A famous private school in Hampshire has been nominated for a national award.

Walhampton School in Lymington is one of eight which has been shortlisted for the Tes Schools Independent Prep School of the Year award.

The private school caters for children aged two to 13 and is set in 100 acres of lakes, lawns and ancient woodland, which the institution's website says leaves students feeling "inspired by nature".

Both a day and boarding school, Walhampton is located on the edge of the New Forest near Lymington.

A spokesperson for Walhampton School said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce that Walhampton has been shortlisted in the Tes Schools Awards 2025 for the Independent Prep School of the Year award.

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"Being one of only eight prep schools shortlisted is such an exciting achievement. What fantastic news in our first few days back.

"We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our dedicated staff, kind pupils and loyal families for making Walhampton such a remarkable place to entrust your future."

Walhampton celebrated its 75th anniversary in September 2023.

Bohunt Education Trust in Hampshire has been shortlisted for Trust Team of the Year - with nine schools or less - and Jackie Lunt from King's Academy Lord Wilson has been nominated for Teaching Assistant of the Year.

Walhampton recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.Walhampton recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. (Image: Walhampton School) Elsewhere in the county, Nigel Matthias from King's Academy Lord Wilson has also been shortlisted for Specialist Provision School Leader of the Year.

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The Independent Prep School award looks for education establishments that showed "rapid improvement or maintained continued excellence in the 2023-24 academic year".

The Tes awards website said: "We’d like to hear about your innovation, imagination and efforts to develop children in ways that go beyond academic achievement and the league tables."

Yarm Preparatory School scooped the award last year and was praised for developing a five-year strategy to incorporate community involvement and to make a new Prep Hall available to local people.

The school was praised for overcoming "challenge set" by the coronavirus pandemic and for engaging in "quality professional learning and development".