The school was founded in 1935 by R J O (Jack) Meyer with the philanthropic aim of using its resources to generate places for boys who were gifted but not wealthy. The school became co-educational in 1939. Millfield's vision is to be the world leader for the development of children, offering an environment where students are immersed in limitless academic, artistic and sporting opportunities and individually supported to discover their brilliance. Set in 240 acres of grounds, the facilities are unmatched in the UK: an Olympic-sized swimming pool, indoor Equestrian Centre, a 500-seat theatre, golf courses, art gallery, state-of-the-art cricket and golf centres and a music school housing a 350-seat Johnson concert hall, recording studios and numerous practice rooms.
The school is fully co-educational with approximately 1,330 students, 54% boys and 46% girls; 75% of whom are boarders.
Day and boarding houses. There are 19 boarding houses, situated on or within easy reach of campus, with separate houses for boys and girls. Most Sixth Formers have their own rooms while younger students share either in pairs or fours. As part of the Nine at Millfield programme, Year 9 has dedicated boarding and day houses. All Year 9 houses lie in the heart of the campus and have a higher staff to student ratio to oversee every aspect of each student’s wellbeing and academic progress. There are four day houses for Year 10 to Upper Sixth; they have their own base on site and may stay in the evenings to do supervised prep.
The curriculum. We have a broad, unrivalled choice for GCSE, BTEC and A level options.
All students entering Year 9 (at age 13), regardless of ability, study English, mathematics, three sciences, at least one language, art, design and technology, IT, food and nutrition, geography, history, religious studies, physical education and music. The student to teacher ratio is 6.5:1. Students have a structured co-curricular programme.
In Years 10 and 11, students follow courses leading to GCSEs in the core subjects of English, mathematics, science and a language. In addition, there is a wide choice of options: art & design, business studies, Chinese, computer science, drama, economics, BTEC enterprise, food and nutrition, French, geography, German, history, Italian, Latin, music, physical education, product design, religious studies and Spanish.
The school offers a wide range of A level subjects to Sixth Formers. These include art, biology, business, chemistry, Chinese, drama, economics, English literature, French, further mathematics, geography, German, history, IT, classical civilisation, Latin, mathematics, media studies, music, philosophy, physical education, physics, politics, product design, psychology, religious studies and Spanish. Also on offer are the vocational courses of BTEC business and BTEC enterprise and entrepreneurship (both equivalent to two A levels), BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design (equivalent to three A levels), BTEC Diploma in Sport (equivalent to two A levels), BTEC Music (equivalent to one A level) and Leiths Introductory Certificate. Most students will study three A level courses (or equivalent) in the Lower Sixth and continue with all of these courses into the Upper Sixth. Wider enrichment opportunities are available to all Sixth Formers. The curriculum offers breadth, depth and flexibility in course choice. Students are also prepared for STEP papers and Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT exams) for American Universities. English as an additional language (EAL) and Learning Support is available at all levels.
Sport and activities. Millfield runs an unparalleled range of sports and activities to engage all students. Those in Years 9, 10 and 11 generally choose from one of the core games of the term, including rugby and basketball (boys) and hockey and dance (girls) in the autumn term. Football and hockey (boys) and netball, dance and football (girls) in the spring term, and athletics, cricket and tennis (both boys and girls) in the summer term. In Sixth Form, the range extends to include all of the above plus badminton, canoeing, chess, clay shooting, climbing, karate, sailing, skiing, squash, trampolining, triathlon, and various fitness activities such as aerobics, pilates, spinning and yoga. Throughout the school, students may also specialise in one of our high-performing programmes including athletics, cricket, fencing, golf, modern pentathlon, squash, swimming and tennis.
Students in Years 9, 10 and Lower Sixth take part in the Millfield Activity Programme (MAP) where they can further broaden their experiences through a choice of more than 100 activities, ranging from athletics and British Military Fitness to film clubs, dissection, lacrosse, beekeeping and falconry.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Boarding: £19,044; Day: £12,397.
Scholarships and bursaries. Scholarships carry a fee reduction of up to 10%, awarded to students who display exceptional talent in academic, all-rounder, art, drama, dance, design & innovation, music and sport. A limited number of Headmaster’s Scholarships of up to 50% are also available. Where parental resources are limited, these may be augmented by means-tested bursaries of up to 100%.
Charitable status. Millfield is a Registered Charity, number 310283. Its aim is to provide independent boarding and day education for boys and girls, and to maintain an extensive system of bursary aid to gifted students or those in financial need.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Chair of Governors: R Rudd
R Abernethy
B Alizadeh
W Bushell
R Clark
Mrs N Della Valle
F Dickens OBE
T Griffiths
C Hirst
C Macdonald
N Maddock
J Maudslay
Mrs J Mitchell
D Pinto
R Soluade
P Warner
O Welsby
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs R Summerhayes
Headmaster: Gavin Horgan, MA Oxon
Finance Director: Mrs M Johnson, BSc Hons, ACA
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr David Brooke, MMath Oxon, PhD
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs S Quenault
Deputy Head (Enrolment and Outreach): J Postle, BA Hons, PGCE, FRSA
Assistant Head (Academic): Dr A Gutteridge, MPhil, PhD
Assistant Head (Middle School): R Furlong, BSc Hons, MEd, PGCE
Assistant Head (Sixth Form): Mr M Barber, BA Hons
Director of Sport: Mrs I Dzisiewska, PGCert, BEng Hons
Head of Marketing: Mrs L Webb, BA Hons
Head of Millfield Prep: D Thornburn, MEd
Head of Human Resource: Mrs C Hawksworth, BSoc Sci
Director of IT: G Henderson, BA Hons, MA
Financial Controller: K Hawkins
Assistant Head (Pastoral and Staff): C Middleton, BSc Hons, PGCE
Assistant Head (Student Welfare and DSL): A Whatling, MSc
Director of Enterprises: Miss H Angelinetta, BA Hons
Heads of Department:
Art, Design & Technology: Mrs J Matthews
Biology: Mrs L McEwen, BSc
Chemistry: Mr J Casalis De Pury
Computing and ICT: Ms K Rogers
English as an Additional Language (EAL): Ms J White
Economics: A Shaw, MA Oxon, PGCE
English and Media: J C Baddock, BA Hons
Geography: D Barry
History and Politics: Mr M Howard
Food and Nutrition: P Reeves, BA Hons, DTLLS, MA
Languages: M Nash, BA Hons, MA, ATCL, PGCE
Learning Support Centre: Ms J White, BSc Hons, MEd, QTS, PG Dip, MDG
Library: S Bull, BA, PGDE
Mathematics: Dr C Fiddes, BA Oxon, PhD
Music: K Barry
Physical Education: S Maddock, BA Hons, MEd
Physics: Mr C Davies
Religious Studies and Philosophy: T Churchill, BA Hons, MA, PGCE
Houses and Housemasters/Housemistresses:
Boarding Houses:
Abbey: Ms C Rose
Acacia: Miss J Moore
Butleigh: Mrs E Watambwa
Etonhurst: Ms K Lloyd
Holmcroft: R Owlett
Joan’s Kitchen: M Speyers
Keen’s Elm: S Lane
Kernick: Ms C Coutand-Moore
Kingweston: G Furber
Martins: Mr P Wadeson
Millfield: T Bowley
Orchards: S Robertson
Portway: Miss L Chamberlin
Shapwick: T Kingsford
St Annes: T Stokes
Southfield: K Lindsell
The Grange: T Neal-Smith
Walton: L Monument
Warner: Mrs J Weare
Day Houses, Boys:
Great: Mr J Bishop
Mill: Mr M Frost
Day Houses, Girls:
Overleigh: T Baughan
The Lakes: Mrs J Gray
Day House (Year 9 Girls & Boys):
Ivythorn: Mrs K Butt
Heads of Sport:
Director of Athletics: N Wheeler
Tutor i/c Badminton: K Lloyd, BSc
Head of Basketball: C Seeley
Director of Cricket: M Garaway, ECB Level 4 Coach
Master i/c Cross Country: C Brown
Director of Dance and Drama: R Fox
Director of Fencing: M Cleary
Head of Football: T McCallum
Director of Golf: K Nicholls, PGA/LET member
Director of Hockey: R Keates, HA Coach Level 2
Head of Karate: P Hacker
Head of Modern Pentathlon: A Cord
Director of Netball: J Adamson
Head of Outdoor Adventure: N Woodall
Head of Equestrian Sports (Riding & Polo): M Wilder
Director of Rugby: J Mallett, RFU Level 4
Sailing: P Williams
Skiing: T Davies
Director of Squash: I Thomas, High Performance Coach
Director of Swimming: E Dale, BSc
Director of Tennis: D Manlow
Head of Trampolining: J Boyd
Head of Triathlon: C Brown