Surrey

<header>
<header>
<div class="wrapper"></div>
</header>
EAGLE HOUSE SCHOOL, SANDHURST, BERKSHIRE
WHAT? WHERE?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13862" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle-House-School-EXT_Fotor-1.jpg" alt="Eagle House School co-ed prep Berkshire Victorian Hunting Lodge" width="1000" height="749" />
Eagle House School (above) is a non-selective co-ed prep for 3-13 year olds on the Berkshire/Surrey border. Set in 30 acres of playing fields and woodland on the outskirts of Sandhurst, the school offers places for day pupils, flexi and weekly boarders. Current numbers are 377 – 57% boys and 43% girls.
The main building of Eagle House was originally a 19th century hunting lodge built for a flashy doctor. It retains the grandeur with lots of turned wood, wall panels, impressive staircases, stained glass and Manor-house style gardens. A number of sympathetic add-ons have popped up over the years, with the relatively new Golden Eagle Centre delivering an architectural wow.
FACILITIES
<div id="attachment_13877" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13877 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/CricketNets_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Berkshire Sport Hall Cricket Nets" width="1000" height="749" />
Cricket practice in the mahoosive new sports hall
</div>
The usual array of all-weather pitches, sports fields, 20m indoor pool, a huge modern sports hall and performing arts studio. Add to that a lovely bright library, modern science labs and a super-fly DT building with laser cutting machine, 3D printer and robots. It looked so cool even I was tempted to pick up a soldering iron.
<div id="attachment_13880" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13880 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle-House-School-outdoor-play_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Sandhurst Berkshire Adventure playground" width="1000" height="750" />
Adventure playground
</div>
The extra-curricular activities come under the school’s Golden Eagle Programme that aims to develop the children’s have-a-go spirit and leadership skills. They can do everything from the usual sports, cricket (if they need volunteers for this year’s Antigua tour, I’m free) sailing, yoga, rollerblading, brain training, Lego, physical theatre, music, dance – there are many many more, I’m exhausted just thinking about them, but you get my drift.
<div id="attachment_13888" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13888 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle1Greenfuelcar_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Sandhurst Berkshire Design Technology Green Fuel Go Kart" width="1000" height="749" />
Design Technology centre
</div>
Schools are always working through a long wish list of improvements, and Eagle House is no exception. The science labs are currently having a makeover and, the dining room and kitchen will be extended later this year so that mealtimes are more relaxed and less of a feeding frenzy. Dull but essential maintenance that will make a difference day to day.
Massive investment is also planned for a new Music School and development of the pre-prep. It’s safe to say, you can start to appreciate where the fees are going.
&nbsp;
WHAT ELSE?
<div id="attachment_17322" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-17322 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/09/Eagle-House-Edinburgh-Fringe-2018_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Edinburgh Fringe 2108 Michael Morpurgo's The War of Jenkins' Ear" width="1000" height="750" />
Eagle House School’s 4th production at the Edinburgh Fringe
</div>
It’s worth noting just how good the arts are here. The dedicated teachers go way beyond the call of duty to give budding Robert Pattinson’s and Carey Mulligan’s the opportunity to slap on the greasepaint and tread the boards of a professional stage. This year’s production at the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park is, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. And work has just started on this year’ Edinburgh Fringe production – details are top secret. But it’ll be their 4th visit to the festival. How cool is that?
Music is also well catered for with the usual singing and ensemble groups. Over 70% of the kids play at least one musical instrument, including the harp, oboe, brass and even the bagpipes; and they have a healthy number taking  LAMDA exams. The Music Room, currently in a large temporary building, looks a little shabby in comparison to the rest of the school. But the space is large, the teaching is top notch (both are composers and musicians) and the list of peri staff is long.
&nbsp;
ACADEMIC RESULTS
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13887" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle-House-1600x900_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Berkshire Pupils working" width="1000" height="749" />
The school’s Latin motto is Sublimiora Petamus. A quick Google and I discover it means, ‘Aiming high’ and there’s a lot of that going on. A recent ISI inspection at the end of 2017 (in between carol concerts and mulled wine) reported excellence across the board. The results speak for themselves with a record 24 scholarships awarded to Y8 children to 11 different schools, including Wellington College, Radley, Bradfield College, Queen Anne’s, Charterhouse and Millfield. For a non-selective school, that’s impressive.
THE HEAD
<div id="attachment_13885" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13885 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/EagleHouseSchoolMay2017-526_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Berkshire Head Andrew Barnard and wife Sarah" width="1000" height="749" />
Head Andrew Barnard and his wife Sarah
</div>
The son of a clergyman, Andrew Barnard is undeniably a kind, considerate head who knows the school inside out. He first arrived at EHS in 1990 as a junior teacher, climbed the ladder elsewhere before taking up the top job in 2006. He’s one of only 12 heads in the school’s 200-year history (and one of them only lasted a year!) After such a long time in the job, the inspectors raising their paddles to reveal all round ‘Excellent’ score, and a school that runs like a well-oiled machine, you might worry change could be afoot. But, the impression I get, is that there’s always more to be done. Andrew’s front-loaded the school day with 4 lessons in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon with activities and games when the kids are more tired. All prep is completed at school, so children can relax at home. And he recently dropped humanities in the Common Entrance exam because the curriculum was being bent out of shape to fit testing – cue bored kids, switching off and flicking bits of rubber. Just me? *Sorry, Mr Steane*…
&nbsp;
LITTLIES
