MIDLANDS & EAST ANGLIAPREPPHOTOGRAPHS: ALETHEA SIMPSON; BONJOUR SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHYBEESTON HALL
West Runton, Cromer,
Norfolk NR27 9NQ
Website beestonhall.co.uk
Head Fred de Falbe Pupils
158 day and boarding: 82 boys,
76 girls Ages 4–13 Term fees
Day: £6,360; boarding: £8,550
‘What’s the funniest thing that’s
ever happened at school?’ students
were asked. The reply: ‘If I told you,
we’d be here for a year.’ Perhaps the
sea breeze is the secret to the
happiness that pervades this co-ed
on the beautiful north Norfolk
coast – and they certainly make the
most of it with sailing, orienteering
and kayaking on offer. Or perhaps
it’s Head Fred de Falbe, who is
visible in every part of school life.
Beeston is ‘all about inclusion,’
according to one parent, thanks
to the school's small size and ethos
of mutual encouragement. Mr
de Falbe knows everyone by
name, helping to shape them into
well-rounded individuals before
they head off for the likes of Eton
and Uppingham.BILTON GRANGE
Dunchurch, Rugby,
Warwickshire CV22 6QU
Website biltongrange.co.uk
Head Alex Osiatynski Pupils 286
day and boarding: 157 boys, 129 girls
Faith C of E Ages 3–13 Term fees
Day £6,675; boarding: £9,095
Everyone gets a chance at this
handsome Warwickshire prep, set
in 90 acres of woodland. Head
Alex Osiatynski says, ‘There is no
single ideal BG pupil; they have
diverse interests both within and
beyond the curriculum.’ The stu-
dents agree, waxing lyrical about
sport, art and music, and the
chance to be ‘independent and
creative’. Top teams enjoy success
in regional and national competi-
tions (particularly in hockey), but
the onus is on ‘sport for all’ – every
child represents the school at least
once, usually more, and options
range from scuba diving to air rifle
shooting. While it’s ‘broadly non-
selective’, the school will assess all
applicants to ensure that they are
able to access the curriculum.given the acres of outside space,
riding facilities and much-loved
school farm. According to parents,
The Elms ‘still assumes that
children should be children’ and,
‘teaches kindness and achievement
in a gentle yet effective manner’.
Perhaps the pastoral success of this
school is down to the family at its
core; Head Chris Hattam and hisFOREMARKE HALLTHE ELMS
Colwall, Near Malvern,
Worcestershire WR13 6EF
Website elmsschool.co.uk
Head Chris Hattam Pupils 184 day
and boarding: 104 boys, 80 girls
Faith C of E Ages 3–13 Term fees
Day: £6,665; boarding: £8,365
There’s rarely a screen in sight at
this rural idyll – and it’s no wonder,wife Jess are maintaining impressive
results while adding some colour to
the calendar, including weekly
house Lodge Lunches, for which
students receive formal invitations,
send proper replies and write thank
you letters – ‘very good training’, as
one parent puts it.FOREMARKE HALL
Repton Preparatory School,
Milton, Derbyshire DE65 6EJ
Website foremarke.org.uk
Head Robert Relton Pupils 452 day
and boarding: 231 boys, 221 girls
Ages 3–13 Term fees Day: £6,819;
boarding £8,830
Foremarke’s new Head Robert
Relton is omnipresent and always
approachable, greeting students at
the door of the Grade I listed man-
or house – and he is on a quest to
take the school ‘from outstanding
to phenomenal’. Mr Relton is a for-
mer games teacher and sport is a
top priority: a new swimming pool
is on the cards, and in summer
2019 girls’ football was in the spot-
light, in celebration of the Women’s
World Cup. Off the sports fields
(set in 55 acres), ceramic poppies
made by the students marked
Armistice Day and a spring gala
concert was held in Lichfield
Cathedral. Foremarke Hall’s posi-
tive can-do approach enables each
and every student to pursue their
individual talents. In the words of
one especially sparky student, ‘we are
chic, unique and magnifique!’ ]BEACHBOROUGH
SCHOOLOne calendar highlight is the visit toAbberley’s chalet – the pupils are told thatthe teachers there ne parlent pas Anglais10-19-Schools-Guide-PrepMidlands.indd 107 16/08/2019 14:25