Highfield and Brookham have been deemed ‘excellent’ in all areas.

The perfect praise follows a thorough review by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, with the school passing regulatory compliance and educational quality inspections with flying colours.

The inspectors drilled deep into the workings of the pre-prep and prep schools, including early years provision; observing lessons, talking to pupils and teachers, examining examples of children’s work, and sampling the school’s extra-curricular offerings. The inspection team also surveyed parents, staff and pupils via pre-inspection questionnaires.

The compliance element of the inspection focused on adhering to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools 2022, and the relevant requirements of the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage in areas such as quality of education, pupil welfare, suitability of staff, quality of leadership, and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. The judgment for these standards is either “met” or “not met” and Highfield and Brookham met the standards in all areas.

For the educational quality inspection, schools are graded ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sound’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ for the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievement and the quality of the pupils’ personal development, with Highfield and Brookham again impressing the inspectors.

They found that pre-prep children “demonstrate positive attitudes” toward their learning, are “confident learners who are willing to take risks”, are “enormously considerate, caring, courteous and respectful” and “display outstanding compassion and understanding of the needs of others”.

The inspectors added that the overall achievement of the pupils was excellent and “represents successful fulfilment of the school’s aims to provide an all-round education, nurturing a love of learning and equipping them well for whatever life throws at them”.

At the prep school, the inspectors highlighted that pupils have “excellent communication and collaborative skills”, “achieve success in a wide range of academic, sporting and cultural activities”, are “keen and confident decision makers” and exhibit an “extremely strong sense of inclusivity and acceptance of diversity”.

Both schools were praised for their support and encouragement of children with special educational needs and disabilities and those with English as an additional language.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We are all incredibly proud of this glowing report from the inspectors. Our pupils and staff work hard each and every day to make our school such an incredible place to live, learn and work and the findings of the inspectors really are testament to that.” And Sophie Baber, Head of Pre-Prep, added: “It’s a wonderful report but the hard work doesn’t stop here. We are always challenging ourselves to find ways in which we can improve to make the educational journey for our children as rich and rewarding as possible and we will continue to do exactly that.”

Bucking the usual educational trend, our children at Highfield and Brookham Schools have been urged to break the rules!

But far from it being a case of wanton anarchy, it was all in a good cause as the pre-prep and prep pupils raised cash for two charities close to their heart.

And wearing home clothes, temporary tattoos, wigs and sparkly face paint in exchange for a small cash donation has so far resulted in £1,100 being raised for Liphook Food Bank and Highfield Highreach Holidays.

Highfield and Brookham has long fostered strong community links and the need for the food bank, which is based at Liphook Junior School on Avenue Close, is greater than ever with the current cost-of-living crisis, while Highreach Holidays provides a week-long break each summer for children with mental and physical disabilities.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We are incredibly proud of the associations we have with the local community and any time that we can give something back and lend a helping hand is treasured by all of us. “It was a fun and colourful day for two great causes and the children certainly didn’t need asking twice to break the rules!”

Our talented choristers and musicians have brought some festive cheer to village residents.

The Chapel Choir were joined by the Flute Ensemble for a captivating Christmas concert at Liphook Day Centre.

And after singing a wonderful medley of festive favourites – including Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, Carol of the Bells and O Little Town of Bethlehem – the young choristers and flautists helped hand out gifts to day centre guests as Santa himself made a surprise appearance.

The school and the day centre – which is also known as The Peak Centre – have traditionally strong links, with prep school children regularly undertaking community activities at the Midhurst Road venue while the visit of the annual festive carollers is always popular.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We love being part of the thriving Liphook community and we are especially proud of the strong links that we have with amazing places such as Liphook Day Centre.

“The annual Christmas concert is always a special occasion and is loved by residents and children alike, and this year was absolutely no exception. I’m delighted that our singers and our flautists have again spread some Christmas cheer.”

Liphook Day Centre is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am-3.15pm, offering elderly residents a place to socialise and a freshly-cooked meal.

Highfield and Brookham Schools has again been named the top prep school in Hampshire for cricket.

The latest glowing endorsement comes from The Cricketer Schools Guide 2023, which has named us among its Top 50 Prep Schools in the UK for the fourth consecutive year.

It follows an exhaustive process which saw a “huge” number of schools – both state-funded and private – submit entries for inclusion in the prestigious guide. All entries were judged against an extensive set of criteria, including a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching.

Highfield and Brookham has a strong cricketing tradition and regularly fulfils as many as 230 fixtures in the summer term against rival prep schools from neighbouring Surrey and West Sussex, as well as further afield encompassing the Home Counties.

