Winterfold House School

Since 2016, Denise Toms BA QTS NPQH, who grew up in London and attended Coloma Convent Girls' School on the outskirts of Croydon. Credits her father, who was a teacher at Wimbledon College, for her career choice: ‘He had such a lovely way with the children, he really inspired me.’ After studying education and history at Surrey University, she taught in state schools – first in St Francesca Cabrini, London, as head of history and geography, then at St Michael’s School in Devon as head of English and head of year 7. Moved up here in 2000 when her husband got a job at the University of Birmingham and was struck the ‘warmth and family feel’ at Winterfold where her ‘interview was on the front lawn – how wonderful is that?’ Joined as a year 3 teacher, completing her NPQH before being promoted to head of history and then deputy head.

We watched her in action in a whole-school assembly – she had the children in the palm of her hand with her gentle yet commanding presence. Pupils told us she’s ‘kind’, ‘always fair’ and ‘never shouts’. Parents say she’s a ‘calming influence’, ‘a good balance of being professional and down-to-earth’ and ‘not necessarily charismatic but solid and always present, just what the school needs’. They like that she is ‘as into the performing arts and sport as the academics’ and that she greets the children every morning (firmly inside on our rainy visit). One told us that when her daughter walked in tearful one morning, ‘she spotted it straightaway then spoke to her without creating any fuss – it completely reassured her’.

Her office is a glorious, comfortable room at the front of the main house, packed with antique books and Chesterfield furniture. Home is out towards Tenbury Wells, where her interests include vernacular architecture, English Heritage and National Trust.

Most join the nursery at 2+. No set pattern thereafter, with new arrivals joining all year groups, sometimes mid academic year and often from the state sector. Taster day for all, plus baseline assessment tests in English and maths from year 3 – ‘but only to make sure they can access the curriculum,’ says head, ‘we are absolutely not academically selective.’ No waiting lists when we visited. Two-form entry.

At 13+, over 90 per cent to Bromsgrove, which owns the school. No automatic entry, though, with pupils taking the same entry tests as external applicants. The rest mainly to RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester, plus a few boarders to Shrewsbury and Malvern College. Barely any leave at 11+, largely because of the Bromsgrove link and, as one parent put it, ‘a heck of a lot of fun stuff happens in the last two years’. Eight scholarships in 2024. A couple of parents told us they wish they’d known what ‘a different ethos Bromsgrove has before getting swept along’.

One of the biggest pluses of this rural prep is the sheer space that parents say ‘gives the kids freedom to be kids’. Even on the damp and dreary day we visited, children were out and about in their wellies and waterproofs, although the entrepreneurial know-how of the year 7s and 8s we met in the polytunnel served as a reminder that, in other ways, these youngsters are beyond their years. ‘We prepare all these plants and hanging baskets then sell them via the Green Fingers enterprise,’ one girl explained, wiping down her muddy fingers to produce a folder. ‘We use Microsoft XL to keep track of budgeting and Order Ledger for sales – here’s a graph showing cash flow.’

Highlights of the 40-acre site include a large forest school, adventure playgrounds, fields with views onto the Malverns and all the sports pitches, Astros and courts you could shake a stick at. Parents told us of regular campouts, bonfire nights, family picnics and even an ‘outside pets’ blessing service, with everyone invited to bring their pets in – ‘the kids loved it!’

Inside, the jewel in the crown is the new Penryn Hall, a large performing space with tiered seating, fancy tech and a small chapel – it’s quite the talk of the school. We loved the radio room – ‘And now for 60 seconds with the Good Schools Guide!’ announced a young boy with a mischievous smile as we entered and found ourselves on the spot answering questions live on air, such as whether we’d prefer to be an elephant or lion (an elephant, if you’re wondering). There’s a charming games room (‘great for wet play’) and Peacock Lodge is a super space providing inside areas to support outdoor learning. The rest of the classrooms are a mix of traditional and modern, including a well-equipped science lab that’s home to George the skeleton (‘dressed up in a different outfit each week’) and where pupils gave us a go on their microscopes to see their blue-stained cheek cells.

Parents say the small class sizes (max 20) and dedicated teachers mean ‘they really get to know the children and get the best out of them’, as well as ‘really adapting their teaching – for instance, they are brilliant at helping my easily distracted son stay focused’. Children say learning is ‘brought to life’ with storytelling (which we saw in RE), floor games (which we saw in maths), quizzes (lots in geography, apparently) and, as one pupil said, ‘If the weather is nice, they’ll say, “Let’s go and do our work outside.”’

Specialist teaching in music, games, PE and MFL from kindergarten (‘when French is mainly through songs’), then RE is added in year 1 and everything (except English and maths) from year 3, then absolutely everything from year 5. Spanish is added as a second MFL from year 3, with pupils choosing one in year 8. Latin in year 6, which some swap for classical civilisation from year 7. Setting in maths and English from the end of year 1. CE syllabus introduced in year 7 ‘because it’s still the most rigorous preparation for next stages,’ believes head. Homework on the heavy side for the older ones, ‘but most – although I won’t pretend all – of us welcome that as they flourish as a result,’ said a parent.

