Independent School News: December Week 1

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

Brighton College’s Triple Honour On Parent Power Guide

Brighton College has been named UK Boarding School of the Year, UK Coeducational School of the Year and Top Academic School in South East England in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026. Based on GCSE and A level results alongside the school’s broader educational offering, these awards recognise Brighton College’s continuous success as one of the UK’s most trusted and popular independent schools. Speaking on its educational approach, head Steve Marshall-Taylor said: ‘It has always been obviously to us that pupils perform better if they are happy, and they are happiest when valued for who they are.’

Discover Brighton College: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/brighton-college

Year four student at St Swithun’s, Sharon, recently won a Christmas card design competition

St Swithun’s Pupil Wins Christmas Card Competition

Year four pupil at St Swithun’s, Sharon, recently won a Christmas card design competition set up by the school’s local MP. Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, visited the school last Friday to tell Sharon that her festive design had been chosen to appear on his official holiday card, which will be sent to over 40,000 homes across his constituency. Sharon said: ‘I enjoyed creating my design and drawing the Christmas tree the most because I liked coming up with all the decorations on it!’

Discover St Swithun’s: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/st-swithuns

Swimming Success At The Hawthorns

The Hawthorns School’s year eight boys swimming relay team recently won gold and bronze at the ESSA Secondary Schools Team Championship finals. After winning gold in the medley relay, the boys secured third place in the freestyle relay, finishing two seconds faster than their qualifying time. The team competed against hundreds of secondary schools across the country, making their double medal achievement ‘a splendid accomplishment’, said headmaster Adrian Floyd.

Discover The Hawthorns: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/the-hawthorns

Jeff Kinney Visits Berkhamsted School

Prep pupils at Berkhamsted School had an exciting day last week as they met children’s author Jeff Kinney, best known for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Kinney’s surprise visit – which was the last stop on a UK tour to promote his new book, Partypooper – featured a show full of party games and inspirational words from the author about the importance of reading. ‘When I was a kid, I never really met any author and didn’t envision myself in that profession,’ Kinney said. ‘So I hope that there’ll be a kid whose career ambitions are sparked from this event.’

Discover Berkhamsted Schools Group: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/berkhamsted-schools-group

Haberdashers’ Monmouth School alumnus Dylan has been honoured for his wildlife conservation work

Habs Monmouth Alumnus Named Future Maker

Haberdashers’ Monmouth School alumnus Dylan has been awarded a place on Springpod’s Future Makers: 20 Under 20 list for his wildlife conservation work. The award, which celebrates young people making remarkable contributions to society, recognises Dylan’s commitment to Hedgehog Aware, a campaign he founded to tackle the decline of British hedgehogs. He also established the Hedgehog First Response Unit in Monmouth, a volunteer-led service providing rapid assistance for hedgehogs in distress. ‘I’m so grateful for the school for nominating me for this award,’ Dylan said. ‘As young people, we have the potential to make a real difference and achieve change in a sometimes challenging and resistant world.’

RGS Announces Move To Coeducation

The Royal Grammar School Guildford has announced that its senior and prep schools will welcome female students for the first time in its 500-year history. Phased entry will begin from September 2027, with a full transition to coeducation expected to be completed across the school’s main entry points by September 2028. Headmaster Dr Jon Cox explained: ‘We want an RGS education to be reflective of today’s society – one where equality and equal opportunity for the sexes are promoted.’

Discover RGS Guilford: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/royal-grammar-school-guildford

Discover RGS Prep: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/royal-grammar-school-prep-guildford

Kimbolton School Building To Feature In Festival

Kimbolton Castle, located on the grounds of Kimbolton School, is one of six historic properties that has been chosen to showcase in a year-long festival celebrating the buildings’ architect. Vanbrugh 300 will mark 300 years since the death of Baroque architect Sir John Vanbrugh, with activities, exhibitions and lectures taking place at each of these six iconic buildings. As part of the anniversary, more than 100 state primary school classes across the UK are invited to take part in a free programme learning about the architect’s work and visiting the sites, including Kimbolton Castle.

