Pierrepont School, Frensham
Encyclopedia
Pierrepont School, Frensham, originally known as Pierrepont House School, was an independent school
in Surrey
, England
, with day boys as well as boarders
. Founded in 1947, it became co-educational in 1983 and closed in 1993.
, with himself as its commanding officer, and became known in the school as 'Major Parry'. This distinguished him from his son Thomas Parry who joined the staff after returning to England in 1947 after serving in India as an officer in the 4th Battalion the 9th Gurkha Rifles
. The CCF, or 'Corps', became the heart of the school's ethos. In 1970 the original Army
section was joined by a Royal Air Force
section and in 1983 by a Royal Navy
section.
The school's main building was a 19th-century country house
designed by the architect Richard Norman Shaw
around an earlier house. In 1973 this was listed as Grade II*.
The school's aim for its boys – and for its girls from 1983 onwards – was to give them a good all-round education while developing character through sports and other outdoor activities, and its syllabus
included adventure training, leadership, and personal survival. Like most British independent schools, it was divided into houses
, all with names recalling military history: Agincourt, Trafalgar, and Waterloo. Day houses took the names of men associated with the school's architecture and design: initially there were two, Shaw and Coombe Houses, and later a third day house was added.
In the late 1980s the school ran into financial difficulties. In 1989 it took over St George's Preparatory School, Farnham, and at about the same time built a new craft, technology and design centre, but these added to its financial problems.
In the economic downturn of the 1990s, parental opinion lost confidence in the school's focus on character-building at the expense of academic studies. In 1992, in an article entitled "The public schools that come bottom", The Independent
reported that -
The school closed in 1993.
Pierrepont School Trust Limited, an educational charity
connected with the school, was created in 1966 and dissolved in 1996.
, a posse ad esse, is drawn from the Latin
philosophical principle "Ab esse ad posse valet, a posse ad esse non valet consequentia", meaning "It is valid to conclude from actuality to possibility, but not from possibility to actuality".
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...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with day boys as well as boarders
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...
. Founded in 1947, it became co-educational in 1983 and closed in 1993.
History
Pierrepont House School was founded in 1947 as an independent school for boys by its first headmaster, Thomas Joyce Parry. The following year Parry established a school Combined Cadet ForceCombined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
, with himself as its commanding officer, and became known in the school as 'Major Parry'. This distinguished him from his son Thomas Parry who joined the staff after returning to England in 1947 after serving in India as an officer in the 4th Battalion the 9th Gurkha Rifles
9 Gorkha Rifles
The 9 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence as part of the tripartite agreement. This Gorkha regiment dominantly recruits soldiers from Chhetri and Thakuri clans...
. The CCF, or 'Corps', became the heart of the school's ethos. In 1970 the original Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
section was joined by a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
section and in 1983 by a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
section.
The school's main building was a 19th-century country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
designed by the architect Richard Norman Shaw
Richard Norman Shaw
Richard Norman Shaw RA , was an influential Scottish architect from the 1870s to the 1900s, known for his country houses and for commercial buildings.-Life:...
around an earlier house. In 1973 this was listed as Grade II*.
The school's aim for its boys – and for its girls from 1983 onwards – was to give them a good all-round education while developing character through sports and other outdoor activities, and its syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
included adventure training, leadership, and personal survival. Like most British independent schools, it was divided into houses
House 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...
, all with names recalling military history: Agincourt, Trafalgar, and Waterloo. Day houses took the names of men associated with the school's architecture and design: initially there were two, Shaw and Coombe Houses, and later a third day house was added.
In the late 1980s the school ran into financial difficulties. In 1989 it took over St George's Preparatory School, Farnham, and at about the same time built a new craft, technology and design centre, but these added to its financial problems.
In the economic downturn of the 1990s, parental opinion lost confidence in the school's focus on character-building at the expense of academic studies. In 1992, in an article entitled "The public schools that come bottom", The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported that -
The school closed in 1993.
Pierrepont School Trust Limited, an educational charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
connected with the school, was created in 1966 and dissolved in 1996.
Motto
The school's mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, a posse ad esse, is drawn from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
philosophical principle "Ab esse ad posse valet, a posse ad esse non valet consequentia", meaning "It is valid to conclude from actuality to possibility, but not from possibility to actuality".
Headmasters
- 1947–1955: Thomas Joyce Parry
- 1955–1962: N. A. Dromgoole
- 1962–1983: Anthony George Hill (died in office)
- 1983– John Payne
Notable Old Pierrepontians
- Michael Baden-PowellMichael Baden-PowellDavid Michael Baden-Powell is the heir presumptive to the Barony of Baden-Powell. He is the great-grandson of Baden Powell, the grandson of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, the great-nephew of Agnes Baden-Powell, Baden Baden-Powell, and Warington Baden-Powell,...
, scouting leader - Sir Merrick CockellMerrick CockellSir Merrick Richard Cockell is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Chairman of the Local Government Association...
, Conservative politician - Professor Robert North, ballet director and choreographer
- Jonny WilkinsonJonny WilkinsonJonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players...
, rugby player
External links
- Pierrepont School, Frensham, c. 1965, at francisfrith.com (photograph)
- Historic Environment Record, with aerial photograph, at exploringsurreyspast.org.uk