Together we question

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.

Request a prospectus
Book a visit
Register your child
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.

Request a prospectus
Book a visit
Register your child

What we’re up to…

The school year may be drawing to a close but there’s no stopping the children’s beloved gardens, which have really blossomed with the spring rain and warm summer sunshine. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeFlourish #GreenFingeredPupils #NoGrowingPains #Environment #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

Three school records, including one which had stood for two decades, were broken on Sports Day at Highfield and Brookham this year. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #SportsDay #RecordBreakers #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

The stage is almost set… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeSoar #SchoolPlay #GreaseIsTheWord #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

With Wimbledon fortnight getting under way on Monday, how appropriate that our green-fingered Nursery children should harvest their very own succulent crop of tasty strawberries fresh from their garden. Now, I wonder where they left the cream… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #FruitGrowers #InTheGarden

The handiwork of pupils on our extra-curricular Airfix Club has gone on show as part of an annual exhibition. Led by Mr Baker, the club enables boys and girls to get creative with model kits, improving coordination, dexterity, patience and the ability to remain calm while working with small, fiddly parts. The modellers had their work scrutinised by their peers before the model of Year 8 pupil Alex S was adjudged to be the best of an excellent bunch. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #ScaleModelling #Creativity #EssentialSkills #CountryBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic The Wind in the Willows has been brought to life in fabulous style today by our talented Year 3 children. The charming tale of Mole, Ratty, Toad, Badger and friends enchanted the watching parents as the children put on a real tour de force with their boundless energy and enthusiasm. Fittingly for Year 3, the tale celebrates nature, friendship, loyalty and adventure, and the children did director Mrs Statham truly proud with their whole-hearted performances. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #PerformingArts #SchoolPlay #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #PrivateSchool

Despite the end of the school year looming large there is still so much to play for, not least on the cricket pitches where House matches have today been in full swing. Will Agincourt, Trafalgar or Waterloo prevail? We’ll find out next week when the results are unveiled… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeSupport #TogetherWeCompete #HouseCricket #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Nearly 30 years after attending as a pupil, one of our proud alumni returns as a parent. He shares cherished memories from his time at the school and reflects on why he and his wife chose to entrust the same school with their children’s education. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

A scheme which helps less privileged children access private education has been boosted to the tune of £26,000 thanks to a fundraising ball. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAchieve #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

An unforgettable evening for the audience and performers alike. What a talented bunch – incredible memories to treasure. Big shout-out for Highfest 2025! #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeInspire #TogetherWeSupport #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

We’re pleased to let you know that voting is now open and running for the Tatler Schools Awards. If you’d like to support us, we’d be truly grateful. You can cast your vote by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/4l9T7JF

No matter what the children are doing, we simply love that they are always there offering encouragement and support. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

After Nursery took centre stage on Wednesday, today was the turn of our pre-prep children to battle it out for house bragging rights on the second of our three sports days. Competition was fierce but fair on a hot day and the children gave their all for the cause on the running track, in the long jump pit, over the hurdles and at the ball throw, culminating in some phenomenal (and very noisy) shuttle relays. Tomorrow, the prep school children will round off what has already been a week of amazing sporting action. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeAspire #SchoolSportsDay #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Pioneering Reception children have had the fun task of being the first cohort to try out new trail equipment at forest school. The trail, which tests children’s balance, coordination and ability to problem solve in order to move from one obstacle to the next, enhances further the school’s already inspirational natural outdoor learning resource. And, on such a warm day, there was plenty of fresh water on tap to keep the young daredevils nicely hydrated. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeTry #ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Ever wondered what the tree canopy of our wonderful woodland looks like from the comfort of a hammock? Well, just like this happy young man, now you know… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeDiscover #ForestSchool #WondersOfWoodland #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Today, we had the first of our three scheduled sports days, with Nursery taking centre stage. And what a morning we had, with the eager youngsters showing amazing agility, speed, determination and dexterity to sprint, jump, twist and turn barefooted – a practice which is believed to improve children’s balance, coordination and sensory perception – and with beaming smiles. Next is the turn of Reception to Year 3 on Friday before the prep school pupils round off our sporting odyssey on Saturday. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeAspire #SchoolSportsDay #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

We know that our children love sports day… well, we think our parents are pretty fond if it too! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeAspire #SchoolSportsDay #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Huge congratulations to record breakers Milly and Jemima, who were not only part of Highfield and Brookham’s 1st XI who claimed third place in the @iapsuk U13 girls national cricket championships but also put on a batting masterclass. En route to a battling 28-run over Cottesmore in the third and fourth place play-off in Taunton, the openers carried their bats over the 20 overs, racking up an insurmountable 162-0. Jemima scored an unbeaten 43 while Milly smashed 92 not out, the highest score ever recorded by a female cricketer at Highfield and Brookham. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeSoar #GrassrootsCricket #PrepSchoolSport #CountryBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchools

With their first performance just two weeks away, rehearsals for Year 8’s big end-of-year production have really begun in earnest. Sandy, Danny, Kenickie, Rizzo, Frenchy and co will take to the stage from July 1-2 to throw the spotlight once more on life at Rydell High and prove, beyond doubt, that Grease really is the word… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #PerformingArts #PrepSchoolStageShow #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

No matter what our determined children are faced with, they always put their best foot forward and are well equipped to deal with any obstacles that come their way. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAccomplish #TogetherWeOvercome #EssentialSkills #Resilience #Determination #CoeducationalSchoolsInHampshire @sayerscroft

Highfield and Brookham has been celebrating a golden spell on the sports front, with pupils excelling in swimming, athletics and cricket. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #PrepSchoolSport #GrassrootsSport #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

There’s no telling which fascinating creepy crawlies you will find when you go on a minibeast hunt in the woods with Mr Baker during science. Just ask Year 3… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #TogetherWeDiscover #OutdoorLearning #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Having spent the night under canvas, Year 5 headed into the woods bright and early today to brush up their bushcraft skills. Setting up camp is hungry work, so the children were tasked with gathering piles of twigs and sticks before using a flint and steel to make a series of fires on which to cook their own lunch. What an adventure! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #TogetherWeDiscover #OutdoorLearning #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Artists in Year 6 have been developing their multimedia techniques to produce artwork inspired by Buddha. Under the expert eye of Mrs Pearson, the children used pencils and pastels to recreate the distinctive form of the religious teacher whose teachings on enlightenment and the end of suffering became the basis of the world religion of Buddhism. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #TogetherWeLearn #Art #CountrySchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Warmest congratulations to our U11 boys, who won the Plate competition at the annual cricket festival at @tonbridge.school yesterday. Having lost out to @lancing_college in the Cup competition, the boys stormed back with superb wins against @hazelwoodschooloxted, @thomasslondondayschools and @skippershillschool to secure the prized silverware. Well played, boys! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeSucceed #GrassrootsCricket #PrepSchoolSport #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

view all news