It is increasingly evident that skills-based learning is not just a trend, but the future of education. At Highfield and Brookham we believe that in a rapidly changing world, it is not enough to educate children for academic success alone. We must also equip them with the essential skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom – skills that will support them in tomorrow’s workplaces, in their relationships and throughout their wider lives.

This commitment to a broader, more practical education is echoed in the recently updated statutory guidance from the Department for Education, which highlights the growing importance of skills-based learning. The guidance reinforces what we have long understood: that preparing children for life means developing not only their knowledge, but also their adaptability, resilience, collaboration and communication skills.

“At Highfield and Brookham, we believe that education must evolve alongside the world our children will inherit,” says Head Suzannah Cryer. Academic achievement remains vital, but it’s no longer enough. We must also nurture essential skills that prepare our pupils for their senior schools, future careers and personal success. And we are proud to be one of the first independent schools in the primary sector to have adapted to this new way of teaching.”

This progressive approach is rooted in the Highfield and Brookham bespoke Essential Skills programme, which adapts the respected Skills Builder framework (a nationally respected programme that teaches eight core employability skills) to meet the unique needs of pupils from Nursery to Year 8.

The programme focusses on eight key areas: listening, speaking, problem-solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork. These core skills are interwoven with the schools’ values – Be Kind, Be Courageous, Be You – to guide students’ personal and social development.

The curriculum is designed to foster these capabilities from the earliest years. Through collaborative projects, reflective practices and structured goal-setting, children learn to take ownership of their growth. From Year 3, progress is tracked through a personalised Keys Passport, culminating in the Keys Diploma, a motivational awards scheme celebrating each child’s development journey.

Research cited in the 2025 Curriculum and Assessment Review reveals that 90% of jobs created by 2035 will require high-level interpersonal and cognitive skills. Highfield and Brookham School is responding with intent and innovation, ensuring pupils are not only prepared for academic success but for the demands of a future shaped by AI, automation and global collaboration.

“Learning here is not just about what you know,” explains Mrs Cryer. It’s about who you are becoming. Our pupils are learning to reflect on their strengths, address challenges and articulate their growth with confidence.  These are qualities that support everything from school interviews to lifelong resilience.”

The benefits of this approach are far-reaching. Pupils develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness and strong communication skills – all while gaining a deeper engagement with their academic studies. By embedding Essential Skills into every aspect of school life, Highfield and Brookham is ensuring their pupils are future-ready.

In a world where change is the only constant, Highfield and Brookham School is proud to offer an education that goes beyond knowledge, focusing instead on the cultivation of capability, character and confidence. The future starts now, and every child deserves to meet it with the tools to thrive.

Pupils from Highfield and Brookham School have immersed themselves in Italian culture as part of a thriving exchange programme.

Nine academic scholars have spent the week based in the small town of Fontanellato in northern Italy, continuing an unofficial twinning link with the Istituto Comprensivo di Fontanellato e Fontevivo which has been running successfully since 2018.

While the nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s academic scholars head to south-central Europe for a week during the summer term each year, two pupils from Fontanellato spend six weeks in Hampshire during the autumn term.

The choice of the small town of Fontanellato in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy as the landing spot for the annual scholars’ trip for the past seven years is no random selection, instead the Highfield and Brookham children get to bring a pertinent wartime story to life.

For they get to follow in the footsteps of former Highfield and Brookham headmaster Peter Mills, who escaped from a German prisoner of war camp in Italy in 1943.

Mr Mills, Highfield Headmaster from 1953 until his retirement in 1979 and former owner of the school now owned by his son, Bill, was imprisoned at Fontanellato, near Parma, during the Second World War. Locals, guards and a kindly commandant helped him escape along a route through the Apennines known as the ‘Freedom Trail’ after an armistice between the Allies and Italy which Germany refused to recognise.

Now, in peacetime, sections of the Freedom Trail are walked only by people keen to gain an understanding of a significant piece of history.

As well as walking part of the Freedom Trail, the Highfield and Brookham pupils took in the wonderful sights and sounds of the region, including time spent in and out of the classroom with their hosts, a tour of the 12^th Century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and a trip to a cheese factory where the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano is produced.

The young travellers also ventured 90 minutes north-west of Fontanellato to the vibrant city of Milan, home to the impressive Duomo Cathedral, the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the inspirational Leonardo da Vinci Museum, named in honour of the legendary artist and inventor.

Suzannah Cryer, current Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “We have forged a wonderful relationship with our friends in Fontanellato and it’s a great opportunity for our scholars to broaden their horizons further and immerse themselves fully in such a culturally fulfilling and rewarding trip.

“Through the exchange, we also have the pleasure of welcoming every September two Italian pupils who get the chance to sample life at an English country boarding school for six weeks, during which time they make firm friendships which will last a lifetime.”

A green-fingered pupil from Highfield and Brookham has discovered that you really do reap what you sow.

Inigo Coller harvested not one but two awards at last week’s prestigious BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu, near Brockenhurst.

Crossing forks and trowels with professional gardeners from across the country, nine-year-old Ini earned the special Gardeners’ World Award trophy for his outstanding horticultural efforts as the youngest designer at the show – just hours after scooping an award with his dad.

Inigo and dad Jonny, who runs garden design company Floreat, were awarded a silver merit for their Time Together Garden in the ‘beautiful border’ category at the annual show, which attracted around 25,000 visitors.

The dazzling duo earned the gong after spectacularly sprucing up a three square metre plot, having worked hard to source suitable plants, visit nurseries and source hedging.

Inigo, who is also a keen drummer, has been working alongside his dad in their garden at home for as long as he can remember, helping with hedge planting and vegetable and flower growing, so he felt it was natural that the appearance at the spring fair should be a family affair.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “One of our key school messages is that together we grow and in the case of Ini and his dad, that couldn’t be more apt.

“As a community, we are really thrilled for both of them on their wonderful gardening success at Beaulieu, but especially for Inigo for whom this is an amazing achievement at just nine years old.” And she added: “Our nursery, pre-prep and prep school children proudly tend their respective fruit and vegetable patches, but from now on I suspect they may be calling on Inigo for some expert advice!”

Highfield and Brookham School has underlined its strong emphasis on enhancing pupil wellbeing by expanding and enriching its outdoor spaces.

Rooted in a belief that nature plays a vital role in fostering emotional resilience and happiness, the school has transformed under-utilised areas into vibrant, purposeful wellbeing zones that reflect the voice and needs of the children.

A standout project has been the redevelopment of the former pond area near the Prep school science labs into a dedicated wellbeing garden, co-designed by the school’s pupil council. This little-used area has been brought back to life as a tranquil retreat, where children are encouraged to relax, chat and connect with one another during breaktimes.

With its serene setting and calming environment, the green space is already having a significant impact on pupils’ emotional health and peer relationships.

Plans are in place now to develop the area further as an outdoor learning space, blending curriculum delivery with the proven mental health benefits of being in nature.

Running hand in hand with the transformation of the old pond, the school’s Pre-prep Eco Club has taken on the restoration and creation of a wellbeing garden of its own. This space has become a cherished part of the school day, used by younger pupils during breaks and lunchtimes. With their hands in the soil and surrounded by nature, the children experience a sense of responsibility, connection and calmness that is difficult to replicate in the classroom alone.

Empowering pupils to shape their own environment and wellbeing experience has been a central theme at Highfield and Brookham, and school Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Modern life is stressful for people of all ages, including children who face many pressures and suffer many anxieties growing up, so to have dedicated wellbeing spaces to relax, reset and unwind is worth its weight in gold. The fact that the children have been actively involved in the whole process of regenerating the old pond into a wellbeing garden makes the project extra special.”

And Mrs Cryer added: “We look forward to seeing children making full use of the calming green space for many years to come.”

The long wait for anxious parents facing the first significant milestone of their child’s education is almost over.

Parents of three and four-year-olds will tomorrow find out what primary school has offered their child a Reception place, starting in September. Parents who have children in infant schools that end at Year 2 will also have been eagerly waiting to hear about their junior school of choice and a place for their child starting Year 3.

And while the vast majority of families will have got their preferred primary school place – the figure was 93% in 2024 with that figure rising to 98% for one of their top three choices, according to Government statistics – some won’t.

So, faced with that undoubtedly disappointing scenario, what should you do?

According to Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook, Hampshire, there are four options available to parents: accept the alternative offer of a school that has enough space, put their child on the waiting list of their preferred schools, appeal the decision, or consider an independent school.

“Once you have processed the offer and collected your thoughts, it’s time to accept the school place you have been offered,” said Mrs Cryer, who is in her third year as head of the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

“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.”

Mrs Cryer stressed that such a move would not affect any right of appeal to the local authority’s initial decision.

“Once you have accepted the place on offer, I would advise phoning your preferred school and asking for your child to be added to their waiting list,” continued Mrs Cryer, who said that places come up all the time and added that it was not uncommon to be offered a place on the first day of the new term.

In terms of appealing, Mrs Cryer said to be successful parents must 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, but it’s also worth remembering that each local authority will have a slightly different admissions process so it’s imperative you check the details on their website.”

However, Mrs Cryer cautioned that appealing was “extremely stressful” and that the chances of success were “limited”.

Private education could prove to be a very useful option for some families in order to help parents avoid such an emotional minefield. 

“There are some truly outstanding independent schools around,” said Mrs Cryer.

“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 impossible, it’s worth picking up the phone and asking about the funded bursaries on offer.” To discuss Reception and Year 3 places at Highfield and Brookham School, email Charlotte Cottrell at admissions@highfieldandbrookham.co.uk or call 01428 722005.

Five runners from Highfield and Brookham School made some serious capital gains on Sunday for a charity close to their hearts.

Owner Bill Mills, Head Suzannah Cryer, Head of Pre-Prep Georgie Hunter and mums Sarah Bagshaw and Claire Kenwright raised more than £7,700 after completing the London Landmarks Half-Marathon.

All money raised will go the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund, which helps support children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a private school such as Highfield and Brookham.

The hardy quintet all completed the monumental course around the streets of the nation’s capital in under two-and-a-half hours, with Claire posting a particularly impressive sub-two-hour time on a warm day.

And not even a last-ditch course change caused by a police emergency along the route at Chancery Lane Tube station just 15 minutes before the scheduled start could knock the fleet-footed five off their stride.

The 13.1-mile charity run – the only half-marathon to incorporate the City of London and the City of Westminster – took the runners past some of the city’s most famous monuments, such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The Shard and the London Eye.

It also took in many of London’s hidden heritage and cultural gems such as Guy Fawkes’ house where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met, the memorial to flamboyant poet Oscar Wilde, Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London started in 1666, and Billingsgate Roman bathhouse.

Speaking on behalf of the five runners, Mrs Cryer said: “We were all naturally a little apprehensive before the start of the run but were spurred on by the fact that we were there to raise money for such an amazing cause as the Centenary Bursaries Fund, which can help make a tremendous difference to the lives of young people.

“With that in mind, we really can’t thank our kind and generous supporters enough for helping us raise close to £7,800 for the fund. Thank you all so much. It’s an amazing amount of money and we are truly humbled by such generosity.”

Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up 17 years ago and 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 fundraising pages of the five Highfield and Brookham runners are still live. To donate, visit:

www.justgiving.com/page/octavia-bagshaw-1

https://www.justgiving.com/page/georgie-hunter-1

https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzannah-cryer-1736938475380

https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-kenwright-2

https://www.justgiving.com/page/william-mills-1

Children at an independent school in Liphook have taken their learning to a new level thanks to informative trips.

School trips are well known for offering numerous benefits to children, not least offering real-world experiences which enhance their classroom learning.

And that has certainly been the case for children at Highfield and Brookham School, who have been on their fact-finding educational travels in recent.

Year 1 children took a trip to the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford, near Farnham, in readiness for next term’s ‘farming through time’ and ‘living history’ topics while Year 2 headed to the Brooklands Museum to find out more about ‘travel and transport’.

Children in Year 4 took a step back in time to sample life as evacuees with a visit to the iconic Watercress Line, a 1940s-style railway line which features four old-fashioned stations between Alresford and Alton in Hampshire, as part of their Second World War studies.

Year 6 embellished their scientific studies with a visit to London’s Science Museum while Year 7 headed for the wonders of the Natural History Museum.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer spoke of the “amazing benefits” of school trips to children, be they one-day trips or residential stays.

“School trips are an incredible resource for children as they provide pupils with real-life experiences and opportunities to connect with their studies outside the classroom,” she said.

“They can make learning more engaging and memorable which, in turn, can foster a better understanding of the subject and increased knowledge retention.” Mrs Cryer added that such trips gave children the chance to observe, analyse and think critically about the world around them, while also offering social and personal benefits as well as educational benefits.

With little more than two weeks until the London Landmarks Half-Marathon, pupils at Highfield and Brookham School have joined the fundraising push.

Highfield and Brookham owner Bill Mills, Head Suzannah Cryer, Head of Pre-Prep Georgie Hunter and parents Sarah Bagshaw and Claire Kenwright will be pounding the streets of the nation’s capital on April 6 in aid of the Highfield School Centenaries Bursaries Fund.

As well as training hard for the half-marathon, the focused five have also been busy raising money for their chosen charity – and their cause has been helped this week by two caring children who, armed with collection buckets and disarming smiles, set up shop outside the pre-prep main entrance in time for morning drop off.

The quintet of runners is close to halfway toward its combined fundraising target of £6,000, and the charity coffers have been swelled further by the £192 raised by the children outside the school gates.

The 13-mile charity run – the only half-marathon to incorporate the City of London and the City of Westminster – will take the fleet-footed five past some of the city’s most famous monuments, such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The Shard and the London Eye.

But it will also take in many of London’s hidden heritage and cultural gems like Guy Fawkes’ house where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met, the memorial to flamboyant poet Oscar Wilde, Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London started in 1666, and Billingsgate Roman bathhouse.

Mrs Hunter is no stranger to endurance running, having been one of four staff members who raised almost £4,000 for the school’s Highreach Holidays charity when completing the gruelling 62-mile South Coast Challenge from Eastbourne to Arundel in 2021.

And she joined Mrs Cryer for the Year 5 race during February’s inter-school cross-country championships hosted by Highfield and Brookham in Liphook.

Speaking on behalf of the five runners, Mrs Cryer said: “We’re all getting a little nervous now that the race is getting so close, but we’re driven by the fact that it is for such a wonderful cause.

“Bursaries really do make an incredible difference to the lives of young people, and we’re immensely proud that our current children are doing their bit to help hoist the fundraising flag.”

Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up 17 years ago with the aim of supporting 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 five runners have set up fundraising pages. To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzannah-cryer-1736938475380

https://www.justgiving.com/page/georgie-hunter-1

www.justgiving.com/page/octavia-bagshaw-1

https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-kenwright-2

https://www.justgiving.com/page/william-mills-1

Resourceful pupils at Highfield and Brookham School have this week demonstrated a love of all things scientific.

The children immersed themselves in an amazing world of discovery in honour of British Science Week, including being pitched into two ‘crime scenes’ and taking trips to two world-class London museums.

Even the school’s very youngest pupils, in the nursery, got involved in the appliance of science by learning about the importance of healthy eating on both their physical and mental wellbeing, loading up fruit skewers with fresh bananas, apples, pears and raisins.

For children in Reception to Year 5, a baffling case of Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer’s missing chocolate saw the young learners turn detective, swapping maths books for magnifying glasses and French vocab for forensics in a bid to unearth clues and discover the truth behind the sweet-snatch mystery.

Year 8 were faced with a crime scene of their own, as poor old science lab stalwart Stan the skeleton was discovered prone on the floor of the biology lab, with a shattered mug, footprints, mysterious white powder and ‘blood’ spatter littered around the scene.

In both cases, the children had to find and assess the clues at the crime scene – such as chocolate bar wrappers, a lock of hair, fingerprints, muddy boots and fibres – and talk to potential witnesses in order to rule suspects in or out of their enquiries.

For the younger children this meant studying fingerprints and footprints and weighing up the findings against what they knew about the suspects, for the older children chromatography, flame tests and fingerprint analysis under microscopes came into play.

Away from the crime scene, where the children put key skills such as problem solving, teamwork and creativity to the test to get answers and make progress on their dastardly cases, Year 6 got the chance to engage with science in a fun and interactive way with a trip to the Science Museum while Year 7 gained a deeper understanding of the natural world, evolution and science with a fascinating trip to the Natural History Museum.

Mrs Cryer, whose chocolate stock was never replenished despite the culprit being apprehended, said that despite losing her sweet treat she was delighted to see the children so engaged and showing such initiative faced with a series of tough scientific challenges.

“We love British Science Week and our children get so much out of it, not least the chance to see how the key skills which underpin our curriculum can be used in such a practical and positive way,” she said.

“The children have learnt so much and they can apply that knowledge and those skills to overcome any challenges that life throws at them in the future.” And she added: “But it’s not just the children who have learnt a great deal this week, I’ve also learnt that it’s really important to keep my chocolate in a locked drawer!”

Literature-loving children at Highfield and Brookham School have proved they have real character – quite literally!

The nursery, pre-prep and prep school was a positive riot of colourful, fancy, daring and downright clever costumes on Thursday as the pupils dressed up as their favourite literary characters to mark World Book Day.

From the youngest cohort in nursery right through to the oldest children in Year 8, the school was awash with fairytale princesses, cartoon heroes, the stars of bestselling books old and new, and a wealth of other children’s favourites.

On a day intended to celebrate books and reading in our hi-tech, modern world, Highfield and Brookham welcomed everyone from Tintin, Willy Wonka, Mary Poppins and The Mister Men to Harry Potter, The Hungry Caterpillar, Toothless and Gangsta Granny.  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Elphaba, The Mad Hatter and the Three Little Pigs also joined in the fun.

Highfield and Brookham has a long and successful association with World Book Day, which was first celebrated in the UK in 1997, with literature and reading a key staple of the school curriculum.

And it wasn’t just the children who were bitten by the World Book Day bug as the teachers brought their favourite alter egos to the party too, with appearances by the likes of Fantastic Mr Fox, The BFG, Captain Hook and Sherlock Holmes.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Reading is an incredibly important part of education and reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success.

“There really is nothing quite like a good book. In the midst of our technological age, the opportunity to lose oneself in a favourite book, to let one’s imagination wander, to visualise characters and settings and to form opinions of those very characters and settings is incredibly special.”

And she added: “Our children love books and our children love to read, which is why our libraries are so popular. So how wonderful it is that our happy children get the chance to express their love of literature and school life in such a fun and creative way.”

Pre-prep pupils at Highfield and Brookham School have had a snapshot of travel and transport through time with a fascinating visit to Brooklands Museum.

Embellishing their work in the classroom on a dedicated spring term topic which considers whether we should change the way we travel in order to help safeguard the planet, the Year 2 children got a first-hand look at an amazing array of modes of transport.

The eager young researchers explored planes, racing cars and buses during their trip to the Weybridge-based museum, discovering how travel and modes of transport have developed over time.

In the classroom, with a focus on the need for clean and renewable energy – one of the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals – the children have learnt about everything from the first flight undertaken by the Wright brothers in 1903 to the wonders of modern space travel.

At Brooklands, the children were treated to a close look at an array of vintage vehicles and aircraft, including the wartime Wellington bomber which was salvaged from the bottom of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.

The interactive experience also included sitting in an F1 racing car and a tour of the Sultan of Oman’s private jet.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “School trips are an incredibly important part of any learning journey as they enable children deepen their understanding of subjects through real-world context and gain a broader perspective on the world by experiencing different environments, essentially enriching their learning experience beyond traditional classroom knowledge.

“This year, our Year 2 children are on a mission to discover how much travel and transport has evolved over the years and whether or not they need to change further in order to protect the environment.

“They have already learnt that transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and noise, and the fact-finding trip to Brooklands Museum has given them even more food for thought.”

Highfield and Brookham School has made its first move into television advertising.

A leading independent school with a rich history, which first opened its doors in Southampton in 1892 before moving to its current site in Liphook in 1904, Highfield and Brookham has blossomed over the years using more traditional media and marketing techniques to raise awareness of its educational offering as a quality day and boarding school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

But this week, the co-ed nursery, pre-prep and prep school added another string to its marketing bow by launching its first ever television advert. The 30-second ad, which captures beautifully the essence of a progressive school whose values are be kind, be courageous and be you, will run on Sky TV for two weeks.

Aimed at widening its reach to prospective families and engaging with key communities, the ad will be seen by specific households in the school’s heartland of Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, as well as south-west London.

Suzannah Cryer, who took over the reins at Highfield and Brookham School in 2022 after forging a strong reputation for leadership as deputy head at Thomas’s Battersea, said: “It’s no secret that these are challenging times for private schools. First, we had the Covid pandemic to contend with and then the government’s decision to remove the tax exemption for private schools from January.

“The upshot is that schools such as Highfield and Brookham must look more closely than ever at the most cost-effective ways to attract new pupils and new families, and the move into television advertising is an exciting new avenue for us to explore.

“We know of a lot of schools and colleges who have gone down the Sky TV advertising route and had great success doing so, with the platform offering a range of benefits to boost visibility, recruitment and community engagement.

“So next time you’re watching TV, keep an eye out for us, we might just pop up in the middle of your favourite programme!”

More than 900 pupils from 15 schools braved slippery conditions, uneven terrain and a biting wind in pursuit of cross-country glory today.

The annual inter-school endurance test at Highfield and Brookham School saw U8 children race over 1.3k, U9 and U10 children compete over two kilometres, and U11 to U13 runners tackle a three-kilometre course.

And they were joined by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer, who ran alongside the U10 children in preparation for her London Landmarks Half-Marathon charity run in April in aid of the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund.

The popular annual run across the sports pitches and through the vast woodland at the co-educational day and boarding school in Liphook attracted children from independent schools across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

And the determined girls and boys, who competed in a dozen races around the picturesque but tricky circuit, dug deep as they tackled slippery slopes, a chill wind and energy-sapping mud on the flatter parts of the course which added an extra degree of difficulty to the course.

