WHAT? WHERE?

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

Thorngrove School is a deliberately small co-ed day prep for children aged 2.5 to 13 years. Set in 25 acres of Downton Abbey country, this bucolic beauty is located in the village of Highclere (just down the road from the famous Highclere Castle) and a few miles outside Newbury.

The school is relatively new in education terms, having been founded by the Broughton family in 1988. They’re still very much involved to this day, and the school’s nurturing, family feel is very much a part of its DNA.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

This is a buzzy, grounded school, where its rural location is its super power. The children get to let off steam and learn outdoors, be it climbing trees, swinging from the monkey bars or huddled around the campfire at Forest School. It’s Enid Blyton with bells on.

FACILITIES

Facilities are excellent for a school of this size. There are plans to add a Performing Arts Centre and a new Astro pitch to make year-round sport even better (clay soil is a nightmare in the rain) – which will also be accessible to the wider local community.

SPORT

THORNGROVE SCHOOL HIGHCLERE NEWBURY BERKSHIRE PUPIL RUNNING THE HURDLES

Judging by the amount of bling in the trophy cabinet, there’s a lot of sport being played here and the facilities are very good. Playing fields as far as the eye can see and an enormous modern sports hall. The large all-weather courts have just been resurfaced and they’re looking sweeeet.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

The cricket nets have also been given an upgrade – you’ll find the exact same one at Lords – to help progress the school’s successful boys and girls cricket teams.

THORNGROVE SCHOOL HIGHCLERE NEWBURY BERKSHIRE PUPILS PLAYING HOCKEY

The hockey side is strong and there’s lacrosse, golf, fishing, tennis, gymnastics, athletics and more for anyone who fancies trying something a bit different. No swimming pool, so if you’re nurturing the next Adam Peaty, this could be a deal breaker.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

While we’re hanging around outside, there’s a fantastic assault-course-style adventure playground, a new playground, designed by pupils in Y2, is on its way soon which incorporates a bird watching hide and a zipline.

MUSIC, ART AND DRAMA

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

Thorngrove is renowned for its creative arts – and there’s usually something going on in every corner. The multi-purpose sports hall is a flexible space for concerts and productions. During my visit, the school was buzzing with creativity. The annual Y6-Y8 school production is a showstopper – this year it was Matilda The Musical, but past productions include Shrek! and The Lion King. During enrichment the kids design the programme, make the sets, plan the lighting, the school’s musician’s learn the soundtrack, in addition to the acting rehearsal.

THORNGROVE SCHOOL HIGHCLERE NEWBURY BERKSHIRE dance lesson

Music is big here, regardless of whether a child is learning an instrument or not. There’s a large Music Room and individual practice rooms and the end of year musical picnic for families is a social highlight. Dance is timetabled from nursery (ballet and contemporary) and there are dedicated LAMDA teachers.

There is also an annual camping festival for all families and friends – Thornfest – where authors and musicians are invited to perform. Plans are being developed to create a swanky new performing arts centre – a great addition to the school given its strength in this area. No start date yet though.

GENERAL

The enrichment programme has been beefed up and there’s more focus on activities that reflect the school’s values (curiosity, kindness, creativity, challenge and community), with children working towards the Broughton Award. Y3 and Y4 learned British Sign Language (very cool), four beehives have arrived and the children can work towards a beekeeping qualification. The ambition is to produce Thorngrove honey and make soaps and candles to sell and raise money for charity.

Y7 and Y8 did a junior lifesavers course and regularly visit the local retirement home. The list of activities is really varied: climbing and mindful qualifications, the lower school celebrated Earth Day and Space Day.

ACADEMICS

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

As a small non-selective school, it’s a pick and mix of academic ability with an holistic approach. Lots of attention lavished on each individual child, progress tracked via Firefly, so teachers can challenge the able and ensure pupils who need extra support (booster sessions and long term help) are spotted swiftly. Academics and the softer skills are given equal weight to give children the toolkit to succeed beyond the classroom.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

We love the emphasis on outdoor learning. In a school set in 25 acres, surrounded by the most beautiful woodland, it would be rude not to. And it’s not just for the boilersuit-wearing littlies. While the younger pupils might start their Forest School experiences jumping in puddles, hunting mini beasts and exploring habitats. The older kids get to use the cool tools, learn to build and light fires, cook outdoors and hone their Bear Grylls survival skills. Regardless of age (teachers and parents included), loves a wild trip to the woods, where there’s an outdoor classroom, zipwire, fire pit and pizza oven.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

Elsewhere, French is taught from Nursery to Y8 – and the Y7 have a ‘total immersion’ trip to a chateau in Normandy, France, where the children are encouraged to speak French at all times. Spanish and German are extracurricular activities. A recent careers day involving lots of the parents opened their eyes to careers and opportunities but more importantly keeping an open mind. Family life is ring fenced. There’s no homework (older children complete their prep at school) and no Saturday school. If you live for your weekends, this will tick a lot of boxes. Many children start at Nursery or Reception and stay until 13.

Thorngrove is laser focussed on matching the right Senior school for your child, with popular destinations including Abingdon School, Pangbourne College, Bradfield College, Downe House and Teddies in Oxford.

