School Of The Month Feature: Silversands Hall School

This June 2021, our school of the month is Silversands Hall School. LagosMums loves to introduce detailed insights on schools around Lagos. Read what makes Silversands School an outstanding school for parents to consider while looking for a good school for their children

What is the name of your school, and when was it founded?

Silversands Hall School is a co-educational school founded on the 8th of September 2008.

Please give details of your staff/ administration?

We have full-time professional teachers vast in the use of the Nigerian, British, Montessori, and HIIMA curricula. Our teachers are also versatile, talented, creative, and innovative with empathy for students and the teaching profession. They teach collaboration, skilled communication, self-regulation, construction of knowledge in pupils and students, and the use of ICT for learning. The management team includes Executive Director Barr. (Dr.) Nike Agunbiade-Etiebet, the Head of School Mrs. Joyce Joba Johnson, the School Administrator, Mrs. Olawumi Abraham, and the Secondary School Supervisor, Mr. Babatunde Popoola. Specialist teachers teach Music, French, Yoruba, Art, and Robotics. We also have some part-time staff who will handle our extracurricular program. Other members of staff include; the Admin Staff Members, Cleaners, Nannies, Security personnel, and School Bus drivers as support staff.

What is the ratio of children to teachers?

Multiple Intelligence principles reflect in the school culture; to profile and discover the strength and propensity of the individual student for development. Hence, to make these principles work, our teacher to pupils ratio in the preschool and primary section is 2 to 15. Our Secondary School classes also have a maximum of 15 students.

What is the age range of your students?

We accept pupils age 1 (Crèche) to age 17 (SSS 2)

What is the curriculum/ Teaching methodology your school adopts?

Silversands Hall School (SHS) Crèche focuses on creating a calm atmosphere in which children can rest and play as they wish; providing tender care that is in place for each individual child. Our Crèche is entirely given to childcare with lots of natural light and low windows throughout. The gardens offer a myriad of play surfaces and opportunities for exploration. Also, having secured this unique setting, our team set about creating a childcare facility that promotes self-esteem, learning, and respect for each other in a warm, caring environment.

Our Preschool Montessori Centre bases on the same principles incorporating educational elements from the High Scope and Montessori methods. The teaching approach centers on the child. It neither imposes on the child nor does it abandon him/her in total free play. Each class equips Montessori didactic materials in the five Montessori curriculum areas; Practical Life, Sensorial education, Mathematics, Language, and Cultural Subjects.

Silversands Hall School (SHS) Crèche focuses on creating a calm atmosphere in which children can rest and play as they wish; providing tender care that is in place for each individual child. Click To Tweet

These provide formative activities for the scholar within a carefully planned and structured environment in which the child can learn and grow at his/her own pace, along the lines of natural development, with the teacher acting as a guide and facilitator.

SHS Primary Department consists of two stages: Key Stage One (Year 1 and Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 3 to Year 6). At Key Stages 1 and 2 each subject has a Programme of study which identifies what we teach students as well as a set of attainment targets that outline the expected performance standards. Each attainment target has eight levels plus a final level for exceptional performance. At each stage, students are provided with support as needed so that they have a positive experience in a nurturing and student-centered environment.

Our High School curriculum is organized into three Key Stages; Middle Division- Key Stage Three (Years 7, 8, 9) and Upper Division – Key Stage Four (Years 10 and 11). Our goal is to develop world-class students equipped with the knowledge and skill to function productively anywhere in the world. This we achieve not only through the use of best practices, state-of-the-art facilities, up-to-date technology, and purpose-built infrastructure but especially through our body of experienced and dedicated staff; who work as a team to create an effective learning environment and a happy community. We offer the essentially British, Nigeria curriculum in addition to the University Foundation Programme, Cambridge GCE ‘O’ level, ‘A’ levels, and SAT/TOEFL, IGCSE programs. We also guarantee admissions into 117 Ivy universities in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Ireland, Dubai, India, and Nigeria, etc.

Extra-curricular activities available?

Taekwondo
Yung Chef
Ballet
Sports (Football, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming)
Board Games
Arts and Craft
Ace Club
Music

School Hours and any after-school services offered?

Preschool: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Primary School: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Secondary School: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

What is the admission process? Deadline/ is it rolling?

To be eligible for admission into Nursery One, candidates must turn three years by the year of admission, five to be eligible for Year One, six for Year Two, and so on.

