Together we question
Prep School
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.
Lessons
Our Prep school timetable is a one-week timetable consisting of eight 45-minute lessons a day. To maximise your child’s learning time the timetable has been curated to ensure they move around our specialist facilities in a logical order meaning precious time is spent in lessons rather than moving from one to the next.
To help your child develop the ability to self-critique in a constructive manner they will attend a weekly study skills lesson. Your child will have the opportunity to carry out this new-found skill by reflecting and commenting on their end-of-term progress reports. We provide many real-life opportunities like this for your child to put all of their knowledge and skills into practice. This helps to consolidate their learning as well as give meaning and context to their education.
Our specialist subject teachers in drama, music, games, PE, modern foreign languages, design technology, art and digital literacy teach all Prep school children. Our specialist facilities provide the perfect learning environment for these subjects. In addition, in Year 5 and Year 6 your child will be taught by a subject specialist in science where lessons are conducted in one of our three science labs. They also have an additional new subject added to their timetable – Latin. Our highly-experienced key stage specialist teachers will provide the core teaching in English and maths. By Year 7 your child will be set in all subjects and taught by a subject specialist in all lessons, including wellbeing, geography and history. This ensures your child has experienced the senior school model of teaching before they reach Year 9.
To allow your child to have a focused conclusion to their learning, the day will end in the same way it began – with their form teacher. This is a crucial cog in our exceptional pastoral wheel. It allows the teacher who knows your child best to touch base with them to ensure the day delivered all it had promised. And it allows them to support your child if things didn’t quite go to plan.
There are 21 Saturdays in the academic year where children in Year 5 and above attend school, with Year 4 attending school on 17 Saturdays. Saturday mornings are filled with curriculum extension activities where children consolidate their learning and stretch their understanding. Saturday afternoons follow the traditional structure of sports fixtures which parents are warmly invited to watch every week.
Food
Growing children need wholesome food which is why we commit to having such a brilliant Catering Department. All of your child’s meals are seasonally planned, freshly prepared and cooked on site. Morning break is at 10am – the same time for all children in the school. To ensure your child is fuelled appropriately so they can fully engage with their morning lessons they will be served a carbohydrate-based snack. This will provide them with a slow release of energy to keep them focused until lunch.
Lunch break for our Prep school children is at 12.45pm. Lunch service is staggered to ensure the dining hall feels a welcoming place for your child to eat lunch with their friends. The time your child will be called for lunch rotates throughout the week, so sometimes they will eat first and then enjoy the fresh air and sometimes the other way around. Lunch is canteen style with a wide range of tasty and nutritious food on offer to cater for all tastes. There are always hot and cold options, with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. Our bespoke menus operate on a three-week rotation and there is always a vegetarian option for those who choose to go meat free. Our aim is to feed your child but also to educate them about healthy choices and responsible eating. For example, when sweet treats and puddings are available our aim is to use reduced sugar and healthy alternatives.
To give your child that energy boost they need to see them through to the end of the day they are offered a snack during afternoon break at 3.15pm. Our approach to food is to ensure that your child has the correct levels of energy to perform well inside and outside of the classroom throughout the day.
Logistics
The Prep School Day
- 7.30am breakfast club (optional for day children £)
- 8am Gates open
- 8.20am Registration
- 10.30 am Morning break
- 12.40pm Lunch break
- 3.35pm Afternoon break
- 4.40pm school day ends
- 4.40pm After school clubs (optional)
- 5.50pm Clubs end
- 5.30pm Prep (optional for day children £)
- 6.30pm Supper (optional for day children £)
- 7pm Boarders’ evening activities
- 8pm Bedtime routine
Drop off
The gates at our Prep school open at 8am ready for the children to spill into their classrooms for 8.20am. Every day starts with 20 minutes of precious form time with your child’s class teacher to ensure they are set for the busy day ahead.
Our boarders enjoy a nourishing breakfast in our dining hall before the school day and our day children are invited to join them from 7.30am if they wish. We know how busy mornings can be so this option is valued by many families. Your child will be spoilt for choice for breakfast. There is always a hot option such as eggs on toast as well as cereal, porridge, yoghurt, toast and fresh fruit to kickstart their day.
After school
The school day finishes at 4.40pm but the fun doesn’t stop there. There is a full programme of after-school clubs which we actively encourage all children to take advantage of. There are four categories of clubs: physical, skill development, academic and artistic. We recommend your child tries one club from each group to fully benefit from our broad range of extra-curricular activities. Some of our clubs are run by our teachers who are passionate about a certain hobby, subject or sports and are free of charge. We also invite external professionals to run clubs such as LAMDA, Gymnastics and Golf, which do incur costs.
We offer Homework Club every day free of charge, so if there isn’t a new club your child wants to try and you need care for them after school they can stay with us until 5.30pm.
At 5.30pm our boarders head off to evening prep before heading into the Dining Hall for their homecooked supper at 6.30pm. Day children are invited to join boarders and can be collected as late as 7pm if family circumstances require it.
