Hurstpierpoint College
Encyclopedia
Hurstpierpoint College is an independent
, co-educational
, day
and boarding school
for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint
, West Sussex
in the lee of the South Downs. The College was founded in 1849 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard
and is a member of the Woodard Corporation
.
. Its first headmaster, Rev. Edward Clarke Lowe
, had worked with Woodard
at Lancing College
and stayed at Hurstpierpoint for 22 years until 1872. The school moved to Mansion House in Hurstpierpoint
and then, thanks to the local benefactors the Campion Family, on the 21 June 1853 made its final move to its present site. Intended to resemble the collegiate
system at Oxford
and Cambridge
, Nathaniel Woodard
designed the College to have adjoining Inner and Outer quads
and the chapel
and dining hall adjacent to each other.
The College has grown significantly in recent years and now provides education for boys and girls aged between 4 and 18 years. Tim Manly BA(Oxon) MSc(LSE) is Headmaster of Hurstpierpoint College, with overall responsibility for all four of the College's schools:
Of these 920 pupils, 370 are girls and 550 boys. All four schools share the facilities available in the College's 140 acre (0.5665604 km²), country campus.
The school was most recently inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
in early 2011.
The College has a strong tradition of Drama, with the oldest Shakespearian Society in existence. In 2009 Hurst mounted a total of 18 separate productions, which between them put on 40 performances. These included various student directed and lead productions, the annual Shakespeare production, the Shell Shakespeare Festival, the annual musical, the House Drama Competition, the Drama gap student's production, other staff directed productions and an annual contribution to the Hurst Festival. There have also been regular theatre trips abroad. Most recently the College toured China
with King Lear
for two weeks. There are also a number of evening workshops, including 'Acting in Front of a Camera, which used HD video cameras and playback on a projector to teach the students.
Art at Hurst is housed in the Art Department opened by David Shepherd (artist)
in 2003. The department runs various art workshops, activities and evening sessions including Life Drawing held by Royal Academy of Art School graduate Peter Harrap
Musical life, too, has something of a tradition in the college with old masters including Thomas Fielden (musician) and Nicholas Chisholm (current Headmaster of the Yehudi Menuhin School
). There are regular concerts and recitals and an annual House Music Competition called the "House Shout". There is a large school choir of 125, as well as a smaller group that make up the Chamber Choir, which performs choral evensong in various cathedrals during the year. Their most recent performance was at Salisbury Cathedral
.
, in the Michaelmas term (September - December), hockey
in the Lent
term (January - March) and cricket
and athletics in the Summer term (April - June). Principal sports for girls are Hockey in the Michaelmas term (September - December), netball in the Lent
term (January - March) and athletics and swimming in the Summer term (April - June). Other sports include: Senior Boys Football, Girls' Cricket, Girls' Football, Swimming, Cross Country, Triathlon, Riding (The College has a close relationship with Hickstead
, and founded many riding events there such as "The Hurstpierpoint College Schools' Team Show Jumping Competition" and "The Hurstpierpoint College National Schools & Pony Club Championships"- giving the College a strong reputation in Equestrian sports), Dance, Aerobics, Weights-training, climbing and other forms of Outdoor Pursuits, Gymnastics, Squash, Tennis and Croquet. Hurst has a long and strong sporting tradition and fields teams, often getting out teams from A to D. It has recently travelled further afield to maintain a high level of competition. This has given Hurst a reputation as a sporting school.
and then, whilst retaining affiliation to their former houses, all students in their last year (Upper Sixth) join the 11th house, the co-educational day and boarding 'hall of residence', St John's House.
, in order to give the school a feeling of tradition back in its early Victorian
days.
During the year there are a number of banner processions, each house having a banner. St Etheldreda's (Æthelthryth
) day - the day on which the chapel was dedicated - is Old Johnian day, the day when all the old Pupils are invited back to the school to participate in various events.
On Ascension Day, every member of the College climbs the nearby Wolstonbury Hill
nicknamed Danny Hill - after the Campion family home, Danny House
, located at the bottom of the hill on the South Downs
. Once the whole school is assembled on top of the hill the choir sings the 17th century Hymnus Eucharisticus
. After singing the hymn the Headmaster
hands out the Lowe's Dole - money left by the first Headmaster, Canon Lowe, for the choir and sacristan
s.
