Beechwood Park School A GSG School

Sports

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

Fencing

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since September 2023, Christian Pritchard who, despite this being a big school, knows all the children by name and still teaches (music in nursery and cover lessons throughout). ‘Admin work can be done in the evenings. When the children are here, I want to engage and be visible.’ Parents praise his ‘enthusiasm’ and especially ‘his high-fives in the morning’.

Educated in Northumberland, he trained as a teacher in York and also holds a master’s in educational leadership. Started out teaching in state schools in Yorkshire before moving to an international school in UAE, then to Taiwan, where he and his wife, who heads the school nursery, raised their daughters and built a European international school. Ended his international headship in Amsterdam before returning to the UK in 2012 as head at Ranby House in Nottingham, then at Beachborough before coming here. He is an ISI team inspector and a level 7 ILM executive coach.

Energetic and chatty, he couldn’t wait to get us out on a buggy ride of the impressive school grounds (we can confirm he is an excellent driver) whist he raved about his love for STEAM and his plans to start a dedicated programme. He has already moved the school towards Microsoft Showcase status, with parents approving of his technological advancements.

The school has a homely feel, evidenced by his office, with spectacular views, that’s packed with photos, books and boardgames – and, more unusually, a sorting hat and Hedwig plushie, the latter hinting at his enjoyment of magic. Also likes mountain biking, hiking, travel and food.

Entrance

Main entry points are nursery, reception and years 1, 3 and 7 though applicants join in all year groups, including mid academic year. Nursery oversubscribed. Light-touch assessments in reception to year 2; after that, it’s a taster day including interview and assessment – and school may also ask for school reports and reference. School says it is looking for ‘children who are keen to learn, who are curious and have a spark’. Siblings prioritised – this is very much a family school.

Exit

Between 25-40 per cent of pupils (mostly girls) move on at 11+, to a range of local independent and excellent state schools, including, STAHS, St George’s and Haileybury. The rest at 13+, mainly to St Albans School, Habs (boys and girls), Haileybury, Merchant Taylors’, Oundle, Berkhamsted, Stowe, Eton, Rugby and Wycombe Abbey. In 2024, 25 scholarships.

Our view

The idyllic setting comprises a 16th century country house in an elevated position overlooking 60 acres of land. Elizabeth Bennett seeing Pemberly for the first time comes to mind. Inside, the roaring fire sets the welcoming tone, although the pupils are just as likely to be found outside – we spotted nursery children hunting for hidden letters among fallen leaves in the spacious forest school. Confidence is abundant, even in these tiny pupils – which parents say is helped by the ‘excellent transition’. One told of her child ‘receiving a postcard at Christmas’ from the teachers prior to joining the following term.

Nursery is one of the newest parts of the school, with a lovely large, open-plan space and an emphasis on making learning creative and fun. This is carried through to pre-prep, where we found year 1s enjoying a transport themed day. Nobody had held back on the dressing up, including the head of pre-prep with her Top Gun themed costume. We narrowly escaped a steam train in the corridor.

Our year 6 tour guides had warned us that some of the classes can get quite noisy – and they were quite right, especially in the year 3 maths class we observed in the junior block. Lively and fast paced, the children were playful and respectfully inquisitive, with a TA (there’s at least one in each class here) ensuring every child had a chance to speak. Pupils told us they enjoy the stretch of the lessons. ‘The teachers challenge you because they have a belief in your capabilities,’ said one.

Year groups have between two and four classes, with an average of 16 pupils in each, although we saw as few as eight in some of the learning groups. Specialist subject teaching in PE and sport from nursery, then MFL, music, IT is added from reception. By year 6 they move around for every subject, mainly based in the main house, where classwork and photos of past productions litter the walls and where Great Hall is reserved for historic plaques and paintings. Parents told us they children receive ample attention and that the teaching style is ‘nurturing’, with ‘struggling children picked up on.’

French is taught from reception - mainly through songs, books, stories and drama in the early years. Latin is added in year 5 through the Minimus programme. Optional Spanish from year 7. Setting in maths and English from years 3-8, and there’s a scholarship programme from year 6. CE syllabus introduced in year 7. Formal homework is set from year 3, which parents say is ‘on the light side’.

Science is hands-on. One class was mixing up different liquids, another had been burning crisps with the Bunsen burners ‘to see if crinkle or flat crisps burn quicker’ – but no Wotsits in sight (‘very, very flammable,’ apparently!).

Two heads of learning support and a specialist TA oversee the 11 per cent of pupils on the SEN register (mostly with dyslexia and ADHD), plus another four per cent who are undiagnosed but identified as benefiting from eg, a boost in maths or English. Some children have group or one-to-one sessions (included in fees) in the cosy, dedicated SEN rooms but the main emphasis is on in-class support, for which teachers get regular training. Learning support staff are also good at upskilling - now all trained in Irlen syndrome. Pupils recently did an assembly on neurodiversity. Parents say the department is ‘brilliant’ and ‘proactive’. Speaking of her child with ADHD, one said the school is ‘moving him towards being more self-sufficient’ and that ‘there are lots of people he can go to for help’. We spotted wobble cushions and fidget toys galore – lovely to see. No EHCPs when we visited.

