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The Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up to celebrate Highfield’s centenary in 2007. It has been running successfully for more than 12 years thanks to the generosity of current and former parents, alumni and institutional grants. The aim of the fund is to raise enough money to support children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come to a school like Highfield and Brookham.
In the current climate, access to private education is becoming more and more of a privilege. We recognise our responsibility to ensure we bridge this advantage gap. We know there are many children who would greatly benefit from attending a private school and there is a need to bring this opportunity to as many as possible – to those who might not otherwise consider it an option due to difficult financial or family circumstances.
Our Aim
The purpose of the Centenary Bursaries Fund is to make a real difference in a child’s life, not just academically but also physically, emotionally and socially. The bursaries are awarded to children we believe will gain the most benefit from attending Highfield and Brookham Schools – ensuring they reach their full potential, build life-long skills and develop long-lasting, positive experiences and relationships.
It’s incredibly rare for prep schools to offer 100% bursaries, especially at the rate that we do. We want to lead the way, in good faith, so that other prep schools will follow and allow this amazing opportunity to be given to even more children.
Changing Lives
We have awarded 17 bursaries to date and they have proved to be an enormous success. The Centenary Bursaries Fund also provides additional support for music lessons, sports equipment, school trips and uniform. In some circumstances, it has also funded travel to and from the school for the children and their parents.
Past bursary children have gone on to secure bursaries and scholarships at exceptional senior schools such as Charterhouse, Marlborough College and Seaford College. Nine children are currently still with us and because of our excellent relationships with senior schools and the outstanding support we offer, the hope is our current children will follow in their footsteps.
Selection Process
We have a very thorough selection process to identify children whose circumstances merit this life-changing gift. Throughout the year we build awareness of this opportunity outside of our socio-demographic to ensure relevant candidates are put forward. This involves forging links with relevant schools and their headteachers, charitable organisations, and promoting the opportunity online.
A typical candidate could be a child who is experiencing social or educational difficulties such as bullying, a challenging home life, special educational needs or someone who just needs a break, or children who have the ability to succeed academically if given the right support. We also have gifted children being put forward, where Highfield and Brookham can offer them a higher level of individual attention and can access our well-developed programme for the most talented children.
Make A Donation
The bursaries are funded on a 50-50 basis by the fund and the school. The school’s share is covered by ancillary income streams such as property rentals, Summer School and Swim School. Parents do not subsidise the bursaries through their fees.
We have an extremely robust fundraising plan which involves a combination of donations, fundraising events, investments and grants. Our donors are a mix of former pupils, grandparents, former parents, current parents, institutes and former staff. The Centenary Bursaries Fund is a registered charity, so Gift Aid increases donations to the fund from UK income tax payers by 25%. Donors just need to complete the Gift Aid form when making their donation.
We have partnered with Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising to make it even easier to support the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund. Both of these schemes turn your everyday online shopping into a free donation at no extra cost to you. If our aims resonate with you, just follow the simple steps to support this great cause every time you shop online.
Charity Information
The Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund is a trust that was set up as a separate legal entity in 2007 with its own trust deed and trustees. It was granted charitable Status by the Charity Commissioners in 2007. (Registered Charity No. 1114845)
The Trustees
- Jonathan Carey – former Highfield parent and grandson of Canon Mills, Highfield’s founder
- Peter Greenwood – Old Highfieldian and former Highfield parent
- Nick Denton – a parent of three Old Highfieldians
- Simon Mason – former Highfield member of staff
- Katie Naylor – former Highfield parent
What we’re up to…
Ending the week on a high! We’re incredibly proud to be one of just five schools shortlisted in the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing category of the @talkeducation Awards for Innovation in Education 2026! 👏 To be recognised for something so central to who we are as a school, alongside others doing such important work in this area, is a wonderful honour. We’ll find out the result on Thursday 10 September, so until then, keep everything crossed for us. 🤞 Read more via the link in our bio. #HighfieldSchool #TalkEducation #TalkEducationAwards #PastoralCare #PupilWellbeing
Happy Friday, everyone! As we get everything ready to welcome our children and families back next week, we’re delighted to end the week on a high… Highfield School has been shortlisted in the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing category of the Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education 2026! 👏 This recognition celebrates our whole-community approach to wellbeing and the care our staff show every day to ensure that every child is known and supported. We’re incredibly proud to be one of just five schools shortlisted in this category. The winners will be announced on Thursday 10 September. Keep everything crossed for us! 🤞
We’re in The Times! @thetimes 🗞️ Our Head of Pre-Prep and Early Years, Georgie Hunter, shares her expertise in a thoughtful piece about helping August-born children thrive in Reception, with Highfield parent Olivia Watkins also offering her perspective as a mum. As Georgie explains, what matters most is seeing the individual child, rather than making assumptions based on their birthday. Read more via the link in our bio
Over the past few weeks, we’ve loved sharing our next chapter as Highfield School with you. Alongside our new look, we’ve also been thinking carefully about how we share school life here. As the digital world evolves, we’re adapting our approach to sharing photographs and videos, with the privacy of the children in our care at its heart. This means we’re moving away from publishing clear, identifiable photos of children’s faces on our public digital channels. We know how much you love seeing your child in a school photograph. Those glimpses into their day matter, especially when they capture moments you can’t be there for. You’ll still see plenty of life at Highfield here, as we find creative ways to capture the moments that make our school so special. There is so much to share, and we’re looking forward to showing it to you through a slightly different lens. Please do take a few minutes to read our blog. This is an important change for our school community, and the article explains why we’re making it and what it means for the photographs you’ll see and receive.
