A prep school near Blandford has been named as the 'best of the best' in a schools guide prestigious award.

Bryanston Prep School has won the Best of the Best Prep School for Country Prep in the latest edition of the highly acclaimed The Week Independent Schools Guide.

The guide is voted for by experts at the weekly news magazine which travels up and down the country to find the best independent schools that have nature at the heart of its curriculum.

A spokesperson for the school said: "At the Prep we believe in the importance of learning through play and nature is fundamental to sparking a natural, playful, and instinctive curiosity in children.

"The school’s educational provision stretches far beyond the classroom: the children are outdoors as much as possible, learning from and in nature.

"The pupils not only have access to extensive grounds, timetabled forest school sessions, and our own equestrian centre with 13 ponies but also enjoy outdoor wellness days and overnight camps in the grounds throughout the year.

"Tree-climbing, scooting, playing hide and seek is encouraged as well as building dens, exploring the gardens, or helping look after the horses – not only teaching valuable life skills but providing a unique sense of fulfilment and joy.

"In addition, Bryanston Prep pupils have access to the 400-acre Bryanston senior school site with all of its outstanding facilities which include a 25-metre swimming pool and theatre but also specialist teaching from their outdoor education team for co-curricular lessons such as kayaking, mountain biking and climbing."