WHAT / WHERE?

Winterfold House School is a bijou, independent co-ed day school and nursery for pupils age 2 to 13, with 280 pupils on roll. Located a handy 10 minute hop from Kidderminster and Bromsgrove, it has a surprisingly idyllic setting, nestled in 40 acres of grounds with fairytale views of valleys, farmhouses and hills across the North Worcestershire countryside.

Class sizes range from 15, up to a max of 20, with up to two student groups per year group. There’s a solid sense of security here, in generally uncertain times for schools; Winterfold got its member’s card to the prestigious Bromsgrove School stable in 2016.

A non-selective school, Winterfold has a proudly Catholic heritage and ethos, although highly welcoming of all faiths, and as such a strong focus on instilling a sense of community and caring amongst pupils, alongside the academic rigour.

FACILITIES

The approach is down an idyllic, long, leafy rural driveway and at first glance the school itself gives strong period charm, the main building is an elegant, converted, red brick Georgian manor house.

Behind the initial Bridgerton-esque vibes, you’ll find world class facilities however, spread across a compact and easily navigable site with modern, low rise buildings. Winterfold has had an injection of big splash of cash in the last 10 years bringing them up to a gold standard you’d expect at senior level, and certainly gives the school a good, future-proofed feeling.

Amongst these are a brand new theatre, the swanky £4.6m Penryn Hall, which is fully equipped with the latest sound, lighting and seating and has a new chapel within it for masses and assemblies, and a new Astroturf and sports pitches.

And recently in September 2024 the impressive Peacock Lodge was opened after a £300k investment, a superb Early Years outdoor learning centre, so if you’re hot on the benefits of nature and outdoor education, Winterfold has this in spades.

There’s a fully-equipped, bright and modern Science Lab and the Design Technology Room is kitted out with the latest cutting edge technology, and book worms have lucked out if they come here – the library has over 12,000 books and recently won an SLS Gold award for outstanding services.

During our visit the school felt like a very friendly place to be, with an impressive number of children saying hello when they passed by, and the school is clearly hot on fostering respect, with children often standing up behind desks when an adult walks in the room.

SPORT

Sporty shorties will thrive at Winterfold. Sport plays an important part of life at the school. Children are encouraged to take part in as many sports as possible to find their ‘niche, from traditional sports such as cricket and football to quirkier things such as Pickleball and Taekwando.

Games teachers are genuine sports professionals themselves, so pupils get expert coaching. Many pupils have been selected for county teams and some have even competed at a national level. There are several Astroturf football pitches, an impressive Olympic-sized hockey pitch, tennis and netball courts and a sports hall.

One downside is that there isn’t a pool here, but pupils do have full access to the top class one at Bromsgrove School, a 15 minute drive away. Pupils from Reception up to Year 2 have swimming lessons every week.

MUSIC

For a smallish school Winterfold punches above its weight when it comes to music success. They have had representatives in the National Children’s Orchestra, the finals of Worcester Young Musician, The Bromsgrove Young Musicians’ Platform and Worcester Competitive Arts Festival amongst others.

Whilst I was there pupils were putting on a music festival, with Year 6 children showcasing talents on different instruments, and the choir were belting out songs.

The annual Music Competition gives every young musician the chance to show what he or she can do and pupils sit an average of 100 ABRSM and Rock School instrumental exams here every year.

Parents will love the ‘Mini Me’ concerts, where pupils get to use the grand piano in the hall whilst families watch. And at least twice a term there are musical coffee mornings, where parents can relax whilst being serenaded by pupils performing chamber music.

There’s also an in-house jazz band called The Groove Diggers, for Years 5 to 8, which has won the National Jazz Partnership Award and performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

Winterfold get extra kudos points for Radio Winterfold, a pupil-led radio station which was set up with the help of professional DJ Ed James.

Clearly very popular with the pupils and any budding broadcast stars, there’s a superbly equipped radio room where a group of children record weekly podcasts that can be listened to by parents. It felt like being at the BBC!

Recent VIP guests interviewed by pupils have included former BBC Countryfile Presenter Michael Collie, GB Olympic Gymnast Kristian Thomas, quite the line-up.

DRAMA / THE ARTS

Drama forms part of the daily timetable and every child has at least one drama lesson each week. They certainly have the facilities to shine here, with the spacious and modern Penryn Hall, a 240 capacity theatre, opened in 2024. by Professor Julian Lloyd-Webber.

There is also a bright, modern, glass Performance Arts Centre with sprung floor for dance and gymnastics fans.

