Horris Hill School
Encyclopedia
Horris Hill, is a boarding and day preparatory school
for boys, situated in the far north of Hampshire
in England, south of Newbury
in West Berkshire
and near the village of Newtown
. The school was founded on its present site in 1888 by A. H. Evans, a master at Winchester College
. Over the years the close connection with Winchester has been maintained, although almost as many boys now go on to Eton
and Radley
, as well as many other leading public schools
. Whilst academic standards are high, each child is given the opportunity to discover and develop other talents, whether they be sporting, artistic, musical or personal.
The current headmaster is Jon Phillips, who took over in September 2006. Giles Tollit will succeed Phillips in September 2011.
Horris Hill has an enviable academic reputation and sends boys on to top independent schools, notably Winchester, Radley, Eton, Harrow and Marlborough.
The school currently has approximately 106 pupils.
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
for boys, situated in the far north of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in England, south of Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
in West Berkshire
West Berkshire
West Berkshire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England, governed by a unitary authority . Its administrative capital is Newbury, located almost equidistantly between Bristol and London.-Geography:...
and near the village of Newtown
Newtown, Hampshire
Newtown is a village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire, located just south of Newbury.-History:The mediaeval borough of Newtown was formed from part of the parish of Burghclere, and flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. Sandleford Priory in Berkshire was founded between 1193...
. The school was founded on its present site in 1888 by A. H. Evans, a master at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. Over the years the close connection with Winchester has been maintained, although almost as many boys now go on to Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Radley
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, as well as many other leading public schools
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
. Whilst academic standards are high, each child is given the opportunity to discover and develop other talents, whether they be sporting, artistic, musical or personal.
The current headmaster is Jon Phillips, who took over in September 2006. Giles Tollit will succeed Phillips in September 2011.
Horris Hill has an enviable academic reputation and sends boys on to top independent schools, notably Winchester, Radley, Eton, Harrow and Marlborough.
The school currently has approximately 106 pupils.
Notable alumni
- Richard AdamsRichard AdamsRichard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
, author of Watership DownWatership DownWatership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
, ShardikShardikShardik is a fantasy novel written by Richard Adams in 1974.-Plot introduction:Adams's second novel Shardik concerns a lonely hunter, Kelderek, who pursues Shardik, a giant bear he believes to embody the Power of God; both of them become unwillingly drawn into the politics of an imaginary region...
and The Girl in a SwingThe Girl in a SwingThe Girl in a Swing is the fourth novel by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down. It was first published in 1980. Subsequent editions changed the female lead's name from Kathe Geutner to Karin Forster, due to threat of a libel suit from someone with that name...
, attended Horris Hill from 1929 - Sebastian DoggartSebastian DoggartSebastian Doggart is an English and American producer, director, writer, translator, cinematographer and human rights activist.-Education:...
, film & television producer and director, and writer - Maxwell WoosnamMaxwell WoosnamMaxwell "Max" Woosnam was an English sportsman is sometimes referred to as the 'Greatest British sportsman' in recognition of his achievements ....
, sportsman, attended the school from 1900 to 1905. An OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
doubles champion in lawn tennis, Woosnam was also once captain of the England national football teamEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. - Will YoungWill YoungWilliam Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, singer and winner of Pop Idol - Jon NaismithJon NaismithJon Naismith is a producer of a large number of BBC radio shows, primarily comedy, including You'll Have Had Your Tea, The Unbelievable Truth and About a Dog....
, BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio producer