Mrs Cryer said: “To say conditions for the young runners were difficult would be an understatement, but the children showed great strength of character and real resilience as they put their best feet forward in the name of their respective schools.

“I’m immensely proud of all the boys and girls who took part and who were a real credit not only to their schools but also to themselves.”

Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each category as well as the winning teams in each race, with Highfield’s U9 girls claiming victory in the Year 4 race.

Five charitable runners from the Highfield and Brookham School community will be pounding the streets of London in April.

Highfield and Brookham owner Bill Mills, Head Suzannah Cryer and Head of Pre-prep Georgie Hunter will be joined by parents Sarah Bagshaw and Claire Kenwright as they tackle the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on 6^th April.

The intrepid quintet will be running in aid of the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund.

The 13-mile charity run around the streets of the nation’s capital – the only half-marathon to incorporate the City of London and the City of Westminster – will take the fleet-footed five past some of the city’s most famous monuments, such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The Shard and the London Eye.

But it will also take in many of London’s hidden heritage and cultural gems like Guy Fawkes’ house where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met, the memorial to flamboyant poet Oscar Wilde, Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London started in 1666, and Billingsgate Roman bathhouse.

Mrs Hunter is no stranger to endurance running, having been one of four staff members who raised almost £4,000 for the school’s Highreach Holidays charity when completing the gruelling 62-mile South Coast Challenge from Eastbourne to Arundel in 2021.

Mrs Cryer will be joining Year 5 in next week’s inter-school cross-country championships as part of her London Landmarks preparations while Mr Mills is also an avid runner.

“The purpose of the bursary is to make a difference to a child’s life, not just academically but also physically, emotionally and socially,” said Mrs Cryer.

“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 she added: “We’re all slightly nervous and excited at the same time about taking on the London Landmarks Half-Marathon, but hopefully we can help each other along on the run to raise lots of money for our life-changing bursaries fund.”

Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up 17 years ago with the aim of supporting 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 five runners have set up fundraising pages. To donate, visit:

www.justgiving.com/page/octavia-bagshaw-1

www.justgiving.com/page/claire-kenwright-2

www.justgiving.com/page/william-mills-1

www.justgiving.com/page/georgie-hunter-1

www.justgiving.com/page/suzannah-cryer-1736938475380

Highfield and Brookham School has been awarded prestigious ‘gold’ status for its work supporting pupils undertaking the Independent Project Qualification (iPQ).

This recognition, presented by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB), is a testament to the school’s dedication to fostering independent learning, critical thinking, and academic excellence.

Gold status has been awarded based on more than 30 Year 8 children being registered for the iPQ and the school’s broad creative range of 53 projects.

The iPQ is designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue self-directed, research-based projects that align with their personal and academic interests. Throughout the course of the program, students gain valuable experience in project management, time management, data analysis, and effective communication.

“We are incredibly proud to receive Gold status for our Independent Project Qualification work,” said Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School.

“This achievement reflects not only the hard work of our students but also the dedication of our faculty and staff who continuously support and encourage students throughout their independent learning journeys. Our commitment to fostering a space where students can think critically, explore their passions, and push the boundaries of their learning is at the core of what we do.”

At Highfield and Brookham, the IPQ is a key component of the Year 8 curriculum, encouraging students to delve deeply into topics they care about, whether in the fields of science, humanities, technology, or the arts. By completing the qualification, students develop a range of skills that prepare them for both higher education and the workforce, including independent research, problem-solving, and the ability to work autonomously.

Achieving Gold Status is a significant milestone for Highfield and Brookham, highlighting its role as a leader in promoting independent learning. The recognition reflects the school’s continued efforts to create an environment that values academic rigor, creativity, and self-direction, while empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey.

Highfield and Brookham intends to build on this success by continuing to provide robust support for students engaged in the IPQ program, ensuring that future generations of students have the opportunity to thrive in this enriching and challenging academic experience.

The memory of a famed Scottish poet has been celebrated in style at an independent school in Liphook.

Honouring the life and times of the legendary Robert Burns, children at Highfield and Brookham School revelled in a heady mix of haggis, Highland Games, bagpipes and Irn-Bru.

The grand occasion was Burns Night, which is celebrated all over the world on the anniversary of the poet and lyricist’s birth on January 25, 1759.

Boarders at Highfield and Brookham got the birthday ball rolling early as they were treated to a traditional haggis dinner on Tuesday, with proud Scotsman and Year 6 teacher Simon Gunn piping in the haggis and making the traditional address, before four ‘clans’ converged on the school sports hall to compete in their very own Highland Games.

Rabbie Burns is recognised the world over for his work focusing on universal themes of love and nature and Mr Gunn, one of a healthy number of revered Scottish teachers at the nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, was the natural choice to lead the commemoration being an accomplished piper; having had the honour of performing in front of the King at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in November with the London Scottish Regiment Pipe and Drums Band.

The tartan theme continued on Friday as the pre-prep and prep school children banded together for a lively whole-school ceilidh featuring a dazzling array of toe-tapping reels and dances from north of the border.

The tennis courts were alive with dance, laughter, mirth and merriment as the children threw themselves whole-heartedly into the Military Two-Step, Virginia Reel, Highland Barn Dance, Flying Scotsman and Orcadian Strip the Willow, all to the accompaniment of the tunefully sonorous bagpipes.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “Burns Night is traditionally a time when friends and family gather to celebrate the life of one of the most inspirational poets to ever grace our shores. And given that so much of his work focused on love, it seems appropriate that the loving Highfield and Brookham family should come together and celebrate too.

“From the haggis supper and hilarious Highland Games to the charm of the ceilidh, our children had the most wonderful time and strengthened their loving ties within our community that little bit more.”

The reputation for quality drama provision at Highfield and Brookham School has been strengthened further.

It follows the release of the latest round of autumn exam results by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in which the burgeoning talent of children at Highfield and Brookham has shone through again.

Hot on the heels of an impressive showing in the spring exams, in which 108 children secured an astonishing 94 distinctions between them, another 31 children performed and excelled in December, with 27 securing distinctions.

In both sets of exams, children at Highfield and Brookham secured a remarkable 87% distinction success rate.

Such success doesn’t come about by accident, with Highfield and Brookham having a very clear policy where the arts are concerned – that the school doesn’t choose between core subjects and the arts, it focuses equally on both.

Sarah Baird, the nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s Head of Drama, leads an incredibly talented team of specialist LAMDA teachers in the shape of Sarah Dungworth, Hannah Baxter-Eve and Susannah Wilson, two of whom are professional, working actors while the third has extensive West End stage experience.

She also heads up a thriving department which offers specialist teaching from Year 3 and drama lessons once a week compared to many schools who offer drama on rotation with other subjects.

And Mrs Baird’s dedication and devotion to her art has seen Highfield and Brookham secure ‘Gold Shakespeare School’ status having performed the Bard’s plays publicly for seven successive years as part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, including at G Live in Guildford and The Hawth in Crawley.

Furthermore, 14 children have secured drama scholarships to leading senior schools since 2020 on Mrs Baird’s watch.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Our drama provision is quite exceptional and is really going from strength to strength. The decision to keep the arts on the same footing as our core subjects is paying dividends and I couldn’t be more proud of the results that our children continue to achieve and the progress that they continue to make.”

In LAMDA’s December exams, nine of the 31 candidates scored at least 90 out of 100, with Max Reid and Clementine Snagge top of the pile with 96 for speaking verse and poetry at entry level. Oliver Fanshawe, Tamara Passi and Iona Dumas were just two marks lower in their respective disciplines.

Having last year won two national cricket titles, Highfield and Brookham School is celebrating a hat-trick of honours.

Our young cricketers hit a purple patch last summer; securing the U11 Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) title at Merchant Taylors’ School in Middlesex before the U13s were named joint national IAPS champions after their final tie with Millfield was curtailed by heavy rain in York.

Now, Highfield and Brookham has been confirmed among the top 50 prep and junior schools in the UK by The Cricketer magazine for the sixth successive year.

The latest inclusion in the respected magazine’s annual schools guide reflects the unswerving commitment of Highfield and Brookham toward its cricket provision.

The school runs 34 boys and girls’ teams from Year 2 to Year 8 and fulfils around 230 competitive fixtures against rival prep schools from across Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire each year, taking full advantage of its 12 natural grass pitches and artificial strips.

Under the guidance of Head of Cricket Richard Dunn, Highfield and Brookham prides itself on performance and participation. Matches are offered for children of all abilities with the aim of making cricket more enjoyable and the “hope that children will want to play again tomorrow”.

To be considered for a place among the top 50 prep schools, all entries were judged against an extensive set of criteria, including a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching.

Alongside its 12 pitches, Highfield and Brookham offers three artificial outdoor nets, three indoor nets, four grass nets and two mobile cages, as well as three bowling machines and two Flicx pitches on the astro to help cricket development.

And the nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex is committed to continued investment in its facilities and coaching courses for staff, something which has borne fruit in recent years.

As well as representing Highfield and Brookham in external fixtures, many young school cricketers also play for local club sides such as Liphook & Ripsley, Haslemere, Fernhurst and Grayshott, while 25 children are on county pathway schemes run by Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The cricket season seems a long way off when it’s so cold, wet and dreary outside, but one thing that will sustain us through the winter months is the continued progress we have made on and off the cricket pitch.

“We are fully committed to offering our children a healthy range of sports to get involved in, not least cricket. To see our children win two national titles last year was incredible, to be named among the top 50 prep schools in the UK for our cricket provision is the cherry on the cake!”

Families facing financial difficulty will have a brighter Christmas thanks to a gift scheme run by a Liphook charity.

The seasonal gift box project spearheaded by Liphook Food Bank means that young families, teenagers and elderly people in need can look forward to receiving welcome goodies for the festive period.

The heartwarming campaign has realised around 250 gifts this year, including 47 from Highfield and Brookham School.

The Liphook-based nursery, pre-prep and prep school has a strong association with the food bank and this year set up a ‘giving tree’ as the centrepiece of its festive winter wonderland celebration, which featured Christmas stalls, fun inflatables, children’s games and live music.

The giving tree contained pre-labelled tags for boys and girls up to the age of 13, with winter wonderland visitors taking tags and buying appropriate gifts which were then donated to the food bank.

Glynis Blake, chair of trustees for Liphook Food Bank, praised the school for its “generosity” at what can be a difficult time for families.

“We can’t begin to thank everyone at Highfield and Brookham enough for their support with our Christmas gift boxes. Christmas will be that much brighter for the children who will now have a toy,” she added.

Gifts were also collected by the Living Room Cinema, the Green Dragon pub and Liphook junior and infant schools, according to Mrs Blake.

As well as the array of Christmas presents, Liphook Food Bank sent out fresh vegetables, festive treats such as mince pies and Christmas puddings and Sainsbury’s vouchers to 76 households in and around the village.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “Liphook is a tight-knit community and we are very proud to be a part of it and our children and their families never pass up a chance to give back to the community or help people who are perhaps finding things challenging.”

And she added: “The valuable work that Liphook Food Bank does is nothing short of extraordinary and makes such a big difference to so many people. We’re delighted to help out in any way we can and look forward to continuing our support for many years to come.”

Is there an ideal time to move out of London? Is boarding still relevant in today’s world? Can we futureproof our children? How important are fresh air and muddy knees when it comes to schooling?

These burning questions and more will be addressed at a special event in London by leading figures from six top prep and senior schools as they make a case for families educating their children at country schools and away from the relative confines of the capital.

Educating Outside London will take place at Beaufort House in Chelsea on February 5 and will feature informative talks by experienced educationalists from respected prep schools Highfield and Brookham in Hampshire, Ludgrove in Berkshire and Hanford in Dorset who will answer key questions which are being asked more and more by current London parents.

They will be joined by representatives from leading senior schools Marlborough College (Wiltshire), Radley College (Oxfordshire) and Downe House School (Berkshire).

Since the onset of Covid in 2021, more and more families have moved out of London, citing better quality of life, more green space and more sense of community as they make a beeline for the Home Counties and south-east England.

Further to that, the lure of a country education for their children – and all of that fresh air and those muddy knees – has grown ever stronger for families with school-age children who still wish to remain within easy reach of the capital.

Suzannah Cryer, deputy head of a prestigious London prep school before taking on the role of Head two years ago at Highfield and Brookham, a thriving co-ed day and boarding school for children aged 2-13 which occupies 175-acre grounds, will ask attendees to consider if there is an ideal time to move out of London, citing the flexibility of Highfield and Brookham’s multiple year-group entry points and how boarding offers all the benefits of a country education to their children as they either stay in London or wait to move at a time to suit them.

Mrs Cryer said: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with such prestigious schools in February to fly the flag for rural education. We all have a common link – we all have the health, happiness and wellbeing of our children at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to meeting city-based parents who might be considering the switch to a countryside education for their children.”

And she added: “Being blessed with such big and wonderful grounds, outdoor learning naturally plays a big part in our everyday curriculum. From building dens at forest school to tending our vegetable plots and from undertaking science experiments to painting among the daffodils, our children gain so much from being outside. 

“The fact that the children have the time and space to learn, to play, to think and to breathe in such a safe and nurturing setting is truly wonderful for their wellbeing and their mental health, and we find that it pays handsome dividends back inside the classroom.”

Educating Outside London, which has been running since 2015, will be held at Beaufort House, Chelsea, on February 5, from 6.30pm-8.30pm. To book a place, visit highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/outside-london.

A charity which provides week-long summer breaks for children with disabilities has received some early Christmas cheer.

While the balmy days of summer may seem a little way off just yet, the dedicated team behind Highfield Highreach Holidays is already busy planning the next happy get-together in August.

And thanks to the generosity and support of the fun-loving visitors to a suitably festive ‘winter wonderland’ at Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook, the charity’s coffers have been swelled to the tune of £3,280.

Organised by the school’s “selfless” parent associations, whose continued efforts were recognised by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer, the atmospheric winter wonderland featured Christmas stalls, fun inflatables, children’s games, fabulous live festive music, and a giving tree in aid of Liphook Food Bank which provides gifts for families who are struggling financially.

Highreach, which is hosted by Highfield and Brookham, the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, has been providing respite for children with physical and mental disabilities since 2018 and is committed to supporting local families.

The annual holiday runs for one week every summer and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays in the area. The cost is met by year-round fundraising initiatives within the school community while a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former Highfield and Brookham pupils, also helps keep costs down.

As well as offering the children a fantastic week of exciting trips and activities, not to mention bags of fun, games, love and laughter, it also offers a welcome break for parents and carers who know their children are in safe hands.

Highreach, declared ‘outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted inspectors in 2022, returns next summer, from August 1-9.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said she was “incredibly proud” of the work which the volunteers put into the winter wonderland extravaganza and the amount of money it raised.

“It was an extraordinary effort by a dedicated group of people who always go the extra mile to support the school and its fundraising initiatives, making an amazing difference not only to the lives of our own pupils but also to the lives of so many people in the wider community.

“The winter wonderland was a great success which raised a wonderful amount of money which will help support the fantastic work done by Highreach year in, year out. I really couldn’t be more proud,” she said.

A charity with a focus on social mobility has received a festive boost to the tune of £3,215.

The money, which will swell the coffers of the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund, was raised at a successful Christmas shopping evening at Highfield and Brookham School at the end of the November.

Thirty specialist stallholders turned the sports hall of the nursery, pre-prep and prep school in Liphook into a veritable Santa’s grotto of luxury goods, with everything from silk scarves, jewellery and rum to festive wreaths, cheese boards and cushions on sale.

As well as making a donation to charity in return for running a stall at the Christmas shopping event, stallholders also donated items for a series of beautiful hampers which were raffled off to swell the charity coffers further.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said Christmas really had come early for the Centenary Bursaries Fund thanks to the generosity of the stallholders and the many visitors who took the opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping.

“Christmas is a time for giving and thinking of others,” she said, “so to raise such a wonderful amount for the bursaries fund, something which has had a profound effect on the lives of many families since the scheme’s inception in 2007, is fantastic.

“We are fortunate to live and work in such an amazing school which offers so many opportunities for our children, so it’s more important than ever that we give back to the community whenever we can.”

Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up 17 years ago with the aim of supporting 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 businesses involved in the Christmas shopping evening were Albie & Mac, Label Lady, Roost UK, Happy Hands Pottery Painting, Little Fish Sushi, Hawkley Inn, Ellie and Bea, Rum and Reggae, Collecting Seashells, Ziorva, Everything for Christmas, Nettle & Nutmeg, Tawny Owl Wood, The Blacksmith’s Daughter, Combe Cottage Pottery, Eco Deco, Vorwerk UK, Tucca Swim, Hogmoor Distillery, Sublime Pilates, D’Arcy Niven Design, Suzie at the Old Studio, Silk Works London, Isimi, Curated Tube, Craftiful Studio, The Gay Farmer, Noble and Stace Chocolatiers, Taylor & Lock, and Agape Sophia.

Our talented young thespians have put on another spellbinding performance on the stage.

The occasion was a stunning performance of Macbeth by pupils in Year 7 at Highfield and Brookham School at The Hawth in Crawley on Tuesday as part of a project run by the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.

Last year, Highfield and Brookham was named a ‘Gold Shakespeare School’ for performing Bard plays publicly for seven consecutive years as part of the foundation initiative, with last year’s cohort tackling classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Leatherhead Theatre.

And the current Year 7 children continued that golden run by proving again that they have a real penchant for the Bard’s work by putting on another polished adaptation in the 900-seater auditorium in West Sussex.

The adaptation was all put together in just six weeks under the expert guidance of Sarah Baird, Head of Drama at Highfield and Brookham, with the dedicated children using every spare minute they could find, including break times and lunchtimes, to learn lines and rehearse to bring the characters of Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, Lady Macbeth and Malcolm to life in stunning style on the Hawth stage.

There was also plenty of technical nous and expertise required by pupils backstage to portray the eerie and iconic opening scene with the three witches, and to help with the atmospheric portrayal of the Scottish castles at the heart of the gripping tale.

Furthermore, the talented children performed in front of proud Head Suzannah Cryer, who described watching the play unfold as “mesmerising”.

She added: “To watch the children perform on a big stage like the Hawth with such ease, confidence and passion was nothing short of incredible for such young people. The work that went in to produce such an extraordinary performance of Macbeth on stage and behind the scenes is truly remarkable and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Highfield and Brookham has a strong reputation of dramatic excellence and the school prides itself on each of its 10 year groups performing at least once during the school year, culminating in Year 8 taking to the stage for the final time in July; last year putting on a spectacular performance of Bugsy Malone.

A charity which offers residential holidays for disabled children has received a handy cash boost after a Liphook school’s annual fireworks display went with a bang.

In keeping with the spectacular light show in honour of Bonfire Night at Highfield and Brookham School, Highfield Highreach Holidays had its coffers swelled to the tune of a dazzling £2,100.

The proceeds came from sales of food and drink on the night and cash donations.

The annual bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex provides a regular boost to Highreach, which has been running since 2018 and provides respite for children with physical and mental disabilities.

While the firework display wowed the hundreds of visitors to the school, traditional guys produced by pupils from the prep school’s three houses – Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo – took pride of place on top of the bonfire as part of the annual house competition, with Waterloo taking the honours this time around.

Highfield Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs for one week every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays in the area.

The cost of these holidays is met by ongoing fundraising initiatives within the school community while a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former pupils of Highfield and Brookham School, help keep costs down.

Highreach, which was declared “outstanding” in all areas by Ofsted inspectors in 2022, returns next summer, from August 1-9.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said she was “delighted” by the amount of money raised by the fireworks for Highreach, adding that the school works hard to balance fundraising with the environmental and social impact of the annual pyrotechnics and bonfire.

“Bonfire Night is always a popular date in the school calendar, for both our children and the wider community who come to join us, and this year was no exception.

“We were treated to an amazing bonfire built by our grounds team and topped by traditional guys lovingly and painstakingly made by the children as part of their annual house competition, warming food and drink produced by our amazing catering team, and a spectacular firework display which lit up the night sky.

“The upshot was that we raised more than £2,000 for Highreach, our inspirational charity which provides a week-long summer holiday ever year for children with disabilities. The money will ensure that Highreach continues to give these inspiring children the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.”

Food-hygiene standards at Highfield and Brookham School have earned the highest possible praise yet again.

The school has been awarded the maximum five stars from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the wake of its latest unannounced inspection.

Run in conjunction with the environmental health department at Chichester District Council, the school’s local authority, the FSA ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection.

Visiting roughly every 18 months, inspectors leave no stone unturned as they scrutinise handling of food, how food is stored, how food is prepared, cleanliness of facilities and how food safety is managed.

The result was another clean bill of health for Highfield and Brookham School with no recommendations or advisory notes, something which is very rare, just a big helping of pride and satisfaction for catering manager Marco di Michele and his dedicated team.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said she was “immensely proud” that the school had once again maintained its strong reputation for having the most stringent standards when it came to food hygiene.

And she added: “As a school, we naturally take the health and welfare of both our children and our staff incredibly seriously. While much is made of the importance of strong pastoral care and good mental health, and rightly so, it’s just as important to focus on the importance of good physical health too.

“And we can rest assured that through the phenomenal working practices of Marco and his brilliant team, everything that goes through our kitchen is as safe and healthy as it can possibly be, something that has been borne out by the latest impromptu visit from health authority inspectors.

“Marco and his team deserve all the credit in the world for this tremendous achievement.”

Highfield and Brookham has a team of highly-skilled chefs who produce a varied choice of delicious, nutritious and well-balanced meals cooked on the premises using only the freshest ingredients four times a day – breakfast, pre-prep lunch, prep lunch and boarders’ supper.

Seasonal produce is a regular staple of the menu while the catering team also prepare ‘themed’ menus and overseas dishes. They also cater for a wide range of special dietary requirements.

A highflying Good Samaritan who is an advocate of children reading during the holidays has returned one of our school library books.

