Spotlight on…Lord Wandsworth College

If you have ever watched Escape to the Country you will be familiar with the “mystery house”: somewhere unexpected but potentially brilliant. Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire is a co-ed, 11-18 school that you have probably never heard of, but is definitely worth a look as an antidote to the high-pressure, boxed in urban schools.

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Academic results here have been shooting up in recent years; they are also in the top 1% of schools for academic value-added nationwide. This is why I like this school so much: teaching here unlocks huge academic progress for children across the ability range, rather than just dining out on the baked-in outcomes of the top 5% of children.

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Lord Wandsworth College was originally founded in the 1920s as a farming school for orphans. Now around 10% of pupils receive full bursaries, giving the place a more grounded feel than the grand Victorian boarding schools. Under geographer head Adam Williams, the school is looking backwards to look forwards — rethinking its agricultural roots by emphasising sustainability, design thinking in the curriculum, and longevity in sports/extra-curricular provision.

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Lots of professional London families say they would never consider a boarding school. I often ask, realistically, how much time will you spend with your child as a teenager? Weekly or flexi-boarding delegates conflict about homework and frees up quality family time at weekends. If your son or daughter is sporty, arty or musical then specialist facilities (and teammates) are right on their doorstep. By the time you factor in daily commuting, after school care and clubs, the costs actually stack up pretty evenly with a private London day school.

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​https://www.selected.education​