Independent School News: November Week 1

Considering independent education? Find the best school for your child here. Otherwise, read on for the latest independent school news (October 2025).

Thomas’s Kensington Unveils New Premises

Thomas’s Kensington has officially opened the doors to its new premises in St Albans Grove. The purpose-built building features specialist spaces for science, art, dance and music as well as outdoor areas and modern classrooms. ‘We know children learn best when they feel inspired, supported and part of a strong community,’ said head Alex Matthews. ‘This building reflects that belief. Already, it is full of energy, laughter and a genuine sense of belonging.’

Discover Thomas’s Kensington: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/thomass-kensington

Pupils at St Paul’s School, now part of St Paul’s School Group.

St Paul’s Launches New Schools Group

St Paul’s School has announced the formation of a new school’s group. The St Paul’s Schools Group will bring together leading independent London preps – including founding members Durston House and Shrewsbury House School Trust – to improve educational opportunities for all pupils. This comes alongside the launch of the St Paul’s Research Centre for the Education of Boys, which will work to ensure the new group makes ‘evidence-based, forward-thinking’ decisions. Ultimately, the aim is to better understand prep pupils’ needs in today’s world, and how to work with these needs to improve personal and academic outcomes for all children.

Poetry Success At St Mary’s Calne

St Mary’s Calne upper sixth student Georgie recently received a ‘commended’ award in the Foyle Young Poets of the Year competition. Out of 28,000 entries, only 15 top winners and 85 commended poets were chosen, with Georgie attending an awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall as one of the latter. In recognition of her achievement, she received a year’s youth membership of The Poetry Society and a bag full of books donated by publishers.

Discover St Mary’s Calne: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/st-marys-calne

Halliford has announced a new design and technology scholarship for sixth form students.

D&T Scholarship Comes To Halliford

Halliford School is now offering a design and technology scholarship for sixth formers. Open to students who are passionate about problem-solving, creativity and multiple areas of design, the scholarship will offer specialist mentoring and guidance as well as access to advanced facilities. Candidates must be studying D&T at GCSE, be choosing an A level in the subject and be willing to develop their skills beyond the A level curriculum.

Discover Halliford School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/halliford-school

New Eaton House Principal Discusses Future Changes

The new principal of Eaton House Schools has said exciting changes are coming, including more collaboration between the girls’ and boys’ schools and more training in cutting edge technology. Alison Fleming, who started as principal in September, is passionate about pupils learning holistically and wants children ‘to fall in love with learning and be excited about coming to school’. While she can’t reveal too much about future changes at the school at this stage, she says she is excited to continue working with ‘such an amazing team of heads who are so full of ideas and love for their schools and the children they are teaching’.

Discover Eaton House Schools: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/eaton-house-schools

Haberdashers’ Monmouth Launches Podcast

Haberdashers’ Monmouth has launched a podcast designed to give families behind-the-scenes insight into school life. Six episodes are already live, including conversations with fashion designer and friend of the school Jimmy Choo, head Melvyn Roffe, and former Wales rugby player and director of Habs’ sports academy Richie Rees. Upcoming episodes will further explore everyday school life, focusing on areas from the admissions process to cookery.

Felsted’s recent charity colour run raised over £10,000 for charity.

Successful Charity Run At Felsted

Felsted School recently raised over £10,000 for charity through its biannual colour run. Six hundred pupils, staff and members of the school community came together for the event, with the money raised going to multiple non-profits supporting local people as well as children’s education in Uganda and India. ‘The colour run is brilliant because everyone gets involved,’ said participants Ben and Mercedes. ‘It’s a chance to do something fun as a school while also raising money for causes that make a real difference.’

Discover Felsted School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/felsted-school

Hurst Pupils Visit Shakespeare’s Globe

A group of 86 year sevens at Hurstpierpoint College recently visited Shakespeare’s Globe in London. The trip helped pupils understand aspects of the playwright’s work such as staging and audience interaction as they had the chance to see a performance of one of Shakespeare‘s comedies at the theatre. It was many of the pupils’ first time attending a professional production, with the college saying that the experience ‘sparked curiosity and enthusiasm for the dramatic arts’.

Discover Hurstpierpoint College: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/hurstpierpoint-college

Taunton Celebrates Academic Results Recognition

Taunton School has been ranked in the top 5 percent of UK schools for value added to GCSE results and in the top 10 percent for value added to A level results. This means students achieved better results at Taunton than they would have at 95 percent and 90 percent of other UK schools respectively. ‘I am incredible proud of what our students achieved in their public examinations this year,’ said deputy head academic Graham Mallard. ‘It is wonderful to see them surpassing what the best national data predicted.’

Discover Taunton School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/taunton-school

Bryanston alumna Dr Clare Mosley visited the school and was interviewed on the school’s radio station.

Bryanston Welcomes Back Alumna

Bryanston alumna Dr Clare Mosley returned to the school this week to talk to pupils about nutrition and wellbeing. ‘If you eat good food together as a family, you see fewer issues on many fronts,’ she said of her latest book, Eating Together: A Recipe For Healthier, Happier Families. ‘Food is bonding. We forget that we must celebrate more over food. It’s the greatest way to bring people together.’ While at the school, Mosley also spoke on the school’s radio station, BryRadio, about her school days, admitting that she found learning ‘quite a challenge’ with her ADHD.

Discover Bryanston: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/bryanston