One quiet confidencethat grows over time
Prep School
Our Prep School
Where children become who they truly are.
Highfield Prep School is an independent prep school for Years 3 to 8, set within 175 acres in the South Downs National Park in Liphook, on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
Our Prep School is much more than preparation for senior school. It is a time of challenge, excitement and discovery, a period in which children grow in confidence, develop independence and begin to understand who they are becoming.
Three things set up apart:
- Specialist teaching. From Year 3, children are taught by subject specialists who bring genuine expertise to every lesson. Small class sizes and strong relationships mean every child is known as an individual and supported to achieve their best.
- 175 acres of opportunity. Set within 175 acres in the South Downs National Park, our grounds give children access to opportunities that are increasingly rare. Woodland learning, outstanding sports facilities, creative spaces and the choice of day or boarding life all become part of everyday school life.
- Confidence for life. We believe children achieve more when they feel confident to be themselves. Academic ambition is balanced with curiosity, creativity and outstanding pastoral care, helping every child discover their strengths and develop the confidence to take on whatever comes next.
The all-round education with sports, music and drama offered to such a wide extent gives children confidence.
Prep School parent
Why Choose Highfield Prep?
We know choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family makes, so here’s what we can tell you honestly, backed by evidence:
- Families recommend us. In our most recent parent survey, more than 98% of Prep School parents said they would recommend the school, repeatedly highlighting the quality of teaching, class sizes, facilities and pastoral care, and the fact that their children are happy, confident and well prepared for what comes next.
- Families know their child is truly seen. 96% of parents agreed their child is “truly known, recognised and understood” at Highfield School. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the result of a framework designed so every child is seen, heard and valued.
- Families see the results. In 2025–26 alone, our pupils were awarded 29 senior school scholarships across academic, creative and sporting disciplines, to eight different senior schools at 11+ and 13+. Three quarters of Year 8 pupils also achieved a Distinction or Merit in the externally assessed iPQ qualification.
- Families see it beyond the classroom. We also hold the Skills Builder Gold Award, recognising our commitment to developing the essential life skills children will need to thrive in a changing world.
For many families, the decision comes down to this: Highfield School offers a full, rounded education in one place, with the breadth and quality that help children find their strengths and the confidence to use them.
Our Prep School Curriculum
A Highfield education is designed to help children develop a strong sense of who they are, giving them the confidence to embrace new opportunities and build on their strengths. Yes, there are exams and assessments along the way, but they are only one part of the journey. Our teachers know that children thrive best when academic ambition sits alongside a rich and engaging education, so a child’s love of learning is strengthened as they move through the school, not narrowed by it.
Our Prep School timetable is carefully constructed to make the most of every day. Children follow a one-week timetable with eight 45-minute lessons a day, a rhythm designed to minimise wasted movement and maximise learning time, while still giving children the breadth and variety that make a Prep education so rich.
Core teaching in English and Maths is delivered by highly experienced class and key stage specialists, while specialist teachers lead lessons in Drama, Music, Games, PE, Modern Foreign Languages, Design Technology, Art and Digital Literacy, meaning children get genuine subject expertise.
In Years 5 and 6, children are taught by a specialist Science teacher in one of our three science labs and begin learning Latin. By Year 7, they are set in all subjects and taught by subject specialists across the curriculum, including Geography and History, giving them a strong grounding in the senior-school model while they’re still within a supportive Prep environment.
Saturdays at Highfield
There are 21 Saturdays in the academic year when children in Year 5 and above attend school. Saturday mornings combine curriculum extension activities with sports fixtures, bringing together academic challenge and the traditional Prep School sporting experience.
Curriculum extension sessions give children the opportunity to consolidate their learning and stretch their understanding, while sports fixtures allow them to represent the school across a wide range of sports. Parents are warmly invited to come along and watch the fixtures throughout the year.
Our Specialist Teaching and Facilities
Specialist teaching is one of the strongest reasons families choose Highfield School, and our facilities make it possible.
Children learn in purpose-built classrooms alongside specialist facilities including three science laboratories, a Music School, Art Studio and Design Technology workshop. Outside, 175 acres of grounds include a full-sized hockey Astro, golf course, playing fields and woodland.
The scale of our site means a child’s interests are rarely limited by what the school can offer. Whether they discover a passion for robotics, hockey, ceramics or the school orchestra, they have the space and facilities to pursue it.
Parents repeatedly tell us that the facilities and grounds were a key reason they chose us. It’s easy to see why. Few schools can offer this scale of site, this richness of provision and this sense of freedom alongside careful academic structure.
Academic Ambition
Prep School is a time of assessment and exams, but at Highfield we believe academic ambition should never come at the cost of confidence, curiosity or a love of learning.
We’ve moved away from sitting the full Common Entrance examination, while retaining Common Entrance standards in the core subjects. This lets us build a bespoke curriculum that focuses on the skills senior schools and future employers value most: adaptability, resilience, independence, communication and the ability to think well, so children are prepared not just to pass an exam, but to navigate whatever comes after it.
