WHAT? WHERE?

The Hawthorns School in Bletchingley, Surrey

There’s no denying the idyllic rural setting of The Hawthorns School, tucked away just outside Bletchingley near Redhill and Godstone. First impressions are strong. The school is centred around the elegant Jacobean manor house, Pendell Court, approached via a gated driveway that winds past a pretty lake, woodland and acres of playing fields. Set within 35 acres of glorious countryside – with horses grazing in neighbouring fields – it’s a seriously lovely spot.

The grounds aren’t just for show, either. Children spend as much time outdoors as possible, learning in the open air, climbing trees, or charging across fields at breaktime. It’s an environment where children are free to be children, and where being outside is simply part of everyday life. There’s an impressive breadth of opportunity here, and pupils are actively encouraged to try lots of different things. This is a school that gives children the confidence to explore, the space to grow, and the encouragement to be their best selves.

The school is home to around 500 pupils, boys and girls, from six months in the Nursery through to age 13 in the Upper School. It’s proudly non-selective, drawing families mainly from within a 25-minute drive, including Reigate, Redhill, Nutfield, Outwood, Lingfield, Oxted, Warlingham, Caterham, Chipstead, Kenley and Coulsdon.

There’s a warm, family feel to The Hawthorns, with a strong sense of community running through everything it does. Parents are actively involved, both socially – think quiz nights, summer balls and lunches – and practically, helping with things like reading. It’s often described as a “school for life”, and that really rings true, with Old Hawthornians regularly returning and staying connected long after they’ve left.

Hawthorns began life in 1926 as a boys’ boarding school at Gatton Point (now the site of East Surrey College), before moving to Pendell Court in 1961. It became co-educational in 1992, with boarding phased out two years later. Today, it feels firmly rooted in its community, with one eye on tradition and the other on the future. In January 2025, The Hawthorns joined the Caterham Family of Schools.

FACILITIES

In a word? Impressive. The school has been extended over the years – very sympathetically, it has to be said – to include a smart sports centre, an arts block, a DT centre with CAD suite, a textiles studio, a dedicated music centre, a computing workshop, and two fully equipped science labs. Nothing feels bolted on – it all blends together beautifully. Former garages dating back to the 1800s have been cleverly converted into Year 4 classrooms, while the old stables now house the music department. The Stephens Hall serves as a hub for everything from assemblies to concerts and school productions.

There are separate buildings for the Nursery and Pre-school – more on those later – and a dedicated lunch hall.

The grounds are just as striking. Acres of space are packed with pitches for hockey, rugby, football and cricket, plus tennis and netball courts. And there’s an all-weather pitch (with a fabulous viewing platform) and a multi-use games area. There’s also a wooded area – proper woods, not just a few trees – complete with a woodland classroom and nature trail. And in a very Hawthorns way, every child has their own pair of wellies. Because with this much outdoor space, climbing trees, exploring, and getting muddy is very much part of daily life.

SPORT

The Hawthorns has a well-earned reputation for sporting success, with some impressive wins at both county and national level. (Yes, we’re looking at you, Year 8 swimmers!) Recent triumphs also include county-level cross country victories and national success in biathlons. The boys’ U10 football team also made it to the IAPS finals.

Facilities are top-notch, so pupils aren’t left wanting. The school makes the most of its acres of pitches and outdoor courts, and the sports centre includes a large hall, a 20m heated indoor pool, and dedicated dance studios for ballet, tap, jazz, street dance and modern.

As with everything Hawthorns, the breadth of sporting opportunities in incredible. It’s all about giving things a go and discovering each child’s passion. Curriculum games lessons include football, hockey and cricket, with the boys also playing rugby and the girls netball.

From Reception upwards, PE lessons cover everything from gymnastics and athletics to fitness and basketball. Pupils can also try their hand at more adventurous activities like judo and rollerskating.

Swimming is big too: children from Reception to Year 6 have weekly lessons, with opportunities for Years 7 and 8 to learn lifesaving skills and enjoy other water based activities such as water polo. From Year 3 upward pupils can be invited to join the highly successful Swim Squad.

True to the school’s inclusive nature, sport here is very much ‘sport for all’ – from Year 3, all pupils participate in weekly fixtures in football, hockey, rugby, cricket and netball.

THE ARTS

The arts at The Hawthorns are far from being in the shadows – they’re everywhere, from vibrant artwork adorning the walls to the buzz of music and drama on the stage.

From Year 3, pupils enjoy specialist art teaching, experimenting with everything from pottery and lino printing to painting. Art is designed to be accessible to all, and it clearly works. The department has a strong reputation, with many pupils going on to earn art scholarships at senior schools.

