Our Pre-Prep
Childhood is a time for fun and discovery through a wealth of learning opportunities. Our Pre-Prep is a special and unique place. Our aim is to give children the best possible start to their educational pathway, where friendships are made, individual academic excellence is achieved and happy memories are created. We are an independent Nursery, Pre-Prep and prep School in Liphook situated in 175 acres of stunning grounds in the South Downs National Park on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Children in our Pre-Prep develop their social, emotional and cognitive skills through play-based activities. Every day your child will have to opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to activities in their shared areas or out in our fabulous 175-acre grounds. These hands-on opportunities give your child’s learning meaning and a grounding in the real world.
Our Pre-Prep children visit forest school several times a week. It provides a stimulating and engaging environment that encourages exploration, creativity and curiosity. Through being outdoors your child will develop an appreciation for the environment. They will learn to understand the significant impact they can have on sustainability for themselves and future generations by learning about environmental issues and taking meaningful actions to reduce their carbon footprint. We are fortunate to have two libraries at school and one is reserved for exclusive use by our Pre-Prep children. It has been carefully curated to instil a love of books and reading in all our children and to help your child to discover the magic that books bring, inspiring them in every topic from expeditions and exercise to Fairtrade and faraway places. Storytime and our robust phonics programme will help your child to develop crucial skills such as communication and comprehension.
Alongside the core curriculum, in the Pre-Prep your child will enjoy weekly swimming lessons in additional to their games and PE lessons. They will develop a positive attitude toward exercise and will grow to understand that a healthy body means a healthy mind, helping your child gain insight on how they learn best. A Pre-Prep education is one to be cherished. It is a time to develop the foundations for a love of learning where challenges are seen as positive experiences and every activity is approached with a smile, laughter and a can-do attitude.
Seeing the pre-prep children jump into wellies and waterproof trousers in record time and charge out to break was fabulous.
What we’re up to…
How do we prepare children for a world that’s changing faster than ever? Join us for Raising the Future, an inspiring conference exploring how schools, parents and leaders can rethink education for the years ahead. You’ll hear from expert speakers, explore bold ideas and connect with others who believe education must evolve. • Insightful talks • Big ideas for future-ready learning • Meaningful conversations If you care about the future of education, this event is for you. Tickets are available now, book through the link in our bio. #RaisingTheFuture #EducationEvents #FutureSkills #ParentsInEducation #SchoolLeadership @bedalesschool
Spring has sprung in Reception, and so has the children’s curiosity. The children have been learning how to care for ducklings and were lucky enough to watch their very own ducklings hatch in the classroom, hold them gently and see them take their first swim. Learning truly works best when it’s hands-on, full of wonder and shared with care. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #spring #ducklings
A moment of sunshine, friendship and happiness…At Highfield and Brookham, we encourage every child to be kind, to look out for one another, to include, support and grow together. Because happiness isn’t just a feeling, it’s something we create through kindness, care and the way we treat each other every single day. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #internationaldayofhappiness
Our audience of Years 5-8 was transported to Verona in a wonderful performance of Romeo and Juliet as part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation. More than a production, it was a chance for collaboration, courage and creative thinking to come to life on stage. From powerful performances to thoughtful teamwork behind the scenes, every moment reflected the confidence and authenticity we strive to nurture every day at Highfield and Brookham. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #romeoandjuliet
There was love, conflict and a touch of drama in the theatre as our pupils took to the stage for their final performance of Romeo and Juliet as part of @cssf_uk. This cast gave their all and reminded us that true learning comes alive in action, through collaboration, courage and creative thinking. Every scene was a lesson in confidence, teamwork and authenticity. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #drama #romeoandjuliet
Our Year 4 pupils stepped back in time as part of their Ancient Egyptians topic trying their hand at mummifying their teddy bears! It proved trickier than expected, but with plenty of patience, teamwork and determination, the children carefully wrapped their very patient “pharaohs”. Such a wonderfully hands-on way to bring history to life. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Our Year 4 pupils stepped back in time as part of their Ancient Egyptians topic trying their hand at mummifying their teddy bears! It proved trickier than expected, but with plenty of patience, teamwork and determination, the children carefully wrapped their very patient “pharaohs”. Such a wonderfully hands-on way to bring history to life. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Creativity begins with curiosity. Our Reception children explore materials, test ideas and discover the joy of bringing their imagination to life. These are the foundations of creative thinking. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex
Our Reception Snack Monitor shows that leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, taking responsibility and lending a helping hand to the class. It’s these everyday actions, big and small, that grow the leaders of tomorrow. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Some of our children in Years 6-8 are putting the final touches on their Romeo and Juliet performance for the Shakespeare Schools Festival. Each rehearsal is a chance to practise listening, speaking with confidence and adapting when things don’t go quite as planned. Through bold performances and deep character exploration, they’re making connections, discovering new ideas and finding their unique voices. We can’t wait to see their hard work shine on stage. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation
Some of our Year 6–8 children are putting the final touches on their Romeo and Juliet performance for the Shakespeare Schools Festival. Every rehearsal is a chance to practise listening, speaking with confidence and adapting when things don’t go quite as planned. Through deep character exploration and bold performances, they’re making connections, discovering new ideas and finding their unique voices. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @cssf_uk
