With the new academic year now firmly underway, Hunter Hall, Cumbria’s only standalone independent school for children aged three to 11, is celebrating with new faces and new spaces.
Following a phenomenal fundraising effort by parents earlier this year, Hunter Hall children now have access to a calming new Wellbeing Space.
Created over the summer break, the space offers a comfortable, quiet homely area featuring calming colours, low-lighting and soft furnishings where children can spend one-to-one time with specialist teaching staff and wider class groups can come together for weekly Wellbeing and PSHE classes.
Quiet reading, yoga and meditation have also been popular activities in the space so far.
Assistant Head (Wellbeing), Ella Tarrant, said: “As we continue to interweave wellbeing throughout the curriculum, equipping children with the skills and strategies to prioritise and look after their own wellbeing, this new space has been an invaluable addition.
“It’s been wonderful to see how the children have just gravitated towards it, seamlessly incorporating it as much-loved space into their school day. I’m really looking forward to watching it evolve – next on my wish list is more art created by the children to bring the walls to life.”
The Wellbeing Space builds on horticulture, drama, creative writing, chess, yoga, meditation and parent-led art masterclasses which are already embedded into the weekly timetable.
One of two new faces to join the Hunter Hall staff this year is particularly delighted with the designated space.
Clare Matthews joined Hunter Hall as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant last month.
Clare said: “I’m truly excited to join the Hunter Hall team. I see it as an opportunity to support individuals and small groups at a key point in their development, nurturing their intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
“Although my subject specialism is English literature, I have always enjoyed the pastoral side of working in education and am really looking forward to being able to support children at all stages, both in and out of the classroom – in particular making the most of the wonderful Wellbeing Space.
“I am also a poet, and am excited about facilitating creative writing and publication opportunities for keen writers at Hunter Hall.”
The second new face is Billy Drinkall-Jones – already affectionately dubbed Mr DJ by the children!
Mr DJ’s primary focus is teaching mathematics to Years 4, 5 and 6. After studying physics at the University of Warwick, he qualified as a primary teacher with mathematics specialism at the University of Gloucestershire.
Billy said: “I spent the start of my teaching career as a class teacher in rural Wiltshire and moved with my wife to Cumbria in 2022 to be closer to her family.
“I have enjoyed co-ordinating the subject of mathematics in three schools, and I am currently completing a national professional qualification in leading primary mathematics.
“I’ve loved my first taste at Hunter Hall and look forward to getting to know the wider school community better over the coming months.”
Surprisingly, maths was one of Billy’s least favourite subjects in primary school, he added.
He said: “It took me until I was about 15 to develop a sense of wonder and recognise the beauty of the subject; though I certainly aim to help my students appreciate maths in this way much earlier!
“Outside of maths, I became a UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador, encouraging young people to become active members of our democracy by helping them to understand the complexities of our parliamentary system and to appreciate the importance of their own role as citizens.”
These two new starters bring the Hunter Hall teaching team to a total of 15.
Head Paul Borrows said: “We are delighted that Clare and Billy have joined our team, and it’s great to see the Wellbeing Space having such a positive impact already.
“These appointments and developments are just the latest in a line of planned initiatives to keep Wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
“We are committed to providing a broad, enriching and inclusive curriculum, developing key life skills that will enable all children to flourish at secondary school and beyond.”
Hunter Hall’s next Open Week runs from Saturday October 5 to Friday October 11. To find out more or arrange a visit, go to www.hunterhall.co.uk
Hunter Hall is Cumbria’s only standalone, independent preparatory and pre-school for children aged three to 11 and is located on the outskirts of Penrith, Cumbria.
