WHAT? WHERE?

Once the family home of Florence Nightingale, the bucolic Embley is a selective, through school from Nursery and Prep to Senior and Sixth Form (2-18 years). The expansive 130-acre estate and red-bricked 16^th century manor house is full of character and looks out over sweeping views. Inside the historic buildings are a mix of heritage rooms and modern interiors, classrooms and creative spaces conducive to the school’s forward-looking 21st century curriculum, taught in manageable class sizes of 18 – 22.

Situated in the beautiful Test Valley, Embley has all the benefits of a countryside location and is easily reachable from Southampton, Winchester and the coast, with a number of students coming in from London. Most day pupils live within a 25 – 30-mile radius and make up the majority of the 520-strong rollcall in the Senior School and Sixth Form, with 75 boarders from the UK and a range of international locations.

FACILITIES

The facilities at Embley really are top-notch. How many schools can say they’ve got their very own fleet of yachts moored just a short ride away? The school also has its own 9-hole golf course, tennis courts and a swimming pool on site.

SPORT

This is an incredibly sporty school and everybody gets a chance to be active. Sailing, climbing, mountaineering, scuba diving, golf, tennis and skiing – there’s not much off limits. There are plenty of team sports and successes too, with rugby, hockey, netball and cricket all strengths for the school at county level. Embley pupils also have access to some impressive teachers too, including the double Olympic medallist on the hockey coaching team. In rugby, older pupils benefit from an elite training programme led by a former international captain for Wales, Cardiff and the British & Irish Lions.

Making the most of its proximity to the Solent, Embley continues to make waves (hoho!) in the world of sailing, with training led by the school’s Head of Sailing who has been part of the Volvo Ocean Race and Vestas SailRocket team. A force to be reckoned with in the Isle of Wight’s Round the Island Race. Embley is also a member of the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association and has a strong race team competing across the country. Pupils in Year 5 and 6 take RYA Level 1, helping to ensure new generations of budding champion sailors come through the school.

MUSIC & DRAMA

As well as an impressive schedule of productions in the school’s performing arts centre, pupils also have the opportunity to take to the stage at Theatre Royal Winchester in the school’s annual production.

Musicians are also well catered for with dedicated music rooms, a state-of-the-art recording studio and concerts and recitals in and out of school, including Romsey Abbey, as well as workshops with renowned pianists and composers. Embley has also confirmed that there’s a new performance space in the pipeline.

ACADEMICS

Embley pupils are stretched intellectually to think deeply and critically and often beyond the curriculum – something the Head calls ‘being purposefully uncomfortable’. Behind the scenes, teachers are continuously analysing data so they know every pupil’s progress to help maximise their potential (but without letting pressure loom over them). In Year 7, test scores are sent to Durham University and used to help monitor performance throughout the Senior School and calculate Value Added Scores, where Embley pupils consistently score well.

In the latest 2024 GCSE results, 42% of Embley students achieved grades 9-7 (A*-A), 65% 9-6 (A*-B) and 97% 9-4 (A*-C equivalent). At A-Level, 49% of A-Level pupils achieved A*- B and 75% achieved A*-C.

Embley is really focused on ensuring pupils develop the broader 21^st century skills geared to help them be successful and happy in their futures. As part of this, there’s a 200-strong co-curricular programme, Embley Asset Management (where pupils are trading with real money on the international markets), a Model UN and an entrepreneur’s club help develop future policy makers and entrepreneurs.

Pupil taking part in Greenpower challenge at Embley School Hampshire

Budding engineers, programmers and scientists can hone their skills in the Aeronautics Programme, Code Club and Green Power Car Challenge (where pupils are building and racing electric cars at Castle Coombe, Goodwood and other circuits). And there are plenty of opportunities for the more creatives across the Arts.

SIXTH FORM

Sixth Former with teacher at Embley School Hampshire

Well over half of Embley’s Year 11 pupils choose to stay on here for Sixth Form, with the rest coming in from other schools and countries. The school has a good track record preparing pupils well for University, as well as catering for the growing number moving onto apprenticeships.

The Sixth Form offers 24 A Level subjects, available to study in any combination and taught in small groups, with the option to take an Extended Project Qualification (which is really well regarded by universities). Headed up by two energetic Directors of Sixth Form, there’s an Oxbridge programme, interview training with professionals, and the chance to take part in higher education conferences, university roadshows and industry careers events.

One of the key things Embley’s Sixth Form is known for, flagship Nightingale Lectures invite everyone from explorers and astronauts to leading sports personalities and Formula 1 designers and engineers to speak to students during formal, black tie dining experiences.

There are also lots of opportunities for Sixth Formers to hone leadership skills by leading school-wide initiatives, managing the student body or leading the many sports teams such as the keelboat race team.

In 2024, Russell Group universities accounted for around half of destinations for leavers. Students went on to pursue a broad spectrum of subjects including Biochemistry at the University of Oxford, Veterinary Science at Bristol. Chemical Engineering at Birmingham and History at Exeter.

BOARDING

Boarder at Embley School Romsey Hampshire boarding

How many people can say they’ve lived at Florence Nightingale’s house? The boarding facilities are housed within the main part of the Manor House. And my, what a house!

