Westonbirt School
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2023) |
| Westonbirt School | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Westonbirt House, part of the school | |
| Location | |
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| , , GL8 8QG England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private school Private school Boarding school Day School |
| Motto | "Bono malum superate" (Overcome evil with good) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1928 |
| Founder | Eleanor Louisa Houison Craufurd |
| Department for Education URN | 115789 Tables |
| Headmistress | Natasha Dangerfield |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | ~220 [citation needed] |
| Colour(s) | Red |
| Website | http://www.westonbirt.org |
Westonbirt School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 located near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in South West England. Founded in 1928. The historical Westonbirt House is part of the school. Westonbirt Prep School is located within the 210 acre grounds of Westonbirt School.
History
[edit]Westonbirt School was founded by the Martyrs' Memorial and Church of England Trust (now known as the Allied Schools), which had acquired Westonbirt House and converted it into a school.[1] During World War II, the premises were used by the Air Ministry and pupils and staff were evacuated to Wiltshire due to the Blitz. Six former pupils died during the war and a memorial scholarship was set up in their memory; children of British military personnel are entitled to discounts.[2]
In 2002, Westonbirt acquired Querns School to become its preparatory department. Seven years later it absorbed Rose Hill School to form the prep school Rose Hill Westonbirt. In September 2013 Rose Hill Westonbirt School was renamed Westonbirt Prep School. Wishford Education, a provider of independent education in the UK, acquired Westonbirt School in 2018.
As of September 2019, Westonbirt became co-educational and accepted boys into year 7, and in years 8,9 and 12 from September 2020.
Houses
[edit]Pupils are approximately one-third boarders and two-thirds day girls and boys. All boarders are members of one of the following houses:
Dorchester, named after Dorchester House iin London, owned by Robert Stayner Holford, also owner of Westonbirt House, which served as the American Embassy from 1905 and 1912 and was demolished in 1929 to be replaced by the Dorchester luxury hotel. Dorchester dormitories are located in the old servants' quarters at the top of the house, including the school's central tower, currently part of the Dorchester House Mistress' rooms.
Badminton, named after Badminton House with dormitories located in the west wing of the house on the second floor.
Beaufort, named after Beaufort Polo Club.
Gloucester, which houses Year 12 girls. Dormitories are located around the courtyard, on the first floor.
Holford, named after Robert Holford. This boarding house is exclusively for Year 13 students and is located several miles away in Tetbury. The building was formerly Ilsom House, a residential care home and was acquired in 2022.
A new Junior boarding house, Sedgwick, is in development onsite for pupils from Years 6-8. This will be open in early 2024.
Buildings and grounds
[edit]The majority of the classrooms at the school are located in the courtyard, an area that was stables during the buildings' life as a stately home. Half of the sixth form dormitories are built above these classrooms. The new sixth form block was completed in 2008 and is located between the Science Block (opened in 1993 which contains the Art Department, D.T workshops, Science laboratories and the main I.T suite) and the courtyard classrooms.
In September 2012 the Marriott Music Centre was opened. Named after former Chairman of Governors this was designed by Bath-based architects DKA and built by Steele Davis between April and August 2012. It contains three learning spaces: The Technology Room, named The Friends’ Room in appreciation of a substantial donation by The Friends of Westonbirt. The Greenwood Scott Studio and the Ensemble Room, known as the Harborne Room, again in recognition of a substantial donation. This new centre complements the Camelia Building, a small practice area for music pupils, originally a greenhouse. The main school building is centred on the reception and the great hall, which has a marble fireplace and large organ overlooked by a balcony. In 2005 a new sports hall was opened by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. It features 25m swimming pool, courts and a gym, which is open to members of the public.
The grounds include a lake, amphitheatre, grotto, fountains and a set of Italianate gardens. Many of the fields around the school are rented out to farmers for cattle grazing or are used to keep horses either belonging to the local stables or to the pupils themselves. The school now owns the church, St. Catherine's, which is located within the grounds and which was originally the local parish church; Westonbirt pupils attend the church regularly.
