Moreton Hall is a day and boarding school for girls and boys (aged 1-12) and girls (aged 1-18) located in 110 acres of beautiful parkland near to the rural market town of Oswestry, North Shropshire, and recently named Boarding School of the Year 2021 by the TES Independent School Awards. Moreton Hall was founded in 1913, whilst the co-ed Prep school was introduced 20 years ago.
Moreton Hall School
Headmaster: Michael Brewer
Co-educational Prep. Girls Senior: Boarding and Day Pupils
Ages: 1-18 years old
Closest airport: Manchester Airport 55 miles
Train to Euston London – From Wrexham: 3 hours
A warm welcome
The approach to the main school building is via a long and winding driveway with parkland extending out each side. The feel is more country manor than school, helped further by the rather lovely gravelled turning circle where you could imagine horse and carriage making a real entrance in times gone by.
Surrounding the main house is a collection of 28 buildings of various ages and design. Investment of £1m into the estate including swimming pool refurbishment and enhanced gym facilities are underway which is positive news; importantly the swimming pool will be ready in time for the re-launch of their international summer school for 2024, post Covid closure. The summer school has historically been a very popular programme as it provides EAL tuition, activities and accommodation for parents and their children for two, two week periods.
"This is a school which is embracing of change and keen to develop its offer to ensure it remains relevant to pupil needs and interests."
STEM is a popular part of the curriculum, supported by a bright and modern purpose built science centre. A bespoke medical programme is offered and well attended by pupils, with connections to a local hospital where senior pupils can access interview practice sessions with medical professionals; this experience is extended to other schools in the local community as part of the school’s community outreach agenda. Around 10% of all Sixth Formers will go onto a medical based undergraduate degree. Genesis Society is their medics society which runs every Friday afternoon and is very popular. Integrating The Arts into STEM learning is a strong focus too, supported by a wonderful theatre, which also offers large teaching and learning spaces for drama students and opportunities for members of the community to visit to watch a variety of external performances. Design Technology is a growing subject at the school and Computer Science for GCSE pupils is to be available from September 2024. This seems a school which is embracing of change and keen to develop its offer to ensure it remains relevant to pupil needs and interests, in an increasingly competitive university and employment market.
Local and international
A ‘small number’ of Year 11 pupils move elsewhere for Sixth Form, mostly due to specific course options or for a co-ed learning environment. Total international pupil roll across the school stands at around 25% with a strategy to maintain this number to ensure the school continues to have an overall British ‘feel’. The majority of pupils attend from a catchment area of around 30 miles radius, with local boarders attending from nearby Wales and London boroughs.
Boarding in senior school is horizontally arranged, which helps to encourage strong friendships and relationships with boarding staff, further supporting the family focus and nurturing ethos of the school. The school has exeat weekends, but boarders of Year 9 upwards are able to stay in school should they wish to. Junior boarding is available from Y3-8 and located in the recently refurbished ‘Stables House’, which offers light and airy family feel accommodation for boys and girls in separate dorms and cosy communal areas.
Non-compulsory Saturday school is offered, where a range of lessons, sports and activities can be accessed by boarders and day pupils alike. Big trips take place on Sundays and shopping to nearby Chester is very popular. The school is currently working on plans to engage pupils, staff and parents in discussion on the format of Saturday school going forward to ensure that the offer remains relevant to interests and requirements.
Lacrosse is a major sport at the school, with fixtures regularly won against top teams of schools in the South. The swimming programme and fencing facility are also very popular with pupils.
Whilst not the ‘shiniest’ of campuses, I found a common theme at Moreton Hall of community, staff knowing individual pupil needs, and nurturing support. Moreton Hall offers a family-feel boarding and learning environment and certainly feels like a school looking ahead to the future needs and interests of pupils.
Leading boarding school advice from our education consultants
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