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…
We have reaffirmed our commitment to excellence by unveiling a scholarship award for pupils in Year 5. The all-rounder scholarship, which will be available from September 2025, is designed to recognise exceptional children who have a positive attitude to learning and demonstrate phenomenal abilities in and out of the classroom. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Scholarships #EducationalExcellence
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: As we count down to tonight’s opening ceremony of Paris 2024, we fondly remember the excitement of Year 4 staging their very own Olympic Games during the spring term. The children made their own flags, banners and badges before competing in select events under the flag of their chosen countries. Three months on, it’s almost time for the games of the 33rd Olympiad to begin… #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #OlympicGames #Paris2024
Our art room has been transformed into a veritable craft workshop this week. The children on our two-day Crafting With Kate holiday course have produced the most dazzling array of farmyard animals, dolls, insects, wreaths and pictures using different crafting techniques such as rag rugging and needle felting, as well as exploring textures, colours and patterns of different materials and fabrics. If you like what you see, we are running a Creative Crafting course in August. To book a place, simply click the link in our bio! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HolidayActivities #ArtsAndCrafts #CreativeCrafting
We’re thrilled to be taking part in Heritage Open Days this September with a choice of two events in our wonderful woodlands. Choose an hour-long forest school session, for children (aged 4-6) and their parents, or if you have younger children (from 18 months) come and listen to a family favourite story around the camp fire and embark on a hunt in the woods for the animals from the story. Both events offer the chance to explore our woodlands and connect with nature. Events are completely free but booking is essential ➡️highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/heritage-open-days
Our skilled grounds team are busy laying hybrid matting on our overflow car park. The matting is environmentally and wildlife friendly as it allows the grass to grow through sizeable gaps, it alleviates the risk of flooding as opposed to asphalt, and it will increase the capacity of the car park, which is particularly useful during sports fixtures when visitors to come to sample our legendary match teas! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Young gymnasts have today been put through their paces under the expert eye of coach Mrs Ogilvie, having great fun as they honed their techniques. Gymnastics is just one of a wide range of amazing courses we are running during the summer holidays, and there’s still time to get involved. To see what else we have coming up, simply click the link in the bio! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HolidayActivities #Gymnastics
Our young woodland adventurers have been honing some essential bushcraft and life skills today. Den building, fire lighting, wood sawing, making wooden bowls using embers from a fire and making and cooking tasty bread over the campfire ensured that the children could at the very least get warm, eat and make shelter if they ever found themselves out in the forest. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Bushcraft
Our young innovators at Tech Camp today have been fully immersed in all things tech as they learn new skills and explore the exciting world of technology. The children have had so much fun unleashing their creativity, solving puzzles and discovering the wonders of coding and digital tools. Next Thing Education Camps
We’re thrilled to be taking part in @heritageopendays this September with a choice of two events in our wonderful woodlands. Choose an hour-long forest school session, for children (aged 4-6) and their parents, or if you have younger children (from 18 months) come and listen to a family favourite story around the camp fire and embark on a hunt in the woods for the animals from the story. Both events offer the chance to explore our woodlands and connect with nature. Events are completely free but booking is essential at: https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/heritage-open-days #nursery #preprepschool #prepschool #Liphook #Surrey #Hampshire #westsussex #PrivateSchool #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchool #TogetherWeGrow #heritageopendays2024
We’d be thrilled if you could spare a moment to vote for us in this year’s Tatler Schools Awards. Head to our bio to find the link. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #tatler #tatlerschoolsguide2024 #tatlerschoolsawards2024
The children have had a fantastic time at our tennis club today, learning one of the most essential (and tricky!) skills in tennis – serving. Under the guidance of our Head Tennis Coach, and with enthusiasm and focus, the children worked hard to master their serves, from perfecting their stance to nailing the throw and swing. There’s been plenty of fun and games to help the children learn the techniques and seeing the children persevering and gaining in confidence when they get it right is fabulous. If your child would like to learn or improve their tennis skills, we’ve got two more tennis clubs running in the coming weeks. Find out more bit.ly/3y4Ybfi