We’re incredibly proud of our maths and sports teacher, @sumattingly, who has been representing South Africa at the Masters Hockey World Cup in Belgium! 🏑 Three World Cups and still loving the game she first played at school. Who better to inspire our next generation of hockey players here at Highfield? 🔗Read more about Su’s World Cup experience via the link in our bio.
When is a summer-born child ready to start school? It’s a question many families find themselves considering. We’re delighted to see Highfield featured in The Times in a thoughtful piece about helping August-born children thrive as they start Reception. Our Head of Pre-Prep and Early Years, Georgie Hunter, shares her expertise, while Highfield parent Olivia Watkins offers her perspective as a mum. As Georgie explains, what matters most is seeing the individual child in front of us, rather than making assumptions based on when they were born. 👉 Read the full article below.
And here it is… our new Highfield School logo. 🗝️💚 A new identity for the next chapter of our story, rooted in more than a century of Highfield history. At its heart are our familiar cross keys, a symbol that has been part of Highfield for generations, now enclosed within a circle to represent us coming together as one. One Story. One Purpose. One Highfield.
And here it is… our new Highfield School logo. 🗝️💚 A new identity for the next chapter of our story, rooted in more than a century of Highfield history. At its heart are our familiar cross keys, a symbol that has been part of Highfield for generations, now enclosed within a circle to represent us coming together as one. One Story. One Purpose. One Highfield.
As we prepare to become Highfield School this September, we’ve been looking back at how our identity has evolved along the way. Our logo has taken a few different forms, but the cross keys have remained a familiar part of Highfield for generations. And that isn’t about to change. They’ll continue to be part of our story as we move forward. 🗝 Which of these logos do you remember from your Highfield days? Perhaps you still have one tucked away on an old school jumper, book or keepsake – we’d love to see your photos! As for our new Highfield logo… all will be revealed tomorrow! 👀
There’s more news to share from Highfield as we look ahead to the next chapter in our school’s story. 💚 For almost 100 years, one particular building has changed and adapted alongside generations of Highfield children. Built as the school sanatorium in 1926, it later became our junior boarding house – a place that holds many happy memories for pupils, families and staff. From October half term, the building will begin its next chapter as Floreat House, bringing together support, wellbeing and enrichment for children across Highfield. Its role may be changing, but the thread running through its history remains the same: caring for children and responding to what they need. We’ve taken a look back at the building’s story, the memories held within its walls and what comes next. Read more 👇
Some brilliant advice from our Head of Learning Support and SENDCo, Leigh Fisher, who has been sharing her expertise with Netmums this week. 💬 With the return to school getting closer, Leigh has shared some practical ways parents can help children with SEND feel more prepared for the transition back. From gradually getting back into familiar routines to thinking ahead about sensory challenges, her advice is all about making those first days back feel a little more manageable. “Support will look different for every child, so notice what is working, keep routines consistent where possible and work with the school to address concerns early.” We’re very lucky to have so many people with a wealth of knowledge and experience here at Highfield, and it’s always lovely to see that being shared beyond our school community too. A big thank you to Netmums for giving Leigh the opportunity to do just that. Read the full article 👇
Our young chefs have been learning the art of sushi making at Holiday Cooking Club 🍣 From preparing their ingredients and spreading the stickiest rice to arranging their fillings and mastering that all-important roll, there’s quite a knack to getting it all just right! And of course, the best part at the end… getting to eat what you’ve made! Thank you @neishsophie for such a brilliant (and delicious!) day. ☺️ #IndependentSchool #HolidayClubs #SummerHoliday #YoungChefs #LifeSkills
September is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Highfield. 💚 As we prepare to begin our next chapter as Highfield School, we’re also getting ready to open our doors for our first Open Morning of the term. If you’re thinking about Highfield for your family, we’d love you to come and spend the morning with us. And for those already part of our Highfield community, if you have friends or family who you think would love it here too, please do spread the word and invite them along. 📅 Friday 18 September 🕙 10am–12.30pm Book here:
If you haven’t already, go and listen to our Head, Suzannah Cryer on the @maverickschoolpodcast 🎙️ A brilliant conversation about the qualities our children will need in a rapidly changing world, and why keeping that joy of learning alive matters more than ever! #IndependentSchool #FutureofEducation #LifeSkills #EducationLeaders #FutureReady
As we prepare to become Highfield School this September, we’ve been looking back at how our identity has evolved along the way. Our logo has taken a few different forms, but the cross keys have remained a familiar part of Highfield for generations. And that isn’t about to change. They’ll continue to be part of our story as we move forward. 🗝 Which of these logos do you remember from your Highfield days? Perhaps you still have one tucked away on an old school jumper, book or keepsake – we’d love to see your photos! There is, of course, one logo missing from our timeline…👀 All will be revealed later this week!
