WHAT? WHERE?

The Beacon is a smart independent day Prep School for boys (3-13) between leafy Chesham Bois and Amersham in South Bucks amongst 18 acres. Classes are small, and the school prides itself on its pastoral ethos. The school remains on its original 1933 site, and you’ll see charming timbered barns (once farm buildings) still in use around the school Quad along with some more modern additions.

FACILITIES

Aside from the usuals (sports hall, astroturfs, tennis courts), the sports facilities worth shouting about include 16 acres of playing fields with a cross country course set in the Chiltern Hills, and a jaw-dropping covered 25m swimming pool that puts most public pools to shame.

Interested in the arts? There’s an attractive 220-seat purpose-built theatre, a studio theatre, music technology suite, eight music practice rooms and a drum pod. There are also dedicated LAMDA teaching rooms with roughly 20% of the boys taking exams here. In their most recent LAMDA exams, there was a 100% distinction rate which truly is outstanding.

Academically there are separate science labs for different ages of boys, a purpose-built Art Studio with kiln, digital cameras, a DT workshop with laser cutter, a CNC router, vinyl cutter, 3D printers, computer-aided design programmes as well as more traditional DT stalwarts (drills! saws!) oh, and an Interactive Augmented Reality sandbox used in Geography. Recently, the ICT room had a refurbishment with all sorts of state-of-the-art kit installed including pop-up computer workstations, interactive 86-inch digital LCD, a robotic play area for programming and 4K HD video recorder with green screen for filmmaking!

SPORTS

The ethos here is explicitly ‘sport for all’ and every boy from Year 3 upwards represents the school in team matches. ‘Robinson’, the head of the sports department, is super passionate about inclusion, and with over 750 fixtures played throughout the year, he ensures every boy gets their moment in the sun. Nothing too unusual in the sports programme here – swimming, football, hockey, cricket, tennis, rugby and athletics are the main focus, with rugby, athletics and cross country particularly strong. The school recently introduced a basketball team, and the Nursery boys are taught swimming, Games and PE by specialist Teachers at the age of 3.

MUSIC, ART AND DRAMA

Musicians are well catered for here – there’s a full orchestra on offer which is not something I see at many prep schools, pre-prep, lower, middle and upper school choirs, one training band, one brass band, Year 2 brass monkeys, mini strings and toot club as well as two guitar ensembles and a rock band. Unusual instruments including a school harp. The take-up of 50% for instrumental tuition is around average.

With a large theatre plus a smaller drama studio located in the original 1930s Old Barn, drama is popular, with three major productions put on each year, plus Christmas carol concerts and nativity plays for the younger boys. Workshops from external theatre companies. A bi-annual trip to take a production up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Successful drama, and music scholarship platform, and ‘Beacon Bard of the Year’ and ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition every year.

Art is big at The Beacon as all boys are encouraged to explore their creativity, with colourful displays and exhibitions found around the school. The spacious Art Studio is bursting with energy, and has recently undergone a make-over including pottery, painting and printing facilities to inspire boys.

ACADEMICS

The Beacon was one of the founding schools of the Prep School Baccalaureate (PSB) – an alternative to the Common Entrance curriculum criticised by some heads for its ‘rote learning’ reputation. Basically, the PSB encourages a set of learning skills – Communication, Collaboration, Leadership, Independence, Reviewing and Improving and Thinking and Learning – across all areas of school life within a spine of 10 core subjects, with the curriculum set not by a board but by each individual school.

In Middle School, the Future Sparks Programme has recently launched. It was created to give the boys in Years 5 and 6 challenges to develop their interpersonal skills inside and outside of the classroom. At the end of the year, boys are awarded with a diploma grading them with a pass, merit or distinction.

In Years 7 and 8, the boys participate in a bespoke and dedicated upper school programme – the Shining Future programme, which runs for 2 years and is driven by specialist teachers. It is designed to bring the most out of each boy’s individual abilities, strengths, and talents. Boys further develop the skills and attributes necessary to achieve their utmost potential academically, emotionally, and socially.

At The Beacon that manifests itself in both tradition (Latin and Classics both compulsory between Year 6-8) and progression, with a huge emphasis on areas like Cooking and Nutrition and International Studies as well as initiatives like the ‘Self and Society Room’, a philosophical space that discusses the relevance of religion in the 21^st century.

The mix seems to be working – over the last three years, 50 scholarships and exhibitions were awarded to boys from the likes of Harrow, Oundle and Berkhamsted School. The 2021 Transfer Test pass mark into grammar schools was 78% (trust me, that’s excellent). Local options include Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, The Royal Grammar in High Wycombe and Chesham Grammar.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) recently visited with the school rated excellent in all areas. Impressive!

PASTORAL

This is an area The Beacon delivers particularly well on. The school ethos of kindness is a powerful starting point (compare to other schools and their mottos of ambition, strive, success etc.), and this is backed up with active teaching of life skills like mindfulness from Nursery upwards, Years 7 & 8 mentoring the younger boys, and the permanent school counsellor.

