Woodcote House School

Since 2023, Oliver Paterson, great-grandson of the founder of Woodcote House and the fifth member of the Paterson family to be head. Born and educated at Woodcote House, followed by Eton. Studied MFL at Durham University. His passion for music and drama led to an eight-year acting career – including a stint as a cruise ship jazz singer where he met his wife, Jessica, a concert violinist. Despite being encouraged to ‘follow his dreams and pursue his own passions’, he knew he was destined to be head of Woodcote one day. ‘Acting and teaching are much of a muchness,’ he claims. ‘Whether you’re in the West End or a classroom, you’ve got to be able to grab an audience.’

He trained at a secondary academy in east London and returned to Woodcote in 2016, becoming deputy head in 2020. Stepped into big shoes previously filled by his uncle and father (who still teach at the school) but is already making his mark as a ‘strong leader’, demonstrating a progressive ‘hands on’ attitude and implementing positive tweaks to the curriculum, according to parents. Determined to ‘move with the times without losing culture and spirit of the place’, he has most recently overhauled the school’s IT system. Teaches year 5 maths and is heavily involved with pre-testing. ‘It means I have a good handle when talking to parents about senior schools.’ Also organises senior school play and teaches football and cricket.

Affable in conversation and well respected, he is described by parents as ‘charismatic’, ‘enthusiastic’ and ‘energetic’. Pupils agree – adding that he’s ‘kind’, ‘fun’, ‘likes a laugh’ and ‘pushes you to be your best’. The best thing about being head? ‘Seeing a boy flourish – watching that shy year 3 boy who clings to his parents’ sides turn into a confident, inspiring young man who stands up and speaks in assembly, listens to what others have to say and forms his own opinions,’ he says.

He and his wife have two young children, Reuben and Phoebe. ‘I can’t wait to come back in 20 years’ time when Reuben is head,’ said one pupil. Family comes first but he’s a scratch golfer and likes to play piano and write cryptic crossword puzzles in his spare time.

Only a small number leave at 11+. Vast majority stay to take advantage of the senior years, with majority heading to boarding schools at 13+. No automatic follow-on to a senior school and candid chats with parents begin in year 5. Head prides himself on ‘fitting the child to the school, not the school to the child’. Popular destinations include Harrow, Winchester, Eton, Bradfield, Sherbourne and Canford. Four scholarships in 2023.

More than 50 per cent of pupils board – half of them either weekly or full, the rest choosing regular nights each week (‘flexible not flexi,’ says school). Termly taster boarding nights for day pupils. ‘I love it,’ said one, ‘because you get to spend evenings with your friends and you’re free to run around and play in the grounds'.

A warren of corridors with mostly spacious dorms (five to 12 beds) occupy top floor of main school building. Typical of teenage rooms, with bright blue walls, stripy curtains and movie posters – but tidier. Year 8 pupils enjoy television privilege in dorm room while younger pupils hang out in beanbag-filled common rooms.

We loved hearing how the deputy head bought a PlayStation for boarders but it just gathers dust in the summer term. After Saturday match teas, pupils are spoilt for plein-air fun, including climbing ropes, playing Laser Tag and cooking wood-fired pizzas in the grounds. Schedule of Sunday outings includes dry-slope skiing, paintballing and cinema trips.

Matrons look after mobile phones during school time; they’re only returned to pupils at exeat weekends and half term. ‘Despite being nervous to begin with, my son now does two nights a week, thanks to the kind and caring matrons,’ said one parent.

Forty minutes from London, in leafy Windlesham, the wisteria-clad schoolhouse (a former coaching inn) is enveloped by 30 acres of green space – your ultimate rural idyll. That’s one-third of an acre for every child. There is a wholesome schedule of al fresco pursuits, thanks to the nine-hole golf course, shooting range, zip line and legendary elephants’ graveyard (secret den). Dotted about the grounds there’s also a cookery room, games room, jam room (rehearsal space) and beautiful woodland chapel. Head openly admits that they will ‘never be swanky’ – but ‘you don’t choose Woodcote for its facilities’, a parent told us. What the school lacks in resources it makes up for in charm – oodles of it.

School motto of ‘live to learn and learn to live’ perfectly encapsulates school’s equal commitment to academic progress and personal development of every pupil. With an average of 10-12 pupils per class, no child is missed and every child is supported. ‘Small is our strength,’ said the head who told us on our last visit that he has no intention of increasing numbers or moving to co-ed – although they have since done just that, with a new co-ed pre-prep opening in the redeveloped existing building. It will have its own enclosed play area and its location next to the main school building and sports facilities means pre-prep pupils will get good use of both.

The ever-evolving curriculum features Spanish as the main MFL, taught from the off. Latin introduced in year 7. CE and scholarships drive the syllabus in the upper years and school is increasingly focused on pre-tests in year 6 (verbal and non-verbal reasoning are now timetabled lessons). Setting for maths and English from year 5 and all subjects from year 7. PSHE lessons frequently adapted to include exploration of current affairs and real-life learning.

Saturday lessons have been replaced with enrichment programme. First session is an opportunity to try something new, eg structural engineering, photography, fencing or cookery. Second is focused on an area of academic development such as touch typing, interview practice or critical thinking.

Around 20 per cent of pupils are on the SEN register – mainly for autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia, many benefiting from one-to-one or group sessions with school’s SENCo (costs extra). One parent praised the ‘outstanding communication’ between the SENCo and home. No additional support offered in class but popular ‘gappers’ help out in lessons and listen to boys read. SENCo also assists in other areas, including extension work, preparation for scholarships and social development.

PE and/or games timetabled every day – much of it outside – and the sport-for-all attitude ensures that everyone has a chance to represent the school. Head says that ‘first team punches well above its weight for a small school’ and matches on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons are high spots of the week. The acres of grounds include pitches for football, rugby, cricket and athletics and an Astro for tennis and hockey. Covered (unheated) pool only utilised in summer term but newly established PA is fundraising to refurbish it for year-round use.

In outdoorsy schools, arts provision can sometimes feel like an afterthought but not here. The small, cluttered art room is full to bursting with pupils’ creations on every wall and surface. And the quote on the wall that ‘earth without art is just eh’ signifies the subject’s status within the curriculum. When we visited, a year 8 lesson was in full swing, with pupils generating artworks of food to be sold for charity at school’s annual art exhibition.

With a former actor at the helm, it’s not surprising parents say the school productions are ‘unfailingly brilliant’. ‘The head is remarkable in his ability to pass on his passion for drama to the pupils,’ said one. Three major productions a year are watched and supported by all parents, not just those whose children are performing. Yet another example of this tight-knit community.

Over 75 per cent of pupils learn at least one instrument and a termly music concert gives everyone an opportunity to perform for parents and peers. On our tour, one of our guides (year 4) decided to play us an impromptu and very impressive grade 5 piano piece. ‘The termly concerts are such jolly events', said one parent; another that her child ‘didn’t sing before joining the school but within four to five weeks on vocal lessons, he was performing solos’.

‘The food is insane,’ whispered one pupil as we headed into the dining room for lunch – and we had to agree. The roast pork with crackling, followed by apple crumble and custard, was scrumptious. Though we were disappointed to miss out on the famous ‘Woodcote mess’ – a peach and chocolate button take on the traditional English pudding. Pupils dine alongside teachers and enjoy family-style service, followed by rest/reading before the afternoon timetable commences.

Parents will talk your ear off about how nurturing the school is, with strong relationships between staff and pupils really shining through on our visit too. They ‘understand the boys’ and are skilled at getting the best out of them, ‘not just academically but from a character perspective,’ we were told. Worry boxes and suggestion boxes are dotted around the school but pupils we spoke to felt comfortable simply chatting to a teacher as needed.

Pupils belong to one of four houses (red, blue, green, brown) and take part in house competitions and activities throughout the year. Plus marks awarded for kindness and effort and minus marks for disobedience. The winning house is presented with a cake (baked and decorated in the house colour) that is traditionally cut by the house captain with a silver ceremonial sword.

It’s a long day with collection at 6pm for day pupils – later if they are involved in extracurricular activities – but no complaints on this front. Homework is completed at school, leaving evenings free for family time. Archery, chess, cooking, gardening and Warhammer are just some of the clubs on offer. Various trips throughout the year, with highlights including the year 7 visit to the WWI battlefields of Belgium and France (parents invited too) and the year 8 leavers’ programme of activities (wakeboarding, Thorpe Park, fathers/sons cricket match), which culminates in a final adventure to Cornwall.

Predominantly local families, with a growing number from London, thanks to school bus services from west and south-west London. Parents describe each other as ‘a mixed bunch of lovely people’ and adore the school as much as the pupils. ‘Accessibility of staff is phenomenal,’ said one parent. From match teas to drinks after chapel, others praised the myriad of opportunities for informal chats with teachers. Try as we might, we could not elicit a single grumble from anyone we spoke to – except that school ends at year 8. ‘Hand on heart, I wish my son could stay here forever,’ said a parent wistfully.

Refreshingly old-fashioned, yet full of opportunities, this small, family-run school has created an environment where every child (and parent) feels special. Indeed, every leaver (since 1931) has their black and white photograph permanently displayed. Pupils we met were confident, able to hold their own with adults and peers and extremely well-mannered – we did not open a single door during our visit. A few still need to learn not to talk over each other but we couldn’t help admiring the passion and fervour with which they talked about their school.