Virtual Tour

Dating back to the early 1900s, our Main House is a beautiful example of the Arts and Crafts architectural style.

On the ground floor, you’ll find our welcoming Main Reception and School Office, along with the Chapel, Heritage Room, and a well-stocked Junior Library.

The first floor is home to classrooms, the Headmaster’s office, the Bursar’s office, and the Deputy Head (Pastoral).

The second floor has additional classrooms, including our dedicated MFL hub, as well as the IT Department and our Senior DEL.

Our youngest pupils enjoy the very best start to their educational journey in a nurturing and inspiring environment.

With a dedicated entrance, children have the freedom and space to explore and learn both indoors and outdoors. They benefit from their own Forest School site, the enchanting Bluebell Woods, vegetable patches, and an exciting adventure playground.

Inside, classrooms are thoughtfully equipped with a wide range of activities, including a sensory wall, 75″ Promethean interactive screens, traditional wooden toys, books, games, and iPads.

Specialist teachers deliver PE, Dance, and Gymnastics lessons using the Main School’s excellent facilities.

To complete the experience, Nursery and Kindergarten pupils enjoy a freshly prepared hot lunch served in our Dining Room.

For more on our Nursery & Kindergarten please click here.

Our Pre-Prep pupils (Reception to Year 2) enjoy a dedicated area within the school campus, perfectly designed for their learning and development.

From their own Food Technology Suite and Library to bespoke learning zones, every detail is tailored to inspire young minds.

Inviting classrooms brimming with resources and quiet carpeted areas with beanbags create the ideal setting for a day of discovery.

Outdoors, children make the most of their self-contained playgrounds, sandpits, vegetable patches, and dedicated Forest School site. In summer, Beach School adds an extra dimension to their learning, with plenty of opportunities for exploration and adventure.

Specialist teachers enrich the curriculum with PE, Dance, Gymnastics, Forest and Beach School, Music, and – starting in Year 1 – French. Pupils can also take part in peripatetic Speech and Drama and Music lessons.

Swimming lessons are a highlight of the Summer Term, held in our heated outdoor pool.

To complete the experience, Pre-Prep pupils enjoy a freshly prepared hot lunch in our Dining Room.

For more information on Pre-Prep click here.

Our Lower Prep (Years 3-5) pupils thrive in a warm, friendly, and fun-loving environment that encourages confidence, independence, and a love of learning. Every day is an opportunity for exploration and growth, supported by dedicated teachers and excellent resources.

Lower Prep enjoys its own suite of classrooms connected to the Main House, alongside specialist facilities including a dedicated Science Lab, Food Technology Suite, DT workshop, and Library.

Outdoors, pupils have access to their own play areas, featuring a fantastic new climbing assault course, as well as two dedicated Forest School sites.

Learning is further enriched through access to our Sports Hall, Art and Textiles studios, Performing Arts Centre, Dance Studio, and Music Block – complete with an iMac Suite for music composition.

Swimming lessons take place in the Summer Term in our heated outdoor pool, adding to the variety of experiences that make Lower Prep so special.

For more on our Lower Prep, please click here.

Our Upper Prep pupils (Years 6-8) enjoy all the benefits of a traditional Prep school, and so much more.

They have access to our outstanding GCSE-level facilities, equipment, and specialist teachers, giving them an exceptional foundation for the next stage of their education. By the time they move into Year 9, they are already well-known to us both pastorally and academically, enabling us to support and challenge them from day one.

Upper Prep pupils are based in the Main House for their form rooms but move around the school for lessons, experiencing a wide range of learning environments. They also enjoy use of our beautiful Junior Library, located in the heart of the Main House.

Swimming lessons take place during the Summer Term in our heated outdoor pool, adding to the breadth of opportunities available.

For more on our Upper Prep please click here.

Our Senior pupils (Years 9-11) enjoy a dedicated building and mini campus, designed to provide the perfect environment for academic success and personal growth. With inspiring teachers and exceptional support, they work confidently towards their GCSEs while embracing a wealth of opportunities.

Year 11 pupils benefit from their own wooden cabin – a private space to relax and socialise during breaks and lunchtimes.

Senior pupils also have access to our strength and conditioning gym and cardio suite, located in front of the Main House, as well as our heated outdoor swimming pool during the Summer Term.

Beyond the classroom, there is an extensive co-curricular programme and a wide range of trips, from Duke of Edinburgh and community projects to concerts, skiing, and the unforgettable New York and Washington trip. The year culminates in a celebratory Year 11 Prom.

For more on our Senior School, please click here.

Pupils love visiting our Ballard Bees – four thriving hives, each home to around 60,000 bees, tucked away in a quiet corner of our sports fields. We harvest our own honey and use the beeswax for candle-making and creative art projects, bringing sustainability to life in a hands-on way.

Ballard is proud to be an eco-friendly, award-winning school. We have recently renewed the coveted Green Flag with Distinction – the highest accolade from Eco-Schools.

Our pupil-led Eco Committee drives the school’s Green Agenda, showing incredible commitment to environmental responsibility both within Ballard and in the wider community.

Find out more about Ballard’s exceptional Eco initiatives here.

Nestled between the Main House and our Senior building, the Music Block is a vibrant hub of creativity and performance. With its impressive facilities – including classrooms, practice rooms, private lesson spaces, a live music room, performance area, and a newly refurbished iMac suite – it offers everything a budding musician could wish for.

