Ages
Hanford either thrills or bemuses. It offers a beguiling way of prolonging childhood, while instilling solid academic and artistic foundations and a likely lifelong horse addiction to any small girl. ‘You just have to worry that nothing will match up afterwards,’ in one mother’s wistful words.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 83 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £19,500; Boarding £25,440 - £28,350 pa
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Area guides
Headteacher
Head
Hilary Phillips
Since 2023, Mrs Hilary Phillips BA BEd, previously head of lower school and a sixth form housemistress at Benenden. Educated at Hereford Cathedral School and Exeter University, where she read French alongside education, Mrs Phillips’s career has t
Entrance
Non-selective: ‘We accept girls who we feel would be happy at Hanford and able to learn here,’ states school. A visit – open day or private – is followed by a taster day for interested parties and sometimes overnight. Main entry points are at year
Exit
Almost always at end of year 8 to a range of senior schools, many in the south west but some further afield: ‘Where is best,’ says head. Impressive range of academic and other awards for a non-selective school: in 2024, there were five academic aw
Latest results
There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.
Learning support & SEN
Boarders
Boarding is, according to the girls and their parents, one of the best things about Hanford. The majority will board during their time and any given week will see 50-60 sleep in. This means that junior dorms on the upper floors of the old house ar
Pupils
Money matters
No scholarships; limited bursary provision for girls likely to make ‘significant academic progress’ and contribute generally to school life.
- Fee information
- Day £19,500; Boarding £25,440 - £28,350 pa
Our view
It would be tempting to think Hanford is all about ponies, particularly as we did not bother changing out of our jodhpurs on Mrs Phillips’s advice after a quick tour of the grounds on horseback: ‘No-one will look twice at you.’ Tempting but wrong:
The last word
Hanford either thrills or bemuses. It offers a beguiling way of prolonging childhood, while instilling solid academic and artistic foundations and a likely lifelong horse addiction to any small girl. ‘You just have to worry that nothing will match