Year 2 have been learning to think like scientists as they explored chromatography, carefully using pipettes to place a water droplet on an ink sample and watching the colours separate as the experiment unfolded. Along the way, the children were using their problem-solving skills as they tested and observed what happened and their speaking and listening skills as they discussed their predictions and results. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BritishScienceWeek
When our Pre-Prep children arrived this morning, the House Cup had disappeared and a note had been left behind by the thief. At Highfield and Brookham, learning is about curiosity, collaboration and discovering the joy of finding things out, so Year 1 took on the role of forensic scientists, using chromatography to investigate which teacher’s pen had written the message. By separating the inks into their different colours, they were hoping to identify the match and catch the culprit. But were they successful? #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BritishScienceWeek #science
As our nursery children pulled buckets of balls on a rope or pushed wheelbarrows of bricks, they discovered an important idea: the heavier the load, the harder you have to work. A playful way to explore forces while strengthening balance, coordination and confidence, while also developing key skills such as teamwork, problem solving and staying positive when challenges get harder. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BritishScienceWeek #PE #GrossMotorSkills
As our nursery children pulled buckets of balls on a rope or pushed wheelbarrows of bricks, they discovered an important idea: the heavier the load, the harder you have to work. A playful way to explore forces while strengthening balance, coordination and confidence, while also developing key skills such as teamwork, problem solving and staying positive when challenges get harder. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BritishScienceWeek #PE #GrossMotorSkills
Our Year 3s took on the Great Smoothie Challenge with real enthusiasm! Using their teamwork, creativity, speaking and problem-solving skills, they worked in teams to create their smoothies. As they pitched their creations to the judges, the children shared their ideas with confidence and flair. Judged on taste, research, pitch, poster and logo design, teamwork and decoration, the competition was incredibly tight with just one point separating first and second place. Congratulations to our winning team and their delicious “Tropical Fruity Smoothie.” #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex
We’re delighted to share that Mrs Mattingly has been selected to represent the South African Masters Hockey team at the World Cup in Belgium this August. This fantastic achievement reflects the dedication, resilience and teamwork that we value so highly across Highfield and Brookham school life. We wish her every success on the international stage. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @samastershockey_ @hockey.worldcup
Our Year 3s were buzzing with energy for the Great Smoothie Challenge! Working in teams, the children designed their own smoothies, giving them a creative name and an eye-catching poster. They researched the health benefits of their recipes, explored where their fruit ingredients came from and carefully prepared their smoothies to be tasted and judged. The teams pitched their creations to the judges, sharing their ideas with confidence and flair. Judged not only on taste, but on research, pitch, poster and logo design, teamwork and decoration, this was an incredibly tough competition! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #britishscienceweek2026
We’re thrilled to announce that our LAMDA pupils have achieved an outstanding 100% distinction rate in their recent LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) examinations. Preparing for LAMDA encourages pupils to think deeply, perform with confidence and communicate with clarity, skills that support them both on stage and far beyond the classroom. Read the full story here. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex
We’re thrilled to announce that our LAMDA pupils have achieved an outstanding 100% distinction rate in their recent @lamdadrama examinations. Preparing for LAMDA encourages pupils to think deeply, perform with confidence and communicate with clarity, skills that support them both on stage and far beyond the classroom. Head to the link in our bio to read the full details of this fantastic achievement. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex
Our Year 8 pupils turned detectives today as the Biology Lab transformed into a full-scale crime scene. The victim? Stan the Skeleton. Using their scientific knowledge and investigative skills, pupils worked through a series of experiments to analyse evidence and eliminate suspects. From examining clues to interpreting results, the session challenged them to think critically, collaborate effectively and apply their scientific understanding in a new context. Activities like this bring science to life, and show how the skills developed in the classroom, such as observation, problem-solving, logical reasoning and teamwork, are used in real-world investigations. The big question remains…will they gather enough evidence to identify the culprit and solve the mystery of Stan’s untimely demise? #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #STEM #LearningInAction #ProblemSolving #CriticalThinking #HandsOnLearning
There was a mystery to solve today as our Year 8 pupils stepped into the role of detectives when the Biology Lab became a crime scene. The victim? Stan the Skeleton. Through a series of hands-on scientific investigations, pupils analysed evidence, tested ideas and worked methodically to narrow down the list of suspects. The activity encouraged them to apply their biological knowledge while developing key skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, careful observation and logical reasoning. Experiences like this help bring science beyond the textbook, showing pupils how scientific methods are used to investigate real-world problems. Now the challenge is on… will our young investigators uncover the culprit behind Stan’s mysterious demise? #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #STEM #LearningInAction #ProblemSolving #CriticalThinking #HandsOnLearning
Reading together is a real highlight of the week at Highfield and Brookham. Our Year 7 pupils regularly share stories with our Year 4s, helping to build confidence, foster empathy and nurture a genuine love of reading. Through shared reading and discussion, pupils develop key speaking and listening skills, learning to explain, question and respond thoughtfully. Older pupils build leadership and responsibility, while everyone learns that reading is something joyful and meant to be shared. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #YearOfReading2026
Our Year 7 pupils read regularly with our Year 4s, building confidence, empathy and a love of reading. Along the way, pupils develop key speaking and listening skills and discover that sharing a story is truly joyful. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #YearOfReading2026
Encouraging curiosity and a lifelong love of reading, our Years 1–3 Reading Ambassadors meet to share some of their favourite books, using their listening and speaking skills as they exchange thoughts and reflections on the stories they enjoy. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #WorldBookDay #LoveReading #ReadingForPleasure #BookLovers #worldbookday2026