WHAT? WHERE?

Set in 84 acres of glorious grounds bang on the edge of the Cotswolds, Pinewood offers a seriously fun-filled day and boarding education for boys and girls aged 3-13. Sport is strong, academics are excellent and there is a huge emphasis on adventure and experiences.

Founded in 1875 in Farnborough, the school moved to its present site (and an impressive one it is too) in 1946. There are currently 400 children on the roster and in the upper school, a massive number of those jump at the chance to board. This is largely thanks to the action-packed activities schedule and home-from-home atmosphere. While academics are taken seriously and pupils well-prepared for life in senior school, this is an outdoorsy, energetic school.

FACILITIES

Step into Pinewood’s entrance and you’ll find a handsome oak panelled hall, known as the Drawing Room, with sofas and a roaring open fire. Better still, it’s poised high on grassy terrace, with sweeping views over playing fields below. In summer you’re likely to hear the thwack of a cricket bat as children hone their skills but, during Muddy’s visit, a game of football and rugby training were the order of the day.

The Drawing Room is at the welcoming heart of Pinewood, and pupils and staff alike are justifiably proud of the gigantic mosaic of the school, perched high above the fireplace. It was recently created to celebrate its 150th anniversary year, and every pupil and member of staff added a tile – even the school tortoises feature.

The drawing room is home to ballet classes, match teas and concerts, with all spaces made full use of by the children. Upstairs are classrooms, common rooms and dorms.

The Lower School (Years 3 and 4) is self-contained in a chalet-style block that is bright, colourful and relaxed, and Nursery and Pre-Prep reside in the former stable block. They make good use of a gigantic play area in an old walled garden, while older children have access to Tree Tops – an adventure playground with walkways, swings and climbing ropes. Pinewood is very much a get outdoors come rain or shine school.

The impressive Teaching And Learning Centre, The Hoyland, was opened by King Charles and Camilla back in 2021. Children are justly proud of this light, bright space, with has modern classrooms, a stepped auditorium for talks and assemblies, plus a dedicated SEN centre (more on that later). Two popular residents include Mario and Marshmallow, the school guinea pigs.

SPORT

Sport facilities are excellent, with a sporting hub comprising of a sports hall, huge new Astro that doubles as tennis courts, plus acres of pitches. Excitingly, the outdoor pool is currently being upgraded with a glass surround, so it can be used throughout the winter too. As soon as it’s ready for action, timetabled swimming lessons will start.

Boys play rugby, football and cricket, with hockey in Years 7 and 8. Girls play hockey, netball and cricket. Sport is strong and prolific but this is not a school that drafts in top rugby coaches to wipe the floor with the opposition – it’s about taking part and having fun.

Matches are frequent – Tuesday afternoons in Lower School, Wednesday afternoons plus alternate Saturdays for Middle and Upper. There are extra competitions dotted throughout the term too, and pupils love battling it out in the Rubber Legs Challenge, a tough mudder-style assault course. On our visit, a hockey tournament was in full swing on the Astro, and pupils are agog with excitement about a cross country competition that afternoon.

But sport isn’t confined to lessons and matches. Early morning running sessions have a big take up amongst borders, who aren’t deterred by winter weather. Dark outside? No problem, they’ll just don head torches.

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

Music, art and drama aren’t optional at Pinewood – everyone does them to some degree, and the vast majority adore getting stuck right in.

Music takes a big role, and regular timetabled lessons give pupils the chance to road test an instrument, such as the cello, for a term. From chatting to the children, it’s clearly very much the norm to play an instrument. In fact, over three quarters of them have extra music lessons, and the dedicated block is filled with an impressive collection of instruments and practice rooms. Those that want to have tons of opportunities to perform, from flute choir to orchestras, jazz bands, choral groups and end of term concerts.

Pinewood’s theatre plays host to assemblies, concerts, drama classes, nativities and theatrical productions, of which there are many. Each year group puts on a school play and it’s not a case of spotlighting the best ten performers – everyone has a go. A highlight is Year 5’s Play in a Day, culminating in a 45-minute production.

Art is very popular too, with painting, printing, ceramics and sculpture all featuring on the curriculum – there’s even a visiting ceramicist, who teaches a weekly club (for an extra fee). Older children and those applying for scholars at senior school have enrichment sessions in a separate classroom, and we were blown away by the level of talent on display. It’s unsurprising to hear that pupils have been awarded scholarships at schools including Marlborough College, Radley and Dean Close.

ACADEMIC

Excellent. Classes are small (11-16 in Pre-prep and 15-18 in Prep), and Pinewood is an academic school. In fact, the honours board is also testament to the fact that a clutch of senior school scholarships are bagged each year.

Pupils benefit from specialist teaching in subjects including art, science, languages and ICT. Latin is also taught in Years 6, 7 and 8 to the top two sets, while coding starts as young as Year 1, using Dot and Dash robots (coding toys to you and I). In fact, STEAM all round is strong, with smart science labs with all the gadgets and gizmos.