The anonymous member of cabin crew discovered the well-travelled book – Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes – on a recent British Airways flight.

Eager for the book to be returned to its rightful owners, the kindly flyer popped it in the post with a brief note explaining that it had been cruising at 35,000 feet rather than taking its rightful place on the Upper Prep bookshelves in the library at Highfield and Brookham.

The note read: ‘Your student accidentally left this book on my flight. I hope they didn’t get into any trouble as reading, especially while on holiday, should be encouraged.’

While school librarian Dr Whitfield was delighted to have the book returned after its adventure in the skies, Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer was taken with the sentiment about the importance of reading.

“Our children really do love to read and I have absolutely no doubt that our library books travel far and wide during the school holidays,” she said, “but for this wonderful person to take the trouble to return the book to us is absolutely wonderful.

“And what really struck me was the last line of the note which championed reading during the holidays, something which we, as teachers, know is vitally important for children’s educational development. Clearly, British Airways cabin crew know that too.”

Mrs Cryer added: “Unfortunately, the note was simply signed ‘BA cabin crew’ so we don’t know who sent it, which is a great shame as it would be lovely to thank them personally for not only returning the book but also for flying the flag for summertime reading.”

Pupils at Highfield and Brookham could have been forgiven for having a quick nap in the classroom last week.

But rather than being put to sleep by the intricacies of cell division in biology, working out the angles of isosceles triangles in maths or conjugating verbs in French, the children got together to consider the importance of a good night’s sleep.

The occasion was Better Sleep Week, an initiative run by The Sleep Charity which aims to raise awareness around sleep and its impact on health and wellbeing.

Pre-prep children joined their older prep school peers for a series of sleep and nighttime-related activities, such as reading bedtime stories to the youngest children, chatting to them about their bedtime routines, putting teddies to bed, and listening to sleep podcasts or soothing music in The Beehive, the dedicated wellbeing hub, in readiness for a good night’s sleep.

The younger children were also tasked with identifying their favourite bedroom stories and creating posters about them while the older year groups sought inspiration from the NHS teen sleep guide before compiling a list of top tips for sleep which they could share with their inquisitive young sleep-task partners.

The children also put a lot of thought into their personal sleeping habits by producing their own sleep diaries, in which they could monitor how much sleep they got each night, how many times they woke during the night and why, and what time they tended to go to bed in the evening.

And the boarding community at Highfield and Brookham, approximately 100 children, were awarded extra dorm points for healthy bedtime routines which included turning the television off by 8pm and choosing an activity such as colouring or reading to help them wind down before lights off.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said she was delighted to get the whole school thinking about the importance of sleep.

“A good night’s sleep is essential for everyone, but particularly children who are still developing mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. Sleep helps our brains remember, memorise and analyse important information, skills which really improve performance at school.

“So getting the whole school together to consider how lack of sleep can really impact our moods and leave us feeling tired, upset or unable to concentrate, and the things we can do to combat that, was incredibly important. And the younger children learning on from the older ones made it extra special.”

Highfield and Brookham School has announced its pupil leadership team for this academic year.

Iona Dumas and Wilf Walters have been named Head Girl and Head Boy respectively, with Emily Pearce and Zac Hawkes acting as their deputies.

The school takes the appointment of its pupil leadership team very seriously and the new incumbents had to come through a thorough selection process.

All pupils are actively encouraged to apply for the prestigious roles toward the end of their time in Year 7 and those that decide to apply must submit a formal letter of application to Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer explaining why they should be considered for the position.

Aided by her senior management team, Mrs Cryer reviews each application and draws up a shortlist before interviewing the pupils. The entire staff body at Highfield and Brookham are also invited to share their thoughts on the candidates before a final decision is made, where one boy and one girl from the oldest year group in the school are selected for the coveted leadership roles, as well as their deputies.

Mrs Cryer said: “The appointment of our pupil leadership team involves a stringent process which reflects the importance of the roles on offer. Despite that, we are always inundated with applications each year, which demonstrates the regard in which the positions are held by the children themselves.

“Naturally, that gives us some difficult decisions to make each year, but it’s a really nice problem to have. The quality of the applications is always really high and all of the children who apply, whether successful or not, can be really proud of their effort and commitment.”

As well as appointing the Head Girl and Head Boy and their deputies, the school also named its Heads of Boarding, Heads of House, and prefect teams.

The purpose of the pupil leadership team is to be role models for the school, to ensure that pupils’ voices are heard and to represent the school at events such as prizegiving and open mornings.

The full pupil leadership team is:

Heads of School: Iona Dumas, Wilf Walters

Deputy Heads of School: Emily Pearce, Zac Hawkes

Heads of Boarding: Mylie Kyere, Max Grant

Deputy Heads of Boarding: Cecilia Jiang, Jack Hofmeyr

Heads of House: Jamie Borwick, Clemmie Coller (Agincourt), Harry Remers, Emily Law (Trafalgar), Alec Williams, Izzy Grist (Waterloo)

Deputy Heads of House: Xander Salusbury, Tiggy Walder (Agincourt), Caelan MacDonald, Eliza Welby-Everard (Trafalgar), Ollie Glasgow, Tallulah Hawtin (Waterloo)

Arts Prefects: Rupert Byam-Cook, Mia Bicknell, Oscar Jackson, Elinor Laws, Nick Ai

Pre-Prep Prefects (EYFC): Milly Valentine, Digby Leach, Amelie Tyrrell-Evans

Pre-Prep Prefects (KS1): Paloma Kelton, Libby Miller, Freddie Harris

Peer listeners: Alec Williams, Wilf Walters, Tallulah Hawtin, Xander Salusbury, Clemmie Coller, Sophie Barraclough, Eliza Welby-Everard, Emily Law, Jack Hofmeyr

A year on from the opening of its dedicated wellbeing hub, Highfield and Brookham School’s pastoral provision is still very much in rude health.

The Beehive was unveiled last autumn as a place to promote good mental health among the nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s pupils and staff.

Staffed throughout the day by teachers expertly trained in mental health first aid, the wellbeing centre is a place where children can relax, take time out and take stock of their emotions whenever they need to.

And it is the perfect foil for the independent school’s continued pastoral drive, in and out of the classroom.

On Thursday, which was officially National Mental Health Day, prep school pupils convened in the Chapel for an uplifting ‘Power of Singing’ initiative to get their days off to a positive start; the children belting out Taylor Swift’s smash hit Shake It Off and Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, made famous by the Rocky film franchise.

In the classroom, the Nursery children have this week been exploring their feelings while reading Anna Llenas’ book The Colour Monster, which explores different emotions and links them to colours.

And pre-prep children were yesterday joined by their Year 8 peers for some thoughtful circle time, with the children taking turns to hold Year 2 mascot ‘Fluffy’ before describing their ‘happy place’ to the group.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The health and wellbeing of our children is paramount and we take our responsibilities very seriously indeed. In a fast-moving world, taking time out to look after mental health is very important, a sentiment which applies to both adults and children.

“The Beehive is a wonderful addition to our pastoral care offering and the benefits to the children of having somewhere calm to stop, think and breathe is there for all to see and is really reflected in the classroom and beyond.”

The school’s continued desire to offer the most robust pastoral provision possible has led to it being named a finalist in several national award schemes and tonight the school will find out if it has been successful in this year’s National Association for Pastoral Care in Education awards.

A veritable feast of harvest goodies will be heading to a community day centre in Liphook, thanks to our caring schoolchildren.

The children at Highfield and Brookham School answered the annual rallying call for fruit, vegetables, packets, jars and cans of all kinds as part of their harvest festival celebrations.

After being gathered up, sorted and bagged, the plentiful produce, boxes and tins will be delivered by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer and some willing young helpers to the Peak Centre, which provides companionship and a hot meal to elderly people three days per week.

Highfield and Brookham has strong links with the Liphook community and has been donating harvest produce to the Peak Centre for many years. This year’s haul includes soup, biscuits, cereal, pasta and hot chocolate, as well as pumpkins, squash, marrow and cabbages.

Mrs Cryer described the involvement in the harvest festival donation process as “a labour of love” for the children and hoped that the school’s association with the day centre, and the wider Liphook community, would continue for many years to come.

“The harvest festival traditionally celebrates the time of year when crops have been gathered from the fields and people can reflect and show gratitude for the food they have. It offers a sharp reminder of our duty as a school to encourage our children to look out for and consider how they might best help others less fortunate than themselves, something that they regularly do without hesitation,” she said.

Children from Highfield and Brookham also perform a Christmas concert at the Peak Centre each year, as well as donating to Liphook Food Bank. And at the end of August, the school hosted Liphook United’s major fundraiser, with more than 100 teams of boys and girls competing in the club’s annual six-a-side youth football tournament.

* The Peak Centre, on Midhurst Road, is open from 9.30am-3.15pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Anyone interested in attending the centre should call 01428 724941.

Pupils at an independent school in Liphook have this week shown much love for their European neighbours.

The children at Highfield and Brookham School showed great enthusiasm, creativity and a willingness to learn as they marked European Day of Languages on Thursday, an educational initiative set up in 2001 to encourage language learning across the continent.

Working together, the Pre-Prep and Prep school children proved a real tour de force as they were split into groups and allocated a European country before being tasked to find creative ways of promoting their adopted nation; via colourful posters adorned with relevant words, pictures and interesting cultural facts, beautifully decorated flags, or carefully-crafted headgear sporting the national colours of the likes of Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Germany and Ukraine.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “It was such an inspirational morning and the children came up with some amazing creations and wonderful facts before standing up in front of the whole school and reciting words and phrases in their newly-discovered foreign languages.

“It was also wonderful to see children of all ages working so well together. From experience, we know that the older children and the younger pupils get so much out of our whole-school initiatives; the younger children gain confidence as they learn from their older mentors while the older children learn patience and leadership skills.”

Highfield and Brookham, which has for many years welcomed children from across the continent, currently has 21 European students in the school, including children from Romania, France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Ukraine, Sweden and Austria.

Mrs Cryer added: “Studying at Highfield and Brookham gives our overseas children the chance to share first hand insights into their language and culture, which is a great learning experience for our British children and offers a proud moment for our European pupils.”

A youth football tournament in Liphook has been declared a big success by organisers – thanks to a little help from Highfield and Brookham School.

The annual six-a-side competition run by Liphook United Football Club was held over two days at the end of August and attracted more than 100 teams of boys and girls from across the region.

But organisers were initially left facing a logistical headache on the run up to the festival of football when they discovered their usual tournament venue was unavailable, before Highfield and Brookham answered a plea for an alternative setting.

The independent day and boarding school on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, which has strong links with the community in and around Liphook, didn’t charge the football club for use of its 175-acre site, instead asking for a small percentage of the tournament takings to be donated to its Highreach Holidays charity which provides week-long summer breaks for children with disabilities.

As a result, the football club swelled the Highreach coffers to the tune of £516.

Jenni Weston, vice-chairman of Liphook United Football Club, for whom the annual youth tournament represents a real lifeline in terms of fundraising and the financial security of the club, said: “We wanted to say a huge thank you to Highfield and Brookham School for allowing us to host the tournament on their stunning facilities. They really have the local community at heart and we were pleased to be able to raise £516.62 which has been donated to Highfield Highreach Holidays.”

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “We are proud to be a part of the thriving community of Liphook and we have a healthy relationship with the football club, so we were delighted to be able to help out when it came to providing a venue for the club’s annual youth football tournament.

“As a school, we naturally have a strong affinity with children and children’s activities, so to know that the club’s wonderful youth tournament will keep the football club flourishing and give those children more sporting opportunities for years to come is very satisfying.”

Pupils at Highfield and Brookham could be forgiven for making a real song and dance about their dramatic prowess.

Instead, the children let their stage talent do the talking by securing a superb set of results in their London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) exams.

Some 108 pupils took exams in the spring, with 94 securing distinctions and 14 claiming merits to complete another successful year of LAMDA under the auspices of Sarah Baird, Head of Drama at Highfield and Brookham, who is also a former professional actor.

Acting or speaking verse or prose, children must score at least 50 marks out of 100 to earn a pass at their grade level, 65 to obtain a merit and 80 to achieve a distinction; with 40 marks available for interpretation, 40 marks for technique and 20 marks for knowledge.

Isabella Hawkes was Highfield and Brookham’s top performer, securing an impressive score of 95 in her grade one acting exam, while Lottie Gelder and Oliver Fanshawe scored 94 for grade one acting and grade two verse and prose work respectively.

Highfield and Brookham has a strong record of dramatic success under Mrs Baird’s leadership, with another 120 pupils taking LAMDA again this year and working with three specialist teachers – Sarah Dungworth, Hannah Baxter-Eve and Susannah Wilson – two of whom are working actors and the other is a former West End performer.

Pupils in years five, six, seven and eight can take solo, duo or group lessons, with taster sessions available in the summer term for children in Year 4.

The thriving day and boarding school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex also picked up three more senior school drama scholarships in the summer – two to Charterhouse and one to Cranleigh – while every year group in the nursery, pre-prep and prep school put on at least one performance during the year, culminating in the Year 8 leavers’ spectacular staging of School of Rock.

Suzannah Cryer, former Head of Drama and now Head at Highfield and Brookham, said: “We have always taken great pride in our drama provision and the incredible results that the children have secured in their LAMDA results this year are testament to that.

“Under the guidance of an amazing group of talented, professional and dedicated teachers, our children just seem to raise the bar higher and higher each year.”

Recycling old computer components is helping Highfield and Brookham ease the burden on the environment caused by e-waste.

We have donated more than a hundred items of defunct electrical equipment to Jamie’s Computers, specialists in professional and ethical IT recycling based in Southampton.

Homelessness charity The Society of St James set up Jamie’s Computers as a computer recycling social enterprise in 2002 and the charity now services more than 1,500 clients, including schools, colleges and universities from across the region.

Highfield and Brookham joined that list in the summer, with the school’s IT department donating laptops, desktop computers, flat-screen monitors and switches, all of which will be refurbished and sold on or stripped of their assets, with nothing going to landfill.

Controlled disposal of electrical equipment is critical for the environment as many components inside computers contain metals and other materials that can be toxic if they leach into soil and water systems, resulting in significant consequences for both the environment and human health.

Also, various parts such as circuit boards, hard drives and processors contain valuable metal components such as gold, silver and copper which can be extracted and repurposed, therefore reducing the need to mine for more raw resources.

By recycling and reusing these components, Jamie’s Computers significantly reduces the environmental impact of electronic waste by conserving natural resources, decreasing the energy needed to produce new products, and lowering the overall cost of manufacturing. It also helps prevent the harmful effects of e-waste.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, which is fully committed to its long-standing programme of environmental work and aims to be carbon neutral within the next six years, said: “Jamie’s Computers is such a wonderful venture, not only helping tackle homelessness through social enterprise but also safeguarding the environment for future generations.

“As a busy, modern school, we naturally utilise a great deal of technology, so it’s heartening to know that we have an outlet where we can dispose of our old items safely, responsibly and sustainably.”

Highfield and Brookham, which occupies a green, 175-acre site on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, is a big advocate of a greener, more sustainable way of life and has for the past two years been named a finalist in the prestigious Education Business Awards for its ongoing environmental practices as well as winning the Talk Education Environmental Achievement Award in 2023.

Compassionate pupils have been tasked with further cementing their school’s strong reputation for excellent pastoral care.

Eleven children from Highfield and Brookham School have been hand-picked as ‘peer listeners’ for the new school year, which began this month.

The peer listeners, made up of boys and girls from Year 8, the oldest cohort at the renowned day and boarding school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, are trained to help younger children deal with worries arising from such things as friendships, siblings or exams.

They apply for the scheme at the end of Year 7 and are selected via a stringent interview process involving Zoe Thesiger-Pratt, Head of PSHE, who has been involved in the pastoral project for the past six years, and Vivienne Liddell, Deputy Head (Pastoral). Around ten children are typically chosen each year.

The peer listeners scheme has been running successfully at Highfield and Brookham since 2013 and gives younger children the opportunity to talk through any worries they have with someone who is more like an older brother or sister, rather than talking to an adult which can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “We take tremendous pride in our pastoral provision and we are constantly looking at ways that we can ensure it is relevant and fit for purpose for our entire school community, but not least our younger children.

“So it’s incredibly heartening that each year so many children put themselves forward to be peer listeners. It really does make a huge difference and is a real source of comfort to our younger children as they plot their way through school life.”

And she added: “It’s also invaluable for the peer listeners themselves, as they learn so much about compassion, empathy and the art of listening, all of which are amazing skills to develop and are at the heart of our school values – be kind, be courageous, be you.”

Pastoral care at Highfield and Brookham is always evolving to meet the needs of modern society and the opening last September of a dedicated wellbeing hub, The Beehive, has helped the school be named a finalist in this year’s National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education. The winners will be announced in October.

A charity specialising in residential breaks for children with disabilities is proving as popular as ever.

Highreach Holidays, which has been hosted by Highfield and Brookham School for one week every August since 2018, welcomed 22 young holidaymakers to our impressive grounds on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

And the delighted children took full advantage of the big, green space at their disposal as they revelled in a week of fun and engaging activities, laid on by the organisers, which dovetailed beautifully with a wealth of exciting day trips.

The visiting children, aged eight to 16 with physical and mental disabilities, revelled in trips to Hollycombe Steam, Paultons Park, a specialist horse riding centre and time on the beach at West Wittering near Chichester, as well as making full use of the woods, swimming pool, theatre, sports hall and library at Highfield and Brookham for a cool treasure hunt, brilliant bushcraft, a pulsating parade, dynamic drumming and dance workshops, and DJ Dunny’s dazzling disco.

This year’s holiday had an exotic ‘jungle’ theme, with Highfield and Brookham suitably bedecked with colourful posters and arty foliage while lovingly-crafted jungle animals such as giraffes took pride of place around the school.

And jungle activities at Butser Ancient Farm, near Petersfield, and the National Trust site of Polesden Lacey, near Dorking, got a roar of approval from the tigerish young holidaymakers, four of whom were sampling Highreach for the first time.

Deemed outstanding in all categories by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2022, Highreach was first hosted by Highfield and Brookham six years ago and each year half of the cost of the residential holiday is covered by ongoing fundraising within the school community.

Volunteering is another crucial way of keeping down costs, and this year 62 volunteers helped make the respite holiday not only possible but the big success that it was.

Thirty-two of the volunteers were former Highfield and Brookham pupils who described the experience as “rewarding”, adding that they were keen to continue their association with the invaluable charity as it gave them the chance to give something back having been privileged to have had the benefit of an independent school education.

And nine past and present members of staff were also involved during the week, including Highfield and Brookham owner and chairman Bill Mills.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “To witness the sheer joy of the children during such a brilliant week was truly heart-warming and leaves me full of delight for the children here on holiday with us and full of heartfelt admiration for the many volunteers who happily give up their time to ensure that the week runs smoothly as it does and is a big success.”

As its most recent leavers prepare to head for educational pastures new, a thriving independent school in Liphook is celebrating another successful year of populating some of the country’s very best senior schools.

Children who left Highfield and Brookham School at the end of the summer term will be starting life at senior schools all over the country in September, safe in the knowledge that they go well equipped for the next stage in their learning journey.

Leavers from Year 8 – the flourishing nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s most common exit point – and Year 6 will be heading to 26 senior schools between them, from the likes of Eton, Cranleigh, Wellington, Charterhouse, Marlborough and Winchester in the south all the way up to Gordonstoun on the edge of the Scottish Highlands.

As well as having an impressive geographical reach, Highfield and Brookham meets the specific need of families who seek a particular type of school for their children, serving as it does day and boarding schools, same sex and co-ed schools, and local and far-flung schools.

One of Highfield and Brookham’s big strengths is that it is family owned rather than being owned by a trust or being allied to a particular senior school, which means it has the flexibility to send its pupils on to a wider range of schools, therefore giving parents a much greater choice in terms of school type and location and fitting in with the diverse needs of modern families.

That has resulted in a huge amount of trust being built up between Highfield and Brookham and a wealth of senior schools who know that they will get young people who are well prepared for life at the next educational level.

And that level of trust has also helped Highfield and Brookham earn a strong reputation for securing places for its pupils at their first-choice schools.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, which occupies 175-acre grounds on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, said: “This time of the year is always tinged with sadness and excitement; it’s sad to see the children leave that we have really got to know and seen develop, mature and grow during their time with us, but it’s also incredibly exciting to think of the possibilities and opportunities that await them at senior school and beyond.

“We know they leave us well prepared and will be a real asset to their new schools.”

Considering the seemingly endless debate of whether there is more benefit to a preparatory school education or learning at an all-through school, Mrs Cryer cited Highfield and Brookham’s success at placing its leavers as a significant plus in the prep school argument.

“Moving to a senior school at the age of 13 brings with it a new set of challenges and engages pupils further.

“Being at a prep school also offers an awful lot of flexibility for families as a school chosen for a four-year-old child may not be suitable for them by the time they reach 13. Children can also continue to be children for longer without the pressures and influences associated with rubbing shoulders with much older children.

“This approach works for us, it works for our parents and children and, judging by our healthy relationship with so many top senior schools, it seems to work for them too.”

Highfield and Brookham has further strengthened its enviable reputation for providing a robust all-round education with another impressive haul of scholarships.

Twenty-two pupils have this year secured an incredible 29 scholarships between them to ten different senior schools, including Wellington College, Charterhouse, Marlborough College, Cranleigh and Benenden.

And the prized awards cover nine different subjects, including academia, music, sport, dance, DT, art and drama, underlining the school’s quality and strength right across the curriculum.

While 24 scholarships were awarded to children leaving Year 8, the most common exit point at Highfield and Brookham, five were also awarded to children leaving at the end of Year 6; showing that the school is successful in tailoring the journey to senior school for each individual child.

The latest batch of sought-after senior school scholarships takes the thriving nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s tally to an astonishing 166 in the past decade alone, a key reason why many parents choose a Highfield and Brookham education for their children.