The most exotic tradition is the boar
's Head Procession and Feast this occurs at the end of the Michaelmas
Term. The sacristans and the choir accompany a boar's head that is borne through the cloister
s. As they go they sing the 15th century carol
'Caput Apri Defero' (Boar's Head Carol
) and then attend the feast.
'Hurst' has traditionally performed a Shakespeare play every year since 1854, beginning with 'Richard III' after the first headmaster, Dr Lowe inspired the first players onto stage. This means that 'Hurstpierpoint College' boasts the oldest Shakespeare society in existence, older even than that of the Royal Shakespeare Company
which was not formed until 1875.
He lived in the Shield rooms opposite to Rev. John Gorham. They mutually plagued each other. One put the huge Ammonite in the Fellows' Library into the other's bed. The response to this was the secretion of various cuckoo clocks in the room opposite, which heralded spring unintermittingly through the night hours.
The College has recently undertaken a lot of development.
Art Facilities
Extracurricular activities are an essential part of life at Hurst. The Art School is housed in the new Art Department opened by artist David Shepherd (artist)
in 2003. It has 3 large studios, a computer room with photo and video editing software, a ceramics room and a Photographic studio and dark room. In addition, there is a staff room.
Drama Facilities
The Bury Theatre
The Bury Theatre is the principal theatre at Hurst.
(Engine 918) in the Southern Railway's
Class V
of which there were 40. This Class was also known as the Schools Class because all 40 of the class were named after prominent English Public Schools
. 'Hurstpierpoint', as it was called, was built in 1934 and was withdrawn in 1961. Its nameplate is now housed in the School's Science Block.
. Later in the year a trust fund was set up by the boys family and was launched after a donation from Virgin boss Richard Branson
. Branson donated flights and a week's holiday on his private Caribbean island for a raffle, the proceeds of which went towards the fund.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, co-educational
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
, day
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint is a village in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. Together with Sayers Common it forms one of the Mid Sussex civil parishes, with an area of 2029.88 ha and a population of 6,264 persons....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in the lee of the South Downs. The College was founded in 1849 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith...
and is a member of the Woodard Corporation
Woodard Schools
Woodard Schools is a group of Anglican schools affiliated to the Woodard Corporation which has its origin in the work of Nathaniel Woodard, an Anglo-Catholic clergyman....
.
History and overview
The school was originally established in 1849 as St John's Middle School, based in ShorehamShoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away...
. Its first headmaster, Rev. Edward Clarke Lowe
Edward Clarke Lowe
Edward Clarke Lowe was an English educator and a key participant in the foundation and development of the Woodard Schools.-Early life and education:...
, had worked with Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith...
at Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
and stayed at Hurstpierpoint for 22 years until 1872. The school moved to Mansion House in Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint is a village in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. Together with Sayers Common it forms one of the Mid Sussex civil parishes, with an area of 2029.88 ha and a population of 6,264 persons....
and then, thanks to the local benefactors the Campion Family, on the 21 June 1853 made its final move to its present site. Intended to resemble the collegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
system at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, Nathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith...
designed the College to have adjoining Inner and Outer quads
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
and the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and dining hall adjacent to each other.
The College has grown significantly in recent years and now provides education for boys and girls aged between 4 and 18 years. Tim Manly BA(Oxon) MSc(LSE) is Headmaster of Hurstpierpoint College, with overall responsibility for all four of the College's schools:
Of these 920 pupils, 370 are girls and 550 boys. All four schools share the facilities available in the College's 140 acre (0.5665604 km²), country campus.
The school was most recently inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
Independent Schools Inspectorate
The Independent Schools Inspectorate is an organisation responsible for the inspection of independent schools in England which are affiliated to the Independent Schools Council . The Inspectorate is a separate company, owned by the Independent Schools Council and has its work monitored by the...
in early 2011.