The school currently fields 38 teams, with the girls’ first XI proudly electing to wear full whites for the first time this year, while the provision of indoor nets has increased from two to three to complement the addition of three new outdoor artificial playing strips.

And the school is set to resume its tour schedule post-Covid with a trip to Barbados next April, the first one since 2019.

Huw Turbervill, editor of The Cricketer magazine, said: “I’ve read some inspirational stories working on this year’s guide, so congratulations to all of the schools included. We look forward to hearing about all of your future successes.”

As well as representing Highfield and Brookham in external fixtures, many young school cricketers also play for local club sides, including Liphook & Ripsley, Haslemere, Fernhurst and Grayshott, while making full use of the indoor and outdoor nets at Highfield.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Cricket is an important part of the sporting curriculum here at Highfield and Brookham and we are very proud to have been named one of the top prep schools in the country, recognising our fantastic facilities and the dedication of our coaching staff.

“It always fills me with a great sense of pride when I see our boys and girls thoroughly enjoying their sport, and the sound of leather on willow, the ripples of applause from the watching mums and dads and the cries of joy at the taking of a wicket or a smart catch are an integral part of the sporting scene at Highfield and Brookham in the spring and summer. “So to be named as the top prep school in Hampshire for cricket is an incredibly special honour indeed.”

Highfield and Brookham’s annual bonfire and fireworks night spectacular has swelled the coffers of a charity dedicated to helping disabled children.

Despite wet and windy weather, Saturday’s spectacle went off with a bang as a riot of colour lit up the night sky above Liphook.

And the impressive bonfire, made up of wood and greenery from around the Highfield and Brookham estate, warmed more than just the Guy Fawkes revellers as the school’s much-loved charity, Highreach Holidays, was boosted to the tune of £2,400 from the night’s proceeds.

Highreach, which has been running since 2018, provides week-long residential summer holidays for children with physical and mental disabilities and the cash was raised through food and drink sales and cash donations.

Taking pride of place atop the bonfire were traditional guys produced by pupils from Highfield’s three houses – Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo – as part of the annual house competition, with Trafalgar taking the honours this year.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “The weather couldn’t have been much worse but the wind and rain certainly failed to dampen anyone’s spirits. The bonfire was a tremendous spectacle, the fireworks were colourful and dramatic and prompted many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the watching children and parents, and the warming food and drinks in the theatre were a real treat.

“But best of all was that a fabulous amount of money was raised for a charity that is incredibly dear to all our hearts at Highfield and Brookham and is really going from strength to strength.” Highreach was deemed ‘outstanding’ this summer by Ofsted; the clean bill of health coming as a huge shot in the arm for the charity which offers a safe, fun and interactive week-long holiday for disabled children aged eight to 16 and an invaluable break for their carers.

A scheme which provides holidays for children with physical and learning disabilities has been described as “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Highfield Highreach Holidays, which is now in its fifth year, received the glowing endorsement after a visit by inspectors in August.

Run by holiday specialist Green Frog and hosted by Highfield and Brookham Schools in Liphook, Highreach scored top marks in every category, as the inspectors considered the overall experience and progress of children and young people on the residential break, how well they were helped and protected, and the effectiveness of the scheme leaders and managers.

The clean bill of health comes as a huge shot in the arm for Highreach, which offers a safe, fun and interactive week-long holiday for disabled children aged eight to 16 and an invaluable break for their carers.

First hosted by the independent school in 2018, Highreach has been a firm favourite for many children since that time, as well as the caring bank of volunteers, including old Highfieldians, who invariably come back to help year after year.

The inspectors found that the staff “plan meticulously for each child’s admission” and that they are “welcomed by a dedicated helper with whom they quickly build a positive relationship”.

They are also well versed in safeguarding and ensure that the children feel safe and secure throughout their holiday, according to the report.

The inspectors were also left hugely impressed by the “exceptional” range of on-site and off-site activities as well as the “excellent” indoor and outdoor facilities available to the children, such as swimming pool, theatre, sensory room, library and sports hall.

Varied trips away from Highfield included a theme park, the beach, a climbing wall, a petting farm and a horse-riding centre for disabled children which, according to the Ofsted report, “broadened the children’s experiences and increased their confidence”.

And that welcome increase of confidence was particularly pertinent for one proud parent who said: “Each time he goes, he comes back a bit more independent.”