What we’re up to…
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
Our Pre-Prep children enjoyed a storytelling workshop with author and illustrator @sophieambrose_illustration. They listened carefully as Sophie talked about how stories begin and shared their own ideas for some illustrations. Building on their knowledge, the children experimented with their own ideas, working collaboratively and creatively to illustrate their very own books. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #yearofreading2026
Our Pre-Prep children enjoyed a storytelling workshop with author and illustrator Sophie Ambrose. They listened carefully as Sophie talked about how stories begin and shared their own ideas for some illustrations. Building on their knowledge, the children experimented with their own ideas, working collaboratively and creatively to illustrate their very own books. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #yearofreading2026
Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic day of learning at @brooklandsmuseum. The children marvelled at full-size jet aeroplanes, buses and cars exploring the exhibits and learning all about their topic Changing Transport. Hands-on activities and real-life examples sparked curiosity, deepened understanding and connected their learning with the wider world. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #year2 #schooltrip
Our Year 2s enjoyed a brilliant day of discovery at Brooklands Museum. Exploring the science of flight and discovering how an aeroplane stays in the sky, the children built their own paper flying craft, bringing their topic Changing Transport to life. Educational visits like these spark curiosity, deepen understanding and show children how learning connects to the wider world. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #schooltrip
Curious about the benefits of educating outside London? Join us for an informal drinks reception on Wednesday 11th March at @beauforthousechelsea, exploring countryside school options beyond the capital. Our Head, Suzannah Cryer, will be joined by senior representatives from @hanfordprepschool @ludgrove_school @downe_house @marlboroughcollege @tonbridge.school for an open discussion designed to help families make confident, informed choices. Places are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to ask the experts. 👉 Book via the link in our bio. #EducatingOutsideLondon #CountrySchoolBenefits #ChildrensEducation #LondonKids #LondonMums #LondonDads #LondonFamily #LondonParenting #LondonParents #CountrySchoolEducation #Parenting #EducationalJourney #InformedChoices @talkeducation
Yesterday saw the first girls’ football fixtures of the year, with our U10s and U11s taking to our home pitches full of energy, teamwork and determination. It was a pleasure to welcome @twyfordschool and @amesburyschool for a great afternoon of football, sportsmanship and learning. A fantastic start to the season! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #girlsfootball #prepschoolsports
Year 3 pupils stepped into the tropics on their visit to The Living Rainforest. Exploring what a rainforest is, where rainforests are found around the world and why protecting these incredible habitats matters, the children loved bringing their classroom learning to life in such a hands-on way. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #schooltrip #rainforestlearning
Our Year 6 pupils delved into the art of Chinese calligraphy, practising the character 春symbolising renewal and fresh beginnings. They learned key techniques, like holding the brush vertically, different brush strokes and controlling the pressure, and discovered the skill and patience required to create each character. A truly inspiring cultural and creative workshop. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #ChineseCalligraphy #Year6Learning #SpringInspiration #LanguageAndCulture #Creativity #lunarnewyear
Our Year 6 pupils explored the beauty of Chinese calligraphy, practising writing the character 春 which celebrates renewal and new beginnings. Learning essential techniques, including holding the brush vertically, brush strokes and controlling pressure, they discovered how skill and patience bring each character to life. A wonderful workshop that connected language, culture and creativity. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #ChineseCalligraphy #Year6Learning #SpringInspiration #LanguageAndCulture #CreativeLearning #lunarnewyear
What a brilliant afternoon of swimming at the gala against @cranleighprepschool. Our swimmers brought such energy to the pool, showing fantastic determination, teamwork and encouragement for one another throughout that helped them produce another stand-out performance. A huge well done to everyone involved, it was a joyful celebration of prep school swimming and all the best things about school sport. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #swimming #prepschoolswimming #prepschoolsport
What a fantastic afternoon of swimming at the gala against @cranleighprepschool. Our swimmers showed great determination, teamwork and support for one another throughout, continuing a strong tradition in the pool with another stand-out performance. Well done to everyone involved, it was a wonderful celebration of prep school swimming. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #swimming #prepschoolswimming
Best of luck to Louis, as he prepares to tackle Paper 2 of the Townsend-Warner History Prize. Out of more than 1,100 entries nationwide, he finished in the top 250 in Paper 1 and earned his place in today’s paper – hugely impressive! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TownsendWarnerHistoryPrize #LoveOfHistory #SchoolsInHampshire #AcademicProwess
Learning really does come alive when our nursery children head to Forest School. Carefully crossing a muddy puddle on a bed of logs is about so much more than getting from one side to the other. Forest School experiences help children develop balance, coordination, problem-solving skills and confidence, while also building resilience and a strong connection with the natural world. Time spent outdoors encourages curiosity, independence and teamwork, giving children the freedom to explore, take safe risks and learn through real experiences — muddy boots and all. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #westsussex #forestschool #outdoorlearning
