St Hilary's School, Godalming

Saint Hilary's School, Godalming
Location
Holloway Hill

Godalming
,
Surrey
,
GU7 1RZ

England
England
Coordinates51°10′54″N 0°37′06″W / 51.181611°N 0.618333°W / 51.181611; -0.618333
Information
TypeIndependent prep school
MottoNon tibi sed omnibus
(Not for you but for all)
Religious affiliation(s)non-denominational[1]
Established1927
FounderMarjorie Hiorns[3]
Chair of GovernorsJackie Aliss
HeadMr Duncan Sinclair (from September 2025)[2]
Deputy HeadmistressVacant
Staffc. 30 full-time teaching staff
Age2 to 11
Enrollment133 girls, 116 boys (2025)[1]
HousesMallory (Green), Hart (Yellow), Meath (Blue) and Jekyll (Red)
Colour(s)Yellow, brown
Former pupilsOld Hilarians[3]
Websitesthilarysschool.com

St Hilary's School is an independent preparatory day school in Godalming, England, teaching around 250 girls and boys aged two to eleven. It holds the British Council's International School Award and in 2020 was named as Independent Prep School of the Year.

History

In August 1927, Miss Marjorie Hiorns, a member of the National Froebel Union whose training was in music, founded St Hilary’s School in Tuesley Lane, Godalming, as an independent co-educational preparatory day school.[4][5] In 1928, she was advertising "Individual Time-tables, Modern Methods, Art, Handwork, Poetry Speaking included".[6] For some years, her father, F. J. Hiorns, a retired civil servant, taught literature in the school.[7]

In 1936, the school moved a short distance to its present site on Holloway Hill, where it remains.[5] The property now occupied by St Hilary’s is marked on maps of 1895 and 1934 as "Killcott".[8] The Victorian England centre-forward and cricketer G. O. Smith (1872–1943) lived in the house[9] and later became headmaster of Ludgrove School.[10] A chimney bears the date 1870. The house has been greatly added to since 1936, as the school has grown.[3] A nursery department was opened in 1946.[11]

By 1959, the school was also taking some boarders.[12] In 1968 there was a group of boarders aged between eight and twelve.[13]

In 1966, St Hilary's became a charitable trust, with a Board of Governors.[3][14] Miss Hiorns retired in July 1968, not long before reaching the age of seventy, and was presented with a pearl necklace.[15] She remained a trustee of the St Hilary's School Trust until her death in 1995.[5][16] The school celebrates her life every year, with a Hiorns Day in late September.[17]

In July 1968, the school offered to make places available to Kent County Council at no charge, but its Education Committee turned down the offer without explanation.[18]

In March 1971, the Surrey Girls' Chess Championship (for those under 18) took place at the school over two days.[19]

In 1983, the school stated that it "bases its teaching on firm Christian principles and aims at producing kind, well-disciplined, and happy children".[20]

For National Book Week 2003 and World Book Day 2018, children at the school dressed up as their favourite fictional character.[21][22]

In 2007, almost eighty children at St Hilary's took LAMDA examinations in the Speaking of Verse and Prose, with 36 distinctions and 38 merits awarded.[23]

In 2019, the British Council gave the school the accreditation of its International School Award, recognizing its commitment to international awareness and understanding across its teaching. Shortly after that, the school announced plans to become fully coeducational by 2022, bringing boys into all age groups.[24]

In 2020, the school was named as Independent Prep School of the Year 2020 by the Independent Schools Parent magazine, when it was reported to be teaching 218 children. James Priory, headmaster of Tonbridge School, one of the judges, presented the award.[25] The school was again shortlisted for the award in 2024.[26]

By 2024, St Hilary's was taking both boys and girls between the ages of two and eleven.[27]

In November 2024, there was a merger of governance with St Edmund's School, Hindhead, but with both schools to retain their identities.[28][27]

In April 2025, the school announced the appointment of a new head, Duncan Sinclair, with effect from 1 September.[2]

Present day

Facilities

The school occupies a campus of 3.5 acres on Holloway Hill, Godalming, about half a mile from Godalming railway station.[9] As well as classrooms, the facilities now include a library, a computing suite, art studios, an all-weather sports pitch, the Hiorns Centre for drama and dance,[3] a dedicated music wing, a performing arts hall,[27] woodland with a Forest School, and an adventure play area.[29] A unit called 'The Hive' is a Lego Innovation Studio, one of only sixty nationwide, with most others being in senior schools, colleges, and universities. The Hive promotes critical thinking, creativity, and communication, in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.[24]

In the Victorian main house are the head’s study, the school's administration, and the reception. Next to it is the dining room.[9]

From Year 4, all children have the use of a school iPad.[9]

All children travel to school daily, as there are no boarders. A school bus makes a tour of the Godalming area and many are able to travel on that.[9] The service comes with breakfast and after-school activities, stretching the school day from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm.[29]

Entry

Admission is non-selective. The school has two-form entry, with class sizes of about 15. Children can join the Nursery at the age of two or three, the Kindergarten at three, and the Reception class at four. This is followed by Year 1. Children also join the school at later ages.[9]

Still saying it has a Christian ethos, the school now adds to this "We welcome pupils from all faiths and none."[29]

Curriculum

St Hilary's has a broad curriculum, with the usual subjects, such as English, maths, history, and geography, together with philosophy, Latin, and chess. From Year 1, there are specialist teachers for French, music, art, physical education and games. By Year 6, much of the curriculum is taught by specialists.[9]