The school library, made up of a separate ante-library and larger non-fiction library, was recently renovated using funding from an anonymous donor.
The school has a large conservatory known as the Orangery which includes a stage and balcony used for school ceremonies and drama productions. A basement contains the costume wardrobe where dramatic costumes and props are kept, originally the house's bomb shelter during World War II.
In 2022-23, eight new Walled Garden Classrooms were opened; these were designed and built to be in keeping with greenhouses which were formerly located there. A new Sports Zone also opened, which includes an Astroturf, cricket pitches and tennis and netball courts.
Work on a new Prep School building is scheduled to commence in autumn 2023.
See also
[edit]Notable former pupils
[edit]- Maxine Audley, actress[3]
- Georgia Byng, children's author[4]
- Pamela Carruthers (1916–2009), showjumping course designer[5]
- Betty Clay (née Baden-Powell), scout and guides leader[6]
- Lady Emily Compton, fashion model, stylist, and magazine editor[7]
- Sheila Denning, painter.
- Angela Flowers, art gallerist.
- Baroness Garden, politician & Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords[8]
- Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (née Sullivan), race-horse owner, in particular the steeplechaser Arkle.
- Anna Hornby, artist[9]
- June Jacobs, peace activist and campaigner for Soviet Jews.[10]
- Diana Lamplugh, Charity founder and campaigner (1936-2011)[11]
- Patricia Llewellyn, television producer, businesswoman[12]
- Aileen McCorkell, the founder and first President of the British Red Cross branch in Derry.[13]
- Mercia MacDermott, historian, writer[14]
- Natasha Rufus Isaacs, socialite, co-founder of Beulah London[12]
- Honor Salmon (née Pitman) (1912-1943), Air Transport Auxiliary Pilot[15]
- (Susan) Pamela Rose (née Gibson), Bletchley Park translator, actress, teacher & NSPCC vice-president. Sister of Lord Gibson, married to Jim Rose.[16][17]
- Julia Quinn, romance author of Bridgerton series[18]
- Jane Sinclair, priest.
- Salma Sobhan, Bangladeshi barrister, human rights activist[19]
- Patsy Toh, Chinese pianist[20]
- Ruth Watson, hotelier, food critic, broadcaster[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "WESTONBIRT". Historic England. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "History of Westonbirt School". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ Ian Herbert, ed. (1981). "AUDLEY, Maxine". Who's Who in the Theatre. Vol. 1. Gale Research Company. pp. 30–31. ISSN 0083-9833.
- ^ "Georgia Byng". Book Series In Order. BookSeriesInOrder.com. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ Hedenborg, Susanna (2004). "Carruthers [née Torrie], Pamela Isabel Jameson (1916–2009), showjumping course designer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). OUP. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/101530. ISBN 978-0-19-861411-1. Retrieved 22 November 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Betty Clay Archived 28 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. www.spanglefish.com. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Rt Hon the Baroness Garden of Frognal, PC, Master 2008-2009". The Worshipful Company of World Traders. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ Who's Who in Art (Twenty-Second Edition, Art Trade Press 1986)
- ^ "June Jacobs obituary". The Guardian. 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ Pilkington, Sue (18 August 2011). "Diana Lamplugh obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ a b Westonbirt School Archived 31 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Lady McCorkell". 27 October 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ For Freedom and Perfection. The Life of Yané Sandansky. www.kroraina.com. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Honor Salmon". Western Daily Press. 24 April 1943.
- ^ "Pamela Rose". The Times. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Dunlop, Tessa (2015). The Bletchley Girls: War, Secrecy, Love and Loss. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 9781444795714.
- ^ "Inside the Story - Page 4 of 4 - Julia Quinn | Author of Historical Romance Novels". Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Eminent HR activist Barrister Salma Sobhan passes away". The Daily Star. 31 December 2003.
- ^ GIPCA Hosts Patsy Toh Piano Recital. www.argief.litnet.co.za. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Ruth Watson". hattowendesign.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Profile on the ISC website
- Westonbirt School Foundation
51°36′21″N 2°11′44″W / 51.60583°N 2.19556°W
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