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Our academic ambition, our dedicated staff, and our focus on each individual’s talents and strengths ensure success at each stage of the learning journey from Nursery through to the Sixth Form and university beyond. We have outstanding teaching and classroom staff who give their expertise, their knowledge, their time, and of themselves to ensure that we achieve every possible success for our pupils. Royal Russell staff are committed to ensuring our pupils are encouraged, nurtured and, if necessary, driven to achieve their goals. In the classroom, the Houses, and in the myriad of challenges and opportunities that they experience beyond, it is the guidance and inspiration of the teaching staff that enriches the experience of us all. Royal Russell offers the kind of high-quality education that any parent would wish for their child in a stunning parkland location, which complements and enhances every learning experience. From our Junior School through to the Sixth Form, our pupils are rightly proud of their school and their achievements during and after their time with us are a lasting testament to what they have learned. Royal Russell is an inclusive school that provides high-quality academic education for our girls and boys. We seek to develop the best of our pupils, staff, and families within a vibrant community one that cares and shows mutual respect for all and celebrates the success of each individual as part of the whole. All members of the school community are encouraged to give their best and to share their talents with, and for, others. The School motto, nonsibi sed omnibus, fosters the true meaning of identity and self and challenges us to acknowledge our responsibilities and duties to the communities to which we belong locally, nationally, and internationally. We nurture pupils’ intellectual, social, physical, artistic, cultural, moral, and spiritual development, encouraging enjoyment of learning, a spirit of inquiry, and the pursuit of academic excellence, within a safe and stimulating learning environment. We offer pupils a broad and balanced curriculum and co-curricular program, for acquiring knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes in preparation for Higher Education, the world of employment, and lifelong learning as citizens of the world. We promote spiritual and moral values through Christian principles, emphasizing honesty, integrity, generosity, respect for other people and the environment, and an appreciation of other races, religions, and ways of life. We enhance pupils’ self-awareness and self-confidence, enabling them to develop their leadership skills to value their own and others’ efforts and achievements and to develop a sense of care and responsibility for the school community and wider society. Children who join Royal Russell embark on an exciting and fulfilling educational journey where they develop and flourish both academically and socially. With our team of highly talented and dedicated staff, broad and enriched curriculum, and wide range of experiences and activities, we can inspire and challenge all our children and identify and nurture their talents. We ensure they achieve to the best of their ability and equip our girls and boys with the skills for independent, life-long learning. We offer small class sizes, a well-resourced environment, and extensive and impressive on-site facilities for sport, drama, and music within our stunning 110-acre estate, shared with our Senior School. Royal Russell is a happy, sociable, and unpretentious school, where pupils' effort and achievements are valued, recognized, and rewarded. Our girls and boys are confident, enthusiastic individuals, with lots of character and energy, who enjoy their time at school. View full school

The Russell is a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive small school at the heart of our local community. Nestled in the center of Petersham, a stone’s throw from The Thames, Richmond Park, and Ham House, The Russell School boasts a spacious and green environment. Our stunning and extensive grounds provide an exceptional outdoor learning environment in an extremely busy and built-up part of London. Our dedicated and talented team of staff is passionate about providing an engaging curriculum through a wide range of stimulating and creative learning experiences. We have high expectations for all children and believe in nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and creating in them a life-long love of learning. We provide a caring and supportive environment for our children to thrive and for our parents to feel valued as part of our school community. Parents play a vital role in supporting our school those past and present are clear that the most important factors of life at The Russell are that we radiate a welcoming and friendly ethos, that their children love coming to school, and that they are encouraged to learn in a supportive yet challenging environment. At The Russell School, parents are actively encouraged to get involved in the education of their children, whether it is through helping with reading or joining our active Parent and Teacher Association. Our Governing Body also plays a crucial and valued role in the life of our school. However, our true strength is our children. They are the key to the success of The Russell School and make it a very special place to learn and play. We admit 30 children into our Reception Class. Places are allocated to those children whose parents have expressed a preference for a place at The Russell School on their Common Application Form to the Local Authority. If there are more preferences expressed than places available then places will be allocated according to the Local Authority’s Primary School Admissions Policy. For entry in September 2018, we are admitting 30 children. Applications must be returned to the Local Authority by 15th January 2018. The form can be submitted online or in paper form. We accept older children throughout the school year when there is a place available in the required year group. When a year group is oversubscribed, priority is given by the Local Authority’s Admissions Policy. All in-year applications must be made using In Year Application Form available from the London Borough of Richmond Admissions Department. