Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/House-3.jpg" alt="Walhampton" class="wp-image-10853" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/House-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/House-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/House-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/House-3-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="http://www.walhampton.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Walhampton School</a> in Lymington has 100-acres of prime southern real-estate right by the Solent, with an excellent view of the Isle of Wight and The Needles on a clear day. The school is a co-ed nursery, pre-prep and prep, with boarding facilities and has just over 350 children aged 2-13 within its student body. Walhampton is a non-selective school and welcomes children of all abilities. The maximum class sizes are 20 and tend to average around 15, making sure that kids get lots of one-to-one care. </p>



<p>In 2024, Walhampton scooped the <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-schools-awards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy Best Schools Award</a> for <em>Most Inclusive (Prep) School</em>, in part thanks to its recent work to broaden access to the school through the Walhampton School Foundation Trust, as well as equitable initiatives such as the school&#8217;s Inclusion Diversity and Equity in Action working group and Neurodiversity celebration week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-facilities">FACILITIES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="978" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-kids-in-wood-1.jpg" alt="Children in woodland at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35236" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-kids-in-wood-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-kids-in-wood-1-800x522.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-kids-in-wood-1-1000x652.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-kids-in-wood-1-768x501.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Space is key here. Walhampton has 100-acres of it &#8211;&nbsp;not to mention a lot of water with the Solent and&nbsp;three of its very own lakes. Outdoor learning and adventuring is big here including historic&nbsp;re-enactments like a Viking Raid (yikes!)&nbsp;along with kayaking&nbsp;and fishing on the smaller lakes.</p>



<p>There is woodland&nbsp;all over the grounds &#8211; you&nbsp;could spend&nbsp;forever exploring every nook and cranny and still find&nbsp;something new.&nbsp;And making the most of this, the school has both an outdoor classroom, which is used by the whole school for any lesson that would benefit from some fresh air and a change of scene, as well as a Forest School setting, which is used every week by the pre-prep classes.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1429" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Riding-32-1.jpg" alt="Horse Riding at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35234" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Riding-32-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Riding-32-1-800x762.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Riding-32-1-1000x953.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Riding-32-1-768x732.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For slightly more man-made facilities, the school has its very own riding stables (complete with New Forest ponies) and dedicated equestrian centre, a 17m outdoor pool (which is used during the warmer months) and the children also have access to the 9-hole golf course next door.&nbsp;Absolutely perfect for getting that&nbsp;practice going for the US Open.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="963" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Choir-10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35240" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Choir-10.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Choir-10-800x514.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Choir-10-1000x642.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Choir-10-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The school also benefits from a Performing Arts Centre, separate music centre and sports hall. Music and drama are a real strength. Lamda is open to pupils from Years 3 &#8211; 8 with a long waiting list and strong results. A dedicated Director of Music supports the orchestra, ensembles and pretty high number (65%) of pupils that take individual lessons. Having grown in popularity in recent years, the melodious Chapel Choir is now well established. In 2023, they came second in the Junior Children’s Choir category at the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sports">SPORTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1018" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Sport-43.jpg" alt="Football game at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35237" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Sport-43.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Sport-43-800x543.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Sport-43-1000x679.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Sport-43-768x521.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Sports are <em>huge</em> at Walhampton with an inclusive &#8216;sports for all&#8217; ethos. Many of the keenest pupils have competed at county and national level in disciplines such as sailing, rugby, dressage and hockey, with girls&#8217; football a real strength and a new Cricket Academy just about to launch, in addition to the existing Netball and Rugby Academies. Many of the children&nbsp;go on to receive sports scholarships to some of the top senior schools.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boarding">BOARDING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="679" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/17_Apr_Walhampton_LAMDA_Rooms_Garden-5-1.jpg" alt="Walhampton Girl Dorms Bunk Beds" class="wp-image-10864" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/17_Apr_Walhampton_LAMDA_Rooms_Garden-5-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/17_Apr_Walhampton_LAMDA_Rooms_Garden-5-1-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/17_Apr_Walhampton_LAMDA_Rooms_Garden-5-1-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/02/17_Apr_Walhampton_LAMDA_Rooms_Garden-5-1-720x489.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Although there are boarding facilities here,&nbsp;you&#8217;ll find that the majority of kids are local day pupils, with&nbsp;space for up to 60 boarding at any one time. The school offers full and flexi-boarding to help local families&nbsp;with their very own Walhampton Express picking up and dropping off kids for families on the London trainline.</p>



<p>For those who do board, the rooms here are absolutely stunning, with epic views over the sea. The girls&#8217; dorms, in particular, have incredible custom made bunk beds&nbsp;created by a local carpenter. The rooms have loads of storage space, plenty of personal touches&nbsp;as well as plenty of room for gallivanting (think of all those dance routines you could perfect in that space).</p>



<p>Walhampton&#8217;s House Parents and boarding team assistants run a tight ship in terms of mobile phones and social media, with set times (with adjustments for international kids) and a locked room where the tech gets&nbsp;put each night.</p>



