WHAT? WHERE?

aerial shot of the exterior of old buckenham school and grounds in Suffolk

A co-ed preparatory school for three-to-13 year olds, Old Buckenham Hall (OBH), which celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2022, lies around 20 minutes’ drive from Sudbury and is ringed by 80 idyllic acres of grounds – more than enough space for its 240 pupils to roam.

OBH’s long, sweeping driveway and impressive four-hundred year-old red brick hall has National Trust vibes, until you catch a glimpse of the rainbow-coloured nursery, cricket nets and assault courses and realise this country pile is most definitely a place for kids, and not cream teas.

FACILITIES

facilities and grounds at old buckenham hall school in suffolk

The grounds are the star attraction here rather than any flash facilities. Fields at the front of the school are home to cricket nets and a natural playground with a zip-wire, while to the rear are seven tennis courts, an arboretum with trees that kids are actually encouraged to climb, and woods they’re allowed to roam in (there’s a pleasing lack of fencing). There’s also a couple of scenic ponds, one of which is used for pond-dipping and has a cute duck house.

A wing of the historic main hall has been made into a beautiful children’s library, complete with wood and book-lined walls, comfy sofas and computers. I particularly liked the colourful art work and the window seats, which pupils are encouraged to curl up on with a new read.

pupils playing trumpet at old buckenham hall school

Another stand out is the music department. Famous composer Benjamin Britten is an Old Buckeneer (as alumni are known) and this heritage clearly drives a strong musical offering with eight private teaching rooms (each named after a famous composer) plus a studio with recording equipment and grand piano. It’s a great set up and all kids get free taster sessions to try any instruments they like before signing up for additional lessons.

A drama studio next door can be opened out to create a stage, so there’s plenty of opportunity for performers to shine here. The pupils here get consistently outstanding results in LAMDA exams (nearly all receiving a distinction or merit). In 2023 the Prep School put on a production of Matilda, which involved almost 100 pupils from years 3-8.

Alongside the annual musical, every year group is expected to deliver an annual Drama Showcase. Even the most nervous child will smile once the curtain comes down and they hear the audience cheering.

Assemblies take place in Britten Hall, a modern building adjacent to the school, equipped with all the kit you need for sound and lighting wizardry. Sport-wise this school is hot on cricket – there are some inspiring black and white pictures on the walls of the time LG Robinson’s England XI played Australia at OBH in 1921.

Hockey, rugby, tennis and netball are also on the agenda from Year 1 and there’s a heated, outside pool – future plans include building a roof to enable year-round swimming on-site. Old Buckenham Hall has recently been awarded Lawn Tennis Association School of the Year for Suffolk. If you’ve got wannabe Andy Murrays or Emma Raducanus they will be in heaven here – OBH’s tennis programme has gone from strength to strength under Matthew Perry and his talented team of coaches. Over 50% of pupils play Tennis, from Nursery through to Year 8, either via one-to-one coaching throughout the school day or in regular matches and festivals throughout the year.

LITTLIES

pre-prep pupils playing outside on climbing frame in suffolk

You can’t help but smile as you enter the nursery, a separate modern building with a playground painted in a rainbow of colours. Head David Griffiths let nursery head Camilla Webster lead the way when it came to a recent pre-prep refurb and the results are a glorious riot of colour and fun. Inside it’s much calmer, with a noticeable amount of wood and plants (they’re getting rid of plastic as part of a major green initiative) and it’s even tidy. As with the prep school, its wow factor is the outside facilities including a large old walled garden which looked like a wonderful place to play.

pre-prep girl and boy playing in sandpit with dinosaur toys

They also get to adventure further into the wider grounds as part of the Mini Buckenham Explorers scheme, where they’re out bug hunting and building dens whatever the weather.

children running through woods in summer

On the three Rs front, maths and phonics are covered every morning and then afternoons open out into more varied subjects including geography, history and science.

ACADEMICS

two girl pupils learning science at old buckenham hall school

Classes are small at OBH, around 12-14 pupils per class, so while it’s non-selective kids get a lot of attention and learn at their pace.

Being non-selective also doesn’t seem to impact results and there is plenty of scholarship action here, with approximately a third of each year group gaining scholarships to top senior schools. The majority are academic, but also in sport, art, drama, music plus a few all-rounders. Year 8s in 2023 nabbed two academic scholarships, five sport, one music and one all-round for schools including Oundle, Framlingham and Uppingham.

