WHAT? WHERE?

Roche Court Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Tucked away close to the South Coast in a 30-acre countryside setting close to Portsmouth, Boundary Oak is a co-ed Pre-School, Prep and Senior day through school for children aged 2-16 with boarding for a small number of 10 to 16 year-olds. A close-knit cohort of 485 pupils share the campus with average class sizes of 18, up to a max. of 20. Most travel from within a 30-mile radius, helped by the fact that the school is handily connected just off the M27.

Boundary Oak’s historic Grade II Listed main building, Roche Court, is named for the original estate here – which dates all the way back to 1280. Previously located nearby in Widley, the school moved to the site in 1961. In 2024, Boundary Oak joined Globeducate, a leading education group with 65+ bilingual schools in 11 countries.

FACILITIES

Stretching out around the estate, the school has a mix of old buildings, including the impressively grand gatehouse and manor house. There are plenty of much newer extensions too, including a renovated Senior building, indoor sports hall and dance studio and dedicated design and technology centre with ICT lab and kitchen, built in 2020. The next big news is a brand-new Junior School building, set to open in 2026.

Pupils at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

If you worry that your kids spend too much time indoors, a regular dose of fresh air and vitamin D is inescapable. Boundary Oak’s grounds, gardens and dedicated woodland school with tented roundhouse and campfire are one of the best-used parts of the site.

Weekly outdoor learning sessions are part of the curriculum all the way up to year 9. They’re used in other classes and cocurricular clubs too, from bug hotels, bushcraft and pond dipping to chopping wood, mindful painting, picking wild garlic to cook with in the well-equipped food and nutrition kitchen and crafting wooden Christmas reindeers. Fruit and vegetables grown in the schools polytunnels are used in outdoor cooking and outdoor learning lessons.

Beekeeping at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Boundary Oak’s Junior Bee Keeping Club happily tend the school hives and 60,000 + honeybees with licences for the most highly trained and tasty, wild garlic honey the sweet fruit of their labours.

SPORTS

Swimming pool at Weekly outdoor learning sessions are part of the curriculum all the way up to year 9 and are used in other classes and cocurricular clubs too, from bug hotels, bushcraft and pond dipping to chopping wood, mindful painting, picking wild garlic to cook with in the well-equipped food and nutrition kitchen and crafting wooden Christmas reindeers. Fruit and vegetables grown in the schools polytunnels are used in outdoor cooking and outdoor learning lessons.

Boundary Oak is big on encouraging pupils to discover and pursue their passions. Sports-wise, they’ve helped nurture individuals to achieve sporting success in athletics and swimming at a national level. With a dedicated sports hall, floodlit Astroturf pitch, heated outdoor swimming pool, rugby pitches and playing fields, there’s no shortage of space and facilities.

Rugby at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

In summer, parents make the most of convivial cricket fixtures (compete with match teas and deckchairs on the lawn). Regular sports fixtures with other schools, including trips on the hovercraft over to Ryde, give seniors the chance to play competitively outside of lessons, too.

As well as claiming a clutch of medals in the latest regional and national ISA athletics competitions, Boundary Oak has fielded national cross-country runners, an international ballroom dancer, a national horse-riding competitor and a Gold-winning national swimming champion, along with champion medley relay team.

ART & DRAMA

Drama production at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

One of the most popular parts of the school, pupils from Year 1 upwards take art lessons in a purpose-built, light-filled, second-floor Art & Design studio with inspiring views looking out over fields and farmland. Ceramics, graphic design and photography are all included in the curriculum, with an annual exhibition to celebrate creative works and well-subscribed art clubs every night.

Drama-wise, there are plenty of opportunities for pupils to get stuck in – on and off-stage – in the school’s big annual spring production. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 29 pupils took LAMDA exams right up to Grade 6 with every pupil gaining a distinction.

LITTLIES

Little Acorns’ Pre School children at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Located in a standalone building close to the main house, Boundary Oaks’ ‘Little Acorns’ Pre School is a single level, open-plan space with views over the fields. The whole place has a real countryside feel, from the woodland walks and plenty of outdoor learning to the wooden play tractor and tractor counting games. When they’re not enjoying the great outdoors, there’s music, French, art and PE with the specialist teachers, along with regular mindful yoga sessions.

BOARDING

Boarding house bedroom at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Maxing out at 48 pupils (and currently housing fewer than that), Boundary Oak has a small boarding population comprising of UK Forces Families and international pupils from all over the world, including at various points, Korea, China, Nigeria, Spain, France, Turkey, Germany, Italy, America, Australia and Ukraine. Boarders, aged from 10-16, are given lots of say on what they get up to at the weekends, from trips out to pumpkin patches to paintballing, theme parks and meals out. They also seized the chance to have a say in the recent and very tasteful boarding house refurbishment.

ACADEMICS/RESULTS

Pupils at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Boundary Oak has a solid academic record. Regular baseline testing allows targeted interventions and contributes to strong added-value scores here. In 2024, 25% of all GCSE grades were at levels 7 to 9 (A**, A*, and A), with 93% awarded at levels 4 to 9 (A*-C).

Computer Science, Economics and Citizenship are all offered as GCSE options and there are extra qualifications for academic co-curricular activities, including qualifications in sports leadership, languages in Duolingo and chess and MENSA challenges.