Application forms cost N10, 000.00 (Ten thousand naira) only. Subsequently, completed application form along with payment receipt/bank deposit teller can be submitted in the school from or via e-mail to [email protected]

ACCOUNT DETAILS

Bank Name: ECOBANK PLC
Account Name: SILVERSANDS HALL SCHOOL LTD
Account Number: 0942000743

Completed forms will be submitted along with the following:

Two recent passport photographs (taken not more than two months prior to the date of submission)
Photocopy of birth certificate
Photocopy of immunization card
Original birth certificate for sighting.
Parents’ passport photographs

An interview is scheduled for candidates in Nursery One while a written test is first administered to candidates in other classes, followed by an oral interview. However, candidates are not considered for admission into terminal classes such as Class Six; but transfers from sister schools are treated on a discretionary basis by the Heads of Schools. A provisional Letter of Admission, Parents’ Undertaking, and Illness Indemnity forms are issued to successful candidates within the space of one week after the interview.

Acceptance of admission must be communicated through payment of fees in designated banks and also tellers submitted to the business office within a period not later than two weeks. Parents receive a welcome pack giving them information on what, and impotantly how they are expected to prepare the child for resumption. Tours are conducted on designated Open Days by the school, some before and some after the interviews; this is communicated to parents by the school.

Application Procedures into Silversands High School

To be eligible for admission into Year 7, candidates must be 11 years old by the year of admission. Obtain and fill an online or hard copy ‘Application Form’ with all necessary information; make payment of N10, 000 (Ten thousand naira, only). Subsequently, downloaded and completed Application form along with payment receipt/bank deposit teller can be submitted in the school. An entrance exam is set. Take the entrance exam.

On successful completion of the entrance examination, successful candidates would be contacted in writing; and be available to attend an interview session with both parents on our campus on Pinnock Beach Estate, Lekki. As a result,the following documents are to be provided on the day of the interview:

Photocopy of candidate’s birth Certificate or data page of international.
2 recent passport photographs (in current school’s uniform).
The most recent Academic Report from the candidate’s current school.
Applicant’s Testimonial or Recommendation Letter from current Head of school.

Parents living outside Lagos must provide the name and contact details of a Guardian living in Lagos,and also a copy of the printout of the admissions form with evidence of payment. Also, a provisional letter of acceptance will be issued to successful candidates only after the interview.

Acceptance of admission must be communicated through the payment of acceptance fee to designated banks; also, the tellers submitted at the Business Office in the School. Fuhermore, all freshly admitted students will be required to resume school a week before all returning students for an Orientation Programme.

Tuition? Is there a payment plan for the pupils?

Although all fees are due on the first day of resumption; we, however, consider parents who want to spread their payments in installments. All payments in installments are to be final on or before half term. Please contact the school for more details.

How do you access student’s progress?

We offer what is called Project-Based Learning (PBL). PBL is an instructional approach in place to give students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills; through engaging projects set around challenges and problems they may face in the real world. We achieve this through continuous assessments through formative and summative assessments.

What are the Disciplinary methods your school adopts?

Our number one core value is discipline. We understand that discipline is vital for healthy child development and without discipline; children lack the tools necessary to navigate relationships and challenges in life; such as self-discipline, respect for others, and cooperating with peers. While we do not support any form of corporal punishment on our pupils and students, we ensure that there are consequences for any form of misbehavior of any form; through our five discipline styles which include positive discipline, gentle discipline, boundary-based discipline, behavior modification, and emotion coaching.

What separates Silversands Hall School from the rest?

We achieve academic excellence by combining both curricular and co-curricular activities. As a result, we excel in national and international examinations. We have a purpose-built building located in a serene environment that aids learning. We also have purpose-built sports facilities with AstroTurf to develop physical talents and sportsmanship. Multiple intelligence principles are reflected in the school culture to profile and discover the strength and propensity of the individual student for child development. We also run entrepreneurship and vocational training for all students; to build gross and fine motor skills, trade and business skills, personal development, and later financial development. We also develop social skills through board games such as Chess, Monopoly, Scrabble, and The Chairman’s Empire. Our teaching is technologically based to reflect our international outlook and also the requirement of the 21st Century. We also promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through our STEM Programme.

Does the school offer a school bus service?

Yes, we do offer a school bus service.

What should parents be looking for to decide if your school would work for them/their children?

We show respect and concern for all our pupils and students and practice a culture of mutual support among students. Our pupils and students are indeed challenged with academic and personal goals. Therefore, these are the ingredients that foster success in them.

How will your school prepare children for learning and operating in the 21st century?

Our weekly training of teachers exposes our teachers to best practices and teaching methods obtainable in the 21st Century. As a result, we have e-learning facilities to promote 21st Century learning. We also operate the hybrid model of learning whereby pupils and students can learn in school and while at home. Our STEM/Robotics classes prepare our pupils and students to become innovators, creators, and inventors.