Frensham Heights is a highly distinctive day and boarding school in the beautiful Surrey Hills.
Founded in 1925, we welcome students from the age of 3 to 18. Located close to the beautiful Georgian market town of Farnham and 15 miles from the historic city of Guildford, we are about an hour from London, Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Our Approach. A progressive approach to education transcends the school years and aims to prepare each child for their future, both along whatever path they may choose and also as part of society as a whole. Students are asked to be active participants in their learning, challenging themselves and taking risks. They're asked to question and explore – to develop as individuals, as part of our school community and as engaged citizens of the wider world.
Our Teaching & Learning. We pride ourselves on looking at the whole child. Body, mind and spirit. Every child has potential. Not just a narrow potential to do well in academic tests or behave in a classroom, but each has their own potential far wider than this. An amazing imagination. A keen eye for colour or ear for rhythm. A passion for the environment, for numbers, for human rights, for literature. A natural grace on stage or one that's still developing. We can miss the mark hugely if we judge children with easy to tick boxes when they undoubtedly have so much more to offer. And so we offer them a very broad curriculum to let each child follow their own path towards fulfilling their unique potential. Until the end of Year 9, all students will explore a diverse timetable made up of mathematical and scientific, creative and performing, linguistic and literary, physical and technological, moral and spiritual, social and human subjects. All held in equal importance. Our GCSEs and A Levels are equally broad and are supported by a growing number of BTEC and alternative qualifications – allowing students to create a tailor-made curriculum supporting their passions, strengths and goals.
Our Learning Relationships. With a more informal setting and smaller classes, the teachers and students really get to know each other. Literally on a first-name basis. This is important because we ask our students to step up and be more responsible and self-motivated than they may need to be elsewhere. We don't micro-manage, we do support, but ultimately it's down to each child to take control of their learning. Teachers learn each child's strengths and weaknesses. They reinforce where needed and push where they can, but most importantly, they are a friendly face. They genuinely want to help, not to intimidate or belittle.
We welcome boarders from Year 7 upwards. As with most things at Frensham, we understand that one size never fits all so we have a few different boarding options for Years 7 and up – Full Boarding, Weekly Boarding, 3 Day Boarding and Occasional Boarding. Alongside our many and varied extracurricular activities, boarders are offered additional activities and trips. Our co-educational boarding houses are relaxed, warm, lively and supportive with boys and girls accommodated in separate areas, but sharing comfortable common rooms where they can study and socialise.
Student numbers. 500 boys and girls aged 3 to 18 years. Average class size: 18.
Admissions. Children entering Nursery and Reception will be invited in for a short informal visit to meet our Teacher in Charge of Early Years. Children entering Years 1 to 6 will be invited to spend a day with us in their current year group to join in with the usual class activities. They will also spend a short time with a teacher working through some core numeracy and literacy activities. Students looking to join in Years 7–9 will join us for our assessment day in January which involves short tests in Maths, Spelling, English Reading Comprehension and Creative Writing (and Science for Year 9) plus an afternoon of team building activities. Candidates will also be invited for informal small-group interviews. Those looking to join us for Sixth Form must have achieved, or be likely to achieve, at least six GCSE passes at grades 9-4, of which a minimum of a 4 is required in both English Language and Mathematics. Candidates will be invited to our assessment/interview day in November.
Curriculum. Our curriculum is intentionally broad to offer each student both a thorough grounding in a diverse timetable of creative, scientific, physical and theoretical subjects, but also to give them each the chance to find their own passions and interests. Subjects are interwoven, giving a depth of understanding and experience that is often lacking in a more traditional curriculum. Most students take 10 GCSEs (or alternatives) – English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Science (Trilogy or Separate Science) are compulsory; PE, Games, Outdoor Education, PRE and PSHE continue to be an integral part of the curriculum through GCSE and A Level years.
Extracurricular Activities. An extensive and varied selection of activities includes sports of all sorts, outdoor education, art, music, dance, drama, hobbies and clubs. Clubs run at lunch and after school.
Religion. Frensham Heights is non-denominational and there are no religious services.
Dress. No uniform. Dress code is based on respect for others and suitability for purpose.
Welfare and Discipline. Discipline is founded on exceptional staff–student relationships reflecting school values: originality of thought, spirit of togetherness, respect of individuality, courage to try. Every student has a personal tutor. There is a school nurse and a counsellor.
Learning Support. We can support a limited number of children with mild learning difficulties.
Overseas Students. We admit boarders from overseas and provide tuition in English as a Second Language as part of their curriculum. All boarders must have a UK based guardian.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Nursery fees: EYFE session (free from 8.30 am–11.30 am) plus £23.50 (morning session, including lunch), £41.50 (afternoon session, including lunch), £44.50 (EYFE full day), £78 (full day); Reception £2,855; Years 1–2: £3,340; Years 3–4: £4,085; Years 5–6: £5,080; Years 7–8: £7,255 (day), £10,550 (full boarding); Years 9–11: £7,615 (day), £11,940 (full boarding); New Sixth Form Entrants: £8,085 (day), £15,615 (full boarding).
Scholarships and Bursaries. Honorary scholarships are awarded for academic distinction or exceptional promise in Music, Art, Dance, Drama and Sport and scholars access dedicated enrichment activities. A small number of means-tested bursaries are available.
Charitable status. Frensham Heights Educational Trust is a Registered Charity, number 312052. It exists to provide a high quality, progressive education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Chair: Simon Wilcox, FInstLM, MSc, CMgr
Vice Chair: Phil Ward, BEd
Treasurer: TBC
Clerk to the Governors: Susie Birdsall, BA Hons
Richard Fry, MA, MEng Cambs
Kate Love, MA Oxon
Sally Marriott
Will Marriott
Danuta Staunton, MA, PGCE
Jackie Nickson, MRICS
Gregory West, BA
Joris Wonders, BA, MSc, ACC
Head: Andrew Fisher, BA Hons, PGCE
Assistant Head (Operations & Cocurricular): Andy Spink, BSc, QTS
Assistant Head (Pastoral, Progress & Behaviour): Jo Dalziel, BEd Hons, PGCE
Head of Junior School: Nick Oram-Tooley, BA, QTS