Developing remarkable people
A family of leading independent schools based in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, offering high quality education and care for boys and girls aged 5 months to 18 years.
Welcome to Berkhamsted School
We are committed to the thriving of young people in our care – their development, their membership (with their parents) of our community, and their flourishing within a culture which is ambitious and accepting. I know that your time is precious so I recommend you start with the short film below which explains our ethos and aspirations for our pupils.
I hope this provides a useful launchpad for your exploration of our schools and helps you as you seek the best future for your child.
Richard Backhouse
Principal Berkhamsted Schools Group
Read moreSchool Journey
The perfect environment for very young children to take their first steps into the wider world.
Read moreDay Nursery
Age 0 – 3 Co-Ed
A supportive, family community which fosters a strong sense of belonging.
Read morePrep
Age 7 – 11 Co-Ed
Our role is to inspire, support and foster a love of learning.
Read moreHeatherton
Age 3 – 4 Co-Ed Nursery4 – 11 Girls
Exceptional single-sex classroom education with co-educational opportunities for boys.
Read moreBoys
Age 11 – 16Day & Boarding
Where girls flourish academically while allowing them to experience co-educational opportunities.
Read moreGirls
Age 11 – 16Day & Boarding
A dynamic and diverse community that offers a stimulating and supportive environment.
Read moreSixth
Age 16 – 18 Co-EdDay & Boarding
Single sex or co-ed?
Can you really ‘have it all?’. At Berkhamsted we offer families the opportunity to join our community from 5 months in our Day Nursery providing a through educational journey to Sixth Form at 18. Often choices need to be made – but not at Berkhamsted – you can have it all!
Big or small?
Within our Group of Schools, we can offer all the facilities of a large School of 2,000 pupils – a Sports Centre with 25m pool and astro, an Outdoor centre with High Ropes, and a Theatre. However, as each of our Schools are located on their own campus with the largest at 550 pupils, they are small enough to ensure that every individual pupil is known and can flourish within a secure, nurturing environment. Our campuses also change to be suitable for each curriculum stage, meaning that a pupil who starts at our Nursery will feel like they have been through a changing school journey without feeling that they have ‘outgrown’ their environment by the time they reach our Sixth Form.
Day or boarding?
Berkhamsted has a small boarding community of pupils from the UK and abroad. Many of our families enjoy the flexibility that our boarding facility provides for busy families, with the ability to offer early breakfast or supper or the possibility of emergency overnight care, if needed. Our boarding houses offer flexi opportunities from Year 7 with weekly and full boarding from Year 9.
Town or country?
The school is situated within the idyllic Chiltern Hills market town of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire with a local community vibe similar to the ‘London village atmosphere’ that our London families enjoy; yet it is only 30minutes direct from London Euston and under 40minutes by car from both Heathrow and Luton airports – making it an easy commutable town. Our location has the benefits of being in a bustling town, with easy access to the countryside.
Old or new?
Berkhamsted’s history dates back to 1541 when it was founded by Henry VIII, with our original Old Hall still at the heart of our community. But we are a forward-looking modern school. With a dual focus on teaching IT skills alongside an immersive use of IT to enhance learning experiences from Pre-Prep through to Prep, where from Year 5 pupils are issued with their own personal Microsoft Surface Device. Our teaching staff have developed a curriculum that encourages pupils to understand how best to utilise technology as part of their learning. In 2024 we will open a new Sixth Form, focussed on providing an environment which bridges the move between school and university or the workplace. Our classrooms will facilitate the ‘Harkness style’ of learning where the teacher will join the group at a boardroom table for a more discursive way of teaching, and the café will be a place where both staff and pupils can relax and develop working relationships as they would in any workplace.
All rounder or academic?
It is hard to tell when your child is young what type of young adult they will grow up to be. The earliest years are where the foundations for future success are cemented, meaning our children are nurtured to become independent, confident leaders of their own learning. Leadership opportunities are plentiful from 3 years old with an emphasis on the personal and social development. As our children mature and move between our sites, Berkhamsted offers pupils the opportunity to become academically ambitious through various extension societies including leadership and debating. In addition, the school offers strong Oxbridge entry programmes. Pupils may decide that they wish to develop their creative side through Drama opportunities from their first performance in Reception through to A Level or put their energy into Sport – for which Berkhamsted is currently ranked 3rd in the country. The school also offers an established Duke of Edinburgh programme led by our own Outdoor Education team. These opportunities allow your child to have an all-round and ambitious education which we believe is what develops remarkable people.
