An adventure for today
An education for tomorrow
School, education, childhood is not just a journey to an imagined and hoped for future. It is an adventure your child is living right now.
It happens so fast, it’s over so quickly, it matters so much. That’s why it’s our job as educators to make school, education, childhood, an inspiring, enriching and rewarding experience - right when it is actually happening. Not just a set of key stages to grind through to a hoped for end.
At Akeley Wood School, we help your child discover their talents and interests. Help them grow their character. Develop courage and responsibility. And discover their place in the world.
In an inspiring, nurturing, open and inquisitive environment...
...with the very best facilities, diverse curriculum and supportive teachers. We set your child up to achieve their very best, both personally and academically. To go on out there into the wider world as an interested and interesting person. With the skills, knowledge and results they need to fulfil their dreams. Drawing on a childhood full of joy, curiosity and adventure.
Because a wondrous childhood makes for a wonderful life.
We believe your child’s today matters as much as their tomorrow. So at Akeley Wood we make education an adventure. Something remarkable, memorable and valuable forever.
We shape the interested and interesting people the world needs. Universities, employers - society as a whole – needs curious, independent thinkers, full of courage and responsibility. Our aim is to shape these people.
Location and Facilities
Explore our three idyllic campuses
Akeley Wood School is a vibrant, co-educational day school for children aged 1 to 18, set across three beautiful campuses in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
Each site is an inspirational learning environment for our students at different stages, from early curiosity to senior academic readiness and sixth form independence.
This thoughtful design and our commitment to personalised learning ensure that students at Akeley Wood thrive, both academically and socially, in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Meet our Executive Head Teacher
"Akeley Wood is a nurturing and exciting school where whatever your age, from our youngest ladybirds at 12 months to our Y13 students taking their A level exams and heading off to their next adventure, you can 'Be You. Brilliantly'.
Our education experience encourages our students to aspire to be the very best version of themselves, with the courage and integrity alongside the responsibility, resilience and academic profile to be successful not only at our school but in whatever next steps in their education or work adventure they want to take when they leave us.
Akeley Wood is a wonderful school to work in and I feel privileged to lead such a fantastic school, dedicated staff team and amazing students."
- Mrs Vanessa Conlan, Executive Head Teacher
Begin your Akeley Wood School journey.
1 - 4 years old
4 - 5 years old
5 - 11 yrs old
11 - 16 yrs old
16 - 18 yrs old
Straightforward and simple
Akeley Wood School: 'The Door'
Our bespoke video, The Door, was filmed completely on our grounds and captures the essence of life at Akeley Wood—a community where students are empowered to grow, collaborate and thrive. We hope you are inspired to imagine the possibilities that await behind every door at our school!
Follow Akeley Wood on Social Media
Choosing a Reception setting is a big decision — put your questions to an expert!
Esther Hunter, Head of Junior School at Akeley Wood, will host an online Webinar about Reception on 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟔𝐩𝐦. Miss Hunter earned her qualifications in Primary Education with an Early Years specialism and has brought her expertise internationally before returning to England to Akeley.
Join us to ask questions and learn from her insight into starting Reception, the importance of play and exploration, and how children discover, grow and achieve.
💻 Reserve your place: www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk/book-an-event/
#AkeleyWoodSchool #EarlyYears #Reception #EarlyYearsExpert #IndependentEducation
✨ Akeley Christmas Fayre 2025 ✨
This afternoon felt extra special — our first Christmas Fayre since Covid, and what a joy it was to welcome everyone back.
The school was buzzing with families, laughter and the festive spirit that makes Akeley feel like home. Senior School students proudly ran their own stalls, alongside community makers and family businesses who helped bring the fayre to life.
Children dashed between decorating cookies, riding in Santa’s sleigh for photos, visiting the big man himself, shopping in Elfridge’s and getting their faces painted… before doing some painting of their own!
