Red House School

• Location: Norton, England,
• Founded in: 1929,
• Number of students: about 200,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Red House School is a day school designed for children from 3 to 16 years old.

Red House School has a long history, starting in 1929 – a group of parents decided to create a school where their children would be given the best education. Today, Red House is considered one of the best secondary education institutions in England, which is confirmed by many awards, being in the rankings of leading schools.

Red House School annually attracts not only local, but also foreign students to its educational territory. Despite its small size, the school simultaneously prepares about 200 students, ranging from the preparatory department to high school students. There are many representatives of other cultures and nationalities among the teachers - all teachers have many years of experience working with children, pedagogical qualifications and a focus on modern methods in education. They support the pupils with individual attention, care and academic support, thanks to which children achieve excellent results both academically and in extracurricular activities.

The basis of the educational process at Red House School is the pleasure of students from gaining knowledge, developing abilities and talents. Staff and teachers believe that only an enthusiastic, interested and motivated child can achieve success, and this is confirmed annually by high final exam scores.

High school students have a dedicated mentor who provides daily support, care, and academic attention. The mutual respect and trust that develops between classroom teachers and students plays a key role in pastoral care. Through staff, students are supported in overcoming their emotions and taught strategies to help them deal with any challenges they may face.

Pastoral care services at Red House School include initiatives such as:

• A school counselor comes to the school twice a week to assist students in various aspects of their student life,
• Designated staff for high school students who help adapt to a rigorous curriculum, develop mindfulness and resilience,
• Three prefects, who are not only there to socialize and support students in any worries, but also organize wellbeing activities, set weekly goals for pupils of all ages,
• Walks between classes give students the opportunity to explore the surroundings outside the school, enjoy nature and socialize with friends,
• The updated PSHE, RSE plans are implemented in the form of weekly lessons: they address issues such as positive friendships, mental health, relationship management, discrimination and prejudice,
• Regular face-to-face meetings with teachers are offered to parents of students in grades 6-11.

Education at Red House School is conducted in three stages of school education:

• Preschool
• Initial
• Senior.

Children from 3 to 16 years old study at the school.

Red House regularly "works" black Labrador Charlie - the official therapy dog for maintaining psychological health. He is very much loved by all teachers, staff and students of the school! Charlie visits all the academic departments of the school, participates in a variety of events. It has been proven that school dogs help reduce anxiety, develop self-confidence and empathy in students, and increase their understanding of responsibility.

Red House provides education only in a full-time format, so it does not have residencies.

In the Red House School dining room, lunches are served daily for all students, prepared according to a weekly balanced menu. For the preparation of dishes, a team of qualified chefs selects the best products from local suppliers, focusing on seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs. For children with special dietary, medical needs, alternative meals are provided upon request.

The Red House School has a system of Houses, focused on the development of leadership, social and communicative qualities, understanding of healthy competition, teamwork, and mutual assistance. Students who enter the school are automatically enrolled in one of the three Houses, falling into groups of their age. Together, students of different ages from the same faculty score points during the week, competing with other Houses for special privileges. Points are earned by participating in activities such as:

• Sport
• Music
• Drama
• Debate
• Math homework,
• Board game competition between faculties: chess and checkers,
• Spelling competition,
• Cookery
• Art Competition,
• Home Robotics,
• Charity events,
• Initiatives that improve student life.

The extracurricular program of events includes a wide variety of areas for the development of students' talents. The school has thematic interest clubs that allow children to find like-minded people and discover new hobbies. Among the most popular clubs:

• Sign language,
• Performing arts,
• Art and photography,
• Chess
• Minecraft,
• STEM,
• Cinema
• Cookery
• Craft
• Chorus
• Orchestra.

Some of the clubs are held before the start of school, others during breaks and lunch, and still others after school.

Sports sections also occupy a special place both in the curricula of students and in their extracurricular development. Thanks to the infrastructure of Red House, students have the opportunity to try their hand at such areas as:

• Tennis
• Soccer
• Netball
• Rugby
• Cross-country running,
• Hockey
• Cricket
• Athletics
• Lapta,
• Orienteering.

The music department of the Red House School offers pupils individual lessons in playing musical instruments under the guidance of both school teachers and invited specialists. Students can demonstrate their talent in music in frequent concerts during the spring, autumn and summer semesters, during international holidays.

The educational process goes beyond the campus - the staff is glad to organize excursions to provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the study of the history, art, culture of England and other countries. Recent trips have included:

• Sightseeing in the area: Fountains Abbey, Merton Park, York Chocolate Factory,
• Skiing in France,
• Hike to the Lake District,
• London Theatre,
• Sports Tour in Holland,
• Language trips to France, Germany, Spain.

