Brookham School shortlisted for top award

A leading independent school in Hampshire is in the running for a prestigious award. Despite a record number of entries, Highfield and Brookham Schools in Liphook have been shortlisted in the Pre-Prep of the Year category in the Independent School of the Year awards.

Finalists will be unveiled in September with category winners announced in October.

Offering a first-class education for children aged two to 13, academically and pastorally, Highfield and Brookham Schools has had a strong year despite Covid restrictions – with pupils and staff alike adapting incredibly well to bring some sense of normality to their schooling in trying times, all the while maintaining a safe, secure, healthy and happy environment.

And that fact has been recognised by the judges of the awards – which are run annually by Independent School Parent magazine – who were impressed by the strong and ever-evolving education provision at Brookham School, which caters for children from Nursery to Year 3.

Under the expert eye of respected headteacher Sophie Baber, who has been at Brookham for six years, 47 new children joined the pre-prep last September with a further 34 joining later in the year. As a result, Nursery currently boasts its highest number of pupils ever, with the building of an extension imminent, and Year 2 is fully subscribed.

Mrs Baber said: “To be shortlisted for the Pre-Prep of the Year Award is an incredible achievement and I am immensely proud of my staff for the care and dedication that they demonstrate every day without fail and of the children who are, of course, the life and soul of our lovely school. They are happy, eager and inquisitive young learners and this recognition is as much for them as anyone else.”

With teaching techniques constantly evolving, Mrs Baber and her team have implemented a wealth of new initiatives this school year, including a focus on children demonstrating their independence during lessons, developing and understanding language that will challenge the pupils and spark their imaginations, and a rewards system based around the key principles of the four Rs – being able to relate, reflect, be resilient and be resourceful.

Mrs Baber said: “Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we have had a successful year and rolled out many new ideas. There are many reasons for our success, but as far as education goes our ethos is simple – if it doesn’t benefit the children, we don’t do it.”

Phillip Evitt, headmaster at Highfield, Brookham’s prep school, said: “I’m incredibly proud of both of our schools, so to receive the news that Brookham has been shortlisted for Pre-Prep of the Year was absolutely fabulous. It really is testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of Sophie Baber and her superb team.”