Developing remarkable people
At Berkhamsted, we’ve been Developing Remarkable People since 1541.
Our family of schools truly offer the best of both worlds: a distinguished and proud heritage combined with the latest and most innovative teaching.
During the last decade or so, we’ve accelerated our progress. Initially, by introducing a ‘Building Learning Power’ methodology to ensure pupils become confident, curious and independent learners – equipped with relevant habits and skills. Next, we implemented our three key values (as below) and embedded them at the heart of everything we do – to broaden and uplift our pupils’ school lives.
Aim High with Integrity
Be Adventurous Serve Others
Developing Remarkable People isn’t just relevant to our pupils. Learning by example, our staff consistently build upon their own knowledge too through courses and qualifications supported by the Group. Meanwhile, our Parent Partnership recognises that our children’s wellbeing and happiness relies on a strong partnership with parents and school. That’s why we all work so closely together to ensure each pupil’s success.
It all means we’re constantly looking forward, evolving and enhancing our approach to each child’s education.
Full time boarding enables pupils to truly develop their independence and focus on academic studies while participating fully in all that the School has to offer. Boarding also offers an ideal preparation for life at university.
Above all, at Berkhamsted we believe that Developing Remarkable People helps our pupils not just to earn a living, but to enjoy a life worth living. We want to inspire your son or daughter to achieve more than they even think is possible.
A place to call home
Boarding at Berkhamsted offers both the experience of being part of a friendly, close-knit school community and access to outstanding facilities and resources. For both pupils and parents, it’s reassuring to know that our boarding provision is top-quality: a home from home environment where your son or daughter can relax and be themselves. As well as gaining greater independence before university life, boarding at Berkhamsted also ensures enhanced access to tutoring support within school.
Our friendly and diverse community of boarders are a mixture of full (termly), weekly (Sundays -Thursdays) and flexi-boarders (one or two nights a week). Our boarding houses (Incents for Boys and St John’s for Girls) provide a warm, friendly and secure atmosphere, each managed by a Head of House who acts ‘in loco parentis’.
We want to ensure our boarders make the most of their time and the many opportunities on offer at Berkhamsted.
Pupils are encouraged to aim high and work hard to achieve their individual goals in a nurturing environment that develops confident, resilient and compassionate young adults.
ACADEMIC: GCSE CURRICULUM
Nurturing GCSE Success
With high-quality teaching, modern facilities, small class sizes and supportive staff, your child can truly thrive and attain excellent GCSE exam results here. We support and stretch every pupil through an academic programme tailored to their precise needs, offering a fully rounded education to develop character and skills that support the achievement of exam results. Above all, we’ll enable your child to be adventurous and motivated, innovative and resilient, ambitious and compassionate.
ACADEMIC: A LEVEL CURRICULUM
A Level Aspiration
Our A Level curriculum is designed to build character as well as achieve exceptional results. We develop a lifetime love of learning, stimulate intellectual curiosity and foster independence, resilience and courage. That’s why we offer such a broad range of A Level subject options: an impressive 28 in total, ranging from Latin to Design Technology to Maths. Students study three A Levels alongside the opportunity to take an EPQ for additional academic stretch and independent learning.
With high-quality teaching, modern facilities (in our new Sixth Form: Zaha Hadid Building), small class sizes and Microsoft Surface device integration, most of our students gain places at their preferred university destination. On average 98% of our Sixth Form leavers go on to a degree course to Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group Universities and other highly ranked universities of their chosen subject.
Our outstanding Careers Department and UK Universities Team help students develop their passions as they progress towards a successful future. We arrange weekly careers events across key industries, alongside personal development lectures from professional visiting speakers – plus access to a specialist Oxbridge consultant. Your child will gain everything they need to thrive in Higher Education or the professional world.
Healthy Lifestyles
We believe in sport for all. That’s why we field such a large number of teams, giving every pupil the opportunity to proudly compete for Berkhamsted. Our wide range of sporting activities runs from basketball to equestrian and badminton alongside traditional sports, such as rugby, lacrosse, football, netball and cricket, in which we excel. With recognised physical and mental health benefits, sport enables our pupils to develop a success mindset and learn the value of teamwork and communication.
