History
Highfield School was founded in Southampton in 1892 by Mr EA Wells, the owner and first Headmaster. The school first opened as a boys’ prep with 18 pupils. In 1904, Mr William Mills became the owner and Headmaster and moved Highfield to its present 175-acre site in Liphook, on the Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey border.
The new purpose-built school opened in September 1907 with 32 boys, all boarders. The school grew steadily; a beautiful Chapel was added in 1910, with other buildings quickly following suit. Mr Mills, who was ordained in 1912 and later became an Honorary Canon of Portsmouth Cathedral, remained Headmaster until 1953. Under Canon Mills, the school grew to accommodate 120 boys and established an enviable reputation for academic and sporting excellence. Highfield pupils won many scholarships to the leading English public schools, including Eton, Winchester, Shrewsbury, Charterhouse, Rugby and Sherborne.
Canon Mills died in 1953 and was succeeded by his son, Peter. The school became co-educational in 1978 and also began to take day children into the junior part of the school. Peter Mills retired in 1979 to be succeeded by Old Highfieldian Robin Orr, who remained Headmaster until 1993. During his tenure, school numbers rose from around 120 to almost 170. Under Nigel Ramage, Mr Orr’s successor, the school began a considerable programme of refurbishment and building work. Mr Ramage was succeeded in 1999 by Phillip Evitt when the compulsory boarding requirement ended, although many children still choose to board to this day, with almost all boarding for at least part of their final two years. Phillip Evitt retired in 2022 and was succeeded by Mrs Suzannah Cryer, current Head of Highfield.
Today, all departments have designated teaching rooms. New Science, Maths and Computing facilities were opened in September 2000. A new indoor swimming pool was opened at Easter 2005, and a new Music School in 2006. Today, Highfield is genuinely co-educational with equal numbers of girls and boys. In 1992, Brookham Pre-prep was built within the grounds of Highfield and this building is home to our Nursery to Year 3 children.
Highfield and Brookham is owned by Mr William Mills, the grandson of the founder. Mr Mills is also Chairman of the Board of Directors. Today, Highfield continues to enjoy an outstanding reputation as a top preparatory school for children aged 8-13 that offers an excellent all-round education, and its long tradition of scholarship success continues.
What we’re up to…
To our 2024-25 Year 8 leavers, as you all arrive at your new senior schools this week, we want to wish you all the best as you start the next part of your academic journey. We can’t wait to hear all about your exciting new chapter. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re incredibly proud to be named a finalist in the @napce33 Awards 2025 (National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education) for Raising Awareness About Pastoral Care, sponsored by @ascl_uk. Our nomination celebrates a whole-school approach to wellbeing, from enriching outdoor spaces and creating a pupil-designed wellbeing garden, to involving children in a school-wide behaviour review. By embedding pupil voice in key decisions, we ensure every child feels heard, valued and supported. The winner will be announced on Friday 10th October 2025. #NAPCEFinalist #PupilVoice #WellbeingInEducation #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Rain didn’t stop play on our Tennis course today. Under the expert guidance of our coach, Graham Holmes, the children took part in an action-packed session filled with fun games, drills and challenges. They worked on developing technique, coordination, movement, agility and speed – all while building confidence and teamwork. The session ended on a high with an exciting mini-tournament. The day was a fantastic blend of fun and skill development, with plenty of smiles despite the weather! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Our Bushcraft course is in full swing, with three days of outdoor adventure in our beautiful woodland. The children have been identifying wild plants, mastering fire-making, building bivouac shelters, learning how and where to hang hammocks, and gaining hands-on first aid skills. It’s all woven together with child-led learning, adventure and teamwork, building not just survival skills, but also confidence, creativity and friendships. #TogetherWeGrow #LearnOutdoors #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic young golfers at school today taking part in our two-day holiday golf course. Under the expert guidance of the Liphook Golf Club coaching team, the sessions were tailored to suit all levels, from complete beginners to more experienced players. The coaches cover everything from grip and stance to swing mechanics like rotation, weight transfer and balance. Through fun drills and on-course practice, the children explored different shots and techniques, building confidence and developing their own playing style. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We were thrilled to see three of our Old Highfieldians graduate together this summer from the University of Nottingham. 2016 leavers Ben and Harry (Politics and International Relations) and Meg (International Relations and Asian Studies) have each achieved so much, and it was wonderful to hear from them. Even more heartening is how their Highfield and Brookham friendships have remained strong, despite attending different senior schools, a true testament to the lifelong bonds formed here. Congratulations to all three. #OldHighfieldians #AlumniSuccess #UniversityGraduation #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Just one week to go! We’re incredibly grateful for the kind support we’ve received so far for the Tatler Schools Awards. With voting closing on 29th August, there’s still a little time left to cast your vote. If you haven’t voted and would like to, we’d be sincerely thankful for your support. You can find the link in our bio above. #OneWeekLeft #TatlerSchoolsAwards #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
To our 2022 leavers – we’re thinking of you on #GCSEResultsDay. We’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved. All your hard work, determination and resilience will shine through today. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to see where it takes you. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @bedalesschool @benendenschool @bradfield_college @bryanstonschool @canfordschool @charterhousesch @cranleighschool @epsomcollegeuk @eton.college @thekingsschoolcanterbury @lancing_college @lordwandsworth @marlboroughcollege @oundleschool @rgs_guildford @seafordcollege @sherbornegirls St Mary’s School Ascot @stswithunsgirls @wellingtoncollege @winchestercollege
