The lowdown on Avondale Grammar School from school mum and fashion guru, Emma Scarf
We met stylish and friendly entrepreneur, Emma Scarf, a little while ago when we visited her at home. In between chatting to Emma about her beautifully curated collection of fashion and homewares, Things We Love, we discovered that Avondale Grammar School was another thing she loves. As Mums always on the look out for school feedback we were intrigued and decided to follow up on what makes Avondale so good.
Hi, Emma! You have three children enrolled at Avondale Grammar School. Can you tell us a bit about them?
Edward is in Year 5 and he loves sport, Mandarin and math. Jack is in Year 3, and he enjoys music, drama, English and tag rugby. My youngest, Ruby, is in Foundation and she likes art, sport and has a general love of learning.
How did you know Avondale was the right choice for your kids?
When we first moved to Singapore four years ago, I felt that Avondale was the perfect school because it reflected the same core values as the school the kids attended back in Australia. I love the fact that it is a smaller school that focuses on the individual child and has strong community values.
Can you share with us a bit about the curriculum and early learning approach Avondale offers?
The early years are based on the UK Curriculum. In Junior School, it moves into the Australian Curriculum. The educational approach at Avondale Grammar School is based on personalised learning – the teacher-child ratio is kept deliberately low to ensure each child’s learning stage is recognised and developed.
We read some pretty impressive NAPLAN results on Avondale’s website. How does the school manage academic achievements so effectively?
I think it may be because each child is treated as an individual and so there is nowhere to hide! The Personal Achievement Targets ensure that the learning stage of each child is documented by the school, and the child is then stretched to reach the next stage. There is a huge emphasis on early literacy and numeracy, so children get a strong foundation in the early years. This enables them to really hit the road running educationally.
We really like the idea of schools that integrate the development of personal qualities of their students into the curriculum. Could you tell us about the Avondale Leadership Programme and what it means for your children?
Leadership opportunities exist for children from Year 2 upwards. Every child is expected to participate in some way, taking on responsibilities that they are interested in. Again, it is one of the benefits of a smaller school that these opportunities exist for all the students, not just a selected few. There is also a Mentoring Programme from Year 5 onwards, where all children have a teacher-mentor to meet with on a weekly basis.
My son, Edward, is a part of this programme now. He has the opportunity to discuss anything, from his personal life to any school concerns he may have. It also allows the teacher to see where the child needs to extend or develop, plus gives them great insights into where they are emotionally on a weekly basis.
What are the class sizes like, and the rest of the school for that matter? Is it true that staff know the names of every student?
Yes, it’s true! Every morning, there is a staff member at the school gates greeting the children by name. Class sizes are kept small, with a good teacher to child ratio of 1:11 in Junior school and 1:8 in Preschool.
You’re obviously happy with the school, but what is your children’s take on Avondale and have you noticed any changes in them since they started at the school?
My children are very happy going to school and have made some wonderful friends – they love it. In living an expat life, your children become very good at handling change. School has developed their love of travel, especially with school camps to Malaysia, Australia, and China. They have also gained a deeper understanding about communities less fortunate than ours. This month, Avondale is holding a movie night and they are raising money for our chosen charity this year.
What extra-curricular activities do your kids participate in?
My kids participate in a variety of activities that change throughout the year, depending on what they like at the time! That includes karate, cricket, basketball, soccer and tag rugby.
How do you keep updated on what the kids are up to at school?
We receive a weekly Newsletter from Avondale. The Parents’ Association also sends a weekly Newsletter with all the activities they’re involved in. For kids in preschool, parents receive a daily email on that day’s lessons and activities. Since it’s a very community-based school, I know the teachers and can have a one-to-one with any teacher at any point.
Is parent engagement encouraged at Avondale and how involved are you with the school and its activities?
Parents can help out in all areas of school life: reading in the classrooms; helping with a musical; sports day activities; Easter hat parades; a Mothers’ Day gift fair; a welcome cocktail party; coffee mornings; and the Christmas Carols, just to name a few! You can choose how much or how little you want to be involved in. I am a class parent for two of my children, and help whenever I can on school and parent association activities.
What is your recommendation to parents considering Avondale for their child?
Choosing a school for your child can be a daunting experience. My suggestion would be to go and see the school for yourself. Avondale may not have all the fancy “bells and whistles”, but because its’ small, teachers can focus on children, parents get to chat at drop-offs, and most importantly, children are nurtured and encouraged to reach their full potential in a caring environment.
Thanks for this extremely informative chat, Emma! Visit Avondale’s website and Facebook page to find out more.
Avondale Grammar School, 318 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park, Singapore 247979, p. 6258 8544, e. [email protected].
This post was sponsored by Avondale Grammar School.