Our History

The Beginning

In 1945, Mrs Edna Andrews, a 41-year-old mother of two and a trained teacher, founded Berkhampstead in her own home, now our Prep building. With her husband, Dr Robin Andrews, no longer able to work, she made the bold decision to convert part of their home into a school. Classrooms were created, the garden became a playground, and on 20th September 1945, Berkhampstead opened its doors to its first 22 pupils - boys aged 3-11 and girls aged 3-18, with fees of just £5 per term.

Mrs Andrews was a talented musician and an inspirational woman, passionate about education, music and nurturing young minds. She firmly believed that a ‘can-do’ attitude is an asset for life, and the school motto she selected, ‘Perseverantia Vincit’ (Perseverance Conquers), remains at the heart of Berkhampstead School and Day Nurseries today.

The school’s early success led to rapid expansion, and Berkhampstead soon moved into the Grade II listed building across the road, originally known as Beechmount, with the other half, Fernbank, later opening.

From its humble beginnings to the thriving, happy school we know today, Berkhampstead has always been a place of warmth, happiness and opportunity, and we are proud to celebrate 80 years of inspiring young minds.

Developments

Over the years, both buildings have been thoughtfully expanded to enhance the facilities for our children. The former gardens around the Pre-Prep building have been transformed into a vibrant playground with Playturf designed to resemble grass and a flowing river. Fixtures such as a trim trail, slide and the ‘Berky Creative Cabin’—which houses a range of reusable, open-ended resources—make this space great fun for the children.

The addition of the Pittville Circus Day Nursery grounds significantly extended our outdoor area, enabling the creation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). This versatile artificial games space is designed for children of all ages at Berkhampstead School and Day Nurseries.

Where we are now

Berkhampstead is a thriving school known for its small classes, happy children and outstanding results. Our pupils excel academically, musically, in sports and in the arts, reflecting the well-rounded education we provide. Since our founding in 1945, we’ve grown significantly, now educating over 250 pupils at the school and over 150 children across our two vibrant day nurseries.

At Berkhampstead, the sense of community and belonging is at the heart of everything we do. Families quickly feel part of the ‘Berky’ family, and our Prep children develop a strong connection to their Houses—St David’s, St Andrew’s, St George’s and St Patrick’s. These Houses, established by our founder, remain a cornerstone of our school life today, fostering healthy competition and camaraderie.

We’re proud that many of our former pupils stay connected with the school, returning for reunions and events to share in our continuing success.