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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Windlesham House School
Windlesham House School is an independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13 on the South Downs, in Pulborough, West Sussex, England. It was founded in 1837 by Charles Robert Malden and was the first boys' preparatory school in the United Kingdom. In 1967 it became the first IAPS co-educational school. The school moved to its current location in 1934. It caters for over 300 pupils. Children aged 4 to 7 are taught in the pre-prep.

From 2011 onward, the school has been inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, who awarded it 'excellent' in its 2017 report. The school received an 'outstanding' award in its Ofsted inspection in 2010.

School Facilities

In 2014 a new playground was opened by Lord Denman after the Parents Association raised money for its construction. Additionally, their work enabled them to donate £3,000 to Cystic Fibrosis, Cardiac Support, Sanchat Charitable Trust, Worthing Food Bank, Sussex Autistic Society and Canine Partners.

Curriculum

The school does not follow standardised tests. However, in the 2017 Independent Schools Inspectorate data from the school were seen to indicate that the majority of the students were working above the national average.

Uniform

The School does not have a uniform, but rather a dress code in place.

Headship

The headship of Windlesham remained within the Malden family for 157 years spanning five generations. From its founding in 1837 until 1994 each headmaster had been the son of his predecessor, with the exception of Grace Scott Malden, who succeeded her husband, and Charles Christopher Malden, whose elder brother, Roger, led the school while he completed his national service and degree.

  • 1837–1855 Lieutenant Charles Robert Malden, RN
  • 1855–1888 Major Henry Charles Malden
  • 1888–1896 Charles Scott Malden
  • 1896–1927 Grace Gilbert Scott Malden
  • 1927–1953 Christopher Scott-Malden, as principal, with a subordinate headmaster
  • 1953–1957 Lieutenant-Colonel Roger William Malden
  • 1957–1994 Charles Christopher and Elizabeth Ann Malden, jointly
  • 1994–1995 Ian and Margaret Angus, jointly
  • 1995–1996 Stephen and Julie Goodhart, as acting heads, jointly
  • 1996–2006 Philip Lough
  • 2006–2007 Paul Forte, as acting headmaster
  • 2007–2020 Richard Foster
  • 2020– Ben Evans, formerly headmaster of Edge Grove School

Christopher Scott-Malden, who had expected to run the school in partnership with his more scholarly elder brother, Gilbert, structured his role as principal, appointing subordinate headmasters. Gilbert held the title of Head Master between 1914 and 1921, but in a subordinate role to his mother, Grace.

Both Grace Scott Malden and Elizabeth Ann Malden were known to the pupils as 'Mrs Charles', a tradition that stretches back to 1880 when Charles Scott Malden was styled as 'Mr. Charles' to distinguish him from his father, 'Mr. (Henry) Malden'.

Notable former pupils (ordered by date of birth)

See also: Category:People educated at Windlesham House School

Former pupils are traditionally known as Old Windleshamites, though the term 'OWLs' (Old Windlesham Leavers) has been used by the school in recent years.