Oakhyrst Grange School Joins the Award-Winning Caterham Family of Schools
Thriving and much-loved Surrey preparatory school, Oakhyrst Grange School, has announced that it will be joining the multi award-winning Caterham Family of Schools, marking an exciting new chapter in the school’s 75-year history.
Set within five and a half acres of beautiful Surrey Hills lawns and woodland, Oakhyrst Grange School is renowned for its nurturing ethos, strong academic foundations and exceptional pastoral care. Combining traditional values with innovative learning opportunities, the school provides an inspiring environment where children are encouraged to grow in confidence, develop a love of learning and achieve their full potential.
The partnership brings together two schools that have enjoyed a close relationship for decades and share a commitment to educational excellence, pupil wellbeing and innovation. Oakhyrst and Caterham already share many families and alumni, and both schools are united by a belief in providing outstanding opportunities for every child.
Oakhyrst Grange is proud of its exceptional facilities, including a heated indoor swimming pool, sports hall, Multi-Use Games Area and dedicated Forest School provision, all of which support a broad and ambitious curriculum. The school was also recently recognised nationally with a Pearson National Teaching Award Bronze Award for Early Years Team of the Year, celebrating the outstanding quality of its Early Years provision.
Gemma Mitchell, Headteacher of Oakhyrst Grange School, said:
“Joining the Caterham Family of Schools is a hugely exciting opportunity for Oakhyrst Grange and comes from a position of strength. This partnership builds upon a long-standing and successful relationship between our schools and reflects our shared commitment to educational excellence, innovation and pupil wellbeing.”
“Oakhyrst will retain its unique identity, values and close-knit community, which are so important to our families. We are incredibly proud of the warm, supportive environment we provide and remain ambitious for every child in our care. This partnership will enable us to build on our many strengths whilst creating even greater opportunities for our pupils, staff and wider school community.”
“Most importantly, families can be confident that their children will continue to enjoy the exceptional education, pastoral care and breadth of opportunity that define an Oakhyrst education. We will continue to prepare and support pupils for a wide range of senior school destinations, whilst also providing a smoother pathway to Caterham School for those families who choose that route.”
Ceri Jones, Headmaster of Caterham School, commented:
“Both schools have given their wholehearted support to this partnership, which reflects a shared educational vision, common values and a commitment to excellence. We are delighted to welcome Oakhyrst Grange into the Caterham Family of Schools and look forward to working together to enhance opportunities for pupils, families and staff alike.”
The Caterham Family of Schools includes Caterham School, Caterham Prep School, Copthorne Prep School and The Hawthorns School. The family is recognised for academic excellence, exceptional pastoral care, innovation and sector-leading approaches to digital learning and wellbeing.
Caterham School was named the Times Educational Supplement’s Independent Senior School of the Year and is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading co-educational schools. It is also the founding school of the East Surrey Learning Partnership, which brings together independent and state schools to enhance educational opportunity for young people across the region.
This partnership marks an exciting future for Oakhyrst Grange School, ensuring that its distinctive ethos, strong sense of community and commitment to educational excellence continue to flourish for generations to come.
Harlequins Rugby Coaching Session – Tuesday 1st April 2025
On Tuesday 1st April, we were very lucky to welcome in Sheree Cooper from the Harlequins Rugby Foundation, for a day of rugby teaching! Sheree Cooper plays for the Harlequins Women’s Rugby team in her ‘prop’ position and was keen to come in to Oakhyrst Grange to deliver some exciting sessions to inspire our children to play rugby. The children were in awe of having a professional rugby player teach them and were inspired by her journey.
Children in Years 2-6 all took part in a session which focused on spatial awareness, ball handling and the most-liked skill by the children… tackling! The older children in particular learnt how to safely tackle an opposing player, as well as learning how to fall safely if tackled themselves. They all fully embraced this challenge and it was great seeing them do something completely new, and even unnatural, to a lot of the children. I even had a go at tackling Sheree, but it came with little success! For the younger children, they learnt how to pass and catch a rugby ball correctly using the terminology ‘pocket to rocket’ and really improved throughout. We definitely have some gifted rugby players within the school.
Hopefully this is a partnership with Harlequins that we can continue with, and we look forward to providing for rugby opportunities to the whole school moving rowards.
Mr David Smith, Head of Sport
Come to Our Next Open Day – see the school in action
Friday 8th and Saturday 9th Of May
10.00 am to 3.00pm Prospective Parent slots will be allocated once interest expressed below.
