Our Boarding
Boarding at Highfield is one of the most valued and distinctive parts of school life. It is always completely optional, but for many families it becomes one of the most rewarding choices they make. Our flexible, contemporary boarding provision is designed to suit modern family life, without diluting the strong sense of community and care that boarding here is built on.
We offer genuine full boarding alongside weekly and flexi options, and roughly a third of our boarders choose each. Families who want a proper full boarding option have increasingly fewer places to find that locally, particularly at prep school age. At Highfield, full boarding remains a real, well-established choice.
Our boarding numbers grow steadily through the year, typically starting around 80 in September and reaching close to 130 by the summer term, as more families discover what boarding offers once they try it.
Around 80% of our boarders are British, with the remainder from overseas. That balance matters to us. It means Highfield feels like a genuinely British boarding school, the experience many of our families are specifically choosing, while still being a place where children from different countries are a valued part of everyday life.
Parents consistently tell us boarding is one of the greatest strengths of a Highfield education. They value it as a gentle, supportive bridge between home and senior school, helping children grow in confidence, independence and resilience while remaining close to a familiar community. Children tell us something a little different, but just as powerful, they talk about friendship, fun and laughter.
Living in one big family surrounded by all your favourite people to have one massive sleepover every night.
Boarder
The approach to boarding is excellent and there’s a great balance of freedom and guidance.
Available from Year 4 to Year 8, full boarding gives children the complete week, including Saturday and Sunday nights, and full immersion in the boarding community. About a third of our boarders choose this option, drawing on a rich programme of evening and weekend activities and the deeper friendships that come from being together for longer.
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Available from Year 3 to Year 8, and chosen by around a third of our boarders, weekly boarding means arriving Monday morning and returning home Saturday, spending the school week fully immersed in the life of the boarding house. Weekly boarding gives children the rhythm of boarding life, while still keeping weekends at home for family time.
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Flexi boarding is a gentle and flexible introduction to boarding, allowing children to enjoy the benefits of being part of the boarding community while fitting around family life and outside commitments. It is ideal for children who are ready for a regular routine but who still need flexibility.
- Years 3–6: minimum one night per week
- Years 7-8: minimum two nights per week
Families choose set nights termly, helping children settle into a routine and feel secure in the house. This is where our third group of boarders sit, and where many full and weekly boarders started out.
Trying boarding should feel exciting rather than daunting. That is why we offer trial nights, giving children the opportunity to experience boarding in a relaxed way before making a longer-term commitment. Often, one night is all it takes for a child to realise how much they enjoy it.
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Where is Highfield Boarding School located?
Highfield School is an independent school set within 175 acres in the South Downs National Park, on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, offering boarding and day places for Prep-age children.
Do you have a catchment area?
We don’t have a fixed catchment area. Families choose Highfield from across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, including Liphook, Haslemere, Hindhead, Midhurst, Godalming, Petworth, Petersfield, Farnham and Alton. We also welcome families from London as well as international boarders from countries such as Spain, France and China.
Is boarding compulsory at Highfield School?
No. Boarding at Highfield is always completely optional, with day, weekly and flexi options available alongside full boarding, so families can choose whatever suits them. That said, if your child is likely to move on to a senior school with boarding, we’d recommend trying boarding at Highfield first, as it gives them a gentle, familiar introduction before making that transition.
What boarding options does Highfield offer?
Highfield offers full boarding, weekly boarding and flexi boarding, with roughly a third of boarders choosing each option, plus trial nights for children who want to experience boarding before committing.
What age can my child start boarding at Highfield?
Full boarding is available from Year 4 to Year 8, while weekly and flexi boarding are available from Year 3 to Year 8, with flexi boarders in Years 3–6 boarding a minimum of one night a week and those in Years 7–8 a minimum of two nights a week.
How many children board at Highfield?
Boarding numbers grow through the year, typically starting around 80 children in September and reaching close to 130 by the summer term.
Does my child get their own bed and space when boarding?
Yes. Highfield does not hot-bed, so every boarder has their own bed and personal space regardless of how many nights they board, and dorms are structured so each child shares with at least one chosen friend.
What happens at weekends for boarders?
All children in Year 5 and above attend school on Saturday morning for academic extension lessons, followed by sports fixtures in the afternoon. Sundays offer a relaxed pace with on-site or off-site activities, and exeat weekends are held throughout the year for full boarders to go home.
How many exeat weekends are there each term?
There are four exeat weekends in the autumn term, two before and two after half term, and the same pattern in the spring term, while the summer term has one exeat weekend after half term.
