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…
Are you ready to discover a school that truly stands out? Join us for our Open Morning on 28th September and experience what makes Highfield and Brookham so special. From our inspiring curriculum to our warm, welcoming community, there’s no better way to discover our magic than by visiting us in person. Book your place today at
Ladies and gentlemen, please say hello to our brilliant boarding team. They really are the unsung heroes of our school who, through their love, care and dedication, make Highfield and Brookham a true home away from home for our boarders. Thank you, Team Boarding, for everything you do! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Boarding
Our pre-prep children had an exciting morning when traffic officers from Sussex Police paid a visit. It was a truly arresting sight to see the children so engaged, absorbing every little detail that the officers shared with them while bombarding them with a million brilliant questions. And the highlight? Sitting in the police car, of course! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Having our old IT equipment recycled is not only helping support a charity in Southampton which is tackling homelessness, it’s also helping the environment by preventing harmful substances making their way into the ground and into watercourses. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #ComputerRecycling
We’ve had a scintillating afternoon of sports action, welcoming back our good friends from 11 different schools to compete in our annual football and hockey tournaments and engage in some eager competition on the netball court. What a fantastic way to start a new season of competitive school sport! Aldro Barrow Hills School Bedales School Edgeborough School Farleigh School Hoe Bridge School Lord Wandsworth College Seaford College St. Edmund’s School, Hindhead Twyford School, Hampshire Westbourne House School #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
It’s not always easy being a goalkeeper on a sports team as you’re the last line of defence and there to be shot at. But there’s no better way to earn the adoration, respect and praise of your teammates than to make a string of simply incredible saves to keep your side in the match! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Hockey #Teammates #Camaraderie
Did you know that our children are immersed in science all the way through school, delving into the wonders of biology, chemistry and physics from the moment they first walk in the door? Science helps our children see the world in a new light, whether they are out collecting samples in nature or undertaking experiments in the lab, and helps make them curious about the world around them. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Science
Autumn and winter may be closing in fast but the young holidaymakers and the army of willing volunteers involved in this summer’s brilliant Highreach Holidays will be warmed by memories that will last a lifetime. Simply click the link to see just how much fun the children (and adults) had as it was all captured for posterity. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HighreachHolidays
Don’t miss the chance to apply for our new Year 5 all-rounder scholarship for entry in September 2025. The scholarship will recognise exceptional children who are bright and curious and show a real passion for learning. Head to our website (link in bio) to find out more. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #year5scholarship @talkeducation @muddysurrey @muddyhantsiow @muddy_sussex
After a busy day of studying, it’s important that our boarders have a dedicated space where they can relax, chat with their friends, watch a film, or maybe even have a singsong round the piano. Thanks to the hard work of our maintenance team and the excellent interior design skills of domestic manager Mrs Gray, the delighted children have exactly that in the newly-refurbished girls’ common room. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #CommonRoomRefurb
Did you know that each month at least one child’s piece of work is named Art Effort of the Month? For July, dedicated art teachers Mrs Houghton and Mrs Pearson deemed the winner to be Caelan MacDonald for his wonderful perspective of the @transportforlondon London Underground. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Art
We’ve got an excellent reputation for the strength of our ever-evolving and ongoing pastoral provision and the children selected as our latest ‘peers listeners’ are determined to make sure it stays that way! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Pastoral #Wellbeing
The boarders are safely installed, we’ve welcomed new pupils from near and far, the school corridors have been filled with excited chatter, the sublime smell of mouth-watering meals has once again emanated from the dining hall and the classrooms have been a hive of activity and learning. It’s so brilliant to be back! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BackToSchool #NewSchoolYear
We’re very much looking forward to welcoming back our boarders this evening ahead of the new school year, with our day children returning on Thursday. Our returnees will be met by our refurbished entrance porch and newly-laid resin walkway which, as well as looking really smart, will hugely reduce the amount dust being walked into the school compared to the previous pea-shingle surface. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
The tables were turned on our sports coaches today as they were put through their paces ahead of the start of the new school year. Miss McIntosh ran through quality drills and techniques on the netball court while Kevin Wilson-Wild, head coach of Guildford Saints F.C, gave the teachers some top tips to pass onto their pupils during the football season. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
While the children may come and go through the years, one thing that remains constant is the high level of dedicated teaching and the wonderful relationship that our teachers form with their eager young charges. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re delighted to announce that our progressive approach to academic rigour in the form of the recently-unveiled Keys Diploma, our continuing pursuit of pastoral excellence and the popularity of our boarding provision have (among other things) helped us earn a place in the Tatler Schools Guide 2025. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re delighted to have been included in the @tatlermagazine Schools Guide for 2025 as one of the UK’s top prep schools. We strive to give our children the very best education possible via a progressive, skills-based curriculum delivered by first-rate teachers which will equip them for life at senior school and beyond. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
At Highfield and Brookham, we’re justly proud of our dedicated teaching team who go above and beyond to support each and every child, both in and out of the classroom. Seeing our children thrive and hearing feedback like this from parents is why we do what we do. #HighfieldBrookham #ParentTestimonial #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #PastoralCare #BoardingSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #ExcellenceInTeaching
Our busy programme of summer work inside and out is almost complete, including a beautiful makeover for our visitors’ loo. We’re incredibly proud of all the unsung heroes who have worked so diligently throughout the holidays to ensure that the school is in great shape for the start of the new school year next week. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Progress is being made on our new Wellbeing Garden. The flowerbeds have been fully prepared and we’re one step closer to creating a tranquil outdoor space for our children to enjoy. We can’t wait to see the garden come to life once the planting gets underway. #TogetherWeGrow #WellbeingGarden #OutdoorClassroom #PastoralCare #NatureSpace #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Are you ready to discover a school that truly stands out? Join us for our Open Morning on 28th September and experience what makes Highfield and Brookham so special. From our inspiring curriculum to our warm, welcoming community, there’s no better way to discover our magic than by visiting us in person. Book your place today➡️bit.ly/3XZVruq
The red maples that our grounds team lovingly planted in January 2023 to replace the trees which fell victim to ash dieback are now becoming beautifully established, forming a leafy vista from Chapel Field and past Mac’s Field to the woodland beyond. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TreePlanting @thetreecouncil @keepbritaintidy
