Pinewood School

Head's Up

At Pinewood we strive to release the potential of each and every child. We develop character, curiosity, learning and skills through a variety of opportunities, with “Making Learning An Adventure” at the heart of all we do. Importantly though, we ensure children are afforded the opportunity to enjoy a happy, secure and fulfilled childhood.

Inside Scoop from a current parent

Pinewood has a very special atmosphere - something we were struck by on our first visit to the school when we were shown around by the Headmaster Philip Hoyland. We were looking for a co-ed prep for our son and daughter which would instil great values in the children and yet would be a relaxed and happy place at the same time and this is indeed what we found.

The small class sizes and care and attention given to the individual child by the teachers allows them to flourish. Academic achievement is of course important but equally so are music, drama, sport and art. The pastoral care is exceptional provided by the teachers and now also a Head of Wellbeing, and the children are kind and supportive to each other.

The location is outstanding - with beautiful grounds and the children are encouraged to be outside as much as possible from Reception right through to Year 8. And sport every afternoon in all weathers makes them a hardy lot.

Philip Hoyland's involvement and engagement in every aspect of school life is wonderful - from cycling between pitches on Saturday mornings so he can support all the teams, to being at every performance from pre prep nativity plays to Upper school concerts.

We feel very lucky that the children could spend their childhood school years here.

As Parents, We Love...

• The happy atmosphere of the school thanks to wonderful leadership from Philip Hoyland and his wife Henrietta.
• Drama and Music - there are opportunities to get involved in plays from Shakespeare to Musicals, to play in a wide range of bands and orchestras, and even perform their own original ideas - always with great support from their peers.
• Pinewood Adventure - the trips that the children go on in the summer term from Year 3 onwards - outward bound experiences, watersports weekends and travels to France.

Our Children Love...

• The Rock Band summer evening and Open Mike Nights.
• Boarding - both children have loved Flexi boarding - they have done a couple of nights a week in the upper years and have gained independence whilst having a great time with their friends.
• Thursday activity afternoons - choices are made each term between a variety of areas such as Fencing, Judo, Golf, Table Tennis, Snooker, Drama, and a Pinewood favourite - Dog Walking!

School Highlights

Pinewood is set in 84 acres of rolling countryside on the border between Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, on the edge of The Cotswolds. The school offers a quality, family-based co-educational day and boarding environment for children aged 3-13.
Pupils are prepared for top independent senior schools at both Common Entrance and scholarship level, through a blend of traditional and forward-thinking teaching, which encourages independence in learning and fosters academic excellence. In both the Prep and Pre-Prep, learning outside the classroom, together with music, drama, art and sport, are seen as vital to a child’s development. The school offers a wide range of activities, which includes the Pinewood Adventure programme. Manners, self-reliance and a regard for others are valued principles upon which the school’s ethos is built.