Summer Features

Editorial

IAPS Summer News
A round-up of the latest news items from the Independent Association of Prep Schools. More...

How Independent is Independent?
All three major political parties propose radical changes to education. Andy Falconer, Chairman-elect of IAPS, looks at the current threats to the independent sector and highlights the great value of 'independence'. More...

C-Change in Education?
Contributing Editor of Attain, Michael St John Parker, looks in detail at the Conservative education manifesto and asks Michael Gove whether parents really do know best when it comes to setting up and running schools. More...

An Educational Makeover
When it comes to education, governments like to meddle in the name of progress. Tim Johnson takes a look back at the Department for Education and wonders where Labour fit in the history of education. More...

Attain Focus on the Armed Forces -
Service Parents & Boarding
Many boarding schools have strong links with the Armed Forces. Hilary Moriarty, National Director of the Boarding Schools' Association, looks at the role played by schools and how they support service families. More...

Prep School Cadets
CCF is a hugely popular activity at senior schools across the country. Normally, prep school pupils are too young to get involved, but Carl Lander of St Aubyn's School explains how he set up a thriving Cadet Corps. More...

Sons of this Place
School war memorials underline the enormous loss suffered in conflict - from the Crimean War through to the present day. Sarah Wearne, Archivist at Abingdon School, looks at how schools commemorate their fallen. More...

Setting Prep School Standards
Parents' expectations for prep school teaching are naturally high but do the requirements for senior school entry result in too narrow a curriculum? Nick Oulton of education publishers Galore Park investigates. More...

Leaving Home at 8
The recent Channel 4 'Cutting Edge' documentary, 'Leaving Home at 8' has prompted significant debate and comment on whether it is too young an age for children to board. Attain gauged the reaction at three schools. More...

Meeting the Needs of Pupils
Schools have a responsibility to meet the educational needs of all their pupils. Finola Stack, Headteacher of James Allen's Preparatory School, looks at the role of the 'gifted and talented' scheme. More...

iPads in the classroom?
It has received more hype than any other recent item of computer technology and could start a revolution. Is the iPad worth all the hype - and will it be a classroom success? Attain's Editor, Matthew Smith, investigates. More...

Letters to the Editor
A selection of letters from readers. More...

Reader Offer – Galore Park
Galore Park is a leading publisher of textbooks for pupils at independent prep schools. Attain readers can receive an exclusive 10% discount. More...

Announcing Attain's iPhone app
We are delighted to announce the first iPhone app for the independent schools' sector. The Attain app is designed to help parents and staff keep up-to-date on news affecting the independent sector, search for information about schools in their area, and access content from the magazine. Download your copy from the App Store. More...