St Swithun’s School

St Swithun’s is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 3 to 18 with a co-educational nursery, set in 45 acres overlooking the Hampshire Downs on the outskirts of Winchester. Founded in 1884, the school promotes quirky fun whilst providing modern academic, sporting, creative and recreational opportunities.

St Swithun’s vision is a world where the students see possibilities, not barriers. Their belief is that it’s not just about learning lessons, but learning who they are without fear of failure, censure or outdated attitudes about what

School and Nursery is nestled in leafy Liphook, only ten minutes from the Senior School and Sixth Form in Petersfield. Both boast generous on-site playing fields and unrivalled facilities.

In their November 2022 inspection by the Independent Schools

Inspectorate (ISI), Churcher’s College Junior School and Nursery were rated ‘Excellent’ in all areas, with the ISI writing: “The quality of the pupils’ personal development … academic and other activities is excellent.”

Ffion Robinson, Head of Churcher’s College Junior

School and Nursery, stated: “It is incredibly rewarding to be graded as an excellent school in all areas. We always aim to develop happy and successful learners and therefore to receive this independent endorsement, that the children really do benefit from the opportunities and support to progress, is wonderful.”

In response to their success in the inspection, Churcher’s will be offering two form entry across the Infant Department (Reception to Year 2) from September 2023, to match that of Year 3 and above. In addition to this, a new uniform is being introduced.

The full ISI report can be found on the Churcher’s College website. www.churcherscollege.com young women can aspire to.

St Swithun’s School is currently celebrating after achieving the School Mental Health Award, delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools. The school was awarded Gold Standard for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision. This outstanding provision includes:

The bespoke and unique Positive Education programme led by clinical psychologist Dr. O’Connor and Mr. Yates, which focuses on feeling good, doing good and functioning well using an evidence-based approach to wellbeing, character development and enhancement of academic achievement.

Access to a bespoke wellbeing website and The Wellbeing Hub, which provides resources and advice to pupils, parents and staff. A course for parents which strengthens the link between school and home alongside parent talks, the parent portal and the hub. www.stswithuns.com

Alton School

Alton School is an independent co-ed Catholic School and Nursery for children from 6 months to Sixth Form, located in Hampshire, just off the A31. Pupils benefit from an inclusive and nurturing environment where learning sits at the centre of everything. Relationships with teachers, small classes and individual approaches to each child ensure that everyone enjoys learning and makes excellent academic progress throughout their education.

www.altonschool.co.uk

Ballard School

Ballard is an award-winning, independent, co-educational day school for pupils aged 2-16 set within 34 acres between the New Forest and the Solent on the Hampshire and Dorset border. With fantastic facilities, strong results, a sense of community and an exceptional educational ethos, it is rated ‘Excellent and Outstanding’ by ISI (the highest accolade any school can achieve) and is included in the Good Schools Guide. This year, over 40% of pupils gained a top GCSE grade (7-9), double the national average. Ballard also offers a full range of sports teams, orchestras and productions, all to a remarkably high standard. www.ballardschool.co.uk

Bedales Prep School and Bedales School

Bedales is a co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 3 to 18 years. Founded as a humane alternative to the authoritarian regimes typical of late-Victorian public schools, Bedales maintains its free-thinking and welcoming environment even today. There are no uniforms, and staff and pupils address each other by their first names, demonstrating the priority given to individuality within the school community. The capacity of students to think independently and creatively is undoubtedly what has led so many of them to achieve strong A Level grades and attend a range of top universities. www.bedales.org.uk

Boundary Oak School

Boundary Oak School is an independent co-educational school for ages 2 to 16 with boarding facilities for 11 to 16. Set in the heart of Hampshire, nestled in 30 acres of quintessentially English countryside is a school that provides innovative and tailored education through the broadest curriculum possible. This, combined with the outdoor facilities, provides pupils with the space to develop passions for learning, a capacity for independent thinking and to be happy and successful in all aspects of school life. The family ethos, the warmth of the school’s community and its beautiful rural setting makes for a special school experience; a canvas which can only inspire. www.boundaryoakschool.co.uk

Brockwood Park School

An international boarding school for students aged 14 to 19, Brockwood Park is a small and intimate community with students and staff attending from more than twenty-five different countries. The size means a high staff-to-student ratio, with around seventy pupils attending the school in total. The school’s central purpose aligns with the holistic teachings of its founder, the philosopher Krishnamurti, valuing freedom from conditioning and inquiries into life as a whole. As the only school of its kind in Europe, Brockwood Park has been praised for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their students. www.brockwood.org.uk

Daneshill School

Daneshill is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2 to 13. Firmly believing that children must be happy and confident in their relationships in order to truly thrive, the school is focused on instilling strong values alongside skills such as team work, resilience and having a growth mindset. The school is set in 100 acres of countryside with an array of impressive sports facilities, including an indoor swimming pool. One afternoon a week, the senior pupils take part in an ‘Adventure, Leadership and Service’ programme of activities, involving activities such as sailing, indoor skiing and skydiving, as well as workshop sessions with guest speakers on topics such as ‘image in the media’. www.daneshillprepschool.com

Ditcham Park School

A co-educational day school for boys and girls aged 3 to 16 years, Ditcham Park School is a friendly, happy school where “every child is known and valued”. Their small class sizes, strong pastoral care, and opportunities for personal development in sport, arts and outdoor activities all serve to instil self-confidence within students, and allow them to achieve excellent academic qualifications. The school also develops strong links with parents and the local community. www.ditchampark.com

Durlston Court School

Durlston Court is an incredibly happy school, with children arriving each day to a positive, nurturing atmosphere with so many chances for them to shine. They make exceptional progress in their learning and have a huge amount of fun doing so. Children are able to join the school at any point. The quality of the relationship between the staff and children is what makes Durlston such a very special place to learn and grow. The small class sizes and ‘family feel’ ensure that the school knows every child - Durlston children are treated as individuals and are welcomed, challenged, motivated and supported in all that they do. www.durlstoncourt.co.uk

Farleigh School

Farleigh School is a leading co-educational IAPS Catholic boarding and day Prep School of 460 children aged 3 to 13, situated in seventy acres of parkland in the Test Valley of Hampshire, just over an hour from London. Boarding and day pupils alike benefit from excellent pastoral care, supported by a large number of resident staff. The school’s Catholic ethos forms the foundation of care for which Farleigh is well known, while welcoming children of all denominations, or none. The school has an excellent academic and sporting reputation, sending pupils to all the major senior schools via Common Entrance and 13+ scholarships. www.farleighschool.com

Highfield and Brookham Schools

Highfield and Brookham Schools are co-educational day and boarding Pre-prep and Prep Schools for children aged 2 to 13. Their outstanding academic ambition is exemplified by the ninety-six scholarships pupils have achieved over the last six years to a range of top senior schools. As their grounds are within the South Downs National Park, the school has an impressive range of facilities on offer to pupils: fifteen natural grass pitches, four tennis and netball courts, a nine-hole golf course, squash court, cross-country course and an indoor swimming pool. www.highfieldandbrookham.co.uk