Education Guide Autumn 2025

Read more articles in our 2025 Education Guide

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Independent schools, reinvented for today 

September brings a new school year and many of our best local schools are here to help your child thrive, including some unusual subjects to help shape modern minds 

When you think of independent schools, what does that conjure up? You might picture the old-school: Latin verbs, echoing corridors, lacrosse sticks… But in 2025, as education continues to adapt to a changing world, many top schools are quietly reinventing the curriculum with a dose of modern relevance. 

Today’s independent schools aren’t just nurturing future barristers and biochemists; they’re developing coders, conservationists, climbers, and culinary critics. So if you’re wondering what’s bubbling beneath the traditional school crest, here’s a look at some of the more unexpected (and exciting) offerings. 

Game on 

At Box Hill School near Dorking, a student-led Esports and Game Design club is taking off. “At first, it was just casual gaming after hours,” says one teacher. “Now, students are designing full game levels and competing in national Esports tournaments.” Far from being a distraction, gaming is proving to be a serious 21st-century skill, combining coding, design, media literacy and teamwork. Parents may take some convincing, but the students are all in. 

Big questions, little voices 

Godstowe School in High Wycombe is getting philosophical, with even its youngest pupils. The school has introduced Philosophy for Children (P4C), a discussion-based approach that uses books and real-life scenarios to explore concepts like fairness, time, and morality. “You’d be amazed at what a nine-year-old will say when asked, “Can animals have rights?” or “What is identity?’” says one teacher. “It’s like a mini TED Talk every Tuesday.” 

Forest finds 

At St Edward’s School (AKA “Teddies”) in Oxford, the Japanese practice of “shinrin-yoku” (forest bathing) has been introduced as part of the school’s wellbeing programme. Weekly walks in the woods, guided reflection, and screen-free time offer students a much-needed reset during stressful study periods.  

Caring & sharing 

The new kitchen garden farm at Frensham Heights near Farnham is home to four pygmy goats (Issy, Belle, Edith and Bea), named after their founders and a flock of different rare breed chickens. The farm sits between the junior school and the senior school hub (pastoral centre) allowing all ages, and the staff to benefit from the wellbeing effect.   

Sport and outdoor education remain an important part of the Frensham offer. As well as a flashy new weights room, the high ropes in their woodland have had an upgrade with new platforms and a zipwire already added and more high platforms to follow. The extensive extracurricular programme offers archery, forest bathing, foraging, climbing, scuba, ultimate frisbee, high ropes and gardening. Climbing, wakeboarding, dry slope skiing and high ropes are also offered as games afternoon.  

Material world 

At Marlborough College in Wiltshire, traditional textiles have gone high-tech. The Design & Technology department is exploring smart fabrics, combining sewing and embroidery with conductive thread and microelectronics. 

Robot ready 

At Radley College near Abingdon, students are engineering their future in the school’s thriving Robotics and AI programme. Working with industry-grade kits and 3D printers, pupils design and build their own robots for regional and national competitions. From line-followers to maze-solvers, the challenges build coding confidence and practical problem-solving skills.  

Learning buzz 

At St George’s School in Ascot, biology has taken a buzzy turn. Pupils trade lab coats for beekeeping suits in a practical ecology and conservation project that’s creating a buzz. They manage their own hives, monitor bee health, and harvest and sell honey, tying the project into their business studies. The school also works with conservationists to track wild bee populations on local National Trust land. 

Media magic 

At Bedales School near Petersfield, students are leading their own podcast network. Discussions range from school lunches to teenage politics, all recorded, produced and hosted by the pupils. A termly radio show is also broadcast from the studio to the wider community, giving students valuable experience in script writing, sound editing, journalism and presenting. 

Snow & serve 

At The Oratory School between Wallingford and Reading, traditional team sports have been joined by fast-growing favourites such as Padel tennis, a fun, sociable hybrid of squash and tennis that’s sweeping across Europe. This complements the school’s existing quirky sport offerings such as Real Tennis – it is one of only four schools in the country to own a court. All pupils are coached in racquets by the Ladies reigning World Champion Claire Fahey. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in the school’s annual Alpine ski trip, with dedicated coaching for beginners through to advanced racers. Both activities promote balance, focus, and teamwork – with just the right mix of adrenaline and adventure. 

These all reflect a deeper shift in education focused on curiosity, creativity & collaboration.