Independent School News: November Week 2

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

Anti-Bullying Week At St Mary’s Calne

To mark national anti-bullying week, St Mary’s Calne pupils took part in a variety of activities to promote kindness, respect and inclusion. After an assembly by mental health-focused charity Samaritans, the school had Odd Socks Day, which saw pupils and staff wear mismatched socks as a way of celebrating individuality. Pupils also had an anti-bullying poster competition, with entries exploring the week’s theme of ‘power for good’ and conveying powerful messages about using influence in positive ways and standing up against bullying.

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

Haberdashers’ Monmouth pupils spoke to global leaders at COP30.

Monmouth Pupils Speak At COP30

Haberdashers’ Monmouth and Monmouth Comprehensive pupils took centre stage at the United Nations COP30 Summit this week to talk about how young people in Wales are driving commitment to a deforestation-free future. The pupils joined via video call to speak to Indigenous forest guardians in Brazil, who shared the struggles their communities face due to deforestation, soy production and pesticides. In turn, the Monmouth pupils presented how they are working with their schools, climate charity Size of Wales and the Welsh Government to end deforestation. ‘Seeing our pupils join Indigenous leaders at COP30 and be recognised for their ideas was deeply inspiring,’ said Habs Monmouth head Melvyn Roffe. ‘It was a powerful reminder of how education can shape a better future.’

Click here to watch Haberdashers’ Monmouth’s video about the COP30 event.

Bryanston’s Successful Charities Weekend

Last weekend, Bryanston raised £19,000 for Nepal-based NGO Right4Children through its annual charities fair. The school community came together for two days of fundraising activities, including a netball match, live music, a craft and food fair and a fireworks display. Bryanston families and local business who couldn’t attend were able to donate, too, with an online auction raising more than £12,000. The money will go towards Right4Children’s Sports in School programme, which provides essential resources and opportunities for children in Nepal to thrive through sport and physical education.

Discover Bryanston: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/bryanston

Bede’s students spent time doing activities with elderly members of the community for Partnerships Week.

Bede’s Celebrates Partnerships Week

This week was the ISC’s Partnerships Week: five days dedicated to celebrating the relationships and connections independent schools have built with their local communities. For Bede’s, this year’s focus was the elderly care group Young at Heart, who visited the school to take part in activities like art and cooking and played games with Bede’s’ BTEC Sport pupils. ‘This mutual exchange between young and old has strengthened community ties and has helped to break down barriers of ageism,’ the school said. ‘Intergenerational activities are a necessity for a well-rounded society.’

Discover Bede’s: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/bedes-senior-school

Belhaven Hill Alumni Speaks To Pupils About Mental Health

Belhaven Hill School recently welcomed back alumni and endurance adventurer Jamie Ramsay to kick off its inaugural Wellbeing Weekend. In front of an audience of over 160 pupils and parents, Ramsay spoke about his belief in the power of physical challenge as an antidote to mental ill health, something he discovered when he decided to run from Vancouver to Buenos Aires after feeling unfulfilled by his job in finance. This 17,000km challenge over 600 days led him to write a book about his experience called Running the Americas, which he signed for pupils, parents and staff. Everyone in attendance was inspired by his story, with the school’s head adding that it was ‘a great boost’ to the school’s encouragement towards a healthy body and mind as part of Wellbeing Weekend.

Discover Belhaven Hill: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/belhaven-hill

Moreton Hall students’ coastal beach clean helped them win a Roots & Shoots 2025 environmental award.

Moreton Hall Wins Environmental Award

Moreton Hall School has won the Community Action and Efforts category in the Roots & Shoots Awards 2025. Founded by the late conservationist Jane Goodall, the national award celebrates young people making a positive difference in their communities, with the winner given a £500 prize and a selection of resources to support future environmental initiatives. Moreton Hall’s success was down to two major efforts by its eco team: a coastal beach clean in Aberystwyth and a canal clean-up day along the Llangollen Canal near the school in Shropshire.

Discover Moreton Hall: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/moreton-hall

Kingswood Publishes Social Impact Report

Kingswood School has published its 2024/25 Social Impact Report, which reveals that in the last year, the school has raised £50,000 for local, national and international charities. This was achieved through over 10,000 hours of student involvement in community and charity initiatives and a total of 54 charity events held by the school, from bake sales to beach cleans. Additionally, according to the report, 57 pupils have received bursaries in the last year, thanks to the support of over 100 donors. ‘Servings others is at the heart of who we are at Kingswood,’ said the school’s director of partnerships and community engagement, Garrod Musto. ‘This report reflects the energy, empathy and leadership our students demonstrate every day.’

Discover Kingswood School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/kingswood-school

Churcher’s College’s art technician, Marnie Glue, put on an exhibition of oil paintings, named Revival.

Successful Art Exhibition For Churcher’s College Teacher

An oil paintings exhibition by Churcher’s College’s art technician, Marnie Glue, came to a close this week. Named Revival, the exhibition comprised ten paintings of flowers, each representing a stage in Glue’s journey of healing and rediscovery following the end of a long-term relationship. The floral theme was born out of Glue finding comfort in buying herself flowers, which she then starting painting as a symbol of growth as she experimented with painting techniques throughout the creative process. ‘I received some really kind comments about my paintings,’ shared Glue. ‘It was so lovely to display my artwork in such a busy community space.’

Discover Churcher’s College: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/churchers-college

Leweston Partners With New Schools’ Group

Leweston School has announced a new partnership with Concept Education and the Catholic Schools’ Trust. A schools’ group founded by former independent school heads, Concept Education’s mission is to ensure Catholic independent schools continue to succeed. Leweston is the first school to join the group, with Concept Education’s CEO, Hugh Dickinson, saying that the group is excited to ‘strengthen Leweston’s reputation as a unique, caring and high-achieving environment’.