The scholarships are another big vote of confidence for the school’s progressive curriculum which blends the stepping stones for academic achievement with the development of essential life skills.

Highfield and Brookham, which sits in 175-acre grounds on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, is committed to excellence and uses the Skills Builder Accelerator Programme, which offers a structured approach to teaching and assessing essential skills such as teamwork, creativity, problem solving and leadership, and ensures that children are equipped with skills that will serve them well throughout education and beyond.

The school also recently unveiled its own dedicated scholarship programme aimed at children in Year 5.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “As a forward-thinking school, we are always learning and looking at ways in which we can improve and make our educational provision as robust and as relevant to the needs of our children in an ever-changing world as we possibly can.

“We have a wonderful relationship with so many excellent senior schools and that is reflected in the number of scholarships that we are awarded each year as they have full trust in the quality of our teaching and of how we prepare our children for the next step on their educational journey, not only academically but socially and pastorally too.”

And Mrs Cryer added: “I really couldn’t be more proud of our Year 6 and Year 8 leavers and wish them well with their future studies and beyond. They are a real credit to the school and I have absolutely no doubt that they will serve as tremendous inspiration to next year’s scholarship cohort.”

13+ Scholarship and exhibition recipients:

Eniola Ajibola: The Candy Changyavongse DT Scholarship (Benenden) & Music Exhibition (Benenden)

Daisy Apps: Music Scholarship (Marlborough College)

Albie Black: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Ines Borwick: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Gus Brennan: DT Scholarship (Seaford College)

Jordan Calabria-Deane: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Amelie Davies: Music Exhibition (Wellington College)

Flora Delliere: Sports Exhibition (Bryanston School)

Sandy Game: All-rounder Scholarship (Gordonstoun)

Douglas Hogg: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Genevieve Hogg: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse) & Sports Scholarship (Seaford College)

Malena Jensen: Art Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Imogen Knight: Academic Scholarship (Charterhouse) & Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Rory Lett: Drama Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Barnabas Lloyd: Music Scholarship (Seaford College)

Romilly O’Donnell: Drama Scholarship (Charterhouse) & Music Exhibition (Charterhouse)

Shona O’Neill: Foundation Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Olivia Parsons: Drama Exhibition (Cranleigh School)

Thomas Reid: Sports Scholarship (Seaford College)

Jamie Wakeley: DT Scholarship (Marlborough College)

11+ Scholarship and exhibition recipients:

Isla Andrewes: Academic Scholarship (Prior’s Field School) & Art Scholarship (Prior’s Field School)

Adelina Lacey-Gutsell: Drama Scholarship (Lord Wandsworth College), Music Scholarship (Lord Wandsworth College) & Dance Scholarship (Lord Wandsworth College)

Highfield and Brookham has reaffirmed its commitment to excellence by unveiling a scholarship award for pupils in Year 5.

The all-rounder scholarship offered 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.

The aim is to develop well-rounded individuals who can thrive in a variety of environments, giving scholarship recipients the chance to explore a diverse range of subjects and activities, including art, music, sport and drama, rather than being pigeon-holed into just one area of expertise.

It will provide a strong foundation for children before they begin the process of senior school applications, with such all-round excellence being of great value to top senior schools fed by Highfield and Brookham, which include Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Marlborough College and Wellington.

And the scholarship will also give Year 5 children the chance to settle into the school environment for a year before thinking about senior school; familiarising themselves with the curriculum, teaching methods and culture at Highfield and Brookham, which occupies 175 acres on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

New children as well as current pupils are invited to apply now for the Year 5 scholarship for September 2025.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Our holistic approach allows scholarship recipients to explore a diverse range of subjects and activities, discovering their true passions and strengths, allowing them to evolve over time. This not only supports their academic growth but also fosters the development of essential skills, such as problem solving, creativity, and adaptability.

“Rather than limiting children to a specific academic or extra-curricular focus, our all-rounder scholarship encourages children to embrace their multi-faceted talents and interests and grab every opportunity that a Highfield and Brookham education provides with both hands. This approach aligns with our commitment to providing a transformative educational experience that unlocks the full potential of every child and allows them the confidence to be true to themselves.”

And she added: “We are looking for children who show strong academic performance and have a good track record of high achievement in the classroom, children who possess an inquisitive and curious nature and a real love of learning, with the ability to think critically and apply their knowledge in different ways.

“We understand that each applicant is unique, and we welcome children from diverse backgrounds and experiences. What we’re looking for is the potential to thrive in our dynamic, supportive environment and make a meaningful contribution to our vibrant school community.”

Applications close on October 13, 2024. To apply, visit highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/admissions/year-5-scholarships.

Work on our progressive curriculum which blends the stepping stones for academic achievement with the development of essential life skills has put Highfield and Brookham in the running for a prestigious national award.

We have been shortlisted in the ‘Prep School of the Year’ category of this year’s Independent School of the Year Awards.

It follows the implementation last September of the Skills Builder Accelerator Programme, which offers a structured approach to teaching and assessing essential skills such as teamwork, creativity, problem solving and leadership, and ensures that our children are equipped with skills that will serve them well throughout education and beyond.

Using the Skills Builder framework, we introduced a ‘Keys Diploma’, which is a unique opportunity for children from Year 3 to Year 8 to receive recognition for the abilities not measured by exams. Instead, merits and distinctions are awarded based on engagement and commitment across the eight skills in all areas of school life – academia, sport, the arts and enrichment.

Suzannah Cryer, Highfield and Brookham Head, said: “We are incredibly honoured to have been shortlisted for Prep School of the Year. As a school which has a strong record of feeding some of the very best senior schools in the country, we are always looking at ways to stay at the forefront of education.

“We also actively seek feedback from our parent body on a regular basis and a survey this year revealed a strong desire for an increased focus on skills to ensure that our children develop competencies that remain valuable in an ever-evolving world.

“As a result, we are one of very few schools to achieve the Skills Builder Silver Award in their inaugural year of implementing the programme. We are now actively pursuing the Gold Award, thus demonstrating our dedication to continuous improvement.”

The Independent School of the Year Awards are run by Independent School Parent magazine and the finalists will be unveiled in early September.

Highfield and Brookham was recently named a finalist in the annual Education Business Awards for its environmental work and has been named a finalist in the ‘Pastoral Development of the Year’ category in the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education for its Beehive wellbeing project.

Athletes from Highfield and Brookham School are celebrating a strong showing at a prestigious national meeting.

The eight talented competitors secured a bronze medal, three personal bests and two school records in the National Prep Schools Track & Field Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

Phoebe Gibbon picked up a bronze medal with a fine leap of 3.92m in the U12 girls’ long jump event, making it six medals in the past two years for Highfield and Brookham athletes at the championships which are the pinnacle of the prep school athletics season.

And it comes hard on the heels of news that eight Year 8 leavers from the thriving prep school on the border of Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey have secured sports scholarships to some of the country’s leading senior schools.

Xander Apps narrowly missed out on a medal as he finished fourth of the 14 competitors in the U12 boys’ javelin with a throw of 25.78m, but he did have the consolation of securing a new middle school boys’ record, eclipsing the 24.10m set by Harvey Platt in 2011.

Tiggy Walder claimed a personal best and set a new senior school best in finishing sixth of the 15 runners in the U13 girls’ 800m in a time of 2min 30.79secs, breaking by almost two seconds a record held by Florence Gray since 2008. In the same race, Clemmie Coller clocked a personal best time of 2.33.27 as she claimed eighth place.

Completing Highfield and Brookham’s octet in the West Midlands, Olivia Turner, Cristo Porter, Imogen Knight and Tiger Ellis finished outside the medals but performed with distinction – Olivia finishing sixth in the U12 girls’ high jump by clearing 1.25m, Cristo placing sixth in a tough U14 boys’ 1500m race in a time of 4min 47.81secs, Imogen securing ninth place out of the 14 competitors with a good leap of 4.05m in the U14 girls’ long jump and Tiger Ellis notching a throw of 6.17m to claim 11^th place out of 15 in the U12 girls’ shot putt.

Proud Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Fresh from four wonderful summer term sports days in which every child in the school is involved, eight of our very best athletes have performed on the national stage in Birmingham and done themselves and the school incredibly proud.

“Simply reaching the national finals at Alexander Stadium and following in the footsteps of some of the world’s top athletes was an amazing achievement in itself. To go a step further and win a medal, gain a personal best, break a school record or make it through the heats of their respective events is real testament to not only the children’s ability but also their desire, determination and pride and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”

A scheme which helps children secure an independent school education that may otherwise be out of reach has been boosted to the tune of £27,000.

The amazing amount for the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund was raised through an incredible whole-school effort involving every year group at Highfield and Brookham in Liphook.

The occasion was Giving Day, a two-day fundraising extravaganza which saw nursery, pre-prep and prep school children work together to raise money through a series of challenges unique to them.

Challenges included a car wash, rowing marathon, bake sale, swimathon and colour run, and the cash – an impressive £27,017 – was raised through sponsorship of each year-group activity, raffle tickets for unique prizes donated by Highfield and Brookham teachers, proceeds from a family golf day and the sale of wristbands which gave children access to fun stalls and activities throughout Giving Day.

The coffers were swelled further by corporate sponsorship from estate agent Knight Frank and care provider Ranger Home Care. Sushi specialist Little Fish and Silver Linings Wellbeing put on a wellness retreat for parents, while the Hawkley Inn and Gilco ice cream donated a percentage of their takings from their food stalls at the Giving Day.

To add extra spice to proceedings, and to encourage people to dig deep for the bursaries’ fund, brave staff members, including Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer, faced daring forfeits for every £5,000 raised. Mrs Cryer and Mrs Hunter, Head of Pre-prep, were doused in a heady mix of iced water, custard and baked beans while Mr Figgis, Head of Upper Prep, had a close shave with a razor.

Highfield and Brookham has awarded 22 bursaries since the fund’s inception in 2007. The bursaries are covered jointly by the fund and the school, covering all school fees and providing additional support for music lessons, sports equipment, school trips and uniform. This year, three children who are being supported by the Bursaries Fund have secured fully-funded places at their senior schools ahead of starting in September.

Mrs Cryer said: “The amount of money raised by our whole school community on Giving Day was nothing short of phenomenal and will help ensure that we can continue to offer life-changing opportunities for children for years to come.

“The way the children selflessly set about their year-group challenges with such energy and enthusiasm in order to reach their goals and raise as much money as they possibly could fills me with an enormous sense of pride.”

And she added: “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.”

Cricketers from Highfield and Brookham School have been crowned national champions.

A rain-curtailed final in York meant we shared the title in the IAPS U13 boys’ competition with Millfield.

Millfield were left chasing a tricky 79 for victory and were a wicket down early in their reply when the heavens opened and left the St Peter’s School outfield waterlogged. With no further play possible, the two coaches agreed to share the spoils.

The result meant a first national cricket title for a Highfield and Brookham U13 side, which was this year made up of Year 7 and Year 8 children who battled their way past Barrow Hills, Seaford College, Brighton College and Bede’s to take their place among the last four on finals day at St Peter’s.

Victory against Watford-based St Martin’s in the semi-finals set up a tense final with Millfield before the inclement British weather had the last word.

The shared national title triumph in North Yorkshire completed a good year on the cricket pitch for Highfield and Brookham as the U11 boys were crowned IAPS cricket festival champions at Merchant Taylor’s School in Northwood in May.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “We were absolutely delighted when our Year 6 cricketers won an IAPS title in May, and now our boys have followed suit in the oldest age group. It really has been a wonderful summer of cricket.

“It was a very tense day in York for head coach Richard Dunn and his young players, but they proved at every stage of the competition that they are truly united, encouraging each other and sharing in each other’s successes every step of the way. We couldn’t be more proud.”

Highfield and Brookham is in the running for a national award thanks to its new wellbeing hub.

The Beehive, which was unveiled last September, has created such a buzz that the school has been named a finalist in the ‘Pastoral Development of the Year’ category of the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education (NAPCE).

Named after parallels were drawn between busy bees and children at Highfield and Brookham, not least when it comes to community, effectively working together and looking after each in other in the hive, The Beehive is regularly used as part of the school’s continued commitment to top-level pastoral care.

The bright and friendly space, which is staffed throughout the day by teachers expertly trained in mental health first aid, is a place where children can relax, reset and regulate their emotions whenever they need to. It also hosts visits from wellness experts, to promote good mental health among the pupils and staff.

The Beehive was opened officially by Alicia Drummond, founder of Teen Tips, an organisation which supports mental health and wellbeing in children and adolescents through on-site and online training, and marks another exciting chapter in the ongoing pastoral story at Highfield and Brookham.

In the past two years, the school has created space in the children’s busy days to allow time dedicated to their mental health in the form of weekly wellbeing workshops, featuring activities such as ‘Journaling and Scrapbooking’, ‘Cards and Board Games’ and ‘Lego and Chill’ while ‘Be With the Boys’ and ‘Go With the Girls’ are run by the school’s Peer Listeners – a group of trained and compassionate Year 8 children who offer younger children a friendly face or a kindly listening ear.

And it was an overwhelmingly positive response to the wellbeing workshops that provided the trigger for the rural boarding school to invest in the development of its very own wellbeing centre.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, spoke of her delight at the school being named an award finalist.

“We’re exceptionally proud of our pastoral provision but we are always looking at ways that we can make it even better for the benefit of our children and staff. The Beehive has proved incredibly valuable for pupils, staff and parents alike and to have our ongoing work recognised once again by NAPCE is something that fills us all with a real sense of honour.”

Pupils at Highfield and Brookham have further strengthened their links with a school in Italy – meeting some old friends along the way.

Nine children, all academic scholars, spent a week at Istituto Comprensivo di Fontanellato e Fontevivo as part of an exchange programme which has been running since 2018.

The visit gave the English children the opportunity to get reacquainted with some of their Italian counterparts who have spent time at Highfield and Brookham over the past few years, most recently last September. Two more Italian children will head to Liphook again at the start of the autumn term.

Fontanellato, an historic town north-west of the city of Parma in northern Italy, is no random choice for the school exchange as it has a big wartime link to the Mills family, owners of Highfield and Brookham School.

Former Headmaster Peter Mills, father of current chairman Bill Mills, escaped from a German prisoner of war camp in Fontanellato in 1943 with a little help from locals, guards and a kindly camp commandant, making his way along a route through the Apennines known as the ‘Freedom Trail’ after an armistice between the Allies and Italy which Germany refused to recognise.

Now, in peacetime, sections of the Freedom Trail are walked only by people keen to gain an understanding of a significant piece of history, such as the academic scholars from Highfield and Brookham.

While in Italy, the scholars took in the wonderful sights and sounds of the Parma region, including time spent in and out of the classroom with their hosts, a tour of the 12^th Century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and a trip to a cheese factory where the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano is produced.

The children then ventured 90 minutes north-west to the vibrant city of Milan, home to the impressive Duomo Cathedral, the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the inspirational Leonardo da Vinci Museum, named in honour of the legendary artist and inventor.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “We have such a wonderful relationship with our friends from Fontanellato, and it’s heartening to know that the links between our two schools are as strong as ever.

“For our children to be reunited with friends that they made during their time with us in Liphook is incredibly special and adds so much to what is always an enriching and enlightening trip.”

And she added: “We are already looking forward to welcoming two more Italian children next September for the next chapter of this lovely story.”

A charity which provides week-long residential summer breaks for disabled children has been boosted to the tune of £3,900.

The “amazing” sum was raised at the annual May fair at Highfield and Brookham School, with all of the proceeds going to Highreach Holidays.

The fair was run by the Friends of Brookham and featured an array of fun games for children, a ‘tattoo’ and hair-dying station, arts and crafts and a popular resale table, with once-loved items finding grateful new homes.

Pimm’s and strawberries also proved hugely popular on a sunny day.

Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs for one week every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays around.

The cost of these holidays is met by ongoing fundraising initiatives within the school community and a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former pupils of Highfield and Brookham School.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, an independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school in Liphook, said: “Highreach is a charity that is incredibly dear to us and provides the most wonderful holiday experience for disabled children and offers a vital break for their carers.

“We raise funds throughout the year and rely on a bank of wonderful and dedicated volunteers to ensure that the cost to families is kept as low as possible. And it’s through the sterling efforts of the Friends of Brookham that events such as the fabulous May fair are able to generate the kind of amazing funds that they do. Their efforts really do make a difference.”

Highreach Holidays, which has been running since 2016 and was declared ‘outstanding’ by inspectors late in 2022, returns from August 2-10.

Highfield and Brookham School is in the running for a national award.

Underpinned by our aim to be a carbon neutral school within the next six years, we have been named a finalist in the Environmental Practice category of this year’s Education Business Awards.

Situated on the leafy borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex and within the boundary of the UK’s newest national park – the South Downs National Park – we are one of five schools with strong green credentials to be shortlisted.

Highfield and Brookham was named in the final five at the Education Business Awards 12 months ago and hopes to go one better this time around after implementing a school-wide project aimed at cracking down on food waste. The initiative has already seen a reduction of 20% in leftover food since its inception in October.

The project was conceived after an eco brain-storming session involving the school’s boarding community, was put into operation by catering manager Marco di Michele and his skilled kitchen team, and has been embraced by the whole school, pupils and adults alike.

The catering team got creative in their quest to lower the school’s carbon footprint and reduce food waste. They repurposed excess food, including turning ripe bananas which were left over from our inter-school cross-country event in February into smoothies and banana bread, using the flesh of carved Hallowe’en pumpkins for soup and the seeds for homemade bread, and turning leftover soup into pasta sauce. Furthermore, our skilled caterers drastically cut their use of cling film, instead using more reusable containers to store food, and now use unbleached and biodegradable parchment paper in cooking. The school also uses a local supplier and seasonal produce.

Highfield and Brookham is no stranger to environmental initiatives and has long championed a greener and more eco-friendly way of life.

Other initiatives include extensive wildflower planting to help nature’s pollinators, a school-wide recycling scheme, vegetable plots cared for and tended by our pupils and a thriving ‘eco club’ in which our youngest pupils look at ways in which they can help the environment, including building bug hotels, composting, and planting perennial flowers.

The school also has biomass boilers which provide 85% of the energy required to heat the school and its indoor swimming pool.

The Environmental Practice Award recognises a school that goes above and beyond when it comes to minimising its impact on the environment, as well as providing quality environmental education to its pupils.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Wednesday 12^th June.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “To have our environmental work recognised in national awards for a second successive year really fills me with immense pride.

“We take our responsibility to sustainability incredibly seriously as a school community and our young people are totally engaged in our long-term vision. They are the future and they are determined to do their bit and make a difference in any way they can, big or small.”

Children at Highfield and Brookham have used their trip to the iconic Globe Theatre as inspiration for creative writing in English.

Last week’s trip to the historic London landmark, which nestles unassumingly on the banks of the River Thames, gave Year 7 pupils the chance to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the 16^th Century playhouse before savouring at close quarters a spectacualar performance of Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing.

The electric blue scaffolding and bright oranges set the show alive. I was surprised when the cast came out into the audienc, it made me feel I really was there with them

Emily Law

The captivated children got a fascinating insight into the secrets of a working theatre, including the wooden ‘pillars of Hercules’, which have the appearance of marble, and the ‘heaven and hell trapdoors’, through which actors enter and exit the stage, while also getting top performance tips such as stage presence and voice projection.

But, just as importantly, they gained an invaluable source of inspiration to use during their English lessons back in the classroom. Currently studying King of Shadows by Susan Cooper, which links Shakespeare’s world and his writing with the present day, the children wrote compelling first-person pieces based on their experience of the trip to the Globe, using emotion, vivid descriptions and colour to portray their feelings.

My favourite two characters were Benedick and Beatrice because they worked so well together and they were very funny. There was one point where they danced a masque and the masks they wore were exquisite

Wilf Walters

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham and former Head of Drama at the nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, said that school trips were an ideal way for subjects and studies to be brought to life, be it academic, sport, drama or art.

“School trips are a wonderful way to engage children in various subjects, giving them the chance to appreciate their studies from a different and usually more active perspective. It arms the children with knowledge, skills and a wonderful understanding of their subject,” she said.

“Year 7 had an amazing day at the Globe Theatre, one of London’s most iconic theatres, and their enriching experience will have far-reaching benefits in the classroom. They have already shown that benefit during their English lessons and they are sure to put some of the skills they learnt into practice on the drama stage.”

Highfield and Brookham School is excited to announce its inaugural Giving Day, a two-day fundraising extravaganza taking place on Friday 28th June and Saturday 29th June 2024. This exciting event aims to raise vital funds for the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund, ensuring deserving children have the opportunity to experience a Highfield and Brookham education.

The Giving Day promises to be a fun-filled event for the entire school community. Every child, from Nursery to Year 8, will be actively involved in age-appropriate sponsorship challenges and fundraising initiatives.

The little bakers in Nursery will be whipping up delicious treats for a delightful bake sale. Our youngest athletes in Reception get ready to participate in a sponsored walk. Year 1 will nurture a love for plants with a plant sale and put their agility to the test in an obstacle race. Year 2 will embrace a simpler life with an ‘off-grid’ day, learning valuable lessons about sustainability. Year 3 will be holding a read-a-thon, celebrating the joy of reading. Year 4 will embark on a sponsored colour run, virtually conquering the distance to Paris. Year 5 will put their football skills to the test in a sponsored football challenge. Make a splash! Year 6 will make a splash as they participate in a sponsored swim challenge. Keeping with the water theme, Year 7 will run a car wash and also support Year 8 in their 24-hour row.

To add some extra excitement and motivate the fundraising efforts, for every £5,000 raised, a member of the senior leadership team will face a daring forfeit. Mr Figgis, Head of Upper Prep, has bravely pledged to allow a pupil to shave his head.  We can only wait and see if the children can reach their ambitious target.

There will also be the opportunity to bid on exciting promises donated by Highfield and Brookham staff in a special raffle. From bagpipe lessons and scuba diving adventures to a coveted lunch in the Head’s office, there’s something for everyone.

