School portraits: snapshots of four notable schools

Elstree, Berkshire

Elstree – which educates boys and girls from three to 13 – is nestled in 150 acres of stunning countryside near Newbury in Berkshire. The school, which celebrated its 175th anniversary last year, says that its aim is two-fold: ‘to find out how a child is intelligent rather than how intelligent a child is’ and to teach pupils that ‘effort is king’. From Year 4 onwards, children can choose to flexi or weekly board and from Year 5 pupils are taught by individual specialists in all subjects from Year 5, compared with the usual Year 7. Although Elstree is non-selective, school-leavers have received scholarships to – among others – Eton, Harrow, Radley, Marlborough and Winchester. Notable alumni include the singer-songwriter James Blunt, novelist Sebastian Faulks, politician Richard Tice and writer and activist George Monbiot.

Cranleigh, Surrey

Cranleigh School – which offers both boarding and day education to boys and girls aged 13 to 18 – is Surrey’s leading co-educational independent school.