Hill House School

Infobox UK school
name = Hill House School


size =
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motto = A child's mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled
motto_pl =
established = 1951 London 1949 Tour-de-Peilz (Switzerland)
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closed =
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type = Private school
religion =
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Richard Townend
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r_head =
Head Boy =
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chair =
founder = Colonel Stuart Townend
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street = Hans Place
city = Knightsbridge
county = London
country = England flagicon|England
postcode = SW1X 0EP
LEA =
ofsted =
staff = 90 (approx.)
enrollment = 800 (approx.)
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 4
upper_age = 13
houses =
colours = Burgundy, Yellow, Tan
publication =
free_label_1 = Former pupils
free_1 = Hill Housers
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.hillhouseschool.co.uk/index.htm
website_name = www.hillhouseschool.co.uk

Hill House School is a large preparatory day school located in Knightsbridge, London, behind the department store Harrods. Founded in September 1951 by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Townend, the school now has several sites spread throughout Chelsea and Knightsbridge, and an annexe located in Switzerland. The "Good Schools Guide" described the school as "A school with a notable and inescapable past which booms at a visitor from every wood-panelled wall, display board and cabinet," also stating that "Its aim from the first was to be 'international' and to nurture each individual child's talents." [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/hill-house-international-school.html]

Hill House pupils are often seen on the move around Knightsbridge, Sloane Square and Chelsea, and are distinct in that their school uniform entails burgundy knickerbockers, tan shirts, more often than not with yellow "V-Neck" jumpers. The uniform was designed by the founder's wife, and is notable for its bright colours. It was designed to be used for sport as well as class lessons and lacks a tie. The Colonel's wife once said "a grey uniform produces grey minds, grey boys". Prince Charles is known to have gone to Hill House as part of his primary education. Sadly, Lieutenant-Colonel Townend died in 2002 at the age of 93. His son, Richard Townend, is now Headmaster. The school very much remains a family concern. [BBC Television Program "Knickerbockers in Knightsbridge", 1989.]

Pupils attend the school from the ages of four to 13. [ [http://www.tatler.co.uk/Schools/2006/Details.aspx?Type=Prep&Area=London&ID=422&List=&Year=2006 Tatler Schools Guide 2006 - Hill House School ] ] Many of the pupils come from abroad. Pupils generally go on to sit the Common Entrance Examination to continue into independent secondary schools.

Due to an agreement with the former Headmaster, the Duke of York barracks on King's Road is used as a sports ground both for regular games lessons and the school's annual field day; the school also makes use of local swimming facilities due to the late Colonel's belief that learning to swim is extremely important. Queens Club, in Fulham and the Oval, in Kennington are also used for tennis, squash and cricket.

The purpose built house in Glion, 2,500 feet above Lac Léman, hosts special courses throughout the year for selected pupils from London, providing experience of a boarding school environment in the setting of a mountain village in the French speaking canton of Vaud

House systems

The school is also famous for the names of years.
* Small School - 4-5 years
* Lower School - 5-6 years
* Middle School - 6-7 years
* Upper School - 7-10 years
* Girls Transitus & Senior School - 10-11 years
* Lower Sixth - 12 years
* Upper Sixth - 13 years

Notable alumni

*Prince Charles Prince of Wales
*Max Noble, (Fulham Reserve Player)
*You (Charlie) Jiang, (Director)Fact|date=January 2008
*Lily Allen singer/songwriter
*Day Macaskill (Perrier Nominee/Choose Day - comedian)Fact|date=January 2008
*Mark Watson comedian
* Claudia Medina-Moralejo
* Benita Ogbodo - 100m track record holder

References

External Links

[http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/hill-house-international-school.html Profile at the Good Schools Guide]