From throwing and catching to running, dodging and scoring, the children have been immersed in a whirlwind of fun and fitness on this week’s Multi-Sports course with the team at Assure Coaching. They have explored a variety of sports and games; from hockey, basketball, athletics, tennis, dodgeball, capture the flag, and even the classic duck, duck, goose. It’s been a week full of new skills, boosted confidence, and most importantly, loads of laughter and teamwork. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAchieve #HolidaySportsCourses #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We are looking forward to our first Open Morning of the academic year on Saturday 27th September. Experience a magical education that lasts a lifetime – meet our Head, tour with our pupils, and see how we foster academic excellence and confidence in a unique and inspirational environment. Book here: bit.ly/47xa7po #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Our wonderful Nature Crafting course, led by Hannah and her creative team @coryluscollective is in full bloom this week! The children have been exploring summer flowers and learning how they grow and turning them into beautiful, nature-inspired crafts. They’ve learnt lots of new crafting skills, including flower pressing, transfer printing, decorating lanterns with petals and making leaf crowns from tulip poplar leaves. The perfect summer holiday creative course, combining nature appreciation and fun hands-on learning. #TogetherWeGrow #LearnOutdoors #CreativeHolidayCourses #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We are looking forward to our first Open Morning of the academic year on Saturday 27th September. Experience a magical education that lasts a lifetime – meet our Head, tour with our pupils, and see how we foster academic excellence and confidence in a unique and inspirational environment. Book your place through the link in the bio above. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We were absolutely delighted to welcome Old Highfieldian Harriet back to school! Harriet was with us from 2006 to 2015, and it was such a treat to catch up. We always love hearing from our alumni – discovering where life has taken them, what they’re doing now, and how their time at Highfield & Brookham has shaped their path. Harriet shared some truly heartwarming memories and stories from her school days, reminding us why so many hold their time at Highfield & Brookham close to heart. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #HighfieldAndBrookhamMemories #OldHighfieldians #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Our Senior Cookery holiday course was a recipe for success today! The children spent a wonderful day learning new skills under the expert guidance of cook Sophie Neish, with mouth-watering aromas drifting from the room. They cooked up a real feast, from a flavour-packed ramen to homemade pork dumplings, fresh cheese bagels and a summer berry drizzle cake. The best part? Their lucky families get to enjoy the results at home! #TogetherWeCook #TogetherWeGrow #LifeSkills #HolidayActivities #SchoolHolidayClubs #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
To our Old Highfieldians on #ALevelResultsDay, we’re cheering you on and can’t wait to see your next chapter unfold. Bryanston School Benenden School Canford School Charterhouse School Churcher’s College Cranleigh School Eastbourne College Eton College Epsom College Hurstpierpoint College Marlborough College Oundle School Radley College Seaford College Sherborne Boys Sherborne Girls Wellington College Worth School #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEd #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
This week, we are pleased to welcome back the wonderful team from Corylus Collective for our Nature Days holiday course. The children are spending their days in our magical woodland, enjoying den building, treasure hunts, woodland walks, making campfire treats, crafts, stories and more. Fresh air, new skills and endless adventures. #HolidayActivities #SchoolHolidayClubs #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
The stage is set. Our Performing Arts course burst into life this morning with a toe-tapping Matilda-inspired session, led by the brilliant Mrs Wilson, drawing on her extensive West End experience. Over two action-packed days, children will explore songs, scenes, choreography and performance techniques from two iconic musicals – all building to a dazzling showcase for parents. Not only is it tonnes of fun, but it’s an incredible opportunity to grow in confidence, creativity and teamwork. #HolidayActivities #TogetherWePerfom #TogetherWeInspire #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Highreach is in full swing this year, this week-long residential for children aged 8-18 with disabilities makes a big impact. They get to enjoy our facilities like the pool, theatre, woodlands and Astro. Plus have lots of fun activities including horseback riding, trips to the seaside and a theme park visit. The holidaymakers are supported by trained staff and volunteers, many of whom are Old Highfieldians. The Highreach team loves seeing all the happy faces, it’s a fun and rewarding week for everyone involved. #HighreachHolidays #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Looking for fun and exciting ways to entertain your kids over the holidays – look no further, we’ve got some amazing holiday activity courses lined up! Whether your child loves sports, crafting, dance, performing arts or exploring nature, there’s something just for them. Places are filling up fast, so don’t wait! Grab one of the last places now by clicking the link: https://bit.ly/4kNBfmX #HolidayActivities #SchoolHolidayClubs #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
This year’s leavers are off to 31 top senior schools! As a truly independently run prep school, we’re proud to offer unbiased advice and strong relationships with a wide breadth of leading senior schools near and far. We’re here to guide and support you in finding the perfect next step for your child’s education and your family. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @bedalesschool @brightoncollegeuk @bryanstonschool @canfordschool @charterhousesch @churchers1722 @cranleighschool @epsomcollegeuk @eton.college @gordonsschofficial @ipswich_school @london_park_schools @lordwandsworth @marlboroughcollege @miltonabbey @noadswood_sch @oundleschool @priorsfieldschool @qas_caversham @radleycollegeoxon @rgs_guildford @rugbyschool1567 @seafordcollege @sherbornegirls @sherborneboys @stedwardsoxford @wellingtoncollege
With the school holidays well underway, you may be looking for fun and engaging activities for your children. We only have a few places left on some of our incredible courses, so don’t miss out. To save your place, book now by following the link in our bio. #HolidayActivities #SchoolHolidayClubs #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
