About Us
Welcome to South Farnham Educational Trust
The continual pursuit of excellence
South Farnham Educational Trust was established as a Multi-Academy Trust in 2015, having been a converter Academy since 2011. At present the Trust consists of eleven schools (ten full members and one associate member), a Teaching School Hub and a thriving SCITT.
Vision and Purpose
- To create a group of schools that have a shared commitment to ensuring the highest possible outcomes for their children.
- Through close co-operation, children, parents and teachers will share professional expertise, training opportunities and facilities to ensure that the whole is greater than the part.
- To create a learning environment where the highest possible standards are a feature of all schools.
- To establish a shared understanding of what works and a reflective, research-based approach to school improvement.
- To celebrate and develop the uniqueness of each school within the MAT family of schools.
A Family of Schools
- South Farnham School, consisting of 848 pupils from 4 to 11 years, is situated on two sites, one in Menin Way and the other in The Bourne. It is an ‘Outstanding’ school (Ofsted 2024), an RSHE hub, a Teaching School Hub and the Accredited Body for the Surrey South Farnham SCITT. South Farnham is the designated Academy Sponsor.
- Highfield South Farnham School, a two-form entry primary school with a Nursery, catering for children from three years. It is an ‘Outstanding’ school with a reputation for high-quality provision (Ofsted 2024).
- The Raleigh School, a popular, 'Outstanding' two-form entry primary school in the semi-rural village of West Horsley. (Ofsted 2024).
- Wallace Fields Infant School and Nursery, a thriving two-form entry small, friendly, caring infant school and Shining Stars Nursery based in Ewell recognised as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in December 2021. The school is an ECF delivery partner for SFET Teaching School hub, offering primary training to ECTs in the region.
- Busbridge Infant School, a popular two-form entry infant school based in the beautiful town of Godalming, Surrey. Busbridge joined SFET in April 2022 and consists of 161 pupils from 4 to 7 years old.
- Great Bookham School, a two-form entry primary school based in Great Bookham, Surrey for pupils aged 4 to 11 years. The school joined SFET in July 2022 and, with the support of the Trust, opened a pre-school in May 2023. The recent OFSTED inspection (February 2025) highlighted the exceptional strengths of this school, with 'Outstanding' ratings in Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Early Years Provision. Inspectors praised the school's warm, family-like atmosphere, high academic achievement, exemplary behaviour, and rich curriculum that supports all learners, including those with SEND. The report also celebrated a strong community spirit, effective leadership, and commitment to pupils’ broader development and well-being.
- Brighton Hill Community School, a popular, over-subscribed and thriving secondary school based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. This 11 – 16 school has grown from 502 to 1,292 pupils in six years and joined the Trust in June 2023. The school's recent 'Good' OFSTED Inspection contained three 'Outstanding' grades within it and the inspection team praised the leadership team's relentless focus on continuous and rapid improvement and their creation of 'a positive culture of ambition and high expectations amongst staff and pupils' (2022). The school works as an ECF delivery partner for the SFET Teaching School Hub.
- The Blue Coat School, Basingstoke, a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 years. The school joined SFET on 1st June 2024. The original Blue Coat School was opened by Richard Aldworth, a successful London merchant in the 1600s. He started a school in Basingstoke at a time when education was in its infancy.
- Normandy Village School, a one-form entry primary school in the heart of Normandy (West Surrey). The school joined SFET on 1st July 2024.
- Kings Furlong Infant School and Nursery, joined SFET on 1st September 2024. This two-form entry school in Basingstoke will be working closely with other schools in the SFET family.
Our associate member is St Mary's C of E (Aided) Infant School.
South Farnham SCITT - a primary and secondary Initial Teacher Training partnership of over 240 schools; graded 'Outstanding' in all areas by Ofsted (July 2023). Nationally recognised within the Department for Education to be at the forefront of school-based training.
Our Teaching School Hub is one of 87 centres of excellence for teaching training and development in the country. We provide high-quality professional development to teachers in over 330 schools and at each stage of their career (from TA to executive leadership), outstanding teacher training and Appropriate Body services.