WHAT? WHERE?

Sherfield is a co-ed day and boarding school for children aged 3 months to 18 years in the village of Sherfield-on-Loddon, just outside Hook. The main building is glorious (Sherfield Manor was a private residence until it became North Foreland Lodge girls’ boarding school in 1947) and it has all the trappings of a proper country pile, from oak-panelled walls and sweeping staircases to original frescos in the sunny orangerie. The modern extensions are less lovely but the vast grounds include a lake, formal gardens and even a patch of ancient woodland.

Sherfield is technically non-selective, although behaviour and willingness will definitely play a part. There are currently around 620 pupils, many from Hook and surrounding villages, with good number coming in from Basingstoke and Reading. Roughly 12% board and class sizes hover delectably low around the 14 kids mark.

FACILITIES

Pupils at Sherfield School Hampshire music lesson recording

Sherfield has bags of facilities. Some are old, some new, and what it doesn’t have it finds elsewhere.

Tennis courts on the fountain lawn are lovely, and there are fantastic – and much used – multi sports pitches (the kids spend a lot of playtime here) along with a huge indoor sports hall and extensive playing fields. A private next-door golf course is used regularly by older pupils (and Sherfield turns out some impressive golfers). The lake, nature reserve, covered outdoor classroom and ancient woodland here used by all age groups for Forest School and by the older ones for Duke of Edinburgh award training.

Classrooms range from small and cosy in the eaves of the main building to large and interesting on the lower floors. A standalone science building previously saw investment, with large, well-equipped labs and there’s also a bright, spacious dining hall. Reception, Year 1 and 2 classrooms have just had a complete redesign and refurb, along with Sherfield’s smart Sixth Form Centre. The school is poised to cut the ribbon on a whole school assembly hall, too.

THE ARTS

Art lesson at Sherfield School Hampshire

Art is a big deal at Sherfield – the art rooms are happy, lived-in spaces with interesting projects on display. Design tech is taken seriously too, both in lessons and clubs. The school owns a super high-spec laser engraving machine and 3D printers that pupils can use.

Drama prodution at Sherfield School Hampshire

Drama is a calling card for Sherfield. From choosing the play itself to choreography, lighting and set design, it’s all done by the kids in an impressive purpose-built theatre. This means that pupils who may not see themselves as performers still get to play a huge part.

The ultra-enthusiastic head of Drama, Mr. Reynolds, is brilliantly Glee Club-esqe. He is clearly a favourite, inspiring one recent ex-pupil to go on to perform in the West End. Music is strong too, with two recording studios and plenty of bands formed by the children. As well as a newly-formed orchestra there are jazz bands, choirs and string quartets. Children play instruments from Junior Prep with a reasonable 25% taking individual lessons.

SPORT

Sherfield has plenty of sporting opportunities, from football, netball, rugby, cricket, badminton, tennis, cross country running, athletics, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, swimming and skiing to judo and golf.

Cricket is especially popular – players often represent county teams and Sherfield School hosts the ISA Cross Country London West Championships every year. It also has its fair share of individual sports stars and alumni, including a European title-holding ice skater, a GB skier (the annual ski trip is popular) and figure skater, Hampshire golfers, national standard trampolinists, medal-winning Modern Pentathlon pupils and tennis champions representing the county.

LITTLIES

Sherfield’s Early Years Centre is a relaxed, friendly facility in the school’s former boarding house. The indoor rooms are quite small but there are plenty of them. On my visit it was nap time for the babies, and they looked quite adorable tucked into their sleeping bags on cosy mattresses. The carer to child ratio is high, and it was nice to see some little ones simply being cuddled. The outdoor area is well-equipped, with a mud kitchen and lots of toys.

Children spend a lot of time outdoors and use a good deal of the grounds for supervised nature walks (when I arrived, they were walking hand-in-hand through the daffodils) and Forest School in the woodland.

Children have regular visits to the school library and enjoy music and movement sessions in the dance studio. Cooking is also big, with a dedicated nursery kitchen for decorating cakes and making pizza. Pre-reception children also have timetabled activities including PE lessons and yoga.

SIXTH FORM

Sherfield School’s Sixth Formers have the huge benefit of a dedicated Sixth Form Centre complete with classrooms, study rooms, comfy communal areas and even its own café. Sixth form numbers and subject choices vary year by year but leavers regularly secure their first choice of predominantly Russell Group Universities, with a few going on to international universities as far afield as Switzerland, Melbourne, Istanbul, Finland and the United States.

