Millfield School: A Distinguished Institution for Learning and Development

Since its inception in 1935, welcoming six princes from India, Millfield School has established itself as one of the UK's leading independent schools for boys and girls aged 2 to 18. The school comprises pre-preparatory, preparatory, junior, and senior schools, and additionally, Millfield Centre offers English language courses, sports activities, and residential stays outside the curriculum.

The Founding and Early Years of Millfield School

Millfield School was founded in 1935 by R.J.O. (Jack) Meyer, following his return from India with seven Indian boys, six of whom were princes. He later became known as "Boss" Meyer. The school was initially housed in Millfield House, which is now a boarding house, but rented it from the Clark family, who owned most of Street.

The school grew steadily and in 1939 became one of the first independent co-educational schools. In 1942, Martin Attlee, the son of the then Deputy Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, joined the school in the hope of overcoming "word-blindness." Millfield's teaching methods were so successful that Martin Attlee was able to go on to university, and the school gained a reputation as the first educational institution in the country to successfully address students with dyslexia.

Millfield School: A Leading Co-educational Boarding and Day School in the UK

With over 1300 students in the senior school (75%) and 440 students in Millfield Prep (31%, ages 7+), Millfield School is one of the largest co-educational boarding and day schools in the UK, boasting the resources and facilities to deliver world-class education and coaching.

Fees

Millfield's fees are as comprehensive as possible, with additional costs kept to a minimum. The daily fee covers tuition, most school activities, three meals a day, games and prep, textbook loans, personal accident insurance for students, a contribution towards travel and accommodation when representing the school, and internet access.

Millfield School Fee Structure

Pre-Prep and Years 1 & 2: £3,585

Year 3 (Day): £4,550

Year 4 (Day): £5,205

Year 5 (Day): £5,850

Year 6 (Day): £6,505

Years 7 & 8 (Day): £7,875

Boarding (Years 3 to 8): £12,115

Flexible Boarding Fees:

Additional Nightly Rate: £75

Senior School (Years 9 to U6) (Day): £10,780

Senior School (Years 9 to U6) (Boarding): £16,560

Millfield School Facilities

Millfield Prep School:

• Set on 160 acres of land
• Facilities include:
  • 25m swimming pool
  • Newly refurbished music department and concert hall
  • Art studios
  • Design and Technology Centre
  • Five science laboratories
  • Golf course
  • Equestrian center
  • Rifle shooting range
  • Ample outdoor space for camping around the boys' (3) and girls' (2) boarding houses
  • Challenge course
  • Climbing wall
  • Woodland trails
  • Tennis courts

Millfield Senior School:

• Set on 200 acres of land
• Facilities include:
  • 50m Olympic swimming pool
  • Golf course
  • Equestrian center with stabling for 90 horses
  • Indoor cricket and netball courts
  • Fencing hall
  • Beautiful concert hall
  • 450-seat theatre
  • Art gallery
  • World-class music center
  • Spacious dining hall
  • Advanced science facilities

Nestled amidst 160 acres of picturesque land, Millfield Prep School boasts an array of exceptional facilities that cater to the diverse needs and interests of its young learners. These include:

• A state-of-the-art 25m swimming pool, fostering a love for aquatic activities and promoting physical fitness.
• A newly refurbished music department and concert hall, nurturing a passion for music and providing a platform for creative expression.
• Well-equipped art studios, encouraging artistic exploration and fostering creativity.
• A dedicated Design and Technology Centre, igniting innovation and problem-solving skills.
• Five fully equipped science laboratories, stimulating scientific curiosity and enabling hands-on experimentation.
• A sprawling golf course, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and honing golfing skills.
• A well-maintained equestrian center, offering horseback riding lessons and fostering a connection with animals.
• A rifle shooting range, introducing students to the sport of target shooting under expert supervision.

Location and Transportation

Millfield School is situated in the town of Street, Somerset, England.

Millfield offers an exceptional minibus service operating on seven different routes, facilitating transportation between the Preparatory and Senior Schools for pupils.

Millfield and the Integration of Information Technology in Learning

Millfield believes that the effective use of information technology should be an integral part of the teaching and learning process, available to students in all learning opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom.