Parents tell us they value this balance: ambitious, but not hot-housed; rigorous but not narrow; challenging, but still full of joy. Our aim is to develop young people who can think critically, communicate clearly, work collaboratively and adapt confidently to a rapidly changing world.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
Growing up between the ages of seven and thirteen brings huge changes, academically, socially and emotionally. Our pastoral care is designed to help children navigate each stage with confidence.
Every child has a form tutor who knows them well and works closely with families, providing consistent support throughout their time in Prep. Small class sizes and strong relationships mean changes in confidence, friendships or wellbeing are noticed early, so children receive the support they need before small worries become bigger ones.
As children become more independent, they are encouraged to take on new responsibilities, make informed decisions and learn from mistakes, always knowing there is someone they can turn to. By the time they leave Highfield, they are not only academically prepared for senior school, but emotionally ready too.
Day and Boarding at Highfield
Highfield School offers both day and boarding, giving families genuine choice.
For day families, the school day is full and rewarding, with before-school care, a rich curriculum, clubs and late collection options that support busy family life. For boarders, the school provides a warm, structured and homely experience that helps children grow in independence and confidence.
Parents frequently tell us that boarding provides a valuable stepping stone to senior school, helping children develop confidence, independence and lasting friendships in a familiar environment. Others choose day life and appreciate the breadth of opportunity available within the school day. The strength of Highfield School is that both experiences sit within one coherent community, so our day and boarding provision is designed to support children without compromising childhood, whichever path a family chooses.
Daily Life at Highfield Prep
The Prep School Day
- 7.30am Breakfast Club (optional for day children)
- 8.00am Gates Open
- 8.20am Registration
- 10.30am Morning Break
- 12.40pm Lunch Break
- 3.35pm Afternoon Break
- 4.40pm School Day Ends
- 4.40pm After-School Clubs (optional)
- 5.20pm Clubs End
- 5.30pm Prep (optional for day children)
- 6.30pm Supper (optional for day children)
- 7.00pm Boarders’ Evening Activities
- 8.00pm Bedtime Routine
Drop off
We understand that mornings can be busy, which is why we offer a practical, welcoming start to the day.
Gates open at 8.00am, and children begin the day with twenty minutes of form time at 8.20am, giving every child a calm, settled start before lessons begin.
Day children may also join Breakfast Club from 7.30am, choosing from a range of hot and cold options so no child starts the day hungry, whatever time their family’s morning begins.
After-school Clubs
The day doesn’t end at 4.40pm.
Children can take part in an extensive range of after-school clubs. Many are led by our own teachers and are free of charge, so there’s no added cost or logistics for families to manage. Others, such as LAMDA, gymnastics and golf, are led by specialist external providers, bringing genuine outside expertise into areas beyond our own staff’s specialisms. We encourage children to try a range of experiences so they can discover interests, build confidence and develop new skills.
Homework Club runs every day, free of charge, giving children who need to stay on after lessons a safe, productive space to work. Boarders move on to evening prep and supper, while day children can stay as late as 7.00pm if family circumstances require it.
The result is a school that is both structured and flexible, ambitious and family-friendly, giving children a rich experience, and giving families real support.
Food and Nutrition
Growing children need wholesome food which is why we invest to having such a brilliant Catering Department. Meals are seasonally planned, freshly prepared and cooked on site.
There’s always a vegetarian option, with fresh fruit and vegetables available every day. When puddings are on offer, we use reduced-sugar recipes and healthier alternatives wherever possible to encourage positive eating habits.
Morning break is at 10.30am, when children are served a carbohydrate-based snack to provide a steady release of energy until lunch.
Children also enjoy an afternoon snack at 3.35pm to help them stay focused until the end of the school day.
Our approach to food is about more than providing meals. We want children to understand healthy choices and build positive eating habits that stay with them beyond Highfield.
After school
There’s no better way to experience Highfield Prep than by visiting us.
FAQs
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
Rock stars in the making at Highreach! 🎸 It was lights, camera action this morning as children stepped into the spotlight to film their own rock star music videos. We think there may be a few future headliners among us.🤘 #IndependentSchool #HighfieldHighreachHolidays #MusicVideo #RockStars
An afternoon of extreme art and sensory exploration at Highreach 🎨 Shaving foam, slime, paint and plenty of smiles. It was gloriously messy, wonderfully foamy and every bit as exciting as it looks! #IndependentSchool #HighfieldHighreachHolidays #SensoryPlay #CreativeLearning #TogetherWeGrow
One childhood, nurtured with care and attention 💙 We’re really proud of our nursery and everything it stands for. Seeing children arrive each day with big smiles and endless curiosity is what makes it such a special place. #IndependentSchool #HighfieldNursery #OneChildhood #EarlyYears
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
Just one example of the many skills our Super Sports Holiday Club activities are developing 💪 #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #HolidayClub #PhysicalSkills #Liphook
Independence doesn’t always mean going it alone. Sometimes it looks like this… a child who’s figured something out, patiently showing a friend how it’s done. #IndependentSchool #NatureCrafting #HolidayClub #Kindness #IndependentSkills
🗳️ 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
10(ish) weeks until the 10(ish) Year Reunion! 🎉 The countdown is officially on! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for an evening of catching up, reminiscing and reconnecting with old friends. If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, there’s still time – we’d love to see you there!
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.
