Our School
Recognised Nationally for Education
At Highfield Priory, we are very proud of our long-standing reputation as the leading Preparatory School in the North West.
We have a long history and a strong sense of tradition; we do not allow government policy to cause us to deviate from giving our pupils a firm and confident grounding in reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as a challenging curriculum and an extensive extra-curricular programme. As a result, Highfield Priory continues to outperform the national average and other independent schools in the area with our National Curriculum Test results.
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Highfield Priory School is consistently one of the highest-performing primary schools in the country. In 2024, our average combined scaled score across all three subjects was 343. Please see the latest Sunday Times State School Table, published in November 2025 and based on the 2024 results, below.
Over 650,000 pupils in more than 16,000 primary schools across England sit the National Curriculum tests each year.
We aim to instil a confidence in writing, for a variety of purposes and a range of audiences, encouraging our pupils to use grammar and punctuation with sophistication and accuracy, which they will develop throughout their time at Highfield Priory. By introducing the children to more challenging texts, with exciting plots and memorable characters, we open the doors to a wide-ranging love of literature that they will take with them into secondary school and beyond. Reading is an integral part of the school day at Highfield Priory as success in this area can lead to greater success in all areas of the curriculum. The children continue to read aloud to an adult, both in school and at home. They are encouraged in their independent reading with the Highfield Reading Stars. Weekly reading sessions in the school library also take place, along with class readers where the children take turns reading aloud to the class.
Our Mathematics curriculum aims to help our children to become confident and independent thinkers, computers and problem solvers. Maths at Highfield Priory equips pupils with a uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. These tools include logical reasoning, problem solving skills, and the ability to think in abstract ways, preparing our children for the future. Our teaching of Maths is not only about taking children forward in their mathematical ability but also instilling in them a sense of enjoyment in their maths work through a variety of challenging activities and stimulating lessons. This leads to future success as Maths is important in everyday life and across many forms of employment: science and technology, medicine, the economy, the environment and development, and in public decision-making, to name but a few.
At Highfield Priory we dedicate time each week to developing a child’s Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills, testing and nurturing their ability to analyse information, problem-solve, apply logic and think critically. The benefits of dedicated focus in this area can be seen across the whole curriculum, and beyond.
Securing Places at your Chosen Secondary School
We ‘Aim High’ for our children and prepare them academically, socially, physically and emotionally for their grammar, independent or state secondary school of choice.
Choosing a secondary school is always a difficult decision for parents and children alike but at Highfield Priory we support you in your decision-making and help you to find and achieve the best fit for your child. Much of the focus in the first term of Year Six is on preparation for entrance exams to independent and grammar schools; this includes studying interview technique in their HPSED lessons. By the end of Year Six, our children are prepared for their first choice of senior school, which the majority of our children achieve. Each year, a number of children are offered scholarships including the highest available for academic performance, musical or sporting ability. A high percentage of children gain a place at grammar school from outside the catchment area. Children at Highfield Priory continue to aim high year on year.
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At Highfield Priory, we love to celebrate our former pupils who have aimed high and gone on to great achievements after leaving us. A number of them continue their journey to top universities, showing how a strong start at Highfield Priory can lead to lifelong success. Many of our past students stay in touch, with an increasing number enrolling their own children, saying they have chosen Highfield Priory because they want the same start to life that they had at school.
Creating Confident Children
At Highfield Priory, we aim to instil self-confidence and belief, develop character and personality and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing across our whole school community.
Teaching our children how to overcome difficult situations, with the support of both the school staff and parents, builds confidence, resilience and allows our pupils to move forward, equipped with the skills to cope with whatever life presents to them. From Highfield Heights which aims to build a child’s strength and individuality, to our public speaking programme (HPSED), to our team building activity days and Forest School sessions, our children spend focused time building confidence and inner strength on a daily basis. This confidence enables them to flourish across all areas of the school and is often commented on by visitors and parents.
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Our approach to education is based on the belief that each child is an individual. As a result, each pupil is challenged and stretched at every opportunity with the emphasis remaining on literacy, numeracy and scientific investigation. This specific focus on each child gives our children tailored support as they overcome many different challenges and problems during their learning. The confidence gained while overcoming these challenges gives each child the confidence to achieve their full potential and aim high in all that they do. This confidence is developed through each part of school life as children are given a wide variety of opportunities and environments to achieve and challenge themselves.