Parents can also enjoy a day of friendly competition at the Family Golf Day, generously sponsored by Knight Frank. They can also choose to relax and recharge with a selection of wellness classes thoughtfully offered by Silver Linings Wellbeing. All the fun will culminate at the outdoor rock concert, Highfest, on Saturday afternoon with a bar generously sponsored by Ranger Home Care.

All funds raised during the Giving Day will directly benefit the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund.  These bursaries provide transformative educational opportunities for talented and deserving children who might not otherwise be able to afford a private education.

Join us on the 28th and 29th of June for a fun-filled and impactful Giving Day. Together, we can change lives.

The impact of the fashion industry on the environment has come on the radar of children at an independent school in Liphook.

The pupils at Highfield and Brookham learned of the devastating effects modern fashion production trends have on our planet as part of their studies to mark Earth Day.

Based at a nursery, pre-prep and prep school which has made a strong commitment to a greener future for our planet and which aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, the children are no strangers to environmental issues and have been heavily involved in a wealth eco initiatives such as cutting food waste, recycling, planting trees and growing their own vegetables for use in the school kitchens.

On Earth Day, which was marked nationally on Monday, the children discovered that mass production of cheap clothes has high environmental consequences, not least because most are made of polyester, a man-made petroleum-based fibre which requires large amounts of fossil fuels for manufacturing.

Polyester, which the children found far outweighs natural resources such as cotton and wool in the the production of ‘fast fashion’ – or inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends – is non-biodegradable and can take anywhere between 20 and 200 years to degrade.

The children also discovered that it is also one of the leading causes of micro-plastics in our oceans because when polyester clothing is washed, plastic leaks out and finds its way into water courses.

And a high turnover of cheap clothing also resulted in high volumes of waste going to landfill each year, the children found.

Having had an interesting and informative assembly on the links between the fashion industry and environmental harm, the children were tasked with delving into fashion brand sustainability and researching the life cycles of plastics.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “As a school community, we are committed to a greener future and try to do our bit for the environment any way we can. We have already made good strides but we know that there is a very long way to go.

“But arguably the most important thing is that our children are fully aware of the problems facing the planet we call home and are fully on board with the all the green measures that we put in place. Awareness among the younger generations is essential, their buy in and determination to make a difference equally so.

“And the way the children set about their environmental task on Earth Day was amazing and gives a tremendous amount of hope for the future.”

Having last year been named a finalist in a coveted national awards scheme which recognises pastoral excellence in schools, Highfield and Brookham is hoping to go one better this year.

The school has put forward its wellbeing hub – otherwise known as The Beehive – in the pastoral development of the year category in the initiative run by the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.

Highfield and Brookham takes its responsibility to pastoral care incredibly seriously and is always looking to implement new ideas and put rigorous new protocols in place to meet the ever-changing demands of modern life – for its children and its staff.

The Beehive was opened officially last September by Alicia Drummond, founder of Teen Tips, an organisation which supports mental health and wellbeing in children. It was named after parallels were drawn between busy bees and children at Highfield and Brookham, not least when it comes to community, effectively working together, and looking after each other in the hive.

It is essentially a safe and supportive place for children to meet, talk through any issues with either an adult or their peers, or simply get away from it all for a little while on occasions when life can feel a bit overwhelming.

Nestled between the pre-prep and prep school buildings, The Beehive provides a calm and welcoming environment for individual and group sessions. The hub is staffed throughout the day by a mental health first aider and serves as a refuge for students to de-stress and recharge.

During breaks, children can visit The Beehive on their own initiative, seeking solace from a bustling playground environment or using it as a trusty meeting place with friends.

The Beehive also hosts wellness experts who help promote good mental health among the school community.

One of the essential elements of the hub is that it is a fluid space, with the school’s dedicated pastoral team constantly assessing and reflecting on the use of the hub to adapt to the needs of the children.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The health and wellbeing of our children is at the heart of absolutely everything we do. We work really hard on our pastoral provision, making sure it is robust, relevant, and fit for purpose.

“So being recognised and named a finalist in the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education last year gave us tremendous heart and told us that we are on the right track, and the addition of the Beehive adds another vital string to our wellbeing bow.”

The long wait for anxious parents facing the first significant milestone of their children’s education is finally over.

Parents of three and four-year-olds yesterday found out which primary schools have offered their child a Reception place, starting in September. Parents who have children in infant schools that end at Year 2 will also have been eagerly waiting to hear about their junior school of choice and a place for their child starting Year 3.

And while the vast majority of families will have got their preferred primary school place – the figure was 92% in 2023 with that figure rising to 98% for one of their top three choices according to Government statistics – some won’t.

So, faced with that undoubtedly disappointing scenario, what should you do?

According to Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook, there are four options available to parents: accept the alternative offer of a school that has enough space, put their child on the waiting list of their preferred schools, appeal the decision, or consider an independent school.

“Once you have processed the offer and collected your thoughts, it’s time to accept the school place you have been offered,” said Mrs Cryer, who took on the role at the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the border of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex in September 2022.

“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.”

Mrs Cryer stressed that such a move would not affect any right of appeal to the local authority’s initial decision.

“Once you have accepted the place on offer, I would advise phoning your preferred school and asking for your child to be added to their waiting list,” continued Mrs Cryer, who said that places come up all the time and added that it was not uncommon to be offered a place on the first day of the new term.

In terms of appealing, Mrs Cryer said to be successful parents must 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, but it’s also worth remembering that each local authority will have a slightly different admissions process so it’s imperative you check the details on their website.”

However, the respected Head, who has just opened a bright, new wellbeing hub which is a wonderful addition to an already strong pastoral offering at Highfield and Brookham, cautioned that appealing was “extremely stressful” and that the chances of success were “limited”.

Private education could prove to be a very useful option for some families in order to help parents avoid such an emotional minefield. 

“There are some truly outstanding independent schools around,” said Mrs Cryer.

“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 impossible, it’s worth picking up the phone and asking about the funded bursaries on offer.”

To discuss Reception and Year 3 places at Highfield and Brookham School, email Charlotte Cottrell at admissions@highfieldandbrookham.co.uk or call 01428 728000.

A pointed conversation about the environment has led to a man who restores and races vintage cars to have a radical rethink on green fuel.

William Medcalf, founder of Vintage Bentley in Hill Brow, near Liss, was chatting casually to his daughter Charlotte on the way to school about his passion for old cars when the six-year-old told him that his business and the cars he races were “bad for the environment”.

Charlotte, a pupil at Highfield and Brookham, explained to her dad that as part of her year group’s spring term theme of transport the children had been looking at ways in which all forms of travel had changed and evolved over the years, including fuel.

The conversation gave Mr Medcalf food for thought as he sought an alternative to traditional fuels, and his research led him to a German company which specialises in fossil-free synthetic fuel which drastically cuts carbon dioxide emissions, a big driver in climate change. Current production processes show a critical 77% drop compared to fossil fuels.

Synthetic fuels – or e-fuels – are produced by extracting carbon dioxide and water from the environment, or from other sources such as farming waste. The water is split by electrolysis, making hydrogen, which is synthesised with the carbon.

Having run numerous tests under laboratory conditions, Mr Medcalf took to the track to see how the synthetic fuel compared to petrol-guzzling cars, and the results were an unmitigated success as he raced to back-to-back victories at Goodwood and Castle Coombe. And he hasn’t returned to fossil fuels since.

Now he plans to race his Bentley at the Goodwood Revival meeting in September, with the prestigious track in West Sussex showing its green credentials by only allowing cars running on synthetic fuels to race.

In light of this, and with his daughter’s words ringing in his ears, Mr Medcalf is taking a closer look at the environmental impact of his business as a whole, for example tracking carbon consumption and calculating amounts for offsetting and capture while also reducing the amount of carbon the company produces.

With the likes of Charlotte and her classmates and teachers at Highfield and Brookham driving change, the future of our planet looks brighter, a great deal brighter indeed.

Our fun-loving children have been caught flouting the rules.

Virtually the whole pupil body at Highfield and Brookham were spotted sporting home clothes, trainers, jewellery, painted nails, beanie hats and baseball caps of all shapes, sizes and colours last Friday in a clear breach of school uniform policy.

But there was no need for any serious reprimands or phone calls to parents as it was all in a good cause.

The occasion was the annual Break The Rules Day fundraiser, with a healthy £1,636.64 raised for the Highreach Holidays charity which provides week-long summer holidays for disabled children.

In a fun twist to proceedings, Mikayla van den Berg, the school’s Director of Boarding, wore full school uniform for the day, along with her boarding staff colleagues, with playful pupils going around armed with tape measures, rulers and checklists to ensure that the uniforms were up to the expected standard. Apparently, Miss van den Berg’s uniform passed the strict inspection.

The children were asked to donate cash for every rule that they broke on the day, with all the money going to Highreach.

Highreach, which has been running since 2018, provides holidays for children with physical and learning disabilities. It was declared ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors in its most recent inspection.

The charity is totally dependent on year-round fundraising to host the holidays every August and relies on a committed bank of volunteers, including many former pupils of Highfield and Brookham who return each year.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “Like most schools, we take a pretty dim view of flagrant rule breaking, but we also have a strong sense of occasion and we’re delighted to make a fun exception, especially for such a wonderful and much-loved cause as Highreach.

“The children really went to town, bringing a real splash of character and colour to the school day, and raised an amazing amount of money for a brilliant cause.”

It’s not every day you see Gangsta Granny, Captain America, Mr Bump, Willy Wonka and Rapunzel in the same place at the same time, but that’s exactly what happened at Highfield and Brookham School on Thursday.

The occasion was World Book Day when literary-loving children from the nursery, pre-prep and prep school dressed up as their favourite fictional characters in honour of brilliant books.

On a day intended to celebrate and nurture a love of reading and literature, the young bookworms left no stone unturned as they morphed into some of the best-loved personalities who are magically brought to life on the pages of many a children’s favourite.

Harry Potter, Matilda, Alice and Wonderland and Thing dazzled in their colourful costumes as they paraded up and down the sports hall, joining oompah loompahs, dinosaurs, pigs and foxes on a fantastic journey of imagery and imagination.

And the fun didn’t stop there as the pre-prep children were joined by the older children for a heart-warming morning of reading and creative book-related activities.

Children (and staff) at Highfield and Brookham are no strangers to the wonders of World Book Day, which was instigated in the UK in 1997, and Head Suzannah Cryer said the day was “as brilliant as ever”.

“There is always a great sense of excitement and anticipation when World Book Day comes into view each year. Our children love reading and put an awful lot of thought into which of their favourite book characters they can represent. The result is absolutely magnificent; colourful, creative and charming in equal measure. They never disappoint,” she said.

A purge on food waste at Highfield and Brookham is already reaping environmental rewards.

The school has cut meal waste by a fifth since it began a pupil-initiated crackdown in October, reducing the amount of food thrown away by an incredible 1,260kg and lowering its carbon footprint in the process.

This represents a drop of more than 20% in fewer than four months and boards containing the relevant facts and figures of Highfield and Brookham’s food waste reduction drive are produced each week so that pupils can see for themselves the positive impact that their green initiative is having on the environment.

The drive began as pupils challenged the school’s catering department to produce a zero-waste meal per week, with excess food and ingredients repurposed for tasty and nutritious alternatives, including using pork from a lunchtime roast in a healthy evening stir fry, turning ripe bananas which were left over from our inter-school cross-country event in February into smoothies and banana bread, using the flesh of carved Hallowe’en pumpkins for soup and the seeds for homemade bread, and turning soup into pasta sauce.

The children are delighted to have provided the inspiration for the school’s environmental project, which covers its four mealtime sittings – boarders’ breakfast, pre-prep lunch, prep lunch and boarders’ supper – as well as mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks and match day sports teas, with the food waste weighed and logged after each sitting.

Furthermore, the school’s dedicated chefs work from a menu-purchasing planner and boarding numbers are carefully monitored to allow the chefs to order and prepare the correct amount of food for each sitting. The school also has open culture of children coming back for seconds at mealtimes, but only after they’ve eaten what is on their plate in the first place, with children also encouraged to ask for a small or big portion in the first place.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said she was delighted by the early impact of the food waste project and praised the ingenuity of the boarding community in making the whole school aware of the need to cut down on food waste and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

“As a school, we take our responsibilities to the environment very seriously,” she said, “and this is another great example of how, if we all work together, we can really make a difference. Reducing our weekly food waste by a fifth is a great start but we still have a very long way to go and we won’t rest on our laurels.

“And I couldn’t be more proud of our boarders who got together to consider ways in which we could help our commitment to the environment further and try to lessen the impact of climate change. It really gives me great heart that with these caring children at the helm in years to come, the planet will be in very good hands.”

Highfield and Brookham has long been a champion of all things environmental and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

An incredible 1,200 pupils from 19 schools converged at an independent school in Liphook for its annual cross-country competition.

The yearly run across the sports pitches and through the vast woodland at Highfield and Brookham School attracted children from independent and state schools across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

The eager young runners, aged eight to 13, had to tackle tricky routes ranging from just over three-quarters of a mile to just under two miles consisting of woodland trails, varied terrain and plenty of mud. They also had to deal with the additional challenge brought about by a deluge of rain which fell on the course in the days leading up to the race.

But the determined girls and boys who competed in a dozen races, dug deep as they tackled slippery slopes, energy-sapping mud on the flatter parts of the course and squally showers, with Highfield and Brookham runner Max Reid taking top spot for the host school in the U9 boys’ race.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “Our annual cross-country competition is always a popular event on the sports calendar, a fact borne out by the incredible number of runners representing an amazing number of schools.

“To say conditions for the young runners were difficult would be an understatement, with persistent wet weather before and during the race adding to the degree of difficulty of an already challenging course, but the children showed great strength of character and real resilience as they put their best feet forward in the name of their respective schools.

“I’m immensely proud of all the boys and girls who took part and who were a real credit not only to their schools but also to themselves.”

There were medals for the top three finishers in each race and trophies for winning teams in each race, with the top four finishers from each school counting toward the team totals.

Results

Girls:

U8: St Hilary’s

U9: Edgeborough

U10: St Hilary’s

U11: Amesbury

U12: Churcher’s College

U13: Westbourne House

Boys:

U8: Aldro

U9: Highfield and Brookham

U10: Feltonfleet

U11: Twyford

U12: Hall Grove U13: Royal Grammar School, Guildford

Young rockers from Highfield and Brookham School proved they’re made of stern stuff after belying their age in a school music competition.

Talented six-piece band Granite didn’t make the top two of the 13 schools taking part in the annual Battle of the Bands competition at Prior’s Field School in Godalming but they did hugely impress the judges as the youngest band on show.

And the boys didn’t come away empty handed as talented drummer Henry Fisher was named best individual performer on the day – something made all the more remarkable by the fact that Henry

was on crutches and had to drum with his non-dominant leg.

While many schools included sixth-formers in their line ups, the prep school quintet from Highfield and Brookham – made up of guitarist Dougie Hogg, bassist Albie Black, vocalists Gabe Church and Rory Lett, Theo Dunfield-Prayero on keyboards and drummer Henry – proved that age is no barrier to talent as they raised the roof by performing Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer and Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses to an appreciative audience which included judges from Guilfest and The Boiler Room.

Impressed by the mature performance of the Highfield and Brookham musicians, one judge said: “You’ve got so much talent for how young you are and you were perfectly in tune the whole time. I’m a bit blown away, I can’t find the words.”

Another described the performance as “excellent” before citing the bassist’s “excellent moves on the stage”.

And a third judge enthused: “It’s so nice to see guys of your age just have so much enthusiasm, energy, love for music. It really was an amazing show. Keep going because you’re going to be the next rock stars!”

The boys, who are coached by guitar specialist Mark Rood, are well known around the school having previously performed on Rock Day and at HighFest, which showcases the school’s musical talent.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Music is such an integral part of school life and we are lucky enough to have not only dedicated and specialist teachers but also talented pupils who have the maturity, drive and talent to make their mark with their chosen instrument.

“Seeing the result of that dedication and desire in Granite’s incredible performance at Prior’s Field was nothing short of amazing and I couldn’t be more proud of the five boys and Mr Rood. The world really is their oyster and there is no limit to what they can achieve.”

Picture courtesy of Simon Drake Photography

Highfield and Brookham School, known for its nurturing and academically rigorous environment, today announced its membership in the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE). This partnership reaffirms the school’s commitment to fostering excellence and potential in every child.

NACE, a leading UK organisation, empowers educators to tailor learning experiences for high-achieving students. Recognising the crucial role of setting high expectations and fostering a growth mindset across the board. Highfield and Brookham aligns perfectly with NACE’s values.

“Joining NACE reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing every child’s potential,” says Suzannah Cryer, Head at Highfield and Brookham School. “Their expertise perfectly complement our existing pedagogy, which emphasises high-quality, challenging teaching for all.”

Highfield and Brookham emphasises a “rich education based on experience and robust research delivered by passionate teachers,” ensuring an intellectually stimulating environment for all children. The school believes in meticulously crafting and implementing a curriculum that intrinsically accommodates diverse learning needs. This approach fosters high expectations and enriches the educational experience for every child.

“NACE membership opens doors to valuable resources, collaboration opportunities, and professional development for our dedicated educators,” Mrs. Cryer adds. “This strengthens our ability to provide an outstanding education that empowers each child to flourish.”

By joining NACE, Highfield and Brookham School demonstrates its ongoing commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. This partnership further solidifies the school’s position as a champion for personalised learning and fostering the full potential of every child.

Highfield and Brookham has been long recognised for its broad and rigorous curriculum and for sending children on to the top senior schools in the country.

The life and times of a famed Scottish poet have been celebrated in fine style at Highfield and Brookham.

Honouring the memory of the legendary Robbie Burns, the children revelled in a heady mix of the Highland Games, Irn-Bru, bagpipes and haggis on Thursday.

The grand occasion was Burns Night, which is celebrated all over the world on the anniversary of the poet and lyricist’s birth on January 25, 1759.

Boarders at the co-ed nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex were treated to a traditional haggis dinner, with proud Scotsman and Year 6 teacher Simon Gunn piping in the haggis and making the address, before four ‘clans’ converged on the school sports hall to compete in their very own Highland Games.

Running, crab walking, wellie wanging, caber tossing and the Hercules hold tested the strength, agility and guile of the children, who donned colourful face paint in the quest to secure bragging rights for their clan.

And the Burns Night festivities, organised by Lewis Campbell, another proud Scot on the staff at Highfield and Brookham, proved the perfect pre-cursor to some traditional ceilidh dancing as the school celebrations continued into Friday.

Pre-prep children were joined by their prep school peers for a whole school ceilidh which proved a fitting finale and offered a toe-tapping tribute to ‘Rabbie’ Burns, with the Virginia Reel, the Highland Barn Dance and The Flying Scotsman the order of the day.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “We are proud of the diversity within our school community, not least a healthy number of patriotic Scots among the staff and pupils who pull out all the stops every year to celebrate Burns Night.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Mr Campbell, our superb catering team and the talents of Mr Gunn playing the bagpipes, our boarders had the most wonderful and entertaining evening. To end the celebrations with a whole-school ceilidh really did put the icing on a very rich cake and I was left filled with pride.”

Children at Highfield and Brookham School are continuing to reap the rewards of their dedicated wellbeing hub.

The Beehive was opened officially last September as a place for pupils of all ages to “relax, reset and regulate their emotions whenever they need to” and is regularly used as part of the school’s continued commitment to top-level pastoral care.

Individual and group sessions are regularly held in the bright, snug and welcoming space as part of Highfield and Brookham’s wellbeing offering, including visits from wellness experts, to promote good mental health among the nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s pupils and staff.

This week, Year 5 children were treated to a visit from Chrissy Sundt Dolan, of Silver Linings Wellbeing, who worked with small groups to gently encourage the use of simple wellness techniques that the young learners can put into practice themselves whenever they feel the need.

With a big focus on breathing techniques, the children said they found the sessions “calming”, “refreshing” and “fun”.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The health and wellbeing of our children is paramount and we take our responsibilities very seriously indeed. In a fast-moving world, taking time out to look after mental health is very important, a sentiment which applies to both adults and children.

“The Beehive is a wonderful addition to our pastoral care offering and the benefits to the children of having somewhere calm to stop, think and breathe is there for all to see and is really reflected in the classroom and beyond.”

And she added: “Not only are we lucky enough to have teachers and staff members who are wonderfully dedicated to all aspects of pastoral care and wellbeing, we also have wellness professionals among the parent body such as the excellent Chrissy who graciously give of their time to help the children.”

Highfield and Brookham was twice named an awards finalist in 2023 for its pastoral provision – in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School of the Year Awards and in the ‘Raising Awareness’ category of the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.

There was a real buzz around the school this week as an expert beekeeper flew in to say hello.

Michelle Ernoult, of The Little Honeybee Company, gave an engaging talk and demonstrated some of the tools of her trade to fascinated pre-prep children.

The inquisitive youngsters bombarded Michelle with brilliant questions about her busy pollinators, gained an understanding of the hierarchy within a bee colony, and got to look at all the pieces which make up a working beehive.

There was also the chance for the children to get a close look at the equipment needed to tend to honey-producing bees, such as the smoker which beekeepers use to make the bees a little drowsy while collecting honeycomb and the obligatory suit and netted headgear which keeps beekeepers safe while the bees are buzzing around.

Michelle’s visit to the busy bees in pre-prep ties in with the spring term Year 1 topic which asks the question ‘why are bees important?’

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said the children loved Michelle’s visit.

“Bees are a particular favourite with a lot of children as they see them as colourful and friendly and associate them with producing tasty honey,” she said, “and our children are no different.

“It was wonderful for the children to get such an insightful look at the work of a dedicated beekeeper and gain more of an understanding of the important role bees play in the natural world.

“We were delighted that Michelle could join us and give the children some food for thought as they embark upon their new topic.”

