Together we explore
Pre-prep
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.
Lessons
Our Pre-Prep timetable has been meticulously curated to ensure we get the best out of your child throughout the day. Your child will benefit from being taught maths and English every morning by their highly-qualified class teacher. They then embark on a day full of incredible lessons, including music, games, PE, Spanish and swimming which are all delivered by subject specialist teachers. Lessons are either taught as a single lesson of half an hour or to allow, your child to really get stuck in, some lessons are scheduled as a double one-hour lesson.
The timetable also ensures the Pre-Prep children can make the most of our incredible facilities as well as our amazing teachers. The acres of woodland just a stone’s throw from their classroom door is home to your child’s forest school lessons. Our on-site, 25-metre indoor swimming pool, which is heated by a renewal energy source in the shape of our woodchip biomass boiler, is where your child will learn to swim. For their music lessons, your child will head over to our purpose-built Music School to be surrounded by musical inspiration and every instrument they could possibly dream of – everything from African drums to a grand piano. Our Art Studio is where our Pre-Prep and Prep school children delve into painting, pottery and collage, allowing your child to share their creative vision with their older peers. The sports hall, astro and endless fields and pitches will give your child the space to breathe, stretch their physical muscles and discover their sporting prowess.
Food
Great children need great food which is why we hire a fantastic team of chefs, bakers and cooks to keep your child well fuelled throughout the day. Morning break is at 10am, the same time as our Prep school children. Your child will enjoy a carbohydrate-based snack to provide them with a slow release of energy to power them through their morning lessons.
Lunch break for our Pre-Prep children is at 11.45am when your child will enjoy a good run around outside as well as a nutritious meal before returning to lessons at 1pm. Your child’s lunch is freshly prepared on site by our in-house Catering Team. We offer a wide choice of dishes to ensure we cater for all tastes. There are always hot and cold options, with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. Vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements are well catered for.
Our seasonal menus operate on a three-week rotation and aim to educate your child about healthy choices and responsible eating.
Logistics
The Pre-Prep week
7.30am Breakfast club (Optional £)
8am Before school care
8.15am Gates open
8.30am Registration
10.30am Morning break
11.40am Lunch break
3.30pm School day ends
3.30pm After school clubs (optional)
4.30pm Clubs end
4.30pm Picnic tea and play (optional £)
6.30pm Last pick up
Drop off
The doors to our pre-prep swing open for children at 8.15am ready for your child to start their day promptly at 8.30am. We know and completely understand that mornings can be busy for many families, with parents juggling school drop off, work and other commitments. It’s important that your child’s start to the day is calm and stress free to set them up for a successful say of learning. That’s why we offer an earlier 8am drop off option for those families who need it, at no extra charge.
Many of our families make use of our breakfast club, which opens for our Nursery children at 7.30am. Breakfast club takes place in the dining hall and your child will be spoilt for choice for what to have for breakfast. There is always a hot option such as beans on toast as well cereal, porridge, yoghurt, toast and fresh fruit. A truly hearty breakfast to kickstart their active day ahead.
After school
The school day finishes at 3.30pm but your child’s time with us does not have to stop there. There is a plethora of after-school clubs for your child to choose from. But not before they have had a snack for a well-earned energy boost to see them through the next hour of excitement. There are four categories of clubs: academic, skill development, artistic and physical and we encourage your child to try to choose one club from each group to give themselves the opportunity to explore new interests. Many of our clubs are run by our teachers who are passionate about a certain sport, subject or hobby and are free of charge. We also invite external professionals to run clubs such as Karate, modern dance or cookery, which do incur additional costs.
If there isn’t a club that takes your child’s fancy but you need your child to be looked after, they can join our after school care which runs until 4.30pm. We know life is exceptionally busy for all families which is why, in addition to our after school provision, we also offer picnic tea and play. In this popular session your child will be served a high tea which they will enjoy as a picnic with their friends. There will be lots of games and activities on offer for your child until 6.30pm.