Drama is equally popular. In Nursery through to Year 2, role-play and performance are woven into the curriculum as part of topic work. From Year 2 upwards, all pupils have weekly drama lessons, and there are plenty of chances to perform. Reception and Year 1 stage Nativity plays, while Years 2, 4, 6, and 8 put on larger productions each the year, giving children of all ages the thrill of a show.

Music is a big part of school life, and the school balances seriousness with fun. The music centre has classrooms, practice rooms, and specialist teaching spaces, making space for both individual tuition and ensemble work. Every child has the chance to play an instrument, sing, or take part in musical activities from an early age. Lessons are offered individually from Year 2, with about 40% of pupils are learning an instrument.

Choirs, orchestras, and ensembles thrive, and the highlight of the year is often the Ensemble Concert held outside each summer, where tradition has parents picnicking whilst enjoying the music.

LITTLIES

Oh, to be little at The Hawthorns. A brand-new purpose-built nursery opened in late 2023 – home to Discoverers, Explorers, and Adventurers – and it’s already hugely popular. And no wonder, it’s a glorious space for little ones made up of four classrooms – big and airy with calm, neutral tones, flowing out to a secure outdoor playground. It’s literally a child’s perfect playground with a bike track for scooters, climbing equipment and a storytelling throne.

The Nursery caters for children aged six months to four years and is open 50 weeks a year, with term-time only also an option. It’s flexible too – full days run from 7.15am to 6pm, shorter school-hours days are available, or half days in the mornings or afternoons.

At age three, children move into the pre-school at The Ark. It’s another purpose-built gem, shaped like an actual ark with round windows, curved walls, and a pitched ceiling. Inside it’s calm and neutral, with plenty of greenery, and it cleverly connects to the original walled garden, transformed into a magical secret garden accessed through a door at the back of the nursery.

The Ark sits right next to the Reception classrooms, helping with a smooth transition into the Lower School. Nursery and pre-school children also make use of the wider school grounds: nature trails, the Woodland Classroom for storytelling and role-play, the MUGAs for ride-ons and driving role-play, dance studios for yoga, the sports hall for soft play, and even the Junior library, sports pitches, and Astros.

During term-time, specialist teachers enrich learning with Forest School, music, dance, French and PE.

ACADEMICS

The Hawthorns is organised into three clear stages: Lower School (Reception to Year 2), Middle School (Years 3 to 6) and Upper School (Years 7 and 8), with mostly three forms per year.

Lower School has its own dedicated building and playgrounds, which gives it a lovely, contained feel. Children are taught mostly by their form teachers, with specialists for swimming, PE, music, French and Forest School.

From Year 3, pupils move into Middle School where form teachers remain central, but learning starts to broaden. English and maths are taught in smaller sets, and as children progress through Years 4 and 5 they gradually have more lessons with specialists. By Year 6, teaching is fully specialist, helping pupils prepare for the next stage.

The Hawthorns is proudly non-selective, but standards are high and the results speak for themselves. In 2025, 32% of pupils gained senior school scholarships, with 17% awarded academic scholarships.

There’s a strong focus on finding the right senior school for each child, and preparation start in Year 3. As part of the Caterham Family of Schools, pupils choosing that route can receive an early offer in Year 5 without sitting an entrance exam – something 17 pupils benefited from in 2025.

While Caterham is a popular option, it’s far from the only one. In 2025, Hawthorns pupils secured offers from 22 different independent and grammar schools, including Ardingly, Brighton College, Cranleigh, Dunottar, Hurstpierpoint, Reigate Grammar, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Worth and Woldingham – a broad spread that reflects the school’s personalised approach.

PASTORAL CARE

The sense of community at The Hawthorns is huge – and strong pastoral care is very much part of its DNA. It has a wonderful family feel and it is clear that each teacher knows the pupils as individuals. Relationships with parents are close, too, and communication is excellent, with clear, consistent expectations set from the very start. Positive behaviour, good manners and kindness matter here, as does learning from mistakes as much as successes.

The house system plays a big role in reinforcing that community feel, creating friendships across year groups and encouraging older pupils to look out for the younger ones. Upper School pupils are so keen to help out in the Nursery during their breaktimes, there has to be a strict rota!

Add in plenty of fresh air – the outdoors are part of daily life here – and wellbeing is never an afterthought.