I do not live locally, what are my options?
Families who live more than 20 miles away from the school often choose to weekly or full board at Highfield School. We offer a chaperoned train service into London for those families who require it. Contact admissions to discuss your specific requirements.
What we’re up to…
We’re very excited to share that our Head, Suzannah Cryer, is the latest guest on the @maverickschoolpodcast 🎙️ Joining educator, author and podcast host Karl Pupé FRSA, Suzannah tackles some of the biggest questions facing education today, exploring the impact of AI and why preparing young people for their future is about so much more than exam results. At Highfield, we want to play an active part in shaping the future of education and we’re incredibly proud to see Suzannah sharing her thinking to help move these important conversations forward. 💚 Thank you, Karl, for such a brilliant and thought-provoking discussion. 🎧 Listen to the full episode via the links in our bio. #IndependentSchool #FutureOfEducation #Education #ArtificialIntelligence #EducationalLeadership
Once a Highfieldian, always a Highfieldian. 💚 We loved welcoming one of our former students, Platon, back for a trip down memory lane. Platon’s visit was a chance to show his parents around the school that holds so many memories for him, and revisit some of the places that were such a big part of growing up. He also bumped into a few familiar faces while he was here, catching up with staff and sharing memories from his time at Highfield. It’s not every day you get to hear the impact you’ve had on someone years later, so that was pretty special! However many years pass, there’ll always be a warm welcome waiting for our Highfieldians. ✨ #IndependentSchool #OldHighfieldian #Alumni #SchoolCommunity #Memories
Our holiday club golfers didn’t miss a beat yesterday – even in the heat! ⛳️ And when a shot wasn’t quite up to par? Back they went to try again. We loved seeing the determination to keep practising until they got the shot they were after. #IndependentSchool #175acres #GolfCourse #HolidayClub #Determination
An envelope opens. A screen refreshes. And for thousands of young people, a whole world of possibility sits on the other side. Today, on A-Level Results Day, we’re thinking especially of our Old Highfieldians from the Class of 2021, as they see the results of all the hard work that has brought them to this moment. Whatever path you take from here, we can’t wait to see what you do next. And remember, there is never only one route to where you want to go. ✨ #ALevelResultsDay #Classof2021 #SchoolAlumni #OldHighfieldians #FuturePossibilities
“Education is facing one of the most significant periods of change in a generation.” Earlier this year, our Raising the Future conference brought together voices from across education and beyond to explore how we better prepare young people for the world ahead. The resulting White Paper was shared with the Government, and now the @educationgovuk has responded. It’s encouraging to see many of the issues we raised reflected in the Government’s plans for curriculum reform, particularly around digital literacy and preparing young people for their futures. But we believe change needs to happen faster. 🔗 Full details in our press release – link in bio. Parents and educators… what does “future-ready” look like to you? 👇 #IndependentSchool #RaisingTheFutue #DepartmentforEducation #EducationReform #FutureSkills
Ready, set… jump! 🤸 It’s been an energetic two days at our Gymnastics Holiday Club, with lots of swinging from the bars, cartwheels and taking on the vault. The children have been testing what they can do for themselves, picking themselves up after the odd tumble and going straight back for another try. 🌟 #IndependentSchool #HolidayClubs #Gymnastics #YoungGymnasts
And that’s a wrap on Highreach 2026! 🎸 Our ninth Highreach holiday has officially come to an end, and this year’s Rock & Pop theme brought a whole lot of energy to Highfield. Of course, none of it would be possible without our incredible volunteers, who give so much to make Highreach the week that it is. A HUGE thank you to every one of you! Highreach 2026, you’ve been a blast. Same time next year? 🙌🏼 #HighfieldHighreachHoliday #SchoolCommunity #Highreach2026 #Volunteering
We’re incredibly lucky to have teachers who don’t just encourage our children to follow their passions, but lead by example too! A huge good luck to our very own @sumattingly, who is representing South Africa at the World Cup Masters Hockey Championships. 🏑 Su and the RSA team play their first match tonight. Let’s give Su a big Highfield and Brookham cheer in the comments 👏
The musical adventure continued at Highreach yesterday with an energetic drumming workshop! 🥁 Led by the sounds of the drums, the children proudly paraded a flag they had decorated earlier in the day before raising it. Then it was time to discover the power of rhythm as everyone joined in with the drummers, filling Highfield with lively music! 🎶 #HighfieldHighreachHolidays #MusicWorkshop #Drumming
Celebrating our girls. 💙 A huge congratulations to Year 8 pupils Olivia and Phoebe, who have been recognised following this year’s IAPS National Prep Athletics Championships. 🎉 Olivia won silver in the U14 High Jump, while she and Phoebe were also recognised after qualifying for the national finals for three consecutive years. Together, they were part of a team of seven Highfield & Brookham girls who represented the school on the national stage. We’re so proud of every one of them. 🔗Tap the link in our bio to read the full story.