Starting from Year 7, light dorms look out onto incredible views and are well kept and updated. The husband and wife boarding team, Mr. and Mrs McCredie, are incredibly warm, friendly and bursting with ideas for the kids to keep them occupied. Younger and older boarders have their own common rooms and there’s a games room and kitchen. When the prep is finished, the kids are as busy as they want to be with plenty of trips out, sporting fixtures, bake-off competitions and takeaway treat nights.

Strong international partnerships continue to bring in an international cohort, purposefully capped to encourage a diversity of friendships and ensure the pupil population at Embley spans different cultures. The 50/50 split between international students and UK students means friendships here really are global.

PASTORAL CARE

There’s a real focus on helping pupils feel that they belong at Embley. Many families join the Prep with a view to continuing their child’s education through to Sixth Form. Most years, the majority of Year 6 children will move over the drive from Prep to Senior.

Every pupil at Embley is part of a form group and lessons are taught in these groups until Year 10. Embley’s team of tutors, Heads of Year, Heads of Boarding, matron and school councillors work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and safeguarding leads work together to keep close tabs on the happiness, wellbeing and safety of every child.

PSHE lessons take place in the Wellbeing Hub – a repurposed classroom with bean bags and sofas to help pupils talk more openly about a range of topics in a less formal environment as they continue their journey through adolescence. There’s also a dedicated online portal for parents too which has a wide range of resources to help parents meet their child’s social and emotional needs.

THE HEAD

Cliff Canning has been Headmaster at the school since 2017 and was previously Deputy Head of St Christopher School in Hertfordshire. Before that, he was Director of the International Baccalaureate programme at Bedford Girls’ School.

A warm and philosophical man with a monastic education, he is unapologetic about his ‘relentless’ drive for improvement. Turning pupil ideas about bake sales into national student-led conferences, he is a big believer in letting the children influence the way the school develops in principle and practice.

He also backs Embley pupils to follow their own dreams – rather than the expectations of others. Cliff Canning’s sometimes out-of-the-box thinking and drive for continuous improvement and opportunities has seen pupil numbers here almost double since he arrived.

QUIRKS

There’s some real forward-thinking at Embley that’s evident in initiatives like the Aeronautics Programme – where the ambition is to get pupils in the pilot seat – and Embley Asset Management, a club that allows pupils to learn about how the business world works and understand about the cause and effect of the news and world events on the market. When the funds mature, the profit contributes to a bursary which allows a pupil who would otherwise be unable to attend the school.

Embley pupils also show plenty of drive. Having been unsuccessful in securing a place in the Ten Tors 2024 Challenge, one group of students (supported by the Outdoor Education team) wouldn’t be beaten and created their own challenge. After a training programme with weekends in the New Forest and on Dartmoor, they conquered the three tallest peaks in Scotland over three days and even did a litter-pick at the top of Ben Nevis.

To promote the Arts, Embley has its own annual Fringe Festival with comedy acts and street theatre, art and a speaker’s corner brought to the foreground. And on the staff roster, lessons taught by a former marine biologist that go way and above the curriculum are another example of Embley’s ‘thinking outside the box’ approach.

Embley also has its own Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Linked to the Army Air Corp at Middle Wallop this sees cadets regularly headed to the airfield. Designed to foster life skills and self-confidence, the scheme also opens up even more co-curricular opportunities that contribute to DofE Awards.

WRAPAROUND CARE

School doors open from 8am for an 8.25am start. Homework club and a whopping 200+ co-curricular activities continue until 4.40pm, Monday – Thursday.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI full inspection report was in October 2022. Embley rated as ‘Excellent’ across all areas for pupil achievement and personal development.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not allowed out during the school day. Pupils can bring phones if they need to communicate with parents while using the school bus. Boarders can use their mobiles during their free time outside of school hours to keep in touch with home but they are not allowed during prep, at mealtimes or after ‘lights out’. The Wi-Fi in the boarding house is switched off overnight to encourage a break from screens.

TRANSPORT

Embley operates 25 bus routes across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. Around half of children travel to school by bus, the rest are dropped off by car or are boarders.

FEES & SCHOLARSHIPS

Fees are competitive at £6,795 per term for Years 7 – 13 and £11,880 per term for UK boarders. Embley offers a sibling discount of 5% for a second child and 10% for third and subsequent siblings attending at the same time. There’s also a 10% reduction for serving members of the Armed Forces. Scholarships are also available in a number of areas including academic, the Arts and sport.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents looking for a forward-looking education for their kids balancing strong academics with individual and wide-ranging personal development.

Not for: Embley is by no means an academic hot house but pupils here are challenged to try new things and move beyond their comfort zone in all aspects of school life.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! Embley’s next Prep and Senior open mornings are on Wednesday 20 November 2024 and Tuesday 11 March 2025. To book a place or arrange an individual tour, contact the admissions team on 01794 512206, admissions@embley.org.uk.

Embley, Embley Park, Romsey, SO51 6ZE. Tel: 01794 512206.

Embley, Romsey

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