The Beacon Cup of Kindness is sought-after on a weekly basis by boys eager to be acknowledged for their efforts. Initiated by Nick Baker, it is filled with sweets as an extra treat for the boys nominated by Teachers.

THE HEAD

Nick Baker, Headmaster, joined The Beacon Summer 2022, and has already made a lasting impact on the community and School.

Nick grew up in Amersham and has always had a desire to head The Beacon school. Since his appointment, Nick has already overseen the successful implementation of several new and exciting initiatives. With over 20 years’ experience in the education industry, he has brought his expertise and passion to the school which is guaranteed to take it from strength to strength.

LITTLIES

In September 2021, The Beacon opened their own educational nursery for boys aged 3-4. Cutely named ‘Little Beacons’, the boys are based in the gorgeous and spacious Oakway building shared with the Reception boys aged 4-5. Nursery boys have their own fully-qualified Teacher and Teaching Assistant for sessions in Maths, Phonics, Languages, Cooking, IT, Art and Outdoor Learning and enjoy exciting activities in PE, Music and Singing- all led by specialist staff.

Boys in Pre-Prep aged 3-7 are all in small class sizes. There is a separate building for boys aged 5-7 that also has plenty of room, space, light and all the school facilities close at hand for boys, led with plenty of passion and creativity by Lucy Gordon who is Head of Pre-Prep. Specialist taught subjects include Music, Games, PE, Drama, ICT, and International Studies. There’s also a breadth of after-school clubs, from from Chess and Lego Robotics to Yoga and Coding Club, but I particularly liked the outdoor space for the littlies – stretched across the breadth of the building with plenty of room for invention (puppet show area, sand pit, wooden shop and building zone).

The Beacon offers its own regular outdoor learning for Pre-Prep rather than the official Forest School programme, this includes a weekly welly walk for Nursery boys to get familiar with outdoor learning and to foster a love of nature. A dedicated, safe, outdoor learning area was recently created in partnership with the parents, for the littlies to explore freely. That said, it’s not all bombing around and mud kitchens here. One of the sweetest things I’ve seen in a school is The Beacon pre-prep children having a yoga class complete with cuddly toys. And kindness starts early here – the children who are recognised for being thoughtful to others get a hot chocolate on a Friday.

SEN PROVISION

The Beacon is a selective school but take a wide range of abilities – it’s not just about academics here. There’s specialist SEN provision in a new dedicated space on offer in a light and airy space that has displays celebrating famous dyslexics and emphasising that everybody has different gifts are the order of the day.

QUIRKS

If a quirk is ‘not the norm’ then I have to say the food, because these are the best school lunches I’ve ever come across. The breadth on offer, but also the thought that’s gone into Taste Buddies, a kitchen-led initiative getting the kids to try British seasonal food (when I was there – Jerusalem artichokes!) was seriously impressive. The emphasis on cooking for the boys is unusual too, weekly lessons that culminate in a Yearly Mastercook competition judged by Laurie Gear of the Michelin starred (and former Muddy Award winner) Artichoke restaurant as well as Charlie Baxter, Co-Founder of Pluma in Amersham.

More a footnote of history than a quirk is the dining hall where Sgts Mess’ has been carved over the doorway, a throwback to the Second World War when the army were billeted in the buildings.

FEES

Average for this part of Buckinghamshire I’d say. Per term from September 2024: Nursery £2,075 (5 mornings)/£405 (per afternoon/term)/£3,875 (reduced full time termly fee), Reception £4,740, Y1 & Y2 £5,500, Y3 & 4 £6,970, Y5 £7,275, Y6 – Y8 £7,620.

ISI REPORT

View the latest inspection and compliance reports here.

TRANSPORT

Bus links are excellent for those in surrounding towns and villages with routes from Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Penn, Chorleywood, Denham, Great Missenden, High Wycombe and the Chalfont villages. View the bus route service. Amersham to London Marylebone via train takes 35 minutes. An under 6 years chauffeured car share service also available.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

You can drop off your child from 7.30am for breakfast, and using the after-school club provision, pick them up at 6pm.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Glowing. The view from parents is that it’s strong across the board, academically (as you’d expect if you’re paying good money) but also across the arts which are seen as just as ‘cool’ as sports.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents looking to turn out modern, independent, outward-looking ‘all rounder’ boys in a nurturing environment. As a leading single sex prep school in the UK, it can cater to bigger personalities whilst still being small enough to nurture the less extrovert.

Not for: If you like your schools to look like stately homes, start squinting now.

Dare to disagree?!

The Beacon offers private tours of the school and should you wish you can also have an informal chat with the Headmaster about your son and his education. To book a tour and register your interest please click here.

There is also an Open Morning on Saturday 28 September 2024, 9:00 – 11:00. Pre-booked appointments are required at 09:00 or 10:00. To book an appointment, please click here.

The BeaconX online courses launched in 2023 to cater for pupils inside or outside of The Beacon, including girls. For more information on The BeaconX online courses, click here.

The Beacon, 15 Amersham Road, Chesham Bois, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 5PF. office@beaconschool.co.uk. Tel: 01494 433654 beaconschool.co.uk

The Beacon School, Amersham

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