Founded in 1957, Wilmington school for girls provides grammar school education for 800 students including 200 in the Sixth Form. Competing with other good local schools, the Senior Management Team wanted a compelling prospectus that could highlight Wilmington’s defining qualities to prospective parents and pupils. Agency the Lines Group turned to me to develop the message platform and draft the piece. Taking the school’s core values - Individuality, Involvement and Initiative – I built a narrative that showed how the school’s ethos translated directly into relevant, practical learning experiences that would equip students for life.
- COPY: Ian Castle, Freelance Copywriter
- AGENCY: Lines group
School prospectus copy sample: Wilmington grammar school for girls
Intro:
There are few decisions so important - so fundamentally life-shaping - than the selection of your daughter’s secondary school.
There are many questions you will want to ask. Do pupils seem happy, confident and at ease? Is the learning environment engaging? Will she fulfil her full academic and personal potential?
Is there choice and opportunity? Is there the will - and the encouragement - to see your child discover, develop self-confidence, achieve and grow?
Spread:
INITIATIVE
Step forward. Lead with confidence.
Aim to excel.
AT WILMINGTON WE SEE CONFIDENCE AS A VALUABLE QUALITY.
Confident students are engaged. They are articulate and passionate. They challenge and question. They are willing to join in, work together, share and lead.
We believe confidence starts with initiative. Through the security of our extended community, a Wilmington student is encouraged to be flexible, pragmatic, and open to new ideas. By encouraging all our students to step forward, by giving them new opportunities to grow, they learn responsibility and life skills.
Each student benefits from many opportunities and challenges to develop their confidence to learn independently and aim high. They are supported to develop their leadership skills, team working, responsibility and integrity. All students have the opportunity to take on roles of responsibility through the student council, charity fundraising and peer mentoring.
Older students can become ‘buddies’ for new students coming into the school. The conduct of our students is a fundamental part of our ethos. We make no apology for emphasising traditional values such as honesty, loyalty, respect and good manners.
Girls understand they have a responsibility to themselves – but, just as importantly, to the welfare and achievement of all those around them. By developing initiative, we underpin responsible and active citizenship.
“I was always a bit shy at my Primary school. Since I’ve come to Wilmington I’ve been getting much more involved in lessons. The clubs are pretty cool, too.”
Year 7 student
Spread:
INVOLVEMENT
Challenge yourself. Contribute willingly. Be selfless in your endeavour.
DISCOVERY STARTS WITH INVOLVEMENT. THE MORE EXPERIENCES A STUDENT CAN TRY, THE MORE THEY WILL LEARN.
Wilmington’s learning experience extends well beyond the academic curriculum. A wide range of clubs and extra-curricular activities ensure every student has the opportunity to build on and enrich their individual talents. Physical pursuits and outdoor challenges are plentiful. In addition to traditional ball and court sports, our teaching staff support activities such as rock climbing, sailing, trampolining, water sports and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.
A thriving music department offers something for students of all abilities – from singing in a gospel choir, to learning an instrument, to playing in the orchestra or steel band.
The school goes to great lengths to extend arts and cultural awareness outside the classroom. Recent trips overseas have included study tours to France and Italy, as well as a community volunteer trip to Thailand. We also arrange regular visits to Theatres and Art Galleries.
Each year the school stages ambitious theatre productions providing a showcase for the girls’ talents. It is a joy to watch the whole school get involved – not simply on stage, performing, but just as importantly behind the scenes.
Many parents, like our teaching team and students, play an active and valuable part in the activities and affairs of the school. Wilmington is an extended community – a community in which we hope you too will be very much involved.