Sometimes creativity isn’t about what you make, it’s about how it makes you feel. Using lavender rosemary and other natural materials collected from around the school grounds, our Nature Crafting Holiday Club spent time creating their own woven artwork. 🌿 The scent of the herbs, the different textures and the chance to slow down made it a really calming activity. As they worked, children were also developing patience, concentration and fine motor skills, carefully weaving each stem into place. #IndependentSchool #HolidayClub #Hampshire #NatureCraft #WellbeingActivity
🗳️ Voting for the Tatler Schools Guide 2026 Awards is now open! We’re incredibly proud of the school we’ve built together and think Highfield is worth shouting about, but it’s always wonderful to hear that from you too! If you’d like to support Highfield, we’d be so grateful for your vote. Whether you’re part of our community or simply want to support us, everyone is welcome to vote 💙 Know someone who’d like to support us too? Please share this post with them. 🗓️ Voting closes on 29th August 2026, the winners announced in September. 🔗 Voting link in our bio. #TatlerSchoolAwards #IndependentSchool #SchoolCommunity
Houston, we have no problems… just lots of crating! 🚀 It would be easy to think crafting is just about the finished creation, but it’s the skills built along the way that really matter. Threading cord for macramé for example, builds hand-eye coordination and precision, the kind our children rely on in sport, DT and everyday tasks. Our holiday clubs are full of moments like this, skills that quietly build in the background! #IndependentSchool #Liphook #HolidayClubs #IndependentSkills #Crafting
Today at Bushcraft Holiday Club, the children learned how to weave their own survival keyrings. It took patience to master the technique, but by the end of the session they had made something genuinely useful. The paracord can replace a broken shoelace, help build a shelter or even secure a hammock! In a world where so much happens on a screen, there’s real value in knowing how to make something useful with your hands. #IndependentSchool #PracticalSkills #OutdoorSkills #HolidayClub #Bushcraft
Dragons have had quite a year at Highfield! First in Shrek and now in our Crafting Holiday Activity Club with @feltybee_crafts 🐉 Using needle felting, the children shaped their very own dragons, a fiddly process that took patience and plenty of concentration. It just goes to show, real magic takes a bit of hard work! #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #HolidayClub #IndependentLearning #Crafting
The children discovered the magic of cyanotype printing with @coryluscollective during our Nature Days Holiday Club, using sunlight to create beautiful nature-inspired artwork 🌿 They explored the grounds to find natural materials they wanted to include, deciding for themselves what would work best before arranging their pieces. We love that every piece is so unique, reflecting the different choices each child made! #IndependentSchool #Liphook #OutdoorLearning #HolidayClubs #ChildInitiatedLearning
Year 8 Reflections: part 2 💙 As our Year 8s enjoy their summer and look ahead to the next stage of their journey, we’re excited to see them take these lessons with them into their new schools. Swipe through to read some of their answers. ➡️ #IndependentSchool #Liphook #SchoolLeavers #Memories #ClassOf2026
The exciting news just keeps coming! 🎉 We couldn’t be prouder of our Head Boy, Rupert, on his selection for the prestigious U14 UK Lions programme. 🏑 This is a fantastic achievement and a reward for all of Rupert’s hard work, dedication and passion for hockey. Tomorrow, Rupert heads to Manchester for his first UK Lions training session – the start of an exciting new chapter! Good luck, Rupert. We’ll all be cheering you on! 💙 #IndependentSchool #UKLions #Hockey #SchoolSport #FutureStars
Our school community never fails to amaze us. 💙 Huge congratulations to Highfield and Brookham parent Clare Woodward, who has completed the incredible Verbier Marathon alongside her husband, Matt. 43km. Over 3,000m of climbing. Mountain ridges, thunderstorms, lightning and torrential rain… what an achievement! Clare took on this epic challenge to raise money for our Centenary Bursaries Fund, helping to create life-changing opportunities for future generations. We’re so proud of you, @clareawoodward – you are an inspiration! 🔗Read more about Clare’s incredible achievement via the link in our bio.