Frensham Heights School

School in Farnham, Surrey, England

51°10′38″N 0°48′41″W / 51.17714°N 0.81151°W / 51.17714; -0.81151InformationTypePrivate and Sixth form college day and boardingMottoThink, Create, ExploreEstablished1925FounderEdith Douglas-HamiltonLocal authoritySurreyDepartment for Education URN125338 TablesHeadmasterAndrew FisherGenderCoeducationalAge3 to 18Enrolment530~Former pupilsOld FrenshamiansWebsitehttps://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.^{[citation needed]}

Based at a mock-Tudor mansion, built by the brewer Charles Charrington in 1898, 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

Andrew Fisher, has returned to Frensham as Headmaster for the start of the 2023/2024 academic year.

Facilities

The school has a professional working theatre called the Aldridge Theatre, with a capacity of 300, which is used for both internal and external performances.^[2] Also it has an independent sixth form centre, which is separated from the rest of the school, and a music centre.

Notable alumni

Ex-pupils (Old Frenshamians) include:

Nikki Amuka-Bird, actress^[3]
Edward Davenport, fraudster^[4]
Jack Dee, comedian^[5]
Will Hodgkinson, writer^[6]
Charlotte Hough (née Woodyadd), author and illustrator^[7]
Rufus Hound, comedian^[8]
James Irvine, designer^[9]
Tony Knowland, professor^[10]
Sir Thomas Legg, civil servant^[11]
Nick Mason CBE, drummer^[5]
Jon Pertwee, actor famous for Dr Who^[12]
Wolf Rilla, film director^[13]
Sam Roddick, businesswoman^[14]
Henry Smith,^[15] Member of Parliament for Crawley (2010–)

References

^ "Our Ethos - principles of child-centred learning and mutual respect". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^ "Aldridge Theatre, Frensham Heights". Farnham Literary Festival.
^ "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.
^ "Edward Davenport: The scandalous world of Britain's most sociable socialite". The Independent. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ ^a ^b Yorke, Harry (13 February 2013). "Headteacher sleeps rough in the woods in order to raise funds for new school in Malawi". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ Hodgkinson, Will (21 July 2006). "Spiritual suburbia". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^ "Obituaries: Charlotte Hough: children's book illustrator". The Times. London. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ Mesure, Susie (10 February 2013). "Rufus Hound: One man, two monikers". The Independent. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ Morrison, Jasper (28 March 2013). "James Irvine obituary". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^ Knowl, Isabel (8 January 2007). "Obituary: Tony Knowland". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^ "Profile: Sir Thomas Legg". BBC News. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
^ "Jon Pertwee obituary (Daily Telegraph) - the Doctor Who Cuttings Archive".
^ Purser, Philip (25 October 2005). "Obituary: Wolf Rilla". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^ 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.
^ 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

School Website
Profile on the ISC website

Schools in Surrey

Primary

Secondary

Independent

Preparatory	Aberdour School Amesbury School Chinthurst School Edgeborough School Feltonfleet School The Hawthorns School Hazelwood School Hoe Bridge School Milbourne Lodge School Parkside School Reigate St Mary's School St John's Beaumont School
ACS International School The American School In England Belmont School Box Hill School Caterham School Charterhouse School City of London Freemen's School Claremont Fan Court School Cranleigh School Downsend School Duke of Kent School Dunottar School Epsom College Ewell Castle School Frensham Heights School Guildford High School Halliford School Hurtwood House King Edward's School Kingswood House School Lingfield College Manor House School Notre Dame School Prior's Field School Reed's School Reigate Grammar School Royal Grammar School Royal School Haslemere St Catherine's School St Edmund's School St George's College St James Independent Schools St John's School St Teresa's School Sir William Perkins's School Tormead School Woldingham School Yehudi Menuhin School

Preparatory