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…
Read all about it! In the autumn edition of The Guide to Independent Schools, Suzannah Cryer shares her insights in “Raising the Future” – an inspiring reflection on how education needs to evolve to prepare young people for the challenges ahead. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A golden autumn afternoon playing matches with your friends, it doesn’t get much better than that. Teamwork, friendship and memories that stay with them long after the final whistle. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Teamwork #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
What a marvellous firework display at this year’s Bonfire Night. A huge thank you to our wonderful Catering, Grounds and Maintenance Teams, whose hard work brings this magical event to life each year. We’re delighted that over £2,000 was raised, with all proceeds going to support Highfield Highreach Holidays. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEnjoy #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Anti-Bullying Week 2025 (Anti-Bullying Alliance) celebrated “The Power of Good”, inspiring our children to see how kindness and positivity creates real change. Through engaging workshops, creative lightning bolt posters and uplifting songs, they strengthened friendships across year groups, shared their voices and discovered what it truly means to stand together against bullying. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #AntiBullyingWeek #PowerforGood #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.” #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeRemember #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Together we remember. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeRemember #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Our Year 3 adventurers had an unforgettable trip to @gilbertwhiteoc exploring artifacts from Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates, a member of Captain Scott’s infamous Terra Nova Expedition. As part of their topic “How are we connected to Antarctica?”, they compared expeditions then and now – dressing-up in contemporary expedition kit, testing out a sledge ride, and discussing innovations in food since 1912. They could be future explorers in the making! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
How often do we stop to think about all the amazing people who help us every day? Some of our Year 1 children led this morning’s Pre-Prep assembly, celebrating their topic on “People Who Help Us.” They reminded us how grateful we should be to everyone who supports our community from doctors and nurses to bin collectors and farmers – and got everyone involved with an interactive quiz and a heartfelt thank-you song. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeRespect #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A magical education that lasts a lifetime. Join us for our Open Morning on Friday 28th November and discover what makes Highfield and Brookham a special place for children to grow, learn and thrive. With 175 acres of opportunity, our school offers a nurturing environment, inspiring teaching and a strong community for ages 2–13. See how we prepare children not just for senior school, but for life. We’d love to welcome you. Head to our bio above to book your place. #TogetherWeGrow #HighfieldandBrookham #OpenMorning #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrep #Nursery #HampshireSchools #SurreySchools #WestSussexSchools #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Excitement filled the school today as judging took place for our much-loved Guy Competition, a long-standing Highfield and Brookham tradition. Judged by our wonderful Grounds and Maintenance Team, each House pulled out all the stops to impress with their Mr Men-inspired Guy to win for their House. It was fantastic to see such imagination, creativity and teamwork on display as we prepare for our Bonfire Night celebration. It was a very close call, as the judges felt they were all winners, but Agincourt just pipped them to the post! #TogetherWeGrow #RememberRemember #Creativity #Teamwork #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Year 6 stepped into the world of lively debate this week. They learnt top debating techniques used by some of the UK’s leading universities by watching their teachers go head-to-head on the motion “All inventions are helpful.” Armed with rhetorical questions, facts, metaphors, and even a few dramatic points of information, our pupils then ran their own discussion and vote on the motion. A lesson where curiosity met confidence and the children discovered just how powerful their voices can be. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Highfield and Brookham is proud to be attending the British Boarding Schools’ Workshop this week! Our Admissions Registrar and Director of Marketing are busy connecting with international agents, showcasing the outstanding opportunities and nurturing environment we offer to pupils from around the world. #BBSW #BBSN #BritishBoardingSchoolsNetwork #BritishBoardingSchool @boardingschoolsnetwork #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
As we count down to this year’s Remembrance Day, our Year 8 pupils are proudly supporting the @royalbritishlegion Poppy Appeal by helping to collect donations through poppy sales across the school community. This important initiative not only raises vital funds to support the Armed Forces community but also gives our pupils a meaningful opportunity to reflect, remember and show gratitude to those who have served and continue to serve. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeRemember #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Today is #OutdoorClassroomDay, but at Highfield and Brookham outdoor learning is part of every day. Our Reception children had a magical time in Forest School this afternoon, working together to make broomsticks from foraged woodland treasures – all inspired by their literacy topic, the much-loved “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson Macmillan Children’s Books. What a great way to bring the story to life! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #LearnOutdoors #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A musical treat kicked off the second half of term at our Informal Concert, with wonderful violin and vocal performances. Held throughout the term, these concerts feature a small selection of children from across the school, giving them the chance to perform in a relaxed, intimate setting in front of their peer performers and parents. They’re a lovely way for pupils to build confidence, develop their skills, and experience the joy of performing for others. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re delighted to share that we’ve been shortlisted as a finalist for the @sacpa_association Safeguarding Initiative Award, with winners to be announced today. This recognition celebrates individuals, teams and organisations who go above and beyond to create safe and nurturing environments for children and vulnerable people. The SACPA Awards are a highlight of the safeguarding calendar, shining a light on best practise and inspiring continuous improvement across education, care and community settings. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Year 3 had a fantastic time in Spanish today celebrating the Day of the Dead! They learned about this vibrant festival, which honours the lives of loved ones who have passed and discovered how it’s celebrated across Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. The children loved making traditional colourful ‘papel picado’ and bright paper marigold decorations using their Spanish vocab to choose their colours. A joyful and memorable lesson full of creativity and culture! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Listening #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
The DT workshop was buzzing with excitement today as our Year 4 pupils got creative building their very own Anderson Shelter models. From sketching out ideas to carefully constructing each shelter, they brought their WWII topic to life and gained a real sense of how families once worked to stay safe. It was wonderful to see so much teamwork, imagination, and enthusiasm on display, learning history through hands-on making at its best! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Over half term, our Year 7s were given a special challenge – to gather objects and sources that represent who they are and the stories that make them unique. Back in class, they transformed their collections into a wonderful museum-inspired exhibition, sharing glimpses of their lives with each other. Along the way, they explored how to make thoughtful inferences, while discovering just how fascinating curation and research can be. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Year 2 arrived at school this morning to a big surprise: their classroom chairs had gone on strike! A note explained that the chairs were feeling underappreciated and would only return once they’d received letters from the children promising to treat them better. As part of their persuasive writing lesson, the children wrote thoughtful letters with lovely illustrations, sharing how much they valued their chairs and how carefully they’d look after them. Will their words have worked wonders – will their chairs be happily back in class tomorrow morning? #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Before half term, our boarders had a spook-tacular time celebrating Halloween together! After putting plenty of thought (and a few scares!) into their costumes, they set off across the school grounds to give the community a fright with some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating. Luckily for everyone, there were only treats this time – no ghosts or ghouls in sight! Our brilliant Catering Team also got into the ‘spirit’, serving up some fang-tastic Halloween fare. Head over to our stories for a peek at the boarders’ night-time woodland walk. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Boarding #BoardingSchoolLife #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A magical education that lasts a lifetime. Join us for our Open Morning on Friday 28th November and discover what makes Highfield and Brookham a special place for children to grow, learn and thrive. With 175 acres of opportunity, our school offers a nurturing environment, inspiring teaching and a strong community for ages 2–13. See how we prepare children not just for senior school, but for life. We’d love to welcome you. Book your place today: https://bit.ly/4hlM7bL #TogetherWeGrow #HighfieldandBrookham #OpenMorning #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrep #Nursery #HampshireSchools #SurreySchools #WestSussexSchools #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
As the anticipation builds for our much-loved Bonfire Night, so does the bonfire itself! Our dedicated Grounds Team has been hard at work preparing the fire for one of the school’s most cherished events of the year. Excitement is certainly in the air as we get ready for this special evening on the school calendar. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEnjoy #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
The sun came out and so did the smiles at our Multi-Sports course! Led by the fantastic Assure Coaching team, the children enjoyed a variety of fun, sports-inspired games and activities, from dodgeball and football to hockey, human battleships and team challenges. There was something for everyone to enjoy, and it was wonderful to see new friendships forming as the children played together. #TogetherWeGrow #SchoolHolidayCourses #WeLoveSport #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Spooky happenings were afoot on the Junior Cookery course today! Our young chefs cooked up some frightfully fun delights, including Butter Bean ‘Ghoulash’, Toffee Apple Chocolate Slices, Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Cakes and Smoked Beetroot Houmous. There was plenty of chopping, slicing, stirring and baking as they brought their eerie creations to life – and they even cooked their own lunch too! #TogetherWeGrow #SchoolHolidayCourses #WeLoveToCook #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
