Head’s Welcome

Andy Boyle, HEADMASTER

Why did you take on this role?

Because I fell in love with the school when I came to visit! My personal leadership experience was on the pastoral side of education and when considering the step into Headship I knew that I was looking for a school that understood and prioritised the importance of a child’s happiness and the positive impact this can have on their school journey. One visit to Barfield Prep School and I knew that I was joining a wonderful family and a school that shared my educational values.

Can you tell us a little bit about your experience before Barfield? 

Originally from Yorkshire, I had the pleasure of attending Ashville College and I loved every minute of that experience. My early aspirations were to become a professional rugby player but this dream was unfortunately cut short due to a serious injury just after leaving school. With teaching in my family, I embarked on my journey towards being a Prep School Teacher and have never looked back. I enjoyed my first year teaching back at Ashville College, before moving to Oxford where I was a Year 3 Teacher at Chandlings School. 10 years later I left Chandlings for Barfield Prep School after enjoying a number of different roles, most notably as Deputy Head for 6 years. 

What distinguishes Barfield Prep School from the rest?

Breadth and balance are two words which we fully subscribe to here at Barfield Prep School and our bespoke curriculum and opportunities sets us apart from the rest. In addition to the more traditional learning opportunities that you would expect to see in a Prep School, a Barfield education includes Life Skills, Outdoor Learning and Current Affairs – all centered around our priority of creating an environment where every single child loves coming to school and feels supported on their journey. 

What aspects of Barfield would you highlight to prospective parents? 

I would happily highlight all of our school to prospective parents as we are hugely proud of who we are and how we do things here at Barfield Prep School. We are by no means perfect, which is something we are comfortable with, but we do lots of things amazingly well and our rapid growth in recent years would suggest that our ethos and philosophies align well with what current parents are looking for.  

What are your ambitions for Barfield? 

To create an environment in which children and staff wake up each morning and look forward to going to school / work. A school where we have high expectations for all but achieve those goals with a smile on our faces and with our friends by our side. Barfield Prep School has been on quite a journey the past few years and we are now incredibly proud to have a thriving all year round Nursery which feeds into two Reception Classes each year. Our two form entry then continues through to Year 6, creating a school family which is a perfect size for everyone to thrive and embark on their own journey.

What do you think current parents and children like best about Barfield?

For the parents I would suggest they love that this is more than a place where they drop off and pick up their children each day. They love how inclusive we are as a school and that they still feel part of their child’s early educational journey. For the children, it would likely be the opportunities that are available to them both inside and outside of the classroom – again centered around the breadth and balance that we are so passionate about here.

What has been the highlight for you as Headmaster at Barfield?

Where to start? If it is okay I think I will reference two things as part of this answer. Firstly, the sense of pride that I feel when the whole school family comes together is second to none. Events such as our Christmas Carol Service, Bonfire Night, Colour Run / Picnic and the Summer Ball are annual occasions which epitomise how we do things here at Barfield Prep School. Secondly, in addition to our children loving their time here, the success that our Year 6 children have when transitioning to senior schools is unbelievable. The feedback from senior school heads always reinforces that our children are not only ready academically but that they are well-rounded, grounded and ready to embrace their next educational chapter.