The ethos here is to get stuck in, whether that’s taking centre stage, being part of the supporting cast, belting out songs in the chorus or helping backstage. There is a role for everyone. The senior production is usually a major musical and there are workshop productions and junior plays to enjoy each term.

Winterfold makes the most of its great proximity to arts and culture in the region too, with recent extra-curricular trips to theatre companies at Stratford, Birmingham, Worcester and Malvern.

We were impressed with the standard of work in the art department, an exceptionally vibrant and colourful place showcasing children’s work on the walls.

Art here is taught by a specialist teacher and there’s a popular Portfolio Club at lunchtimes and after school, where children can come in and continue with their work or follow particular interests.

ACADEMICS

As a non-selective school there are no formal entry requirements or tests to nab a place at Winterfold. The school has a laser focus on developing the whole individual, rather than being an early academic hot-house. However from Year 2, pupils are allocated to Packs; Eagles, Swifts, Kites and Hawks, to foster a spirit of friendly competitiveness, with pupils earning points through showing academic achievement (and good conduct).

If you’re keen to secure a bursary you’re in luck here, Winterfold offers Art, Drama, Music, Sport and Academic pathway scholarships in Year 7 and bursaries are offered from Years 5-8. Last year a total of 19 were given out to pupils.

The majority of pupils do seem to choose sister school Bromsgrove School as their next natural step due to the ties – 90% in 2024. Others go on to choose schools in Shrewsbury, Malvern or Cheltenham.

LITTLIES

There’s an exceptional offering for Early Years at Winterfold in the shape of new specialist outdoor centre Peacock Lodge, which opened its doors in September 2024.

The Lodge itself is beautifully kitted out with everything from eco and sustainable wicker dens and craft corners, to cosy reading nooks and bright, open plan learning areas. Outside we saw children running around and really enjoying the willow village, a natural pond area, the orchard and bird hides.

At Peacock Lodge children get to enjoy an enhanced skills-based outdoor learning experience throughout the week, led by a fully qualified teacher specialising in outdoor learning for early years.

Classes here start at 2-years-old and pupils are given freedom to build their own core skills, such as resilience and creativity. No wrapping them up in cotton wool here, they’re encouraged to get little hands dirty and stuck in!

There’s a joint, central courtyard area, so teachers and places become familiar and moving up classes, which means a nice gentle transition for them too. There is a dedicated playground for Early Years and one for Years 1 and 2.

FOREST SCHOOL

Winterfold loves outdoor learning, and the importance of ‘getting back to nature’ and teaching them about sustainability is the ethos here, to this end there’s a lovely, established Forest School area.

Pupils across the school make use of the space and Pre-Prep children have regular sessions. Pupils in Years 3 and 4 have weekly timetabled sessions and story-telling sessions take place in the grounds.

Staff are Forest School trained, and the children have use of over three acres of allotted Forest School, which has a shelter, bird hides, pond and fire pit. Pre-Prep children have access to a weekly Forest School after school club too.

A stand out feature at Winterfold is Gardening Club, and children who come along have their own allotment where they grow fruit and vegetables that are then used in the kitchens.

When we visited it looked very well tended – Frances Tophill stand aside! – and the children keenly showed off their ‘Mexican’ themed planters currently being nurtured.

Children are also encouraged to run their own gardening businesses ‘Greenfingers’, including installing their own mini teams for finance and marketing! The flowers they grow are sold at plant sales throughout the year, with an impressive £4k made in overall sales in 2024. Donations are also made to local care homes and businesses.

The whole outdoor provision at Winterfold scores highly on the Muddy wellbeing-ometer, outdoor learning is not just an afterthought here, it’s central to the school’s DNA, and it felt like an inspiring, wholesome and upfliting place to spend part of the school day.

HEAD TEACHER

Denise Toms is a very approachable, calmly spoken Head with a genuine, relaxed warmth to her. At the helm for eight years now, it’s safe to say she’s an experienced pair of hands. Previously Deputy Academic Head at Winterfold she brings with her experience from schools in London and Devon.

Her main mission since joining has been to maintain the distinctive family feel of the school, but also to future-proof the school with all the new facilities and to switch up the focus on outdoor learning, embracing the school’s best asset, it’s setting.

She puts big high value on nurturing well-mannered and confident children who come away with a sense of giving back to the community, alongside their academic growth.

Denise teaches History to Year 6 so very much likes to be part of the daily life here so she gets to know each pupil well, telling me one of the highlights of her week is when she gets to take the storytelling sessions with Early Years children in the grounds.

A big fan of the countryside and a keen walker, she lives off site and is a big animal lover too, owning chickens and cats, as well as being a keen member of local historical group.

