at various meetings but provided one star of the circuit who broke two more school records, taking her tally to fourteen, jumping 1.50m in the high jump and 4.90m in the long jump. The last of these she achieved whilst winning a gold medal at the National Finals. It should also be noted that the U10 boys’ 4x100m relay squad finally bettered a Dragon record that had stood unbroken since 1969!

In the last issue of Dragons Today we noted the Dragon’s growing swimming success and are pleased to report that thirty-three swimmers qualified for the National IAPS Finals in May. The U10 Boys Medley Relay squad achieved bronze, the U13 Girls Freestyle and Medley Relay squads won silver medals and a Dragon girl won silver in the U12 25m Butterfly. Overall, the girls’ came 7th in the IAPS rankings, the entire squad 11th (or 8th amongst the co-ed schools).

It is not only in the major team sports that summer saw success. In judo three bronze and two silver medals were won at the IAPS finals in High Wycombe. In fencing a Dragon came 15th in the English Youth Fencing Championships.

Cricket continues to grow: the summer’s 119 matches represented an increase particularly for those at the lower end of the school. The tally of 66% won, 18% drawn and only 16% lost indicates the very positive cricket the Dragon plays. The Snapdragons, 1 Game, Colts C and 3 Game sides all had 100% winning records whilst the 2nd XI, Colts A and Colts B sides lost just once each. The 1st XI won seven and drew four from fourteen matches - and across the school there were 32 half-centuries in total.

At county level six Dragons were selected for Oxfordshire’ s U11, 12 and 13 summer cricket squads and one for the Middlesex U11. There were also 18 boys playing district cricket (one level below county) nine of whom turned out for North Oxfordshire and became champions.

Summer also brings the rounders season for the girls. Forty-two of the seventy-nine matches the girls played were won with the

With Sports Day on July 10 an impressive sporting year came to a close. In all, a record 847 matches had been played in rugby, football, hockey, cricket, netball, rounders, tennis, swimming and athletics. There were also matches in riding, badminton, squash, fencing, fives, golf, real tennis, table-tennis, sailing, judo and sculling.

sporting Dragons

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sporting Dragons

Good Nights In – Great Days OutFun evenings in House and outings of all kinds for boarders continued as the days drew out. Shown here are just a few of the entertaining evenings and diverting days enjoyed by boarding boys and girls with their housemates in the spring and summer months:

Stringer’s at the Museum of Natural History

Gunga Din music night

Nicholson’s sailing

Cherwell trip to Hyde Park Barracks

Charlbury talent night

School House summer games

Stradling’s international night

Stuart-Clark’s garden bbq

Dewar’s dressing up

PrOfIle:

emma WhittyHouse parent and tutor to twenty two Year 6 girls in Stringer’s House and a Science teacher, Emma joined the Dragon in 2009 to teach Science and English. She is married to Andrew, who helps run things in House.

What brought you to the Dragon? The post caught my eye because of the unusual name! I visited and loved it. It was a big move from Scotland but the children are lovely, the facilities outstanding, my colleagues are great – who wouldn’t want to work here?

What led you to teach? I love seeing children make progress and gain confidence. I studied Educational Psychology at Liverpool before mentoring pupils at a city comprehensive in Nottingham. Many of the children had no confidence; they were attracted by a gang culture that appeared to offer support but in reality conflicted with their educational needs. We built relationships, worked through difficult times

and most went on to pass their GCSEs. It changed their lives and mine - I knew I wanted to teach. After training, I became a boarding tutor to 16-year-old boys and then a primary teacher in Falkirk.

Your favourite lesson? Science, particularly chemistry – children get very excited working with Bunsen burners and other science kit! I also love Circle Time – the open but confidential forum where we focus in a relaxed way on values, anxieties and opinions.

What’s changed since you were at school? I wish I was a pupil now – particularly at the Dragon, where everyone is encouraged to shine. Technology has also changed things. In my day, for instance, there were no whiteboards which today really get children involved. There is also a greater understanding of children’s needs; learning support now is very different.

What do you do outside the classroom? I ran ‘Summer Dragons’ here at school in August. This is great fun and very rewarding: children from local primary schools who might benefit get to experience two weeks

designed to reconnect them with the enjoyment of learning. I also coach games, run cooking activities and sing – I sang in the school sing-through of Les Miserables. And a friend and I ran the Dragon’s fun run for Sport Relief as celebrities – she was Katie Price and I was Peter André!

Little Dragons

Lynams:A World of Imagination Summer term at the Dragon Pre-prep Lynams saw all the children using their imaginations and thinking about issues that affect our world. Special trips developed classroom learning: Year 1 studied rain forests before going to the Living Rainforest in Berkshire to imagine the trees of distant lands; a trip to the ancient and lovely setting of Broughton Castle for Year 2 brought history and geography magically to life; Year 3 tested their theories of water flow and meander on the River Cherwell using dog biscuits (they float!) and enjoyed a hands-on trip to the University Museum of Natural History in Oxford to study rocks with the aid of prehistoric samples, drama and the odd Mars bar.