<p>There&#8217;s plenty to keep boarders busy as well, with the grounds at their disposal and organised trips and activities in the evenings and weekends. When they aren&#8217;t studying they&#8217;re all busy climbing trees, roasting marshmallows at their al fresco Saturday suppers or spending time learning fun new skills such as zorbing, graffiti art or Quidditch.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-academics">ACADEMICS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="941" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-P-Science-6.jpg" alt="Science lesson at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35238" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-P-Science-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-P-Science-6-800x502.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-P-Science-6-1000x627.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-P-Science-6-768x482.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re looking for &#8216;next school&#8217; results, you&#8217;re in the right place. In 2024, 24  Walhampton leavers (43% of pupils) were awarded scholarships to their chosen senior schools. Excellent, inclusive SEN support is on offer here too, with the kids included in the mainstream classes and helpers who rotate to give them additional support. Everybody learns together, which prevents any marginalising for those who need extra help.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isi-report">ISI REPORT</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.isi.net/school/walhampton-6559">Walhampton&#8217;s latest full ISI inspection was in December 2018</a>. The school was rated &#8216;Excellent&#8217; in all areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-head">THE HEAD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="876" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Timms_Family.jpg" alt="Headmaster Jonny Timms and family at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35239" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Timms_Family.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Timms_Family-800x467.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Timms_Family-1000x584.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton-Timms_Family-768x449.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Jonny Timms joined the school as head in January 2021, with his wife, Sophie, and children Artie, Teddy and Gabriel. He began teaching through the Teach First scheme at the Harris Academy in Peckham.&nbsp;After two years he moved to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh in 2010, where he taught English through to A’ level and ran a boarding house. Before Walhampton, he was Senior Deputy Head at Caldicott Preparatory School (a boys’ day and boarding prep school in South Buckinghamshire).</p>



<p>Since joining the school, Timms has introduced a few changes to the structure of the day &#8211; lessons now start bright and early at 8.30am with core subjects taught before lunch when he feels pupils are at their brightest. He&#8217;s also worked hard to help make Walhampton more connected in the local community through enrichment-time beach cleans and other community projects, having open conversations about diversity and making entrance more accessible through bursaries. All of which helped earn the school the national 2024 <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-schools-awards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy Best Schools Award</a> for <em>Most Inclusive Prep</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quirks">QUIRKS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Boat_Challenge-57.jpg" alt="Boat challenge model at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35232" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Boat_Challenge-57.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Boat_Challenge-57-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Boat_Challenge-57-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Boat_Challenge-57-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>OMG, loads! Kids climbing around in ditches pretending to be World War I soldiers; full-scale naval re-enactments on the lakes &#8211;&nbsp;it&#8217;s very much an immersive environment at the school.</p>



<p>In the summer evenings, they have campfires, climb trees (there&#8217;s a club for that too) and play games such as &#8216;Glade-iators&#8217;, where you&#8217;ll find the kids (and the staff) running around with torches trying to escape the guards in a Manhunt-style game. The&nbsp;school&#8217;s self-proclaimed &#8216;Swallows &amp; Amazons&#8217; ethos is bang on.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1076" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Grounds-1.jpg" alt="grounds at Walhampton School Lymington Hampshire" class="wp-image-35241" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Grounds-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Grounds-1-800x574.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Grounds-1-1000x717.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/09/Walhampton_Grounds-1-768x551.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The grounds themselves are&nbsp;a brilliant mixture of ancient forest and stately home by the sea.&nbsp;You&#8217;ll find statues and fountains at absolutely every turn, with grand gardens you&#8217;d expect to see in a National Trust property.&nbsp;There&#8217;s a real element of storybook here as well with an old traditional caravan that pops up on occasion, the&nbsp;so-called&nbsp;Curly Wurly Mountain and Faraway Tree that the kids love to play on and even their very own &#8216;Hobbit House&#8217; lifted straight out of Tolkien.</p>



<p>Some unusual subjects at Walhampton too &#8211; sailing is part of the curriculum here and there&#8217;s a full programme of academic enrichment spanning sport, film studies, origami, Mandarin, beekeeping and Sociology for Year 5 and 6 children. And maybe not so much quirk as a massive coup, one year, Bear Grylls popped in to give some extra tuition on their Bushcraft curriculum&nbsp;&#8211; how&#8217;s that for a celeb teacher? </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wraparound-care">WRAPAROUND CARE</h2>



<p>Walhampton’s breakfast club opens to all from 7.30 – 8am, when classes begin. Pupils from Year 3 onwards have the option to flexi-board and there’s also new holiday club programme. After school care runs until 6pm for nursery and pre-prep and 6.30pm for prep pupils, with supper for those staying late.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mobile-phone-policy">MOBILE PHONE POLICY</h2>



<p>No pupils are allowed mobile phones during the school day. Any calls must be made from the school office. Pupils that travel to and from school independently are allowed to bring a mobile phone into school which must be switched off and handed into the School Office on arrival. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fees">FEES</h2>



<p>Reasonable for the area, especially in the earlier years. Fees start at £3,995 per term in Reception &#8211; Year 2, rising to £7,465 in later year groups. Boarding starts at&nbsp;3 nights a week at £1,355 per term right up to £3,025, per term for full-boarding. There is also ad hoc flexi-boarding for £55 per night for day and boarding pupils. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-word-on-the-ground">WORD ON THE GROUND</h2>



<p>Parents like that the school is part of the local community in the New Forest, and that there&#8217;s a grounded, intimate family feel to the school. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT </h2>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Those who want an immersive experience for their kids while still having loads of flexibility and assistance when it comes to academics, boarding and general schooling. Also ideal for any child who is particularly keen on sailing and sports. The school prides itself on being a brilliant environment for individual, creative kids. </p>



<p><strong>Not for: </strong>If your child hates the outdoors, sailing and animals, they probably aren&#8217;t going to be a big fan. </p>



<p><strong>Dare to disagree?! </strong>Make your own decision and contact the school Registrar on 01590 613303 or <a href="mailto:registrar@walhampton.com">registrar@walhampton.com</a> to request a tour. <a href="https://www.walhampton.com/arrange-a-visit/">The next open events</a> are on Friday 11 October 2024 and Friday 21 March 2025.</p>



<p><em>Walhampton School,&nbsp;School Ln, Lymington SO41 5ZG. Tel:&nbsp;01590 613300.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.walhampton.com/" target="_blank">walhampton.com</a></em> </p>


Walhampton School, Lymington

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