Frensham Heights re-opens its much-loved treehouse

Sport and outdoor education are central to life at Frensham Heights School. Complementing the recently upgraded high ropes and new zip wire in the school's woodland, the much-loved treehouse has been lovingly renovated and has now re-opened its doors. 

Nestled among the trees, close to the high ropes and zip wire, the treehouse is a structure of genuine enchantment. With its twinkling lights and beautifully crafted wooden frame, it sits harmoniously within its woodland setting while retaining the magical quality that children have always adored. It will serve as the Outdoor Education hub for the school's extensive range of extracurricular activities, which include archery, foraging, climbing, den building, high ropes and gardening. 

During the school holidays, the treehouse will also be available to hire for birthday parties, wellbeing events and even weddings. To mark the re-opening, the school invited former Headmaster Andrew Fisher as its special guest. Well known for his passion for the outdoors and his many charitable exploits - including camping on site to raise money for good causes - Andrew was a fitting choice to celebrate the occasion.

Reflecting on the treehouse's origins, he shared: 'There were two reasons this was originally built - one was my firm belief in the positive power of outdoor education, and secondly it was about creating a sense of whimsy, a sense of fun, remembering that childhood should be fun. I am so delighted it's living again and full of children and their adventures.' 

Getting outdoors is an intrinsic part of the Frensham curriculum, from Forest School in the early years through to challenging high-altitude expeditions for older students. Within the curriculum, Year 7 and 8 students learn about food production, sustainability and biodiversity in the school's agro-ecological garden, while Year 8 students go a step further - building, running and living in a self-sustaining village in the woods, stepping well outside their modern comfort zones. 

Beyond the treehouse, Frensham's on-site facilities are exceptional. Set across 120 acres, the school offers extensive playing fields alongside all the sports provision expected of a leading independent school, including weights and cardio studios, a climbing wall, high ropes and zip wire. Frensham is also the only school in the UK to hold Gold Standard accreditation from the AHOEC, and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions are delivered in-house through to Gold Award level. 

At Frensham, the belief is that school should be an exciting place - somewhere children actively engage with their learning and their surroundings, where they are free to explore, question and understand. Most importantly, it should be a happy place they look forward to each morning and are reluctant to leave at the end of the day. 

March 2026