The iPad project is a cornerstone of this approach. The school is equipped with advanced Wi-Fi facilities, and all students are expected to use iPads in lessons and for further study outside of formal teaching hours. teachers are also equipped with iPads and have undergone comprehensive training in using this technology within their subject areas.

Students and staff can wirelessly connect their iPads to interactive whiteboards in the classroom. Furthermore, the use of filmmaking and video is increasingly being integrated throughout the curriculum to enhance student understanding.

Millfield School has a distinguished history of supporting students in their pursuit of higher education. Our dedicated guidance counselors provide personalized support to help students identify suitable universities or colleges and achieve their academic goals.

Day Students at Millfield

Millfield School offers a unique boarding and day student experience. Day students are fully integrated into the school community and enjoy the full range of opportunities and diverse academic programs that Millfield has to offer.

The school day commences at 8:30 AM for all students, with form time and lessons. Day students return home after lessons, games, or other co-curricular activities (MAP). They have the option to stay for dinner with boarding students, and the library remains open until 8:45 PM for both day and boarding students to study independently or in groups. Saturday mornings also include lessons, and many students participate in afternoon sports fixtures before returning home.

Millfield has five-day houses, including two for girls, two for boys, and Ivy thorne House for Year 9 co-educational students. Each day house has a housemaster and an assistant housemaster to provide support. In addition to house staff, day and boarding students benefit from the support of a form tutor, year head, school medical center with qualified staff, school counselling, and the school chaplain.

Day houses are designed to be warm and welcoming, providing a place for students to meet, socialize, and enjoy the daily rhythms of Millfield life. Each girls' house has a dedicated common room with a television, providing a space for social interaction and relaxation. Additionally, the girls' sections have their own changing rooms, and each girl has a locker to store their belongings during the day.

Boarding at Millfield Preparatory School (Ages 7-13)

As a leading independent school, boarding is an integral part of life at Millfield Preparatory School. The school offers comprehensive and flexible boarding options for children aged 7-13.

Boarding provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop their social skills and interact with a diverse range of people from different countries and cultures.

Pupils take full advantage of all that the school has to offer, particularly the early morning and after-school clubs and activities such as swimming, tennis, golf, riding, and music lessons. Approximately 85% of boarding pupils currently choose to board full-time, taking full advantage of the weekend activities on offer.

Boarding Houses at Millfield

Millfield School boasts five boarding houses: two for girls and three for boys. All houses are situated on campus and each offers a unique character and exceptional facilities, including comfortable dormitories, spacious common rooms, kitchens, games rooms, extensive outdoor areas, and access to Skype. Dormitories typically accommodate four students, although some are triple rooms.

Dinner is served at 5 pm in the dining hall, with a late supper option available at 6:15 pm. Supervised study takes place from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, although many students choose to study for longer periods. Staff are on hand to assist all boarders with their work if needed.

After dinner and study, boarders can change into casual clothes and make use of the facilities within and around their houses, including excellent outdoor play equipment.

Day Pupils (Ages 7-13)

Approximately 70% of the total pupil population at Millfield Preparatory School are day pupils. Currently, there are around 260-day pupils in Millfield Preparatory School and 90-day pupils in Millfield Pre-School.

Day pupils are fully integrated into the school community and enjoy the full range of opportunities and academic mix that Millfield has to offer.

The school day commences at 8:25 AM. Day pupils return home at 3:45 PM, unless they are staying for games or clubs.

Day pupils may stay for supper with boarders at 5 pm (a charge is made unless the pupil has a school commitment) and may also attend prep from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm.

On Saturday mornings (optional for Year 3), lessons take place after which day pupils may leave, although many will stay for afternoon sports fixtures.

Senior School Boarding (Ages 13-16)

The boarding environment at Millfield School encourages pupils to live a full life in all its aspects, providing a space for individuality to flourish. Boarding houses are the heart of a pupil’s life at school.

Boarders support each other academically and, in their pursuits, and enjoy attending sports fixtures, concerts, and plays in which their friends perform.

Approximately 75% of pupils board full-time and enjoy a varied weekend activities programme.

Millfield has 19 boarding houses, situated either on campus or within a short distance. These houses are divided into separate areas for boys and girls. All houses are equipped with high standards of facilities and have gardens and outdoor areas.