A huge thank you to every family who came along and supported the day. It was a wonderful celebration of community, creativity and Christmas cheer at Akeley. 🎄💫
#AkeleyWoodSchool #AkeleyCommunity #ChristmasFayre #IndependentSchool #FestiveFun
Raising awareness and funds for Children in Need
Last Friday was full of pyjamas, Pudsey ears and big-hearted ideas. At the Junior School, children talked about what it means to help others and chose a whole-school pyjama day as they reflected on the small ways we can make a difference. At the Senior School, students led an assembly and organised a bake sale to boost fundraising even further.
Thanks to the generosity of our Akeley community, we raised over £1,100 — surpassing our target. A huge well done to every child who took part. Kindness grows here.
#AkeleyWoodSchool #ChildrenInNeed #AkeleyCommunity #KindnessInAction
“Look! This one’s heavier!” That was the excitement in Forest School as our Reception children filled their pockets with leaves, conkers and acorns, noticing how the trees are changing and turning their treasures into ideas.
Back in class, those same conkers became artwork, rolled down tubes and tipped our bucket balances as the children explored ‘heavy’ and ‘light’. Outdoors or in, their curiosity led the way.
Across the woodland, imagination took over — cafés, dens, slides and more — but it’s these small Reception moments of wonder that remind us why Forest School is such a special part of Akeley.
✨ Come and see early learning in action at our Reception Stay and Play.
akeleywoodschool.co.uk/book-an-event
#ReceptionAtAkeley #ForestSchool #EarlyYears #AkeleyWoodSchool #DiscoverGrowAchieve
We’re learning about colours, so our Reception classroom is full of rainbows! We read a story about a girl who tried to catch one… so now we’re rainbow hunters too. We look for colours everywhere — in the art area, in construction, even in the writing corner. We sound out words and write them on our big rainbow wall.
Catch a rainbow at Akeley`s Reception classroom. Join us for our Junior School Open Day on Tuesday 18 November, 9.00–12.00, or join our Stay & Play on Friday 28 November, 1.30–2.30pm. Book your place: akeleywoodschool.co.uk/book-an-event/
#AkeleyReception #DiscoverGrowAchieve #EarlyYears #ThisIsAkeley
“My poppy is for someone who helped us.” That simple thought from one of our Reception children set the tone for a deeply meaningful Remembrance across Akeley Wood School.
At the weekend, Akeley pupils represented the school at the Buckingham Remembrance Service. Our Junior School Head Students, Tilly and Edward, laid the wreath and a posy with great maturity, and many of our students also took part through Scouts, Guides and local cadet groups — a true reflection of our community spirit.
On Tuesday, both the Junior and Senior Schools held their own services. Reception wore the poppies they had carefully made and joined their very first two-minute silence, while Junior pupils James and Isabella shared thoughtful poems with the school. At the Senior School, the entire community gathered on the Astro for a moving service led by our Head Girl, Gabriella, and Head Boy, Yumeth, before observing the silence together.
Across every part of Akeley, it was a moment to remember, to show respect and to reflect on the world our children will help shape with compassion and courage.
"I’m the shop owner today — would you like some eggs?" Our Reception world changes every week. One day it’s a farm shop, the next it’s a rocket to space. We dress up, make signs, count coins and take turns.
Come and see where imagination leads learning.
Join our 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 on Tuesday 18 November (9–12) or our 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 on Friday 28 November (1.30–2.30pm).
Book your visit: akeleywoodschool.co.uk/book-an-event/
#AkeleyReception #DiscoverGrowAchieve #ThisIsAkeley
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 Over the next few weeks we`ll be taking closer look inside our Reception classrooms to explore the many ways our youngest learners grow in confidence, creativity and curiosity. Here is a sneak peek!
✨ Join us for our upcoming Reception Stay & Play to see it all in action — book your place at www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk/book-an-event
#EarlyYears #ReceptionAtAkeley #AkeleyWoodSchool #IndependentSchool #MiltonKeynes #ReceptionStayAndPlay
