Gad’s Hill School is set in the expansive and beautiful grounds of the former family home of Charles Dickens, in the village of Higham, just on the outskirts of Rochester, Kent.
Our independent day school is a wonderfully happy and vibrant school, educating girls and boys aged 3-16 years in the Lower and Upper Schools. The site boasts modern facilities, courtesy of its main building, including theatre, refectory and sports hall, opened in 2013, while also retaining the famous literary heritage of the 18th Century Grade I Listed Gad’s Hill Place, and many of the traditions established since its foundation as a school in 1924.
Higham is an area that is rich in culture and history and enjoys a spectacular setting between the North Downs, the Medway Towns and the River Thames. Cathedrals, castles, beaches and historic cities and towns such as Rochester with its Norman legacy and Chatham with its ancient Royal Dockyard are on our doorstep, and we make the most of our surroundings to enrich the educational experience of all our pupils.
Childhood is celebrated every day at Gad’s Hill School and high academic expectations, together with outstanding pastoral care and exceptional drama, music and sports facilities and provision, make the school a wonderful place to be educated. Academically, Gad’s Hill enjoys the reputation of receiving excellent GCSE results year-on-year, and yet pupils also enjoy our on-site Forest School, Combined Cadet Force, productions, concerts and much more.
We believe our success is largely down to the fact that we are a small school. Pupils are taught in classes of no more than 20 and benefit from a friendly and purposeful learning environment, where teachers know and cater for each child as an individual across an exciting and engaging curriculum.
We are different from other schools and are rightly proud of this. We stand for traditional values, self-respect, self-discipline and have a strong sense of friendship, family and community spirit.
Our parents believe in and support the school by sharing and committing to our values.
Gad’s Hill School is a caring and compassionate environment which will encourage your child to give their best. There is, however, no substitute for seeing it for yourself and we warmly invite you to pay us a visit. You will not be disappointed.
Mission, Vision, Values and Ethos
Our Mission
To enable our students to enjoy school, to achieve good academic qualifications and to develop those personal attributes and qualities which will guide them on their journey through life.
Our Vision
To be the first choice independent school for families in Kent who value a well-rounded education for their child. It is our intention that our students leave Gad’s Hill as confident, mature, articulate, pleasant and self-reliant young people who are well equipped to enter the world through a university education or career of their choice.
Our Values
At Gad’s Hill School we promote ‘The Greatest of Expectations’:
• Ambition & Success
• Community & Compassion
• Growth & Support
• Adventure & Opportunity
• Confidence & Responsibility
• Creativity & Expression
These six strands of Expectations are at the heart of all we do as a school. They form a contract with our pupils and their parents, in that we commit to offer opportunities for every child to explore and develop themselves within these areas, and in return we expect all our pupils to engage with all aspects of school life. These are Expectations, therefore, both of the School and of our pupils.
We value ourselves, our community and our environment by demonstrating the Great Values:
Gratitude
We appreciate our and each other’s worth and the opportunities we have.
Respect
We value ourselves and each other; showing courtesy, listening, and following rules.
Equality
We value our diversity and treat ourselves and each other fairly and with kindness.
Aspiration
We make choices which support ourselves and each other in being the best we can.
Tenacity
We show curiosity, resilience, and determination in all that we do.
Our Ethos
Children do well when they are happy at school and at Gad’s Hill we pride ourselves on our compassionate community that supports young people to grow in confidence and responsibility. We expect that pupils at Gad’s Hill will show ambition, enthusiasm and hard work to strive for success, and in return they can expect a curriculum that also values creativity and expression alongside adventure and opportunity. We want to offer our pupils a foundation in life, working with them to become confident, motivated and articulate young people ready for the next stage in their education and life beyond.