<div id="attachment_13874" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13874 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle-House-outdoor_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School nursery kids in the outdoor learning zone" width="1000" height="749" />
All weather ankle biters
</div>
Most prep schools offer nurseries and pre-prep these days (and the ones that don’t are fast ) – Eagle House School is no different. So little people here can start at the term they turn 3 in a modern nursery called The Nest and move up through pre-prep into the senior school. There is no fair weather learning, the littlies are booted out every day – and they love it. There’s fab outdoor learning area, adventure playground, lots of green spaces and woodland to run around, have fun and experience nature first hand. They also use all the facilities of the main school – not least specialist teachers who teach ICT, French, music and sport to your little geniuses.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13870" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle-House-Pre-Prep_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Berkshire Pre prep classroom with whiteboard" width="1000" height="749" />
BOARDING
Boarding is available for 65 boys and girls and the rooms are upstairs in the main house. They’re not going to win any interiors prizes, but the girls’ rooms have a bit more personality, decorated with posters, pictures and pom poms; while the boys’ can only be described as functional. This is place to rest their weary heads after a long day, not to channel their inner Laurence Llewlyn-Bowen. It has a very home from home feel and the spectacular staircase leads downstairs to eat and hang out  on the squishy fireside sofas.
QUIRKS
<div id="attachment_13882" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13882 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/Eagle_House_Facilities-tudor_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthroen Berkshire Tudor House" width="1000" height="666" />
The Tudor House
</div>
I’ve not come across a school yet that has its own Tudor House, but there’s one here. Built in 2003 buy staff and parents, using authentic building methods, it’s become an invaluable and fun learning facility. I feel a Horrible Histories reenactment can only be a matter of time.
<div id="attachment_13875" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-13875 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/EHS-kids-lit-fest_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Berkshire Children's Literary Festival Spy Dog author Andy Cope" width="1000" height="666" />
Author Andy Cope at the Children’s Literary Festival
</div>
They also host a Children’s Literary Festival every 2 years. This is very much a community project, and other local prep and primary schools are invited along to join the bookish fun and meet the impressive visiting authors, like Marcus Sedgwick. Katherine Rundell, Ali Sparkes and Matt Dickinson, to name drop a few.
ANYTHING ELSE?
All children take part in the Learn For Life+ programme, a school initiative that encourages self-esteem, goal-setting, analysing personal strengths and weaknesses and becoming a good role model. I’m picking up this kind of initiative more and more at schools as they identify how central EQ is becoming to future employability. Travel wise, A daily minibus picks up from Sunningdale, Ascot, Windsor, Winkfield Row, Twyford and Wokingham areas and Greywell, Hants.
WRAP AROUND CARE
<div id="attachment_17321" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-17321 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/09/Eagle-House-Boarding-Social_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Sandhurst Berkshire boarders social area pool table squishy tan sofas eames style chair and cool artwork" width="1000" height="749" />
Cool new boarders’ common room
</div>
Once upon a time Eagle House School was a full-boarding school, but more kids using the nursery and pre-prep has meant that increasingly families come from the local community so it’s all about flexibility – early starts and a choice of end times to the school day. The kids can be dropped at 7.45am for the new breakfast club and nursery and pre-prep can head to The Hideout after school until 6pm were they will be given a light tea. Frazzled parents rejoice, because The Holiday Hideout runs during the school  hols too. Phew!
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-17320" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/09/Eagle-House-Boarding_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House Prep school Berkshire Girl and boy playing table football in common room with urban artwork on walls" width="1000" height="749" />
Also worth mentioning that not many prep schools offer Saturday school these days but Eagle House School is still running it for all kids in Year 5+ and there are optional Saturday activities for Years 3&amp;4. You’ll either regard that as an opportunity for a coffee with your mates or a morning you could otherwise spend with your angelic child, but I’ll leave that one in your hands!
Fees: From £2,250 for nursery (5 mornings inc lunch); £3,860 pre-prep (Reception-Y2); £5,830 (Y3-4) to £6,035 (Y5-8 day pupil) and £8,110 (Y5-8 boarding) – I’d say that’s pretty average for this neck of the woods.
Word on the ground: The mums I’ve spoken to are very pro the school, happy with the academic side, and the music, drama and sport. There are loads of opportunities for all kids to take part in sports teams (the school regularly fields multiple teams). Bits of the school need updating, but those I spoke to don’t mind it, and see it as part of the charm. Although,it’s all on the development to-do list.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13889" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/02/EagleHouseSchoolkids_Fotor.jpg" alt="Eagle House School Crowthorne Sandhurst berkshire pupils" width="1000" height="749" /> 
THE MUDDY VERDICT
Good for: Anyone looking for a buzzy local prep with positive values, but with all the extra curricular trimmings, with the ability to feed into all the top national senior schools. The school actively outreaches to the community and other local schools. Anyone who likes the ethos of a non-selective school.
Not for: Parents looking for English eccentricity; starchy uniforms and anyone expecting absolutely everything to be pristine.
Dare to disagree?! Have a look for yourself at the whole school <a href="http://www.eaglehouseschool.com/welcome/open-mornings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Open Morning</a> on Sat 6 Oct (10am – 12.30pm). It’s best to book, but if you’re pathetically disorganised like me, you won’t be turned away if you just turn up.
Eagle House School, Crowthorne Rd, Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 8PH. Tel 
</header>

Eagle House School, Sandhurst

You may also like