Our Vision, Aims and Values

Hatherop Castle School provides a happy, safe environment which encourages children to be ambitious and develop character through our core Hatherop values whilst enjoying and benefiting from the Adventure of Childhood.  


Hatherop’s Aims


Hatherop Castle School provides a happy, safe environment which encourages children to be ambitious and develop character through our core Hatherop values whilst enjoying and benefiting from the Adventure of Childhood.  

Provide a happy, stimulating and safe environment in which children can thrive and enjoy the adventure of childhood.

A strong culture of safeguarding within our school community ensures everyone feels safe, secure and happy. Hatherop pupils enjoy the adventure of childhood, thrive on friendship, respect and tolerance in a healthy, positive and purposeful community.

Our strong pastoral system ensures all of our pupils are cared for and known and allowed to be individuals by the whole school community.


To challenge, promote and support each child to be ambitious academically, in the visual and performing arts and on the sports field.

We provide a rich, enjoyable, inspiring, broad, but balanced curriculum.

Expert and enthusiastic teachers deliver high quality, specialist teaching aimed at providing pupils with the ability make accelerated progress in all subjects.

Excellent facilities, well-resourced classrooms, and small class sizes allow children to engage, be inspired and develop a love of learning.

Hatherop’s environment ensures children develop an appreciation for the outdoors through our stunning grounds and environment which includes 2 Forest Schools.

Provide varied and interesting extra-curriculum which provides opportunities for all pupils to


Develop kind, tolerant and confident human beings who are prepared for life after Hatherop.

Provide a culture and environment of inclusivity and feeling of belonging, where a positive attitude and kindness matter and lifelong friendships are established.

Hatherop pupils will be well mannered, polite global citizens who are empathetic, thinking about others before themselves.

Encourage a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity, where pupils have respect for other faiths, cultures and communities beyond Hatherop walls.

An individual and supported approach to finding the right school for the child after Hatherop in terms of academic requirements and the school that suits the individual.

Developing children’s character and equipping them with the values and skills to be positive citizens in the modern world.


Hatherop’s Values


Our Hatherop values have been devised and supported by our pupils and wider community to build young learners and leaders at Hatherop Castle. There are two important pillars which are at the heart of what Hatherop aims to deliver in our pupils. These are character and ambition.

Happiness: All members of our community should act and behave so we all can be happy.

Adventure: We play and learn with a sense of adventure

Teamwork: We work and play collaboratively and understand that we can excel and achieve more when we work as a team.

Honesty:  We learn from making mistakes and we want all members of our community to show honesty towards each other.

Encouragement:  We actively encourage everyone to strive for excellence in work and play.

Respect: Every member of the Hatherop community is treated with respect and kindness.

Opportunity: We make the most of every opportunity.

Perseverance: We do not give up when we find something hard or challenging.

"From the child-led play in the nursery, the creative, topic-based pre prep curriculum and the emphasis on practical learning in the prep school to the forest school provision for all ages, the ethos at Hatherop is all about engaging pupils’ minds and imaginations." Muddy Stilettos Guide 2018