The report found that parents refer to the summer holiday as being “the highlight of the year” for their child. One parent said that their child “counts down the sleeps to go and gets so excited” while another said that their child “simply cheers and shouts ‘yeah’ every time the holiday scheme is mentioned”.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield School, said: “We are immensely proud of Highreach Holidays and we know that both the children and the volunteers absolutely love it. It really is such a special and rewarding week for everyone concerned and to get such a glowing report from Ofsted makes it extra special. And Mrs Cryer added: “We are already looking forward to hosting these wonderful children again next summer!”

A Liphook charity has had its coffers swelled to the tune of £5,000 thanks to the efforts of generous pre-prep children at Highfield and Brookham Schools.

A disco, fun run, break the rules day and sponsored walk were just some of the fun initiatives that the caring pupils dreamed up to raise vital cash for Liphook Food Bank.

The school has strong links with the local community and the pre-prep children choose a different charity to support each academic year. Just before the half-term holiday, Glynis Blake, the food bank’s chairman of trustees, popped in to receive the cheque from delighted young pupils of the Liphook-based independent school.

And the cash injection couldn’t be more timely with many people facing a great deal of uncertainty as winter draws near, sparked in no uncertain terms by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Sophie Baber, head of pre-prep at Highfield and Brookham Schools, said: “We always teach our children to be the best they can be and that includes being caring, having humility and thinking of ways to help people who are perhaps less fortunate than they are.

“I am so proud of the way that your young children have rallied round, got involved and done everything they can to raise such a wonderful amount of money for a great cause that will help and benefit many people in our community.”

Liphook Food Bank provides weekly food parcels and signposting advice to a broader range of agencies and services to support those families and individuals who are struggling financially. It is located at Liphook Junior School, on Avenue Close, and is open from 9.30am-11.30am every Tuesday and Friday. To contact the food bank, call 07871 287295 or email liphookfoodbank@gmail.com.

Kind-hearted pupils from Highfield and Brookham have secured a bumper harvest – and all for a good cause.

The children brought in a veritable feast of canned goods, packets, bottles, jars and fresh produce for the annual Harvest Festival service in the school chapel.

And those goodies have now been safely received by bosses at Liphook Day Centre after Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer and her husband, Bob, made the happy delivery to the Midhurst Road centre on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the day centre – which is also known as the Peak Centre – had its coffers swelled to the tune of £328.10, collected at the school’s seasonal service.

Highfield Head Mrs Cryer said: “The school has a wonderful longstanding association with Liphook Day Centre, such as our choir performing for residents on the run up to Christmas each year, and we are delighted to continue that special friendship.

“The centre relies entirely on donations in order to help support, provide companionship and feed so many in this area who may otherwise miss out on hot meals and company. It provides a pertinent reminder of our duty as schools to encourage our children to look out for and consider how they might best help others less fortunate.”

And Mrs Cryer added: “We hope that visitors to the centre enjoy the proceeds of the harvest as much as our pupils enjoyed gathering the goodies and donating them.”  Liphook Day Centre is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am-3.15pm, collects and returns residents home, and offers myriad activities such as quizzes, bingo, art and crafts, flower arranging. Anyone interested in attending the day centre should call 01428 724941.

Our artistic pupils have once again secured top billing – thanks to another record-breaking set of LAMDA exam results.

The proud young performers at Highfield and Brookham Schools picked up an extraordinary 81 Distinctions and 30 Merits in the prestigious annual exams run by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

The 111 honours earned this year follows 71 distinctions and merits a year ago – also up on the previous year – to underscore the consistent quality of drama teaching at the Liphook school, with three more Year 8 pupils earning drama scholarships at senior schools in September.

The outstanding achievement continues a rich vein of theatrical form which has seen Highfield and Brookham Schools become ever more renowned for their dramatic provision, in addition to their already lofty reputation for top academic, artistic and sporting prowess.

Highfield School Head Suzannah Cryer, who rejoined the school in the summer having previously been Head of Drama at the rural prep school, said: “I’ve always been impressed by the dramatic provision at Highfield and the wonderful and dedicated staff who teach it, but I am absolutely in awe of what these children have achieved. These results are simply fantastic and all of the children should be incredibly proud of their achievements.”

Guided by experienced teachers Sarah Baird, Susannah Wilson, Sarah Dungworth and Sammy Swanborough, the pupils made light work of any threat of stage fright to hit the heights in style, with the quartet of Eliza Welby-Everard, Theo Kauntze, Albie Black and Gabriel Church taking starring roles with 96 out of a possible 100 marks.

Highfield and Brookham children are no strangers to the stage as the school has a proud record of putting on performances for every year group throughout the year, from Nursery right up to Year 8, which gives even the youngest children a real taste of drama.