PASTORAL CARE

Sherfield School has a wellbeing team and health zone, including dedicated wellbeing areas, an external councillor and dedicated spaces kids can go to relax according to year group, as well as organised breaktime sessions. PHSE lessons are sensitively taught by form tutors with occasional external speakers on topics such as nutrition and mental health. The House system here also plays a big role in wellbeing, mentoring and pastoral care, giving children the opportunity to show school values and mix with all age groups in their houses.

ACADEMICS

Competition for places at Sherfield School is strong at 11+ and while there are no formal entrance exams, pupils do sit an assessment and are invited along to a taster day and morning. Academic results vary year-on-year but overall are pretty good. In 2024, 46% of students were awarded A*-A equivalent grades at GCSE and 94% achieved A-C. At A-Level, 45% of leavers left with A-A* grades and 83% A*-C.

BOARDING

Sherfield School offers full boarding, weekly and flexi boarding options for students aged 9 to 18. Purpose built in 2019, the larch-clad boarding block is one of the smartest I’ve seen, with modern, private, ensuite rooms for each pupil. The boarding block is on two floors, with boys upstairs and girls down. Each floor has its own well-equipped common room with large TVs, table football and games consoles. At the weekend, there’s regular shopping trips, activities, trips to Legoland and Warwick Castle, escape-room visits and a trip up to London in the Summer.

THE HEAD

Caroline Taylor Head Sherfield School Hook Hampshire

New in post, Caroline Taylor took over as Headteacher at Sherfield School in September 2024. She previously worked as Head of Dulwich College in Shanghai and various other senior teaching roles around Asia. Prior to that, she taught English and Humanities at Belmont Preparatory School in Dorking, Surrey.

QUIRKS

Enrichment, enrichment, enrichment! Friday afternoons are given over to the Pathways Programme. Students choose one pathway for the year from a choice of seven, from ‘Business and Enterprise’ to ‘Environment and Sustainability’ and participate in classes and activities. Tasks include learning practical skills, running businesses and supporting the local community (art students recently painted a mural in a hospice).

Many pupils also take part in Duke of Edinburgh and Junior Duke of Edinburgh Awards and can also choose to study an extra GCSE in a specialist subject – dance and astronomy are proving pretty popular right now.

Extra-curricular clubs are extraordinarily extensive, with origami, nature detectives, mindfulness, ceramics and more.

WRAPAROUND CARE

Sherfield offers a breakfast club from 7.30am in the dining hall and library and all sorts of after-school care until 6pm. The school is as flexible as possible for parents and, as it’s a boarding school, there are always staff and food on hand.

ISI REPORT

The most recent reports are here including a Routine Inspection in 2024.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not permitted during the school day except by the Sixth Form for academic purposes. Older boarders have monitored access to mobiles in the evening until 9pm.

TRANSPORT

School transport runs in every direction, with routes tailored to family needs. Currently there are bus routes running into Berkshire, over to Surrey and around Basingstoke. Many parents drive to school, with park and drop areas to help avoid delay to onward journeys.

FEES

Competitive for the area. For 2024 – 2025, Early Years ranges from £71 – £86 per day. Day pupils start at £4,340 per term in reception up to £7,230 in Years 9-13. Weekly boarding is £8,020 – £11,045 per term; Full boarding £9,360– £12,890 per term. School fees can be spread through the year with monthly payments. The school has committed not increase fees due to the upcoming VAT addition from January to August 2025.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Child at Sherfield School Prep Hook Hampshire

Parents particularly like the inclusive family feel and this would be a great place for a child who might get ‘overlooked’ in more of a hothouse environment. Kids are happy and enjoy a friendly rapport with teachers. The grounds are a big sell.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Pupils who want to explore a wealth of subjects and experiences – from enrichment to clubs to unusual sports, there’s a huge amount of opportunity. Gentler kids will benefit from the kind, ‘big family’ feel.

Not for: Those looking for a formal or aggressively competitive environment. If your child has ambitions to be in an super-charged rugby First XV team for example, this probably isn’t the place for them.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! To book a small group tour email admissions@sherfieldschool.co.uk. For 360° views inside and around Sherfield School click here. The next open event for Junior Prep (Reception to Year 4) is on Friday 15 November 2024. The next open events for Year 7 are Friday 28 March and Friday 2 May 2025.

Sherfield School, Reading Road, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 OHU. Tel: 01256 884800. info@shefieldschool.co.uk

Sherfield School, Hook

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