The school has a good reputation for learning support provision – many come here because of it. The 20 per cent on the SEN register are supported by a SENCo (who doubles up as DT teacher) and three supporting specialists in spacious upstairs rooms packed with home-grown multi-sensory resources. Small-group lessons and one-to-ones all included in fees – some get short bursts, others need ongoing support. Parents appreciative – ‘My son’s learning has taken off since his learning support,’ said one, ‘the SENCo is so patient and lovely – it’s been wonderful.’ ‘Good at keeping in touch,’ praised another. Nice to see the pupils rave about learning support – no taboos here (although no overt celebrating of learning differences either, eg dyslexic children doing talks in assembly, noticeboards on neurodiversity role models).

With no shortage of sport, children come home muddy kneed and ruddy cheeked. ‘Everyone gets a go, even if you’re not the best,’ say pupils, with main sports rugby, hockey, football, netball and cricket, plus there’s swimming, cross-country, athletics and golf. ‘Everything you could want, except perhaps more girls’ football and rugby,’ said one pupil to a table of nods; and some parents would like more tennis. Masses of facilities, including sports hall.

Music ‘one of the reasons we chose the school’, we kept hearing. Easy to see why when you see Groove Diggers, the school’s 16-strong jazz band, in action. We counted over 10 different instruments (over 90 per cent of children learn one from year 3) and loved how one of our tour guides couldn’t resist running over to grab a microphone and join them. Regular performances at eg Upton Jazz Festival and Albert Hall. Over 20 ensembles and everyone belongs to a choir. Even in assembly, nobody held back on their singing. Carol concert a favourite – no wonder, with the last one featuring a real Shetland pony!

Head of drama something of a legend. ‘Even if you’re really shy, she gets you interested,’ said one boy, ‘and there’s always backstage stuff.’ The Matilda rehearsals we watched were next level – our guides had to gently move us on. Performances for all year groups, and LAMDA is popular.

In the large art room, pupils were designing steam punk animals, inspired by Vladimir Gvozdariki. Impressive attention to detail. ‘Did you see the art cupboard?’ a younger pupil asked us later, ‘it has paints up to the ceiling and they never run out of fabrics!’ In the CDT room, pupils were making wooden bird feeders; other year groups make wooden Ferris wheels and beautiful metal candelabras.

Popular hot lunches eaten at long wooden tables, accompanied by teachers. Not a fusspot to be seen among our pre-prep dining companions, who wolfed down their chilli and sticky toffee pudding. A marvellously chatty lot, curiosity is clearly alive and well at Winterfold. We squeezed in a few questions too, discovering that (a) judo and street dance are popular clubs but there’s also tennis, fencing, ballet, horse riding and yoga, among others (most taught by teachers) and that (b) ‘Some of us do one every day.’ Lots of trips too, with skiing (all ages) and South Africa (years 7 and 8) – ‘my best holiday ever,’ said one girl. Parents can go too, and the latter includes a visit to Winterfold’s sister school.

Winterfold is not short on Catholic symbolism and prayers. ‘But I’m not religious and it doesn’t matter,’ shrugged one child – and there are plenty of families from all faiths and none. Most, we were assured, are not as wealthy as the giant cars and personalised number plates at drop-off suggested, ‘but there are quite a lot where the dad owns his own business and the mum works or stays at home,’ said one. Most from a 30-mile radius, with many using the school buses to local towns and villages, as well as Bromsgrove senior school. ‘Everyone knows everyone – it’s very friendly.’ Main niggles, though small, are wanting more notice for events and some feel there can be a ‘computer says no’ response when concerns are raised.

The children are friendly and polite, and older peer mentors take their role seriously, one having made considerable efforts to help a girl who’d been crying. A parent told us her child ‘can get quite anxious and the school really works to build her confidence’. Some years more girl or boy heavy than others, but evens out overall. Their views are valued, as we saw in a student council meeting. Improving toilets high on the agenda, and hats off to the pupil that asked for school animals, or better still, a farm – why not, with all that space?

Discipline more soft touch than the rather long and scary list of sanctions would suggest. In reality, it often just takes a look from a teacher and rarely more than a chat. ‘They just seem to know how they are expected to behave,’ said a parent. Pupils happy to help keep order too – ‘Leave that coaster alone, please,’ one instructed a younger child during a group chat.

The school, which started out as boys’ boarding in Birmingham in 1923, moved here (via Herefordshire in the war years) in 1946. Since 2016, it has been owned by Bromsgrove School – ‘a good fit because most of the children always went there anyway,’ says head. Parents say the ‘small, family feel remains’ but that Winterfold had ‘a wilder, rustic feel before, with polo-necks, corduroys and tree climbing – now it’s more polished and smart with blazers and new Astros, and a lot of risk assessments.’