And that early exposure is paying dividends in the form of impressive LAMDA results.

Mrs Cryer added: “I am so proud of every single child, but I must also thank every LAMDA teacher for the fantastic job they do – building confidence, self-esteem and enhancing communication skills are at the forefront of any child’s personal development.” One of the big dramatic highlights of the last academic year was the stunning adaptation of hit musical Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which brought down the curtain on the Year 8s’ time at Highfield.

Retired Highfield Headmaster Phillip Evitt has described his time at the helm as “being like a child given the keys to the sweet shop”.

Mr Evitt left Highfield at the end of July after 23 “wonderful” years in the role – and the affable headmaster with a penchant for history said that his love of all things Highfield and Brookham was as strong on the day he left as it was when he made the move from Dulwich School in 1999.

“This is a community that cares, that supports, that cherishes and nurtures and, for me, as long as I have been in education I have always felt strongly that schools should be places of joy, wonder, enchantment, delight, challenge and risk taking,” he said.

“Just to have that endless enthusiasm, that genuine belief that actually everything is possible, that they (the children) can take risks, that they can say things, that people aren’t going to think they’re idiots is just so enriching, so enlivening and so wonderful.”

Mr Evitt, who taught history at Monmouth School just over the border in Wales prior to moving to south London, cited dedicated teachers and staff members “who love children, are passionate about them, who care about them and who want them to make a difference” as a major reason for his educational longevity at Highfield.

“What makes Highfield the place that it is is colleagues who are genuinely passionate about their charges,” he said, “and I have been incredibly blessed with the colleagues that it has been my privilege and pleasure to lead.”

But Mr Evitt, who was readily assisted in all aspects of school life in unstinting fashion by wife Jo and whose four children were educated at Highfield, saved special praise for his pupils, saying he felt “incredibly lucky” to lead young people for whom the sky was the limit.

He said: “Remembering that they are children and that they are children capable of doing extraordinary things is what made my time at Highfield so extraordinarily magical.

“What’s great is being with young people. Yes, it’s working to encourage them but it’s seeing how much they do and achieve through their own energy when you give them the opportunity to do that. I really feel like a child that has been given the keys to the sweet shop.”

Mr Evitt, 63, has been succeeded at Highfield by Suzannah Cryer, formerly deputy head at Thomas’ Battersea Prep. Mrs Cryer is no stranger to Highfield and Brookham, having previously worked as Head of Drama and Head of Boarding. Mr Evitt said: “I know that the school is in incredibly safe hands with the appointment of Suzannah, who was always a firm favourite with pupils, staff and parents alike during her previous time at Highfield and Brookham. She will undoubtedly bring fresh energy, enthusiasm and ideas to the role, underpinned by her existing knowledge of the school’s special DNA.”

Sophie Baber, Head of Pre-prep at Highfield and Brookham Schools, has cited vocabulary as one of the most important elements to consider when it comes to preparing children for the start of school.

Mrs Baber said there were many factors for parents to consider but targeting vocabulary would give a child a flying start when it came to starting in Reception.

“The key to child development on an academic front is vocabulary, so what you are thinking about is how to develop a child’s vocabulary,” said Mrs Baber, who oversees children from nursery age to Year 3.

“What you need to think about are things that encourage you to talk and develop your child’s language. Reading is the obvious starting point. Engendering a love of books in any child is absolutely vital.”

Mrs Baber said it was important to pick books that will interest your child but that it doesn’t matter what they read as long as they are reading or being read to.

“Pick books with interesting language, with interesting pictures that you can talk about,” she said. It doesn’t just have to be about the actual words in the book, picture books are unbelievably good now and there are so many to choose from.”

The popular head, who has been at the pre-school for seven years, said the next step was to think about shared experiences that can develop vocabulary further, such as cooking which, she continued, develops mathematical language, develops verbs and develops imperative tense during the culinary process.

“Lots and lots of language is being developed during the cookery session; there’s lots of discussion, it’s fun and there’s something tasty at the end of it,” she said.

Mrs Baber also homed in on the use of experiences to expand a child’s vocabulary, citing day trips as a wonderful way to engage with children, but stressing that they needn’t break the bank.

“There are loads and loads of free, easily accessible museums which will again really encourage language as long as you are talking to your child the whole way through,” she said.

“Whether it’s visiting a museum, going on a walk, spotting things, talking about things that interest you or that interest them, you are going to be developing their vocabulary and that’s going to help them when they go to school. It also helps you find out what really inspires them.