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education from birth to five. At The Russell School, this includes the Nursery and Reception years. In this time children learn through a play-based curriculum where they are allowed to talk, observe, plan, question, experiment, test, repeat, reflect and respond, independently, with peers or with adults. The EYFS provides children with the skills they need to progress onto Key Stage One which includes Year One and Year Two. The staff across these stages of development work closely together to ensure our children have the best possible experience of education right from the start. When your child starts at The Russell School, our priority is to ensure that they feel safe, secure, and happy in their new surroundings. As school becomes more familiar and your child gains confidence, they will settle into their new environment and routines very quickly and begin to have fun learning. Parents and staff must work closely together to ensure that the transition from nursery to the reception or from another school or setting is successful we are all involved in helping our children to become enthusiastic and effective learners. We will keep you informed of your child’s learning through Curriculum Information Sheets every half term. You will also be given opportunities to see their Learning Journals during the year at our regular half-termly Learning Looks. These include examples of work and photographs that the children have produced. There are three parents' evenings spread across the year, however, you can request a meeting with the class teacher at any convenient time or catch them for a chat at the end of the day. We always have time to listen. If we are concerned about your child’s behavior or progress we will request a meeting with you. Our Nursery is part of our Foundation Stage. The Nursery has its classroom and an outdoor area which they share with Reception Class. Children can join the Nursery from September after they are three years old and will go to Reception Class the September after they turn four. They will attend a morning session which is three hours and can choose to remain in school for lunchtime and the afternoon as paid, wrap-around play sessions. We also offer some 30 free-hours places. The Nursery children are taught the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum by a team of dedicated staff including a teacher and teaching assistants. These adults will help and guide the children to take steps in their learning throughout their time in the Nursery. The Nursery is led by the Early Years Foundation Stage Leader who works closely with the Nursery staff. Children in the Nursery are included in many aspects of main school life. They take part in whole school activities such as sports day, special days, and themed weeks. They attend some assemblies and perform in a Christmas production. They are also very closely linked with our Reception Class. The children learn through play and are prepared for the next steps in their learning when they will continue their Foundation Stage development into their Reception year. Reception is a continuation and development of the learning that has taken place at Nursery whether they attend The Russell School Nursery or another feeder Nursery. The children have their own classroom space and an outdoor area which they share with the Nursery. The class is staffed with a dedicated teacher and a teaching assistant, with a maximum of 30 children. The children will work on all of the areas of the EYFS and will be encouraged to become more independent. They will complete some slightly more structured activities than they would have encountered in the Nursery but will still gain most of their knowledge and skills through play. Children in Reception become more involved with the rest of the school and begin to attend more assemblies. They take part in a Christmas production and are more involved with themed activities and sports day. They will also have playtimes and lunchtimes with the other children in the school. View full school

We are a large school but we pride ourselves on maintaining the caring atmosphere often associated with smaller schools. Each student is placed in a form group under the guidance of a tutor, who gets to know each child very well. Our new students each year tell us that they find the school welcoming and secure. We have a broadly equal number of boys and girls and a full range of abilities. We believe parental co-operation and support are key factors in educational success. Form tutors, heads of year, subject teachers, and senior staff are all happy to be contacted about individual students. Often, an early word between parent and school can prevent any worries from developing into a problem. The school has a very active Parent Teacher Association, which organizes fund-raising and social events which make a major contribution to the life of the school. We have an excellent team of teachers, well-qualified academically, hard-working, and committed to ensuring that every student achieves his or her best. Many of our staff have taught in the area for a long time and know the community well. Just as importantly, we have been able to attract new young staff who bring fresh ideas and expertise. There are no mixed-ability classes at Sydney Russell. Students are placed in one of three bands according to their ability. All their lessons take place with students of similar ability to themselves. Teachers are therefore able to push every child at the right pace, allowing high-ability students to move ahead very quickly and students who need extra support to get the help they need. Each student’s progress is regularly reviewed to make sure they are in the correct band. Students in the top 30% of the ability range are placed in one of our special “fast-track” tutor groups. Selection for the fast track takes place in December of Year 7, based on students’ Primary School results and their performance during their first term at Sydney Russell. Fast track students have all their lessons together and have the opportunity to take certain public examinations earlier than the rest of their year group. To remain on the fast track, students must maintain extremely high standards of attendance, behavior, classwork, and homework. Homework tasks are set and recorded in the student diary so that parents can check what has been given and support their child’s work. There is a supervised Homework Club, which runs after school in the Library, for students who wish to make use of school facilities to help