Blogs
Why teacher development sits at the heart of Highfield
Kerri Wilkes, Deputy Head (Professional Development), shares why investing in teachers sits at the heart of Highfield’s approach, helping every child benefit from teaching that responds to their individual needs and supports their wellbeing.
5th Oct 2026
6 mins
The future of orchestras begins with our children
By Jessica Harman, Director of Music. Silence. That may well be what the orchestras of tomorrow sound like. As Director of Music at Highfield School, I am very fortunate to work in a school where music is taught every week from Nursery through to Year 8. We have a large team of specialists in the…
1st Oct 2026
9 mins
The vision behind ONE: creating our new Highfield film
“I do not think parents could ever have finer buildings, more beautiful grounds or more genuine character.” These words, spoken by Highfield’s former owner and Headmaster, W. R. Mills, open our new film. They were delivered in 1907 on the occasion of Highfield’s move from Southampton to our current premises. The opening was attended by about 150…
10th Sep 2026
5 mins
Changing the picture: our new approach to sharing school life
There’s nothing quite like seeing your child’s face in a school photo — caught mid-jump at sports day, concentrating hard over a piece of art or beaming after performing on stage. Photos like these matter. They capture moments parents can’t always be there for and they let families feel connected to school life, even from…
2nd Sep 2026
6 mins
Floreat House: A New Chapter in Highfield School’s History
Walk around any school and some buildings will stand out – not for how they look, but for what’s happened inside them over the years. At Highfield, one of those buildings now stands at a turning point in its 100-year history. Until now, it’s been our junior boarding house. From October half term, it will…
27th Aug 2026
5 mins
Growing Up at Highfield: The Benefits of a Nursery Within a School
By Georgie Hunter, Head of Pre-Prep and EYFS It doesn’t seem long ago that you were celebrating your child’s first steps. Now you’re visiting nurseries, wondering how they’ve grown up so quickly and trying to imagine them in a school uniform. The early years have a habit of moving fast, which is why choosing where those…
3rd Aug 2026
6 mins
The Summer Holidays Guide to Raising Independent Children
By Georgie Hunter, Head of Pre-Prep and EYFS By the time the summer holidays arrive, many parents are ready to collapse. The school run stops, the packed lunches disappear, the uniform can finally stay in the drawer, and for a moment there is a wonderful sense of calm. Then, quite quickly, another feeling creeps in. What…
6th Jul 2026
8 mins
School Readiness for Reception: A Summer Guide for Families
By Georgie Hunter, Head of Pre-Prep and EYFS | Highfield and Brookham School Something has shifted. Over the past few years, those of us working in early years education have noticed a change in the children arriving on that very first day of Reception. Not in their enthusiasm, that spark is as bright as ever,…
16th Jun 2026
8 mins
Primary School Place Offers 2026: A time to rethink?
By Georgie Hunter, Head of Pre-Prep and EYFS When primary school place offers are announced on 16th April 2026, thousands of families across the country will open emails or letters that bring a mix of emotions, relief, excitement, disappointment or uncertainty. If you are searching today for “not happy with primary school place offer”, “what to do…
16th Apr 2026
4 mins
Big Questions, Independent Minds: The Year 8 IPQ
by Ian Nicholas, Deputy Head (Academic) 17th March 2026 How does make-up affect young woman and girls psychologically? If AI generated a painting, would it still be considered art? Why do we eat food that’s not good for us and how do we stop? These aren’t questions from a philosophy seminar or a university lecture….
19th Mar 2026
4 mins
Mind the Gap: Why Years 7 and 8 Could Be the Most Important Decision You Make
by Charlotte Cottrell, Admissions Registrar – 17th March 2026 There’s a moment that many parents know well. The 11+ results arrive, the dust settles and you find yourself wondering: what now? Perhaps your child’s senior school of choice doesn’t begin until Year 9. Perhaps the results didn’t go quite as hoped. Or perhaps, if you’re…
17th Mar 2026
5 mins
State to Eight: Why Wait?
By Georgie Hunter, Head of Pre-Prep It is a question parents have grappled with for years. Beyond the obvious financial considerations, why do some families wait until Year 3 to join an independent school? More importantly, what are the hidden costs of waiting and should you start your investment earlier? Beyond the Basics: A Broader…
9th Mar 2026
4 mins
Reading for Pleasure: Small Habit, Big Impact. Why Reading for Pleasure Matters More Than Ever.
by Kerri Wilkes, Deputy Head World Book Day, the National Year of Reading and what it means for our children World Book Day is nearly here, as always falling on the first Thursday in March, but this year it sits within something even bigger: the National Year of Reading. This nationwide initiative, supported by organisations such as…
2nd Mar 2026
7 mins