Back at school, there were further worlds of discovery. From planting up reused flower pots, making bird seed cake and enjoying home-grown lettuce

sandwiches to raising over £5,000 for the Haiti earthquake appeal (with their specially written and recorded CD ‘Our World’), the children thought about the planet they live on and their personal responsibilities to it. Following the term’s theme of ‘Let’s Imagine’, Reception created a fantasy world of mermaids and pirates to mark the end of their first school year. The mythical world was discovered through Year 3’s lively and ambitious production of Pandora’s Box which brought ancient Greece to life. Further intangible worlds were encountered: the character and thoughts of others (famous and infamous) through the hard-fought balloon debates and the realms of thought and philosophy through the thinking skills programme. All these strands came together in assemblies where the theme ‘Our World’ ran through a happy term.

Lynams’ sports day in July delivered superb weather and outstanding efforts from keen young Dragons. Children and parents arrived at the Dragon school fields in time to enjoy family picnic lunches. With both individual challenges and a carousel of activities for teams, every child played his or her part. Competition, team spirit and fun were evident in equal measure as the enthusiastic spectators cheered them on. In the final scoring, the yellow team proved the happy victors.

Pre-prepSports Day

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Little Dragons

Year 3 JoinersMost children join the Dragon Pre-

prep Lynams in Reception. There

are however further opportunities

to start at the school and, for

some, Year 3 entry can be ideal.

A number of children, equivalent

to a whole extra class, enter at

Year 3 so pupils starting at this

age will not be the only ‘new’

children. Pupils go on to the

Dragon in Year 4 so the preceding

year is an excellent opportunity to

acclimatise to ‘Dragon Life’ in the

smaller world of the Pre-prep and

to cement friendships. The literacy

and numeracy curriculum of Year

4 at the Dragon builds on Year 3 at

the Pre-prep and is closely linked,

so children gain maximum benefit

from the experience of both. If you

would like to consider a Year 3 start

for your child the Admissions Office

would be pleased to help with

further information on

01865 315405 or

admissions@dragonschool.org.

Granny Goes to SchoolGrandparents’ Day at Lynams in May was an especially warm occasion. This chance for grandparents to get a real feel for what their grandchildren do all day is very popular. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the older and younger generations to share school experiences – and to realise that while much has changed there are many values that are just the same despite the passing decades.

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The Dragon is keen to help those who could benefit from all that its education can provide but are unable to afford the fees. The school has two programmes to provide assisted places; both are applicable to boarding or day children and are open to those joining in September each year.Bursaries – these grants can be worth up to 100% of fees. Family financial circumstances are taken into account when bursaries are awarded.

Applications are invited annually from those needing a minimum of 50% fee support and who would like to join the school in Year 4; the closing date for applications is usually the December before the proposed year of entry. Candidates are assessed by Dragon teachers and a report from the child’s current school will be requested. Academic Awards – these awards can have a maximum value of 50% of fees. Children joining the school in Years 4 to 7 can apply to this scheme which has a closing date in February preceding entry in september. Academic Awards are offered to boys and girls of outstanding academic promise and are based on assessment and interview by Dragon teachers. These awards are not means-tested.

Current details of both programmes, which are launched in the autumn each year, and application forms can be found on the school website. For further information about Dragon Bursaries and Academic Awards please contact the Admissions Office on 01865 315405 or email enquiries@dragonschool.org

Help with fees: Bursaries and Awards

Open Days & VisitsIf you are considering the Dragon for your child, you are strongly encouraged to come and see the school for yourself. There are two Open Mornings each year for families to tour the preparatory school with current Dragon pupils, to see our Boarding Houses, meet staff and to ask the Headmaster questions.

AuTumn OPen mOrnInG: SATurDAY 16 OcTOBer 2010 – reservations invited from those interested in boarding or day places. Please call 01865 315405 or email admissions@dragonschool.org for details and an invitation.

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Dragon Information

Would you like a copy of the Dragon prospectus? To receive your copy and registration information, please email your name and address, together with the name and date of birth of your child, to: enquiries@dragonschool.org or telephone 01865 315405.

Contact UsEnquiries and further information: enquiries@dragonschool.orgAdmissions email: admissions@dragonschool.orgAdmissions telephone: 01865 315405

Dragon SchoolBardwell Road, Oxford Ox2 6SSTel +44 (0)1865 315400Fax +44 (0)1865 311664

Dragon Pre-Prep: Lynams306 Woodstock Road, Oxford Ox2 7NRTel +44 (0)1865 315541Fax +44 (0)1865 310673

www.dragonschool.org The Dragon School Trust Ltd is registered as a company, number 524331, in England and Wales and as a charity, number 309676, at Bardwell Road, Oxford Ox2 6SS

Get a Prospectus

InDIVIDuAl VISITS – individual family tours are also arranged throughout term times including Saturdays. These visits offer the opportunity for a detailed tour of the school with admissions staff and the chance, wherever possible, to meet the Headmaster.

The Dragon Pre-prep: lynams has a summer Open Morning for those registered with the school for the coming year; other parents are welcome to book family visits. To arrange an individual tour of Lynams please telephone the school secretary on 01865 315541 or email pat.gilgrass@dragonschool.org