New Sixth Form
A new Sixth Form Centre on Castle Campus will provide state-of the-art education facilities for generations of Berkhamsted students. Opening in 2024.
Find out moreNews
Berkhamsted Group, Sixth Form | 25.09.2023
Remarkable Year 12 Student awarded Arkwright Engineering Scholarship
Read
Berkhamsted Group, Sixth Form | 21.09.2023
Berkhamsted Boys triumph at the National County Cricket Championship
Read
Berkhamsted Group, Consultancy | 18.09.2023
Introducing Consultancy at Berkhamsted: A New Service for Digital Strategy, AI and Innovation in Education
Read
Berkhamsted Group, Boys, Girls | 14.09.2023
Berkhamsted’s Prefects on building leadership skills at Induction Day
Read
Berkhamsted Group, Prep | 07.09.2023
Beaming smiles and brand-new slides! Berkhamsted Prep return for Michaelmas Term
Read
Berkhamsted Group, Boys, Girls | 05.09.2023
Excitement and anticipation fill the school as Year 7 and Year 9 return for Induction Day
Read
📣 New podcast alert!
🥙To celebrate the opening of our new Food Tech room at Berkhamsted Boys, we spoke to Sally Rowe, Head of Food and Nutrition at Berkhamsted.
🎙️ In this episode, she told us about Food Tech at Berkhamsted, how boys are embracing food tech to the importance of knowing where our food comes from, we cover it all!
🎧 Tune in on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or your favourite podcast platform. Don`t forget to like and subscribe for more mouth-watering episodes!
📣 New podcast alert!
🥙To celebrate the opening of our new Food Tech room at Berkhamsted Boys, we spoke to Sally Rowe, Head of Food and Nutrition at Berkhamsted.
🎙️ In this episode, she told us about Food Tech at Berkhamsted, how boys are embracing food tech to the importance of knowing where our food comes from, we cover it all!
🎧 Tune in on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or your favourite podcast platform. Don`t forget to like and subscribe for more mouth-watering episodes!
✨ We’re really proud of @berkhamstedsixth student Bruno A, for being awarded the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship!
🎓This is a major achievement that showcases Bruno`s exceptional talent and dedication in the field of engineering.
🔧 The @arkwrightscholarships help talented sixteen-year-old engineers ‘change the world as future leaders’, providing support, mentorship, and incredible work experience opportunities throughout their A Levels.
Bruno faced some tough competition when applying for the scholarship and was selected from over a thousand talented young applicants. His application process was made even tougher when the exams for the Arkwright Scholarship commenced around the same time as his GCSEs. But, with the help of his Design & Technology teacher, Amanda Attfield, who spends much of her time supporting Berkhamsted students who apply for the Arkwright Scholarship, Bruno took the rigorous application process in his stride and was named as one of just 315 Arkwright Scholars this week.
Bruno is studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Computer Science @berkhamstedsixth and has just found out that his scholarship sponsor is the @royalairforceuk.
“I’d love to work as an RAF or military engineer one day, I’m not entirely sure what my future holds yet, but I hope this scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to explore my interests and begin to build my future career”.
Bruno is not the first Berkhamstedian to become an Arkwright Scholar. He follows in the footsteps of successful @oldberkhamstedians, like Ben Harris, who also attained the scholarship in 2019 and by former student Dominic in 2020. Bruno and the Arkwright Scholars preceding him are a credit to the @berkodt department who offer much fantastic guidance and support to our engineering students who apply for the scholarship.
🎉Congratulations Bruno, we cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes you!
✨ We’re really proud of @berkhamstedsixth student Bruno A, for being awarded the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship!
🎓This is a major achievement that showcases Bruno`s exceptional talent and dedication in the field of engineering.
🔧 The @arkwrightscholarships help talented sixteen-year-old engineers ‘change the world as future leaders’, providing support, mentorship, and incredible work experience opportunities throughout their A Levels.
Bruno faced some tough competition when applying for the scholarship and was selected from over a thousand talented young applicants. His application process was made even tougher when the exams for the Arkwright Scholarship commenced around the same time as his GCSEs. But, with the help of his Design & Technology teacher, Amanda Attfield, who spends much of her time supporting Berkhamsted students who apply for the Arkwright Scholarship, Bruno took the rigorous application process in his stride and was named as one of just 315 Arkwright Scholars this week.
