Old Buckenham Hall School A GSG School

Sports

Unusual sports

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Fencing

Shooting

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since September 2023, James Large, previously at Norwich School. Grew up in Suffolk, read zoology at Southampton and did teacher training at UEA. Attributes his ‘broad interest in all areas of school life’ to his parents – his father was a marine biologist and his mother a primary school teacher, musician and artist. ‘Their influence has remained with me throughout life.’ He is joined by his wife, Harriet, and their young son, Albie. Alongside his interest in the biological world, he loves sport ‘in all its forms’, having represented GB as a sailor from a young age and, more recently, England in touch rugby. Also has a ‘deep appreciation’ for the creative arts.

Entrance

Academically non-selective though pupils must be able to keep up with the curriculum. Prospective pupils and parents are invited to visit the school to meet the head and tour the school. Pupils then have informal assessments in maths and English and parents have the opportunity to discuss things further with the head. ‘It is all about getting to know each other and building a relationship based on trust.’ School is almost at full capacity, especially higher up the school.

Exit

Pupils move on to senior schools all over the country though the most popular destinations continue to be those relatively nearby. Oundle, Uppingham, Rugby, The Leys, RHS and Harrow all popular; a couple to Eton each year. Plenty of scholarships and awards.

Our view

A country school that revels in its rural Suffolk setting. Wellies, whether green or not, are essential for pupils to rush about and enjoy the grounds which include wooded areas (with climbable trees), ponds, walled gardens and endless green vistas. As the crow flies, not far from Stowmarket or Bury St Edmund’s but you will need a decent map or satnav to find it down the twisty lanes.

The splendid gated entrance, complete with lodges on either side, leads to an avenue of trees – ‘It raises the spirits just to drive in each day,’ said a parent and everyone spoke of how the school’s setting influenced their choice. Originally a boys’ school, founded in 1862, it was moved to its present site, Brettenham Park, in 1956. The main building, a mansion with 16th century origins, has been built on over the years, most notably during the ownership of Joseph Bonaparte (ex-king of Spain, brother of Napoleon) in the 19th century. It was he who created a salon in the style of the hall of mirrors at Versailles which really takes the breath away. The room, off the main hall, is not kept in mothballs for occasional show but in regular use for receptions and meetings – a log fire roaring when we visited, and yet another in the oak-panelled, galleried main entrance hall. ‘We all warm our hands as we go past,’ a pupil told us.

Some classrooms and specialist areas have purpose-built premises, none especially distinguished, but many – including science (three separate labs) and DT – are based in interesting adaptations of former stable blocks. Most buildings single storey, connected by brick-weave paths and covered ways with boot racks outside most entrances. The nursery and pre-prep have their own buildings where we met pupils who, though having an after-lunch ‘rest’, were only too glad to sit up and talk. Play areas include a massive walled garden, playground with a sky-blue bouncy surface, climbing apparatus and giant chess set, trikes and bikes.

The Britten Hall – built in 2003 and named after OBH’s most famous old boy – houses classrooms and a massive balconied hall that is used for assemblies, performances and gym. The practice rooms and rehearsal space are all well used by the 70 per cent of pupils who learn an instrument. The outdoor swimming pool is used throughout the spring and summer and, mirabile dictu, is about to finally get a roof so swimming will be all year round.

Class sizes are kept small, ranging from 10 to 18, with setting in core subjects beginning in the middle school (age 7). French begins in nursery, Latin in year 5. We saw a Latin class in action, very lively teaching on adjectives with lots of hand waving from pupils with the right answers. Everyone leapt to their feet when we came into the room.

The library is a large panelled room with enticing sofas to snuggle into to read. Learning for Success (the term coined for extra support) takes place in a large, cheerful room. ‘Lots of children need a boost at some point.’ Help is primarily one-to-one with mild dyslexia and dyscalculia the most common difficulties. Pupils have their own individual goals to reach and are encouraged to focus on their own path rather than comparing themselves with peers.

Once in year 7 and 8 there is a more structured set-up, with those hoping to win academic awards kept together in a set. Specific help for entry to certain senior schools is individually targeted with an extra hour or so on a weekly basis. The school makes a point of celebrating varied triumphs including a recent case where a pupil – having repaired an old bike for charity that he found in the sheds at school – found himself a social media star when it was picked up and went viral. ‘It’s not only about the fast lane,’ a parent remarked, ‘which is also good for the pupils who generally do well in lots of other things.’

Pupils keep the same tutor from years 6 to 8 so they have continuity. Tutors are the first port of call if there is a problem but there is ‘no trouble finding the right person’, according to a parent. School says childhood is a time ‘to be able to make mistakes because that is how you learn’, and this is echoed by lots of parents who told us the school is a place where ‘children can enjoy a proper childhood’.

OBH was a forest school long before the term was in vogue. The south lawn has a large pond, currently duck-less (a Defra ruling, hopefully temporary) but with a jetty to do pond dipping from and an arboretum, begun by a former owner and added to recently when a tree for each child in the school was planted. Pupils can climb trees, make dens, do the whole Arthur Ransome number with nothing roped off. One of the three deputies, with a military background, leads OBH Explorers (a kind of junior DofE) and is passionate about pupils learning practical skills in an outdoor setting. By year 8 pupils are ready to tackle the 100 lengths swim and the Gold Survival Expedition. Clearly there are excellent ground staff, also very tidy children, because we did not see a single piece of litter anywhere.

The school performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was staged in the grounds this year with watching parents following the action from scene to scene in the woods. ‘It was a magical experience,’ said one. Lots of musical opportunities with jazz and samba bands, orchestra and four choirs. Regular concerts in school and the annual carol service is held in Bury St Edmund’s. All team sports are played and there is an impressive weekly fixtures list for both boys and girls, though Saturday afternoon matches have been curtailed. Now after morning school, on alternate Saturdays, a programme of voluntary activities includes rock-climbing, fly-fishing and clay pigeon shooting for year 5 and above. ‘At least fifty per cent join in,’ we heard.

Parents are ‘friendly, not the showy sort’, they told us. Most are dual income, with some ex-Londoners seeking a different pace – mostly professional and business-oriented, some established boarding families.

Boarders

Full and flexi options, with two, three and four-night packages. Around a third board, increasingly popular in higher years. In year 3 there are a handful of flexi-boarders and by years 7 and 8 almost everyone boards for a few days each week. The push to board usually comes from the children themselves. ‘They see the fun going on and want to be a part of it – in fact, it’s so popular it’s hard to get in!’ said a parent.

Boarding takes place upstairs in the main building and all provision has been recently updated and decorated. Most rooms are six or eight bedded (very few bunks) with splendid views of the grounds. There is a junior boarding house, Spero (‘I hope’: the school motto), plus houses for older boys and girls. All have their own common room with plenty of space for activities and table football, not forgetting the little kitchens for toast and hot drinks. Year 8 have a shared common room off the main hall downstairs. Lots of staff live on site and houses all have live-in matrons. Even if you don’t board, you can join in activities and stay for supper.

Money matters

Fees are towards the top of the range but include lunch and activities. Individual music tuition is charged separately.

The last word

OBH is enjoying a deserved surge in popularity. Pupils flourish academically and socially.

Special Education Needs

Mostly one-to-one withdrawal principally for pupils with specific learning difficulties. Some small group work also takes place.

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