Chair of Governors: Mr Roger Heaton
Head: Mrs Lindie Louw
Head of Senior School Transition: Mr Will Fagg
Assistant Head: Mr Howard Garlick
Director of Finance: Mr Mark Hugall
Director of Teaching and Learning: Mrs Charlotte MacDougall
Head of Innovation: Ms Nichola Trojanowski
Head of Operations: Mrs Melanie Mercer
Head of Organisation: Mrs Clare Hargrave
Director of Marketing and Admissions: Mrs Kate Whitehead
Age range. 9 months–13 years. Co-educational.
Number of pupils. 583.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Day Pupils from £3,800 (Reception) to £6,055 (Year 8).
Founded in 1890, Hazelwood stands in 20+ acres of superb grounds, commanding a magnificent view over the Kent and Sussex Weald.
Pupils enter at age 4 into the Pre-Prep or at 7+ to the Prep School, joining those pupils transferring from the Pre-Prep to the Prep School. Entry at other ages is possible if space permits. Hazelwood School’s Nursery and Early Years, open all year round for children from 9 months to 4 years, opened in September 2009 on the Laverock site which offers outstanding outdoor play areas and facilities.
A gradual transition is made towards subject specialist tuition in the middle and upper forms. Pupils are prepared for the Common Entrance examinations at 11+ and 13+, and also for Scholarships to Senior Schools. Over 230 academic, all-rounder, sporting, music and art awards have been gained since 1995.
Extracurricular activity is an important part of every pupil’s education. Excellent sports facilities, which include games fields, heated indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, many games pitches, tennis courts and a brand new all-weather Astroturf pitch (completed in the summer of 2022) – all of which allow preparation of school teams at various age and ability levels in a wide range of sports. Our aim is that every pupil has an opportunity to represent the School.
Art, Design and Technology, Graphic Design, Music and Drama are also strengths of the school. Our Centenary Theatre incorporates a 200-seat theatre, music school and Chapel. Our Bawtree Hall is a contemporary musical performance space which seats 350 people in auditorium-style seating and is used for termly music concerts, choir practice and more. All our pupils are encouraged to play an instrument and join one of the music groups catering for all interests and abilities. Further extracurricular activities include tap, ballet and jazz dance, judo, art, gymnastics, scuba, debating, fantasy football, Forest Skills, computing, Lego, induction into AI and chess, to name just a few.
Recently, Hazelwood introduced the concept of Flexible Classrooms. Initially started as an interesting trial, it has been rolled out across the whole school. Pupils now have a choice of how they wish to sit in class: comfy seating with lap trays for individual iPad work, round tables perfect for collaborative brainstorming (complete with whiteboards to capture ideas visually), quiet zones with beanbags for those seeking sensory input, and designated areas for focused independent work or extra support from the teacher. This dynamic environment fosters deeper engagement among pupils. Interactive, hands-on lessons become the norm, motivating pupils to take ownership of their learning journey. The freedom to choose their learning environment sparks creativity and critical thinking. It is not uncommon to see children sitting in class on wobble chairs or on the floor using lap desks. Hazelwood knows that how one child learns best is not the same as the next child, and a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. This element of self-choice within a classroom setting has produced happier, more content children who are engaged in their learning. Teachers claim the energy in the room is greater, and the benefits are even seen in class assessment results, with one child achieving 22% higher in a maths test when he was able to use a standing desk to work.
A further change for September 2024 was the relocation of Hazelwood’s youngest reception children to the Wolf’s Hill site. Previously located with the nursery at Bluehouse Lane, the three reception classes joined the rest of the school community and now enjoy the outstanding facilities on offer at the 25-acre site from the very beginning of their school journey. Extra parent parking, a new all-weather awning for year-round outdoor play, a sandpit, and a new forest school development area are enjoyed by our new Reception children as well and Years 1, 2 and 3.
Wellbeing at Hazelwood is another key focus of the school, as demonstrated by the opening of their Wellbeing Hub earlier this year. The hub provides a haven for children needing some time out to talk to a trained member of staff or for valuable one-to-one learning. It is also a zone where children with extra learning needs can receive additional lesson time and care.
In September 2024, Hazelwood launched a very exciting new venture – the opening of the Ruth Bourne Building, named after the wife of the school’s founder. Upper School children in Years 5–8 now enjoy this new space which provides a clean and modern environment for children to collaborate, create and learn. Space-saving furniture allows for an uncluttered working environment, collaboration zones allow for brainstorming and team discussions, and the inclusion of wipeable walls allow free-flowing ideas to be shared and problems openly discussed. More akin to a modern office space, this environment provides older pupils with the space to truly engage and enjoy learning in a comfortable and contemporary setting.
Hazelwood is proving that education should not stand still. In a world where everything is changing, Hazelwood is finding new ways to adapt to the individual and changing needs of pupils while still achieving impressive academic success and enrichment excellence.
Charitable status. Hazelwood School Limited is a Registered Charity, number 312081. It exists to provide excellent preparatory school education for girls and boys in Oxted, Surrey.