Berkhamsted School A GSG School
- Berkhamsted School
Overton House
131 High Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2DJ - Head: Mr Richard Backhouse
- T 01442 358001
- F 01442 358040
- E [email protected]
- W www.berkhamsted.com
- A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Hertfordshire
- Pupils: 1,264; sixth formers: 395
- Religion: Christian
- Fees: Day: £17,877 - £21,636; Boarding £29,061 - £34,620 pa
- Open days: Late September/ early October
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep School, Heatherton School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
You won’t find Berko showboating at the top of league tables but head and parents alike are totally fine with that, all focused on broader offering. School follows a ‘diamond’ structure with a fully co-educational preparatory section, boys and girls taught separately from years 7 to 11 (although trips, productions, events and performances – as well as DofE and CCF - are mainly joint) and then together again in sixth form. Recently ranked third in the country for sport by School Sport magazine. ‘Why?’ we asked, mindful that…
What the school says...
Berkhamsted's academic success is skilfully balanced by an all-round education encouraging pupils' talents in sport, music, drama and the arts and offering Duke of Edinburgh's Awards at all levels and a well-supported Combined Cadet Force. The successful mix of single-sex teaching and co-education, together with flexible boarding arrangements, suits the needs of modern families. Inspectors commended the 'relaxed, happy yet purposeful working environment creating a positive attitude.' ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.
Rowing
Shooting
What The Good Schools Guide says
Principal
Since January 2016, Richard Backhouse, educated at Cheam and Marlborough followed by Selwyn College Cambridge, where he read economics. From there, took a gap year teaching sailing in Dorset and skiing in the Alps, and was promptly bitten by the teaching bug: ‘I was fizzing after my first morning with the feeling you get when you take a child from "I can’t", to "I just did".’ Decided at that point to teach ‘just for a year or two’, which led to six years at Oundle teaching economics and ultimately becoming head of year 9, followed by a stint at Bradfield as head of economics and politics, director of pastoral and extracurricular and head of a ‘difficult’ boarding house which, under his watch, became oversubscribed. From there he moved as principal to Monkton Combe School...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
The school provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties through individual support lessons, some in class support and a "whole school" awareness of an individual's needs. The Learning Support department can offer lessons with specialist tutors who will follow an Individual Education Plan for each pupil. The department also offers specialist advice to teachers within the school and parents on the most effective methods of supporting their children. Pupils are closely monitored and assessed by the Learning Support Department and referral to external specialists may be suggested for further advice and recommendations. A specialist teacher supports pupils with English as a second language through individual lessons and in class support if necessary. The school will ensure that access arrangements for public examinations are in place at the appropriate times.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | Y |
| Dysgraphia | Y |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | Y |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | Y |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | Y |
| PD - Physical Disability | Y |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment | Y |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbot's Hill School | 2020 | 7 | ||
| Aldwickbury School | 2021 | 39 | ||
| Beechwood Park School | 2020 | 4 | 1 | Music Scholarship |
| Caldicott | 2020 | 1 | 1 | Scholarship: Sport |
| Davenies School | 2020 | |||
| Lockers Park School | 2020 | 20 | ||
| The Beacon School | 2020 | 16 | 4 | |
| Tower House Preparatory School | 2021 | 1 |
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