What we’re up to…
Year 5 are continuing their Victorian history learning at the Milestones Museum, exploring steam power and the impact it had on transport, industry and everyday life during the 19th century. Seeing a traction engine up close has helped bring this important period of history to life. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Bringing their history learning to life, Year 5 stepped into a Victorian classroom at @milestonesmuseum and experienced just how strict Victorian classroom life was. “Be seen and not heard. Only speak when spoken to. Hands behind backs” Thankfully our own Break the Rules Day is just around the corner! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Deep in concentration and powered by imagination. Our after-school #Lego club is where focus, imagination and perseverance are built after the school day ends. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #NationalLEGOday2026
At our after-school #LEGO club, creativity, problem-solving and confidence come together one brick at a time. Happy #NationalLEGODay. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Reception pupils are developing their balance, coordination and confidence by exploring the low beam. These early gross motor skills are essential for physical development and everyday independence and our children approached the challenge with such focus and determination. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Developing focus and fine motor skills in Reception by carefully guiding a milk bottle top along a line of tape. These skills are key in the early years, supporting handwriting, coordination and independence and our Reception children approached the challenge with impressive concentration. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A snapshot of some of our Year 8 musicians as they prepare for their senior school music scholarship assessments. Their commitment and musical focus are a credit to them and we are so proud of their talent, focus and hard work. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Some schools look right on paper and some feel right the moment you walk through the door. On Friday 20th March, we invite you to experience Highfield and Brookham for yourself. Meet our inspiring staff, tour the school with our pupils and discover a community where academic excellence sits alongside curiosity, kindness and confidence. You’ll know if it’s right, just by being here. Head to the link in our bio to reserve your place here. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #openmorning
Some schools look right on paper and some feel right the moment you walk through the door. On Friday 20th March, we invite you to experience Highfield and Brookham for yourself. Meet our inspiring staff, tour the school with our pupils and discover a community where academic excellence sits alongside curiosity, kindness and confidence. You’ll know if it’s right, just by being here. Reserve your place here bit.ly/4bPKuSK #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’ve had such a brilliant Burns Night celebration today, huge thanks to Mr Gunn. Kilts, bagpipes and a whole-school ceilidh, what an unforgettable day! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #BurnsNight #Ceilidh #ThankYou
Teamwork, tackles and a LOT of mud for our U9s at the @edgeboroughschool Rugby Festival! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #rugby #u9
Our nursery chefs have been busy making flapjacks today but it’s not just about sweet treats. From listening carefully to instructions, working together as a team to practising, counting and measuring, cooking is a hands-on way to build confidence, focus and creativity. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #EYFS
Our nursery chefs are learning listening, teamwork, counting and creativity — all while making delicious flapjacks. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #EYFS
Getting into character at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where history came alive for our Year 6s, through hands-on learning and imaginative exploration. Trips are such a vital part of our curriculum as they bring learning to life and broaden experiences beyond the classroom. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #year6 #schooltrip
Quiet curiosity in action. Our Year 6 pupils explored the Carpenter’s Cabin at @phdockyard — connecting with the skills, stories and lives of the past. Trips are a vital part of our curriculum as they bring learning to life and broaden experiences beyond the classroom through real-life exploration. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #year6 #schooltrip
Looking back at #2016 reminds us that while some things naturally change, the heart of life at Highfield and Brookham remains the same. Some residential trips are still much-loved favourites, others have evolved, sporting opportunities have changed and grown and our facilities have continued to develop — but our commitment to knowing, supporting and caring for every child remains exactly the same. Were you a pupil in 2016? We’d love you hear your memories. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Looking back at #2016 reminds us that while some things naturally change, the heart of life at Highfield and Brookham remains the same. Some residential trips are still much-loved favourites, others have evolved, sporting opportunities have changed and grown and our facilities have continued to develop — but our commitment to knowing, supporting and caring for every child remains exactly the same. Were you a pupil in 2016? We’d love you hear your memories. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #2016
While choral singing in schools faces challenges, the Chapel Choir at Highfield and Brookham are certainly keeping the tradition alive. In our very own chapel, the Highfield and Brookham Chapel Choir come together regularly to celebrate music, community and the pure joy of singing. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choir #chapelchoir #choralsinging
While choral singing in schools faces challenges, the Chapel Choir at Highfield and Brookham are certainly keeping the tradition alive. In our very own chapel, the Highfield and Brookham Chapel Choir come together regularly to celebrate music, community and the pure joy of singing. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choir #chapelchoir #choralsinging
We’re thrilled to see OH Gil H (2022) named among @wellingtoncollege’s new Academic Scholars. Huge congratulations to Gil, who already holds a full Music Scholarship — an amazing achievement and well-deserved recognition of his talent and dedication. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #scholarship
We loved welcoming a reviewer from Tatler Schools to Highfield and Brookham this week and were thrilled to read her email this morning: ‘Highfield and Brookham felt like a warm hug, one of the most charming, friendly prep schools I have visited.’ If you’re considering schools and would like to experience that ‘warm hug’ for yourself, we’d be delighted to show you around. Our next open morning is Friday 20th March, you can reserve your place here bit.ly/3NKPz4N #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TatlerSchoolsGuide #IndependentEducation
We loved welcoming a @tatlerschools reviewer to Highfield and Brookham this week and were thrilled to read her email this morning: ‘Highfield and Brookham felt like a warm hug, one of the most charming, friendly prep schools I have visited.’ If you’re considering schools and would like to experience that ‘warm hug’ for yourself, we’d be delighted to show you around. Head to the link in our bio to arrange a visit. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TatlerSchoolsGuide #IndependentEducation
Year 3 explorers stepped into the world of the ancient Maya – complete with animal noses and mighty mouths – and discovered how masks, myths and rituals helped bring this remarkable civilisation to life. Such a great way for the children to understand what everyday life was like in the Mayan Civilisation. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Year3 #History
In a fantastic workshop led by Portals To The Past, our Year 3 historians tried out a traditional Mayan-style board game, discovering how play was part of everyday life in this ancient civilisation – from strategy and teamwork to a little friendly competition. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Year3 #History
Hands-on science magic in Year 4! Watching ice melt has never been so exciting – lots of big questions, brilliant predictions and even bigger smiles as the children explored heat, change and a little bit of wow-factor at the Bunsen burner. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #science #Year4