“So, coming back to the books, you then can relate through books what they’ve been interested in at the museum or on their walk, such as the interactive displays they’ve seen, the artefacts they’ve held. It’s all about finding the hook and then linking all those things that develop their vocabulary into it.”

As well as targeting vocabulary development, Mrs Baber suggested that routines and time spent with other children would also have a positive impact on a child’s readiness for school.

She said that children who already slotted into healthy routines at home, particularly around mealtimes and bedtime, would undoubtedly find the transition into school life that much easier.

“I’m all in favour of developing independent, free-range children because it empowers them and gives them confidence,” she said. “However, schools have a very set way of working and it’s really important, therefore, for children to be able to fit in to routines as and when they start school.

“One way this can be done is making sure there’s a really clear routine around mealtimes, that children are learning to use their cutlery, that they are sitting at a table, that they are not just getting up, that they are not watching television while they’re eating. Mealtime routine is really important.

“And even though the children are never going to be going to bed at school necessarily at the age of four, bedtime routines are really important for developing structure and having a really clear pattern.”

Mrs Baber also suggested that quiet time with an adult at some stage of the day without the distraction of a gadget was another useful way to prepare a child for school. “It might be to read or play a board game, it might be doing something together that requires a child to listen, to take turns, to be still for a period of time, but not with a screen in front of them. It doesn’t need to be long but it can be extremely beneficial,” she said.

Highfield and Brookham Schools is celebrating another bumper crop of scholarships.

Seventeen senior school scholarships have been awarded to Year 8 pupils this year, taking the impressive total well into three figures in the past eight years alone.

The scholarships and exhibitions awarded are again to a range of top senior schools, including Wellington College, Marlborough College, Charterhouse, Cranleigh and Bryanston.

The award of 123 places since 2014, which this year includes scholarships in art, academia, sport, drama and music, continues a remarkable run of success for the school’s enviable scholarship programme and is a key factor for parents choosing Highfield and Brookham for their children.

Pupils with a wide range of abilities are selected for the programme each year, with each head of department offering their own network of expert support and guidance to help children reach their potential in their chosen specialist subject.

And the level of care and attention aimed at the scholarship programme at Highfield and Brookham Schools has clearly paid handsome dividends yet again.

Phillip Evitt, Headmaster at Highfield School, said: “All those sitting scholarships embark upon a journey which, at times, is challenging, stressful or full of joy – and occasionally all at the same time. These children are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible for their age.

“The 123 scholarships awarded to our pupils over the past eight years really reflects the breadth and range of our pupils’ strengths and provides a strong endorsement of the quality of teaching and learning at Highfield and Brookham Schools.”

And he added: “I’m extremely proud of all of them and wish them well with their future studies and beyond. They are a real credit to the school and will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for next year’s scholarship cohort.”

Scholarship, exhibition and award recipients:

Henrietta Baillieu: Art Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Kitty Black: Drama Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Daisy Clowes: Foundation Award (Charterhouse)

Minty Delliere: Sports Scholarship (Bryanston)

Eleanor Fisher: Academic Scholarship (St Mary’s, Ascot)

Daisy Green: Academic Scholarship (Marlborough) & Art Scholarship (Marlborough)

Gil Hardwick: Music Exhibition (Wellington College)

Izzy Hendricks: Foundation Scholarship (Charterhouse) & Art Exhibition (Charterhouse)

Oliver Hendricks: Foundation Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Tilly Hogg: Sports Scholarship (Bradfield College) & Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Matilda Kauntze: Drama Exhibition (Cranleigh School)

Sebastian Lett: Drama Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Annabel Manning: Music Exhibition (Bryanston School)

Julie Wang: Music Exhibition (Benenden School)

A school fund which helps “bridge the advantage gap” has been boosted to the tune of £66,000.

The sizeable cash injection for the Highfield and Brookham Schools Centenary Bursaries Fund came courtesy of the biennial bursaries ball at the end of the summer term.

The aim of the fund, which was set up in 2007, is to raise enough money to support children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend an independent school such as Highfield and Brookham. Typical candidates are children who are experiencing social or educational difficulties or children who have the ability to succeed academically if given the right support.

The popular ball attracted around 260 guests and the money was raised primarily through ticket sales, table sponsorship and an auction.

Highfield Headmaster Phillip Evitt said he was delighted by the amount raised by the return of the ball, which was pushed back 12 months by Covid.

“It was a wonderful night and I’m so grateful to everyone involved for helping raise such a fabulous amount of money for such a deserving cause,” he said.

