Frensham Heights School

Frensham Heights School is an independent school and sixth form college located in 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.

Frensham Heights School
Address
Rowledge

Farnham
,
Surrey
,
GU10 4EA

England
Coordinates51.17714°N 0.81151°W / 51.17714; -0.81151
Information
TypeIndependent and Sixth form college day and boarding
MottoThink, Create, Explore
Established1925
FounderEdith Douglas-Hamilton
Local authoritySurrey
Department for Education URN125338 Tables
HeadmasterRick Clarke
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 18
Enrolment530~
Former pupilsOld Frenshamians
Websitehttps://www.frensham.org

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.

Based at a mock-Tudor mansion, built by the brewer Charles Charrington in 1902, 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

The current head is Rick Clarke, who replaced the previous head, Andrew Fisher, in 2019. Prior to becoming headmaster of Frensham Heights, Clarke was deputy head at Warminster.

Ethos

Frensham Heights is often seen as a liberal school. There are no mandatory school uniforms and the dress code is broad. The school's motto, We are all members one of another, was adopted by Paul Roberts who was headmaster of Frensham Heights from 1928 to 1949.

The school's ethos revolves around the idea of mutual respect between teachers and pupils and as such, staff are referred to by their first name by pupils. The idea of individuality is also encouraged so that an individual's talents and personality are developed. Because of the belief in the importance of the individual, Frensham Heights has a very active Sixth Form Committee and School Council which play an active part in the running of the school.

While Houses do exist (Ensor, Douglas, Nevill and King) alongside termly sporting events, there is little competition between the Houses for House Points and prizes. The school encourages fair and just competitions so therefore has a sports day. Instead of a means to encourage competition and as a divisive force, the role of Houses at Frensham is to act as a socialising force once a term as each year group (7–8, 9–10, 11–13) plays a variety of House matches in a sport (football, basketball, netball or hockey). In the summer term there is a 'Sports day' in which the houses compete against each other. Aside from these events, however, houses have little impact on school life.

Facilities

The school now has a fully functioning music centre including the Sixth Form Centre. The Aldridge Theatre is the Frensham venue for drama activities, with external theatre companies sometimes performing there. The school also has a Photography Suite, Sports Hall, Dance Studio and 'Outdoor Education' facilities. It also has a sixth form centre for both day and boarding students, it is slightly separated from the rest of the school in order for the school to compete with other colleges.

Sport

Despite being a somewhat small school, Frensham Heights hosts several sports teams in various fields of sport and played at all age ranges. These include common sports such as Rugby, football, hockey, basketball, netball and cricket. Taking part in sport each week is compulsory until year 13 when students can opt to use the time usually allocated to sport for extra revision and study, although this is only allowed if a student attends a sport ECA. Although not being renowned for its sport, the under 16 boys' football team has reached the quarter final of the ISFA cup, a national trophy for small independent schools.

Between year 7 and year 11, there are two sessions of sport each week, while only one for the sixth form. From year 11 upwards, students can choose which sport to do each term with options being basketball, football, table tennis, hockey and golf, as well as swimming, tennis and rounders during the summer. Prior to year 11, students partake in sports including rugby, basketball, hockey and football and athletics, rounders and swimming in the summer term but have no choice in which the activity occurs.

Outdoor education

As a subsidiary to sport, outdoor education (or simply 'outdoor-ed') is compulsory for all students between year 7 and year 11. Different from sport in that it does not stress athletic qualities, instead it encourages teamwork, co-operation, individual courage and leadership, ideals which reflect the school's ethos.

Outdoor ed typically involves team-building activities in the woods including activities such as climbing 'Jacob's Ladder' and a high ropes challenge near the Sports Hall. The school runs regular Outdoor Education trips to places such as a climbing trip to Dartmoor and to Harrison's Rocks in Kent. The school also runs the Duke of Edinburgh award at all levels.

The school has recently introduced weekly Forest Schools sessions for all pupils in the First School; Nursery to Year Three.

Notable alumni

Ex-pupils (Old Frenshamians) include:

References
  1. "Our Ethos - principles of child-centred learning and mutual respect". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  2. "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.
  3. Hodgkinson, Will (21 July 2006). "Spiritual suburbia". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. 'Obituaries: Charlotte Hough: children's book illustrator, The Times, 7 January 2009.
  5. Morrison, Jasper (28 March 2013). "James Irvine obituary". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  6. Knowl, Isabel (8 January 2007). "Obituary: Tony Knowland". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  7. Purser, Philip (25 October 2005). "Obituary: Wolf Rilla". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  8. 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.
  9. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN MAIDENBOWER, CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Publisher: TheArgus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
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