After-school activities include Spanish, dancing, gym, golf, and a Young Magicians club.[29]

Music

a ukulele

Music lessons are part of the school timetable. All children in Year 2 are taught to play the ukulele, then in Year 3 they all learn the violin. There are junior and senior choirs, an orchestra, a flute ensemble, and a brass band. Many children have tuition in their choice of musical instrument or in singing. There is also a choir for the staff and parents.[9]

Sports

Both girls and boys play several team sports, netball, cricket, rugby, football, hockey, and handball, as well as athletics, swimming, tennis, badminton, and judo. There is mixed football, cricket, and netball. From Year 2 on, matches are played against other schools. In netball, St Hilary’s regularly appears in the IAPS national finals. Children have also reached the National Championships finals of the English Schools Swimming Association.[9]

Fees

From the spring term of 2025, the nursery is charged at £44 per session (a morning or an afternoon), with a minimum of four sessions per week. The charge is £42 per session in the Kindergarten, with a minimum of six sessions. A lunch costs £2.95.[9]

The school fees are in the range of £1,983 to £6,576 per term, plus VAT, according to age.[1] They include lunch.[9]

Bursaries are available, in some cases for 100 per cent of the fees.[30]

Notable Old Hilarians

The St Hilary's Association (SHA) is open to all past pupils and members of staff, bringing together those associated with the school.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "St. Hilary's School", Independent Schools Council, accessed 7 July 2025
  2. ^ a b "Appointment of new Headteacher at St Hilary’s School", isbi.com, 24 April 2025, accessed 7 July 2025
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "St Hilary's Association", sthilarysschool.com, accessed 7 July 2025
  4. ^ "St Hilary's School", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 24 December 1927, p. 8
  5. ^ a b c Hill & Bailes (2002), pp. 9–12
  6. ^ "St Hilary's School", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 4 August 1928, p. 8
  7. ^ "Mr Frederick J. Hiorns" (obituary), Surrey Advertiser, Wednesday 23 January 1952, p. 5
  8. ^ 25-inch series, Surrey XXXI.15 (Ordnance Survey, revised 1895, published 1897); 25-inch series, Surrey XXXI.15 (Ordnance Survey, revised 1934, published 1934), National Library of Scotland online collection, accessed 12 July 2025
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "St Hilary’s Prep School, Godalming", Muddy Stilettos, 16 May 2025, accessed 10 July 2025
  10. ^ "G.O. Smith" (obituary), The Times, 7 December 1943
  11. ^ Hill & Bailes (2002), pp. 21–23
  12. ^ "ST HILARY'S SCHOOL GODALMING (Recognised by tbe Ministry of Education)" Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 21 February 1959, p. 10
  13. ^ "ST HILARY'S School Godalming", Surrey Advertiser, Friday 20 September 1968, p. 4
  14. ^ "St Hilary's School (founded 1927)", in Wendy Bosberry-Scott, Which School? 2010 (John Catt Educational Ltd, 2009), p. 147
  15. ^ "Miss Marjorie Hiorns", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 13 July 1968, p. 1
  16. ^ "Marjorie HIORNS... Retired Headmistress", company-information.service.gov.uk, accessed 8 July 2025
  17. ^ Josie Gurney Read, "Good news Friday", The Daily Telegraph, 2 October 2015, accessed 12 July 2025
  18. ^ "School Places", Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 5 July 1968, p. 9
  19. ^ "Surrey Girls' Chess Championship", Cobham News and Advertiser, Thursday 11 March 1971, p. 3
  20. ^ "St Hilary's School, Godalming", in The Public and Preparatory Schools Year Book, Vol. 93 (1983), p. 601
  21. ^ "Book that’s queen of hearts", Surrey Live, 3 October 2003
  22. ^ William Bradley, "World Book Day 2018: Children across Surrey dressed up as their favourite fictional character", Get Surrey, 8 March 2018, accessed 10 July 2025
  23. ^ "Talk of the Town", Get Surrey, 17 January 2007, accessed 10 July 2025
  24. ^ a b Leena Sidat, "This Godalming prep school has much to celebrate as it starts the new year", getsurrey.co.uk, 16 January 2020, accessed 7 July 2025
  25. ^ "ST HILARY’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL & NURSERY", timeandleisure.co.uk, accessed 7 July 2025
  26. ^ "Shortlist 2024", independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk, accessed 10 July 2025
  27. ^ a b c Victoria Shipp, "Surrey schools more than 10 miles apart set for 'exciting' merger", Get Surrey, 26 November 2024, accessed 7 July 2025
  28. ^ Georgia Hase, "St. Edmund’s and St. Hilary’s schools announce historic merger", Haslemere Herald, 19 November 2024, accessed 7 July 2025
  29. ^ a b c d "St Hilary’s School", Independent School Parent (2025), accessed 13 July 2025
  30. ^ "St Hilary’s School - Bursary Policy", Independent Schools Council, accessed 7 July 2025
  31. ^ "SEAGROVE Jennifer (Jenny) Ann", in Elizabeth Sleeman, ed., International Who's Who of Women (Psychology Press, 2001), p. 517
  32. ^ "Jenny Seagrove falls for Noël Coward play", Get Surrey, 6 March 2014
  33. ^ "Emily Lamb", painters-online.co.uk, accessed 12 July 2025
  34. ^ "Emily Lamb", Rountree Tryon, accessed 12 July 2025

References

Mollie Hills, Howard Bailes, St Hilary's School Godalming : 75 Years, a School History 1927–2002 (Godalming, 2002)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.