“For many people, prep school bursaries are something of a taboo subject – they are out of reach, they are for other people. That couldn’t be further from the truth and we have been exploding that myth since setting up our very own Centenary Bursaries Fund in 2007.

“As a school we can set an example. In our position of privilege, it is our duty to ensure we are doing all we can to bridge the advantage gap. The UK is one of the worst countries for fostering social mobility. Therefore, it is important that we do our bit to ensure as many children as possible receive the same opportunities regardless of their background.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools has awarded 20 bursaries since the fund’s inception in 2007 and Mr Evitt described them as “an enormous success”.

He said that all bar one had been for 100 per cent bursaries, therefore covering all fees, and that the Centenary Bursaries Fund also provided additional support for music lessons, sports equipment, school trips and uniform. The other bursary was for 90 per cent.

“The purpose of the bursary is to make a difference in a child’s life, not just academically but also physically, emotionally and socially. Ours are awarded to children we believe will gain the most from attending, ensuring they reach their full potential.

“These are the children we believe will engage with all of the opportunities Highfield and Brookham has to offer – ensuring they build life-long skills and develop long-lasting positive experiences and relationships. And Mr Evitt added: “We place great importance on all our pupils understanding their position in the community. We encourage them to look beyond the school grounds, to engage with the wider world and to find the part that they can play in society and as global citizens.”

Our thriving nursery has been named one of the best in the country for a second successive year.

The honour was bestowed upon Highfield and Brookham Schools by leading early years website daynurseries.co.uk, which ranked the school’s nursery among the top 20 in the South-East of England.

The welcome nod follows a similar endorsement in 2021.

Brookham Nursery crucially earned the accolade on the back of a wealth of successful parental reviews. And it comes as another huge seal of approval for Sophie Baber, Head of Pre-prep, and her skilled, popular and caring team of specialist teachers and assistants.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been named among the top 20 nurseries in the South East, but what makes it particularly special is that the reviews have come from parents of our pupils, so there really can be no better endorsement,” said Mrs Baber.

“There’s an awful lot of competition out there when it comes to top-quality nursery provision, so it’s hugely important that we stay ahead of the curve and continue to offer our children a varied, interesting, thought-provoking and fun education.

“Our nursery classes are led by a fully-qualified teacher and experienced assistants with high staff-to-children ratios, which gift our staff the time to develop each individual child, helping them build the foundations and get the best start to their learning journey.”

And Mrs Baber added: “Happy children equal happy parents, and the positive response we continue to have from our parents suggests that we are very much on the right lines.”

One reviewer on the daynurseries.co.uk website said: “I can’t rate the nursery highly enough. My son was quite a little monkey when he started and yet they (Brookham) welcomed him with nothing but kindness, support and love. The facilities and opportunities for the children are amazing. I just wish we’d known about it for my older two. We would have moved out of London earlier for them to attend!”

Another happy mum described Brookham Nursery as “phenomenal” with a curriculum “second to none” which includes swimming, ballet, Spanish, sport, art and music, and plenty of time in the fresh air in the school’s 175-acre grounds, with the undoubted highlight being Brookham’s very own “exceptional” Forest School.

And she added that it was “virtually unheard of” for a nursery to have such a high level of pastoral care and facilities and that “no London nursery school could compare”. Due to continued strong demand for Early Years places over the last few years, a nursery extension is currently being built. The refurbishment, expected to be completed during the Autumn Term, will offer a bigger and brighter space in addition to the already outstanding nursery facilities.

A gifted young athlete from Highfield and Brookham Schools has won two national titles.

Talented Year 7 pupil Emily S secured the long jump title with a leap of 4.60m before running away with the 100m title in a sizzling 12.86 seconds at the National Prep Schools’ Athletics Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, which is hosting the Commonwealth Games this summer.

The fastest qualifier in the 100m heats in a time of 13.1 seconds, Emily easily lowered that mark to take gold and set a new prep schools record in the process. Her sub-13-second winning time was also the second fastest ever recorded by an U13 girl from any school.

The twin national titles in England’s second city rounded-off in spectacular style a successful spell for Emily, 12, who was awarded the senior victrix ludorum on sports day at Highfield at the end of June having won the individual girls’ 70m hurdles, long jump and 100m events, as well as being part of the victorious girls’ 4x100m house relay team.

Emily was joined in Birmingham at the national finals by Highfield and Brookham Year 6 pupil Cristo P, who ran superbly to finish sixth in the U12 1500m in a new personal best time of 5 minutes 4 seconds – a new middle school record.