As part of an ongoing environmental drive, Highfield and Brookham has embarked on a wildflower planting programme in recent years in order to safeguard the future of our essential pollinators. Recently, the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex received a £4,250 grant from the South Downs National Park Trust as part of its Bee Lines scheme. The cash will be used to expand the wildflower-planting scheme.

Christmas hampers stacked full of donated goodies have swelled the coffers of two good causes.

Beautifully presented by parent body the Friends of Brookham, the hampers were raffled and £1,200 was raised which will be split between Liphook Food Bank and Highreach, which provides week-long summer holidays for disabled children.

The hampers, made up of goods donated by parents, included festive treats such as chocolates, wine, tea, fruit, biscuits and preserves.

The charity windfall from the hampers comes hard on the heels of Highfield and Brookham raising £2,400 for the food bank and Highreach via its annual Christmas fair, which is run by Highfield Parents’ Association with help from Year 8 prep school children.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Every Christmas our parent body work hard putting together the most delightful festive hampers and every year they are much sought after, a fact reflected by the amazing amount of money the school has raised for two charities very dear to our hearts.

“I’m truly grateful for the time and effort spent putting these wonderful hampers together and to everyone who supported the raffle.”

Highfield Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays around.

Liphook Food Bank, which is based at Liphook Junior School and is open for collections from 9.30am-11.30am on Tuesdays and Fridays, provides weekly food parcels for families and individuals who are struggling financially. People in need should call 07871 287295 or email liphookfoodbank@gmail.com.

Our successful festive fair has provided some Christmas cheer for two charities.

The popular annual fundraiser at Highfield and Brookham School, complete with snow machine, fun games, craft stalls, hilarious racing pigs – not real ones! – and warming food and drink, netted a cool £2,400.

The cash will be divided between two charities, with Liphook Food bank receiving a donation of £1,400 and £1,000 going to Highreach, which provides week-long summer holidays for disabled children.

Run by the Highfield Parents’ Association, the fair this year featured a ‘gift tree’ containing pre-labelled tags for boys and girls of various ages. Visitors take tags and buy appropriate gifts which are handed over to Liphook Food Bank before being donated to families who are struggling financially. Eighty-nine presents have been donated so far.

Liphook Food Bank chair of trustees Glynis Blake praised the school for its “incredible generosity” at what can be a difficult time for families.

“Christmas will be that much brighter for the children who will now have a toy,” she added.

“The money you have raised will mean we can buy more food, so the children will have fuller plates as well as a toy this Christmas – all thanks to you.”

Highfield Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs for one week every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays around.

The cost of these holidays is met by ongoing fundraising initiatives within the school community and a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former pupils of Highfield and Brookham School.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said she was delighted that the school could help make a difference to people’s lives.

“Liphook is a tight-knit community and we are very proud to be part of it,” she said.

“Our children never pass up a chance to give back to the community or help people who are perhaps finding things challenging.” And she added: “We’re delighted that the money has gone to two such wonderful causes which do so much amazing work for so many people.”

Six prep and senior schools are joining forces in the new year to extol the virtues of a country education.

Senior figures from leading prep schools Highfield and Brookham, Ludgrove and Hanford will be joined by top senior schools Marlborough College, Radley College and Downe House at the Educating Outside London event at Beaufort House in Chelsea.

It will be held on Wednesday 7^th February, from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

A representative from each of the six schools will give a brief talk on the positive benefits of being educated away from the capital. Topics will include the importance of keeping schools mentally healthy, the arguments for and against co-education and single-sex schools, the advantages of having plenty of outdoor space in which to learn and play, and whether boarding or day attendance is right for your child.

Highfield and Brookham, which is set in 175 beautiful acres on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, is a co-educational nursery, pre-prep and prep school for children aged 2-13 whose children regularly move on after Year 8 to Marlborough, Radley and Downe House, as well as other leading senior schools across the country. Included among them are a healthy number of scholarship recipients each year.

Over the years, many parents have cited Highfield and Brookham’s vast natural outdoor classroom as a big factor in their decision to choose the Liphook-based school for their children’s education; a sentiment doubtless shared by parents of children at Hanford, based at Blandford Forum in Dorset, and Ludgrove, which occupies 130 acres in rural Berkshire.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Being blessed with such big and wonderful grounds, outdoor learning naturally plays a big part in our everyday curriculum. From building dens at forest school to tending our vegetable plots and from undertaking science experiments to painting among the daffodils, our children gain so much from being outside.

“The fact that the children have the time and space to learn, to play, to think and to breathe in such a safe and nurturing setting is truly wonderful for their wellbeing and their mental health, and we find that it pays handsome dividends back inside the classroom.”

And she added: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with such prestigious schools in February to fly the flag for rural education. We all have a common link; we all have the health, happiness and wellbeing of our children at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to meeting city-based parents who might be considering the switch to a countryside education for their children.”

The Educating Outside London event, which has been running successfully since 2015, is primarily aimed at parents of children aged under-10 who are considering a move to a rural school. Places are limited. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/3GvMSxh.

Our creative pupils have designed their own Christmas cards – and raised money for charity along the way.

The annual Christmas card design competition at Highfield and Brookham is always a festive favourite and gives prep school children the chance to see their personal designs become reality thanks to printing company Cauliflower Cards.

And as the individual cards go on sale to proud parents, a portion of the proceeds goes to Highreach, a charity which offers week-long residential breaks for disabled children every summer.

Highfield and Brookham each year raises hundreds of pounds for Highreach through the festive card competition.

Children from Year 4 all the way through to Year 8 have the option each year to design their own Christmas cards, from which individual year group winners and an overall winner are picked by school staff members who are given the chance to vote.

Harry E, Elsa Z, Isla A, Tiggy W and Iris G were named as the respective year group winners while Tiggy was also name overall competition winner.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Like most schools, we have a busy and varied run up to Christmas with a great many festive events going on, and one of the most popular is the annual Christmas card design competition.

“It’s amazing to see the variety of the entries and the creativity and imagination shown by the children year on year, but most of all I’m always so impressed by the sheer quality of the entries. It really is wonderful and is perhaps a good indicator as to why our children earn senior school art scholarships every year.”

And she added: “Warmest congratulations to not only our winners but to everyone who took part. They should all be very proud of their festive artwork.” Christmas trees, strings of coloured lights, reindeer and starry skies featured prominently among this year’s competition entries.

A charity which offers residential holidays for disabled children has received a cash windfall after our annual fireworks display went with a bang.

In keeping with the spectacular lightshow in honour of Bonfire Night at Highfield and Brookham School, Highfield Highreach Holidays had its coffers swelled to the tune of a dazzling £3,300.

The proceeds – up almost £1,000 on last year – came from sales of food and drink on the night and cash donations to the charity.

The annual bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex provides a regular boost to Highreach, which has been running since 2018 and provides respite for children with physical and mental disabilities.

While the fireworks display was liberally described as “the best ever” by many of the hundreds of visitors to the school, traditional guys produced by pupils from the prep school’s three houses – Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo – took pride of place on top of the bonfire as part of the annual house competition, with Agincourt taking the honours this time around.

Highfield Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs for one week every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays around.

The cost of these holidays is met by ongoing fundraising initiatives within the school community and a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former pupils of Highfield and Brookham School.

In August 2022, the young holidaymakers were joined by Ofsted inspectors who declared Highreach “outstanding” in all areas. It is set to run next summer from August 2-10.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said she felt it was fitting that Highreach had benefited from the success of the fireworks and bonfire.

“When you think of Bonfire Night words such as dazzling, fun, heartwarming and colourful spring to mind, words which could just as easily apply to the wonderful Highreach charity and its amazing week of activities.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the amount of money we have raised, money which will continue to provide much-loved holidays for disabled children and a necessary break for their families and carers. “So thank you to everyone who came along and supported such a great cause and to our brilliant catering team who provided such tasty and warming fayre.”

Highfield and Brookham has again been named as a thriving centre for cricket.

The latest glowing endorsement comes from The Cricketer Schools Guide 2024, which has named us among its Top 50 Prep Schools in the UK for the fifth successive year.

It follows a thorough 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 healthy cricketing tradition and regularly fulfils as many as 230 fixtures in the summer term against rival prep schools from across Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire.

The school currently fields 34 teams – featuring boys and girls of all abilities from Year 2 to Year 8 – and has 12 pitches, three artificial outdoor nets, three indoor nets, four grass nets and two mobile cages. There are also three bowling machines and two Flicx pitches on the astro to help cricket development.

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 and Brookham.

And the school welcomed the return of two significant events this year which had been curtailed by the Covid pandemic – the annual Year 7 and Year 8 cricket tour to Barbados in April and the visit of the touring Trinity House School side from South Africa in July.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said she was thrilled that the school had again made it into the prestigious magazine.

“We pride ourselves on playing a healthy range of sports each year, but there’s no question that there is an extra sense of expectation and excitement when cricket returns to the curriculum after the Easter holiday. “But while we play our competitive fixtures in the warmer summer months cricket continues all-year round thanks to our indoor nets and dedicated coaching staff, and we’re delighted that our love of cricket has once again earned us a place among top 50 prep schools in the country according to The Cricketer magazine.”

Pupils and staff at Highfield and Brookham have paid their respects to their war dead.

Head Suzannah Cryer and her husband, Bob, read out the names of former pupils who lost their lives in the service of their country during two world wars.

The poignant reading of the names is a long-held tradition at Highfield and Brookham in honour of Remembrance Day, and Friday’s ceremony gave the whole school the opportunity to reflect on the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The beautiful Act of Remembrance featured a solemn two-minute silence, an emotional rendition of The Last Post by trumpeter and former Highfield and Brookham music teacher Mark Atkins, and a special performance by Year 6 teacher Simon Gunn on the bagpipes, who played The Rowan Tree, When The Battle’s Over, Green Hills, Castle Dangerous and the Flowers of the Forest lament as the children filed silently onto Chapel Field in their year groups.

And the moving occasion had extra significance for the children in Year 4 who made beautiful ceramic poppies in their art lessons especially for the wartime tribute.

Mrs Cryer said she was “incredibly moved” by the Act of Remembrance, and the chapel service which preceded it.

“Like so many other schools, the Highfield and Brookham community was so sadly affected by the Great War from 1914-18 and the Second World War from 1939-45, and it’s imperative that the sacrifice these brave souls made should never ever be forgotten.

“The Act of Remembrance was truly moving and emotional and it was wonderful for the whole school to gather together to pay tribute to the people whose bravery will forever be etched on our hearts and minds.”

Highfield and Brookham has a strong link with wartime, with former headmaster Peter Mills having escaped from a prisoner of war camp in northern Italy in 1943.

Mr Mills, Highfield Headmaster from 1953 until his retirement in 1979 and former owner of the school now owned by his son, Bill, was imprisoned at Fontanellato, near Parma, during the Second World War. Locals, guards and a kindly commandant helped him escape along a route through the Apennines known as the ‘Freedom Trail’ after an armistice between the Allies and Italy which Germany refused to recognise.

Now, in peacetime, sections of the Freedom Trail are walked only by people keen to gain an understanding of a significant piece of history. As a result, an exchange programme between Highfield and Brookham School and the Istituto Comprensivo di Fontanellato e Fontevivo has been running successfully since 2018, with two Italian pupils spending a term at the nursery, pre-prep and prep school in Liphook each year.

Our hockey players have returned from a successful tour of Holland and Belgium.

Twenty-seven senior girls from Highfield and Brookham School, made up of Year 7 and Year 8 pupils, played a tournament in the Belgian city of Genk and standalone fixtures against Dutch sides Nova, Hockeer and Eindhoven.

The senior girls are currently in the middle of their school hockey season and used the tour as an opportunity to showcase not only their skills, sportsmanship and technique on the pitch but also their exemplary behaviour and camaraderie off it.

Based in Valkenburg, the girls won three of their four 11-a-side matches against their Dutch opponents after crossing the Belgian border to compete in the seven-a-side tournament in Genk.

One of the undoubted secrets of the senior hockey side’s success at Highfield and Brookham is the strength of the unity and friendship among the players, on and off the sports pitch, and that was underlined with a wonderful series of leisure activities away from match action.

An exciting trampolining session inside a cave, an action-packed game of laser tag, a spooky Hallowe’en celebration and a visit to a pancake house reinforced the strong bonds already prevalent within the squad.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said: “I am immensely proud of all the girls who went on the wonderful hockey tour to Holland and Belgium, for both their impressive performances on the pitch and their exceptional conduct off it. They were an absolute credit to the school in so many ways and I’m delighted that the tour was such a great success.”

Our talented pupils have been professionally critiqued by a star of stage and screen.

The occasion was the annual house poetry recitation at Highfield and Brookham School, which this year was judged by Jamie Bamber, star of hit TV shows Battlestar Galactica, Law and Order: UK and Peak Practice.

A graduate of the acclaimed London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Mr Bamber was treated to a wealth of polished, powerful and imaginative performances by children from Year 3 to Year 8, many of whom are following in the actor’s footsteps by taking LAMDA lessons as a co-curricular option at Highfield and Brookham.

Mr Bamber said he was “impressed by the high standard of the recitations”, with many pupils tackling a variety of works by revered poets such as William Shakespeare, Roald Dahl and John Kitching with real verve and poise while others took the opportunity to deliver their own heartfelt poems with confidence and assuredness.

And such was the quality throughout the competition that nothing could separate Year 8 children Theo DP and Cristo P in the judge’s eyes, the pair being declared joint overall winners.

Reciting Harry Baker’s Paper People, Theo was praised for his “incredible diction” and for “making sense of complex ideas” with the end result being a real “poetry slam vibe” while Cristo, performing Sylvia Plath’s dark work Getting There, demonstrated a “real understanding of language and imagery”, leaving Mr Bamber to feel “every sensory horror of the poet’s awful journey”.

Pippa Napoli, who recited James Carter’s Beware, came out top in Year 3, Jack Tweddle was named winner in Year 4 with his self-penned My Secret Garden, Seb Williams (JK Rowling’s The Sorting Hat) claimed the honours in Year 5, John Kitching’s Blue Mondays was the winning choice of Alice Craig in Year 6 and Alec Williams earned top marks in Year 7 with his reading of Roald Dahl’s Cinderella.

Waterloo earned house competition bragging rights, fending off Trafalgar and Agincourt.

Commenting on another quality recitation, Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said she was in no way surprised at the strength of this year’s competition.

“Having spent many happy years here as the school’s former Head of Drama, I’ve been lucky enough to witness at first hand the talent and strength in depth that we have when it comes to the dramatic and performing arts,” she said.

“To perform on stage in front of your peers at such a young age takes an awful lot of courage, to do so with such professionalism, clarity, desire and aplomb is nothing short or remarkable.”

And Mrs Cryer added: “This year’s competition was made extra special as we welcomed Jamie Bamber to give his expert opinion on proceedings. And, who knows, some of this year’s participants may end up following in Jamie’s footsteps and appearing on the big screen and the small screen in the years ahead.”

Our pupil leadership team has been unveiled for the new academic year.

Genny Hogg and Jamie Wakeley have been named Head Girl and Head Boy respectively, with Honor Elvins and Theo Dunfield-Prayero acting as their deputies.

Highfield and Brookham School takes the appointment of its pupil leadership team very seriously and, as such, the new incumbents had to come through a thorough selection process.

All pupils are actively encouraged to apply for the prestigious roles and those that decide to apply must submit a formal letter of application to Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer explaining why they should be considered for the position.

Aided by her highly-respected senior leadership team, Mrs Cryer reviews each application, draws up a shortlist before interviewing the pupils. The entire staff team at Highfield and Brookham are also invited to share their support and thoughts on the candidates before a final decision is made, where one boy and one girl from the oldest year group in the school are selected for the coveted leadership roles, as well as their deputies.

Mrs Cryer said: “It is one of my most difficult jobs of the school year. Deciding which children should fill these important leadership roles is such an honour but also a huge responsibility. The process is testimony to the children’s desire to aim high and their wish to be the very best they can be.

“The quality of all of the applications shows that Highfield and Brookham is in very good hands indeed.”

As well as appointing the Head Girl and Head Boy, the school also named its Heads of Boarding, Heads of House and Senior Prefects.

The purpose of the pupil leadership team is to be role models for the school, to ensure that pupils’ voices are heard and to represent the school at events such as prizegiving and open mornings.

The full pupil leadership team is:

Heads of School: Genny Hogg and Jamie Wakeley

Deputy Heads of School: Honor Elvins and Theo Dunfield-Prayero

Heads of Boarding: Sasha Samsin and Imi Wright

Deputy Heads of Boarding: Gabriel Church and Samantha Manning

Heads of House: Albie Black, Ines Borwick, Dougie Hogg, Daisy Wren, Coco Bendon and Hugo Mendes

Deputy Heads of House: Imogen Knight, Ian Linnell, Jemima Goldsmith, Rory Lett, Iris Greenslade and Barnabas Lloyd

Senior Prefects: Daisy Apps, Henry Fisher, Shona O’Neill, Amelie Davies, Lydia Warr, Amelie Kitchen, Theo Kauntze, Charlotte Law, Rafe Jenkins, Polina Dolhykh and Sandy Game

A harvest festival haul has been donated to a busy village day centre.

The veritable feast of canned goods, packets, bottles, jars and fresh produce was delivered by pupils from Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook having been collected on the run up to the independent school’s annual harvest festival service at the end of September.

Four children were joined by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer for the handover of the goodies to day centre guests and bosses.

The harvest handover follows hard on the heels of the school presenting a cheque for more than £7,000 to trustees of Liphook Food Bank following a year of fundraising, with the nursery, pre-prep and prep school continuing to cement its strong links with the local community.

The Liphook Day Centre, which is also known as The Peak Centre Trust, relies entirely on donations in order to help support, provide companionship and feed people in the area who may otherwise miss out on hot meals and company, and Mrs Cryer said she hoped that residents got as much joy from the donation as the children did in collecting the goods.

“It really is a labour of love for our school community to gather as much food as they can, bag it all up and deliver it safely to the Liphook Day Centre each year,” she said.

“The harvest festival traditionally celebrates the time of year when crops have been gathered from the fields and people can reflect and show gratitude for the food they have, and it offers a sharp reminder of our duty as a school to encourage our children to look out for and consider how they might best help others less fortunate than themselves, something that they regularly do without hesitation.”

And Mrs Cryer added: “We have a strong and lovely relationship with the Peak Centre and hope that continues for many, many years to come.”

Liphook Day Centre is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-3pm, 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 or email info@liphookdaycentre.co.uk.

Talented triathletes, disco divas, fun runners and rule breakers have cashed in to help under-pressure families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Our selfless children have been involved in some fruitful fundraisers over the past 12 months, raising an impressive £7,068 for Liphook Food Bank along the way.

On Thursday, food bank trustees Glynis Blake and Mary Braitch were treated to a fun and topical adaptation of classic children’s tale The Enormous Turnip before receiving the welcome cheque from children at our nursery, pre-prep and prep school, which sits on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

Break the Rules Day, where the children were (within reason!) given licence to drift away from the usual school regulations, a disco, fun run and testing triathlon, involving a tough swim, cycle and run, all added up to a healthy donation to the worthy charity.

Located at Liphook Junior School, the food bank offers food parcels and advice to families who are struggling financially, a crucial service all-year round but especially during the winter months.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said she was “incredibly proud” of the amount raised for such a deserving cause.

“Our children never need asking twice to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into a fundraising project and I couldn’t be more proud of the amount of money they have raised for Liphook Food Bank.

“We absolutely love being part of the Liphook community and have a long and happy association with many groups, associations and charities in the village, and our children are always willing to go the extra mile to support causes that our dear to our hearts.

“Liphook Food Bank is one such cause and works tirelessly to get the right help to the right people in our community who really need it most. It is such a wonderful cause and we are delighted to help in our own small way.”

The food bank is open from 9.30am-11.30am on Tuesdays and Fridays. For more details, call 07871 287295 or email liphookfoodbank@gmail.com.

Our strong reputation for pastoral care has taken another significant step forward.

Highfield and Brookham School this week opened officially its dedicated wellbeing hub, otherwise known as The Beehive.

Alicia Drummond, founder of Teen Tips, an organisation which supports mental health and wellbeing in children and adolescents through on-site and online training, cut the ribbon on Tuesday to mark another exciting chapter in the ongoing pastoral story at Highfield and Brookham.

The co-educational nursery, pre-prep and prep school in Liphook, which takes children aged 2-13, is currently in the running for two national pastoral care awards, and the opening of the The Beehive adds another healthy string to the school’s wellbeing bow.

The Beehive, named after parallels were drawn between busy bees and children at Highfield and Brookham, not least when it comes to community, effectively working together and looking after each in other in the hive, is now ready to play a starring role in our pastoral provision.

The bright and friendly space, which will be staffed throughout the day by teachers expertly trained in mental health first aid, is a place where children can relax, reset and regulate their emotions whenever they need to.

With the mental health and wellbeing of the children in mind, a series of key initiatives have been recently rolled out which have resulted in the school being named a finalist in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School of the Year Awards and in the ‘Raising Awareness’ category of the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education.

In the past 12 months, the school has created space in the children’s busy days to allow time dedicated to their mental health – in the form of ‘Weekly Wellbeing Workshops’. And it was an overwhelmingly positive response to the wellbeing workshops that provided the trigger for the rural boarding school to invest in the development of their very own wellbeing centre.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The care and wellbeing of our children is at the heart of everything we do and we take our pastoral responsibilities incredibly seriously. The initiatives that we have rolled out in recent times have been well received and recognised by our pupils, staff and the school community as a whole, and the introduction of our lovely new wellbeing hub really signals our intent to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of our children remains a top priority.”

And she added: “We were delighted to welcome Alicia Drummond into school on Tuesday, not only to open officially our wonderful wellbeing centre but also to lead engaging and informative workshops on the topics of ‘resilience’ and ‘understanding adolescence’ to our appreciative young people.”

The winners of the Independent School of the Year Awards and National Association for Pastoral Care in Education Awards are due to be announced in the next few weeks.

