A small, single streamed, rural weekly boarding school set amongst beautiful miombo woodland on a 44 ha site approximately 40km from Harare. We are a School that promotes organic growth and allows children to be children in an empathetic and caring environment. A School which prides itself on revealing and nurturing the talent in each child, giving each child confidence through multi-faceted acade
mic and extra-curricular activities. Our Mission:
Our goal as a school is to equip our young pupils with the skillset and mindset to enable them to thrive globally. We foster an enthusiastic, creative community of learners prepared to continue their intellectual, emotional, and physical development. We promote pupils to grow organically in a unique ethos which allows them to be children as well as appreciating and adhering to good, old fashioned values. We strive to educate all pupils to the highest levels of academic achievement, to enable them to reach and expand their potential, and to prepare them to become productive, responsible, ethical, creative and compassionate members of society. We strive to consciously create an environment of respect, inclusion and tolerance of all ethnic, racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. UNIQUE ETHOS:
The School prides itself on its mentorship programmes/guidance and pastoral care. Contemporary methods pertinent to the generation are combined with over 100 years of experience which brings about a unique ethos steeped in traditional morals, manners and ethics and a focus on good 'old fashioned values'. Honesty, integrity, empathy, good fellowship, punctuality, responsibilty and the value of 'Team'
Lilfordia is renowned for its personal touch and is unique in the way that it is a family run and wholly inclusive school where every child is equally important regardless of their social standing. Every member of staff is familiar with each individual child (their strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncrasies), everyone in the school knows everybody else, by name and by nature, and the overall effect is one of family. It has been remarked that whereas adults usually tend to return to the senior schools they once attended when seeking a dose of nostalgia, very few revisit the primary institutions of their extreme youth. Lilfordia provides a striking exception to this general rule with former pupils from all eras forever appearing to indulge themselves in trips down memory lane and one cannot help but feel that this phenomenon is due to their having regarded the school as a “home from home” during their formative years. Culture:
Lilfordia offers an extensive and lively programme of cultural activities; from music, orchestra, singing, dance and drama to public speaking and presentation. Every pupil is introduced to music and theory by learning to play the recorder and through interactive Sibelius software which assists in the writing and reading of music. The progression of this will see every pupil achieve a solid grounding in music and the more talented proceed to master various other string, wind and brass instruments. On the drama front, plays are produced annually and performed at the end of the second term. The cast varies each year alternating between the senior and junior classes and on occasion all will be involved in a major collaborative production of one of the West End favourites. We are also the only school that submits a choir for every class at the annual Allied Arts Choral competition and in conjunction with this have a Chapel Choir and and a cappella group as well. Pastoral Care:
The welfare and happiness of pupils, particularly in a boarding school environment, are of fundamental and paramount importance. To ensure this, all pupils have access to 24hr nursing care by a highly experienced nurse and are shepherded and monitored by the Superintendent and both domestic and academic staff. Our modern kitchen provides healthy and hearty meals and teas to ensure that the children are well fed and nourished. Bedtimes are highlighted with popular and classic stories read by the attending staff or elaborate plays and skits performed by the pupils. Lilfordia is a weekly boarding facility with the exception of pupils competing in matches on a Saturday whereby they stay in on Friday night and are collected after matches on Saturday. A bus service is provided to Westgate every Friday and will return pupils to school on Monday morning. School Counsellor:
The school has an official counsellor who is available to make appointments with pupils at appropriate times during school hours. As well as the necessary training and skills the counsellor has knowledge of available services for referral where necessary. Sports:
A malleable out-of-school time-table compiled daily ensures that each and every pupil is gainfully occupied in both sessions of every afternoon and a committed line-up of coaches try to make maximum use of the time at their disposal. Facilities for sports are outstanding; most notably the extensive and excellent palying fields. Every pupil will have the opportunity to represent the school in all the major sports. Academics:
Lilfordia is renowned for offering an outstanding breadth of education with utilisation of the Cambridge International Curriculum for Mathematics, English, Science, Global Perspectives and ICT. Whilst the more traditional subjects are given priority the creative side of pupils is also explored with ventures into subjects such as Critical Thinking and Design and Technology. At all levels a highly professional and effective Curriculum Support department is available for those in need and there are specific programmes to stretch academically gifted pupils. Safeguarding and Child Protection:
Lilfordia School recognises that all adults, teachers, and support staff, whether full time, part time or temporary, employed or volunteer, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that children’s welfare is always of paramount concern. The School provides a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child. Life Skills:
Life Skills and the myriad topics therein is taught at every level of the school with particular focus on Personal, Social and Health Education as well as the use and vagaries of social media. The underlying policy is to promote awareness and enable pupils to make reasoned and informed choices in all facets of life. Consultation Day:
This is held at the end of the first term and second terms. Parents are invited to visit the classrooms and talk to the teachers about their child’s progress. Teachers are always available and willing to speak to parents at other times by appointment. Information Technology:
Lilfordia offers a state of the art facility where the I.CT. Cambridge International Syllabus is taught to all classes. Curriculum Support:
Pupils with learning difficulties are offered outstanding support from the department which boasts teachers with both NILD and ILT (Search and Teach) qualifications. This enables the department to do in-house assessments and implement early intervention strategies. Clubs & class trips:
Many and various Clubs are offered and every child is required to be a member of at least one. These are held once a week on a Monday afternoon. Every Class enjoys an annual class trip to numerous exciting destinations. For Grades I, II and III this involves a day trip and for Grades IV, V, VI & VII excursions range from 1 to 5 nights away. Faith:
Lilfordia is a totally non-denominational institution. Religious Education is taught in every class, evening prayers are conducted in each dormitory and Assemblies are conducted once a week which include the traditional prayers and hymns. THE SCHOOL IS SUCCESSFUL IN ITS
AMBITIOUS AIM TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL
ALL-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES, ACADEMIC,
SPORTING AND CULTURAL. TOGETHER
WITH A STIMULATING CURRICILUM
AND AN EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR
PROGRAMME.