There’s something rather lovely about seeing Highfield buzzing with activity during the holidays. 💙 Last week, it was our Super Sports Holiday Club bringing the energy, making the most of the grounds and facilities we’re so lucky to have at our school. It’s certainly making us excited to see Highfield full of life again in just a few weeks! 🏃♀️ #IndependentSchool #HolidayClubs #SuperSports #ActiveKids #SchoolHolidays
👀 We have some VERY exciting news to share! From September 2026, we will become Highfield School, bringing our whole school under one name and one identity. It marks an exciting moment in our story that stretches back to 1892. Highfield has evolved considerably over that time, while remaining proudly independent and in the same family for more than 120 years. Becoming Highfield School reflects who we are today: one school from Nursery through to Year 8, with one shared purpose and a commitment to knowing every child as an individual. Our history matters enormously to us, and while our name is changing, the things that make our school so special remain firmly at its heart. Keep an eye on our socials over the coming weeks as we share more of what’s to come! One Story. One Purpose. One Highfield. 🔗 Read the full story in our latest news via the link in our bio.
We have some VERY exciting news to share! 💚 From September 2026, we will become Highfield School, bringing the school together under one name and one identity. It is a significant moment in our story that stretches back to 1892. Highfield has evolved considerably during that time, while remaining proudly independent and in the same family for more than 120 years. Pictured is our owner and Chairman, Bill Mills, whose grandfather William Mills became owner and Headmaster of Highfield in 1904. Becoming Highfield School reflects who we are today: one school from Nursery through to Year 8, with one shared purpose and a commitment to knowing every child as an individual. Our history matters enormously to us, and while our name is changing, the things that make our school so special remain firmly at its heart. Keep an eye on our socials over the coming weeks as we share more of what’s to come. One Story. One Purpose. One Highfield. 🔗 Read the full story here:
Today, our Old Highfieldians from the Class of 2023 receive their GCSE results, and we’re celebrating with them from afar. 💚 Reaching this milestone takes hard work and perseverance. It takes determination to keep going when things get tough and the courage to keep challenging yourself. We hope you’re proud not only of what you’ve achieved, but of everything you’ve put into getting here. As you look ahead to your next adventure, we hope a little bit of Highfield stays with you. Keep choosing kindness, have the courage to take on new challenges and most importantly, always be you. Congratulations, Class of 2023. Go and show the world what you can do! ✨
Today, our Old Highfieldians from the Class of 2023 receive their GCSE results, and we’re celebrating with them from afar. 💚 Reaching this milestone takes hard work and perseverance. It takes determination to keep going when things get tough and the courage to keep challenging yourself. We hope you’re proud not only of what you’ve achieved, but of everything you’ve put into getting here. As you look ahead to your next adventure, we hope a little bit of Highfield stays with you. Keep choosing kindness, have the courage to take on new challenges and most importantly, always be you. Congratulations, Class of 2023. Go and show the world what you can do! ✨ #GCSEresultsday #Classof2023 #OldHighfieldians #IndependentSchool #SchoolAlumni
There’s still time to book a place on our Crafting Holiday Club this summer! Join Hannah and Jo from @feltybee_crafts for a choice of two creative days, where children can experiment with different materials and learn new crafting techniques. 🦁 Roar and Explore Crafting Monday 24th August | Ages 7–13 🌸 Petals and Paws Crafting Tuesday 25th August | Ages 7–13 Book your child’s place via the link in our bio.
We’ve loved sharing the smiles, adventures and Rock and Pop fun from Highreach 2026 on our socials, but behind it all is a much bigger story… 🔗 Read more about the difference Highreach continues to make after nine incredible years at Highfield, via the link in our bio. #IndependentSchool #Highreach2026 #SchoolCommunity #PressRelease #Inclusion