Berkhamsted School, Berkhamsted | The Good Schools Guide

Berkhamsted School
Overton House
131 High Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2DJ
Head: Mr Richard Backhouse
T 01442 358001
F 01442 358040
E admissions@berkhamstedschool.org
W www.berkhamstedschool.org
A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
Boarding: Yes
Local authority: Hertfordshire
Pupils: 1188; sixth formers: 379
Religion: Christian
Fees: Day: £16,770 - £19,665; Boarding: + £6,665 - £11,660 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 Preparatory School, Heatherton House School

What The Good Schools Guide says..

Diamond structure appears to be a winning formula as boys and girls are free to concentrate on their educations ‘without distractions’ (their words) until sixth form and yet have sufficient exposure to the opposite sex to forge good social skills via extracurricular activities, trips, etc. Less a boarding school and more a school with boarding. Best suited to older, independent pupils – and a good steppingstone to university life – as there is no separate schedule of activities, and...

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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

What the parents say...

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Sports

Rowing

Shooting

What The Good Schools Guide says

Principal

Since January 2016, Mr Richard Backhouse, educated at Cheam – a boarder from age 8 – and Marlborough (both parents on non-teaching staff) followed by Selwyn College Cambridge, where he read economics. From there, determined to forge a career in hard journalism, 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 (again,...

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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
Aspergers Syndrome [archived]
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders	Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders [archived]
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Delicate Medical Problems [archived]
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Epilepsy [archived]
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
Not Applicable
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
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
VI - Visual Impairment

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