Each house has a housemaster and an assistant housemaster who live in. In addition, house tutors and non-resident staff create a warm and supportive environment for boarders. Boarders also have access to the school medical centre with qualified staff, school counselling, and the school chaplain.

Boarding House Facilities at Millfield

Millfield boarding houses are equipped with excellent facilities, including kitchens, common rooms, open-plan social spaces, and ample study areas for both group and individual work.

Bedrooms for students in Years 9 to 12 are typically twin rooms, while students in the Upper Sixth form enjoy single rooms. The houses are equipped with advanced Wi-Fi networks, enabling students to make Skype calls and access certain social media platforms. All rooms are designed to be both cozy and customizable.

Academic Life (Ages 16-18)

Millfield School provides a broad and balanced education that not only prepares pupils for their final examinations but also equips them with the confidence to succeed throughout their adult lives.

Millfield offers a wide range of academic courses which form the backbone of the school curriculum, whilst also allowing pupils to tailor their programs to suit their individual needs. Alongside 27 A-Level subjects, a diverse range of vocational courses is offered, including five BTEC qualifications and the prestigious Leith’s Confident Cookery course.

The newly launched and highly innovative Illuminate program is inspired, ambitious, and tightly structured. Teachers have mapped out interdisciplinary links between subjects, drawing on key concepts within their disciplines to enhance pupils’ understanding.

For example, teaching the importance of water purification in Geography is linked with teaching the mechanisms of water purification in Chemistry, with teachers in each subject explicitly referring to this interdisciplinary link.

International Boarders

The school welcomes pupils from all over the world and believes that the rich cultural diversity provided by over 250 overseas pupils from more than 70 nationalities offers a truly exceptional opportunity for pupils and staff alike to learn about and promote cultural differences. Tolerance, respect, and understanding are all highly valued in the modern global culture.

Pupils from all over the world live together in boarding houses and participate in all aspects of school life, including sports and extracurricular activities, providing a valuable learning experience.

Many international pupils receive specialist English language tuition in the EAL department, where teachers support pupils with everyday English as well as the English needed for academic subjects, and also provide in-class language support.

The school is a multi-faith community and respects all religions. There is a chapel on site where pupils can worship, and private rooms for individual worship are also available.

Benefits of Cultural Diversity

Cultural diversity exposes students to a variety of cultures and perspectives, helping them to broaden their minds and gain a better understanding of the world.

Students learn to effectively communicate and interact with people from different cultures, a valuable skill in today’s global world.

Students are prepared for life and work in an increasingly interconnected world.

Students learn to respect and understand different cultures and religions.

Millfield School is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students, regardless of their background.

Future Studies and Careers

The Careers and Higher Education Department, now rebranded as ‘The Futures Department’, supports all Senior School pupils as they navigate their post-Millfield pathways.

The Futures Department utilizes the online careers and future pathways platform ‘Unifrog’ for all pupils from Year 9 to Upper Sixth. This platform enables pupils to research educational and career opportunities, and to collate all the necessary documentation for their future pathways and transitions.

In January, all Lower Sixth pupils will participate in a two-day enrichment program. During this program, pupils can choose from one of the following options:

University Visits and Future Pathways

A UK University Visit: This provides pupils with an opportunity to experience the university environment, understand how it operates, and speak to both staff and students.

A US/Canada University Application Day: This programme includes workshops and advisory sessions on the US and Canadian university application and admissions processes.

An Alternative Pathways Day: This programme helps pupils who are unsure about university to explore alternative career and study pathways.

In addition, Lower Sixth pupils will have the following opportunities:

• Networking with Millfield Old Millfieldians (OMs) at the annual OM Convention: At this convention, OMs from a variety of industries will share their career stories, providing pupils with valuable insights.
• Attending the UCAS Convention in Exeter in March: This convention provides pupils with the opportunity to speak to representatives from around 150 UK universities, the armed forces, gap year programmes, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Attending the Futures Fair in March: This fair provides pupils with the opportunity to meet with universities, colleges, vocational training providers, and employers to learn more about educational and career opportunities.

Millfield’s Future Studies and Careers programm helps pupils explore their suitable academic and career pathways and prepare for a successful future.

Millfield School's future studies and careers programs empower students to discover their ideal academic and professional paths, equipping them for a successful future.