Highfield Public Speaking, Elocution and Drama (HPSED) is designed to give your child the confidence and ability to speak in public in front of a variety of audiences for many different purposes. Our aim is that each child is confident and comfortable in their ability to communicate. We teach them the importance of self-awareness and awareness of their audience. As they grow in confidence, our pupils become more able to speak out freely in any given situation; and to speak with clarity and judgement. All children are given regular opportunities to build confidence in competitive sporting fixtures and annual performances on stage in front of an audience.
In 2023, we received an ISA Award for Innovation and Excellence in Mental Health and Wellbeing, showcasing that the school understands the importance of educating students about mental health and destigmatising mental health issues. At Highfield Priory we incorporate mental health education into the curriculum, allowing pupils to gain a better understanding of their emotions, coping mechanisms and strategies for maintaining good mental health. As a result, pupils at Highfield Priory are better prepared to face life’s challenges, develop strong interpersonal skills and become resilient individuals ready to contribute positively to society. By prioritising mental health, we enable young learners to focus better, engage actively in learning and achieve their full academic potential.
Supportive and Welcoming Community
The welcoming Highfield Priory community enables children to settle in easily after joining the school.
New pupils quickly grow in strength and confidence in our supportive environment. Our smaller class sizes help children to develop close relationships with their peers. As they progress through Highfield Priory, pupils become more aware of the community around them, understanding how they can be useful, kind and considerate towards others. We promote a culture of supporting each other through various initiatives such as peer mentoring programs and monitor systems. Older students are encouraged to support and befriend younger students, creating a sense of camaraderie and developing positive relationships within the school community.
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For over forty years, Year Six (now with help from Year Five) have acted as monitors for the younger children and are often rewarded with hugs from the infants as they travel about the school. By the end of Year Four, the children start to take their place as a respected role model and valued member of the community. Older pupils become very well-known to the younger children. We are always proud of the fine role models they are, the relationships they forge and the example they set to others.
At Highfield Priory, we believe that children deserve a voice, so we endeavour to give all our pupils plenty of opportunities to share their thoughts and opinions, and to play an active role in the decision-making that affects their learning and well-being. We have lots of ways that the children can do this formally, such as through the school council, pupil voice boxes in classrooms, pupil questionnaires and writing their own school newspaper in Year Six. We are also keen to encourage children to talk openly, freely and without judgement on the issues that matter the most to them in an informal setting. We provide designated time in the curriculum for this, as well as a lunch time drop-in service with our professionally trained and certified Mental Health First Aider, offering a dedicated counselling service to the pupils. Alongside this, we put time aside each week for the children to focus on recognising and celebrating what makes them unique.
Children have weekly PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) lessons which are an important aspect of a Highfield Priory pupil’s development. We look at how they all operate as individuals, as members of the school community and as members of society. We help children with the confusing and worrying questions that crop up in the course of a week and create an environment of trust so that questions can be asked and answered without embarrassment. It is also a time when we focus on any difficulties that might be occurring in the playground or in the way the children interact with each other. We continually reinforce how children can help themselves, and each other to stay safe.
Developing Leaders through Sport and Outdoor Learning
By providing a variety of outdoor activities, there are lots of opportunities for children to find their passion and spark an interest.
Our high quality outdoor and sporting curriculum inspires our pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities, offering an alternative context for the understanding and application of a breadth of numerical, scientific and language skills. Our curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to develop a love for the outdoors and become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. As a result, many of our alumni go on to achieve significant sporting success, as seen on our alumni page. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fair-play and respect.
