tatler.com Tatler Schools Guide 2020 51SOUTH WEST & WALESPUBLICMILLFIELDknown prep school as leading
the way with ‘brio, eloquence and
vision’ – lunches every Friday
with a different group of pupils,
who are chosen by the head boy
and girl. He sees this, quite right-
ly, as the best way of keeping his
finger on the pulse of all the
goings-on within the school and
getting accurate feedback. There
is a strong Christian ethos, yet it’s
far from pious and is known for
its balanced environment. The
school is committed to providing
an extensive sporting programme
which focuses on participation as
well as excellence – rowing is
particularly strong and the squad
(some of whom have been chosen
to compete at international level)
has had elite opportunities at
Henley. ‘Voluntaries’ – voluntary
lessons after school – are on hand
for pupils who have missed a
lesson or need a bit of a boost and
every success is celebrated, not
just the Oxbridge offers. One
parent chose MC above three of
the much larger and more well-
known public schools, looking
for somewhere where her son
would thrive and fulfil his
potential without getting ‘lost in
the pack’. It’s abundantly clear
why parents are so keen on this
deliberately small school: students
leave as grounded and empathetic
individuals, well-prepared for life
beyond Monkton Combe. ]Pupils at Milton Abbey often
liken their school to Hogwarts.
With its towers, turrets and huge
library, there’s undeniably a
strong hint of magic about it.
Parents agree, praising the
school’s ability to transform
young people, many of whom
felt left behind before they
donned their tartan and tweed
uniform. The school’s emphasis
on vocational courses underpins
the curriculum: there’s Country-
side Management, Hospitality,
Equine Management, you name
it. Students spend roughly a
third of their week outside, so it’s
no surprise that SchÖffel waist-
coats have become standard
cool-kid attire. Interestingly,
there is also a keen focus on
entrepreneurial skills, with an
Entrepreneur in Residence
(think Anya Hindmarch meets
Johnnie Boden) delivering ad-
vice about the alternatives to the
conventional university path. A
competition then ensues, where
business ideas are pitched to
staff. The time spent in the fields
or honing Dragons’ Den skills
doesn’t come at the cost of a
sensitive support network: pupils
who require learning support are
given a tailored programme to
meet their individual needs.
According to one parent, the
pastoral care is simply outstand-
ing: ‘My son has struggled with
some depression over the past 18
months and he feels safe in the
knowledge he can knock on the
door of any teacher and never be
turned away, no matter how busy
they are or how late it is.’ The
school is small, applications from
girls are on the up, and, if you
decide to take a look around,
don’t be surprised if pupils try to
sell you fresh eggs and meat from
the school farm.MONKTON COMBE
Bath BA2 7HG
Website monktoncombeschool.com
Head Chris Wheeler, PGCE, since
2016; previously Principal and
CEO of Hillcrest International
Schools Pupils 359. Day: 105 boys,
44 girls; boarding: 117 boys, 93
girls Faith C of E Ages 13–18
Term Fees Day: £7,170; boarding:
£11,440 Oxbridge 8%
Registration No deadline; £100 fee
Admission CAT scores, assessment
day, previous school’s report and
interview Alumni Entrepreneur
and TED owner Chris Anderson,
rower Alex Partridge, former Head
of British Secret Intelligence Service
Sir Richard Dearlove
PREP Head Martin Davis Pupils
223 day and boarding: 124 boys,
99 girls Ages 7–13 Term Fees Day:
£5,875; boarding: £8,470
Perfectly located on the outskirts
of Bath, Monkton Combe is
becoming more and more popu-
lar as a no-nonsense, ‘not too
shiny’ school, with a visionary
leadership team at the helm.
Principal Chris Wheeler – de-
scribed by the Head of a well-of Millfieldian Olympians. Though
hugely proud of its sporting
prowess, the school is keen to stress
that it’s not just suited to athletes;
the student body is vast, but class
sizes are very small – 12 pupils – and
they make the academics work
around any training. Establishing
themselves as an accredited SATs
testing centre for pupils applying to
US universities has reaped huge
rewards: last year nine pupils
achieved scores in the top 10 per
cent worldwide (with one pupil’s
score putting him in the top one per
cent). Millfield is known for its
fantastic dyslexia support, and
works closely with the charity Made
by Dyslexia. Head Gavin Horgan
is justifiably proud of the school’s
bursary programme, with 110
per cent bursaries frequently being
awarded to cover all fees and
expenses. The facilities are as exten-
sive as you’d imagine: Olympic-
grade pitches and pool, of course,
but also an impressive concert hall
and a TV studio. Since joining the
school last year, Horgan has brought
in a range of new measures
to eradicate bullying, including
anonymous reporting, safeguarding
and placing wellbeing at the heart of
the school. As one reviewer noted:
‘If your dream is to represent Team
GB at the Olympics while getting
three As at A-level, then there can
surely be no better place to study.’MILTON ABBEY
Milton Abbas, Blandford Forum,
Dorset DT11 0BZ
Website miltonabbey.co.uk
Head Judith Fremont-Barnes, MA,
since 2018; previously Head of
Duke of Kent School, Surrey
Pupils 210. Day: 23 boys, 16 girls
boarding: 112 boys, 59 girls
Faith C of E Ages 13–18 Te r m
Fees Day: £7,210; boarding:
£13,725 Oxbridge Occcasional
Registration At least two years
before entry; £200 fee
Admission Reference from previous
school and interview
Alumni Rupert Evans, Principal of
Royal Academy of Music Jonathan
Freeman-Attwood, rugby player
Tom Homer‘If your dream is to represent Team GBwhile getting three As at A-level, there cansurely be no better place than Millf ield’PHOTOGRAPHS: ASH MILLS PHOTOGRAPHY
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