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 more
Watch film

School Journey

Day Nursery

The perfect environment for very young children to take their first steps into the wider world.

Read more

Day Nursery

Age 0 – 3 Co-Ed
Pre-Prep

Each and every child is at the centre of everything we do.

Read more

Pre-Prep

Age 3 – 7 Co-Ed
Prep

A supportive, family community which fosters a strong sense of belonging.

Read more

Prep

Age 7 – 11 Co-Ed
Heatherton

Our role is to inspire, support and foster a love of learning.

Read more

Heatherton

Age 3 – 4 Co-Ed Nursery
4 – 11 Girls
Boys

Exceptional single-sex classroom education with co-educational opportunities for boys.

Read more

Boys

Age 11 – 16
Day & Boarding
Girls

Where girls flourish academically while allowing them to experience co-educational opportunities.

Read more

Girls

Age 11 – 16
Day & Boarding
Sixth

A dynamic and diverse community that offers a stimulating and supportive environment.

Read more

Sixth

Age 16 – 18 Co-Ed
Day & 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.

 

Developing Remarkable People

John Smith

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

Meet our Remarkable People
  • Previous slide
  • Next slide
  • Today
  • Yesterday

Developing Remarkable People

Jane Smith

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

Meet our Remarkable People
  • Previous slide
  • Next slide
  • Today
  • Yesterday

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 more

News

Year 5 meet the Tudors

Year 5 meet the Tudors

Read
Learning Pathways at Berkhamsted

Learning Pathways at Berkhamsted

Read
Creative Arts Week at the Pre-Prep 

Creative Arts Week at the Pre-Prep 

Read
The Girls School go STEM Speed Networking

The Girls School go STEM Speed Networking

Read
Leaping into the past with Ben Kane

Leaping into the past with Ben Kane

Read
  • Next slide
  • Previous slide
  • 🏆The U14s are @englandnetball National School Netball Champions! 🏐

They had a full day of very competitive pool games and a win in extra time in the semi-final, with a final against Putney High, winning 8-3. What a fantastic achievement for this squad.

🙏Thank you to all the staff and parents for their support.

    🏆The U14s are @englandnetball National School Netball Champions! 🏐

    They had a full day of very competitive pool games and a win in extra time in the semi-final, with a final against Putney High, winning 8-3. What a fantastic achievement for this squad.

    🙏Thank you to all the staff and parents for their support.

    As the crescent moon heralds the start of the lunar month, we at Berkhamsted School extend our warmest wishes to all our community observing Ramadan. 

This is a time of reflection, community, and personal growth. We are committed to supporting our pupils and their families during this sacred month. 

May this Ramadan bring peace, prosperity, and health to everyone.

    As the crescent moon heralds the start of the lunar month, we at Berkhamsted School extend our warmest wishes to all our community observing Ramadan.

    This is a time of reflection, community, and personal growth. We are committed to supporting our pupils and their families during this sacred month.

    May this Ramadan bring peace, prosperity, and health to everyone.

    It’s #WorldBookDay on Thursday and the Library is ready for a literary feast! 📚 🍽️

This week there are activities to do during tutor time and Y7 & Y8 students will also have a chance to whet their appetites in their Bookopoly lessons as they decide what is on their Book Menus!

Bon Appetit!

#GreatSchoolLibraries
#TeamBerko
#BerkhamstedSchoolLibrary

    It’s #WorldBookDay on Thursday and the Library is ready for a literary feast! 📚 🍽️

    This week there are activities to do during tutor time and Y7 & Y8 students will also have a chance to whet their appetites in their Bookopoly lessons as they decide what is on their Book Menus!

    Bon Appetit!

    #GreatSchoolLibraries
    #TeamBerko
    #BerkhamstedSchoolLibrary

    🤸‍♂️It’s Leap Day! Why not leap into action and book your open event now.

We have many events for you to choose from including Virtual to School Life events, as well as the opportunity to visit our Outdoor Ed centre and see our extensive Sports facilities.

🤝You will have the opportunity to meet our staff, pupils and leadership team at every event.

🔗Click the link in our bio to secure your place.

#LeapDay #OutdoorEducation #TeamBerko #BerkhamstedSchool

    🤸‍♂️It’s Leap Day! Why not leap into action and book your open event now.

    We have many events for you to choose from including Virtual to School Life events, as well as the opportunity to visit our Outdoor Ed centre and see our extensive Sports facilities.

