Our Prep School
Our Prep school education is more than just preparing your child for their time at senior school. It is a time for challenge, excitement and fun. It is a period of discovery, where your child will determine who they want to be while they are cared for in a safe and secure environment. We are an independent co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 8-13. We’re located in 175 acres of stunning grounds within the South Downs National Park in Liphook, and welcome families from across Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey.
Prep school is, of course, a time of assessment and exams. This cannot be avoided. However, our exceptional teachers will carefully manage this time. They will ensure your child doesn’t simply focus on this part of their educational journey. It’s important that we work together to ensure that their love of learning remains and their carefully nurtured flame is not extinguished.
The process of self-discovery that your child will go through will also lead them to important points such as senior school applications. Our highly-experienced Senior Leadership Team will guide you through this journey. A Highfield and Brookham education gifts you exceptional choice as we feed more than 30 of the top day and boarding senior schools in the country. This means we can help your child find the right school for them. We have made the progressive decision to move away from the full Common Entrance syllabus but remain with Common Entrance in the core subjects. This has allowed us to create a bespoke curriculum that focuses on the essential skills that we know senior schools and future employers are seeking in young adults. Our promise to you is that your child will leave Year 8 as an adaptable, resilient and independent young person ready for the world ahead.
An excellent and very broad educational experience, combined with first-class pastoral care, great facilities in a wonderfully inspiring location.
What we’re up to…
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
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
While the costumes are always a highlight on #WorldBookDay, children at Highfield and Brookham, from Nursery right up to Year 8, know that the real joy comes from the books themselves. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #WorldBookDay #LoveReading #ReadingForPleasure #BookLovers
#WorldBookDay at Highfield and Brookham School was a joyful celebration of stories, imagination and a shared love of reading. Our pupils brought their favourite characters to life, reminding us that books open the door to curiosity and creativity. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #WorldBookDay #LoveReading
As part of our World Book Day celebrations, we’ve loved welcoming a wonderful book fair run by @haslemerebookshop. From browsing new titles to debating favourites with friends, the children have thoroughly enjoyed choosing their next great read. You can find out more about how we nurture a love of reading by heading to our blog, find the link in our bio. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #WorldBookDay #LoveReading #ReadingForPleasure #BookFairFun #BookLovers
At Highfield and Brookham, a love of reading is carefully nurtured. Books are part of everyday life and are seen, shared and truly enjoyed. With daily quiet reading time and a warm, inviting library, children are encouraged to curl up on a beanbag and discover the joy of getting lost in a good book. Find out more about in our recent blog. https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/blog/reading-for-pleasure-small-habit-big-impact-why-reading-for-pleasure-matters-more-than-ever/ #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #YearOfReading2026