Bruno is studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Computer Science @berkhamstedsixth and has just found out that his scholarship sponsor is the @royalairforceuk.
“I’d love to work as an RAF or military engineer one day, I’m not entirely sure what my future holds yet, but I hope this scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to explore my interests and begin to build my future career”.
Bruno is not the first Berkhamstedian to become an Arkwright Scholar. He follows in the footsteps of successful @oldberkhamstedians, like Ben Harris, who also attained the scholarship in 2019 and by former student Dominic in 2020. Bruno and the Arkwright Scholars preceding him are a credit to the @berkodt department who offer much fantastic guidance and support to our engineering students who apply for the scholarship.
🎉Congratulations Bruno, we cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes you!
🌱✨ At Berkhamsted, we are dedicated to integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our school community.
♻️ From reducing carbon emissions to promoting energy efficiency, waste reduction, responsible resource management, and biodiversity conservation, we are taking actionable steps towards a greener world.
🌎 But it doesn’t stop there! We believe in empowering our students to be the change-makers of tomorrow. Through our comprehensive sustainability curriculum, we equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle environmental challenges head-on.
💚From our Prep School Eco Team and after-school Eco Club to Heatherton’s Forest School and Eco Council, we’re nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders.
Our Girls, Boys, and Sixth Form students are part of the Swiftly Sustainable and Eco Schools Programme Initiative, working towards a brighter and cleaner tomorrow.
🔎 Find out more about our Sustainability Report via the link in our bio.
#SustainableSeptember
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
#SustainableLiving
#SustainabilityMatters
#SustainableEducation
🌱✨ At Berkhamsted, we are dedicated to integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our school community.
♻️ From reducing carbon emissions to promoting energy efficiency, waste reduction, responsible resource management, and biodiversity conservation, we are taking actionable steps towards a greener world.
🌎 But it doesn’t stop there! We believe in empowering our students to be the change-makers of tomorrow. Through our comprehensive sustainability curriculum, we equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle environmental challenges head-on.
💚From our Prep School Eco Team and after-school Eco Club to Heatherton’s Forest School and Eco Council, we’re nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders.
Our Girls, Boys, and Sixth Form students are part of the Swiftly Sustainable and Eco Schools Programme Initiative, working towards a brighter and cleaner tomorrow.
🔎 Find out more about our Sustainability Report via the link in our bio.
#SustainableSeptember
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
#SustainableLiving
#SustainabilityMatters
#SustainableEducation
Follow the Design and Technology department’s new Instagram page @berkodt
💪🏼 New roles, new excitement! Mrs Wates, Head of Loxwood, Ms Tan, Head of Fry’s and Ms Finnigan, Head of New Stede, kicked off their new roles as Heads of House with a bang!
🏆As you can see, the pupils had a great time taking part with a thrilling It’s a Knockout challenge!
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
💪🏼 New roles, new excitement! Mrs Wates, Head of Loxwood, Ms Tan, Head of Fry’s and Ms Finnigan, Head of New Stede, kicked off their new roles as Heads of House with a bang!
🏆As you can see, the pupils had a great time taking part with a thrilling It’s a Knockout challenge!
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
🎶 Calling all future musicians! 🎶
Did you know that our Year 4 pupils at the Prep are given the opportunity to explore the world of orchestral instruments?
🎻🎺🎷 Our talented visiting music staff give them demonstrations and then they are given six weeks to dive into the magical world of brass, woodwind, and string instruments.
🌟 From trumpets to flutes to violins, the possibilities are endless! 🎵
We help them make their final choices based on their six weeks of lessons, staff input, and most importantly, their own opinions!
🌟 Do you want your child to unlock their musical potential?
📅 Join us at our Open Events on 29th and 30 September to discover the endless possibilities and amazing opportunities that await them at Berkhamsted.
Click on the link in our bio to book your place.
#TeamBerko
#Berkhamsted
#BerkhamstedSchool
#OrchestralInstruments
#MusicMakers
#BrassWoodwindStrings
#MusicalJourney
#riptide
🎶 Calling all future musicians! 🎶
Did you know that our Year 4 pupils at the Prep are given the opportunity to explore the world of orchestral instruments?
🎻🎺🎷 Our talented visiting music staff give them demonstrations and then they are given six weeks to dive into the magical world of brass, woodwind, and string instruments.
🌟 From trumpets to flutes to violins, the possibilities are endless! 🎵
We help them make their final choices based on their six weeks of lessons, staff input, and most importantly, their own opinions!
🌟 Do you want your child to unlock their musical potential?
📅 Join us at our Open Events on 29th and 30 September to discover the endless possibilities and amazing opportunities that await them at Berkhamsted.
Click on the link in our bio to book your place.
#TeamBerko
#Berkhamsted
#BerkhamstedSchool
#OrchestralInstruments
#MusicMakers
#BrassWoodwindStrings
#MusicalJourney
#riptide
📣 Calling all Berkhamsted School parents!
🚗 We`re introducing SchoolRunTracker, our brand new ride share app.
This new app, which is part of the Berkhamsted School Transport app, is designed to help parents manage the school run by sharing it with other parents within the school. In addition to car sharing, you can you use it to coordinate travel on🚍public transport, 🚲cycling and even🚶♀️walking to school.
🌍 Say goodbye to the stress of the school run and hello to reducing our carbon footprint 🌱
With SchoolRunTracker, we`re not only making life easier for parents, but we`re also making a positive impact on the environment. 🚙Similar schools have seen up to 25% reduction in CO2 emissions, up to 20% fewer miles travelled, and even a 19% increase in active travel.
🤔 Did you know that over 580 pupils already benefit from our home to school transport services. Each coach journey is saving you from 32 parent car journeys! We`re also making a huge saving of 3.47g/km of CO2 emissions! 🌬️🌿
📲Download the Berkhamsted School Transport app and unlock SchoolRunTracker today! Click on the link in our bio to the Parent Portal.
Together, we can create a greener and more connected Berkhamsted community 🌟
#SustainableSeptember
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
#SchoolRunTracker
#GreenSchoolRun
#ReduceEmissions
#CommunityMatters
📣 Calling all Berkhamsted School parents!
🚗 We`re introducing SchoolRunTracker, our brand new ride share app.
This new app, which is part of the Berkhamsted School Transport app, is designed to help parents manage the school run by sharing it with other parents within the school. In addition to car sharing, you can you use it to coordinate travel on🚍public transport, 🚲cycling and even🚶♀️walking to school.
🌍 Say goodbye to the stress of the school run and hello to reducing our carbon footprint 🌱
With SchoolRunTracker, we`re not only making life easier for parents, but we`re also making a positive impact on the environment. 🚙Similar schools have seen up to 25% reduction in CO2 emissions, up to 20% fewer miles travelled, and even a 19% increase in active travel.
🤔 Did you know that over 580 pupils already benefit from our home to school transport services. Each coach journey is saving you from 32 parent car journeys! We`re also making a huge saving of 3.47g/km of CO2 emissions! 🌬️🌿
📲Download the Berkhamsted School Transport app and unlock SchoolRunTracker today! Click on the link in our bio to the Parent Portal.
Together, we can create a greener and more connected Berkhamsted community 🌟
#SustainableSeptember
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchool
#SchoolRunTracker
#GreenSchoolRun
#ReduceEmissions
#CommunityMatters
Today we are remembering and thanking our late Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the first anniversary of her passing.
Today we are remembering and thanking our late Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the first anniversary of her passing.
Our new Year 6s were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of the new academic year.
They`re looking forward to their new roles as leaders of the Prep School as well as the school play and annual residential trip to Skern Lodge.
The slides and climbing equipment in our new landscaped play area are already proving to be very popular with children.
Our new Year 6s were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of the new academic year.
They`re looking forward to their new roles as leaders of the Prep School as well as the school play and annual residential trip to Skern Lodge.
The slides and climbing equipment in our new landscaped play area are already proving to be very popular with children.
✨We`re finalists in two categories of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2023:
• Independent Pre-Prep School of the Year
• Independent School of the Year for Student Careers Programme
The annual awards are designed to celebrate the extraordinary student experience offered by independent schools across the country and we are delighted that our school’s commitment to developing remarkable people has been recognised.
Our nomination for the Independent School of the Year’s Student Careers Programme reflects our well-established and comprehensive Careers offering, which enables students to build self-awareness, gain employability skills and undertake career exploration. This is underpinned by pastoral systems, which focus on supporting all students on an individual basis with advice and guidance as they progress through the school.
Our Pre-Prep school’s nomination is also well-merited. Despite educating the youngest of our pupil cohort, Berkhamsted Pre-Prep is devoted to holistic pupil development.
From encouraging pupils to become school councillors as early as Year 2 to incorporating guided outdoor play into our curriculum, we are thrilled that Berkhamsted is being recognised for its commitment to instilling a sense of adventure and integrity into our youngest pupils whilst keeping a child’s emotional and social development central to it all.
A big thank you to all our staff, pupils and parents who help to make our school remarkable!
Congratulations to the other finalist schools – we look forward to the awards evening on Tuesday 10 October to find out the winners.
@berkopreprep
@berkhamstedsixth
@independentschoolparent
#teamberko
#remarkablepeople
#BerkhamstedSchool
✨We`re finalists in two categories of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2023:
• Independent Pre-Prep School of the Year
• Independent School of the Year for Student Careers Programme
The annual awards are designed to celebrate the extraordinary student experience offered by independent schools across the country and we are delighted that our school’s commitment to developing remarkable people has been recognised.
Our nomination for the Independent School of the Year’s Student Careers Programme reflects our well-established and comprehensive Careers offering, which enables students to build self-awareness, gain employability skills and undertake career exploration. This is underpinned by pastoral systems, which focus on supporting all students on an individual basis with advice and guidance as they progress through the school.
Our Pre-Prep school’s nomination is also well-merited. Despite educating the youngest of our pupil cohort, Berkhamsted Pre-Prep is devoted to holistic pupil development.
From encouraging pupils to become school councillors as early as Year 2 to incorporating guided outdoor play into our curriculum, we are thrilled that Berkhamsted is being recognised for its commitment to instilling a sense of adventure and integrity into our youngest pupils whilst keeping a child’s emotional and social development central to it all.
A big thank you to all our staff, pupils and parents who help to make our school remarkable!
Congratulations to the other finalist schools – we look forward to the awards evening on Tuesday 10 October to find out the winners.
@berkopreprep
@berkhamstedsixth
@independentschoolparent
#teamberko
#remarkablepeople
#BerkhamstedSchool
The school was buzzing with new faces today as our new starters were welcomed on site.👋
The new pupils in our Boys’, Girls’ and Sixth Form Schools were given a tour around the school and were introduced to their Heads of Houses, tutors and prefects. Pupils also took part in a variety of activities, from scavenger hunts to ‘get to know me’ challenges, which were designed to help them settle in and make new friends.
We look forward to seeing the new pupils` progress in the coming months and we can’t wait to welcome the rest of pupil cohort tomorrow! 🤩#RemarkablePeople
The school was buzzing with new faces today as our new starters were welcomed on site.👋
The new pupils in our Boys’, Girls’ and Sixth Form Schools were given a tour around the school and were introduced to their Heads of Houses, tutors and prefects. Pupils also took part in a variety of activities, from scavenger hunts to ‘get to know me’ challenges, which were designed to help them settle in and make new friends.
We look forward to seeing the new pupils` progress in the coming months and we can’t wait to welcome the rest of pupil cohort tomorrow! 🤩#RemarkablePeople
🌟Congratulations to our students who received their GCSE results today.
🌟Berkhamsted students have excelled this year, despite the government’s return to pre-pandemic grade boundaries for GCSEs, with results exceeding those of 2019.
🌟45% of results were awarded at Grade 8 or 9
🌟This is a fantastic achievement, in addition to the array of other successes you have had including HPQs, the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, LAMDA examinations in both Music and Drama, and representing Berkhamsted at a national level in a broad range of sports teams.
🌟We’re excited to follow your future success, as you continue to develop into remarkable young people.
➡️Check the link in our bio for the full details.
#teamberko
#remarkablepeople
#Berkhamsted
#GCSEResults
🌟Congratulations to our students who received their GCSE results today.
🌟Berkhamsted students have excelled this year, despite the government’s return to pre-pandemic grade boundaries for GCSEs, with results exceeding those of 2019.
🌟45% of results were awarded at Grade 8 or 9
🌟This is a fantastic achievement, in addition to the array of other successes you have had including HPQs, the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, LAMDA examinations in both Music and Drama, and representing Berkhamsted at a national level in a broad range of sports teams.
🌟We’re excited to follow your future success, as you continue to develop into remarkable young people.
➡️Check the link in our bio for the full details.
#teamberko
#remarkablepeople
#Berkhamsted
#GCSEResults
