Lymington dot com - Hordle Walhampton School – Independent education in an idyllic setting!

Home THE Local Directory! Shops Staying & Eating Out Things To Do Local Information Business Resources Merchandise Live WEBCAMS TV & VIDEO Images of Lymington Charity of the Month! Health & Beauty Property Jobs Marine Motor Weather Map of the Area

You are here: I Want to Live Here › Commuting to London Guide › Independent Schools › Hordle Walhampton School – Independent education in an idyllic setting!

Hordle Walhampton School – Independent education in an idyllic setting!

Why Hordle Walhampton School is right for you!

Whilst there are many driving factors when it comes to choosing a school for your child, the best way I can do Henry & Jackie Phillips justice is to target this article at a specific audience and in doing so hopefully encompass all the positive attributes in one go.

To that end, let's suppose you have one or more young children and have decided to move away from London or another similar City in favour of the idyllic lifestyle that Lymington has to offer. Perhaps you don't know very many people in the area, but you do know that bringing up children in an environment like this has got to be better than perpetually ferrying them around town in search of fresh air and friendship. Either before you've taken the plunge or soon after, you'll be wondering where they can go to secure the very best education and of course build lasting relationships with their peers. If you are fortunate enough to be able to consider private education, then you won't want to gamble on such an important investment. (It is also worth mentioning here that the Pre-Prep is initially more cost-effective than most other childcare and whilst the school of course hopes that the children do stay through to Reception and beyond, some parents do take advantage of the exceptional teaching and facilities in those important formative few years and then maybe for financial reasons move over to one of the other very excellent schools in the area.)

I'm going to assume that you are looking for a school which will nurture your child towards a future at one of the main public schools and depending on their own natural abilities will be encouraged to realise their full potential. Most people probably at some point look at the league tables and work downwards depending on academic achievements, pastoral care, sports facilities or all three, and even at a young age have some idea of where they would like to see their child end up after common entrance. This is inevitable of course because your choice of school leading up to that moment is very important.

If any of the above introduction describes even part of your experience and the concomitant emotions, domestic debates and general concerns most parents have at this juncture then I am delighted to be able to offer an antidote to all your stresses and strains.

From the very first moment you pull up in front of the school on your first visit and savour the crunch underfoot on the drive, the wonderful sense of space and the immediately apparent sense of a well maintained school with a perfect marriage of engaging informality and structured discipline you'll start to unwind. By the time you enter the front doors and grasp the awaiting out-stretched hand of Henry Phillips the Headmaster, you've probably already made up your mind; but if you haven't then it is impossible not to warm to him. This is no Headmaster hidden in an ivory tower, more a passionately accessible 'friend' who is not only very popular with the teaching staff but also the children who all know him personally. His Wife Jackie is equally popular and for those who board later on in their time at the school, it is Jackie who is the first one who caringly introduces them to the experience in 'The Lodge' which is the boarding house for younger children. (Children are welcomed for occasional stayovers at any time even from quite early on and once they have a good circle of friends they are often proactively keen on this occasional proof of growing confidence and independence.)

I spent some time the other day with Henry (though I still feel I should call him MR. Phillips even at my age) and what impressed me most is that whilst maintaining a relaxed and comforting approach to everyday life at the school, he is also quietly and successfully nudging the academic and overall achievements onwards and upwards. Without compromising the caring approach to education there has been a significant development since the days when the two schools of Hordle and Walhampton were merged and the academic prowess of the one and the sporting reputation of the other are now perfectly blended into probably one of the finest schools in the South. To give you an idea of the 'just do it' energy that Henry brings to the school, he has just completed the London Marathon raising over £7000 for Naomi House which cares for children with terminal illness.

Clearly there will be some of you for whom the tangible facts are as important and these do not disappoint. Year on year the school is increasingly delivering scholars to the likes of Winchester, Canford, Eton, Harrow, King Edward's etc. and as a 'feeder' of ever growing repute the vast majority of children succeed in entry to their first choice of school. As an example, I recently spoke to the similarly charismatic Headmaster of Canford which has a very parallel style to Hordle and which, though attracting good 'all-rounder’s' maintains a very high academic level. I was told in no uncertain terms that Hordle Walhampton was an excellent choice for any parent wishing to see their child achieve the level of success at common entrance which would secure a place at his school. I have also heard similar comments from parents of children at Winchester and others as well.

I'd like to finish where I started and add something else which I think is particularly relevant too. If you are moving to Lymington and The New Forest and starting a new life in the area, there can be no better way to meet new lifetime friends than through a school. Hordle Walhampton is exceptionally good at creating a platform for this to happen and whether it be social events organised by Parent's Reps to the Summer Ball, Fireworks Night, Christmas Fare, Sports Day and the myriad of organised trips; you'll soon find that you feel completely at home. What was a potentially stressful and isolating experience in your life has become the best thing you ever did. There is even an annual lunch for Grandparents which is exceedingly popular and celebrates their involvement in your children's development as well.

I have friends all over the world with children between 2 & 13 years old and in my opinion it doesn't get much better than this. Strong academic focus alongside an outdoor focused upbringing is for me the very best a parent can offer their child. Naturally I'm biased towards Lymington because I see it as one of the finest places in Europe to bring up a family, but it wouldn't be quite the same if it weren't so well complimented by an independent school which is so well run and which is at the very heart of so much of this community. JS

Please visit www.hordlewalhampton.co.uk for more information or email/ call the school to arrange an inspection via registrar@hordlewalhampton.co.uk & 01590 672013

For more information about moving to the area please read our article about 'commuting to London' here or visit our 'I Want to Live Here' section.