Launching its sponsorship with Nub News, here's an UP CLOSE to how the Twickenham-based and independent The Mall School has started the new academic year.

It's all change for The Mall School in Twickenham!  

In September 2022, the school opened a new day nursery for children aged six months to four years and then September this year the first girls joined the school in its Reception class – making it the only school in the area to offer a continuous education for girls and boys from when they are babies up to the age of 11.  

To reflect the move to co-education and the new nursery provision, the school has refreshed its core values and seeks to create an environment that ignites the love of learning in children, through passion, joy, confidence and happiness.  

One year on and the nursery is now full in most year groups with registrations now being taken for spring 2024 onwards. It is currently rated 10/10 on day nurseries and in a recent survey, 68% of parents said their experience at the nursery was exceeding their initial expectations. 

Both girls and boys settling into their new routines. (Photo: The Mall School)

At the school, rated 'Excellent' in all areas in its most recent inspection, the first girls- in fact all the new Reception children- have settled fantastically well into their new routines, are making friends and enjoying their wonderful classroom, weekly swimming lessons and specialist music, PE and French lessons.  

In its review, The Good Schools Guide declared: "Academic standards are high, but this is emphatically not a hot house." For a non-selective school, The Mall achieves extraordinary results, with half of 2023 leavers having at least one offer from a highly selective independent or state grammar school. The school's record at 11+ has been consistently strong. Popular destinations include: Hampton, Kingston Grammar, Tiffin, Epsom College, Reed's, Halliford, St George's and St James.  

The Good Schools Guide review goes on to say that the school's "inclusive yet stretching ethos" extends beyond the academic curriculum to the arts and sport. The school wants every child to discover an interest or talent during their time at the school and offers lots of opportunities to perform in plays, concerts, competitive matches and swimming galas. 

The wide-ranging programme of clubs introduces children to new interests including cooking, martial arts, technology and digital skills. Many of these take place after school and the school offers quality before and after school provision each day with holiday clubs during most of the holidays. The nursery also operates an extended day from 7:30am-6:30pm across 50 weeks a year. 

The school is fortunate to have fantastic facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool (The Mall is current Richmond borough swimming champions), purpose-built theatre and arts block, science laboratory and sports hall. 

Over the summer the school transformed its large playground into bright, vibrant space for the children to play sports on with lots of wall games to try and shaded areas to sit and talk to friends in. 

Headmaster David Price explains the rationale for the recent changes: "As a forward-looking school, we believe this is the ideal time to make this exciting change. The introduction of co-education and a nursery is a natural development that will respond to the significant demand locally for a school that serves the local community and modern family life." 

The Mall School nursery has been open to girls since 2022. (Photo: The Mall School)

Parents agree, with one nursery parent saying: "Our child has been to two nurseries previously and is so happy and settled. By far the best facilities and outdoor space in the area. Swimming lessons are a bonus and I have complete trust in the staff and management."  

School parents agree, with one recent joiner adding: "Our son has absolutely loved his first year at The Mall. He is always busy and always happy; he has progressed academically in leaps and bounds; he has tried and loved many new sports; and he is making firm friends with a very talented, supportive and kind group of peers." 

Children are given many extra-curricular activities to enjoy. (Photo: The Mall School)

Entry into The Mall is non-selective at Reception with all nursery children guaranteed a place. Entry into other year groups is subject to a successful taster day at the school which includes computer-based tests in English and maths. 

Girls joining the school during the early stages of the move to co-education will be pioneers of a new development for the school, and to reflect this the Governors have decided that the girls joining the reception 2023 and 2024 classes will receive appropriate fee discounts. 

Nub News is proud to announce that The Mall School is the latest sponsor of our news service.

The Mall School's support will help us deliver the high-quality journalism that Teddington deserves - no clickbait or intrusive ads, just the latest updates on what's happening in our town.

It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like The Mall School that we can continue our mission to revive local news, both in Teddington and across the UK.