The Beacon School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since July 2022, Nick Baker BA PGCE (40s). Educated at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, UCL (geography) and Newcastle University (PGCE). ‘I went into teaching because I really enjoyed my own schooldays,' he says.

Started off in the state sector, then joined Wetherby Prep in its early days, initially as senior master, then deputy head and subsequently head in 2007. In 2015, he doubled his workload by overseeing the successful launch of Wetherby Senior School, before refocusing his efforts once more on the prep. Married to Brigid, a teacher, he has two teenage sons and in his spare time is a school governor of Glendower Prep and a keen supporter of Watford FC.

Entrance

Early registration advisable – places fill very quickly. Informal age-appropriate assessment for all boys joining the school. Typical entry points are nursery, reception, year 3 and year 7. Places occasionally available in other years.

Exit

Around half leave for grammars at end of year 6, most to Dr Challoner’s, followed by Amersham School and John Hampden Grammar. Most of those who stay until 13 head for Berkhamsted or Shiplake, plus Harrow, Haileybury, Abingdon and Winchester. Odd ones to eg Eton, Marlborough, Rugby, Charterhouse, Radley, Millfield and Bradfield. Nineteen scholarships in 2023.

Our view

School was founded in 1933 by Mr Stanley Fieldhouse and started with just five boys. It moved to its current site, Bois Farm, in the 1950s. Of the farm’s 17th century buildings only the timbered barns remain and prior to becoming a school they accommodated a variety of non-agricultural ventures including a repertory theatre and a dance hall in the 1930s (Chesham Bois must have been quite the destination village) and a billet for soldiers during WW2. So, not much burdened by history, but nevertheless a classic boys’ prep in the traditional mould.

If arriving by road for the first time be prepared for a sharp turn into an unprepossessing frontage that looks more like a cottage hospital than a school, but never fear, it all gets better from here on in. Main school is arranged round a delightful courtyard with a tree at the centre and the low-rise wooden barns and brick buildings make for a rustic, friendly aspect. Inside there’s evidence of skilful design that maximises light and space, notably in the double height foyer hung with papier-mâché dinosaur heads and other large artistic endeavours.

Pre-prep is located within its own building and artificial grass playground (it has the usual climbing equipment as well as a sandpit, water station, construction area, play house, gardening beds and a selection of bikes, scooters and go-karts). ‘What the boys wanted was space to let off steam and things they could zoom around on,’ we were told, as we watched them do just that.

Throughout our visit we got a very strong sense that education in its widest sense is pursued here, with all activities, not just core academic subjects, being valued and properly resourced. Parents agree - we heard practically everything on the timetable singled out for praise. Maths is set from year 3 and five sets ensure all abilities get the attention they need. No setting for English until years 7 and 8. Library staff oversee a structured reading programme with online tests to ensure boys are properly ready to move on; an accelerated reading scheme enables them to keep an eye on free readers ‘who sometimes lose their way’ when they come to the end of guided reading. Research skills are also taught: ‘Yes to books and Google, but no to copy and paste.’ Huge praise for learning support: ‘They really understand,’ and also school’s attitude to the same, ‘If a pupil needs learning support it’s never viewed as a negative.’ It’s a big school but they ‘never lose sight of the individual child’ and ‘the teachers really make an effort to develop boys’ talents, whatever they are.’

The Beacon has been at the forefront of developing alternatives to the ‘narrow’ common entrance system, first designing its own Beacon Certificate of Achievement and subsequently becoming an early adopter of the not dissimilar Pre senior Baccalaureate (PSB). Take-up of the PSB is gradually increasing and it is recognised by many senior schools as a broader and more balanced modern alternative to CE. Preparation is given for pre-tests and there are extra classes in year 8 for boys applying to schools who still require them to sit CE. School is a great fan, both of the PSB’s value-added (it fosters independent learning and recognises achievement in such areas as teamwork and leadership), and the benefits of presenting senior schools with a portfolio of a candidate’s achievements. ‘The CE exam is very high stakes, it’s only a snapshot of a child’s ability.' School also believes that the PSB allows teachers to flourish, ‘the finest teachers should be allowed the most freedom.’ School now also runs a middle years PSB.

School believes that ‘eye to eye’ will always be the most effective way of teaching and the school library is bursting with books, but there’s a sensible balance between old and new tech. Classrooms are well equipped with appropriate kit and there are specialist-taught ICT lessons from reception onwards. Lots of e-safety work, with parents as well as pupils. Boys use email to contact teachers and all homework is set and sent electronically (paper free, no planners). Older pupils learn how to shoot and edit digital video and make films.

From their first day, boys are introduced to languages, Nursery and Reception boys learn French. International studies, a cross-curricular programme that introduces pupils to a wide range of different cultures, is taught from year 1 to year 3 – parents are encouraged to get involved (over 16 different languages are spoken by Beacon parents). All learn French or Spanish from year 4 and Latin from year 6.

