What it’s like
Founded in 1935 by R J O Meyer as a boys’ school, girls were admitted in 1947 and it has long been fully co-educational. It has a fine campus of 166 acres. It is in beautiful countryside, with 18 boarding houses in the town of Street and surrounding villages. The prep school is in nearby Glastonbury. Large, diverse and complex, it is a well-run school which enjoys a very high staff:pupil ratio (1:8), and this is one of its many strengths. Vocational qualifications are offered in addition to traditional A-levels and examination results are very good. A wide range of languages is offered including Japanese, Russian, Arabic and Greek. Facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, theatre, fine arts complex, indoor tennis centre and equestrian centre. It caters for virtually every need and displays energy, organisation and purposefulness in every activity. Over 40 sports and games are available and the school has excelled in many. Over the years, it has produced over 51 Olympic competitors. Music, drama and arts programmes are very strong. All pupils are involved in conservation at the school’s own 40-acre centre at Worley Hill.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 13–18; 1253 pupils, 313 day (181 boys, 132 girls), 940 boarding (595 boys, 345 girls).
Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own entrance exam used. For sixth-form entry to A-level course, 6 GCSEs at least grade C, of which 4 should be at grade B including sixth-form subjects; for AVCE, 4 GCSE grade C. Good all-round academic and sporting abilities looked for; no special religious requirements. Approx 60% of intake from own prep school (tel 01458 832446).

Scholarships, bursaries & extras Approx 40–45 pa scholarships, value 5%–50% fees: academic, art, music, sport, all-rounder awards. Variable number of bursaries for Service families or those in financial need. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; stabling of horses etc extra.

Head & staff
Headmaster: Peter M Johnson, appointed 1998. Educated at Bec School and Oxford University (geography). Previously Headmaster at Wrekin, Senior Housemaster at Radley. Also Oxford University representative on the Rugby Football Union Committee; Chairman of Trustees of RFU National Centre for Schools & Youth Rugby.
Teaching staff: 163 full time. Annual turnover 7%. Average age 43.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 224 pupils in fifth: 91% gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects. Average GCSE score 58 (54 over 5 years).
A-levels: 240 in upper sixth. Average tariff points 313.

University & college entrance 75% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (24% after a gap year), 9% to Oxbridge and 8% to universities overseas. 2% took courses in medicine and pharmacology, 25% in science & engineering, 67% in humanities & social sciences, 6% in art & design; business, accounting, management most popular choices. Others typically go on to non-degree or training courses eg art or drama or straight into careers.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels and AVCE. 36 AS-level subjects, 35 A-level, 3 AVCE subjects.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; those taking 12 unit AVCE often add an AS and A-level, more often GCSEs. In addition, all take AS-level general studies (A-level optional). Key skills integrated into sixth-form courses but not examined.
Special provision: Language development unit for dyslexics; Millfield English Language School for English from beginners to university entrance level.
Languages: French, German, Latin, Italian and Spanish offered at GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges (France, Germany and Spain).
ICT: Taught as a discrete subject (1 lesson a week for half of Year 9) and across the curriculum, eg English, mathematics, music technology. 500 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. 20+% of pupils have their own laptops.

The arts
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be
taken. Some 15 musical groups including orchestras, brass band, string quartets, wind octet, symphonic wind band, jazz band, choirs, early music group. Members of National Youth Orchestra past 3 years.
Drama & dance: Both offered. GCSE and A-level drama, ESB, LAMDA exams may be taken. Some pupils are involved in school and majority in house/other productions. Recent productions include The Comedy of Errors, A Blood Wedding. Annual ‘Evening of Dance’.
Art & design: On average, 100 take GCSE, 25 A-level, 10 AVCE. Design, pottery, textiles, photography also offered.

Sport & activities
Sport: Games compulsory from following options, soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis (boys); rounders, hockey, netball, athletics, tennis (girls). Seniors have 40+ choices. On average 25 international representatives a year and countless county representatives; elite level performers in many sports but wide ability range catered for at all ages.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Community service optional for 1 year at age 16. Annual Mencap day (school open to 600 Mencap members guided and coached by pupils). Over 60 activities eg bridge, school newspaper, photography, life saving, Zulu beadwork, Young Enterprise.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects,
head boy/girl, house prefects – appointed by prefect committee and staff. School Council.
Religion: Worship, non-denominational, compulsory on special occasions eg carol service. Regular services plus services for Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus.
Social: German/French exchange, games tours (eg Germany, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka); cultural tours to eg China, Russia; history and geography trip (eg to Malaysia). Pupils allowed to bring own bike/horse to school. Meals self-service. School shop. Smoking not allowed; seniors may consume limited amounts of alcohol in controlled situations.

Discipline Clear expectations and variety of sanctions. Pupils caught with illegal drugs can expect immediate expulsion.

Boarding Seniors in single/double study bedrooms; juniors in dormitories of 3+. Single-sex houses of 10–60 (average 45), same as competitive houses. Resident qualified nurses, 2 doctors (1 full-time), part-time counsellor. Central dining room. Fixed number of exeats. Visits to the local town allowed.

Alumni association is run by Mr J H Davies, The Millfield Society, c/o the school.

Former pupils Sir John L Standing (actor); John Sargeant (parliamentary correspondent);
Charles Burton (explorer: circumnavigated world via North and South Poles); Gareth Edwards (international rugby); Duncan Goodhew and Mary Rand (Olympic gold medallists); Jeremy
Thomas (film producer, The Last Emperor); Michael Ridpath (novelist, Free To Trade); Matt Perry (England rugby).