Highfield Prep School: a Marlow Mums Review
Evoking feelings of inspiration, imagination, excitement and possibility, this nurturing school is empowering the young women of our future, and quite frankly, we want IN!
Highfield Preparatory school is a girls’ day school for 3–11-year-olds, sitting on a hill within a picturesque quiet lane in Maidenhead. Its location is also only a stone’s throw from the station and a few minutes’ drive from the A404, which is ideal for busy commuting parents – particularly when ‘dropping and dashing’, yet still craving that feeling of knowing your little ones are safe and well cared for.
Upon first impressions, the warmth from the smiling faces of the staff coupled with the charm of the Victorian fireplaces and original features, enraptures you into a world of complete and utter nurture which feels very genuine. The staff also get along very well, which in my humble opinion, is easy to sniff-out if it’s just for show! The school feels authentic and it’s easy to be drawn in pretty instantly. With 110 students from nursery through to Year 6 and a maximum of 20 children per class, the girls are not short of attention, and coupled with the homely feel that the staff are creating, this school’s first impression certainly packs a positive punch.
There is no pretentiousness here which can often be associated with private schools, and upon meeting the Head, Joanna Leach, the school’s ethos of ‘can do’ and the empowerment of young girls is clear to see. Joanna is very easy to talk to and a passionate advocate for creating resilience, confidence and particularly, a desire for every girl to be ‘who she wants to be’. Joanna talks about the school’s leaning toward STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) and its importance for these girls. Having studied a degree in Education myself, this really resonates, as STEAM poses a range of advantages in a myriad of fields. It’s fab to hear that the young women of our future are being taught these subjects in an inspiring way, but not only that…in their very own ‘discovery room’! Joanna also promotes leadership within the school, with each girl being appointed a ‘house’ team from reception upwards. Winning house-points for their team or maybe even being a house-captain, brings the older and younger girls together, therefore reinforcing leadership roles in a lovely positive way. Early on it’s clear to see that Highfield supports their pupils throughout their education and beyond, with Joanna and her team being very proud of their track record for getting girls into their next schools (whether it be Grammar or Independent).
Upon meeting Joanna, we are shown around the school and a strong sense of purpose becomes apparent; from display boards of iconic female leaders to inspirational quotes created by the pupils themselves. These girls are being guided toward a future of achievement through the subconscious persuasion of ‘I can do it’.
Even though the physical site of the school is compact, the on-site facilities cater for those who are musical, arty, academic, techy and much, much more. When you walk around, the size of the classrooms feel surprisingly big and there is even a suite full of PC’s, lending themselves to the learning of coding and animation. iPads are used throughout the school and the little reception class learn about mouse and computer skills once a week which is great – if your kids are like mine, they already know how to ‘swipe’ waaaay before school!
The co-ed nursery and reception classes are very well equipped with separate indoor and outdoor free flow areas, representing experiential learning at its best. Just off the main playground is the ‘Eco Hub’ where the girls, from reception upwards, use a wind turbine to create electricity with important emphasis on climate change. Oh, and did I mention the climbing wall? Yes. It’s enticing!
Music also plays a huge role in this school, with children getting a generous allocation of lessons from nursery upwards. When the girls reach Year 3 (aged 7 rising 8), they can become part of the Chamber Choir who enjoy many-a-concert and even sing at Normanhurst Residential Care Home at Christmas (heart strings fully tugged).
Club wise, there are a huge amount to choose from! In particular, Mrs Paul had me at ‘Lunchtime Philosophers club’, where girls can sit over lunch and chat about life, put the world to rights and talk about a range of topics. What’s not to love? There’s also a historian’s club, construction, art, ballet…in fact, way too many to mention here!
You’re probably wondering about sports and swimming? Well, that’s where Braywick Sports Ground, Little Marlow and Norden Farm come in. Putting the pandemic and subsequent lockdown aside, every possible sporting and recreational activity is covered off-site, with the Head of Sports, Miss Denton, at the helm. Miss Denton has over 5 years’ experience playing championship rugby where she represents Berkshire, and with a wealth of experience in county hockey, football and netball, she is able to offer a wide variety of sports and games to the pupils in order to help them thrive. Rest assured, as soon as normal life resumes post-lockdown, all of these wonderful activities and facilities will resume!
