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Our view
This standout day and boarding prep in Hampshire with its stately-home looks is as forward-thinking and innovative as they come. As inspiring head Jonny Timms says, ‘We are passionate about developing young people who will genuinely try to instil knowledge, habits of mind and values to thrive in this ever-complex world. This is at the heart of what we are about.’ It’s an ethos that translates into academics that encourage independent thinking, activities that offer endless opportunities for children to stretch and enjoy themselves and a super strong sense of belonging, not just within the school but with the wider New Forest community too.
Where?
It’s impossible not to be bowled over by the magnificence of this co-ed day and boarding prep school, with its Grade II*-listed architecture, acres of ancient woodland and grounds that include three vast lakes, stables and a Faraway Tree adventure playground for pupils to play in. It’s set on the edge of the New Forest near Hampshire’s port town of Lymington, with the Isle of Wight visible on the horizon. The 100 acres of woodland encompasses endless trails to ride through and explore on foot, and the stunning Queen Anne Revival-style main building is wonderfully welcoming. Little wonder we’ve heard of families moving 100 miles just to be close by.
But with its homely boarding facilities, this magical country prep is accessible to all. For London families, the Walhampton Express travels to and from Waterloo each week, with staff chaperones and homemade teas all part of the service, and Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Salisbury are under an hour’s drive away, while pupils travelling from the Isle of Wight are met off the ferry. For working/commuting parents, there is wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.30pm and beyond.
Head
Jonny Timms joined the school in 2021 from Caldicott, where he’d been deputy head, and still feels ‘incredibly blessed to have this job; it’s the best job in the world’. The past five years has seen him spearheading an innovative approach that has made an already thriving prep even better. He has a calm and reflective manner paired with a strong belief in his mission – namely, to lead a school where pupils have agency, giving them a voice and the space to shake things up. To this end, pupils take assemblies, lead open days and preside over drama productions, from performing to planning and cooking food to serve to audiences.
As a young head and the father of three young children, Mr Timms is very much a 21st-century educator, alive to the issues of the day that affect the younger generation. He’s passionate about sustainability and diversity, and is forging ties with the New Forest community so that Walhampton isn’t perceived as the ‘posh school on the hill’. ‘We are part of, not separate from, the New Forest community,’ he tells us. His clear vision coupled with his approachable manner – to parents and pupils alike – are a great recipe for success, and the school’s autonomy means he can be laser focused on serving them. ‘We relish our independence,’ he says. ‘We do what is right for our school, the children in it and their families to protect that independence.’ To that end, he’s recently extended the co-curricular offering so that it stretches from seven in the morning to six at night. There are now 130 clubs a week and he proudly tells us, ‘There are two things every child leaves Walhampton being able to do: ride a horse and sail a boat, which is very special.’
Admissions
Most of the school’s intake is at the start of the academic year but children, including international pupils, can start during the spring or summer terms if there is space available. There is often a waiting list for entry into the nursery and kindergarten, and in some of the pre-prep and prep-school year groups. Thanks to the amazing space, though, there is the capacity for an extra bulge class to be added to a year group if there is demand or to accommodate siblings. The school is non-selective but offers a tour followed by a taster day to get to know children and the family before places are offered.
Means-tested bursaries of up to 100 per cent are available from Year 3, and armed forces children who board (and don't receive CEA) receive a 15 per cent fee reduction. The Walhampton School Foundation Trust charity supports the transformational bursary programme which goes to those who would normally never be able to consider an independent education. The school also works with Springboard to identify children who would benefit from a Walhampton education.
Academics and senior school destinations
The school’s focus is to provide a holistic education built on academic excellence. The Prep School Baccalaureate is combined with Common Entrance in science, maths and English, which Mr Timms feels is the perfect blend, allowing the best of both and ensuring a truly broad curriculum. His ‘radically traditional’ approach is all about teaching the whole child while preparing them for tomorrow’s challenges. In practice, this means taking learning outside of the classroom – into the kitchen garden, the lakes, the woods – to bring subjects to life, and focusing on skills, attitude and character rather than test results. One science teacher tells us that lessons are very hands-on and pupils aren’t given answers, they’re taught to work things out through problem solving and exploration. With this nurturing of confidence and curiosity, and specialist teachers in every subject from Year 6, children naturally develop into life-long learners. Small class sizes ensure individual attention, and the school willingly accepts pupils with specific needs. And for those who need stretching, there’s a scholarship programme.
Pupils go on to a broad range of senior schools; ‘We send the right child to the right school,’ says Mr Timms. Among them are a roll call of top schools, including Radley, Stonar, Canford, Bryanston, Winchester, Eton, Wellington, Harrow, Marlborough, Godolphin, Sherborne and King Edward VI. More than half of leavers opt for boarding schools.
Co-curricular
Pre-prep pupils enjoy weekly forest school in an outdoor classroom, where lessons include den building, whittling and tree climbing, and from reception, making a fire and cooking. Outdoor learning is also part of the prep timetable and includes activities such as orienteering, bushcraft, canoeing and kayaking on the school lake.
