Holme Grange School

Since September 2025, Pippa Adams, previously deputy head at Farlington School for four years. She has also been deputy head (senior academic) at St Edmund’s School, Hindhead, and head of English across Key Stages 1 to 4. She has a master’s in

Main entry points are nursery, reception, year 7 and (from 2023) year 5. Occasional places in other year groups but increasingly rare. Gently selective from year 1 upwards (must be able to access the curriculum). Also attracts some very gifted

Occasional leaver at 11+, though school doesn’t prepare pupils. Year 11 leavers go on to a variety of destinations eg Wellington College, Lord Wandsworth, Bradfield College, Pangbourne College, Luckley House, Reading Blue Coat, Shiplake, Cranbourne

In 2025, 59 per cent 9-7 at GCSE.

It’s rare to find a school’s approach referenced in academic journals but when all teachers are involved in educational research (working with Oxford University on a year 9 sustainability programme, for example), it’s par for the course. Hardworking

Happiness of pupils with what the school describes as ‘a wide range of learning styles and needs’ the priority, though ‘we’re not a specialist school’. Approach starts early, with visual timetable for nursery pupils and calming music and movement

Build stage confidence early, with 2-year-olds performing nativities in well kitted-out theatre (300 tiered seats), and form assemblies more like glitzy first nights - year 4 crowd pleaser on day of visit featured snappy singing, dance and a lot of

Lots of space – plus sports hall, normal box-shaped design transformed by daringly pitched roof – for team games, including rugby, even at pre-prep age. Trampolining, judo and dance timetabled for all younger pupils. Differences between the sexes

‘A strength of the school,’ felt parent. Will ‘find something genuinely worth celebrating, like a child who didn’t have a meltdown when things went wrong.’ Not a soft school, though a forgiving one that ‘encourages pupils to like who they are,’ says

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Some super-rich mums and dads ‘but you wouldn’t know it,’ says parent. Many working (school offers 7.30am-6.00pm wraparound care including free homework sessions) and ‘not rah and elitist’. (Just as well – head makes it clear that parents are

Means-tested bursaries available. Unusually, don’t have to be top academic achiever to stand a chance but will be assessed ‘to ensure that the children and the school are able to gain full benefit’.

Offer range of scholarships in year 7 –

Plenty of schools’ policies bristle with good intentions that somehow get diluted on the shop floor. Here, they’re delivered in full. Not exactly a hidden gem (reputation is spreading too fast) but to the parents who come here, its approach is pure