Ballard School
Fernhill Lane, New Milton, BH25 5SU
Pupils
501
Ages
2 - 16
Gender
Co-educational
Type
Primary & Secondary
Head Teacher
Mr Andrew McCleave
Boarding / Day
Day
Fees
£668 to £5,715
ISC Associations
IAPS, ISA, AGBIS, ISBA
Religion
Christian
Bursaries
Available
Ballard School, located on the edge of the New Forest National Park, offers a warm and friendly environment for children aged two to 16. The school is Co-educational and follows a Christian ethos, providing a nurturing atmosphere where pupils are encouraged to thrive academically and personally. The main entry points are reception, year 3, and year 7, but children can join in other years as well. The school is not highly selective but prides itself on its value-added scores, with the latest average being 0.9 of a grade at GCSE.
At 16, pupils move on to various destinations, including Peter Symonds College in Winchester, local grammar schools, and notable independents such as Canford, Bryanston, Millfield, and Ryde School on the Isle of Wight. The school provides extensive guidance to parents on sixth-form choices, and its alumni include doctors, engineers, academics, Olympic and Paralympic medallists, and stars in opera and pop.
In 2023, 40 per cent of GCSE grades were 9-7, an improvement from 35 per cent in 2019. Pupils take up to 10 GCSEs, including core subjects and options like Business Studies, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Drama, and Dance. The school sets for Maths, Science, and English, with some pupils taking three separate sciences at GCSE and others doing combined science. German, Spanish, and French are available, with French taught from year 1.
The teaching observed was lively and inspiring. For instance, a year 9 history class discussed women’s rights before 1900, while a year 11 Design and Technology group was busy making coffee tables, speakers, lights, and bird-boxes. Classrooms are well-equipped with interactive displays and seven 3D printers in the DT department. A laptop leasing scheme is available for pupils in years 6, 7, and 8, with parents paying a termly fee. The head assures that children are not overburdened with homework, although the load increases during the GCSE years. Class sizes are small, with up to 16 pupils in most year groups.
Parents praised the school’s management of online learning during the pandemic, but pupils were clearly delighted to return to in-person classes. There is a strong emphasis on literacy, with children encouraged to read for pleasure. The school has three libraries staffed by two librarians, one of whom is a published author. A 30-minute drop everything and read session is held weekly, and lower prep pupils read to a member of staff every day.
The pre-prep section is housed in its own building, featuring light, airy classrooms and ample outdoor space. During a visit, year 1 teachers were linking the COP26 climate change summit to a topic on animals, keeping it simple for the young pupils.
Around 20 per cent of pupils receive learning support from the Department of Enhanced Learning (DEL), which offers everything from in-class adjustment strategies to one-to-one support. Dyslexic children are particularly well-supported.
The performing arts are a significant strength, with annual productions involving as many children as possible. During a visit, 140 children were preparing for a performance of Matilda. Nearly 40 per cent of pupils take individual instrumental or speech and drama lessons. In year 7, a subsidised instrumental starter scheme allows children to choose an instrument to play, with the school covering half the cost. Numerous opportunities exist to perform in choirs, bands, and orchestras.
The school offers 130 extra-curricular activities weekly, ranging from climate change club and beekeeping to GCSE attainment sessions and scholars’ clubs. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with bronze in year 9 and silver in years 10 and 11. Pre-prep and lower prep pupils have Forest School every fortnight, engaging in activities like tying knots, moulding clay, and cooking popcorn over a campfire.
Sport is inclusive, with every pupil getting the chance to represent the school. Main sports for boys include football, rugby, hockey, cricket, and athletics, while girls play hockey, tag rugby, football, netball, cricket, and athletics. There is also a programme for less sporty pupils, offering activities like kayaking, basketball, and mountain-biking. Swimming is available in the school’s outdoor pool during the summer term, and girls’ football is growing, supported by the FA Girls’ Football School Partnerships programme.
The school is based on Christian values and holds regular assemblies. It plays an active role in the community, inviting local care homes to concerts and donating to the food bank in Lymington. At Remembrance Day, every pupil contributes a message on a poppy displayed on the main staircase. Pupils appreciate their smart navy blazers with crimson trim, although girls would like the option to wear trousers. Year 11s have their own common room, complete with bean bags and a pool table, which they are responsible for keeping tidy.
