Heathfield School: Ascot, Berkshire, UK

Heathfield School is situated in lovely countryside just outside the famous village of Ascot in 35 acres of beautiful, private, tree-lined grounds. Ascot is only 25 miles west of London and is very convenient for the city and for Heathrow airport. They are also close to Windsor, Oxford and  Reading. This top boarding girls only school’s extensive facilities include: a new  performing arts centre; a sports hall with squash, badminton and basketball courts and a dance studio; a large, heated indoor swimming pool;  tennis courts; sports fields; drama and art studios; cookery suite; a bright, well-equipped classroom block; spacious library; single and shared bedrooms and a wood-panelled dining-room

Facilities such as the Cookery Room, Computer Room, Library and Art Studio are open throughout the weekend and common rooms are used for relaxation where the girls can play table football and table tennis. The St Mary’s Theatre is used to watch films or TV cinema-style, bringing the school community together.  

The STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) block at Heathfield School has now been completed and was formally opened on 14th January 2016. The new STEM building provides a hub for the girls to study the key Science subjects in, as the school continues to drive forward the study of such rigorous academic subjects.The two storey building, which incorporates large areas of glazing, edged with walling, is topped by photo-electric panels on the roof to provide renewable energy. Heat is also recovered from the ventilation system for re-cycling.

Heathfield achieved overall Strengths (previously called Points of Excellence), which show we exceed the inspection criteria,  in all the following  areas: staff management; student administration; quality assurance; premises and facilities; learning resources; academic management; course design; teaching; care of students; accommodation; leisure opportunities and care of under 18s.

Boarding is an integral part of Heathfield’s way of life and community. Girls board in their year groups in dormitories from Forms I to III, and in Forms IV-LVI the girls have their own rooms. Upper Sixth girls move into Wyatt House, a separate Boarding House where they have the opportunity to prepare for independent living and university life. Girls have a strong support network at Heathfield. Everyone is part of our House system and girls are put into one of four Houses where they remain throughout their time at Heathfield. The Heads of House are responsible for the girls’ welfare and are the main point of contact for parents. Girls also have an allocated Housemistress in the boarding area who is on duty before and after the school day and on weekends, and who can be also contacted by parents.

In practice, girls live in year groups, allowing them to develop close bonds within their own age-group.  A non-teaching Housemistress lives among those girls.  At the beginning of each academic year, the girls move to a different area of the school and are cared for by a new Housemistress.  Girls in Forms I, II and III board in rooms which range in size from singles to dormitories sleeping eight.  From Form IV upwards, each girl has her own room leading to a more transitional point in the UVI bungalow, where through structured independence our girls are prepared for the next stage in their lives. Through a well-structured system of busy weekends in school, exeats and days out, there is a healthy balance between school and home.