When parents choose a school, they are entrusting it with far more than their child’s education; they are entrusting it with a precious part of their childhood. As both a mother of three and an educator, I never lose sight of the significance of that trust.

The prep school years should be filled with happiness, curiosity and adventure. Children have only one childhood, and there should be no rush to move them through it. They need time to play, explore, laugh with friends, make mistakes, try again and discover what makes them light up. I want Gayhurst children to arrive each morning excited about the day ahead and to go home with stories to tell.

Of course, we want children to love learning and achieve highly. But education is not simply about the results they collect; it is also about the people they become along the way. At Gayhurst, academic ambition and exceptional pastoral care go hand in hand. Children learn best when they feel happy, secure and understood, and when they know that the adults around them believe in them and are firmly on their side.

At Gayhurst, we are ambitious for every child. Children develop in different ways and at different times, and part of the privilege of these years is helping each one discover what they are capable of. Success may be found in a classroom or laboratory, on a sports field or stage, through music or art, or in the quiet courage it takes to put up a hand, try something new or have another go.

Our motto, Be Kind, Work Hard, reflects the balance at the heart of Gayhurst. We want children to leave us with strong academic foundations, but also with curiosity, resilience, kindness and