Open all
Our View
This picture-perfect Surrey prep has a fantastic reputation locally and deserves to be on every parent’s radar for its on-point pastoral care, down-to-earth atmosphere and all-round sound attitude to educating its pupils. Wellbeing is paramount and the school sees itself as ‘green-housing rather than hot-housing’ its young charges, with staff going above and beyond, and new head Gavin Franklin very much leading by example.
Where?
Amesbury is set high up above Hindhead in a beautiful 34-acre site anchored around the purpose-built Grade II building, which was designed by Lutyens. Light and airy with a comfortable and traditional school feel, it has symmetrical wings to the left and right with classrooms opening up from long corridors. More modern buildings supplement this fabulous campus, including the Thomas Visual Arts Centre, built in 2016 with a stunning combination of wood, metal and glass carefully constructed around a tree growing through the atrium.
Petersfield, Farnham, Guildford and Haslemere are all close by and the proximity of the A3 means there’s a fast route in and out for London families. Three car parks (one is for EYFS only) means drop-offs and pick-ups are orderly, and from Year 3 there’s a drop and go service. Pupils are also eligible for the school bus routes from Year 3 which the school is hoping to expand. Rail links are excellent too.
Head
Gavin Franklin took over as head in September 2023. Previously head at Wellesley House in Broadstairs, Mr Franklin is an ex-cricketer and cricket coach who brings the life skills the game embodies to the educational setting. Warm and personable, he has a great human touch and he and his wife Claire, who is also a teacher, are clearly already hugely popular among pupils, staff and parents. For his part, Mr Franklin loves the ‘good vibe’ of the school and is keen to grow its strengths rather than implement any root-and-branch changes. He tells us the staff are the school’s greatest asset – they genuinely put the children first – and we were struck by the palpable sense of mutual support, respect and collaboration. Mr Franklin is also adept at working with senior schools – a boon as Amesbury leavers head off to some 21 different destination schools.
Admissions
All children from Reception age upwards are required to visit for observations. From Year 4, children are asked to sit for or provide recent CAT scores, but there is no formal entrance examination. It’s worth knowing that Year 3 is currently the most popular entry point. There has been a noticeable rise in interest from state-sector parents who want to be assured of more constant teaching provision, as well as London parents experiencing greater workspace flexibility and wanting their children to grow up with more space.
Although not particularly selective, Amesbury has excellent academics born out of the ethos that children will thrive if they are happy and relaxed. Means-tested bursaries are available, as are sibling discounts and reductions for the children of former pupils. Entry is two-form from Reception to Year 2, rising to three across Years 3 to 6. Some pupils depart at 11+, so Years 7 and 8 return to two forms.
Academics and senior school destinations
The impressive EYFS department – with its sleek wood and glass angles – is a wonderful setting for littles ones with serene classrooms (both outside and in) and a passionate head, Mrs Thurley, who oversees the wonderfully nurturing and stimulating environment. Children can join at the age of two and in September 2023 Baby Amesbury started welcoming nine tiny tots from 8am to 6pm all through the year.
The Amesbury Teaching Framework is the result of a curriculum overhaul spearheaded by deputy head academic James Guest and the newly appointed teaching and learning team. This brings a greater sense of continuity and uniformity to the curriculum so children (and parents) know what to expect from their lessons and teachers. Classrooms and learning spaces have also been rethought and pupils are thriving. Youngsters have access to newly created and beautifully designed outside spaces and forest school, and children in all years are encouraged to be outside as much as possible. From Year 2, pupils learn a carousel of languages, and pre-prep also have specialist teachers in art, drama, PE and games. Respecting each other is a common theme throughout, and every class writes a charter for itself – endearingly, Year 2’s includes the specific mention of ‘hugs and cuddles’.
The library – Austen’s, which opened in 2019 – echoes the overall mood at Amesbury. Modern, bright and airy, it’s full of books and colourful displays with curved shelves, making it all the more distinctive and inviting.
