WHAT? WHERE?

St Andrew’s Berkshire is a bucolic prep near Pangbourne, West Berkshire, perfectly positioned for those around Newbury, Reading and South Oxfordshire (or further if you don’t mind the drive). Co-ed with 320 pupils, the school is at the end of a tree-lined drive in 54 acres of beautiful woodland and playing fields. And if you love to name drop, the Princess of Wales and John Le Carré are both former pupils. Oo-er.

The Victorian Gothic mansion dates back to 1885 and was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse (London’s Natural History Museum is one of his too. Fancy!) and, despite its grand features (wood panelling and original Royal Doulton tile panels), it feels warm rather than stuffy – light and spacious, kids’ art and motivational messages everywhere.

St Andrew’s in now its partnership with Bradfield College. For St Andrew’s, it enables them share facilities and expertise. And news just in, both schools have recently been accredited Microsoft Showcase Schools – a kite mark of excellence in digital learning.

FACILITIES

When you’ve got 54 acres to play with, you’re going to deliver on playing fields, Forest School and sporty baubles. Just wait until you see the swimming pool, sports hall and dance studio. It’s impressive.

SPORTS

The Sports Centre, with its indoor courts, dance studio and 25m pool is very very impressive. And so it should be for £4m. St Andrew’s has quite a sporty rep, so this new centre opens up even more opportunities for the kids. Better still, it’s something the school shares with the community too.

Next door to the sports centre is a full-sized astroturf pitch, opened in 2012 by St Andrew’s most famous alumni the Duchess of Cambridge. You’ll also find tennis courts and numerous football, rugby, and cricket pitches. The school loves nothing more than to battle it out on match days and they field multiple teams, giving all kids the opportunity to wear their school colours with pride.

The main sports are football and cricket for both boys and girls, cross-country, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis. Alternative activities like taekwondo, fencing, ballet, yoga, orienteering and rock climbing are available at among the many co-curricular fun up for grabs.

MUSIC, DRAMA, ART

Music is a big part of school life and I heard violin and recorder lessons at full volume. Music lessons aside, from Pre-Prep onwards the children can take up individual instrumental or singing lessons (with a whopping 200 scheduled a week). There’s even a Pre-Prep choir – just one of many musical groups that have the chance to showcase their talents throughout the year.

If I’m being picky the weakest link in terms of facilities is the lack of a theatre. Not all prep schools come West End ready, but a Performing Arts Centre would certainly add another jewel in their crown. The good news is that this is priority number one. Architects’ plans are in place to transform the Old Sports Hall into a performing arts centre, along with a mezzanine art studio, over the course of the next 12 months.

BOARDING

Largely a day school, but St Andrew’s offers, flexi boarding and it’s really popular Monday to Thursday (no Saturday school here). The boarding houses are well above average, having recently been renovated and the 12 boys’ and 17 girls’ beds have come straight out of London’s Olympic Village. How awesome is that?! Let’s just say Mo Farah, Usain Bolt and Jess Ennis slept in them. The odd night at short notice is an option here, so if you have a last-minute night out or an unexpected work trip, a cheeky sleepover is as much of a thrill for the kids as that first glass of fizz is for you. Increasing the boarding provision is also part of the development plan. As more London families move out, they need to ensure they can meet the growth in demand.

ACADEMICS

St Andrew’s has a robust reputation for bringing out the best in its pupils, with scholarships (academic, music, sport, art and all-rounder) being dished out with reassuring regularity. As a passionately non-selective school that’s a big academic tick. That’s not to say they are complacent. ‘Could do better’ has probably featured on all our reports over the years. So expect tweaks to stretch and challenge the pupils.

Case in point, St Andrew’s has seriously beefed up the digital learning here – and is now Microsoft Showcase School. One of only five prep schools to be accredited in Berkshire. Pupils use a Surface Go for class assignments and homework in Y7 and Y8, whilst Microsoft Teams, One Note, Forms and Sway have been integrated into school life. Furthermore, St Andrew’s has adopted the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (the PSB) – an assessment framework completed across Years 7 and 8 that will redress the balance of skills and knowledge which are required in later life.

The most popular leaver destinations include Abingdon, Bradfield College, Downe House, Magdalen College, Marlborough, Millfield, Pangbourne College, Radley, Queen Anne’s, Teddies, Shiplake, and Wellington College.

WHAT ELSE?

Outdoor learning is St Andrew’s calling card – Forest school, bushcraft, den building, camping out, there’s a whizzy zip wire, orienteering and climbing trees are celebrated. Something the Duchess Of Cambridge loved during her time here and wants for her own kids. Dirty knees and mild scruffiness is very much encouraged.

‘Bother Boxes’ are dotted around the school for the boys and girls to post notes about their worries or concerns and there’s a designated quiet space, called The Lobby. Life is busy and downtime is essential.

Pupils are taught about media awareness and reliable sources of news, independent study skills (handy right now) and what they can do to help the environment. Happiness and welfare; compassion and leadership and curiosity and curriculum form the pillars of school life.