Sporting accolades aside, if your daughter isn’t into any of this and has a propensity to be anxious, not completely settled in herself and struggles with the worries that lots of children have nowadays, then the ‘worry boxes’ scattered around the school are a great way to ease her woes. Girls are encouraged to write their concerns down (anonymously if they wish) and they are picked up by Pastoral care, who uses ‘The Sanctuary’ (in the attic of the school!) in order to sit-soft and go through any emotional difficulties with the pupil.
MarlowMums Verdict:
Well, this review has been almost nauseatingly positive! Indeed, private schools historically carry a certain snobbery with them, which can be a real divider for people. My brother went to private school, and I went to state (through choice), so I am positioned well to see the benefits of both. What I will say is that your daughter will be exposed to a multiplicity of options at Highfield, options about her future and where it could take her, with the rather spoiling choice to explore them all. I understand that this is a privilege not afforded to all; yet in the championing of young women today, it’s important to consider the Highfield fees – they are 20% lower than your average private school, which seems exceptional value for what you get. It hopefully makes it a possibility for those who are currently in a quandary and unsure of which educational route to follow (we all know deciding on schools as a parent is often a niiiiightmaaaaare!!).
Other plus points: If you start in the nursery, the transition to reception could be very easy.
There’s also no forced learning onto the kids, as we tend to see a lot of these days. The children are allowed to be children whilst still learning – big thumbs up for this!
Not so plus points: The location lacks the grandeur of ‘my child goes to private school don’t you know’, with no sweeping drive nor on-site parking. In fact, the school itself lacks that sort of vibe, but to me that’s part of its charm. It’s not shouting about how good it is, it’s humble and successful. It’s also an intimate school with one-form entry; 20 girls per class… so you will know whether your daughter needs a bigger school in order to fit her personality!
To summarise: Highfield is a really lovely school offering more opportunities than you could shake a stick at. The girls are encouraged to reach their full potential and are part of a wonderfully attentive educational family. Girls at Highfield know no bounds, they reach for the stars and do so with a smile on their faces.
I only wish I were 5 again and starting out on this journey…and oh boy, what an exciting journey it would be!
Highfield are offering private tours which can be arranged by contacting their Registrar, Laura Chell, on 01628 624918 or email office@highfieldprep.org.
Highfield Preparatory School, 2 West Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PD [see map].
Here’s a message from Laura
Evoking feelings of inspiration, imagination, excitement and possibility, this nurturing school is empowering the young women of our future, and quite frankly, we want IN!
Highfield Preparatory school is a girls’ day school for 3–11-year-olds, sitting on a hill within a picturesque quiet lane in Maidenhead. Its location is also only a stone’s throw from the station and a few minutes’ drive from the A404, which is ideal for busy commuting parents – particularly when ‘dropping and dashing’, yet still craving that feeling of knowing your little ones are safe and well cared for.
Upon first impressions, the warmth from the smiling faces of the staff coupled with the charm of the Victorian fireplaces and original features, enraptures you into a world of complete and utter nurture which feels very genuine. The staff also get along very well, which in my humble opinion, is easy to sniff-out if it’s just for show! The school feels authentic and it’s easy to be drawn in pretty instantly. With 110 students from nursery through to Year 6 and a maximum of 20 children per class, the girls are not short of attention, and coupled with the homely feel that the staff are creating, this school’s first impression certainly packs a positive punch.
There is no pretentiousness here which can often be associated with private schools, and upon meeting the Head, Joanna Leach, the school’s ethos of ‘can do’ and the empowerment of young girls is clear to see. Joanna is very easy to talk to and a passionate advocate for creating resilience, confidence and particularly, a desire for every girl to be ‘who she wants to be’. Joanna talks about the school’s leaning toward STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) and its importance for these girls. Having studied a degree in Education myself, this really resonates, as STEAM poses a range of advantages in a myriad of fields. It’s fab to hear that the young women of our future are being taught these subjects in an inspiring way, but not only that…in their very own ‘discovery room’! Joanna also promotes leadership within the school, with each girl being appointed a ‘house’ team from reception upwards. Winning house-points for their team or maybe even being a house-captain, brings the older and younger girls together, therefore reinforcing leadership roles in a lovely positive way. Early on it’s clear to see that Highfield supports their pupils throughout their education and beyond, with Joanna and her team being very proud of their track record for getting girls into their next schools (whether it be Grammar or Independent).
