Hanford School for Girls

• Location: Hanford, Dorset, England,
• Age of students: from 7 to 13 years old,
• Type of study: mixed,
• Language of instruction: English.

Hanford is an independent preparatory boarding school for girls, situated in the picturesque Dorset countryside. The school's philosophy encourages girls to explore new interests and pursue their passions while achieving impressive academic and sporting results year after year.

At Hanford, the emphasis is on balancing enjoyment with hard work. The dedicated teaching staff strives to bring out the best in each girl, fostering an environment where fun and hard work coexist harmoniously. This combination of enjoyment and dedication yields positive outcomes in terms of further education admissions and scholarship opportunities.

The primary objectives of Hanford School are as follows:

1. Realizing Potential: Hanford acknowledges the breadth of academic opportunities and requirements, empowering each girl to bring her best self to life.

2. Nurturing Talent: The school actively encourages and supports the development of each girl's interests, both within and beyond the classroom.

3. Valuing Individuality: Hanford recognizes that each girl develops at her own pace, with unique interests, abilities, and needs.

4. Promoting Respect: The school helps girls learn to coexist with others, foster a sense of community, and care for one another's needs.

5. Respect for Childhood: Hanford provides ample time, opportunities, and a conducive environment for leisure and play, acknowledging the importance of childhood.

Through these guiding principles, Hanford School aims to cultivate well-rounded, confident, and empowered young girls who are prepared to embrace the future with enthusiasm and a strong sense of self.

On weekdays, the daily routine begins with the teachers waking up the students, the girls checking whether everything is ready for the school day and whether the dormitories are tidy. After breakfast, a visit to the church, followed by lessons. In the mornings, there are five lessons with a break in the middle, during which there is an opportunity to have a snack.

Lunch is served in the lobby. The girls sit with the teachers, the seating plan changes every week, so the girls of different ages spend some time together. Each week, several girls are assigned as assistants who clean the plates and wipe the tables.

In the afternoon, the girls often go down to the library, where they have the opportunity to read a book. Rest is followed by sports, horseback riding for some girls, and free play for others.

In winter, after sports, students change clothes and prepare for two more lessons, and in the summer trimester, classes begin immediately after lunch. In high school, classes and preparation follow their course, but there is also time to relax, play games, make phone calls, Skype, etc.

Girls lie in their beds and be quiet 15 minutes before they have to turn off the lights, which is a great time to calm down and read a book.

After Saturday morning lessons, there are often matches and sports games in the afternoon – home or away.

Hanford House was built in the Jacobin style in 1623

Hanford School has a Schoolsmith® school score of 85, it is one of the best independent preparatory schools in the Blandford Forum and one of the top 3 primary schools within 5 miles around.

At Hanford, all girls, including full-time students, have their own bed: this makes it possible for everyone to stay any night during the semester, even without prior notice.

Primary school girls sleep in the main house (on the second floor), where there is a wonderful family atmosphere. The bright and airy rooms offer beautiful views of the gardens and alleys. Bedrooms are located on both the second and first floors. Each individual bedroom has its own individual character with the help of different color schemes, the original decoration of panels and stucco on the ceiling is preserved. Some are named after famous English poets such as Donne, Marvel and Milton, while others are named after English playwrights Jonson, Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher. Girls love to add their own touches with family photos, drawings, pillows, and stuffed animals.

In their final year, the girls move into their own separate boarding house called Fan's, where they are given a lot of independence that helps them adjust to life in high school.

There is no set menu at Hanford, as the chefs have chosen to draw inspiration from the garden, seasonal produce and the tastes of the girls themselves. The girls have several specialties: curry, chicken schnitzel, pasta bolognese, and chocolate puddings. Hanford Sunday always serves a side roast and pudding, and on a sunny summer Saturday evening, you can spend time outdoors making pizza in a wood-fired oven or barbecue. The most important meal, if you can call it that, during the day for girls is "Milk and Rolls", around 16:00, with homemade cakes.