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At Highfield Priory, we run an exciting PE and Games programme which runs alongside extra-curricular activities to ensure that your child is able to keep fit, active and engaged with physical activity during their time at school. Within the curriculum, children will learn and develop their skills in: Football, Netball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, Rounders, Gymnastics, Dance, Swimming, Athletics and Cross-Country running. They will also have the opportunity to attend the following clubs: Ballet, Tap, Street Dance, Netball, Football, Hockey, Cricket, Rounders, Judo, Tennis and Zumbatomic. As a result, our pupils are excited and energised by sport and are keen to participate in sporting fixtures. Our pupils enjoy a highly competitive year on the sports field as they have a busy fixture list which includes many tournaments and inter-school competitions in: Swimming, Athletics, Cross-Country, Football, Netball, Hockey, Rugby, Rounders and Cricket. All children in Years Three to Six have the opportunity to play competitive sport against other schools.
Children in our Infant department enjoy weekly Forest School sessions in Highfield Haven: an outdoor classroom and observation area where the children can watch the wildlife and enjoy hands-on experiences with nature. This begins in Nursery and continues throughout the school, often providing the children with inspiration in their creative writing and art work. In these Forest School sessions, we allow the children freedom to explore, play and be themselves, whilst developing an interest in nature and their environment. Children also use this area for outdoor science investigations and experiments.
Each year group in the Junior department embarks on a team building activity day in which they put their problem-solving and teamwork skills to the test in a series of physical tasks. The children develop their communication skills as they talk each other through the problem presented to them and decide on the best approach to each new challenge. They learn to lead and to follow; to speak and to listen; to encourage and to praise. They develop resilience when their ideas don’t work and they have to look for a new approach to their problem.
A residential activity weekend is offered to children in Years Five and Six. This helps the children to grow in confidence and independence as well as developing their ability to work with, and support, each other as part of a team. Their challenges include high wire ropes, an underground maze, abseiling and kayaking. It is an extremely popular weekend!
Excellent Education, Transparent Fees
We believe that a high-quality education should be accessible to as many families as possible, which is why we strive to maintain affordable school fees.
In a world of rising costs, we are committed to ensuring the price of a Highfield Priory education remains achievable for parents. Despite being one of the top independent preparatory schools in the country, our fees are significantly below the national average and one of the lowest in Lancashire. For those of you who have budgeted for a full-time Nursery place, Highfield Priory, on average, is just £300 per year more (using figures from daynurseries.co.uk).
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Anyone with children will appreciate that they are expensive; that the demands for money are never-ending and that we all have a second career as a taxi-service. At Highfield Priory we work hard to keep the high-quality education that we provide as affordable as possible with everything under one roof, payable in manageable instalments. Historically, Highfield Priory was set up by the businessmen and women of Preston who wanted something more for their children: the very best education at an affordable price.
Highfield Priory offers a number of ways to reduce the cost of education for our parents. To support families, the school offers a sibling discount. The discount rate is 7.5% for the second child, 10% for the third child and 15% for the fourth child. Sibling discount rate is applied to the school fees from Reception onwards. In addition to this, we offer a discount for upfront annual payments of school fees. In Nursery and Preschool, we accept the 15 and 30 hours Early Education Funding from the government.
Included in our school fees:
- All your child’s lunches
- School trips (with the exception of an optional residential trip in Year 5/6).
- A wide variety of extra-curricular activities including football, hockey, netball, cricket, rugby, Spanish, Lego, yoga and much more. These take place on site in locations such as our performing arts studio, on our all-weather pitch, in our sports hall or in our own woodland area, Highfield Haven. They are either during the school day or after-school thereby reducing the number of car journeys you have to make.
- Each child has the opportunity to compete in sporting fixtures, perform on the stage, join a choir, and take speech and drama exams annually at no extra cost (Years 3-6).
Outstanding Opportunities for Every Child
At Highfield Priory, we work hard to ensure that each child fulfils his or her potential and takes full advantage of all the opportunities Highfield Priory has to offer.
Our broad curriculum ensures that each child is given plenty of opportunity to achieve and develop a wide range of interests. Additionally, we seek to develop children’s creative and imaginative aptitudes, whether they are in music, art, sport or the performing arts. The opportunities in the curriculum are supported by a large variety of extra-curricular activities.