Higher up the school, children are also streamed, to ensure they are stretched and supported where needed. That said, we definitely didn’t detect a hothouse vibe. Admission is non-selective and while prospective pupils are assessed on two taster days, this is purely to check they’ll be able to access the curriculum.

Academics aren’t everything here – it is more important to be prepared to have a go and children learn through exploration too. To this effect, Pinewood is also big on learning outside the classroom – lessons spill outdoors where possible, and you’ll often stumble into groups of children enjoying reading sessions or measuring angles al fresco.

When it comes to senior schools, parents are hand-held through the process from Year 5. While pupils don’t move on until the end of Year 8, the traditional common entrance system has changed in favour of pre-testing in Year 6. This essentially involves an online test of pupils’ verbal reasoning, maths and science, and preparation is layered into the curriculum for a year or two beforehand.

This certainly seems to work – children invariably earn places at their chosen schools, which include the likes of heavy-hitters like Marlborough, Stowe, Cheltenham, Eton and Radley.

BOARDING

Frazzled parents rejoice – Pinewood is a day school with boarders. Flexibility is the name of the game here and from Year 5, children can stay as many nights as you like in the week. In fact, the vast majority are flexi boarders – 140 of the 200 children between Years 5 and 8 actively choose to board in some capacity, and by Year 8 that reaches closer to 90%.

While this flexibility is a huge boon to parents, the decision to board is often driven by the children. This is in part thanks to the family atmos and highly-rated house parents, who organise an enticing array of activities ranging from silent discos to camp outs, sushi-making and trampolining trips. Top billing goes to Spotlight, an after-dark game where children try to make their way across the playing fields to the main house, without being ‘caught’ in the teacher’s torchlight.

Both the girls’ and boys’ dorms are freshly redecorated and are cosy, comfortable and surprisingly tidy, with fairy lights and bunk beds. Clubs run until 5.30pm and after prep and tea, evenings are filled with a combination of movies, Wii Dance, crafts and the odd ‘tuck night,’ where they get to choose from a stash of sweet treats. Of course, there’s also the all-important evening snack, before they hunker down for the night. With photos of camp-outs and cinema trips pinned to the notice boards, there’s very much a home from home feel to the place, and boarders rave about the breakfasts, which include the perennial favourite, pancakes.

THE HEAD

Headmaster Neal Bailey has been running the show since September 2020 and is well into his stride, with a loyal team behind him. He’s down-to-earth, dynamic and clearly won’t let Pinewood rest on its laurels. With the independent sector navigating bumps in the road, he’s also very aware that parents need to know they are getting bang for their buck.

Neal was previously Head at Mowden Hall in Northumberland and Chateau de Sauveterre, and works alongside his wife Nici, who also has a full-time role teaching at Pinewood. The couple also have two sons, who have now moved on to senior school after a successful stint at Pinewood.

Neal is a big believer in the importance of sport and since stepping into the hot seat, he has significantly enhanced the school’s facilities with a new Astro, as well as the improved, all-weather pool. He’s a keen sportsman himself, especially when it comes to football and tennis, and he coaches the Under 10s rugby.

Neal is fiercely proud of his proactive team and a massive supporter of the co-curricular SKILLS programme. It’s testament to the commitment and have-a-go attitude that pupils and staff – including Neal and Nici – recently threw themselves into a 150-mile, 24-hour marathon to mark the school’s milestone 150^th anniversary. Boarders took it in turns to do the after-dark stints, rewarded with hot chocolates, and staff even drove in from home to cover the graveyard shift. Celebrations culminate in the summer, with Pinefest, a huge festival for pupils, parents and alumni.

Areas earmarked for enhancement at the school include DT. Currently this is covered within the skills programme, using transportable kit, but a purpose-built space is on the horizon, along with a new IT suite.

When it comes to navigating senior school choices, Neal urges parents to ignore the chatter on the dinner party circuit and resist the urge to follow the herd. The emphasis here is very much on finding the right school for the child – one that will put them in a ‘sweet spot,’ where they are stretched and able to achieve new highs, without furiously scrabbling to keep up with the pack. Children move on to around 20 different senior schools and it goes without saying that Neal is closely involved in the process, from the initial first steps to helping them hone their interview skills.

LITTLIES

Pinewood’s Pre-prep takes children aged 3-7 and is tucked away in its own building, just a few yards from the main school. Children benefit from having their own space away from the hubbub, while also enjoying easy access to shared facilities like the Astro, theatre, science classrooms and pool. All this means for a seamless transition when it’s finally time to make the move up to the Prep school.

Head of Pre-Prep Jason Lang joined in January 2023 and is passionate about igniting a love of learning in young minds. He’s also big on outdoor learning and play, both of which are popular here, come rain or shine. Whether the children are den building, toasting marshmallows in the outdoor classroom or ‘cooking’ in the mud kitchen, wellies and waterproofs are very much the order of the day. Every year group attends weekly forest school and games and PE are also high on the agenda. Swimming lessons will also start as soon as the covered pool is complete.