Upon meeting Joanna, we are shown around the school and a strong sense of purpose becomes apparent; from display boards of iconic female leaders to inspirational quotes created by the pupils themselves. These girls are being guided toward a future of achievement through the subconscious persuasion of ‘I can do it’.
Even though the physical site of the school is compact, the on-site facilities cater for those who are musical, arty, academic, techy and much, much more. When you walk around, the size of the classrooms feel surprisingly big and there is even a suite full of PC’s, lending themselves to the learning of coding and animation. iPads are used throughout the school and the little reception class learn about mouse and computer skills once a week which is great – if your kids are like mine, they already know how to ‘swipe’ waaaay before school!
The co-ed nursery and reception classes are very well equipped with separate indoor and outdoor free flow areas, representing experiential learning at its best. Just off the main playground is the ‘Eco Hub’ where the girls, from reception upwards, use a wind turbine to create electricity with important emphasis on climate change. Oh, and did I mention the climbing wall? Yes. It’s enticing!
Music also plays a huge role in this school, with children getting a generous allocation of lessons from nursery upwards. When the girls reach Year 3 (aged 7 rising 8), they can become part of the Chamber Choir who enjoy many-a-concert and even sing at Normanhurst Residential Care Home at Christmas (heart strings fully tugged).
Club wise, there are a huge amount to choose from! In particular, Mrs Paul had me at ‘Lunchtime Philosophers club’, where girls can sit over lunch and chat about life, put the world to rights and talk about a range of topics. What’s not to love? There’s also a historian’s club, construction, art, ballet…in fact, way too many to mention here!
You’re probably wondering about sports and swimming? Well, that’s where Braywick Sports Ground, Little Marlow and Norden Farm come in. Putting the pandemic and subsequent lockdown aside, every possible sporting and recreational activity is covered off-site, with the Head of Sports, Miss Denton, at the helm. Miss Denton has over 5 years’ experience playing championship rugby where she represents Berkshire, and with a wealth of experience in county hockey, football and netball, she is able to offer a wide variety of sports and games to the pupils in order to help them thrive. Rest assured, as soon as normal life resumes post-lockdown, all of these wonderful activities and facilities will resume!
Sporting accolades aside, if your daughter isn’t into any of this and has a propensity to be anxious, not completely settled in herself and struggles with the worries that lots of children have nowadays, then the ‘worry boxes’ scattered around the school are a great way to ease her woes. Girls are encouraged to write their concerns down (anonymously if they wish) and they are picked up by Pastoral care, who uses ‘The Sanctuary’ (in the attic of the school!) in order to sit-soft and go through any emotional difficulties with the pupil.
MarlowMums Verdict:
Well, this review has been almost nauseatingly positive! Indeed, private schools historically carry a certain snobbery with them, which can be a real divider for people. My brother went to private school, and I went to state (through choice), so I am positioned well to see the benefits of both. What I will say is that your daughter will be exposed to a multiplicity of options at Highfield, options about her future and where it could take her, with the rather spoiling choice to explore them all. I understand that this is a privilege not afforded to all; yet in the championing of young women today, it’s important to consider the Highfield fees – they are 20% lower than your average private school, which seems exceptional value for what you get. It hopefully makes it a possibility for those who are currently in a quandary and unsure of which educational route to follow (we all know deciding on schools as a parent is often a niiiiightmaaaaare!!).
Other plus points: If you start in the nursery, the transition to reception could be very easy.
There’s also no forced learning onto the kids, as we tend to see a lot of these days. The children are allowed to be children whilst still learning – big thumbs up for this!
Not so plus points: The location lacks the grandeur of ‘my child goes to private school don’t you know’, with no sweeping drive nor on-site parking. In fact, the school itself lacks that sort of vibe, but to me that’s part of its charm. It’s not shouting about how good it is, it’s humble and successful. It’s also an intimate school with one-form entry; 20 girls per class… so you will know whether your daughter needs a bigger school in order to fit her personality!
To summarise: Highfield is a really lovely school offering more opportunities than you could shake a stick at. The girls are encouraged to reach their full potential and are part of a wonderfully attentive educational family. Girls at Highfield know no bounds, they reach for the stars and do so with a smile on their faces.
I only wish I were 5 again and starting out on this journey…and oh boy, what an exciting journey it would be!
Highfield are offering private tours which can be arranged by contacting their Registrar, Laura Chell, on 01628 624918 or email office@highfieldprep.org.
Highfield Preparatory School, 2 West Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PD [see map].
Here’s a message from Laura
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