Frensham Heights School

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Frensham Heights School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Rowledge

Farnham
,
Surrey
,
GU10 4EA

England
Coordinates51°10′38″N 0°48′41″W / 51.17714°N 0.81151°W / 51.17714; -0.81151Coordinates: 51°10′38″N 0°48′41″W / 51.17714°N 0.81151°W / 51.17714; -0.81151
Information
TypeIndependent and Sixth form college day and boarding
MottoThink, Create, Explore
Established1925
FounderEdith Douglas-Hamilton
Local authoritySurrey
Department for Education URN125338 Tables
HeadmasterRick Clarke
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 18
Enrolment530~
Former pupilsOld Frenshamians
Websitehttps://www.frensham.org

Frensham Heights School is an independent school and sixth form college located near Farnham, Surrey, England, run by the registered charity, Frensham Heights Educational Trust Ltd. It was founded in 1925 and formed as part of the movement for progressive education. Unlike many HMC member schools, it has been coeducational and took both day and boarding pupils since its foundation.

Foundation and location[]

The school was founded by Edith Douglas-Hamilton and established under joint headmistresses, Beatrice Ensor and Isabel King. It became firmly established under the headmastership of Paul Roberts (1928–1949[1]) and was recognised as efficient by the Ministry of Education in 1935.

Based at a mock-Tudor mansion, built by the brewer Charles Charrington in 1902, and in its estate, the school is on a hill 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from the centre of Farnham but is actually in the village of Frensham. Its grounds run into Rowledge.


The headmaster[]

The current head is Rick Clarke, who replaced the previous head, Andrew Fisher, in 2019. Prior to becoming headmaster of Frensham Heights, Clarke was deputy head at Warminster.

Facilities[]

The school now has a fully functioning music centre including the Sixth Form Centre. The Aldridge Theatre is the Frensham venue for drama activities, with external theatre companies sometimes performing there. The school also has a Photography Suite, Sports Hall, Dance Studio and 'Outdoor Education' facilities. It also has a sixth form centre for both day and boarding students, it is slightly separated from the rest of the school in order for the school to compete with other colleges.

Sport[]

Despite being a somewhat small school, Frensham Heights hosts several sports teams in various fields of sport and played at all age ranges. These include common sports such as Rugby, football, hockey, basketball, netball and cricket. Taking part in sport each week is compulsory until year 13 when students can opt to use the time usually allocated to sport for extra revision and study, although this is only allowed if a student attends a sport ECA. Although not being renowned for its sport, the under 16 boys' football team has reached the quarter final of the ISFA cup, a national trophy for small independent schools.

Between year 7 and year 11, there are two sessions of sport each week, while only one for the sixth form. From year 9 upwards, students can choose which sport to do each term with options being archery, football, badminton, hockey and golf, as well as swimming, tennis and rounders during the summer. Prior to year 9, students partake in sports including rugby, basketball, hockey and football and athletics, rounders and swimming in the summer term but have no choice over which activity occurs at any point.

Outdoor education[]

As a subsidiary to sport, outdoor education (or simply 'outdoor-ed') is compulsory for all students between year 7 and year 11. Different from sport in that it does not stress athletic qualities, instead it encourages teamwork, co-operation, individual courage and leadership, ideals which reflect the school's ethos.

Outdoor ed typically involves team-building activities in the woods including activities such as climbing 'Jacob's Ladder' and a high ropes challenge near the Sports Hall. The school runs regular Outdoor Education trips to places such as a climbing trip to Dartmoor and to Harrison's Rocks in Kent. The school also runs the Duke of Edinburgh award at all levels.

The school has recently introduced weekly Forest Schools sessions for all pupils in the First School; Nursery to Year Three.

Notable alumni[]

Ex-pupils (Old Frenshamians) include:

  • Kay Alexander, journalist and television presenter
  • Myrtle Allen, Michelin star winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeat's Room of Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, County Cork.
  • Nikki Amuka-Bird, actress[2]
  • David Berglas, Pre-eminent psychological illusionist, President of The Magic Circle (1989–1998).
  • Hugo Blick, writer, producer, director, and occasional actor
  • Edward Davenport, fraudster
  • Jack Dee, comedian
  • Mark Frankel, actor
  • Clive Gillinson, director, Carnegie Hall
  • Jamie Glover, actor
  • Domino Harvey, bounty hunter
  • Wolfgang Hildesheimer, author and painter
  • Will Hodgkinson, writer[3]
  • Charlotte Hough (née Woodyadd), author and illustrator[4]
  • Richard Hough, author and historian
  • Rufus Hound, comedian
  • James Irvine, designer[5]
  • Tony Knowland, professor[6]
  • Sir Thomas Legg, civil servant
  • Nick Mason, drummer, Pink Floyd
  • Tobias Menzies, actor
  • Crispin Mills, musician
  • Hattie Morahan, actress
  • Lord Claus Moser, came to the school as a refugee from Germany
  • Carl Ng, actor
  • Rex Orange County, musician
  • Bill Pertwee, actor, best known for his role as the greengrocer and warden Mr. Hodges in Dad's Army and cousin to Jon Pertwee
  • Jon Pertwee, actor who played the third Doctor in Doctor Who
  • Wolf Rilla, film director[7]
  • Sam Roddick, businesswoman[8]
  • Su Rogers, architect
  • Valerie Singleton, television presenter
  • Henry Smith,[9] Member of Parliament for Crawley (2010–)
  • Jim Sturgess, actor
  • Ryan Wilson, Scottish international rugby union player
  • Louis Klamroth, television presenter and journalist

References[]

  1. ^ "Our Ethos - principles of child-centred learning and mutual respect". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Nikki Amuka-Bird: 'Mum was on the frontline of diversity, banging on doors'". the Guardian. 5 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  3. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (21 July 2006). "Spiritual suburbia". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. ^ 'Obituaries: Charlotte Hough: children's book illustrator, The Times, 7 January 2009.
  5. ^ Morrison, Jasper (28 March 2013). "James Irvine obituary". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  6. ^ Knowl, Isabel (8 January 2007). "Obituary: Tony Knowland". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  7. ^ Purser, Philip (25 October 2005). "Obituary: Wolf Rilla". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  8. ^ Macalister, Terry (15 January 2005). "Interview: Sam Roddick, owner of Coco de Mer". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  9. ^ MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN MAIDENBOWER, CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Publisher: TheArgus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2014.

External links[]

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