SPORT
Hitting the right notes
Learning music builds intellectual curiosity and discipline alongside the ability to think creatively. Whether simply instilling the joy of music or opening up an exciting career path for your son or daughter, we aim to foster a lifelong love of music. Alongside our flourishing choirs and orchestras, we’re proud of our outstanding drama productions performed in our 500-seat theatre which help build self-confidence and life-skills – especially public speaking – to benefit future career ambitions.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Adventure Awaits
Outdoor education is a major part of what we do – from Senior School to Sixth Form: including orienteering, mountain biking, climbing and scaling our high ropes climbing tower. It’s no wonder that we achieve one of the highest participation rates for the Duke of Edinburgh Award of all UK schools: from Bronze to prestigious Gold awards (often completed by the end of a school career).
SCHOOL LIFE
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is of the utmost importance at Berkhamsted. For your son or daughter to thrive, they need a strong network of support. That’s why our Senior School is composed of Houses, comprising of pupils from different year groups, to build relationships from Year 7-11 (ages 11+ to 16+) – where every pupil receives pastoral support and academic guidance to achieve a sense of belonging, relaxation and camaraderie. Our House Heads are all trained wellbeing coaches who provide the key link between home and school. They’re supported by our team of specialists who work with teaching colleagues to create all-encompassing care for your child.
In Sixth (ages 16+ to 18), we continually strive to make sure students can both enjoy their time at school and find the path that is right for them after school. Our pastoral staff and experienced members of the Careers Department use coaching skills in one-to-one meetings to make sure that students will thrive not just while they are at school, but that they will also flourish in the worlds of higher education and/or the workplace.
Our School-based Heads of Houses and Sixth Form tutors liaise closely with our Head of Boarding and heads of the boarding houses on a regular basis, creasing a seamless level of care for your children. We also offer weekly EAL and EAP (English as an additional language) sessions to add an additional layer of support for our international students.
It’s our level of care, combined with our educational excellence, which has produced a remarkable legacy since 1541.
Beyond Berkhamsted
We’re so fortunate to have a wonderful network of Old Berkhamstedians who can help mentor children at the school, sharing their valuable experience, insight and support to help your son or daughter successfully transition to university or the sphere of work wherever they may be in the world. This ensures that our wider school community continues to thrive outside the school campuses: your child will forever remain a part of the Berkhamsted family.
CO NN ECTIO N S
ALUMNAE
Choosing Berkhamsted was one of the best decisions in my life. I was boarding for two years and become House Captain of the boarding house and prefect at the school and this changed my school life completely, feeling responsibilities and dedication to the school. I am very thankful to the school, my teachers and My Head of House - they hugely supported me. I’m very honoured to have been a student here and we were like a small family. The school gave me a lot, much of which I will appreciate even more in the future.
– OB Kate B, St John’s Boarding House
THE BERKHAMSTED GROUP
Better Together
As a group of six schools, we have all the size, scale and capacity of a significant British educational institutional – while each school is an individual small community that can really support and nurture each child.
At the Pre-Prep and Prep, boys and girls are taught together until the age of 11, separately from 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint Sixth Form.
Our new Sixth Form Centre is a state-of-theart building, designed with sustainability and student needs in mind. It includes a social space, entrepreneur section, classroom-exam hall conversion, and modern café – as well as the landscaped Meadow Quad.
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Boys
Age 11 – 16
Girls
Age 11 – 16 Day & Boarding
Sixth
Age 16 – 18 Co-Ed
& Boarding
How to find us
Our prospectus and website describe the broad principles on which Berkhamsted School is presently run and give an indication of our history and ethos.
Berkhamsted town is an historic market town with a family environment. It is in an easy-to-reach location for both national and international locations. A number of commutable journeys are listed below:
• Closest train station: Berkhamsted 5 minutes walk
• Central London: Berkhamsted to Euston 30 minutes by train
• Heathrow Airport: 40 minutes by road
• Luton Airport: 27 minutes by road
• Gatwick Airport: 1 hour 10 minutes by road
Berkhamsted Girls
Kings Campus
Kings Road
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 3BG
Berkhamsted Boys
Castle Campus
Castle Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2BB
Berkhamsted Sixth
Zaha Hadid Building
Castle Campus
Castle Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2BB
Principal
Boarding
Pre-Preparatory
Berkhamsted itself is a bustling community, surrounded by beautiful Chiltern countryside, within easy reach of London, including Heathrow Airport, by road or public transport.
Kings Campus
Kings Campus is the where the girls undertake their academic lessons but also the location of our Sports Centre and Centenary Theatre.
Castle Campus
Berkhamsted Boys is located on our Castle Campus, site of the Old Hall (the first building of Berkhamsted School completed in 1544).
Our Castle Campus chapel dates from the late 19th Century and Deans’ Hall dates from the early 20th Century.