Staff dedication is another real strength. Many have been at the school for years, which brings continuity and reassurance, alongside ongoing training. If a child has a wobble, their class teacher is the first port of call, overseeing academic progress, personal development and wellbeing. Up to Year 4, each class also benefits from the support of a learning assistant in the classroom.

Pupil voice is taken seriously too. There’s a student council with representatives from every year group, an active Eco group, and in Years 7 and 8 every pupil takes on a position of responsibility, helping them build confidence and ownership. Alongside this, the school has more formal tracking systems in place, a dedicated wellbeing team and a counsellor if needed.

And a final, telling detail: every morning, members of the senior leadership team are at the school gates, greeting pupils. It’s a small thing – but it says a lot.

THE HEAD

Adrian Floyd has been at the helm of The Hawthorns since 2015, and he’s very much part of the school’s fabric. Warm, charismatic and clearly passionate about education, it all feels second nature to him – unsurprising really, as teaching runs deep in the family. His father was a headmaster, his brother now heads up a prep school in Dorset, and even his great-grandfather worked in education.

As for the next generation of Floyds – the jury’s out. Adrian and his wife Joanna have three children; the eldest two are now at university and the youngest is at senior school, all having been pupils at The Hawthorns.

Before arriving in Bletchingley, Adrian spent a decade as Head of Finton House in Wandsworth. In his ten-plus years at The Hawthorns, he’s built thoughtfully on what was already a strong school, particularly when it comes to pastoral care. It’s clear how proud he is of the pupils, and how much he enjoys watching them grow and develop.

He’s also a very hands-on head – expect to see him on the front gates each morning, greeting pupils as they arrive, and he teaches Latin to pupils in the Upper School.

While results matter (and the school does very well), Adrian is refreshingly clear that they’re not the sole focus. For him, it’s about laying solid foundations for senior school and beyond, helping children feel secure, confident and ready to step forward as articulate young people with the self-belief to take on whatever comes next.

QUIRKS

It’s the Hogwarts factor. The school’s 400-year-old Jacobean manor house has an uncanny resemblance to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, complete with creaking staircases, panelled walls, mullioned windows and satisfyingly hefty doors. The entrance hall is dominated by an enormous marble fireplace, kept alight during the winter. It gives the school a wonderfully warm and homely feel.

WRAP AROUND CARE

There’s a breakfast club from 7.15am for Reception and up. After-school care runs until 6pm, complete with a hot tea. For city commuters, the school is just a 10-minute drive from Merstham station, making early drop-offs easy.

During the holidays, Camp Hawthorns keeps both pupils and non-pupils entertained, alongside a variety of sports programmes. The after-school and extra-curricular options are impressively varied, with something on offer every day – think street dance, judo, roller skating, Girl Guiding, tech music club, spanish and plenty of sport.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI inspection was in February 2024. Read the full report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

No mobile phones are allowed at The Hawthorns. On the rare occasion a child needs one, it has to be handed to the office during the school day.

TRANSPORT

Most Hawthorns parents do the daily drop-off and pick-up. But there’s also a morning minibus which takes in Horley, Reigate and Redhill for those who need it.

FEES

2025-2026: In the Nursery, termly fees are £6,449 based on attendance five days a week from 8am-6pm. Nursery and Ark Pre-School fees are inclusive of meals, snacks, nappies and wipes. Nursery fees are exempt from VAT.

In Reception, the termly fees are £5,327; Year 1-2 costs £5,825; Years 3-4 is 7,136; and Years 5-8 is £7,942. Fees are inclusive of lunches, books, stationery and most outings (although not residential trips). VAT is also included.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents love the warm, welcoming, and caring vibe, and appreciate the nod to old-fashioned values without it feeling stuffy. They praise the well-rounded mix of sport, music, drama, and academics, with one parent highlighting the huge range of activities her children really enjoy. The quality of teaching also gets a mention, with children coming out well prepared for senior school and parents feeling supported throughout the process. Families are also impressed with the facilities, saying they rival those at many senior schools.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents seeking a country-school setting with plenty of space to get outside and enjoy childhood. Ideal for families who believe children learn best when they’re happy and not pushed through a hothouse environment. It’s also a great school for those looking for a well-rounded education, where academics, sport, the arts, and personal development are all valued equally.

Not for: Those after a city-centre buzz – The Hawthorns is blissfully rural. And if you were hoping to send your child off to boarding school, this one’s strictly a day-only affair.

Dare to disagree? Take a look yourself. There are open mornings Fri 6 March and Thurs 30 April. Book here.

The Hawthorns School, Pendell Court, Pendell Road, Bletchingley, RH1 4QJ.

The Hawthorns School, Bletchingley

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