them with their work. We keep a very careful check on each student’s progress as they move up through the school. Parents receive a full written report on their child once a year, as well as more frequent summary grade cards giving a quick snapshot of current performance. Every year group has a Parents’ Evening at which individual subject staff talk about progress within their lessons. Parents are also invited to an annual meeting with their child’s form tutor to discuss overall targets and progress. The great majority of Sydney Russell students are well-behaved and work hard. They are rewarded with praise, merit marks, certificates, prizes, and commendations in assembly. Those few students who choose to break the rules must face the consequences of their actions, which can include misconduct marks, isolation, detention, and eventually exclusion from school. We take a particularly strong line in dealing with any signs of bullying. There has been a major investment in computer facilities in recent years, which is ongoing. There is a whole-school network, with a networked computer in every teaching room providing CD-ROM and internet access, and several computer teaching rooms with 30 work-stations in each. Teaching rooms are rapidly being equipped with digital projection equipment to enable staff to make maximum use of online teaching materials with a whole class. The Library at The Sydney Russell School is a showpiece of the Borough. It is staffed by two full-time librarians and open at both breaks and after school. The librarians supervise a homework club between 3 PM and 4 PM. The librarians can advise students and help them to find a book they will enjoy or with their research. On the ground floor are the Junior and Young Adult fiction sections. They are well stocked with both classic and modern fiction. On the mezzanine is the Non-Fiction section. The librarians are assisted by a team of student volunteers. The librarians run the Accelerated Reader Programme. Students do an initial test to identify their reading level all the books in the library have labels indicating their level of difficulty so students can select appropriate books. When they finish a book they complete an online quiz and the results can be used to monitor their progress in reading. Students are awarded certificates based on the number of books they read and the progress they make. There has been a particular emphasis on providing high-quality Science accommodation. We have twelve well-equipped specialist laboratories, all with easy access to technician support and equipment. We have a large, state-of-the-art performance studio, complete with air-conditioning, video projection facilities, and the latest audio equipment. This makes an ideal rehearsal and performance space for both Dance and Drama. Our P.E. facilities are excellent. As well as an extensive sports field, our Leisure Centre (which is open to the public at weekends and in the evenings) provides a huge multi-purpose Sports Hall, a weight training room and high¬quality changing rooms. The first school on this site was Dagenham County High School which was finished in 1935. In those days, students had to pass a test in Year Six to go there. In 1970 comprehensive schools were introduced to Barking and Dagenham and several schools, including Dagenham County High, joined together to become Parsloes Manor Comprehensive School. The building we call Lester was added in the 1970s. In 1990 Parsloes Manor was joined by two other schools to become The Sydney Russell School. Roger Leighton became its second Headteacher in 1996. As the school became even more successful and popular, it had to expand and, in 2013 a multi-million-pound building program was completed. There are now five buildings on the site as Kingsley, Durrant, and Norris have been added. In 2015, the school became an academy. Sydney Russell was a man who did much good work in Dagenham. He was born in 1906 and trained to be a Methodist minister. In 1932, he became Warden of Kingsley Hall, a community center on Parsloes Avenue. For many years he was also Chairman of Parsloes Manor’s governing body. He died in 1988 and the new school was named in his honor. Our buildings are named after the people who founded Kingsley Hall. Kingsley and Lester were named in honor of Muriel, Doris, and Kingsley Lester, members of a wealthy family who set up Kingsley Hall to help the less fortunate. In 1931, Mahatma Gandhi, the man who led the movement to make India independent from the British Empire, stayed at Kingsley Hall. Durrant and Norris were named in honor of Arthur Durrant and Phoebe Norris who were youth workers at Kingsley Hall. In December 1946 they invited Germans who were being held in a prisoner of war camp in Harold Wood to attend a service at the Hall, then have Christmas lunch with local people. In 1948 they invited some teenagers from Witten in Germany to stay with Dagenham families and attend Dagenham County High School for two months. Dagenham has been “twinned” with Witten ever since. The appearance of the school has changed a lot since 1935. We have the largest classrooms of any school in the country thirty-two computers in each one and in addition to the three floors of I.T. rooms and a sports hall with Olympic standard flooring. Excellent facilities are matched by high-quality teaching and pastoral care. Most of our students go to university when they leave school, including to Oxford, Cambridge, London, and The London School of Economics, institutions with a world-class reputation. Former students have followed careers in law, medicine, business, sport, and acting. They include the late film star Dudley Moore and former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey. While they were students at Dagenham County High School many years ago, two members of the dance group Diversity attended The Sydney Russell School much more recently. Although the school has undergone many changes since 1935, our values remain the same. Our emphasis is on academic achievement, high standards of behavior, personal development, and recognition of our responsibility to the wider community of Dagenham. Currently, we are the only secondary school in Barking and Dagenham designated as Outstanding by Ofsted. Your child is joining a popular, successful, and dynamic school. Encourage him or her to take full advantage of what we have to offer and to contribute to making it even more successful. View full school