On receiving the good news on Monday afternoon, Highfield Headmaster Phillip Evitt said: “It was just the most wonderful news and a wonderful way to start the final week of term. Emily has been a standout performer on the athletics front all the way through her time at Highfield, but to earn two titles at national level, in two different disciplines, is a phenomenal achievement and one she should be incredibly proud of. The sky really is the limit for Emily and I will watch her athletics career with great interest.”

Emily was only denied the opportunity of adding to her golden tally in the West Midlands because the rules stated that the maximum number of events any athlete could enter was two, thus denying Emily a tilt at the hurdles crown too.

Mr Evitt added: “Having seen both Emily and Cristo perform so well on sports day at the end of June, it’s no surprise that they both enjoyed such a successful day in Birmingham. Reaching the national finals is an incredible achievement in itself, but to break a school record and win two national titles between them is an extraordinary effort.”

Our charitable children have had a double cause for celebration.

While flying the Union Flag and hanging out the bunting in honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, our pupils put their best feet forward for a sponsored walk in aid of Highfield Highreach Holidays.

Joined by parents, grandparents, school staff and assorted four-legged friends – many bedecked in patriotic red, white and blue – the willing walkers raised a tidy £1,420 for the school’s beloved charity which provides week-long residential breaks for children and young adults with physical and learning disabilities.

The Highfield children walked up to 5k through the school’s expansive woodland while the younger pupils at Brookham did their bit for the cause over a much shorter but equally enjoyable route.

Children had set the patriotic scene by making colourful flags and bunting, which proudly fluttered around the school grounds, as well as snazzy crowns to mark seven decades since Her Majesty’s coronation in 1952.

And Brookham children were also in fine voice for an outdoor concert in front of proud parents and grandparents before heading out on their fundraising walk, which finished with a jubilee tea party.

Highfield Headmaster Phillip Evitt said: “There is always something incredibly special about a royal jubilee and some of us have had the opportunity to celebrate more than once the Queen’s wonderful long reign. But for the children at Highfield and Brookham, it’s their first experience of such an outpouring of national pride and joy and it’s something that I have no doubt will linger long in the memory for a good many of them.

“It was a wonderful day with a riot of colour and it was a delight to share it with so many parents and grandparents who came along to celebrate with us and help raise a super amount of money for our Highreach Holidays charity, which is so dear to our hearts.”

Highfield Highreach Holidays this year runs from August 8-12.

Highfield and Brookham Schools have made their debut on the national orienteering circuit.

And after successfully staging a Trail League fixture as part of this year’s British Championships, we have been put firmly on the orienteering map.

Trail orienteering – or TrailO – is a sport that puts the emphasis firmly on precision map reading in order to identify control points within a specific terrain, with the added challenge of decoys to confuse competitors.

Where it differs from standard orienteering is that speed and time are largely inconsequential, making TrailO ideal for competitors young and old, disabled and able-bodied.

Because control points are identified from distance and competitors aren’t allowed to leave the trails, participants with or without physical disabilities compete on level terms.

And unlike other forms of orienteering which involve the competitors physically visiting the control and punching in, trail orienteering is done from distance in the form of multiple-choice questions which test a competitor’s ability to determine where a specific control point is faced with several options.

As a result, Trail O is less physically demanding – which makes it ideal for schoolchildren – and has been proven to be beneficial to children as it encourages independence, problem solving and teamwork – all key skills and attributes central to the learning ethos at Highfield and Brookham.

To underscore the point, a taster event was organised for children at Highfield and Brookham prior to the British Championships which helped build on the orienteering skills that pupils learn during their weekly Keys sessions.

The British Trail League fixture, which saw competitors race around Golden Valley and Cognor Wood, near Liphook, including land owned by Bill Mills, the owner of Highfield and Brookham Schools, was won by Michael Chun Chi Tsang of the Wessex Club with Anne Straube (Octavian Droobers) in second and Kieran Marsh (South London Orienteers) third. Mr Mills presented prizes after the race.

A spokesman for the South East Orienteering Association, which hosted the event, welcomed “special” Highfield and Brookham Schools to the circuit.

“One big attraction was that the land hadn’t been used before. We map a lot of areas for potential use and it’s unusual to find an area that is sufficiently large and special for what we need,” he added. Phillip Evitt, Headmaster at Highfield School, said: “Many generations of schoolchildren at Highfield have learned valuable skills and techniques through orienteering within our curriculum and I know I speak for Mr Mills when I say how proud and delighted we are to have been chosen for a British Championship fixture. Hopefully it will be the first of many!”

