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Hanford Prep
At Hanford Prep we understand the unique needs of military families and the importance of choosing the right school. Stability, continuity, and trust are essential when family life can involve postings, separation, and periods of uncertainty. Supporting Service families is about far more than strong pastoral care. It is about creating a nurturing and reassuring home from home where girls feel safe, supported, and truly known.
Hanford Prep offers a warm, structured, and supportive boarding environment in which girls can thrive, providing valuable continuity for families in the Armed Forces. With many pupils from military backgrounds, the school understands the importance of stability when parents are posted in the United Kingdom or overseas.
Weekends are carefully balanced, with a consistent routine of activities, outdoor play, and traditions such as Sunday chapel and letter writing, helping to create a strong sense of belonging. Supported by dedicated staff who are always available to offer guidance and encouragement, girls benefit from a reassuring, home-from-home environment throughout their time at Hanford Prep.
Hanford is a truly creative school with a strong tradition of drama, singing, music and art; girls make their own clothes, write their own plays and stories, and dream up their own games. Our extensive co-curricular programme – with over 60 options a term – encourages girls to have a go, building confidence, skills and knowledge.
One of the most distinctive features of Hanford is riding – girls like nothing more than spending time with the ponies, helping out in the stables in their free time. Riding is an important part of the girls’ experience, enjoying lessons in our riding arena, out rides over surrounding hills and, for older girls, catching the ponies from the fields before breakfast.
Part of Sherborne Schools Group, the education Hanford offers shapes girls for the 21st century while enabling them to enjoy a carefree, adventurous childhood.
Hanford Prep is an independent day and full-boarding prep school for girls aged 7 to 13, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside where childhood is cherished.
Tel:
01258860219
Contact:
Address:
Child Okeford, Blandford Forum DT11 8HN, UK
Further Information
School Type:
Girls Preparatory School
No. of Pupils:
69
No. of Boarders:
43
No. of International Boarders:
Religious Tradition:
Church of England, All Faiths
Age Range:
7 to 13
School Stages:
Prep/Junior/Primary
Educational Programmes:
Common Entrance Syllabus (ISEB)
Co-Curricular Programmes:
Latin, Textile Design, Creative Arts, Book Clubs, STEM, UKMT Challenge, Languages, PSHE, Horseriding, BSL, Choir, Dance, Debating, Journalism, Bushcraft, Adventure
Co-Curricular Summary:
We were delighted to be in the top 3 Prep Schools for Co-Curricular as awarded by The Week Magazine’s Independent Schools Guide 2025. During the school week and at weekends, we offer a wide range of activities, some of which are included in the school fees and some as paid extras. Activities take place throughout the week after academic lessons have finished, and also on Saturday mornings, providing girls with plenty of opportunities to explore new interests, develop their skills and enjoy time with friends.
Boarding
We want girls at Hanford Prep to feel as much at home as is reasonably possible. They can decorate the walls around their beds and keep toys and special bits they want to bring from home in their lockers. Often all the girls will collaborate and decorate their dorm collectively as they make themselves at home.
During the day the girls get changed in the dorms for games and in the evenings they will hang out with their friends, read books, play games and relax.
The girls are looked after by a great team of matrons and school nurses, who make up the boarding team, and have years of experience between them. They supervise everything from getting up in the morning to going to bed in the evening. They are on hand throughout the day, even sitting with the girls during lunchtime and they are brilliant at picking up on and spotting any potential issues, often before they happen.
Hanford Prep
At Hanford Prep we understand the unique needs of military families and the importance of choosing the right school. Stability, continuity, and trust are essential when family life can involve postings, separation, and periods of uncertainty. Supporting Service families is about far more than strong pastoral care. It is about creating a nurturing and reassuring home from home where girls feel safe, supported, and truly known.
Hanford Prep offers a warm, structured, and supportive boarding environment in which girls can thrive, providing valuable continuity for families in the Armed Forces. With many pupils from military backgrounds, the school understands the importance of stability when parents are posted in the United Kingdom or overseas.
Weekends are carefully balanced, with a consistent routine of activities, outdoor play, and traditions such as Sunday chapel and letter writing, helping to create a strong sense of belonging. Supported by dedicated staff who are always available to offer guidance and encouragement, girls benefit from a reassuring, home-from-home environment throughout their time at Hanford Prep.
Hanford is a truly creative school with a strong tradition of drama, singing, music and art; girls make their own clothes, write their own plays and stories, and dream up their own games. Our extensive co-curricular programme – with over 60 options a term – encourages girls to have a go, building confidence, skills and knowledge.
One of the most distinctive features of Hanford is riding – girls like nothing more than spending time with the ponies, helping out in the stables in their free time. Riding is an important part of the girls’ experience, enjoying lessons in our riding arena, out rides over surrounding hills and, for older girls, catching the ponies from the fields before breakfast.
Part of Sherborne Schools Group, the education Hanford offers shapes girls for the 21st century while enabling them to enjoy a carefree, adventurous childhood.
Hanford Prep is an independent day and full-boarding prep school for girls aged 7 to 13, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside where childhood is cherished.
Address:
Child Okeford, Blandford Forum DT11 8HN, UK
Tel:
01258860219
Contact:
School Details
School Type:
Girls Preparatory School
No. of Pupils:
69
Pupil Prep:
No. of Boarders:
43
No. of International Boarders:
Religious Tradition:
Church of England, All Faiths
Age Range:
7 to 13
School Stages:
Prep/Junior/Primary
Educational Programmes:
Common Entrance Syllabus (ISEB)
Co-Curricular Programmes:
Latin, Textile Design, Creative Arts, Book Clubs, STEM, UKMT Challenge, Languages, PSHE, Horseriding, BSL, Choir, Dance, Debating, Journalism, Bushcraft, Adventure
Co-Curricular Summary:
We were delighted to be in the top 3 Prep Schools for Co-Curricular as awarded by The Week Magazine’s Independent Schools Guide 2025. During the school week and at weekends, we offer a wide range of activities, some of which are included in the school fees and some as paid extras. Activities take place throughout the week after academic lessons have finished, and also on Saturday mornings, providing girls with plenty of opportunities to explore new interests, develop their skills and enjoy time with friends.
Boarding
We want girls at Hanford Prep to feel as much at home as is reasonably possible. They can decorate the walls around their beds and keep toys and special bits they want to bring from home in their lockers. Often all the girls will collaborate and decorate their dorm collectively as they make themselves at home. During the day the girls get changed in the dorms for games and in the evenings they will hang out with their friends, read books, play games and relax.
The girls are looked after by a great team of matrons and school nurses, who make up the boarding team, and have years of experience between them. They supervise everything from getting up in the morning to going to bed in the evening. They are on hand throughout the day, even sitting with the girls during lunchtime and they are brilliant at picking up on and spotting any potential issues, often before they happen.