Classrooms (named after mini-beasts) are light, bright and there’s a great sense of space and freedom. This is heightened in the Early Years classrooms, which surround a large, shared courtyard complete with a vast sand pit, play tunnels and toy ‘construction’ materials. There’s also a vast outdoor play area in an old walled garden, plus a dedicated woodland area with wooden thrones for storytelling. A special shout-out also goes to The Hive, a welcoming communal space which has a piano for singalongs and a wall lined with oodles of books.

Class sizes are refreshingly small (it’s two-form entry, with classes ranging from 11-15), making them big enough to have a buzz yet intimate enough for children to have individual attention. With a teacher for each class and a TA across the year group, nobody is slipping through the net.

Children are encouraged to have a voice right from the off. Representatives join the pupil council, where they discuss ideas and choose which charities to support. When it comes to after school clubs, cooking is the hot ticket in town, but everyone gets the chance to suggest new ideas.

While literacy and numeracy are of course a priority, kindness is also a big deal. Each classroom has a Kindness Tree, where individual acts are written on a paper leaf and suspended from a branch. Thoughtful behaviour earns children a coveted seat at the fortnightly Kindness Café, which is a fancy affair held in The Hive. Think tablecloths, hot chocolates and muffins, all served by the Jason and the teaching team.

CO CURRICULAR

Pre-prep clubs run from 3:30-4:20pm, with enticing offerings including Karate Kicks, photography and ballet. From prep onwards, the co-curricular offering really ramps up a gear, with the SKILLS programme. This is a frankly brilliant series of clubs and activities, all designed to encourage children to venture outside their comfort zone, try their hand at new experiences and develop new skills. Current options include everything from cookery to choreography, chess, ceramics and even horse riding. Many sessions aim to get the children outdoors as much as possible, whether that means building dens in the grounds, trying their hand at archery or getting stuck into a spot of team building in the dark.

With around a 95% uptake from the children, there’s no doubt Pinewood has hit the nail on the head with its SKILLS programme. Not only does it build confidence, but it’s also proving popular with senior schools, many of which say pupils’ passion for the newfound skills shines through at interview.

PASTORAL CARE

The wellbeing centre is a cosy space, where children can come if they need a friendly ear. They can even spend time with Turbo and Zoom, the two ‘emotional support’ tortoises, who recently took up residence. Children clearly feel very relaxed popping in and that’s not surprising, because it’s an incredibly welcoming spot in the heart of school. For those who need a little peace and quiet there’s even a dedicated ‘breathing space,’ complete with beanbags, and a Lego table.

LEARNING SUPPORT

The Learning Skills and Wellbeing departments have sensibly joined forces at Pinewood and share the same space in the Hoyland building. Children tell us the LS team are kind and caring, and they clearly felt very at home popping into the light and airy, specially-built department. We’re not surprised, we’d very happily hang out here too and there’s absolutely no sense of shame or stigma around needing that extra support.

The five-strong team consists of four specialist teachers and a higher-level teaching assistant, all of whom are on hand to help with extra reading sessions, using programmes including Toe by Toe and Stride Ahead. As well as one-on-one sessions they lead targeted Booster groups too, designed to scaffold any specific areas of need.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Well, it’s basically a boarding school, so that’s covered! You can leave your cherubs here as long as you like. Trust me, they won’t want to go home. In Pre-Prep, children can come in as early as 7:45am and stay until 5:10pm.

QUIRKS

There’s a great sense of fun about the place, but manners and a healthy sense of competition are firmly encouraged too. Houses take it in turns to be in charge of tidying up the dining room and each week the winning house is awarded Billy the Bass, a singing fish who flips around on a plaque.

FEES

Day fees per term £4,645.20 in pre-prep, £7,711.20 in Years 3 and 4, £8,940.00 in Years 5-8. Weekly boarding supplement £2,406.60, regular boarding £65 per night. For full list of fees see here.

WORD ON THE GROUND

The parents we’ve spoken to give Pinewood a huge thumbs-up all round. They particularly rate the ‘first-rate’ teaching, wholesome outdoorsy vibe and massive emphasis on kindness.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Parents who are looking for a true country prep, with the option to get into the swing of boarding before senior school. Those who appreciate the relaxed look and a school where a smile is more important than a tucked-in shirt. Pinewood buzzes with enthusiasm and is ideal for children with boundless energy, sporty or not. It also has all the extra curricular trimmings, plus the ability to feed into the top national senior schools.

PROBABLY NOT FOR: Helicopter parents or those who wrap their offspring in cotton wool – here, children are encouraged to play outdoors in all weathers, get muddy and generally live out a childhood fantasy.

Dare to disagree? Want to find out the beauty of Pinewood for yourself? Get in touch with Emily Miller, Registrar on EmilyMiller@pinewoodschool.co.uk or 01793 782554 who will be more than happy to book you in for a meeting with the Head and a tour of the school.

Pinewood School, Bourton, Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8HZ, Tel: 01793 782205, www.pinewoodschool.co.uk

Pinewood School, Bourton, near Shrivenham

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