Today’s date will be an incredibly significant one for thousands of mums and dads up and down the country. Tuesday 19^th April will have been ringed in thick red marker pen on many a household calendar for many months as a crucial reminder of the date of their child’s most significant educational milestone to date – the allocation of their primary school place. While the majority of families will get their preferred primary school place for a September 2022 start, sadly some won’t. So, faced with that undoubtedly disappointing scenario, what should you do? According to Brookham’s Headteacher, Sophie Baber, the first and most important thing is don’t panic.

“Don’t let your child see that you are upset,” she said. “In fact, I would strongly advise you not to open the email in front of your child. The last thing you want is to transfer any stress or anxiety on to your child.”

If an application has been unsuccessful, according to Mrs Baber there are four options: parents can choose to accept the alternative offer of a school that has enough space, put their child on the waiting list of their preferred schools, make an appeal or, if they are able and willing to, consider paying for private education.

 “Once you have processed the offer and collected your thoughts, it’s time to accept the school place you have been offered,” she said. “While this may seem counter intuitive, it’s important that your child has a school to go to in September. If you don’t, the chances are that you could lose your place and be offered an even less desirable option. This will not affect your right to appeal. I would then advise phoning your preferred choice of school. This may prove challenging at this time. If you think it’s brilliant, the chances are so will lots of other parents. As a result, the phones are likely to be busy and the waiting list may be long. Once again don’t panic, if you cannot get through, leave a message and follow up with an email asking to add your child to the list.”

And Mrs Baber added: “Remember, there is always movement, places come up all the time and it’s not uncommon to be offered a place on the first day of the new school year. If you don’t get a reply to your email within a couple of days, check that your message has been received.”

Once your child’s name is securely on the waiting list, it’s time to consider appealing. Mrs Baber advises: “You have the right to appeal but, if you are to be successful, you need to have a solid case. Your reason could relate to a mistake in the admissions arrangements or the suitability of a school to meet your child’s needs. It is important to note that each local authority will have a slightly different process, so it is imperative to check out your local authority’s website. Don’t forget to have all your supporting evidence in a digital format, so that it can be uploaded and submitted all at the same time. You may want to consider employing a solicitor or a member of a schools’ appeals organisation to help.”

But she warned that going to appeal is “extremely stressful” and the chances of success were “limited”, leaving one further option that parents may wish to consider. “There are some truly outstanding independent schools around,” she said.

“With nurturing smaller class sizes and an enviable breadth of curriculum, delivered by specialist teachers, this is a brilliant back-up plan. If you are in the fortunate position of being able to afford this option, you will find that many independent schools will be open for admissions all year round. If financially this seems an impossibility, it is worth picking up the phone and asking about any bursaries on offer.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools are open for admissions, so if you are interested in finding out about places in Reception and Year 3, contact Charlotte Cottrell on admissions@highfieldandbrookham.co.uk or call 01428 722005.

A brave Highfield and Brookham pupil has taken a huge leap of faith – abseiling from the roof of a 13-storey building in London in honour of her cousin.

Daisy W took the plunge from the top of the Pelican Hotel at St George’s Hospital in Tooting in memory of Izzy Wilson, who died of leukaemia two years ago.

The fearless Year 6 pupil joined a group of Izzy’s friends and family for the daring descent and raised a whopping £8,138 for the Izzy Wilson Smile Fund.

The fund was set up in 2020 to “make children’s lives better during their time at St George’s” in line with Izzy’s wishes and now stands at more than £100,000.

Daisy, 11, said: “I was really excited about doing the abseil at first but as soon as I stepped back off the building I thought ‘do I really want to do this?’ But when I reached the bottom I was so happy and wanted to do it again!”

Embarking on her first big fundraiser, alongside Izzy’s schoolfriends and family, Daisy said the initial target had been £1,500.

“The amount of money raised was absolutely amazing,” she said.

“Izzy and me were really close, she was like a sister to me, and hopefully all of this money will help make children’s lives in the hospital a little bit better.”

Izzy, who attended Broomwood Hall School in Northwood, was cared for at St George’s Hospital for nine weeks and was eager to give something back.

Highfield School Headmaster Phillip Evitt said: “It never ceases to amaze me the extraordinary lengths that our children will go to to help others. Their selfless ways mean they always seem to find new things to do for the betterment of others.

“At the tender age of just 11, what Daisy has done is nothing short of remarkable. An abseil at any age is a pretty scary prospect but Daisy has been incredibly brave and helped raise lots of money for her cousin’s wonderful cause. I know I speak for the whole school when I say we are immensely proud of her.”