Army&You has been exploring the ace amenities on offer at some of the UK’s top independent schools. Here, we take a closer look at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School in Wales (habs-monmouth.org)…


Tell us about your school’s current facilities.
Ultra-modern, purpose-built facilities nestle alongside beautifully restored listed buildings, providing a stimulating environment where pupils can focus on their academic goals, develop their personal interests in sport, music, drama, science and innovation.

Based in Monmouth, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we have created an inspiring educational environment where learning comes naturally. We make full use of the River Wye for rowing and other water sports, we have 60 acres of pitches and space for two 25m pools, indoor sports halls, two theatres, dedicated Sixth Form centres and boarding houses.

Do you have any plans for future investment?
Plans have just been submitted for a new performing arts centre at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls which will enable us to showcase music, drama and dance. There have been two new boarding houses in the last three years, a new prep school for the boys, and we have just finished major redevelopment at Monmouth School, with a new state-of-the-art teaching and administration block built to commemorate our 400th anniversary.

What’s the jewel in your crown?
We are proud of our 402-year history of delivering educational excellence. It would be impossible to single out one jewel in our crown. The scale of our schools and their stunning location sets us apart from the crowd, as well as the strong links with our local community. Pastoral care is of the utmost importance in our boarding houses. Run by housemasters who live on site with their own partners, children and dogs, there is a very special family atmosphere unique to each house.

What does having access to top-notch facilities mean to a child’s education?
It is the supportive and encouraging culture within our schools with an emphasis on pupils’ welfare and happiness combined with top-notch facilities that provide boundless opportunities to nurture the talents and interests of our pupils.

Why should parents pick your school based on your facilities?
The breadth of facilities on offer here makes the difference for a truly rounded education. Whatever your child’s talents or interests may be, parents should feel confident that the schools provide opportunities to shine in areas as diverse as science and languages, sport and music, art and computing. Our boarding houses cater for modern living with comfortable sitting rooms and kitchens to socialise in, dedicated study areas with access to computers, and personal space in which to escape all distractions. The Schools’ innovative catering staff are constantly creating new dishes to provide pupils with an exciting, healthy and varied menu which appeals to a diverse range of ages.

What are your top three most used facilities?

  • Sports facilities, including all-weather pitches, tennis courts and boathouses
  • Performing arts centres at both senior schools host productions throughout the year
  • Classrooms and laboratories are used to deliver an extensive curriculum, with around 30 A level subjects taught

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