Art and DT enthusiastically pursued and boys’ work is exhibited around the school. Bright, paint-spattered art room and very well-equipped DT room where boys start by learning traditional skills using hand tools before moving on to CAD, laser cutters and 3D printers. Beacon boys also leave school with a thorough grounding in nutrition and culinary skills. By year 8 they can all knock up a loaf of bread, and the school’s own MasterCook competition is keenly fought. School lunches are beautifully presented and taste delicious: puddings such as lemon meringue sponge, ‘adventurous’ salads, curries and different breads – all made on site.

Masses of after-school activities including sport, Lego, gardening, creative writing and ‘extreme reading’ clubs. Lots of opportunities for boys to get involved in charity fundraising, head also keenly developing partnerships with community and local charities.

Pre-prep assemblies, small plays and drama lessons take place in the Old Barn which is, well, just that. It’s not, however, big enough to showcase the theatrical talents of all Beacon boys, nor the ambitious programme of productions, from class playlets, to musicals, Shakespeare and light opera. Cue the splendid Spinney Theatre where larger productions take place, from nativities to musicals such as Peter Pan JR. Senior boys take a play to the Edinburgh Fringe every two years. All year 3 and 4 pupils do a LAMDA exam and school prepares boys for 13+ drama scholarships.

Masses of opportunities for boys of all abilities to participate in music and over 300 individual lessons take place each week. Music is timetabled from reception and in year 2 ‘bow or blow’ trials to help boys chose which instrument to learn. There are five choirs, starting with Little Voices and culminating in Beacon Voices (auditioned). There’s even a parents’ choir, Vintage Voices. School’s size means that in addition to the various choirs it can support a full orchestra, instrumental ensembles, wind bands, rock bands and music technology and theory clubs. Parents think the standard of music is ‘incredible’, one told us that the school’s approach is ‘what instrument are you playing?’, and another commented that music is so much part of normal school life that boys don’t view it as an extra commitment and are thus less inclined to give up.

Unsurprisingly, sport is a big deal, with masses of teams and a full fixture list. School told us: ‘For major sports we field up to five teams to maximise participation; players’ performances are assessed post-match and movement between the teams is genuinely flexible.’ On the whole parents agreed that there was more than enough glory to go around: ‘The cricket B team and the rugby C team still get kudos.’ One or two comments to the effect that the Beacon spotlight might not linger on a non-sporty boy, but others disagreed, saying there were plenty of other ways to shine. Standard issue sports hall and lots of space to run about on site, but school’s stand-out sporting asset is its playing fields. A few minutes’ walk via a quiet suburban cul-de-sac and down a leafy footpath leads to a truly breath-taking vista of pristine pitches rolling away to the Chilterns. Glorious it may be in summer, but apparently it’s at least a couple of degrees colder than down town Chesham Bois in the winter. School regularly gets through to the IAPS national finals in rugby and hockey and has an admirable track record in cross-country, tennis and swimming (their 20m pool is now covered for all-year-round use). Matches are played throughout the week and occasionally on Saturday.

Pastoral care is right at the centre of school’s three-part management structure (pastoral, academic, executive) and along with well-being and ‘lifestyle’ is a key component of the Beacon Vision, a statement of how the school sees its future development. Parents we spoke to felt that the school’s size was not a barrier to children receiving individual attention and monitoring; they said that home-school communication was much improved and that any problems were handled promptly and with sensitivity.

Catchment is wide with most boys attending from the surrounding small villages, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Parent body described by school as ‘very aspirational, very grounded. We have plumbers, members of the police force, doctors, London escapees and families where grandparents are paying the fees.’ Parents’ society organises all kinds social and fundraising activities, it’s a ‘very active, sociable group’, we were told.

The last word

The Beacon is a dynamic, busy and above all, happy place. It’s a big school that thinks big and while there are ambitious plans for the future, these are firmly founded upon the school’s existing core strengths and values. All aboard for interesting (in a good way) times ahead.

Special Education Needs

The Learning Support Centre at The Beacon exists to help those boys who are experiencing difficulties with academic work by providing assistance on several levels: support to the boys, staff and parents. Most of the difficulties come into the category of mild specific learning differences, such as dyslexia. We have a qualified specialist teacher and a visiting Speech & Language Therapist. We also work closely with the School Counsellor. Our main aim is to identify boys who need help as early as possible and to put interventions in place at this stage. Research has shown that the best outcome for all is when intervention is in place early in the child's life. We keep up-to-date with current research within the field and aim to improve the boys' literacy and numeracy skills. We use multisensory methods to try and help the boys to achieve their full potential. We ensure that teachers in the school are aware of the importance of identifying, and providing for those boys who have specific learning differences. The learning needs of the individual boys are also made known to all those who teach them. All staff have had access to training in specific learning difficulties. 09-09

Leavers' destinations