We’re excited to invite you to our first Open Morning of the new academic year on 28th September. Come and discover why we’ve been shortlisted for Independent Prep School of the Year. Explore our beautiful school site, meet our dedicated staff and discover first-hand what makes our school a standout choice for your child’s education.. Head to our website (link in bio) to book. #nursery #preprepschool #prepschool #Liphook #Surrey #Hampshire #westsussex #PrivateSchool #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchool #TogetherWeGrow #awards2024 #awards #independentschooloftheyear
We’re accepting applications for our new Year 5 all-rounder scholarship for entry in September 2025. This scholarship is designed to recognise exceptional children who demonstrate a real passion for learning and a thirst for knowledge. If you have a bright, curious and enthusiastic young learner who would be eager to make the most of our enriching educational environment, we encourage you to apply. Find out more ➡️ bit.ly/4aVPBwY
After a busy morning decorating biscuits in the kitchen, our Mini Marvels headed out to make the most of the nursery garden. From digging in the sandpit to running around and playing with friends, every moment has been filled with fun and laughter. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re thrilled to announce that Highfield and Brookham has been shortlisted for Prep School of the Year in the Independent School Parent Independent School of the Year Awards. Our focus on blending academic excellence with essential life skills has put us in the spotlight. Equipping our pupils with the tools they need to thrive, both in now and in the future. We’re incredibly proud of our team for this recognition. Fingers crossed for September!
Over, under, jumping, balancing…the children on our Mini Olympics Holiday Club really have been put through their paces today. They have shown amazing enthusiasm and energy, learnt new skills and had enormous fun doing so. It’s been fantastic to see their determination and excitement as they participate in all the various activities. Can’t wait to see them back tomorrow!
Exciting changes are happening! This underutilised area is being transformed over the holidays into a wellbeing garden. The new space will further enhance our pastoral offering, providing an outdoor classroom and a beautiful natural space where children can unwind and relax. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #WellbeingGarden #OutdoorClassroom #NatureSpace #Relaxation #PastoralCare
We are delighted to be featured in the @goodschoolsguide Boarding Schools Guide 2024, the complete guide to the UK’s best boarding schools. Boarding at Highfield and Brookham is ever popular and an integral part of our school community. It is so much more than a place to live, it’s a vibrant, supportive community where children make cherished memories. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #iloveboarding #countrysideboarding #GoodSchoolsGuide
Our adventurous Year 7s had an amazing week in the Scottish Highlands at Ridgway Adventure. They embraced every challenge, learned survival skills and discovered the magic of teamwork. With new friendships and unforgettable memories, they returned with stories of adventure and a newfound confidence.
Our brilliant holiday activity courses have finally got under way and we’re incredibly excited about what lies ahead. Whether you’re into the performing arts, bushcraft, sport, spectacular science, creative crafting or all things tech, we really do have something for everyone. So if you’re looking for an enriching, engaging and downright fun course for your child this summer, simply click the link in our bio and see what we’ve got to offer! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HolidayActivities
A medal, two new school records and a clutch of personal bests was a brilliant reward for our eight athletes who competed in this year’s National Prep Schools Track & Field Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Warmest congratulations to Phoebe G, Xander A, Tiggy W, Clemmie C, Cristo P, Olivia T, Tiger E and Imi K, we’re very proud of you all for representing the school so brilliantly. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Athletics #NationalChampionships
Are you considering schools? Come along to our Open Morning on 28th September and discover why we have been shortlisted for Independent Prep School of the Year. Head to our website (link in bio) to book. #nursery #preprepschool #prepschool #Liphook #Surrey #Hampshire #westsussex #PrivateSchool #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchool #TogetherWeGrow #awards2024 #awards #independentschooloftheyear
The fabulous outdoor adventures continue for our all-action Year 7 children on their character-building trip to Scotland. Facing their fears and working as a team, the children have reached the twin summits of the mighty peak Arkle and taken to kayaking like the proverbial ducks to water. Wonder what exciting things they’ve got in store next thanks to the brilliant folk at Ridgway Adventure, Ardmore, Highlands of Scotland… #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Adventure