Our extensive co-curricular programme ensures music thrives beyond the classroom. From bands and choirs to ensembles, the Music Block is alive with sound most lunchtimes and after school, providing endless opportunities for pupils to explore, create, and perform.

Learn more about Ballard’s outstanding Music provision here.

Situated opposite the Main House our Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a fantastic facility for us all: from school assemblies, whole Year group lessons to staging stunning productions.

We have 180 retractable seats (and flexible seating for over 250), which enables this space to be multi-purpose.

The PAC has it’s own foyer, ‘green room’, and recently refurbished sound and lighting rig that offers our pupils a plethora of opportunities whether on stage, behind stage, in the wings or working in our sound and lighting box.

Situated by the PAC and above Pre-Prep, our Art and Textiles Studios are light and airy. We have two fully equipped Art Studios along with a dedicated Textiles Studio, which includes a 3D printer and laser cutter.

The range of art produced by our pupils is outstanding. From large scale clay work in Year 3 to incredibly complex and intricate GCSE work in Years 10 and 11.

Visiting artists run workshops and have helped our pupils create murals for the Sports Hall. Many visitors have commented on the creativity of our pupils’ work and we regularly win the regional ISA Art awards.

This year our Art Department won the Prestigious ISA Award for Excellence in Fine Art and Design 2025.

Learn more Ballard Art here and our Textiles here.

We have three state-of-the-art Design & Technology Labs located between the Main House and Lower Prep.

Each lab is equipped with a wide range of CAD/CAM facilities, multiple high-speed 3D printers, two laser cutters, and vinyl cutters – alongside traditional tools such as saws, drills, and workbenches. These spaces provide pupils with everything they need to design, create, and innovate, blending cutting-edge technology with hands-on craftsmanship.

Find out more about our exceptional Design and Technology Department here.

Located between the Main House and the Sports Department, our Dining Room is the heart of lunchtime at Ballard, serving pupils nutritious, delicious meals every day.

Our award-winning Head Chef ensures every pupil is catered for, regularly refreshing menus with seasonal ingredients and exciting new recipes.

Nursery, Kindergarten, Pre-Prep, and Lower Prep pupils enjoy dining together with their teachers, creating a warm, family-style atmosphere.

Upper Prep and Senior pupils follow a dining rota, giving them the flexibility to sit with friends and enjoy their meal in a relaxed setting.

View our delicious menus here.

Our spacious Dance Studio, located between the Sports Hall and Pre-Prep, is designed to inspire movement and creativity. Featuring a fully sprung wooden floor, a mirrored wall, and a barre, it provides the perfect environment for practice and performance.

From our youngest pupils to GCSE dancers, the studio hosts a wide range of activities – from ballet and contemporary dance to gymnastics.

Under the guidance of our talented dance teacher, pupils can join Junior and Senior dance teams, as well as enjoy lessons that bring rhythm and expression to life across the school.

Learn more about Ballard Dance here.

Ballard’s sporting success is built on outstanding facilities – made possible by our beautiful 34-acre campus, giving us the space to provide the very best for every pupil, from Early Years to GCSE.

We offer three expansive Sports Fields for Rugby, Football, Cricket, and Athletics, alongside a hardcourt area and basketball court. Our state-of-the-art, Olympic-sized 3G AstroTurf pitch is perfect for Hockey and other sports.

In summer, pupils enjoy outdoor tennis courts and cricket nets, while autumn brings netball courts and a scenic cross-country course into full use.

These exceptional facilities ensure that sport at Ballard is accessible, inclusive, and inspiring all year round.

Find out more about Sport @ Ballard here.

Our impressive Sports Hall ensures there’s always space for PE and a wide variety of activities.

Equipped with courts for Basketball, Badminton, Netball, and Volleyball, plus apparatus for gymnastics, indoor cricket, and even classic dodgeball, it keeps pupils active, happy, and energised.

Our outstanding Sports Department delivers sport for all – from grassroots participation to national success – and nurtures international-level talent.

Beyond sport, the hall is a central venue for whole-school events, including assemblies, Speech Day, our Remembrance Service, and hosting post-16 providers at our Careers Fair.

Our 18m heated outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place for both fun and learning. Pupils from Reception through to Year 9 enjoy weekly summer swimming lessons, and our ever-popular swimming galas are a highlight of the school calendar.

We’re also lucky to use the pool for a wide range of co-curricular swimming activities during the Summer Term, giving pupils even more opportunities to build confidence and develop their skills in the water.

We’re fortunate to have three beautiful Forest School sites on our 34-acre campus, each brimming with nature and adventure – complete with streams and woodland walks.

Forest School is a firm favourite for pupils from Kindergarten to Year 5, offering hands-on experiences that build confidence and life skills.

From redirecting streams and creating treetop lookouts to roasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate, every session is an opportunity to explore, discover, and grow.

It’s a place where curiosity thrives, teamwork blossoms, and children learn through play in the great outdoors.

Learn more about our Forest School provision here.

Ballard is proud to preserve the original Victorian water garden from when the Main House was first built as a residence. Recently renovated, this tranquil space is now brimming with wildlife and natural beauty.

We’ve added seating and viewing areas around the pond, creating the perfect setting for outdoor learning. Pupils use the the water garden for pond dipping in Science and ecology experiments in Geography, while our younger pupils love exploring this magical spot.

It’s a unique feature of our campus – blending history, nature, and education in one inspiring space.