Hanford always provides students with free time to develop their imagination and creativity. Girls use their free time to sew their own school uniforms, climb trees, play in the garden, take care of chickens and learn a musical instrument. In addition, the school is famous for its equestrian club, where most of the girls attend horse riding classes, take part in local and national competitions. As for other sports, Hanford is particularly strong in tennis and athletics.

Extracurricular activities help girls learn about themselves and develop their skills and knowledge in a variety of new settings. During the school week and on weekends, the school offers a wide range of activities: some are included in the tuition fee and some go as extras:

• Archery,
• Book Club,
• Chess
• Cookery
• Croquet
• Creative Writing,
• Dancing
• Discussion Club,
• Drama
• Floristics
• Knitting
• Orienteering,
• Pistol shooting,
• Spanish Club,
• French Club,
• Tennis
• Horticulture
• Pottery Club,
• Table tennis.

Hanford School is located in a picturesque location in Dorset. In total, the school has 45 acres (18 hectares).

The school has several buildings, including the Fan's House (for 8th grade students) and the Main Building. They have their own stables, in which about 20 horses and ponies are kept, sometimes their own animals are brought to the stables.

Hanford has two stunning gardens that grow fresh ingredients for the kitchen all year round. Seasonal vegetables include tomatoes, Swiss chard, lettuce, cabbage, leeks, onions, zucchini, and pumpkins. Greens such as rosemary are also grown. The walled garden is home to a variety of fruits, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and blackberries. The gardens are almost 2 acres in size, so the girls are given the opportunity to have their own small plots where they can plant and care for any plant.

The school year at Hanford School runs from September to June. The year is divided into 3 trimesters, between which vacations are organized:

• Autumn trimester (September – December),
• Christmas Vacation (2 weeks),
• Spring trimester (January – March),
• Easter holidays (2 weeks),
• Summer term (April – June),
• Summer holidays (2 months, July and August).

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Deposit per seat,
• Visa fee,
• Transfer
• Riding
• Payment for a weekly working livery for a horse, for a full festive livery for a horse,
• Dancing
• Tennis
• Learning to play a musical instrument, playinginstruments,
• Trips & Events,
• Learning support.

If parents wish to add their daughter's name to the list of applicants, they must complete and return the registration form, which must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.

Official offers of places are made to the girls during the year before the date of arrival. The school recommends that prospective students attend a demonstration day.

If the parent chooses a placement, a prepayment is required and written agreement to the school's Terms and Conditions.

In addition to the registration fee, upon receipt of an invitation to study, a deposit for a place is paid as a confirmation of the student's arrival at the school. The deposit is refundable without interest at the end of the girl's last stay at Hanford.

The Confirmation of Admission to Study (CAS) is issued within six months prior to the start of the Child Student Visa after the deposit has been paid.

A confidential admission appointment form will be completed for each applicant.

Special conditions must be specified at the time of application: Hanford is able to adequately accommodate any learning difficulties, disabilities and other special needs (if any) of the applicant.

Hanford School alumni can go to any of the 25 independent day and boarding schools. Boarding schools for girls are particularly popular, some are also moving to mixed boarding schools and Marlborough College. 25% of female students subsequently receive awards and scholarships.

At Hanford School, the principal oversees the admissions process. Girls can be admitted to school at any time of the year and can be of any age, with any standards of previous schooling, with different abilities and requirements.

Prerequisites for admission:

• Parents and daughter are sympathetic to the Christian spirit of the school,
• The applicant is of appropriate age and sufficient maturity,
• The applicant has the opportunity to familiarize himself with the full curriculum.

The school has a non-selective admissions procedure that includes academic performance, but copies of previous school reports will be required.

An overseas student requires a child student visa (similar to Tier 4).

The school is committed to ensuring that all girls can be integrated into academic and social life, so when pupils arrive at Hanford, a sufficient level of English proficiency is essential. Additional support in English as an additional language may be required.

Since 2015, Hanford has had more than 90 scholarships and awards. The school does not select girls on academic ability, but gives them the space and time to be children, encouraging them to pursue their interests and develop their talents. It is this approach that allows girls to fulfil their potential in and out of the classroom and leads to scholarships in different fields: academic, artistic, dramatic, sports and music.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision