Farleigh School

Our View

Formerly a Catholic boys' prep, now co-ed boarding with lots of day. Swanky Georgian house in the Test Valley in the midst of 60 acres of well-bred parkland and haughty trees. Lovely new kindergarten and pre-prep department where all do dance and ballet up to age 7 and year 2 learn French, the recorder and optional violin free of charge. Well-equipped theatre with tiered seating. Stunning new art and design block. New indoor heated 25m pool and large sports hall. New treehouse construction known as Fortress Farleigh built in the woods close to the school – an adventure play area containing walkways, swings, climbing ropes, fireman's pole etc. Close by, a new and very realistic Anderson shelter to give the children a taste of what life was like during an air raid in the Second World War with genuine WWII air raid siren and gas masks. No way is there anything down at heel about the hardware. The head praises financially astute governors. Results speak well of the teaching but they tell only part of the academic story. Non selective, they assert, with the customary caveat about SENs beyond their ken. 'We'll never break up a family unless we can't meet a child's needs.'

The pre-prep, in the words of a parent, is 'cosy, well run, faultless'. In the prep they seek to stimulate self-motivation. Self-exiled Londoners greet remission from forcefeeding with relief – 'Farleigh is very nurturing' – and all parents agree that children are 'not overly pushed'. Children setted according to ability in a gradual process over years 4 and 5. Max class size 18, most 15. Fair amount of cross-curricular learning. Latin from year 6. Art and design just terrific and very well resourced. Attitudes to special needs astonishing. We are shown round by the most personable fellow in the world who talks about his dyslexia with no trace of a hangup. How rare is that? Strong learning support with 4 qualified staff. They are quick to spot SENs as they reveal themselves in the pre-prep. They'll have a go at dyslexia, dyspraxia, mild social/communication difficulties and nervous examinees. 69 pupils on the learning support register and 44 on the gifted, able and talented register.

Teachers feature high in the pantheon of pupils' heroes and several, to their mild bewilderment, are summoned from the staffroom by our pupil hosts so that we can scrutinise them. Mr Butt is absolutely not to be missed and, by jingo, are we glad we do get to ambush him on his way to coach cricket! Here is a dyed-in-the-wool, ancestral prep school master whose colourful nature defies the greyness of our times. That he thrives here speaks highly of his habitat. Number one school hero is Andy. Andy is the chef and he leads a great team. He listens and he tries his best. He plays football with us after prep. He sources his food locally – free range chicken and eggs, and only British meat. He cooks big breakfasts and, twice a term, themed suppers or dinner nights. There's always fruit all day long. He's well wicked is Andy!

Boarding is perfectly comfy. You have to remind yourself that at this age they don't much mind having not much territory. There's a junior boarding house for boys and girls aged 7 to 10, one boarding house for senior boys and one for senior girls (run by a husband and wife team) in dormitories, some parts of which have been subdivided, with improved recreational spaces. There's flexi-boarding for the littlest if that's what they want, but in the summer of year 7 most sign up for weekly at least, giving them 4 terms to get ready for 5 years of serious porridge at boarding senior schools, which are very popular with Farleigh parents. Everyone spends two weekends per term banged up. Lots of staff around in the evening including the 5 gappies. Third degree interrogation of children punctuated by incredulous snorts reveals nothing but kindness and, behind that, more kindness. Housemothers rated very highly.

There's unquestionably masses to do including jolly jaunts to nearby pleasure domes. Special feature is the drawing room where the children divert themselves before bedtime. It's so nice you'd think children would be barred from it. The social atmosphere of the school is decidedly warm – bullying rated 'nauseous'. The Fr Simon influence is strong here. Children from a school for special needs come on Tuesdays and the Farleigh folk play with them unselfconsciously. Senior schools note that friendships forged at Farleigh keep their shape. Discipline is all about self-regulation but, this being a full on, action packed place, exceedingly shrinking violets may stay shrunk.

Moral and spiritual values rated high – religion is 'a warm breeze'. Attitudes to sport are liberal. 'Everyone has the right to be coached in any sport. There's no hierarchy. Anyone can play for the school if they want to.' Those who sidestep hard knocks swim some of the time instead. It's perfectly okay not to be sporty but, if you're a boy, probably better if you are. Nevertheless, parents say, 'It's not all about winning and success like other schools.' Oh yeah? 'That comes back in the language the children use.' There are many incentives and awards for effort, and colours for academic work, music, art, drama and sport.

Music is strong – two thirds learn an instrument. Decidedly inclusive – 'There are some awful voices in the choirs but no one seems to mind'. Much choral singing and all the ensembles you'd expect. Drama good. After school activities numerous, mostly sporty. Lots of romping in the woods, of course – dens, that kind of thing. Very few pupils from abroad, but there's a Spanish connection so usually a couple from there plus a handful of overseas, mostly Services, Brits. Parents the usual rural cross section plus a swelling inpouring of Londoners, commuters and weekenders, for whom Farleigh has become the country boarding school of choice. It shows in the cars. Some of the locals resent their flash metrocousins who, they reckon, look down their blingy noses at them but, deep as we dug, we found very little of this. Good social life for parents, the Friends of Farleigh are dedicated exclusively to pleasure – bonfire nights, family funday, that sort of lark. This is a smart, successful and engaging school, no doubt about it, whose dynamic reflects some fast paced, high achieving parents. The influence of the head is pervasive, rooting the school in values of right thinking and right conduct.

Head

Since 2004, Father Simon Everson (forties). Brought in to hold the fort during an interregnum, became a permanent installation by popular acclaim. His life journey has taken him from low to high. Educated by non-conformists at Caterham, he became a C of E vicar and ministered to indigent souls in Bermondsey, Kennington and other low joints. Converted to Catholicism, despatched to be chaplain at Farleigh and ascended without trace. The school has been counting its blessings ever since – 'The parents would have revolted if he hadn't been appointed'. Hugely popular, you can't chat to anyone for more than a few seconds before Father Simon assumes a starring role in the conversation. Praise veers to extravagance: 'He is the glory of the school'; 'Great leadership, very clear principles'; 'Firm finger on the pulse'; 'He tells you what you don't want to hear'. Bucked by this, we calibrated our expectations for mind-rocking charisma. In the event, it turns out he doesn't do that. Don't be wobbled. 'He can be distant with adults but he knows exactly the right thing to say to each child.' 'You've got to get to know him.' His acts of kindness are legendary. He visited a homesick girl in her public school twice in her first term. The weekly mass overflows the chapel. He is a Good Thing with, it seems, no holds barred. Lives on campus with his wife Gail who 'supports him and keeps an eye on him' and does all sorts of jobs around the school from learning support to flower rota. Two daughters, one at Farleigh and one who has now moved on to her senior school.

Entrance

Kindergarten at 3, pre-prep at 5, both non-selective. Assessment (not too rigorous) at 7 if coming from outside. Oversubscribed so priority given to RCs, boarders, siblings and children of former pupils. Presently 50 per cent RC. Boarding nurtured and thriving.

Exit

The customary diaspora – most to boarding schools: Ampleforth, Downside, Eton, Winchester, Radley (you get the flavour). The westerlies flavoursome, too – Sherborne, Marlborough, Bryanston, Cheltenham. For Catholic girls any of the St Mary's popular. Hardly anyone leaves at 11, just a handful for senior girls' boarding schools or for state grammars – boys to Bishop Wordsworth, girls to South Wilts. Around 10 scholarships won per year (17 in 2008). Notable former pupils include actor Rupert Everett, journalist Craig Brown, Lords Stafford (pro-chancellor of Keele University) and Hesketh (Formula 1), rugby player Hugh Vyvyan and Hampshire cricketers, James and Edward Bruce.