The school serves an area that includes the villages of Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, East Boldre, Hordle, Norleywood, Pilley, South Baddesley, Sway and the towns of Lymington and Milford-on-Sea.

The oldest part of the school, built circa 1800, and the grounds were once the home of Rear-admiral John Peyton who commanded HMS Defence at the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

[3] A 2008 Ofsted inspection assessed the school as Grade 1 (Outstanding).

[7] However, a problem with the video resulted in insufficient evidence for the record to be officially recognised.

A student group called "The Eco-Warriors" restored an 18th-century walled garden in the grounds with pigs, bees, and chickens in 2008.