Ibstock Place School

Ibstock Place School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Clarence Lane Roehampton , London , SW15 5PY England
Coordinates	51°27′16″N 0°15′09″W / 51.45454°N 0.25241°W / 51.45454; -0.25241Coordinates: 51°27′16″N 0°15′09″W / 51.45454°N 0.25241°W / 51.45454; -0.25241
Information
Type	Independent day school
Established	1894
Gender	Mixed
Age	4 to 18
Houses	Brearley   Findlay   Montefiore   Paget
Alumni	Stocks
Website	http://www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

Ibstock Place School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 4–18 located in Roehampton, southwest London. It was founded as the Froebel Demonstration School, owing to its affiliation with the Froebel Institute and the demonstration of its educational principles.

History of the School[]

Ibstock Place School began at the end of the nineteenth-century as the 'Froebel Demonstration School' in West Kensington. It continued to operate in this location until 1939 when pupils and staff evacuated London owing to the Second World War and relocated temporarily to Hertfordshire. After the War, in 1946, it moved to its present location - Ibstock Place House - and renamed itself 'Ibstock Place School.^[1]

The Froebel Demonstration School[]

By the end of the nineteenth-century, Froebelian pedagogical principles were deemed radical owing to their emphasis upon educational experience of young children. Nonetheless, these principles impressed (1819-1896) who spearheaded the opening of a teacher training college and demonstration school in England. Schwabe believed that Froebel's principles were crucial to social progress. Her friend Claude Montefiore (1858–1938) was appointed Secretary of the inaugural Froebel Society. The school officially opened in Kensington on 20 September 1894 with its 'Grand Opening' marked by Empress Frederick on 5 March 1895. The first headmistress was Esther Lawrence, and there were six pupils. ^[2]

Evacuation in World War II[]

At the outbreak of World War II the school, led by Headmistress Miss Barbara Priestman, was evacuated from London. Priestman investigated numerous potential locations for 'refuge'^[3] until she settled on a suitable location in Hertfordshire. In a letter addressed in November 1939, she explored its benefits:

'There is a house at Little Gaddesden which I find very attractive. It has just been redecorated and entirely renovated by an American who understands the need for warmth and light... It is large enough to house us all comfortably, has main water and electricity and central heating. It stands 600 ft. high on the Chilterns overlooking Ashridge Park, in the village but remote from any built up area...'^[4]

Priestman successfully persuaded the school board; in 1939 fifty pupils and various staff members joined Priestman in moving to Dennison House in Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. The school, by necessity, became a boarding school. School carried on as normally as possible at Dennison House, as children attended classes in Dennison House and its gardens. The children particularly enjoyed the vast gardens where they climbed large trees, played on their sports field, and shared picnics.^[5]

Move to Ibstock Place House in Roehampton[]

The Froebel Education College had moved to Grove House, Roehampton in 1922 and its headquarters - the Incorporated Froebel Educational Institute (IFEI) - moved to Templeton on Priory Lane. The school returned to London from Hertfordshire and opted to move across the road from the Froebel Education College into 'Ibstock Place House'. This beautiful house was owned by the Duchess of Sutherland in the early 1900s, by the Paget family in the 1920s and 1930s, and requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply during the Second World War.^[6]

Duchess of Sutherland[]

The main house at Ibstock Place was designed by the skilled architect Mr Frank Chesterton in the 1910s. It was initially built with an 'H-shaped main block', though this was modified when its first owner purchased the house in 1913 - Millicent Dawes, the Duchess of Sutherland. She enlisted additions, including a vestibule between the wings, a two-story addition on the west side of the house including a ballroom on the bottom floor and a grand bedroom on the top, and extended servants' quarters on the east side. ^[7] The Duchess resided at this home for a short time; at the outbreak of the Second World War she became involved in the war efforts in France, and chose to sell the house to the Paget family in 1925.^{[citation needed]}

The Paget Family[]

Major John Paget purchased St Serf's House in 1925. The house was renamed 'Ibstock Place House' during his residence, named after his ancestral home in Leicestershire - the village of Ibstock. Major John Paget was known for installing the first known telephone exchange in England (possibly in Europe). He frequently held lively parties at Ibstock Place in the back garden around the pool. Also residing in his home were John's nieces and Mamaine Paget. At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Paget travelled to Oxfordshire, intending to briefly take up residence there. They ended up staying for five years owing to the war: a 'really long weekend', noted their son John Carleton Paget. The houses was requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply in 1942. ^[8]

Ibstock Place School[]

As noted above, the school purchased Ibstock Place House from the Paget family in the summer of 1945. However, it still remained under the possession of the Ministry of Supply as they were still residing on the grounds. This issue was discussed at committee meetings by the Froebel Institute. After asking the Putney MP to intercede on their behalf, the swift ejection of the Ministry of Supply from these grounds was negotiated. This allowed the school to move into the grounds and open the school in October 1946, though the Ministry of Supply was still residually present in makeshift huts until 1947. After their removal, these huts were designated for school use as a dining room, library, and additional classrooms. ^[9]

