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…
Our Year 8 children were ready and raring to go this Open Morning as they waited to guide prospective parents around the school. It’s always a joy to see how proud they are of the school – and there’s truly no better way for families to learn about life here than by hearing it directly from the children themselves. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It takes a team to bring the festive cheer, and our fantastic Grounds Team has done just that. A big thank you to them for bringing the magic to life! #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Who knew holly could be so tricky? Year 6 got stuck in, creating gorgeous festive table decorations to sell at our annual Winter Wonderland. It’s always wonderful to see our school community come together to raise funds for Highfield Highreach Holidays! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Who knew holly could be so tricky? Year 6 got stuck in, creating gorgeous festive table decorations to sell at our annual Winter Wonderland. It’s always wonderful to see our school community come together to raise funds for Highfield Highreach Holidays! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Congratulations to our U11A team for an outstanding performance at the U11 @iapsuksport Regional Rugby Festival yesterday. Finishing 4th out of 12 schools, the boys showed incredible skill and determination. A fantastic start to the season – well done, team! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Alice was one of our 2024 leavers, and it’s wonderful to hear that she’s thriving at senior school and still pursuing her love of hockey and drama at @cranleighschool. It’s always a joy to welcome Old Highfieldians back, hear their fond memories, how they made lifelong friendships, and how we’ve given them a memorable and strong foundation for the road ahead. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Alice was one of our 2024 leavers, and it’s wonderful to hear that she’s thriving at senior school and still pursuing her love of hockey and drama at @cranleighschool. It’s always a joy to welcome Old Highfieldians back, hear their fond memories, how they made lifelong friendships, and how we’ve given them a memorable and strong foundation for the road ahead. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Learning to research well is a vital life skill, and our new IPQ Research section launched today in the Library helps Year 8 pupils discover the power of books in a world of digital noise. By strengthening critical thinking and curiosity, this dedicated space will elevate the children’s IPQ experience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Learning to research well is a vital life skill, and our new IPQ Research section launched today in the Library helps Year 8 pupils discover the power of books in a world of digital noise. By strengthening critical thinking and curiosity, this dedicated space will elevate the children’s IPQ experience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Over the weekend, Year 7 raced their own F1 creations in the exciting finale of their Enrichment project. Teams designed, built and branded their prototypes, putting physics, DT, teamwork and presentation skills into action. This project showed that learning can be hands-on, creative and full of excitement – all at the same time. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Over the weekend, Year 7 raced their own F1 creations in the exciting finale of their Enrichment project. Teams designed, built and branded their prototypes, putting physics, DT, teamwork and presentation skills into action. This project showed that learning can be hands-on, creative and full of excitement – all at the same time. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We’re thrilled to announce that Highfield and Brookham has been recognised as an ISEB iPQ Gold School for 2025–26. This recognition is driven by the incredible work of our Year 8s who show immense independence, creativity and ambition on their iPQ projects, developing highly transferable skills that prepare them for senior school and beyond. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #iPQgoldschool #iPQ #ProjectBasedLearning #independentschools @isebawards
Story Dough sparks big imaginations, expands vocabulary and nurtures confident little creators! We love watching our Nursery children learn through joyful co-play, building strong early-years foundations. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Story Dough sparks big imaginations, expands vocabulary and nurtures confident little creators! We love watching our Nursery children learn through joyful co-play, building strong early-years foundations. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Performing before an audience helps children grow in confidence, communication and creative expression – and our recent Jazz Café evening demonstrated this beautifully. From the moment the idea was announced, the children eagerly signed up, and their talent lit up the Pavilion Café creating an unforgettable evening. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeShine #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Performing before an audience helps children grow in confidence, communication and creative expression – and our recent Jazz Café evening demonstrated this beautifully. From the moment the idea was announced, the children eagerly signed up, and their talent lit up the Pavilion Café creating an unforgettable evening. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeShine #AimingHigh #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We were delighted to welcome Matt Pinkett today, who led engaging sessions with parents and boys in Years 6-8. A teacher, speaker, and author of “Boys Don’t Try?” and “Boys Do Cry”, Matt helps young people flourish by building strong values, embracing positive role models and growing confidence and resilience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Wellbeing #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We were delighted to welcome Matt Pinkett today, who led engaging sessions with parents and boys in Years 6-8. A teacher, speaker, and author of “Boys Don’t Try?” and “Boys Do Cry”, Matt helps young people flourish by building strong values, embracing positive role models and growing confidence and resilience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Wellbeing #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A magical education that lasts a lifetime. Join us on Friday 28th November to discover why Highfield and Brookham is such an extraordinary place for children to flourish. 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 reserve your place. #TogetherWeGrow #HighfieldandBrookham #OpenMorning #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrep #Nursery #HampshireSchools #SurreySchools #WestSussexSchools #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
A fond farewell to our marvellous Maintenance Manager – thank you for everything, and we wish you all the very best. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Performing arts empower children with confidence, communication and teamwork and Year 5 proved this with their magical “Aladdin” performance that captivated the crowd. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #TogetherWeAchieve #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Great excitement and a cracking start to the rugby season! Our U13s welcomed Feltonfleet School, the U11s took on Amesbury School and St. Edmund’s School, Surrey, and the U10s faced Aldro away. Well done to all who played, we saw fantastic tackling, sharp drop kicks and plenty of tries scored. A brilliant start all round! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAchieve #Teamwork #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s Year 1’s superhero teddy bears. Inspired by this term’s topic People in Our Community Who Help Us, they designed and created costumes for their cuddly companions and watched them fly! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Costume design for “Cinderella” captivated Reception. As part of their Magical Mayhem literacy topic, the children were buzzing with creativity. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeFlourish #Creativity #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Did someone say snow? There was great excitement as it began to fall, and breaktime was filled with snowballs, snowmen and snow angels. And it wasn’t just the children – our Australian residential graduate assistants were thrilled to join in, with some experiencing snow for the very first time! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEnjoy #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