OBH has good connections with leading independent schools, particularly Oundle, Uppingham and The Leys School in Cambridge. Old Buckeneers are also at Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Sailsbury, Repton, Wellington and more locally Framlingham and Royal Hospital School.

PASTORAL CARE

In a school this size it’s easy to keep an eye on kids’ personal needs and any problems that arise. A school counsellor visits weekly but the key members of staff for day-to-day pastoral care are head of pastoral, David Mitchell and school nurse and head of boarding, Emma Easdale, who lives on site and runs a surgery for both medical and emotional needs. I chatted with her during my tour and she says she’s on hand at all hours to look after the kids’ health problems as well as caring for any pupils feeing upset or who just need a bit of ‘time out’.

BOARDING

boy in pyjamas at prep boarding school in suffolk

Around 20 per cent of Years 3 and 4 board, and by Years 5 and 6 that number shoots up to around 50/50. By Years 7 and 8 around 90 per cent of pupils are boarding in some capacity, such as staying at the school for two to three nights.

Boarding’s split into three houses; girls, boys and Spero on the top floor of the main building, a Mon-Fri junior house for Year 3-5 boarders. I took a peek in the shared dorms, which were tidy but had that comfy, creaky floorboards vibe found in old country houses, even after a recent refurb. I came across a big pile of wooden building blocks in the middle of the lounge area with a polite note on top saying ‘PLEASE LEAVE’, which matron wisely had.

Children have to be registered for boarding and the minimum stay is two nights, so last-minute stays aren’t an option, though the school tries to accommodate existing boarders who request the odd night.

It’s clearly not a bolt-on option here, but an integral part of the school which all staff are involved in, from taking breakfast with the kids to playing games in the common room after school – apparently if any of the Year 8s can beat Griffiths at pool, there’s a packet of Haribo up for grabs. Overall I found it a fun, family atmosphere which is clearly being driven by a head who is raising his own family there – all three of his children attend OBH.

QUIRKY

headmaster and his family at old buckenham school

In 2022 a seven-metre high tipi was erected in the grounds providing the school with extra outside meeting and play space. I was also shown around an outside classroom built in a woodland clearing by Year 8s, which was all my retro, no-screen parenting dreams come true – log seats, wooden sculptures, a shelter and fire. This year’s leavers are building a brick pizza oven!

THE HEAD

In September 2023 new head James Large took over from David Griffiths. Before OBH, James Large held various roles at Norwich School. He grew up in Suffolk, has a background in Zoology and has represented Great Britain in sailing and touch rugby. He also has a deep appreciation for the creative arts so is a natural fit for this leading Suffolk prep school.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Children can be dropped off from 8am. In the pre-prep, kids have the opportunity to stay until 4.20 pm for a club run by either school staff or specialist staff, such as craft & play, tennis, ballet/tap, chickens & ducks, dodgeball and i-movies.

ISI

The last report was in May 2018 and OBH received a glowing review with the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements described as excellent.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

It’s a device-free school. While there are more than enough iPads and IT on the curriculum, outside the classroom children are encouraged to be children in the traditional sense, which means more tree climbing, less YouTube. The only exceptions are kids with learning needs.

TRANSPORT

Mini buses operating Mon-Sat mornings and Mon-Fri evenings are available to all pupils from nursery through to year 9 – children in the younger years are accompanied by the drivers to and from their classrooms. .

FEES

From September 2024: Nursery £32 half-day; pre-prep (Reception and Years 1 & 2) £3848 per term; Year 3, £6185 (boarding £9335); Year 4, £7339 (boarding £10489); Year 5, £7475 (boarding £10625); Years 6-8, £7805 (boarding £10956).

WORD ON THE GROUND

OBH has a well-earned reputation for good pastoral care and connections with the local community, . The head’s clearly popular with parents and one I chatted to said they liked the sense of freedom the school provided for ideas and play, while making sure all academic bases are covered.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents like me who want their kids off phones and outside. Whether your child’s sporty, academic, musical or a nature-lover, they have the chance to thrive here.

Not for: If you’re seeking a shiny new urban school with all the latest gadgets and a heavy emphasis on technology, or of the wrapped in cotton-wool mentality when it comes to tree climbing, this isn’t for you.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! There is an Open Morning on Saturday 4 May 2024 at 10am. Register to attend here.

Old Buckenham Hall, Brettenham Park, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP7 7PH

Images: Tom Soper Photography

Old Buckenham Hall, Brettenham

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