    🤝You will have the opportunity to meet our staff, pupils and leadership team at every event.

    🔗Click the link in our bio to secure your place.

    #LeapDay #OutdoorEducation #TeamBerko #BerkhamstedSchool

    We had a fantastic day with top physiologist Dr Emma Ross from @thewell_hq, (a consultancy service dedicated to women’s health) to talk to Years 7 to 13 about enhancing their sporting performance. 

As 64% of girls give up sports after puberty (aged 16/17), Emma’s talks were largely aimed at @berkhamstedgirls, teaching them how to maximise their performance around their menstrual cycle and physical anatomy. 

The presentation taught our youngest year groups about how to eat, train and dress around the menstruation cycle, female anatomy, and female hormones. To emphasise the seriousness of the topic, Emma discussed examples of women who had to stop competing in sports professionally because of the lack of awareness around female health and sport. 

Afterwards, Emma spoke to male and female Sixth Form Captains for a Sports Scholar Workshop, where students learned how to enhance their performance. 

Hearing the expertise of Emma and the Well HQ team ensured that pupils’ physical and emotional experiences of their bodies don’t hold them back from being active, enjoying exercise or participating in sports to their best ability.
@berko_sport 
#teamberko

    We had a fantastic day with top physiologist Dr Emma Ross from @thewell_hq, (a consultancy service dedicated to women’s health) to talk to Years 7 to 13 about enhancing their sporting performance.

    As 64% of girls give up sports after puberty (aged 16/17), Emma’s talks were largely aimed at @berkhamstedgirls, teaching them how to maximise their performance around their menstrual cycle and physical anatomy.

    The presentation taught our youngest year groups about how to eat, train and dress around the menstruation cycle, female anatomy, and female hormones. To emphasise the seriousness of the topic, Emma discussed examples of women who had to stop competing in sports professionally because of the lack of awareness around female health and sport.

    Afterwards, Emma spoke to male and female Sixth Form Captains for a Sports Scholar Workshop, where students learned how to enhance their performance.

    Hearing the expertise of Emma and the Well HQ team ensured that pupils’ physical and emotional experiences of their bodies don’t hold them back from being active, enjoying exercise or participating in sports to their best ability.
    @berko_sport
    #teamberko

    🌠Leap into Lent half-term

We hope you had a restful break and are ready for an action-packed half-term, with many exciting activities for the pupils including:

🧘‍♂️Well HQ talks

🗺Geography Field Trip

📚World Book Day and author visits

🔬Prep STEAM week

🎭Y9 & 10 Drama Performances: The School Reunion and 🚁The Red Helicopter

🎾Many sporting fixtures including tennis, fives, swimming and squash

👩‍🎓Mock exams

👒Easter bonnet parade at Pre-Prep

✝Easter Chapel services

    🌠Leap into Lent half-term

    We hope you had a restful break and are ready for an action-packed half-term, with many exciting activities for the pupils including:

    🧘‍♂️Well HQ talks

    🗺Geography Field Trip

    📚World Book Day and author visits

    🔬Prep STEAM week

    🎭Y9 & 10 Drama Performances: The School Reunion and 🚁The Red Helicopter

    🎾Many sporting fixtures including tennis, fives, swimming and squash

    👩‍🎓Mock exams

    👒Easter bonnet parade at Pre-Prep

    ✝Easter Chapel services

    As part of our ‘Next Steps’ programme, we held a University Fair last week, to give our students (and parents/guardians) an opportunity to speak with a representatives top universities to help them make informed choices.

Advisers shared tips on applying to international universities, Oxbridge, degree apprenticeships, and even US sports scholarships!

🎫Book now for our Sixth Form Open Events. 

☝️Click in the link in our bio.

@berkhamstedsixth

    As part of our ‘Next Steps’ programme, we held a University Fair last week, to give our students (and parents/guardians) an opportunity to speak with a representatives top universities to help them make informed choices.

    Advisers shared tips on applying to international universities, Oxbridge, degree apprenticeships, and even US sports scholarships!

    🎫Book now for our Sixth Form Open Events.

    ☝️Click in the link in our bio.

    @berkhamstedsixth

    🌟At Berkhamsted, we believe in nurturing a social conscience and providing our pupils with ample opportunities to serve others. 

