Virtual Open Day

Kindergarten (Lower School)

The Kindergarten is comprised of the Early Years; Nursery (KN) and Reception (KR), and our Key Stage 1 classes; Year 1 (K1) and Year 2 (K2). Our smaller class sizes and skilled staff mean we have more time to teach, discuss and support, whilst also being able to plan and implement changes and ideas swiftly.

Your child’s learning journey is recorded in the Early Years using an online journal called Tapestry which is shared individually and securely with parents to track their progress.

Music studio

Music is an integral part of life at Gad’s Hill, from Nursery to the Upper School.  All pupils are given the opportunity to learn an instrument and take part in the varied musical activities on offer, which include ensembles, clubs and concerts.

Our children benefit by being taught by dedicated teachers in specially built music classrooms and can take advantage of private tuition from visiting peripatetic specialists in piano, drums, violin, cello, guitar and singing.

Juniors (Lower School)

Here at Gad’s Hill Juniors, we are guided by our overarching ethos, which focuses on educating children holistically and ensuring we maintain a broad and balanced curriculum throughout their time with us. Whilst academic success is integral to what we do, we place high emphasis on developing our pupils’ personal qualities and extra-curricular skills so that they move on to the Upper School as articulate, confident and motivated young people, ready for the next stage of their education.

Sports Hall

At Gad’s Hill School we’ve constructed a truly inclusive sports curriculum which makes full use of our excellent on-site facilities. Our modern sports hall is exceptionally versatile and can host a range of indoor sports such as badminton, fencing, basketball, netball, handball, indoor football and gymnastics. Additionally at one end of our sports hall we have installed a fully functional rock climbing wall.

Theatre

Our theatre is the beating heart of the school community: not only as the on-site venue for a diverse programme of musical concerts and dazzling drama productions, but also as the place where our children come together for morning assemblies. The theatre benefits from a large, curtained stage, mezzanine seating, state-of-the-art lighting and beautiful acoustic panelling, but is at its finest when children gather together to sing and to celebrate collective and individual successes at the start of each day. Honours boards hanging on the walls show the names of Head Boys and Girls dating back to the school’s foundation in 1924 – another reminder of our proud history, and something for each new pupil to aspire to during their time at Gad’s Hill School!

Gad’s Hill works with The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) to offer students tuition in Acting and Devised Drama.

LAMDA is the largest statutory speech and drama awarding body in the UK.  Its examinations are designed to equip learners, whatever their age or aspirations, with a range of transferable skills that will serve them throughout life.  The examinations enable candidates to showcase their talents and at the higher levels gain recognised UCAS tariff points for entry into university.

Refectory

Gad’s Hill School’s catering team prepares a choice of healthy home-cooked hot meals, such as cottage Pie, fruit crumbles and roast dinners, every day, for the school’s 3-16 year-old students.

Freshly prepared and varied vegan and vegetarian menus are provided, as well as gluten-free alternatives. Children with special dietary requirements are catered for and supported by Gad’s Hill’s Catering Manager, Mr Craig Burgin, and his team.

Kindergarten, Junior and Upper School peers dine in three separate sittings and can help themselves to salad and fresh fruit throughout the day.
Gad’s Hill maintains the maximum five star national food safety and hygiene rating.

Menus run on a 3 week cycle, please click here to see a sample menu

Upper School

We are a small school and with an average of 16 pupils in each tutor group, and many GCSE classes being below a class size of 10. It is our ambition here in the Upper School to provide a safe and enjoyable learning environment for our children, whilst looking for academic success by the end of year 11. Our broad curriculum values practical and vocational subjects alongside the more traditionally academic, with pupils able to follow a pathway to GCSE in Art, Design Technology, Drama, Food Preparation & Nutrition and PE in addition to Mathematics, English, Science, History, Geography, Spanish, Music and Computer Science. At the same time, our innovative Combined Cadet Force programme offers a suite of qualifications, including Institute of Leadership and Management, BTEC, Duke of Edinburgh and First Aid awards that we believe deliver the vital life skills to equip our leavers for adult life.

Charles Dickens' House

One of the great privileges of studying at Gad’s Hill is to know that you are learning in the former home of one of our very greatest writers, Charles Dickens.  The creator of David Copperfield, Ebenezer Scrooge and Oliver Twist lived here from 1857 until his death in 1870, and his spirit is felt by our pupils, even now, whether it be through the ornately stencilled staircase or his book-lined study.  There is something magical about studying in such a historic and special place.  After all, how many children can boast that they are taught English in Charles Dickens’ bedroom?

Sports Grounds

Our main outdoor facility is our large grass sports field which is again very versatile and enables us to include a wide range of sports on our curriculum such as rugby, football, athletics, cricket and cross country. Both our sports hall and outdoor playing field are large enough to host sports fixtures and events such as football tournaments, athletics meets, cross country running events and many more.

Hewlett Pavilion

The Hewlett Pavilion houses most of our specialist classrooms which are actively used throughout the Juniors and Upper School curriculum. These include our Art and Design department comprising a fully equipped Design and Technology workshop, a specialist Art room and a student kitchen for the practical study of Food and Nutrition. The pavilion also houses two computer suites used for the teaching of Computer Science, as well as providing ICT provision for a variety of other departments in the school such as Mathematics, Spanish, and courses in Teamwork, Personal Development, Leadership and Management. Also housed in the pavilion is one of our three specially equipped science laboratories.

Nursery (Lower School)

Our Nursery is set in Charles Dickens’ orchard, providing a unique and inspiring setting for children’s education. The orchard and surrounding grounds and outbuildings provide the backdrop of an educational experience rife with opportunity and adventure. Exploration of the outdoor environment is very important for our children and we offer opportunities for free-flow play in our orchard area.

Children may commence KN/Nursery after their 3rd birthday. 

Combined Cadet Force

In L4th (Year 8) all students join the Combined Cadet Force. It is very popular among pupils as it allows them to develop teamwork skills through taking part in a wide range of activities, including annual camps and adventure training expeditions. Cadets will also obtain a BTEC First Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development, starting the qualification as they begin U4th (Year 9). This will be obtained alongside a number of other qualifications to recognise the children’s achievements, including a First Aid at Work qualification and the potential to achieve Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver awards.

Forest School

Set in a substantial space, next to the sports field, Forest School offers a natural outdoor educational environment where younger pupils can take part in creative hands-on learning experiences in a relaxed and safe setting.

Nursery and Kindergarten children in the Lower School are free to investigate and find their own way of gathering and processing information encouraging independence.