Why We Chose Halliford School
“I joined Halliford into Year 7 from Hampton Prep School. I have been made to feel very comfortable, both by the teachers and my new classmates. In fact, I really enjoy coming to school each morning.
Mr Davies did my interview, and unlike other schools, he really took the time to get to know me. He made me feel really relaxed. I can tell you, in the end, I actually enjoyed the interview. Then, when I received a personal offer letter from Mr Davies, I felt so proud – it was amazing!
The teachers are very supportive and encouraging of us all. I was worried about finding my way around the school, but it is really easy as it’s quite a small school and well laid out. It has helped me to become more independent very quickly.” – Richard, Year 10
“We chose Halliford School for a number of reasons but principally because of Mr Davies. We believe the Head is critical to the direction, culture and ethos of any school. He was the most impressive Head we met out of all the schools we visited during the admissions process. He was the only Head who took the time to interview all the applicants. He was refreshingly honest; he made the point that whilst Halliford strives for academic excellence, it is academically sensitive to all boys’ needs. We liked the fact that he wasn’t just concerned with academic results but, more importantly, making the boys the very best version of themselves that they can be. The school felt very nurturing each time we visited, and together with its relatively small size, we felt this would suit Richard perfectly. He would get noticed and wouldn’t be just another number.
The entrance process was handled with great attention and care to alleviate any wobbles. Halliford interviews all boys prior to the entrance exam, and Mr Davies spent a lot of time getting to know Richard very well. On the entrance day, the boys were all made to feel very welcome and relaxed on arrival. They were divided into small groups where they sat the various tests in informal classroom settings. The highlight of Richard’s morning was being taken to the Dining Hall, where he could choose a number of tasty treats! He had a sausage roll, a doughnut and a flapjack!!
Despite spending a lot of time meeting the various Heads at the schools which Richard applied for, we believe this did not help with the selection process. We felt it all came down to how well your child performed in the exams on the day and nothing else. Halliford was the only school that was truly interested in the individual: his character, his hobbies, his academic strengths and weaknesses.
We would definitely recommend prospective parents attend more than one Open Day. Always trust your heart. If it feels right, it will be right. It has to be right for your son and not for any other reason.
Richard has loved his time at Halliford! We would definitely recommend Halliford. It will bring out the very best in your son. He will be noticed, given special guidance and attention, gently encouraged to pursue his interests and shaped into being the very best that he can be.” – Mrs Baker, Year 10 & Year 12 Parent
Richard’s sister, Olivia, has just joined the Halliford Sixth Form:
“My Halliford journey has been strongly influenced by my brother Richard, who has been at the school for 3 years and is currently in Year 10. He has been very happy throughout his time here, always having a good word to say about everyone.
The application process was straightforward but by no means “easy”. The various interviews I had were challenging without being scary. Mr Davies, Mr Carroll and Mr Greggor put me at ease immediately with their affable manner and warmth as they genuinely wanted to find out about me, my interests, hobbies and passions. In turn, I felt able to talk openly and honestly.
One of the questions I asked was, “How does the school manage the fact that there are so few girls compared to boys?”. The answer was: “We are all Hallifordians – we don’t differentiate between girls and boys”. We are all treated equally. The school has its largest group of female students ever, and we have felt as much a part of the Hallford community as the students who have been here for five years. The school has reviewed sports provision and completed building improvements to ensure we have everything we need to transition smoothly to a new school. I love being a Hallifordian, and I am sure that anyone else who joins Halliford will feel the same as me.”
“I joined Halliford School from Hampton Junior School, and I am loving my time here. When I had my interview, the pressure was on as my Dad was a student at Halliford but a long time ago! The school had changed a lot, he told me, but the friendly feel was still exactly the same.
The teachers and form tutors never fail to make us laugh and give us lots of opportunities to share our knowledge with the rest of the class. Coming from a class of 30 at junior school, my classes have practically halved, which is so good. There’s one thing I definitely have to tell you about, and that’s the food. I came with packed lunches for the first two days but looking at my friends all having amazing food I decided to give it a go. Needless to say, it’s farewell to my lunch box and hello to Halliford lunches – I can’t tell you how amazing they are!” – Charlie, Year 10
“The admissions process was very student-friendly. To have the interview first was such a positive as it took some of the pressure off the exam day, knowing they had already spoken to the Head, Mr Davies. Charlie has settled in extremely well and looks forward to going to school. He talks about his day excitedly and is getting the challenges and opportunities he needs.
Halliford really champions their students to do their best and celebrates them. One of the best things about Halliford is that it’s not as big as other secondary schools and because of that, Charlie has managed to get to know all of his year group and has made some good friends. The staff are really approachable, for both the students and the parents, which was really important to us, and communication is always welcomed and swiftly responded to. We highly recommend Halliford School. The friendly, warm and welcoming atmosphere is what makes Halliford School stand out.” – Mrs Grant, Year 10 Parent
“I joined Halliford School into Year 9 from Parkside School. I was a bit worried that most of the year group would already have their friendship groups, but it was not a problem as everyone is very welcoming and makes you feel at home. I’d go so far as to say that Halliford makes you instantaneously welcome. I had many worries about fitting in, but I needn’t have had those worries.”
I feel we have much more independence here at senior school, and I have learnt to stand on my own two feet and explore all the new opportunities. As I looked around different schools, I found that many of them were huge and perhaps a bit intimidating. I just assumed this was what senior schools were like until I came to Halliford and realised there were small senior schools where I could still know everyone but have the independence to grow and be myself. Having experienced a bit of bullying previously, I was concerned about this, but I can tell you there’s none of that here, and I could not be happier. I know it’s hard finding the right school to move on to, but I think for me I’ve made the best choice ever and am really proud to be a Hallifordian.” – Edward, Lower Sixth
“Halliford School was not a school in our local area, but one we kept hearing positive things about, so we enrolled in an open morning. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the teachers we met were enthusiastic about the students and their subjects. The two boys who showed us around the school were confident, funny and genuinely loved their school and were proud to show us around. We knew on the car journey home that Halliford was the right fit for our son and us as a family.” – Mrs Gentle, Year 11 Parent