Among the most memorable is @First_Give, a national programme that helps UK schools inspire young people to make a positive change in society. 

In teams, our Year 9 pupils researched and organised fundraisers for local charities with the four finalists representing @densindacorum, @greenfingerscharity, @hectorshere and @spacehertfordshire. 

A panel of judges (consisting of Charities Coordinator, Mr Silvey, School Chaplain, Ms Taylor, and a representative from @dacorumbc ) had the difficult task of deciding which team would win a £1000 cheque for their charity. 

The winning team represented Space, a Hertfordshire-based charity that provides support to young people who are neurodivergent. The Space team’s fundraiser challenged Berkhamsted pupils to knock tin cans over with a tennis ball to demonstrate how difficult this activity would be for someone who struggles with hand-eye coordination. So impressed were the judges by this engaging presentation that Space was presented with a cheque of £1000 on behalf of First Give. 

On taking part in the programme, the Space team said, “we now have more confidence to speak out and make a change in the community. The experience has helped us develop and understand the issues that many people in our community feel… It was amazing and we are so happy with the work we did.” 

Well done to our amazing Year 9 pupils for their dedication and hard work in making a positive impact.

    🌟At Berkhamsted, we believe in nurturing a social conscience and providing our pupils with ample opportunities to serve others.

    Among the most memorable is @First_Give, a national programme that helps UK schools inspire young people to make a positive change in society.

    In teams, our Year 9 pupils researched and organised fundraisers for local charities with the four finalists representing @densindacorum, @greenfingerscharity, @hectorshere and @spacehertfordshire.

    A panel of judges (consisting of Charities Coordinator, Mr Silvey, School Chaplain, Ms Taylor, and a representative from @dacorumbc ) had the difficult task of deciding which team would win a £1000 cheque for their charity.

    The winning team represented Space, a Hertfordshire-based charity that provides support to young people who are neurodivergent. The Space team’s fundraiser challenged Berkhamsted pupils to knock tin cans over with a tennis ball to demonstrate how difficult this activity would be for someone who struggles with hand-eye coordination. So impressed were the judges by this engaging presentation that Space was presented with a cheque of £1000 on behalf of First Give.

    On taking part in the programme, the Space team said, “we now have more confidence to speak out and make a change in the community. The experience has helped us develop and understand the issues that many people in our community feel… It was amazing and we are so happy with the work we did.”

    Well done to our amazing Year 9 pupils for their dedication and hard work in making a positive impact.

    🔍 Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep shines in latest ISI Inspection Report! 🌟

📚 We are proud of our dedicated staff who consistently demonstrate their knowledge to help each individual child; and to our pupils who represented our schools' values in their interactions with inspector 🎉

The ISI inspection report reflects the exceptional learning environment we strive to provide to every child, helping them to develop into remarkable people.

🔗 Click the link in our bio to access the full report now! 👉

    🔍 Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep shines in latest ISI Inspection Report! 🌟

    📚 We are proud of our dedicated staff who consistently demonstrate their knowledge to help each individual child; and to our pupils who represented our schools` values in their interactions with inspector 🎉

    The ISI inspection report reflects the exceptional learning environment we strive to provide to every child, helping them to develop into remarkable people.

    🔗 Click the link in our bio to access the full report now! 👉

    🎙️ In this episode of the 'In the Berkhamsted Spotlight' podcast, we hear from four Year Seven pupils for @berkhamstedgirls and @berkhamstedboys about what their first term in the Senior School has been like.

Should you be excited or scared when moving up to secondary school?

🎧 Tune in on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or your favourite podcast platform (link in bio) to find out.

✔Please like and subscribe to listen to more episodes.

#BerkhamstedPodcast 
#InTheBerkhamstedSpotlightPodcast
#BerkhamstedSchool
#TeamBerko
@berkhamstedprep

    🎙️ In this episode of the `In the Berkhamsted Spotlight` podcast, we hear from four Year Seven pupils for @berkhamstedgirls and @berkhamstedboys about what their first term in the Senior School has been like.

    Should you be excited or scared when moving up to secondary school?

    🎧 Tune in on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or your favourite podcast platform (link in bio) to find out.

    ✔Please like and subscribe to listen to more episodes.

    #BerkhamstedPodcast
    #InTheBerkhamstedSpotlightPodcast
    #BerkhamstedSchool
    #TeamBerko
    @berkhamstedprep