The head of Highfield and Brookham has described her nomination for a leading award as “humbling”.

Suzannah Cryer is one of six people in line for the title of Best Head of a Prep School in the Tatler Schools Awards 2024.

The shortlist was drawn up by education experts of the highly-respected magazine, headed by editor Tori Cadogan, and the winner will be announced next week.

Mrs Cryer, who took over the reins of Highfield and Brookham last September following the retirement of predecessor Phillip Evitt after 23 years in the role, said that while it was always very gratifying to receive personal accolades it was important that the school remained the central focus of attention.

“To be nominated by Tatler for this award is both unexpected and humbling, especially knowing that there are many, many headteachers all over the country who could so easily be in this position given the hard work they put in day in and day out and the unstinting dedication they give to their respective schools.

“Everything we, as heads, and our hardworking staff do is wholeheartedly with the children in mind. We want the school to be the very best it can be so that we can give our children the most rich and rewarding education possible.”

Mrs Cryer returned to Highfield and Brookham, where she spent seven years as Head of Boarding and Head of Drama from 2012 to 2019, last September having previously been Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Thomas’s Battersea.

Since returning to Liphook, Mrs Cryer has overseen a move away from the Common Entrance syllabus and replaced it with a bespoke seamless and dynamic curriculum which is centred on equipping children for a world that demands adaptability and resilience.

On her return to Highfield and Brookham, owner Bill Mills said Mrs Cryer “demonstrated great insight in how education is evolving” and offered “an exciting and compelling vision of how we can develop both our curriculum and our approach to teaching and learning to prepare children to thrive in an ever-changing world”.

Hot on the heels of winning an award for our environmental work, we are now in the running for a second award – this time for our pastoral provision.

Having been shortlisted in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School of the Year Awards in July, Highfield and Brookham has now been named a finalist. The winners will be announced in October.

As well as having a fine reputation academically, feeding some of the top senior schools in the country, Highfield and Brookham has a strong record when it comes to the essential element of pastoral care and pupil wellbeing.

The mental health and wellbeing of the children is at the heart of everything the school does and a series of key initiatives has been recently rolled out.

In the past 12 months, the school has created space in the children’s busy days to allow time dedicated to their mental health – in the form of ‘Weekly Wellbeing Workshops’.

Across the Nursery, Pre-prep and Prep school there is a full programme of activities such as ‘Journaling and Scrapbooking’, ‘Cards and Board Games’ and ‘Lego and Chill’. ‘Be With the Boys’ and ‘Go With the Girls’ are run by the school’s Peer Listeners – a group of trained and compassionate Year 8 children who offer younger children a friendly face or a kindly listening ear.

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the wellbeing workshops, the school has invested in the development of its very own wellbeing centre.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “When people think of schools they often think about academic achievement, exams and learning in the classroom, but there are so many elements of school life which are just as important, if not more so. One such element is pastoral care, and we take our wellbeing responsibilities incredibly seriously. Pupil wellbeing is at the core of everything we do and we actively promote good mental health right across the school.

“We’re exceptionally proud of our pastoral provision but we are always looking at ways that we can make it even better for the benefit of our children and staff. To have our ongoing work recognised in the Independent School of the Year Awards tells us that we are moving in the right direction. Highfield and Brookham is also a finalist in the ‘Raising Awareness’ category of this year’s National Association for Pastoral Care in Education Awards. The winners will be announced at the end of September.

Highfield and Brookham School is an award winner – and that’s official!

We are on a mission to be carbon neutral by 2030 and our concerted green push has been recognised by Talk Education, a leading light in reviewing independent schools.

A panel of experts named Highfield and Brookham winner of the ‘Environmental Achievement’ category in this year’s Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education.

The award comes on the back of an environmental drive which has seen us make significant steps toward our green dream.

The school has an enviable reputation concerning renewable energy and sustainability with the carbon neutral woodchip-burning biomass boiler currently providing 85% of the energy required to heat the school and its indoor swimming pool. The wood itself comes from the school’s vast estate, primarily through chestnut coppicing as chestnut is a naturally self-replenishing variety of tree which requires little or no replanting.

Other ongoing initiatives include solar panels on the roofs of on-site cottages and the pool, replacing paper towels in the toilet blocks with low-energy hand driers, creating wildlife habitats, a regular tree-planting programme, recycling, and children tending their own vegetable plots.

Highfield and Brookham was also recently awarded a silver certificate by Green Tourism after a successful pilot scheme run in conjunction with the South Downs National Park Authority as well as receiving a £4,250 grant from the South Downs National Park Trust as part of its Bee Lines scheme, which aims to protect, nurture and support our busy pollinators. The cash will be used to expand the wildflower-planting scheme at the independent school, which sits in 175-acre grounds on the rural borders of Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey.

Last spring, the school embarked on a coppicing, thinning and removal programme in its woodland to help native trees flourish and enable the canopy and the health of the remaining trees to improve by allowing more air and light to circulate which, in turn, will have a beneficial effect on animals and flora and fauna on the forest floor.

Suzannah Cryer, the proud Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “As we do with every area of school life, we take our responsibilities incredibly seriously where the environment is concerned. Our children and adults alike are very much in tune with the natural world around them and we all know that we have a duty of care to protect our planet as much as we possibly can.

“We have already implemented a lot of sustainability initiatives as we strive to become fully carbon neutral by 2030, but we also know that we have barely scratched the surface and have a long way to go. So this wonderful award from Talk Education is a huge shot in the arm and will bolster us as we attempt to turn our green dreams into reality.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools is once again in the running for an award.

Hot on the heels of being named as a finalist in the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education (NAPCE) awards, being shortlisted in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School Parent Awards and being named a finalist in the ‘Environmental Practice’ category of the Education Business Awards, our green credentials have caught the eye once more.

This time, we are one of six schools vying for the ‘Environmental Achievement’ award in this year’s Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education.

Highfield and Brookham, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, is no stranger to environmental initiatives and has long championed a greener and more eco-friendly way of life.

The school has an enviable reputation concerning renewable energy and its carbon neutral woodchip-burning biomass boiler provides 85% of the energy required to heat the school and its indoor swimming pool. The wood itself comes from the school’s vast estate, primarily through chestnut coppicing as chestnut is a naturally self-replenishing variety of tree which requires little or no replanting.

Other ongoing initiatives include a big drive on renewable energy in the form of solar panels on the roofs of on-site cottages and the pool, replacing paper towels in the toilet blocks with low-energy hand driers, creating wildlife habitats, a regular tree-planting programme, recycling, and children tending their own vegetable plots.

According to Talk Education, the environmental achievement accolade is awarded to the school which “inspires and encourages eco awareness in pupils or encourages an eco initiative learning space or building”. The winner will be announced on Thursday.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “We always work hard to ensure that we can be the best we can possibly be in all areas of school life, to be responsible and to build a positive legacy that current, past and future generations of the Highfield and Brookham family can be proud of.

“So to have our environmental work recognised once more is tremendous and tells us that, while there is still a long way to go, we are definitely moving in the right direction.”

The winners of the NAPCE awards will be announced at the end of September and finalists in this year’s Independent School Parent awards are due to be announced later this week.

Some “exciting” changes have been made to our boarding provision.

For the first time in a decade, Highfield and Brookham Schools has significantly revised its approach to boarding to meet ever-increasing demand and ensure the school remains current and at the forefront of boarding practice in a modern world.

With around 130 children on the boarding roll, the school has a thriving boarding community, and the changes reflect that.

One such change sees boarding provision extended to children in Year 3, brought about by demand from parents. Previously, children could only board from Year 4, but now the youngest children will join Year 4 and Year 5 children in the school’s Junior Boarding House.

In another change, Steps To Boarding – their own take on flexible boarding – has now been extended to the end of Year 7 and offers a gentle start to the boarding process and gives children the chance to test the water before becoming a full-time boarder at either prep school or senior school.

Around a quarter of the boarders board full time and 25% take advantage of the Steps To Boarding programme, while half of the boarders choose the new weekly option, which covers Monday to Saturday which launched this September.

Full-time boarding is particularly popular with Armed Forces families, London-based children, international pupils and locally-based children who want a taste of full boarding before moving to senior school.

Complementing the logistical changes, the junior and senior boarding houses have been part of a school-wide summer refurbishment programme, with senior dorms, bathrooms and landing benefiting from new flooring, lighting and electrical systems while an overhaul of the plumbing system has ensured that the school continues to operate as sustainably and efficiently as possible.

Work on the senior common rooms next summer will complete a seven-year refurbishment programme.

And underpinning all the changes is the appointment of Mikayla van den Berg, who joins Highfield and Brookham as Director of Boarding and a Designated Safeguarding Lead having previously been Head of Boarding at Oratory Prep School in Reading.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “Boarding is very much a personal choice. It’s important that parents know that their children are safe, happy and well cared for while they are away from home. The fact that we have such healthy numbers of happy and contented boarders is testament to the strength of the offering that we provide and these exciting changes can only enhance that reputation further.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools has secured a grant to support one of its many environmental projects.

A huge advocate of a greener and more sustainable way of life, the school aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2030.

And it’s been helped in its ongoing quest thanks to a £4,250 grant from the South Downs National Park Trust as part of its Bee Lines scheme, which aims to protect, nurture and support our busy pollinators.

The thriving nursery, pre-prep and prep school, which sits in 175-acre grounds on the rural borders of Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey, will use the cash to extend its wildflower-planting project. The grant will cover the hire of a specialist rotavator for two weeks and 15 kilos of wildflower seed mix which can cover more than 6,500 square metres of land.

Jasper Marks, the grounds manager at Highfield and Brookham who made the grant application on behalf of the school, has already earmarked two areas of the school’s nine-hole golf course, the area around the artificial hockey pitch and the Lime Avenue pathway as the latest sites to planted with wildflowers.

The grant comes just four months after Highfield and Brookham pupils sowed wildflower seeds across the site to mark Earth Day, with the primary aim of giving a helping hand to our prized but threatened pollinators – bees and butterflies.

The South Downs National Park Trust set up its Bee Lines scheme to establish or restore pollinator habitats, with grant applications open to any businesses within Britain’s newest national park. Sites in Selborne, Alice Holt and Buriton are among a number which have already benefitted from the Trust cash.

The school has made a strong commitment to the environment, with regular green activities undertaken by pupils, such as building hibernaculums for wildlife and growing their own vegetables, dovetailing with the school’s ongoing eco programme, which is underpinned by its impressive biomass boilers which provide 85% of its heating and energy needs. Most recently, Highfield and Brookham was awarded a silver certificate by Green Tourism after a successful pilot scheme run in conjunction with the South Downs National Park Authority and was named as a finalist in the environmental practice category of the Education Business Awards.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We are immensely proud of our ongoing environmental work but we know that there is so much more work to do. This wonderful grant from the South Downs National Park Trust is another step in the right direction and soon legions of butterflies and bees will be able to take advantage of a special little wildlife haven set aside just for them.”

A residential holiday scheme for disabled children celebrated its sixth year.

First hosted in 2018 Highfield Highreach Holidays, a week-long respite break, has gone from strength to strength with 23 children attending this year’s holiday.

Highreach is hosted at Highfield and Brookham Schools in Liphook and is focused on supporting families from the local area. This August families joined from across Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire as it is one of the very few affordable residential respite holidays in the surrounding areas.

Year-on-year half of the cost of the residential holiday is covered by fundraising from the Highfield and Brookham school community to accommodate families who cannot afford the high price of many commercial respite care schemes.

Asking for volunteers is another crucial way of keeping running costs down. This year there were 58 volunteers who made the respite holiday possible.  

The volunteers, 41 of who were returning volunteers, found the experience rewarding and a genuinely lifechanging opportunity. This year 30 of the volunteers were former pupils of Highfield and Brookham. They have had the privilege of an independent education and it is their way of giving back. In addition, there were eight members of staff from Highfield and Brookham including owner and chairman Bill Mills.

Of the 58 volunteers, 13 have volunteered for all six holidays.

During last year’s holiday the children and volunteers were joined by Ofsted inspectors. Highreach received the top accolade of ‘outstanding’ in every category.

According to Ofsted “the actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people”.

Highreach only runs for one week once a year, but this short amount of time has a huge impact on the children attending. Children have access to a multitude of amenities, everything from an indoor swimming pool and performance theatre to outdoor woodlands and a full-sized competition Astro. Each of these resources are used with an inclusive outlook. So, for those holidaymakers who have sensory needs there is plentiful staff who can supervise them during quieter times so they can still gain the most out of the week.

Proud Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Challenging perceptions is the ongoing vision that underpins Highreach, from the abilities of the children on the respite scheme to the young volunteers that make it all possible.

“Too often in society people are defined and restricted by their abilities and disabilities; preconceptions about what they should and shouldn’t do. This week proves that nothing can hold these amazing young people back.” Find out more about volunteering, fundraising or attending at https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/school-plus/highreach-holidays/

Our young athletes have secured a record medal haul at a prestigious national meeting.

The seven talented competitors picked up five medals between them in the National Prep Schools Athletics Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

The one gold, one silver and three bronze medals is the biggest return that our children have had at the championships, which are the pinnacle of prep school athletics each year.

And it comes hard on the heels of news that five Year 8 leavers secured sports scholarships to some of the country’s leading senior schools.

In Birmingham, Emily Sherlock struck gold in the U14 girls’ triple jump with a winning leap of 10.30 metres but had to settle for silver in the U14 girls’ 100m in a time of 12.45 seconds having been fastest qualifier in the heats.

Valentina Rollason secured a bronze medal in the U13 girls’ high jump by clearing 1.35m, missing out on gold by just 11 centimetres, and Tiggy Walder claimed bronze in the U12 girls’ 1500m in a time of 5.26.04.

And Millie Valentine completed Highfield and Brookham’s impressive haul by winning a bronze medal in the U12 girls’ shot putt event with a throw of 6.94m, which was good enough for third place and only an agonising eight centimetres behind the gold medal winner.

Completing Highfield and Brookham’s septet at the iconic Alexander Stadium, Clemmie Coller, Cristo Porter and Imogen were just outside the medal places – Clemmie finishing fifth in the U12 girls’ 800m in a time of 2.44.78, Imogen Knight placing sixth in her U13 girls’ 1500m heat and Cristo placing eighth in the U13 boys’ 1500m in 5.08.97.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We have such a wonderful array of talent in all areas of school life, such as academia, art, dance, drama and music, and I’m delighted to say that sport is well and truly in that list too.

“Throughout the year we reflect on the amazing sporting achievements of our children at both internal and external events and the success of our boys and girls in Birmingham is a great example. It really is testament to both the ability and desire of our children and the excellent coaching and support that they receive from our dedicated teaching staff.”

A successful scheme built on kindness, care and compassion is entering its tenth year at an independent school in Liphook.

The Peer Listeners project has for a decade offered children at Highfield and Brookham Schools a friendly sympathetic shoulder or a kindly listening ear.

The listeners themselves are a dedicated and trained group of pupils from Year 8 at Highfield, the oldest children at the thriving prep school on the border of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

The children apply for the scheme at the end of Year 7 and are selected via an interview process involving Zoe Thesiger-Pratt, Head of PSHE and Wellbeing, and English teacher Lucy Hendry, with around ten pupils typically chosen.

Mrs Thesiger-Pratt, who has been involved with the scheme for the past seven years, said: “It gives the peer listeners an element of responsibility and they all love helping the younger children. We talk to them about developing their listening skills and how to be an active listener – just be a listening ear when others need it. These are great skills to develop.”

The peer listeners typically deal with matters such as friendships, siblings or exams.

“For the younger children, it means they have the comfort of someone to talk to who is more like a big brother or big sister. It means they can ask for advice without going to a teacher, as sometimes this can seem a bit overwhelming,” added Mrs Thesiger-Pratt.

Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer said she was delighted that the pastoral scheme had reached a significant landmark.

“When I think of how many children who have moved through the school in the past decade with the extra safety net of the peer listeners, I’m filled with an enormous sense of pride.

“We take our pastoral responsibilities incredibly seriously and the fact that we have no shortage of Year 7 children coming forward each year to take on these important roles speaks volumes of the kindness and character of the young people that we have within our school community.”

Highfield and Brookham has recently been shortlisted for two national awards for their pastoral provision – Independent School of the Year Awards and National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.

Highfield and Brookham is celebrating another bumper crop of scholarships.

Our children have this year been awarded 14 scholarships to a range of top senior schools, including Marlborough College, Charterhouse, Cranleigh and Sherborne.

The award of 137 places since 2014, which this year includes an eclectic mix of academia, art, drama, design technology and sport, continues a remarkable run of success for the school’s enviable scholarship programme and is a key reason parents choose a Highfield and Brookham education for their children.

As well as the scholarship destinations, Highfield and Brookham has once again seen its Year 8 leavers accepted into other leading senior schools across the country, including Bryanston, Canford and Wellington College, as well as Radley College, Eton and Winchester.

Pupils with a wide range of abilities are selected for the scholarship 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 thriving scholarship programme at Highfield and Brookham has clearly paid handsome dividends yet again.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Our amazing record securing scholarships to some of the the very best senior schools in the country is something we’re incredibly proud of and is testament to both the ability of the children we teach and nurture here coupled with dedicated teachers who can help the pupils excel and be the best they can be.

“This year has seen another talented group of children achieve great success and we are already looking forward to working with next year’s scholarship cohort to see just how much they can achieve. For them, the sky really is the limit.”

Scholarship award recipients:

Tallulah Bateman: Academic Scholarship (Marlborough College)

Emilia Dumas: Art Scholarship (Charterhouse) & Drama Scholarship (Charterhouse)

George Elmore: Sports Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Ptolemy Graves: Sports Scholarship (Sherborne School)

Breanna Kayondo: Drama Scholarship (Lancing College)

Suzanna Kovalev: Design Technology Scholarship (Charterhouse)

Ryder Larby: Sports Scholarship (Seaford College)

Monty Leach: Sports Scholarship (Seaford College)

Xanthe Mendes: Art Scholarship (Seaford College)

Sky-Rose Prahl: Drama Scholarship (Bryanston)

Isabel Salusbury: All-Rounder Scholarship (Cranleigh) & Drama Scholarship (Cranleigh)

Emily Sherlock: Sports Scholarship (Marlborough College)

The continuing commitment to the wellbeing of our children has been recognised for a second time this year by a national school award.

Highfield and Brookham Schools have been shortlisted in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School of the Year Awards. These awards are run by Independent School Parent magazine and finalists will be unveiled in early September.

“The value of nurturing good mental health is a fundamental part of school life at Highfield and Brookham,” said Head, Suzannah Cryer.

“Our excellent pastoral care has been highlighted in our November 2022 Independent Schools Inspectorate report which deemed the school “excellent” in all areas.”

During this past academic year, the schools have created space in the children’s busy days to allow time dedicated to their mental health – in the form of ‘Weekly Wellbeing Workshops’.

Across Nursery, Pre-prep and Prep there is a full programme of activities such as ‘Journaling and Scrapbooking’, ‘Cards and Board Games’ and ‘Lego and Chill’. ‘Be With the Boys’ and ‘Go With the Girls’ are run by our Peer Listeners – a group of trained and compassionate Year 8 children who offer younger children a friendly face or a kindly listening ear.

Highfield and Brookham being shortlisted in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards comes hot on the heels of the school being named a finalist in the ‘Raising Awareness About Pastoral Care’ category of this year’s National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.

Mrs Cryer said: “We could not be prouder to be acknowledged by two such prestigious awards for our work on pastoral care. Our key objective for pastoral care centres on the emotional and physical welfare of our children and for this to be recognised national is truly amazing.”

The ongoing dedication to the health and wellbeing of children at Highfield and Brookham School has been recognised.

The independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school has been named a finalist in the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.

Highfield and Brookham is one of four hopefuls in line for the award in the Raising Awareness About Pastoral Care category and the winners will be unveiled at an awards ceremony in Worcester in September.

“Our key objective for pastoral care centres on the emotional and physical welfare of our children,” said Head, Suzannah Cryer.

“In order to raise awareness of pastoral care, we take a whole-school strategic and operational approach to foster an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and promotes tolerance, resilience, fairness and equal opportunities among our children.”

During this past academic year, the school has carved space out of the children’s busy days to allow time dedicated to their pastoral care – in the form of a new ‘Weekly Wellbeing’ initiative.

Across the nursery, pre-prep and prep school there is a full programme of activities such as ‘Journaling and Scrapbooking’ on Tuesdays, ‘Cards and Board Games’ on Thursdays and ‘Lego and Chill’ on Fridays. ‘Be With the Boys’ and ‘Go With the Girls’ are run by our Peer Listeners – a group of trained and compassionate Year 8 children who offer our younger children a friendly face or a kindly listening ear in times of trouble or upset.

Other events in the Weekly Wellbeing calendar include ‘Listening Club’ where children can chat or share worries with a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant.

Without doubt the most successful activity in raising awareness is the weekly lunchtime wellbeing walk. All children and staff are invited to head outside into the school’s 175 acre grounds to enjoy the simple pleasure of a stroll and a natter.

The pinnacle of these weekly walks came in February when the pre-prep and prep school children came together to mark the culmination of Children’s Mental Health Week. Children of all ages joined the thought-provoking walk; chatting, laughing and playing along the route as they discovered strategically placed topics for discussion such as ‘what helps you cope when things are difficult?’. The younger children spending quality time in the company of their older peers was a huge benefit and a learning curve for both.

Highfield and Brookham being named a finalist in the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education comes hard on the heels of the school being commended in the Environmental Practice category of this year Education Business Awards. Mrs Cryer said: “We were delighted to have had our environmental work recognised recently, so to now have our work on such a vital element of school life as pastoral care recognised too is the icing the cake and tells us that we are moving in the right direction.”

A mountaineer who scaled the world’s highest peak twice – 18 years apart – has shared his inspirational tales with our inquisitive children.

Jake Meyer left the children in raptures as he entertained them with amazing and humorous tales of determination, discipline, danger and delirium as he first reached the summit of mighty Mount Everest in 2005.

