Hanford Prep
School summary
A small boarding and day school for girls aged 7 to 13, Hanford Prep makes a deliberate choice to keep things intimate, with only around 83 pupils on roll. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly three to one is striking, allowing teaching to be tailored closely to each girl. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education quality and personal development, and found it fully compliant with regulatory standards. Set in the countryside at Child Okeford, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, it offers a distinctly traditional approach, including a firm no-mobile-phones policy that parents are said to support.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Free month · No payment needed
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 2 December 2025
Teaching & academics
With one of the lowest pupil-to-teacher ratios a parent is likely to encounter, Hanford can give each girl close individual attention through the prep years to age 13. The ISI judged the quality of pupils' education 'excellent', the highest available grade. Almost a quarter of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to helping girls with a range of learning needs. Limited bursaries are available for girls likely to make significant academic progress and contribute to wider school life.
Interim head · Mrs Sophie Blewitt
Beyond the classroom
Sport is varied and energetic, spanning netball, hockey, lacrosse, tennis, athletics, swimming, gymnastics and cross country. More unusually, the school offers pistol shooting, a reminder of its individual character.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 23.19%
- EHC plans
- 1.45%
Mobile phone policy
Girls do not have mobile phones at Hanford. Our parents are fully supportive of our approach.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £19,500
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £25,440 - £28,350
Limited bursary provision for girls likely to make 'significant academic progress' and contribute generally to school life.
Schools nearby
The Forum School
Blandford Forum, South West
Bryanston Prep
Durweston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, South West
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum, South West
Bryanston School
Blandford Forum, South West
Milton Abbey School
Blandford Forum, South West
The Luccombe Hub
Blandford Forum, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A tiny, traditional girls' boarding and day school where the remarkable staffing ratio means no pupil is overlooked. Best suited to families who value close attention and a screen-free environment.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
Free month · No payment needed
Hanford Prep 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.