Creative Arts
Drama, Dance, Art and Music all feature prominently in life at Hurst, as the College has a strong emphasis on the extracurricular.The College has a strong tradition of Drama, with the oldest Shakespearian Society in existence. In 2009 Hurst mounted a total of 18 separate productions, which between them put on 40 performances. These included various student directed and lead productions, the annual Shakespeare production, the Shell Shakespeare Festival, the annual musical, the House Drama Competition, the Drama gap student's production, other staff directed productions and an annual contribution to the Hurst Festival. There have also been regular theatre trips abroad. Most recently the College toured China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
for two weeks. There are also a number of evening workshops, including 'Acting in Front of a Camera, which used HD video cameras and playback on a projector to teach the students.
Art at Hurst is housed in the Art Department opened by David Shepherd (artist)
David Shepherd (artist)
Richard David Shepherd CBE FRSA FGRA is a British artist and one of the world's most outspoken conservationists. He is most famous for his paintings of wildlife, although he also often paints steam railways, aircraft and landscapes...
in 2003. The department runs various art workshops, activities and evening sessions including Life Drawing held by Royal Academy of Art School graduate Peter Harrap
Musical life, too, has something of a tradition in the college with old masters including Thomas Fielden (musician) and Nicholas Chisholm (current Headmaster of the Yehudi Menuhin School
Yehudi Menuhin School
The Yehudi Menuhin School is a specialist music school in Surrey, England. It was founded in 1963 by the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.The School also gives pupils the best musical education any specialist schools can with a number of internationally main teachers, Simon Fischer , Natalya Boyarskaya ,...
). There are regular concerts and recitals and an annual House Music Competition called the "House Shout". There is a large school choir of 125, as well as a smaller group that make up the Chamber Choir, which performs choral evensong in various cathedrals during the year. Their most recent performance was at Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
.
Sport
Sport features heavily in school life at The College. Hurst's main sports for boys are rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, in the Michaelmas term (September - December), hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
in the Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
term (January - March) and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and athletics in the Summer term (April - June). Principal sports for girls are Hockey in the Michaelmas term (September - December), netball in the Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
term (January - March) and athletics and swimming in the Summer term (April - June). Other sports include: Senior Boys Football, Girls' Cricket, Girls' Football, Swimming, Cross Country, Triathlon, Riding (The College has a close relationship with Hickstead
Hickstead
The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, known widely as Hickstead is an equestrian sport centre in West Sussex, England, principally known for its showjumping activities, where it hosts two international level competitions, the British Jumping Derby and the Royal International Horse Show...
, and founded many riding events there such as "The Hurstpierpoint College Schools' Team Show Jumping Competition" and "The Hurstpierpoint College National Schools & Pony Club Championships"- giving the College a strong reputation in Equestrian sports), Dance, Aerobics, Weights-training, climbing and other forms of Outdoor Pursuits, Gymnastics, Squash, Tennis and Croquet. Hurst has a long and strong sporting tradition and fields teams, often getting out teams from A to D. It has recently travelled further afield to maintain a high level of competition. This has given Hurst a reputation as a sporting school.
Houses
The senior school comprises 10 housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
and then, whilst retaining affiliation to their former houses, all students in their last year (Upper Sixth) join the 11th house, the co-educational day and boarding 'hall of residence', St John's House.
| Name | House colour | Type | HoMs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron | Orange/Black | Boys, day house | Nicholas Beeby, House Master |
| Crescent | Black/White | Boys, day house | Greg Haines, House Master |
| Woodard | Maroon/White | Boys, day house | Dan Higgins, House Master |
| Fleur De Lys | Sky Blue/Yellow | Girls, flexi boarding house | Annick Lieutaud, House Mistress |
| Pelican | Purple | Girls, day house | Sarah Hyman, House Mistress |
| Martlet | Green/White | Girls, boarding house | Kathren Lea, House Mistress |
| Shield | Pink/Black | Girls, boarding house | Kate Bray, House Mistress |
| Eagle | Green/Black | Boys, boarding house | Ivan Sambles, House Master |
| Red Cross | Red/Black | Boys, boarding house | Ian Pattison, House Master |
| Star | Navy/Sky Blue | Boys, boarding house | Rob Shearman, House Master |
| St Johns | Maroon/Grey | All Upper Sixth | Tim Leeper & Angela Browne, House Master and Mistress |
Headmasters of Hurstpierpoint
- The Revd Edward Clarke LoweEdward Clarke LoweEdward Clarke Lowe was an English educator and a key participant in the foundation and development of the Woodard Schools.-Early life and education:...
(1849–1872) - The Revd William Awdry (1872-1880) later Bishop of South Tokyo
- The Revd Charles Cooper (1880 - 1902)
- The Revd Arthur Coombes (1902 - 1923)
- The Revd H Bernard Tower (1924 - 1937)
- Walter Dingwall (1937 - 1945)
- The Revd Canon Ronald Howard (1945 - 1964)
- Roger Griffiths(1964–1986)
- Simon Watson (1986–1995)
- Stephen Meek (1995–2004)
- Tim Manly (2005- )
Traditions
The school still preserves a number of ceremonies, which for the most part were taken from other schools such as Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, in order to give the school a feeling of tradition back in its early Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
days.
During the year there are a number of banner processions, each house having a banner. St Etheldreda's (Æthelthryth
Æthelthryth
Æthelthryth is the proper name for the popular Anglo-Saxon saint often known, particularly in a religious context, as Etheldreda or by the pet form of Audrey...
) day - the day on which the chapel was dedicated - is Old Johnian day, the day when all the old Pupils are invited back to the school to participate in various events.
On Ascension Day, every member of the College climbs the nearby Wolstonbury Hill
Wolstonbury Hill
Wolstonbury Hill is a chalk prominence in the South Downs National Park, approximately north of Brighton and west of Clayton, in the parish of Pyecombe, West Sussex, England...
nicknamed Danny Hill - after the Campion family home, Danny House
Danny House
Danny is an impressive Grade I listed Elizabethan red brick Mansion near Hurstpierpoint in West Sussex, England. It lies at the northern foot of Wolstonbury Hill and one of the finest stately houses in Sussex, with 56 bedrooms and 28 apartments. The present house was built 1593-95 by George...
, located at the bottom of the hill on the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
. Once the whole school is assembled on top of the hill the choir sings the 17th century Hymnus Eucharisticus
Hymnus Eucharisticus
The Hymnus Eucharisticus is a traditional hymn sung by the Magdalen College choir at Oxford, England...
. After singing the hymn the Headmaster
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
hands out the Lowe's Dole - money left by the first Headmaster, Canon Lowe, for the choir and sacristan
Sacristan
A sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents.In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers , later by the treasurers and mansionarii...
s.
The most exotic tradition is the boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
's Head Procession and Feast this occurs at the end of the Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
Term. The sacristans and the choir accompany a boar's head that is borne through the cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
s. As they go they sing the 15th century carol
Carol (music)
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character....
'Caput Apri Defero' (Boar's Head Carol
Boar's Head Carol
The Boar's Head Carol is a macaronic 15th century English Christmas carol that describes the ancient tradition of sacrificing a boar and presenting its head at a Yuletide feast...
) and then attend the feast.
'Hurst' has traditionally performed a Shakespeare play every year since 1854, beginning with 'Richard III' after the first headmaster, Dr Lowe inspired the first players onto stage. This means that 'Hurstpierpoint College' boasts the oldest Shakespeare society in existence, older even than that of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
which was not formed until 1875.
Notable Masters
- Sabine Baring-GouldSabine Baring-GouldThe Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
: Novelist and composer of hymns, the most notable being "Onward, Christian SoldiersOnward, Christian Soldiers"Onward, Christian Soldiers" is a 19th century English hymn. The words were written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, and the music was composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1871. Sullivan named the tune "St. Gertrude," after the wife of his friend Ernest Clay Ker Seymer, at whose country home he composed...
". He was a Master of the College from 1855 to 1864. Baring-Gould had an eccentric reputation, and archives tell how he would teach with a bat on his shoulder and took weird holidays, bringing home a pony from Iceland, which lived for years in the North Field. Whilst the Hymn is thought to have been written in Yorkshire in 1865, a story recounts how Baring-Gould (known as"Snout") on one occasion gave a pupil of the College thirty-six (sic) cuts, and then washed his hands and sat down and wrote "Onward Christian Soldiers." A talented artist, he made and painted (well heraldically) the coat of arms of the Prince of Wales, which for many years appeared in the proscenium. Baring-Gould designed the cover of the Johnian (the College's publication), and designed the bookshelves and cases with their wrought iron, originally red and gold, in the Boys' Library. He also painted the window jambs with scenes from the "Canterbury Tales" and the "Faery Queen", and probably did work for the Fellows' Library. In 1860 he was one of the "Hurst Rifle Volunteers," who used to drill at the New Inn, which lead Hurst to be one of the founding CCFCCFCCF can refer to:* 100 cubic feet, an American standard measurement of water or natural gas volume, more often written "Ccf" * Cambodian Children's Fund, charity organisation...
schools.