Every day everyone takes part in sport, with children encouraged to find one they love, helped along by a programme which allows pupils to select additional training for the sports they’re passionate about; sports scholars additionally benefit from lectures on everything from nutrition to psychology, and take half-termly base-line fitness tests (many win sports scholarships to the likes of Millfield and Canford).
As well as traditional team games (academy programmes in rugby and netball provide one-to-one sessions and extra training for gifted pupils), pupils can do golf all year round (between school and the adjacent Lymington Golf Club with a driving range and 9 hole course), swimming (there’s an outdoor pool that comes into its own in the summer term), riding, and sailing and rowing in nearby Lymington. The school excels at tournaments, in both team and individual events. But the focus is on enjoying the outdoors as much as taking part in competitive fixtures, and the Arts Trail and assault course both foster a spirit of fun and adventure, and riding and sailing are both co- and extracurricular.
A performing arts centre hosts everything from Nativity plays to full-scale productions. Each section of the school stages an annual show and there’s a stretch group for drama scholars, as well as LAMDA lessons. The director of music has seen even more instrumental groups, performances and individual lessons added to the school week. Pupils can now learn the harp, go on a choir tour to Paris and join the school rock band. The STEAM offering is impressive too, with a technology room and D&T space with woodwork machines and 3D printers. The art room is open for Saturday morning workshops and boarders can pop in during weekends too. All this creativity is showcased at the school’s bi-annual arts festival, an outdoor event that includes stand-up comedy, a poetry trail, Shakespeare readings and dance.
Environmental issues are very important at Walhampton. It joined the Eco Schools Scheme more than 10 years ago and has been awarded Green Flag status (plus they are working hard across all areas to become carbon neutral). Clubs are wide-ranging, from gardening and beekeeping to fishing on the lake, model railway and a new flight club where pupils will learn to fly a micro-lite at Popham airfield. Cookery is a new option too, while riding continues to thrive. Pupils can stable their own ponies or go out on one of the school’s and there are riding lessons during the school day from Year 1.
Boarding
From Year 3, the school offers full, weekly and flexi boarding, and there are often up to 50 boarders during the week and 25 at the weekend. There is no formal Saturday school, which means parents can attend Friday afternoon chapel and then take their children home for the weekend. There’s also the option of returning to school on either Sunday night or Monday morning.
Boarding rooms are within the main building and they’re lovely, with views across to the Isle of Wight. Houseparent Mrs Baker provides a nurturing, family-style environment, with pupils going bowling or playing laser quest on Saturdays (some flexi boarders choose to stay in for the odd weekend if they like the look of the activities being laid on), and hunkering down on Sundays, catching up on homework or just hanging out with friends. Day pupils can board the night before an early morning start for things like choir practice or mucking out the stables, and boarders can now stay at school for exeats with extra-special trips laid on such as getting the ferry over to the Isle of Wight, going to the theatre or spending the weekend in London at an Air BnB.
The big event is always the school’s Glade-iators game, which happens during darker evenings in the autumn and spring terms, with day pupils from Year 3 upwards staying on to play. As darkness falls, pupils and teachers, all covered in camo paint, gather at the bottom of the glade and the game begins: pupils vs teachers, each team setting off and, through tactics and cunning, seeking to evade capture. The first team to ring the brass bell outside the head’s office is declared the victor. The summer term, meanwhile, sees the much-anticipated Friday pool party.
School community
The whole ethos of the school is founded in pastoral care, and a comprehensive tutor and heads of section system ensures continuity of care. We love the sound of their dedicated tutoring system from Year 6, which sees senior pupils (Years 7 and 8) able to influence their choice of tutor and keep them for two years to offer continuity and cement those relationships.
Inclusion, diversity and equity are part of the fabric of the school with a group of parents, staff and governors actively working to cultivate an empowering and supportive environment for all. And the pupil-led PoP Group (People of Power) meets weekly to discuss topics and come up with ideas to ensure every pupil feels represented. It’s striking how strong the triangle is between the school, parents and pupils – and Mr Timms tells us, ‘We are always asking ourselves how we can do more.’ Visiting speakers will often give separate talks to parents after speaking to pupils and Mr Timms hosts year group heads suppers for parents and staff in the beautiful panelled front hall. He tells us it ‘enables parents to talk to each other as well as to the teachers. The trust and strength of these relationships enables a deep knowledge of the children and so the right secondary school can be found.’
There is an active parents’ association, which organises fundraisers including quiz nights and the annual Founder’s Day summer party. Many of the staff have children at the school too.
And finally....
If you’re looking for a school that lets children be children, but helps them to be the best versions of themselves, Walhampton is it. Modern to the core, sustainability, diversity and mixing things up are all part and parcel of the holistic, outdoorsy, pupil-centred education on offer, strongly led by the visionary and energetic Mr Timms.