• Best School in the North East of England by Sunday Times Parent Power 2024,
• 99.2% of pupils achieve grades of 9-4 (A* to C) on GCSE exams, which is better compared to local independent, public schools,
• The "Passion for Positive Mental Health, Wellness" award from the BRONZE School Mental Health Award, which has not been received by any school in the northeast of the country except Red House School,
• Small class sizes, allowing educators to give individual attention to each student,
• The cost of education at Red House School is lower than at local schools,
• Mandatory wearing of a school uniform of a certain pattern,
• Modern infrastructure for study, sports, creativity,
• The campus is open 50 weeks a year.

The Red House School campus boasts beautiful surroundings - it is located in the picturesque village of Norton, among parklands and quiet streets. A short drive away are highways leading to Sedgefield, Durham, Stockton, Darlington and other nearby towns. The school has its own bus fleet, covering most of the region and remote areas, thanks to which students can get to classes conveniently and safely. Buses not only run on daily routes, but also provide individual trips as needed.

• The purpose-built separate kindergarten building has a safe, relaxed atmosphere. With access to a beautiful walled garden, children can play and learn outdoors almost all day. Learning also takes place in small classrooms with lots of toys, books, and craft materials, which makes the learning process fun.
• The Junior School is located on a vast grounds next to St Mary's Church overlooking picturesque Norton Green. Students study in the fresh air in the Forest School, in spacious classrooms, a computer room and creativity studios.
• High school students are taught in a historic red-brick mansion that houses state-of-the-art classrooms, science labs, a learning center, a library, and computer labs. The design and technology department is equipped with the latest technology, including a 3D printer, laser cutter, and design software.

The sports infrastructure of the Red House School includes an all-weather field with Astroturf surface, sports grounds and a gym - all these territories regularly host individual and group training in a variety of sports. In addition to the school grounds, students will have access to the Norton Sports Complex, which cooperates with the school to host competitions.

In the building of the music department, a recording studio, a rehearsal space, and rooms for classes have been prepared. Individual lessons in playing musical instruments, singing are held here - materials, instruments and equipment have been prepared for all areas of art.

Red House School is open for 50 weeks a year thanks to the Holiday Club, which welcomes students during the holidays as well. The academic calendar consists of three trimesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-July.

Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday, in the morning and at lunchtime, followed by activities in thematic clubs, sports sections, campus events. Vacations are provided on weekends, national and international holidays, during seasonal holidays. Morning and evening clubs have been organized for children of preschool and primary departments, thanks to which students can arrive on campus earlier than the start of classes and go home a little later.

Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fee,
• Deposit for booking a seat in the class,
• Lunches
• GCSE exams,
• Extended day clubs for children,
• Individual lessons in subjects, music,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• School uniform,
• Customized studying materials,
• Personal expenses.

Families of future Red House School students will have to fill out a detailed registration form, provide the required documents and wait for a response from the admissions committee. The staff will invite applicants for an interview and entrance exams corresponding to the age of the child, based on the results of these stages, a decision will be made on enrollment - families will be sent an official invitation and detailed instructions for further actions.

Upon admission to the preschool department, no assessment is carried out. Children wishing to join Years 1-3 will be assessed on academic potential as well as age-appropriate activities to assess fine motor skills, ability and desire to learn – this is done during a trial day at school.

In grades 4-11, applicants will take an age-appropriate entrance assessment in verbal, nonverbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning: this includes online assessments, math papers, and English.

Through a career program that follows Gatsby's criteria, graduating students are prepared for life outside of school halls. Educators organize individual consultations and small group sessions to review options for further education in schools, colleges, and universities.

Students are provided with guidance through the Unifrog platform. They can take part in career programs after the age of 16, such as The Spires Co-Curricular Club, Next Steps Careers Club, or attend events such as Tees Valley Skills, a career seminar with the participation of leading employers, representatives of universities.

Depending on the stage of school education for which the applicant enters, the requirements will vary. So, for the youngest, personal documents will be sufficient: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit. For those who wish to gain knowledge in middle and high school, the admission criteria will be the same personal documents + academic certificates with report cards from the previous place of study, a letter of recommendation from the director. An important aspect of admission is the level of English proficiency - it will be checked at the entrance exams.

Red House School has a selective admission, on the basis of which applications are considered all year round, and candidates are enrolled subject to availability.

Scholarships are awarded based on the financial difficulties of the student's family. Parents can request financial support both for admission and in the process of studying, if the financial situation has changed.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision