102 102 Tatler Schools Guide 2020 tatler.comALL HALLOWS
Cranmore Hall, East Cranmore,
Somerset BA4 4SF
Website allhallowsschool.co.uk
Head Dr Trevor Richards Pupils
275 day and boarding: 144 boys,
131 girls Faith RC Ages 3–13
Term fees Day: £5,450;
boarding: £8,250
One parent likens the education
pupils receive at this Catholic
prep near Frome to an Enid
Blyton book: ‘It’s how childhood
should be – fun, exciting, safe
and inspiring.’ Head Dr Trevor
Richards is an educational psy-
chologist and ensures that ‘chil-
dren’s happiness and wellbeing lie
at the heart of decision-making’.
The proof of the pudding is in the
eating – happy children head off to
the likes of King’s Bruton, Milton
Abbey and Bryanston on a pletho-
ra of scholarships. On the sports
field All Hallows ‘punches above
its weight’, while photography,bushcraft and clay pigeon shoot-
ing clubs are all popular. Music is
extremely strong thanks to the
Director of Music, Mr Castle,
who is utterly adored by all and
has ‘injected energy and enthusi-
asm into the subject’.BEAUDESERT PARK
SCHOOL
Minchinhampton,
Gloucestershire GL6 9AF
Website beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk
Head Chris Searson Pupils 426 day
and boarding: 238 boys, 188 girls
Faith C of E Ages 3–13 Term fees
Day: £6,100; boarding: £7,772
Beaudesert is next to Minchin-
hampton Common, and cows
graze freely on the school’s door-step while students enjoy incredi-
ble views over the Stroud Valley.
New Head Chris Searson has
quickly become a parental darling
by abolishing Saturday morning
lessons and introducing meat-free
Mondays. Boarding is hugely
popular (it’s been described as a
‘ginormous sleepover’) with both
weekly and flexi on offer. The A
teams are formidable sporting
opponents, but every child at the
school is given the chance to play
in matches. ‘Tree climbing is a big
thing here,’ it’s reported, and
there’s a designated climbing area
for BOBs (Beaudeserts on Branch-
es), with ewok-like tree platforms,
plenty of slides and even a
fireman’s pole.CHAFYN GROVE
Bourne Avenue, Salisbury,
Wiltshire SP1 1LR
Website chafyngrove.co.uk Head
Simon Head Pupils 252 day and
boarding: 149 boys, 103 girls Faith
C of E Ages 3–13 Term fees Day:
£5,765; boarding: £7,668
The industrious and down-to-earth
Chafyn Grove pupils are in high
demand from senior schools like
Marlborough and Winchester.
Headmaster Simon Head (with
faithful golden retriever Peggy by his
side) looks for students with ‘a
readiness to try new things’, and
these pupils really do give it their
best. Everybody attempts the
Chafyn Challenges, ranging from
learning to sign the alphabet to
helping to deliver a lamb (Salisbury’s
future vets in training). The big-
screen rugby match viewings are
unmissable, with the children
begging to board to guarantee
themselves a front-row spot.ALL HALLOWSS o u t h We s tPREP10-19-Schools-Guide-PrepSouthWest.indd 102 14/08/2019 11:34