He lived in the Shield rooms opposite to Rev. John Gorham. They mutually plagued each other. One put the huge Ammonite in the Fellows' Library into the other's bed. The response to this was the secretion of various cuckoo clocks in the room opposite, which heralded spring unintermittingly through the night hours.
- Thomas Fielden (musician): He was a famous Director of Music at Hurst, CharterhouseCharterhouse SchoolCharterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and FettesFettes CollegeFettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
, as well as a noted pianist, and Professor of Pianoforte at the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of MusicThe Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
for over 30 years.
- Percy HennPercy HennReverend Canon Percy Umfreville Henn was a clergyman and teacher in England and later Western Australia. He is best known for his time as Headmaster at Guildford Grammar School and later for the building of the Chapel of SS...
: Noted clergyman and teacher in England and later Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
- David Whitmarsh: Academic at the University of PortsmouthUniversity of PortsmouthThe University of Portsmouth is a university in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The University was ranked 60th out of 122 in The Sunday Times University Guide...
.
Notable Old Johnians
Past students of Hurstpierpoint College are referred to as Old Johnians. See also :Category:Old Johnians (Hurstpierpoint College).Facilities, Buildings and Development
DevelopmentThe College has recently undertaken a lot of development.
- The College is completely renovating and extending the current Science Block, first opened by the Duke of EdinburghDuke of EdinburghThe Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
. - Hurst is also building a new Astro Plus.
- Fleur De Lys Girls' house has been moved into a wing of the Cloisters in the Outer Quad, with a bold use of modern architecture in the old part of the school. The house is formed by a large glass wall, cut to the arch of the cloisters roof, and accessed through an automated door.
- Pelican Girl's house was built in place of the Old Prep School boarding house.
- Recently completed is the New £4.5 million Classroom Block that now forms the New Academic Quad.
- Under-construction is Hurst Farm.
Art Facilities
Extracurricular activities are an essential part of life at Hurst. The Art School is housed in the new Art Department opened by artist David Shepherd (artist)
David Shepherd (artist)
Richard David Shepherd CBE FRSA FGRA is a British artist and one of the world's most outspoken conservationists. He is most famous for his paintings of wildlife, although he also often paints steam railways, aircraft and landscapes...
in 2003. It has 3 large studios, a computer room with photo and video editing software, a ceramics room and a Photographic studio and dark room. In addition, there is a staff room.
Drama Facilities
The Bury Theatre
The Bury Theatre is the principal theatre at Hurst.
Southern Railway Schools Class
The school lent its name to the nineteenth steam locomotiveLocomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
(Engine 918) in the Southern Railway's
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
Class V
SR Class V
The SR V class, more commonly known as the Schools class, is a class of steam locomotive designed by Richard Maunsell for the Southern Railway. The class was a cut down version of his Lord Nelson class but also incorporated components from Urie and Maunsell's LSWR/SR King Arthur class...
of which there were 40. This Class was also known as the Schools Class because all 40 of the class were named after prominent English Public Schools
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
. 'Hurstpierpoint', as it was called, was built in 1934 and was withdrawn in 1961. Its nameplate is now housed in the School's Science Block.
Tragedy
The school experienced a tragic loss in the early hours of January 1, 2009 when a lower sixth form pupil was accidentally killed at Burgess Hill railway stationBurgess Hill railway station
Burgess Hill railway station serves Burgess Hill in West Sussex. Located on the Brighton Main Line and Thameslink 15 km north of Brighton railway station, train services are provided by Southern and First Capital Connect...
. Later in the year a trust fund was set up by the boys family and was launched after a donation from Virgin boss Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
. Branson donated flights and a week's holiday on his private Caribbean island for a raffle, the proceeds of which went towards the fund.