Senior pupils at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Most pupils go to top-rated local sixth form colleges with Barton Peverell in Eastleigh and Peter Symonds in Winchester both top choices. Others head on to independent sixth forms and a few have received scholarships to boarding sixth form schools such as St Catherines and Bradfield.

Pupil at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

In Seniors, the focus is not just about their next step but also what pupils aspire to beyond that. Pupils hear from local colleges and explore all kinds of options including T-Levels and BTechs. There’s also a Career Hot Desking event for Year 9 pupils that gives them the opportunity to speak to professionals from different fields.

PASTORAL CARE

Junior pupils at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

The fact that Boundary Oak is a through school with a relatively small cohort adds to the close-knit, friendly feel you experience walking around here. It also enables lots of mixed age, sibling-style mentoring and support. As an example, Boundary Oak Seniors volunteer to help EYFS children read and will guide Prep pupils in Science Week experiments. Dedicated Prep Anti-Bullying Ambassadors are a go-to for the Prep and Pre-Prep at break and lunchtimes and champion inclusivity through initiatives like the recent ‘Space for Everyone’ Campaign.

Boundary Oak also has a mindfulness garden, tended by pupils and pastoral rooms managed by teachers and other staff. These provide a quiet space for pupils to get support or simply a quiet space to regroup. The school also has a part-time counsellor and recognising that, for some pupils, talking about their problems is difficult, Boundary Oak’s pastoral website enables them to go online and seek help while at home or report a problem at school.

Prep values of positivity and kindness extend throughout Boundary Oak. They include a charitable ‘Pay It Forward Campaign’ that encourages children to think of others and the wider community. Some join the dedicated Charity Club and others have been inspired to altruistic acts like donating birthday money and collecting warm socks for a homelessness charity.

THE HEAD

Sophie Savage headteacher Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Proud and positive, Head Teacher Sophie Savage has had a steady rise through the ranks here. She first joined Boundary Oak in January 2016 as a mathematics teacher and was soon appointed Head of Maths. Within two years, she became Head of Seniors, overseeing the school’s transition from a Prep School to a Senior School. After a further two years, she became Academic Deputy Head, before became Headteacher in 2021.

Keen not to lose the close-knit family feel the school had as a Prep, as Headteacher she’s extended the experience in age-appropriate ways into the Senior school too. Along with outdoor learning, there’s a strong Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, clubs and activities for all age groups and school -wide positive reinforcement of good behaviour. Children at Boundary Oak also get a cheery in-person welcome as they arrive at school, either from the Head herself or another member of her Senior Leadership team.

QUIRKS

Outdoor learning at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

The legacy of the estate’s role as a D-Day marshalling area camp in WWII lives on at Boundary Oak and is a real focus in history lessons. There’s a WWII bunker in the woodlands and half the tiles in one of the classrooms in the Main Building were stolen by the Canadian troops stationed there. And something to note which could be ‘alarming’ if you arrive on a rainy day: the wet break bell is an Air-Raid Siren.

Surrounded by growing plots, in the grounds, a large cedar tree is pointed out to me as something of a school landmark and a go-to destination for the school’s Tree Climbing Club (well, I did say they were an outdoorsy bunch).

WRAPAROUND CARE

Boundary Oak’s many free clubs run until 5.30pm for Years 4-11. After School Care is provided from 4.30pm – 6pm by Foundation Play, which is also the school’s holiday club provider, at a cost of between £3 and £9 per session.

ISI REPORT

Boundary Oak’s most recent ISI inspection Report was in February 2024.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Day pupils at Boundary Oak are allowed to bring a mobile phone to school but are not permitted to have them during the school day. Boarders are allowed phones in the evening and at weekends but they must be handed in before bed.

TRANSPORT

Most pupils are dropped off at school by car. Around a quarter use the school bus system which connects Boundary Oak in all directions, including Southsea, Gosport, Netley, Southampton, Colden Common, Bishop’s Waltham, Wickham, Chichester, Emsworth and Havant.

FEES + SCHOLARSHIPS

Young pupils in an art lesson at Boundary Oak school Fareham Hampshire

Good value for the area. From January 2025, Reception, Years 1-2 are £4,112 per term for UK pupils, Year 3 is £4,458, Year 4 is £5,531, Year 5 £6,433, Year 6 £6,433, Years 7-9 £6,450, Years 10 & 11 are £6,898. Weekly boarding is an additional £3,102 per term for 5 nights per week and full boarding is £4,782.

WORD ON THE GROUND

The small school family vibe at Boundary Oak is real and one of the things that pupils I meet really enthuse about, saying they love being out in the countryside and fact that ‘everyone knows each other.’

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: The outdoorsy setting and connected, nurturing through school will work well for siblings and parents looking for a smaller Senior environment.

Not for: Scholars are individually challenged and some earn places at top independents but with many pupils also going on to local Sixth Forms, Boundary Oak might not suit overtly ambitious parents – there’s no ivory tower vibe here.

Fancy a visit? The next Open Events are a Junior School in Action Morning on Friday 22 November and a Starting School (4+) Experience Morning on Wednesday 27 November 2024.

Boundary Oak School, Roche Court, Fareham, Hampshire PO17 5BL. Tel 01329 280955.

Boundary Oak School, Fareham

You may also like