The vision behind ONE: creating our new Highfield film

Discover the story behind ONE, our new film celebrating Highfield’s history, capturing the character of school life today and looking ahead to our next chapter.

'I do not think parents could ever have finer buildings, more beautiful grounds or more genuine character.'

These words, spoken by Highfield’s former owner and Headmaster, W. R. Mills, open our new film. They were delivered in 1907 on the occasion of Highfield’s move from Southampton to our current premises. The opening was attended by about 150 guests, including the Archdeacon of Winchester, who praised the school’s academic reputation and recent scholarship successes. The new site offered extensive grounds, modern facilities and plans for a chapel, swimming bath and what the school hoped would eventually become one of the finest cricket grounds among English schools.

The school has grown considerably since then. Generations of children have passed through its doors and each has left their own mark. Yet, more than a century later, the character W. R. Mills recognised remains at the heart of Highfield today.

That connection between our past and our present inspired ONE, a film created to mark our next chapter as Highfield School.

Bringing the vision to life

ONE was directed and produced by the talented Bob Cryer, an accomplished writer, producer and director whose storytelling experience shaped the film. As the husband of our Head, Suzannah Cryer, Bob already had a close understanding of Highfield and what makes it so special. Combined with his perspective from outside independent school marketing, this allowed him to see the school with both familiarity and fresh eyes.

Bob worked with award-winning director and videographer Nathan Theys, whose career spans commercial filmmaking and long-form narrative work. Completing the film crew was assistant camera operator Fin Bunce. Alongside them, London-based portrait photographer Roj Whitelock captured a complementary collection of still images. Known for his work with actors and creatives, Roj brought his eye for personality and detail to the school day

Their approach was rooted in observing the school day and capturing what was already happening in front of them. The result is a film that avoids the usual staged scenes and instead feels unmistakably Highfield.

More than a school film

We wanted ONE to do more than take you on a tour of Highfield. Our buildings and grounds are an important part of our story, but they cannot fully express what it feels like to be here.

That feeling lives in the moments that happen every day. It can be found in the welcome at the door or the freedom of running across the grounds. It is present in the quiet concentration of a lesson and in the natural way children come together.

The film follows the rhythm of one day at Highfield, capturing children and staff continuing as they normally would. It begins with members of our community preparing the school for the children’s arrival. These opening scenes recognise the work that happens quietly behind the scenes and the people who make each day possible. They capture the power of a shared purpose: whatever someone’s individual role, their contribution matters to the bigger picture.

From there, Highfield comes to life as children move through the school and out into our 175 acres, experiencing the breadth of childhood that can unfold here. We wanted ONE to feel honest and recognisable: a genuine glimpse of Highfield as it is every day.

Giving every moment room to breathe

The pace of the film was an important part of how we wanted ONE to feel. Much of the footage has been slowed down, allowing moments that might usually pass in an instant to be seen properly. A child leaps into the swimming pool. Hands work carefully during a science lesson. A group walks together through the woodland.

The slower pace reflects something fundamental about our approach to childhood. Children need space to become absorbed in what they are doing. They need time to discover who they are without being hurried towards the next milestone.

Highfield is a busy school filled with energy, but that energy is grounded in a sense of calm. We build confidence quietly and pursue excellence without losing sight of the child in front of us. The film captures that balance, giving each scene the freedom to unfold in its own time.

The circle at the heart of ONE

Look closely and you will notice one shape appearing throughout the film. A child lifts a hoop during gymnastics. Another peers through a magnifying glass. One crawls through a circular tunnel.

The circle was chosen as the central visual idea behind ONE because it represents unity and belonging. It reflects a community in which everyone has a place and each person contributes to something larger than themselves.

It also connects with our new school identity. The circle surrounding Highfield’s crossed keys brings every part of the school together under one name. It carries a sense of continuity, reflecting the generations of families who have become part of Highfield’s story.

Finding a new way to show school life

There was another important idea behind the making of ONE: bringing our new image policy to life. As we move away from publishing clear, identifiable images of children on our public digital channels, we wanted the film to show that protecting children’s privacy does not have to limit how vividly we share life at Highfield. In fact, it gave us an opportunity to be more thoughtful and creative about the way we captured it.

Rather than relying on close-ups of children’s faces, the camera focuses on the details that reveal how a moment feels. Joy is captured in the movement of a child leaping into the pool. Curiosity can be seen in hands conducting an experiment. Friendship emerges in the way children move together through the grounds.

Children are filmed from behind or at a distance, allowing their individuality to shine through without making them clearly identifiable. It is an approach that puts their protection first while still capturing a school full of personality and life.

ONE demonstrates our new image policy in action and shows that a meaningful story does not always need a face at its centre. Sometimes, looking differently helps us notice even more.

One Story. One Purpose. One Highfield.

The words spoken by W. R. Mills in 1907 connect Highfield’s beginnings with the school we know today. ONE celebrates the character that has endured since then while looking confidently towards what comes next. This is our story and we are proud to carry it forward together.

Watch the video here.

September 2026