PASTORAL

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

The family ethos runs deep, so if you’re looking for a nurturing school where wellbeing and emotional intelligence are given equal footing to the academics, this is it. I’d say the children are well drilled when it comes to expectation of behaviour, too. The older children act as ‘buddies’ to mentor the younger ones, helping them in the morning at registration and seeing them at different times during the week. The form tutors chart their wellbeing, so if there are any concerns it gets picked up and dealt with quickly. Everyone’s looking out for each other and there’s a lot to be said for that.

THE HEAD

Nick Graham has been in the head hot seat since September 2022. Prior to that he was Senior Deputy Head at Thorngrove, so the transition has been seamless. Graham lives onsite with his wife and two children and has the shortest commute known to man. His office – with a picture window looking onto the playground – is located right next his house. “I have to trust the children are doing the right thing, although it’s not always the case”.

Although his first headship, he admits that knowing the school, pupils and parents so well has been beneficial – and reassuring for the whole school community. He’s made a few changes, namely to the timetable and length of lessons. “We used to have 10 x 35 minute lessons each day, but you lose a huge chunk of the school day. So we’ve gone to 6 x 55 minute lessons now.

The enrichment programme has more focus with the children asked to choose ‘pick your path’ activities that reflect curiosity, kindness, creativity, challenge and community. The aim is to tick all the boxes as each pupil works towards the Broughton Award (named after the school’s founder)

He’s a kind, down to earth man, a passionate cheese lover, who cares deeply and knows each and every child. His warmth really sets the tone, here. He will continue to focus on academics, outdoor learning and is ambitious for Thorngrove to improve its eco credentials. He’s got big plans to build a performing arts centre. His own children are on the register, so you know he has everyone’s interests at heart. Read our interview with him here.

QUIRKS

Thorngrove Prep School Highclere art class to make masks for The Lion king production — Art class: The Lion King masks

Before Thorngrove became a school in 1988 by Nick and Connie Broughton, it was a pig farm. Much to the surprise of builders working on developments who dug up piggy bones that looked a little too human for their liking.

It’s got The Good Life vibes. Thorngrove has its own chickens and an eco garden with raised beds and a fruit cage, providing fresh produce for the kitchens. There’s also a lovely stream running through the site to catch crayfish.

Putting on a show is very much a team effort. Each year group helps to make scenery, costumes, masks, sing, play instruments and anything and everything else in between. The children have just performed Matilda The Musical – and the creativity is extraordinary.

Not sure if you would count this as a quirk, but I love that the girls wear culottes. They’re practical – no knicker flashing while cartwheeling across the playing field – and look similar to the boys’ navy corduroy shorts. During the summer months, the girls can choose to wear a dress or shorts. Never underestimate the power of choice.

FEES

Average for this part of Berkshire I’d say. Nursery from £265 (half day exc lunch), Reception-Y2 £4,910, Y3-Y4 £6,920, Y5-Y8 £7,730. Books and lunch are included in termly fees, but wrap around care, learning support and individual music lessons are extra.

ISI REPORT

The ISI have raised their paddles and rated Thorngrove ‘Excellent’ across the board. You can view the latest inspection and compliance reports her e.

TRANSPORT

Most of the children live within 15 miles of school, and there is currently three minibuses. One scoops up from Hungerford, Inkpen and Kitbury to the west, another heads East to Ashford Hill, Headley, Kingsclere, Newbury and Wash Common and a third picks up from Cold Ash, Thatcham, Speen and Donnington. A fourth route is soon to be added from Hurstborne Tarrant in North Hants. Saving yourself the school run costs £3 per day for the first child, then £1 for further siblings. Many parents also drop off by car and there’s a handy one way system for swift hand overs.

Thorngrove School Highclere Newbury Berkshire little girl washing hands covered in paint

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Working parents rejoice – it’s pretty good. You can drop off as early as 7.30am for Breakfast Club and After School sessions run to 5.30pm, with biscuits and fruit to keep them going until you get home for supper. Thorngrove also offers Holiday Clubs (8.30am – 5pm) during the Easter and Summer breaks. So while it might not entirely alleviate the stress of juggling and parental guilt, at least you can find comfort knowing your kids are having fun and being entertained away from the digital nanny.

Thorngrove School Highclere Newbury Berkshire wicker sculptures

WORD ON THE GROUND

Glowing. Parents rave about how family focused the school is (no weekend homework battles to contend with here), the outdoorsy activities and how grounded the school is. It has all the benefits of an independent prep without feeling stuffy. They love that the arts are seen as just as ‘cool’ as sports. The family feel extends beyond the warm fuzzies – a regular Friday Family Breakfast at 7am is popular and there’s a lot of excitement about the family ski trip to Italy. It’s a FOMO free zone and everyone’s invited.

Forest School Thorngrove School Highclere Newbury Berkshire

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents looking to turn out independent, outward-looking ‘all rounder’ children in a nurturing environment. It can cater to bigger personalities whilst still being small enough to nurture the less extrovert.

Not for: If you want that traditional country Prep experience, then this probably misses the mark. But the amount of space, outdoor learning and family feel could change your mind.

Dare to disagree?! Be my guest! The next Open Day is Sat 17 May 2025. To book an appointment, please click here.

Thorngrove School, The Mount, Pantings Lane, Highclere, Newbury RG20 9PS. Tel: 01635 253172

Don’t miss out

Read all about Thorngrove School’s dynamic head Nick Graham.

Thorngrove School, Highclere, nr Newbury

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