From Year 5, pupils move around the school for lessons. Growing numbers means there are now three forms in Years 5 and 6, and discussions are going on about introducing heads of years or a deputy head to enhance pastoral care. Pupils are set according to their destination school and there is also a scholarship set. The Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (the school is one of the country’s leading PSB schools) ensures a wide-angle educational lens – academics are important, but equally so are collaboration, commitment, leadership, perseverance, reflection, risk taking and developing a sense of community.
Amesbury is the springboard from which children bounce to some 20-odd different senior schools, reflecting both the individuality of the pupils and Amesbury's status as a truly independent prep school. From local independents to boarding schools further afield, Hurst, Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Seaford College, Wellington. College and St Mary’s Ascot all come up regularly – but the emphasis is on finding the right school for each child, wherever that may be.
Co-curricular
Art gets top billing here, not least because of the award-winning Thomas Visual Arts Centre right at the heart of the school. It has to be the most visually inspiring art department we have seen, and an environment so attractive and uplifting that it would make anyone want to give art a go. EYFS children do art in their own classrooms but all other pupils have their lessons and clubs in this incredible facility.
The school is committed to gender equality and with performing arts being as important as sport, there’s an attitude that if you dance it’s just as good as being captain of the hockey or cricket team. Traditional sports, including co-ed football and touch rugby, are all on the curriculum, but tennis is certainly the ace at Amesbury. There are four year-round courts on the newly relaid Astro, as well as one hard and two grass courts. Six tennis coaches provide group and individual lessons to a high standard, all overseen by head of tennis Andy Warry, who sees the sport as not only being perfect for boys and girls but teaching life skills as well. ‘Sport is a vehicle to make well-rounded children,’ he says. A sports festival during mental health week gives pupils a chance to try something new, from boxing to sailing, as well as creating a sports broadcast in English lessons and match analysis in maths.
Head of performing arts Mark Reynolds takes a similarly holistic approach. Creativity and confidence are nurtured from Year 1, with timetabled performing arts lessons and every year group putting on a production – on our visit we saw pupils rehearsing for Aladdin and Shrek, among other shows. ‘Every child feels at home to sing, dance and act in front of parents or peers,’ says Mr Reynolds. Nearly half the school take music lessons and there are three choirs, including the audition-only Chapel Choir which was getting ready for a Disneyland Paris tour on our visit. A week-long arts festival sees the timetable suspended and a Glee-like environment take over. ‘A child’s mind is one of the most frighteningly creative things,’ notes Mr Reynolds who presides over musical theatre nights, dance shows, and even a wrap party.
Boarding
In keeping with its ‘we’ll do it our way’ approach, Amesbury has 12 beds available for overnighters when pupils from Year 5 upwards are involved in residential co-curricular activities. Some 18 pupils are signed up in any one week – girls Mondays and Wednesdays, boys Tuesdays and Thursdays – bunking up in two interconnecting rooms. Independence is fostered with pupils washing up after supper and making their own beds.
School community
Wellbeing at Amesbury is no ‘token add-on’, says deputy head pastoral Michael Armitage who has been instrumental in an overhaul of pastoral care that has seen huge amounts of staff training and parental involvement. Also new is a peer mentoring programme which sees Year 6s recruited in the summer term and trained in active listening skills, age-appropriate mental health awareness and safeguarding in readiness for taking up their posts in Year 7 and 8. Head of wellbeing Jo Clark has created an inviting hub for pupils to visit at break or lunchtime. It’s a lovely bright space that feels like a real sanctuary, with a beautiful garden for pupils to spend time in too. Friday Club sees a psychologist come in to help pupils who might need some extra care, helping them build resilience through group sessions where they do craft, play Lego and generally enjoy a stress-free space where conversations can unfold. Other ways for pupils to reach out include Talk it Out boxes and a Talk email address for those who don’t want to ‘speak’ but do want to share their worries, something we’ve not seen in a prep school before.
And finally....
It’s no wonder numbers are growing at this fabulous prep; despite the excellent state schools in the area, parents are drawn to Amesbury’s warm atmosphere where children’s wellbeing is put front and centre. It’s a school full of love and support, with happy children everywhere you look, getting stuck into learning with gusto. It’s hard to imagine a better place for children to start their education.