The 1950s to 1990s[]

Developments to the IPS campus began in earnest in the 1950s, starting with the erection of the 'Long Corridor' classrooms which were built along Clarence Lane. To this work was added a Gymnasium in 1964 and a Dining Room in 1968. The school maintained its boarding school provision for pupils aged 5-12 until September 1977 when the school's 'age extension' merited its closure. Age-extension was considered by the committee from 1968 until it was granted in 1977. Before 1977, pupils attended the school up until age 13 at which point their families had to identify a different school in which pupils could take their 'O Levels' and, subsequently, their 'A Levels'. Some parents, such as B Williamson, heartily supported the age extension; this is noted in a letter written to the Headmistress in 1970:

'J and I are thrilled at the news of a possible extension of the age range at Ibstock. We would send all four of our children with the greatest of pleasure and, I might add, no little relief - it would solve so many problems for us and worries about the future (specially the worry about which schools would suit them best) we're a very closely knit family and to be able to have them all grow up at home is, or would be, a wonderful thing.'^[10]

However, concerns about age-extension also abounded, including the necessity of closing the boarding provision in order to accommodate older pupils. There were also concerns that the Froebelian education on which IPS was founded would not effectively guide teaching at older levels. This was noted in a letter sent to the committee in 1970:

'...Froebel did continue his teaching to children beyond the present learning age of IBstock, (13-14 say) there seems to be little written about it and the Froebel Institute and College - as far as I am aware - does not train teachers for children beyond this age. There is therefore no theoretical framework on which to base an extension of Froebelian teaching and no trained teachers.'^[11]

After June 1970 the discussion dissipated; it was not until 1975 that 'age extension' was revisited, and received a more favourable response. In 1976 the committee agreed that 'O Level' pupils would be accommodated at Ibstock, beginning in 1977.^[12]

In 1984, pupils enjoyed their first computers in the school and the first computer course was offered to Year 10 pupils. Unfortunately, these were destroyed in a fire which decimated Priestman House in the same year. Priestman House was rebuilt and reopened in 1986.^[13]

As enrolment continued to grow, an additional building for the Prep school pupils was erected in 1988 - named Macleod House (after Sheila Macleod). demountable was opened by Miss Sheila Macleod in 1988 to accommodate more pupils. Additional space in the Lodge and Main House was also dedicated to use by 'Prep School' pupils. Further building developments and facilities included:

• 1989 First school minibus purchased
• 1991 The ballroom in the Main House was converted into a Library
• 1992 The FSTC Building was opened by HRH Princess Alexander
• 1995 The new Sports Pavilion was opened
• 1998 Roberts Hall completed and opened by Sheila Roberts
• 1999 Conservatory extension to the dining room was completed^[14]

Present Day: 2005 Onwards[]

In September 2000, the School roll reported 603 pupils. Owing to considerable growth, the School invested in further developments. Carrying on from the age-extension in 1977, provision was extended further. In 2007, a Sixth Form was established at Ibstock with the accommodated age extended to 18 years. Additional building projects have also been completed:

• 2007 New Sports Hall was completed
• 2011 The 'New School' opened with a new Library and corridors of classrooms
• 2015 Performing Arts Centre opened.
• 2020 'The Refectory' opened including a Great Hall, Small Hall, mezzanine and Sixth Form Study Centre.^[15]

Headmasters and Headmistresses[]

For a year after the death in 1898 of Esther Lawrence, there were joint Headmistresses – Miss Boys-Smith and Miss Hope-Wallace – and then Grace Lucknow took over until 1900. From 1900 the Headmistress was Annie Yelland. On her untimely death in 1916, teacher Miss Wigg took over as Head during the interregnum until the appointment of Ethel Bain in 1918. Bain served until her retirement in 1933 when Barbara Priestman was appointed. She was the longest-serving Headmistress, remaining in post for 25 years until 1958. Sheila Macleod was Headmistress from 1958 to 1974. T.C. Green was Head from 1974 to 1980, Aidan Warlow from 1980 to 1984, and Franciska Bayliss from 1984 to 2000. Anna Sylvester-Johnson led the school from 2000 to 2020 and she has now been succeeded by her deputy, Christopher Wolsey (2021- ).^[16]

List of Headmasters and Headmistresses at the School[]

School Structure[]

The House System[]

Pupils in the Senior School are part of the House system; they remain in the same 'House Group' from year 7 to year 10. The Houses are as follows:^[17]

Notable alumni[]

• Emily Blunt
• Daisy Dunn
• Georgia May Jagger
• Iris Murdoch
• Suki Waterhouse
• Beatie Wolfe
• Jesse Wood
• Martha Hunt
• Nadhim Zahawi

References[]

External links[]

• Ibstock Place School website
• Ibstock Place School Digital Archives
• Ibstock Place School Alumni