Pastoral care is a top priority, with a PSHE lesson every week covering relationships, health, and living in the wider world. The school is divided into sections, each led by a head and a team of form tutors. Parents praised the care taken with transitions between sections. The school nurse is available, and a counsellor visits once a week. A wellbeing zone provides a space for children to relax if needed.
One advantage of not having a sixth form is that younger pupils take on leadership roles. There are head girl and head boy positions, plus two deputies, and two tranches of prefects in years 8 and 11. Four houses, named after areas of the New Forest, compete in inter-house competitions and fundraise for charity. The school has a sensible mobile phone policy, with pupils up to year 9 handing them in at school and year 10s and 11s keeping them switched off in their bags.
Pupils come from various locations, with some travelling from Poole, Ringwood, Lymington, and Sway, often using the school’s fleet of minibuses. New Milton railway station is a six-minute walk, making it convenient for those commuting by train. Parents praised the staff member managing transport for her efficiency.
The children we met were eager to share their views on everything from the food to their wish for an indoor swimming pool. Parents described the school as unpretentious and down-to-earth, a place where children can excel academically while enjoying outdoor activities. One mother said it was the best decision to send her son to the school, as he is very happy there. Another parent appreciated the positivity of the teachers, noting significant progress in her son’s development.
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Ballard School is an independent day school located in New Milton, Hampshire, catering for boys and girls aged 1 to 16. The school is academically non-selective and emphasizes a strong learning support department alongside a distinctive focus on performing arts. It operates as an educational charitable trust managed by a board of governors, with a recent change in the Chair of Governors since the last inspection. The school has evolved from an amalgamation of previous institutions, the most recent being in 1995, and does not offer boarding or a Sixth Form.
The school's mission is to create a supportive learning environment grounded in Christian values and excellent teaching, ensuring that all pupils achieve their personal best. The academic standards are high, and the school prepares students for future educational endeavors while fostering a sense of responsibility and citizenship. The curriculum is broad and diverse, aimed at nurturing self-confidence and personal development, while also encouraging lifelong interests and community service.
Nationally standardized test data indicates that the pupils' abilities are above average. The school has identified 114 pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, with 90 of these receiving additional specialist support. The school also caters to pupils for whom English is an additional language and has provisions for the most able students, modifying the curriculum to meet their needs.
The regulatory compliance inspection conducted by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) found that Ballard School meets the standards set out in the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The inspection covered various aspects, including the quality of education, spiritual and moral development, welfare and safety of pupils, staff suitability, premises, information provision, complaints handling, and leadership quality.
The quality of education provided is assessed as good, with the curriculum documented and supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work. The teaching enables pupils to make good progress, and effective behavior management is in place. The school uses its own framework to determine attainment in the junior school, and performance at GCSE has been above the national average for maintained schools in recent years.
The spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils is actively promoted, fostering responsible and tolerant citizens. The welfare, health, and safety of pupils are prioritized, with arrangements in place to safeguard and promote their well-being, including measures against bullying and compliance with health and safety requirements.
The school ensures the suitability of staff through appropriate checks and maintains a register as required. The premises are well-maintained, providing suitable facilities for pupils' needs, including adequate toilet and medical facilities. Information is effectively communicated to parents, covering various aspects of school life, including admissions, behavior, and academic performance.
Complaints are handled through a structured process, ensuring that parental concerns are addressed effectively. The leadership and management of the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge, fulfilling their responsibilities to meet the standards consistently and promote pupil well-being.
The quality and standards of the early years provision are outstanding, with a supportive and caring environment that prioritizes children's needs. Staff are well-trained and knowledgeable, ensuring that children make good progress relative to their starting points. The leadership and management in the early years setting are also outstanding, with effective monitoring and self-evaluation processes in place.
The educational quality inspection highlighted that pupils engage actively in a wide range of learning opportunities, demonstrating high levels of oral communication and presentation skills. Their achievements extend beyond academics, with notable success in music, drama, art, and sports. The school fosters a culture of respect and empathy, encouraging pupils to contribute positively to their community.
Overall, the school is advised to enhance its provision by enabling all pupils, particularly the more able, to identify their next steps in learning through improved target setting and feedback practices. The commitment to continuous improvement and the nurturing of a supportive educational environment contribute to the overall effectiveness of Ballard School in achieving its mission and objectives.
Last Updated: 8 October 2024
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