PASTORAL CARE

The pastoral care provided here meets a solid standard. In addition to Form Tutors taking responsibility for pupils’ wellbeing, there’s a peer mentor system, buddy bench, and school counselling is available, if needed.

In addition, all senior boys and girls are given some degree of responsibility for younger pupils and are afforded a wide measure of trust to build those relationships, so younger ones feel they have someone to go to if necessary.

Pupil Voice is a timetabled session each week giving all children an opportunity to take part in activities where they can voice an opinion and effect change and there is a School Council, Peer Mentors and Prefects too.

We also saw the Secret Garden, a beautiful walled area which is used as an area of quiet contemplation for quiet time-out sessions, reading activities and PSHE.

SEND PROVISION

Winterfold currently has 33 SEND admissions at the school. In terms of care provision, there is a dedicated Learning Support Department here with teachers who are specifically trained in SEND where children can access support.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY / TECH

Children are not allowed to bring their phones into school. In terms of how tech-enhanced the school is there are plenty of gadgets provided for digital learning, with younger years using iPads and the top end of the school using laptops.

It’ll be an attractive plus point for parent that the school takes care of it all; no digging deep into already strained pockets to buy them.

TRANSPORT

Pupils come from all over Worcestershire but the majority hail from within a 10 miles radius, so there’s a wholesome sense of local identity and belonging here.

Winterfold provides transport from to Bromsgrove in both directions but there are also good transport links to a number of other areas such as Stourbridge, Barnt Green, Great Witley and Tenbury Wells.

WRAPAROUND CARE

The school day here is perhaps longer than others – school hours are from 8am until 6pm – but it’s also a fact that may well appeal to many time-strapped parents. Early drop-off operates from 7.45am and after-care and clubs run until 6pm.

ANY QUIRKS?

The annual Pet Blessing. The School Chaplain, Father Lamb, (yes really!) allows pupils to bring in their pets from home to be blessed in the School Chapel. It’s a hugely popular activity at Winterfold with pupils queueing up to take part with everything from bunnies to St Bernards.

Winterfold is partnered with a school in South Africa called Ncemaneni Primary. Since 2007 they have raised over £120k for the school, which has given them an ICT block, science block and library block.

It’s an example of what’s called the ‘Winterfold Way’ – giving to those less privileged. There’s a bi-annual trip for Years 7 and 8 to the school in South Africa to see how their fundraising money has been spent.

WHAT ELSE?

Residential trips are run from Year 4 upwards and Winterfold sometimes allows parents to be part of the experience, such as the Ski Trip for year 5’s to Switzerland where parents can stay in hotels close by.

Winterfold is also a fervent champion of girls’ education charity Girls OnBoard and is one of around 1000 schools that do sessions and workshops on it with pupils throughout the school year. The school has also scooped an award for its anti-bullying work from The Anti Bullying Alliance.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents love the nurturing environment, efforts teachers make to get to know children, and the emphasis on outdoor learning. Others like that the workload is often well suited to children’s abilities, rather than constantly pushing them too much.

There’s a big consensus that Winterfold feels genuinely warm and welcoming. Some comment that the school days are long and busy here, but parents also feel this gives their children a real sense of purpose, with kids saying they love how much extra curricular stuff there is to get stuck into.

The Friday morning coffee mornings where parents come in and meet with teachers to chat through any issues is highly thought of, and Early Years gets a big thumbs up for helping shy children come out of their shells. There’s also a lot of love for the new Peacock Lodge, with several comments about it being ‘the best of its kind in the area’.

FEES

Fees here start out a little bit lower than others we’ve reviewed, so it’s good value. Reception starting at £3,265, going up to £4,430 for Year 3 and £5,175 for Year 8. See the full list of fees here: Fees – Winterfold House.

ISI REPORT

Winterfold School had its last inspection in May 2023. It racks up ‘Excellent’ ratings across the board, with areas such as the quality of education and pupils’ personal development amongst those singled out for praise. Read the full report here.

MUDDY VERDICT:

Good for: No cookie-cutter education here, if you want a school that’ll develop the whole child – not just their score sheet – they’ll thrive here. Winterfold excels at the ‘extras’, such as its new world class drama and music facilities, so it’s perfect for budding stars. If you want an exceptional Early Years start and love outdoor learning, it’s a top choice (but book your place quickly, it’s popular).

Not for: Anyone wanting boarding school provision, Winterfold won’t be for you. All faiths are made very welcome, but there is a proud Catholic heritage and daily life here. If you want a large school, it won’t be for you, Winterfold is a small school with a close family feel.

Want to judge for yourself? Book in for an Individual Visit or Taster Day.

Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, DY10 4PW.

Winterfold House School, Kidderminster

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