Cheam School A GSG School
- Cheam School
Headley
Newbury
Berkshire
RG19 8LD - Head: Nick Milbank
- T 01635 268242
- F 01635 269345
- E [email protected]
- W www.cheamschool.com
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 13.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Hampshire
- Pupils: 380
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £15,780 - £31,005 Boarding £33,375 - £39,735 pa (last updated on 28/01/2025)
- Open days: Friday 7th March 2025, 9.45am to 12.00pm and Saturday 17th May 2025, 10.00am to 12.30pm
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Parents highlighted ‘traditional values’, ‘beautiful manners’, ‘amazing results’. We saw them all in spades: bright-eyed children engaging wholeheartedly in prep school life. School not squeamish about a bit of competition. A loving environment – an awful lot cosier than in Prince Philip’s day – but expect lots of adventure and challenge. You don’t have to be…
What the school says...
Cheam is a leading day and boarding school for children aged 3-13 years, set in 100 acres of beautiful countryside. Extensive opportunities are available across academics, sport, drama, art, DT, music and outdoor learning. A flexible boarding provision is popular, with pupils loving the homely feel and fun activities on offer. Learning at Cheam is collaborative, child-focused and inspired. Classes are small and academic ambitions are both high and appropriate for all. Cheam has a long history of preparing children for many of the UK’s top senior schools, with pupils gaining an impressive range of scholarships every year. ...Read more
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since January 2025, Nick Milbank, who joined the school 25 years ago as a form tutor and progressed through the ranks, most recently as acting head. He grew up in Yorkshire and lives with his wife, Kirsten, and two teenage children, both Cheam alumni.
Entrance
Entry by date of registration. Not selective at 4+ but older applicants attend taster day before place confirmed. Fifteen places in year 3, 10 in year 4, the odd place in years 5, 6 and 7. School will try to accommodate siblings; always worth calling to ask.
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Special Education Needs
Cheam caters for children with certain special needs. There is a thriving Learning Support Department on site which assists children with mild forms of dyslexia and dyspraxia. The staff are very experienced and fully attuned to the needs of the children. Detailed and accurate profiles are kept up to date and such information shared with the staff. There is effective communication between the LS Department and the teaching staff thus ensuring that each child's specific needs are met. Children can be screened in house and, if required, tested at school by an educational psychologist. Bright and gifted children are also well catered for and can fast track through the school into the scholarship streams in the final two years. Pupils are streamed from Year 4 upwards. Bright and gifted pupils are prepared for scholarship exams to their public schools in small, 'stand alone' scholarship forms in Years 7 and 8.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
|
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
|
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
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