DT stands out. Multiple 3D printers were hard at work printing keyrings designed by year 6s, while year 8s were working on robotics using micro:bits in small groups to code, design and build. Teaching ‘real world problems’ is order of the day here. Innovation too - year 6s recently designed 3D moon bases, kicking off with a Zoom with Jeanette Epps live from the Space Station. ‘If you sneeze in space, do you go backwards?’ were among the many questions from the pupils (yes, if you’re interested).

Artwork and photos are everywhere you look – a flood of colour that lifts the soul. Lovely to see the teachers take such pride in the pupils’ work – another way of boosting their confidence. The studio is well resourced, with pupils working calmly and purposefully – some classes with just 12 children, allowing for really tailored support. Year 8s were working away in the large underground arcade pottery studio. We noticed some superb clocks on display.

Parents are invited to attend the ‘wonderful’ Friday lunchtime music concerts. ‘Once a child has a piece, they are welcome to perform it,’ we’re told – whether that’s a few squeaks on a violin or an accomplished piano melody. Everyone gets a weekly music class, with younger ones trying out all manner of instruments. It’s clearly working as around 90 per cent of prep pupils go on to learn an instrument with one of the visiting peris. Four pupils learn the bagpipes. The school runs an impressive 24 ensembles, including a popular music tech club (in a dedicated music tech suite). Lots of tours - chamber choir to Belgium next. Displays of the annual whole-school drama performances adorn walls, and we are told the last production, Matilda, was ‘incredible’. LAMDA classes offered.

Parents don’t consider it the most sporty school in the area, but there’s lots on offer. A ‘sport for all’ mentality prevails, but boy can they play competitively too, winning most competitive matches. They certainly have enough facilities to practise on, with 12 pitches, indoor heated pool and large sports hall. Staples are football, rugby, cricket, hockey and netball, with more niche offerings including a ski team that makes use of Hemel Hempstead’s ski slope, and equestrian opportunities (run by horsey parents).

Several parents told us their child attends a club every day (‘getting home quite late,’ warned one) and we couldn’t stop pupils listing their favourites including origami, Mandarin (on request), street dance, ski club, pottery, rugby, football, cricket, ukelele and fencing. Wraparound care also offered from 7.30am to 6pm – the morning session includes an ‘amazing’ breakfast for £3. ‘You can’t even buy a coffee in St Albans for that price!’ pointed out a parent. Supper also available after school.

Residentials start in year 3 with Wellyboot Camp (an on-site camp set in the forest and grounds), building up to a week-long residential in Devon in year 8. There’s also a bi-annual cricket tour to Barbados and a ski trip to Austria.

This is a nurturing school, where pupils told us there’s always someone to turn to. Pastoral staff include three nurses who also help with physical injuries (two bumped heads during our visit) - they have their own colourful but calming surgery. Lots of proactive work too, including anti-bullying assemblies (parents say bullying is ‘always shut down quickly’). Everyone loves the school wellbeing dog, a black lab – in school twice a week. Parents praise the ‘individual approach’ and say the school is good for siblings with different needs and personalities.

We found pupils warm and welcoming, with every door held open for us. But (refreshingly, we thought), they are also not afraid speak their minds. ‘Your meal looks weird!’ announced one about the (delicious, actually) lentil and green bean soup we chose from the lunch buffet. Needless to say they made other choices.

Parents range from lords and ladies right through to those making sacrifices to send their children here – many (but not all) are dual income. Most hail from the local area - Harpenden, St Albans and Berkhamsted - but some travel up to 40 minutes. Lots of opportunity to socialise, they told us, with the active PTA recently turning the school grounds into a fair ground for ‘fun night’. Lots of fundraising too, and for local charities, not just the school.

Boarders

Flexi-boarding up to four nights a week from year 5, taken up by around a quarter of families – with most children staying for two to three nights each week. A three-week trial is offered prior to committing and most parents sign up a year in advance. One parent told us her ‘daughter has decided to board on her birthday as it is smores night and she cannot possibly miss out on that!’ Children love the nightly activities and enjoy tuck after prep. Activities include Colditz, a game that gets children running through a dark field avoiding the torchlight. ‘Dinner is delicious,’ they told us, although one child did say she wishes there were more options. Facilities are homely - the games room had us green with envy, with pool, table tennis and air hockey all on offer. Each bed across the seven dorms is assigned to one child, so they can adorn the walls with personal belongings and leave clothes at school. Around seven beds per dorm.

Money matters

Means tested bursaries offered from year 3 upwards.

The last word

Parents choose Beechwood Park for its co-ed status (unusual for a prep in the area), as well as its outstanding facilities, engaging teaching, opportunities outside the classroom and the confidence they build in the children. ‘It is like a bubble, but a lovely one. We don’t ever want to leave.’

Special Education Needs

Beechwood Park is an inclusive school where all staff work hard to ensure that the individual needs of pupils are met and reasonable adjustments made where necessary. Individual strengths are also recognised and celebrated which helps to ensure that pupils thrive in our environment. The School's Learning Support department has three full time members of staff who oversee the assessing, identification and support of pupils with SEND. This experienced team work with pupils both in and outside the classroom and are based in a central quiet area of the school. The degree of additional support provided varies according to individual needs.