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HPSED (Highfield Public Speaking, Elocution and Drama)
At Highfield Priory, we believe in the importance of preparing our pupils, not just for their secondary school, but for life. Our HPSED lessons aim to develop a child’s communication and presentation skills. Through the study of speech and of drama, we teach our pupils to speak with clear diction and appropriate intonation. We teach them the importance of self-awareness and awareness of their audience. We also aim to make sure our pupils are courteous and effective listeners. Through small group work, they learn to value each other’s contribution and to show each other respect. The importance of retaining information in order to ask and answer relevant questions is constantly enforced. Our aim is that each child is confident and comfortable in their ability to communicate and that each child is given the opportunity to speak publicly in front of an audience on a regular basis.
Art, Design & Technology
The children are taught Art by a specialist teacher in our art studio. Visitors to the school regularly comment upon the standard of our artwork and find it hard to believe that it has been created by preparatory school pupils! Our art studio is a place of inspiration for children from Year One to Six where they can enjoy printing, textiles, drawing, painting, sculpture and collage. The children use the art studio’s library area to further research the artists they study. In DT, children look for needs, wants and opportunities, responding to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics and function. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and effects.
Music
Our children explore the history of music and famous composers. They also develop an understanding and appreciation of music from different times and different cultures. Their exploration of musical elements and musical notation helps them in their practical work and in their private instrumental lessons. All children are encouraged to audition for our very popular school choir which meets each Friday lunchtime to rehearse. We are very proud of our school choir and we enjoy hearing it perform for a variety of events at many different venues throughout the year. Each term the school produces a Musical Assembly which gives our budding musicians a chance to perform in front of an audience. It is always very rewarding to see how our musicians progress and gain confidence from year to year.
French
The infant children enjoy practising their French oral skills with songs and rhymes as they become more familiar with useful phrases and expressions. They study greetings, numbers, colours, days of the week and months, as well as finding out about France and responding to instructions in French. In the Junior department, pupils are taught French by a native speaker which really helps with their pronunciation and the development of their grammar skills. A huge focus in KS2 French, alongside their oral skills, is building up the pupils’ understanding of grammar which helps them to prepare for learning languages in secondary school.
Science
The children enjoy their Science lessons in our science laboratory, and their study of living things in our outdoor classroom, Highfield Haven. In our science lab, we are able to conduct experiments, analyse results and gain practical experience in a well-structured and safe environment. In our science lessons, we are looking to develop the children’s curiosity and their investigative skills as well as teaching our pupils the tools they require for accurate observation and recording of data. We aim to give the children the tools they require to tackle the Science curriculum with confidence and ability in Year Seven.
ICT
Our Infant children explore the essential basic methods of using both a computer and laptop. Children build their confidence using different features of both Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Programming is introduced here, and the children get their first look at how commands are linked together to produce an automated result. As the children move into the Juniors, their ICT curriculum focuses on the wider world and how technology is being used. We look at how to use the internet safely, but with a firm focus on how it can be a positive experience when used correctly. The children also look at the impact of online gaming with discussions around trending games such as ‘Roblox’ and ‘Pokemon’. As their competency builds, children develop their coding skills and are shown how games are designed, created and how both simple/complex commands can be used to create a range of games from racing, collecting and even battle games. By the time they leave, the children are able to start at secondary school as confident workers within IT, accessing the Year Seven curriculum at the highest level.
Humanities
Our teaching of Humanities aims to improve our children’s general knowledge of the world and the people around them. We aim to challenge the children to ask questions and to demand to know more. We want our pupils to understand Great Britain in the context of the wider world. We dedicate time each week to discussing current affairs, world affairs and world geography, ensuring that children know who the major political leaders are as well as who the great historical leaders and thinkers were. We aim to teach our pupils our country’s history, how our country is governed and how this differs from other countries; we look at different faiths, sacred texts and the many ways that people worship within our community and the wider world.
Extra-Curricular Activities
At Highfield Priory, we place a large emphasis on our extra-curricular activities. We believe extra-curricular education has a key role to play in the development of the whole child academically, socially and emotionally. The wide variety of activities we provide throughout the week offers something for every child. Our clubs run termly, giving children the chance to explore different activities each term. The extra-curricular programme is available before school, at lunch time or after school. Some of our clubs will be free as they are run by Highfield Priory staff, however, some are fee-paying as they are run by outside agencies. Individual music tuition is available in piano, violin, brass, wind instruments and guitar.