At the age of 21, Mr Meyer became the youngest Briton to scale the majestic Himalayan peak en route to becoming the youngest man to complete the daunting Seven Summits Challenge, which involves scaling the highest mountains in each of the seven continents.

He took the title of youngest Briton to conquer Everest from Bear Grylls.

Mr Meyer told tales of yaks and sherpas, crampons and crevasses and vacuum-packed food and frostbite as he manfully overcame freezing temperatures, exhaustion and vertical climbs to plant his flag proudly atop the 29,000ft mountain.

He then explained to his rapt young audience how, after wondering whether he could repeat such an amazing feat so many years later, he this year made it back to the top of the world at the age of 39.

As well as being absorbed in such a remarkable tale of adventure and daring and overcoming adversity, the children got the chance to get a close look at some of the essential pieces of kit Mr Meyer needed to scale the world’s biggest peaks, including his crampons, snow suit and an oxygen canister.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “We are incredibly lucky to welcome so many inspirational guest speakers who have such diverse and amazing tales to tell. The children were hanging on every word as Mr Meyer shared such an incredible story of endurance and determination in such a fun and engaging way.”

Add to the fundraising total and help change even more lives.

Our treasured Bursaries Fund with a focus on social mobility has been boosted to the tune of £18,000.

The funds raised came from a successful art exhibition which featured work from 29 professional artists and four galleries, as well as eight Old Highfieldians who also showcased their work at the popular three-day event.

The money has gone to the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund, which was set up in 2007 with an aim 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.

Artists and galleries exhibited an impressive range of artwork, including watercolour paintings, sculptures and drawings.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, was in awe of the success of the art exhibition and paid tribute to parent Kaye Burke and her dedicated team of organisers.

She said: “The curation of the exhibition was nothing short of phenomenal, which was underlined by the number of pieces sold and the amazing amount of money raised for the Bursary Fund.

“But none of this would have been possible without the continuing extraordinary efforts of our parent fundraising committee and the generosity of the artists.”

Every exhibiting professional artist agreed to donate 25% of their sales and the Highfield art scholars donated 50% to the Bursary Fund in order to ensure that the school can continue to offer bursaries to children who, for many reasons, may not get the chance to access a private education.

Mrs Cryer also extended her warmest thanks to Knight Frank, Coolhurst Vineyards, Minnow and Wolf and Howden Group Holdings for their sponsorship and support as well as the supportive school community who attended the exhibition and purchased the works of art.

Highfield and Brookham Schools has awarded 20 bursaries since the fund’s inception in 2007.

The bursaries are funded jointly by the Fund and the school, covering all school fees, and also provides additional support for music lessons, sports equipment, school trips and uniform.

“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,” explained Mrs Cryer. “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.

Add to the fundraising total and help change even more lives.

Highfield and Brookham Schools has been named a finalist in the Environmental Practice category of this year’s national Education Business Awards.

We are one of five schools with big plans and strong green credentials to be shortlisted. We are no stranger to environmental initiatives and has long championed a greener and more eco-friendly way of life, we aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Highfield and Brookham has an enviable reputation concerning renewable energy and our carbon neutral woodchip-burning biomass boiler provides 85% of the energy required to heat the school and our indoor swimming pool. The wood itself comes from the school’s vast estate, primarily through chestnut coppicing as chestnut is a naturally self-replenishing variety of tree which requires little or no replanting.

Other ongoing initiatives include a big drive on renewable energy in the form of solar panels on the roofs of on-site cottages and the pool, replacing paper towels in the toilet blocks with low-energy hand driers, creating wildlife habitats, a regular tree-planting programme, recycling, and tending our own vegetable plots.

The Environmental Practice Award recognises the school that goes above and beyond when it comes to minimising its impact on the environment, as well as providing quality environmental education to its pupils.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Wednesday 14^th June.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the work that we do as a school in order to help protect the environment and the planet for future generations, so to have that work recognised is a wonderful feeling and hopefully shows that we are moving in the right direction.”

Marmalade sandwiches were the only thing missing as Hugh Bonneville, star of the Paddington Bear films, paid a visit to Highfield and Brookham on Thursday.

There was no shortage of sunshine, excited children and equally excited grown-ups as Mr Bonneville, who played Mr Brown in the charming film and its equally charming sequel on the big screen, officially opened our nursery extension.

The excited young children were left in awe as the family favourite, who also starred as Lord Grantham in the hit BBC drama Downton Abbey, read an excerpt from Michael Bond’s wonderful Paddington Bear tale.

The bright, new nursery extension was the perfect location for Mr Bonneville’s reading as the enthralled children hung on his every word, crowding around the reader to find out what happened next in the wholesome story.

Highfield and Brookham’s thriving nursery, which takes children from the age of two, was extended due to continuing strong demand in light of their excellent reputation.

The new open-plan extension has enabled three-form entry throughout the pre-prep. It measures around 100 square metres internally and has big windows which let in lots of natural light. The wonderful new setting is neutral and calming, with the children bringing the vibrancy and colour to their environment. It also has a retractable wall to allow a space to be closed off for the youngest children to sleep.

The extra space also allows for the dedicated nursery staff to continue to provide a brilliant breadth of learning and opportunity, which currently includes art, ballet, swimming, Spanish, cookery and woodwork. Outside, the children tend their very own vegetable patch and make regular trips to the woods for much-loved Forest School sessions.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “These are exciting times for the school and the nursery is an amazing place to work and learn. It’s bright, lively, inspiring and full of imagination, so who better to officially open the exciting new space than Mr Brown himself?

“We’re tremendously grateful for Mr Bonneville taking the time out of his busy schedule to read so beautifully to the children, a treasured memory for children and adults alike.” Highfield and Brookham Nursery was named among the top 20 nurseries in the South East two years on the trot by Daynurseries.co.uk, as well as being rated “excellent in all areas” in its recent ISI inspection report.

Our prized all-weather facility has passed its latest inspection with flying colours.

The artificial pitch was given a clean bill of health by inspectors as part of the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) stringent Hockey Turf and Fields Standards programme.

After rigorous testing, the independent school’s impressive pitch and surrounds were found to meet the FIH’s quality standards, resulting in its compliance certificate being renewed for a further two years. The pitch will be tested again in 2025.

The pitch’s performance level, wear and tear and player welfare properties were monitored during the inspection while the supporting pitch-side infrastructure was assessed to confirm that it was fit for purpose.

The bounce of the ball, ball roll and shock absorption were all considered for the school’s category three pitch which, according to FIH regulations, can stage national and local competitions as well as training sessions.

The inspectors also took into account line markings, perimeter fencing, and the condition of associated equipment such as the goals.

The facility, which includes a full-size hockey pitch or two half-size pitches, dugouts, floodlighting and a practice area, is arguably the jewel in the sporting crown of our boarding school on the borders of Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey.

Contractors broke ground in August 2019 and the pitch was ready for use the following April but plans for its immediate use were put on hold because of the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

The development was officially opened in October 2021 by Crista Cullen, part of the victorious Team GB side which won gold at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

As well as being a strong addition to the school’s sporting provision the facility is open to the local community, with Haslemere Hockey Club, Liphook United Football Club and Hampshire Hockey Player Pathway among regular users. It is also the base for the school’s Saturday Sports Skills activity which is open to both Highfield and Brookham Schools pupils and local children.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “One way or another our wonderful hockey pitch was quite a long time in the making, but it really has proved to be worth the wait. It looks fantastic and gets many admiring comments from visiting teams and parents. But best of all, given that it’s in near-constant use by our pre-prep and prep school children for matches, coaching and PE lessons, as well as the wider community, we have the peace of mind knowing that it’s 100% safe and in superb condition for our children to use.”

Pertinent wartime history has been brought to life for a group of pupils from an independent school in Liphook.

The eight academic scholars from Highfield and Brookham Schools got the chance to follow in the footsteps of former headmaster Peter Mills, who escaped from a German prisoner of war camp in northern Italy in 1943.

Mr Mills, Highfield Headmaster from 1953 until his retirement in 1979 and former owner of the school now owned by his son, Bill, was imprisoned at Fontanellato, near Parma, during the Second World War. Locals, guards and a kindly commandant helped him escape along a route through the Apennines known as the ‘Freedom Trail’ after an armistice between the Allies and Italy which Germany refused to recognise.

Now, in peacetime, sections of the Freedom Trail are walked only by people keen to gain an understanding of a significant piece of history.

As a result, an exchange programme between Highfield and Brookham Schools and the Istituto Comprensivo di Fontanellato e Fontevivo has been running successfully since 2018, with two Italian pupils spending a term at the nursery, pre-prep and prep school in Liphook each year.

While in Italy, the scholars took in the wonderful sights and sounds of the Parma region, including time spent in and out of the classroom with their hosts, a tour of the 12^th Century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and a trip to a cheese factory where the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano is produced.

The children then ventured 90 minutes north-west of Fontanellato to the vibrant city of Milan, home to the impressive Duomo Cathedral, the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the inspirational Leonardo da Vinci Museum, named in honour of the legendary artist and inventor.

And their visit happened to coincide with the day of the Champions League semi-final between football powerhouses AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro creating, according to Head of Art Olga Houghton, “an electric atmosphere” around the city.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, said: “We’ve forged a wonderful relationship with our friends in Fontanellato and it’s a great opportunity for our scholars to broaden their horizons further and immerse themselves fully in such a culturally fulfilling and rewarding trip. “The story of former owner Peter Mills’ wartime escape is both fascinating and incredibly inspiring, so for our children to get the chance to bring that history to life is very special and we look forward to many more scholars following in their footsteps.”

Food-hygiene standards at an independent school in Liphook have earned the highest possible praise.

Highfield and Brookham Schools has again been awarded the maximum five stars from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the wake of its latest unannounced inspection.

Run in conjunction with the environmental health department at Chichester District Council, the school’s local authority, the FSA ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection.

Visiting roughly every 18 months, inspectors leave no stone unturned as they scrutinise handling of food, how food is stored, how food is prepared, cleanliness of facilities and how food safety is managed.

The result was another clean bill of health for Highfield and Brookham Schools with no recommendations or advisory notes, just a big helping of pride and satisfaction for catering manager Marco di Michele and his dedicated team.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said she was “immensely proud” that the school had once again maintained its strong reputation for having the most stringent standards when it came to food hygiene.

And she added: “Food is a very important element of life at Highfield and Brookham, from breakfast, lunch and dinner to our enviable sports day match teas, so to receive another glowing, five-star endorsement from the Food Standards Agency really is a tremendous honour.

“Marco and his fabulous catering team work incredibly hard to ensure that we work to and maintain the very highest standards in our kitchens, so they deserve all the credit in the world for this tremendous achievement.”

Highfield and Brookham has a team of highly-skilled chefs who produce a varied choice of delicious, nutritious and well-balanced meals, cooked on the premises using only the freshest ingredients. Seasonal produce is a regular staple of the menu while the catering team also prepare ‘themed’ menus and overseas dishes. They also cater for a wide range of special dietary requirements.

The coffers of a wildlife conservation project in Africa have been boosted to the tune of four figures by the efforts of a kind-hearted pupil of an independent school in Liphook.

Arran MacDonald, in his final year at Highfield and Brookham Schools, put his best foot forward to complete the tough Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to help rhinos in Kenya which are threatened with extinction.

Supported by mum Zoe and friends and family – as part of Team Big Mac – Arran bravely scaled the Pennine peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough during the Easter holidays to raise a vital £1,048 to help safeguard Ol Pejeta’s threatened wildlife.

Climbers were put on the clock for the northern challenge and had 12 hours to complete the triple ascent, with Arran making it back to the foot of the third and final peak with 30 minutes to spare.

As the largest black rhino sanctuary in East and Central Africa, and home to the world’s sole surviving pair of northern white rhinos, Ol Peteja is one of the most important wildlife conservancies on the planet.

The money raised from Arran’s climb will not only help fight off the increasing attentions of poachers but also help ease the financial strain facing conservationists in wake of the Covid pandemic.

Pupils and staff at the co-educational pre-prep and prep school, which occupies 175 acres on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, are no strangers to fundraising, with Highreach Holidays for disabled children, Liphook Food Bank and the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford among a host of beneficiaries of recent fundraising initiatives.

Of the latest, Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said: “Naturally I’m biased, but we really do have some incredibly caring and courageous people within our school community, both children and adults alike.

“We’ve witnessed many amazing achievements and seen a lot of money raised for many wonderful causes in many different ways over the years and Arran’s successful scaling of the three Yorkshire peaks for wildlife conservation in Africa is right up there. “Thanks to the kindness, determination and decency of people like Arran, I’m confident that the future of our world is in very safe hands.”

A thriving independent school in Liphook has struck gold with its continued commitment to the stage.

Highfield and Brookham Schools has performed plays penned by the Bard at public theatres for seven consecutive years as part of a scheme run by the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.

As a result, the progressive prep, pre-prep and nursery has secured much-vaunted ‘Shakespeare Gold School’ status.

And having successfully staged The Tempest at G Live in Guildford in March, the school’s busy thespians, led expertly by Sarah Baird, the school’s talented Head of Drama, show no signs of stopping there.

For the past seven years, children in Year 7 have successfully performed classic Shakespeare plays such as Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V and Romeo and Juliet to appreciative audiences in Guildford and Basingstoke.

And such is their dedication to Coram’s Shakespearean cause that in 2021, with the Covid pandemic having closed theatres, the determined actors appropriately took to the woods on the Highfield and Brookham estate to stage a thrilling adaptation of Macbeth.

Current Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer, who set the ball rolling with the Coram Foundation in 2016 while then Head of Drama at the rural boarding school before passing on the baton to Mrs Baird, said she was “immensely proud” of the school’s golden achievement.

“Having been immersed in drama for many years, I know only too well just how challenging it is to put on a stage play, so it really is testament to the outstanding skills and dedication of Mrs Baird and the enthusiasm, talent and devotion of the children who perform that the school has secured this wonderful accolade. 

“School life is always busy, so to turn around a play of the magnitude of anything written by Shakespeare in just a few short weeks, with so much to consider on and off the stage, is nothing short of phenomenal and I take my hat off to Mrs Baird and her Year 7 charges.”

The Shakespeare success perhaps comes as no great surprise as Highfield and Brookham prides itself on each year group – from Nursery right up to Year 8 – putting on at least one performance each school year.

Caring children at an independent school in Liphook have once again proved their green credentials.

Aiming to pave the way for a brighter, more environmentally friendly future and leading by example, pupils from Highfield and Brookham Schools sowed flower seeds in honour of Earth Day.

Pre-prep and prep school pupils joined forces to plant sunflowers in the Nursery garden and scatter wildflower seeds on the golf course to give a helping hand to our prized pollinators – bees and butterflies.

Earth Day, a day of awareness which has gathered pace since its inception in 1970 in a bid to protect the planet and its natural resources for future generations, is officially on Saturday, but Highfield and Brookham’s young eco warriors decided there was no time like the present to get the ball rolling on this year’s environmental activities.

Nursery children worked side by side with the Year 8 children, the oldest cohort at the school, to plant sunflowers while the remaining year groups worked together to sow meadow wildflower seeds on a dedicated strip of land on the impressive 175-acre site.

The children will now keep careful watch and should see the benefits of their labour of love in the next few months.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, said she was delighted with just how invested the children of all ages are in the environmental activities of the school.

“It’s so encouraging to see the children throw themselves into all of our green initiatives with such passion, pride and enthusiasm,” she said.

“There is a monumental amount of work ahead on a global scale to combat climate change and protect our wonderful planet for many generations to come, but our children are incredibly driven to do their bit and to make a difference.

“With these young eco-warriors at the helm, the future really does look bright, and we are all incredibly proud of each and every one of them.”

The school has made a strong commitment to the environment and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, with regular green activities undertaken by pupils, such as building hibernaculums for wildlife and growing their own vegetables, dovetailing with the school’s ongoing eco programme, which is underpinned by its impressive biomass boilers which provide 80% of its heating and energy needs. Most recently, Highfield and Brookham was awarded a silver certificate by Green Tourism after a successful pilot scheme run in conjunction with the South Downs National Park Authority.

The long wait for anxious parents facing the first significant milestone of their child’s education is finally over.

Today is the day parents of three and four-year-olds found out which primary school had offered their child a Reception place, starting in September. Parents who have children in infant schools that end at Year 2 will also have been eagerly waiting to hear about their junior school of choice and a place for their child starting Year 3.

And while the vast majority of families will have got their preferred primary school place – the figure was 92% in 2022, according to Government statistics – some won’t.

So, faced with that undoubtedly disappointing scenario, what should you do?

According to Sophie Baber, Head of Pre-prep at Highfield and Brookham Schools in Liphook, there are four options available to parents: accept the alternative offer of a school that has enough space, put their child on the waiting list of their preferred schools, appeal the decision, or consider an independent school.

“Once you have processed the offer and collected your thoughts, it’s time to accept the school place you have been offered,” said Mrs Baber, who has been in her role at the highly-respected independent school on the border of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex for seven years.

“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.”

Mrs Baber stressed that such a move would not affect any right of appeal to the local authority’s initial decision.

“Once you have accepted the place on offer, I would advise phoning your preferred school and asking for your child to be added to their waiting list,” continued Mrs Baber, who said that places come up all the time and added that it was not uncommon to be offered a place on the first day of the new term.

In terms of appealing, Mrs Baber said to be successful parents must 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, but it’s also worth remembering that each local authority will have a slightly different admissions process so it’s imperative you check the details on their website.”

However, the respected pre-prep head, who has just welcomed a bright, new extension to the already strong nursery provision at Highfield and Brookham, cautioned that appealing was “extremely stressful” and that the chances of success were “limited”.

Private education could prove to be a very useful option for some families in order to help parents avoid such an emotional minefield. 

“There are some truly outstanding independent schools around,” said Mrs Baber.

“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 impossible, it’s worth picking up the phone and asking about the funded bursaries on offer.”

To discuss Reception and Year 3 places at Highfield and Brookham Schools, email Charlotte Cottrell at admissions@highfieldandbrookham.co.uk or call 01428 722005.

An environmentally friendly independent school in Liphook has moved to safeguard the health of the trees on its estate.

Work has been undertaken on the 175-acre site of Highfield and Brookham Schools over the winter months to ensure that its vast woodland thrives – as well as continuing to be a natural haven for generations of inquisitive schoolchildren to learn and explore for many years to come.

The aim of the work is to ensure the school’s green environment stays as healthy as possible, with a particular nod to maintaining and helping native tree species to flourish.

As a result, a good deal of coppicing, thinning and removal has taken place, not least at the school’s treasured outdoor learning site – otherwise known as Forest School – which children of all year groups use to learn key bushcraft techniques such as fire lighting, den building and cooking over a camp fire while the pre-prep and nursery children get an early look at the curious sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors.

The work undertaken at the Forest School site will enable the canopy and the health of the remaining trees to improve by allowing more air and light to circulate, according to Guy Baber, Estates Manager at Highfield and Brookham Schools, something that will also have a beneficial effect on animals and flora and fauna on the forest floor.

After government approval, a number of spruce trees have also been removed as part of the environmental works programme in order to help combat the spread of a disease known as rhizophaera, which causes spruce needles to become discoloured and die off.

And swathes of holly have also been removed to encourage the regeneration of native trees.

To offset the culling and thinning, the school has undergone a large-scale replanting project, primarily involving native trees. Maples, chestnut, beech and birch trees are a big part of the replanting process.

The school, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, already has impressive green credentials, most recently securing a silver Green South Downs sustainability certificate from Green Tourism following a successful pilot project run in conjunction with the South Downs National Park Authority. Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, said: “One thing that sets up apart from so many other schools is that we are lucky enough to be surrounded by the most wonderful and healthy natural environment, and through the hard work and diligence of our dedicated estates team, we aim to keep it that way.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools has taken another big step toward its green dream of being carbon neutral by 2030.

The school has secured a silver Green South Downs sustainability certificate from Green Tourism following a successful pilot project run in conjunction with the South Downs National Park Authority.

Highfield and Brookham was one of 20 groups and businesses within the South Downs National Park which volunteered to prove their green credentials in the pilot scheme, which ran from October to March.

Working within designated ‘people, places and planet’ categories – with a view to green measures improving the outcomes for all three – Highfield and Brookham had to set out its current environmental provision and practices, covering topics such as communication, awareness, health and wellbeing, food and drink, energy, and climate action. 

The initiatives were then assessed by environmental experts at Green Tourism, an independent body based in Scotland, who deemed the school had met 74% of its stringent criteria, enough to earn a silver award.

The aim of the pilot scheme was for the volunteer enterprises to get together and share green ideas in order to help shape a bespoke sustainability certification programme for the South Downs National Park. Having secured a silver award, the school will continue its environmental push in a bid to secure a gold certificate.

Highfield and Brookham is no stranger to environmental initiatives and has long championed a greener and more eco-friendly way of life.

The Hampshire Prep, Pre-prep and nursery school has an enviable reputation concerning renewable energy and its carbon neutral woodchip-burning biomass boiler provides 85% of the energy required to heat the school and its indoor swimming pool. The wood itself comes from the school’s vast estate, primarily through chestnut coppicing as chestnut is a naturally self-replenishing variety of tree which requires little or no replanting.

Other ongoing initiatives include a big drive on renewable energy in the form of solar panels on the roofs of on-site cottages and the pool, replacing paper towels in the toilet blocks with low-energy hand driers, creating wildlife habitats, a regular tree-planting programme, recycling, and tending our own vegetable plots.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield, said: “We all understand the importance of a much greener way of life in order to help save the planet and we are very proud of the many environmental initiatives that we have in place at the school, so it’s really heartening to see our efforts acknowledged by Green Tourism.

“But what it’s also done is highlight that we still have a long way to go. Rest assured, though, we will continue to work hard toward our aim of becoming a carbon-neutral school by 2030 in order to help make our planet a greener and cleaner place for many generations to come.”