THE HEAD

Ed Graham has been in headmaster’s hot seat since 2021. Previously, deputy head at Westminster Cathedral Choir School in London, he moved out to leafy West Berkshire with his wife Olivia and two children Fergus and Martha, hopping into the hot seat in September 2021. If you’re playing lockdown bingo: a move to the countryside, a puppy and new job can be ticked off and I reckon there was a bit banana bread baking at some point too.

He’s young, ambitious and very likeable. It’s a bit early to say what kind of head he will be, but he has taken on a prep school in good health. Parents have been consulted on the school’s strengths and weaknesses and Drama and DT were flagged up as ripe for improvement. Ay Caramba! There were even pleas for Spanish to be added to the curriculum.

Ed’s very keen to improve St Andrew Berkshire’s academic rigour, looking at the curriculum, lessons and child engagement, as well as how to use digital and traditional teaching methods to make those marginal gains. Not easy when you’re also juggling tradition, wellbeing, inclusion, diversity, sustainability and more. Crikey, who would be a head? So what am I saying? Well, I don’t think Ed is planning on changing the DNA of St Andrew’s, but he’s keen for the kids to be stretched and for this non-selective school to punch above its weight. I doubt you’ll hear many parents complaining about that.

LITTLIES

Little people can start in the term they turn three years old in Nursery and it’s waaaaay superior to most of the nurseries I’ve used over the years. Forest School and time spent learning outdoors (two hours at least every day) is a huge part of the kids’ day – I think I saw three classes toddling off into the woods in their boiler suits pulling an off-road trolley with all the kit they’ll need. They also use the natural resources in their lessons – the blackberry artwork was pretty cool.

Head of Pre-Prep Fiona Armstrong has adopted the Reggio Emilia approach which gives children a limitless opportunity for them to express themselves, known as ‘the 100 languages of child’. It might sound a bit ‘out there’ but it fires up that love of learning and gives them the tools to grow with confidence. I wouldn’t say she applies it to the letter, but takes from it what she feels will benefit the children. Every day they have a specialist lesson with PE, swimming, French, STEM and music all on the agenda.

The Nursery and Pre-Prep buildings are spacious, bright, with a great outdoor space next to the Sports Centre and playing field. Tellytubbies Hill is a big draw, and there’s a lovely climbing frame, massive sandpit and building and construction materials to engage the kids during lesson and break times. The emphasis is on getting the kids excited about learning – and sometimes that means they get a bit, OK very, dirty.

QUIRKS

For one day in November, St Andrew’s swaps traditional for Progressive Games – an amazing day where the children team up in 54 cross-year groups to take part in 26 different fun games across the school.

Trees are there to be climbed. During break pupils spill out of the classroom and head for the woods (or the zip wire) – ‘kids can climb trees but always in threes’ is the motto (safety first) and there’s a stop sign at 30ft. EEK.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Excellent. Frazzled parents juggling work, life and kids rejoice. All ages from Nursery to Y8 can be dropped off for Breakfast Club from 8am. Supper Club is primarily for boarders. The early evening activities for Y3-Y8s run until 6.30pm. If you’re running late, don’t stress, you can book them in for slap up meal and short notice. 

Nursery and Pre-Prep start at 8.45am-3.30pm, with after-school care and activities available from Reception until 6pm for an additional fee. The main school day starts at 8.15am-5pm (juniors) and 6pm (seniors). 

Flexi-boarding is massive; kids can book in for as many nights as they like and weekly boarding is also offered. There’s no Saturday school here – St Andrew’s prides itself on its family-friendly ethos, so you can have your little darlings back all weekend. 

Holiday camps, run by the staff, plug the gaps in the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays with lots of fun age-appropriate activities going on.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Lots of my friends send their children here, and they love the upbeat, ‘can-do’ vibes about St Andrew’s. The staff get lots of good press, the outdoorsy nature goes down very well and the school meals get a big tick. Bye-bye tapioca puds, hello cosmopolitan buffet with salad bar and exotic fruit. Even Squash and Bs (biscuits) are now carrot sticks and sesame-free hummus.

ISI REPORT

Surprisingly, ISI inspectors managed to squeeze in a visit in 2020. St Andrew’s got a clean bill of health and received an excellent rating across the board. The school’s ‘can do’ feel was picked up and they raved about the results pastoral care and teaching.

MOBILE POLICY

It’s a mobile free zone. But to be honest, there’s no reason to have one in school. However, if there is a justifiable reason to bring a phone into school, it is handed into the School Office upon arrival and only retrieved at the end of the school day.

FEES

Full time nursery is £4,260 per term (half days are available); Reception to Y2 £4,260 – 4,640; Y3-Y8 £6,620 – £7,310. Boarding can be booked ad hoc at £45 per night or four nights a week at £140 per week.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Well-rounded kids. The vibe is warm and friendly, but academically strong – not an easy mix to pull off. The superior sport facilities are impressive and all children get to participate fully. Good flexible after-school care is particularly helpful for working parents.

Not for: Those who require full-boarding, a larger school cohort, or parents who prefer a more ‘starchy’ approach to schooling. Free range risk takers are not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s pretty refreshing.

Dare to disagree?! Be my guest. Check out their upcoming Open Days here. If you can’t make it, get in contact to arrange a private tour.

St Andrew’s Berkshire, Buckhold Pangbourne, Nr Reading, RG8 8QA. Tel: 0118 974 4276.