This year’s Fashion Reboot at Ipswich High School was the first to have a dedicated room for teenagers to buy and sell

Ipswich High Hosts Successful Pre-Loved Fashion Fair

Last weekend, Ipswich High School welcomed fashion lovers from across the region to its annual preloved clothes sale. This year’s Fashion Reboot was the first to have a dedicated room for teenagers to buy and sell, with the school’s aim being to ‘encourage teens to rethink the way they shop, and show that style doesn’t have to cost the earth’. Hundreds of items of clothing, shoes and accessories found new homes thanks to the event, proving that ethical shopping can be appealing and accessible to young people.

Last Call For Holiday Revision Courses With OXSS

Oxford Science Studies is welcoming final applications for its upcoming Christmas and New Year revision courses. These intensive courses take place at d’Overbroeck’s in Oxford or online from 13-19 December (Christmas) and 2-4 January (New Year), and are available for most classroom subjects across GCSE, IGCSE, IB and A level. Students will benefit from subject-specialist tutors, one-on-one tuition, small group tutorials and exam practice sessions.

Find out more here.

Awards

West Buckland School: West Buckland School in Devon was recently presented with two awards at the House of Lords for its commitment to sustainability. The school’s silver Green Apple awards recognise its efforts reducing fossil fuel use, monitoring food waste, increasing recycling and putting on sustainability training days, among other initiatives.

Queen Ethelburga’s: For the fifth year running, Queen Ethelburga’s College has been named Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence in the North in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026. The school was praised in the ranking for its impressive exam results, which 83 percent of A level grades being A*A and 90.3 percent of GCSE grades being 9-7.

Discover Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/queen-ethelburgas-collegiate

Guildford High School: The Parent Power Guide has also honoured Guildford High School, which has been named Independent Secondary School of the Year in the South East. According to the guide’s editor, Helen Davies, the school was chosen not only for its academic achievements, but also for its ability to prepare its students for life in the 21st century and instil a lifelong love of learning.

Discover Guildford High School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/guildford-high-school

King Edward’s School Bath: According to the Parent Power Guide, King Edward’s School Bath is the best independent school in the south west for 2026. This accolade not only reflects the school’s academic achievements but also its ‘culture of care’, said headmaster Martin Boden. ‘When young people are confident and curious, they not only achieve outstanding results but leave ready to make a positive difference in the world.’

Discover King Edward’s School Bath: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/king-edwards-school-bath/

New Heads, Acquisitions & Buildings

Oakham School: Lucy Pearson has been announced as the new head of Oakham School. Upon taking up the role in September 2026, Pearson will become the first female head in the school’s 440-year history. After attending Oakham in the 1980s, went on to have an international cricketing career before taking up leadership roles at some of the UK’s most respected independent schools.

Discover Oakham: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/oakham

Papplewick: Papplewick has chosen Nina Kingsmill Moore as its new head from September 2026. Currently head of Wetherby Prep, Kingsmill Moore also has experience as head of Glendower Prep and is a firm believer in the single-sex, full-boarding education model at Papplewick. She takes over from Tom Bunbury, who has been head since 2004.

Discover Papplewick: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/papplewick

Lady Eleanor Holles: Iona Carmody has been appointed as the new head of the junior school at Lady Eleanor Holles from September 2026. In addition to a master’s in educational management and leadership, Carmody has experience working at both state and independent schools in the UK and South Africa.

Discover Lady Eleanor Holles School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/lady-eleanor-holles-school

Orwell Park/Benenden: Orwell Park School in Suffolk has officially joined the Benenden School family. The merger, officially completed this week, makes Orwell Park the first UK school to join the Benenden group, which also includes Benenden School Guanzhou. According to Orwell Park’s head, Simon O’Malley, the response from parents has been ‘phenomenal and there is a palpable sense of excitement at the opportunities that their partnership brings’.

Discover Benenden School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/benenden-school

Bede’s: In September 2027, Bede’s School will open a new building for its lower school at its Upper Dicker Senior School campus. Featuring a science lab, social spaces, outdoor areas and modern classrooms, the new building will operate alongside the current prep school, giving families the opportunity to choose the environment that will best suit their child in year seven or eight. The planning process for the new facility is currently underway.

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

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