Hazelwood School

What the school says...

Hazelwood operates as an independent co-ed school catering to children aged between 9 months and 13 years. The Nursery and Early Years, located in the heart of Oxted, offer exceptional care for over 180 children from 9 months to the end of Reception. Lux Life Private Education Awards recently recognized it as the "Most Nurturing Nursery and Early Years Learning Environment in South East England."
For Years 1 to 8, Hazelwood encompasses 25 acres of breathtaking countryside, providing an idyllic setting for children to learn, explore, and develop. The school's teaching approach is pioneering, fostering an environment where children thrive in an ever-changing landscape. Hazelwood prepares its students for life beyond education by integrating real-life learning into the curriculum. This involves engaging with genuine people, issues, relationships, contexts, and audiences, addressing relevant problems that demand actual explanations, solutions, or innovations.
Bold decisions, such as introducing a collapsed timetable for Years 7 and 8 'Electives' on Fridays, exemplify Hazelwood's commitment to this approach. Students choose from a variety of non-curriculum based topics like robotics, community outreach, graphic design, stock-broking, Mandarin or forensic science. The school believes in building the foundation for children to acquire future-ready skills, emphasizing that academic exam results alone are insufficient. Softer, human skills, nurtured during prep education, play a vital role in shaping children's futures.

Hazelwood is unafraid to make brave decisions to benefit each individual child. A new way of teaching at Hazelwood is the flexible classroom structure. Allowing for personalised learning through flexible spaces and adaptable learning approaches so students learn in ways that cater to their individual needs, preferences, and learning styles. This involves choosing different workspaces, collaborating in groups, or learning independently. The dynamic nature of adaptable learning can boost student engagement by making lessons more interactive, hands-on, and visually appealing. This can be especially helpful for learners who struggle to stay focused in traditional settings. Flexible classrooms often encourage collaboration by fostering communication and teamwork. Pupils can learn from each other and develop important social skills through group activities and projects.

Hazelwood holds the philosophy that education involves opening children's minds through curiosity, teaching compassion to open their hearts, and fostering courage in applying their learning. As educators the school strives to create a culture which is not only for the now, not only for securing senior school places to top schools and subsequently top universities, but to be aware of the future and to plant the seeds of the essential knowledge and skills in a carefully crafted curriculum for our pupils.
As well as being a forward-thinking prep, the school also boasts outstanding facilities, including a theatre, musical performance hall, astro pitch, indoor pool, impressive sports hall, outdoor learning zone complete with 30 foot slide and wigwam and the innovation suite called, the "BOX." This flexible, agile learning space encourages dynamic teaching and learning, embracing future digital literacy alongside essential complex creativity. The BOX features no fixed furniture, allowing children to configure the space for any purpose. Equipped with VR goggles, a Lego wall, graphic design tools, interactive projection, green screen technology, and robotics equipment, it provides a wondrous and delightful environment for all children across year groups and subjects.
Quoting Sir Ken Robinson's "Imagine If," Hazelwood aligns its educational philosophy with creating conditions for growth, development, and learning. The school considers itself in the miracle business and invites interested parties to get in touch for more information or to book a private tour or Open Morning. ...Read more

This is not currently a GSG-reviewed school.

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