Vinehall School
Encyclopedia
Vinehall School is a co-educational day and boarding school located near the town of Robertsbridge
, East Sussex. It takes children from ages 2 to 13. The school was inspected by Ofsted
in 2011 and given an overall quality rating of "outstanding".
During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Killerton Park in Devon along with a local girls’ school. The school returned to Robertsbridge
after the war and in 1946 was bought by Major Tom Stuart-Menteath. He ran the school until 1957, at which point it was handed down to his stepson, Richard Taylor, who installed an indoor heated swimming pool and founded much of the school's culture.
in 1977 Taylor handed the school over to his son-in-law David Chaplin, father of Tom Chaplin
. He remained until 2002. During his stewardship the school took ownership of the estate and a major period of growth occurred. The school became more popular and pupil numbers rose. The purpose-built Pre-Prep was constructed, as was a theatre, sports hall and in 2000 the Millennium Library and classroom complex. In 2009 an astro turf was completed. In 2002 Chaplin handed over the school to Mrs Julie Robinson, who moved in with her husband Mark and young daughter Gemma. Julie Robinson moved to work as Director of Education and Training at IAPS. She was succeeded in January 2011 by Mr. Richard Follett whose wife Jo is also a teacher, and their two daughters Hannah and Rebecca are pupils at Vinehall. The Chaplins remain in close contact with the school.
architect who is believed to have designed the grounds. Rushton (red) was the name of the park located near Vinehall in the 19th century. The Saxton house was invented later in the 20th century to accommodate for the influx of students.
Members of the same family are automatically entered into the same house, to maintain a family environment. If a student's parents or relatives attended Vinehall, the student is entered into their previous house.
Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles north of Hastings and 13 miles south-east of Tunbridge Wells...
, East Sussex. It takes children from ages 2 to 13. The school was inspected by Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
in 2011 and given an overall quality rating of "outstanding".
History
Vinehall is a country house with a central building constructed in the late 1830s. When Lady Ashton died in 1938, the estate was sold and Vinehall started its life as a country preparatory school, opening with six local children.During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Killerton Park in Devon along with a local girls’ school. The school returned to Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles north of Hastings and 13 miles south-east of Tunbridge Wells...
after the war and in 1946 was bought by Major Tom Stuart-Menteath. He ran the school until 1957, at which point it was handed down to his stepson, Richard Taylor, who installed an indoor heated swimming pool and founded much of the school's culture.
in 1977 Taylor handed the school over to his son-in-law David Chaplin, father of Tom Chaplin
Tom Chaplin
Thomas Oliver "Tom" Chaplin is a singer, musician and composer, best known as the lead vocalist of the piano rock band, Keane.-Life and career:...
. He remained until 2002. During his stewardship the school took ownership of the estate and a major period of growth occurred. The school became more popular and pupil numbers rose. The purpose-built Pre-Prep was constructed, as was a theatre, sports hall and in 2000 the Millennium Library and classroom complex. In 2009 an astro turf was completed. In 2002 Chaplin handed over the school to Mrs Julie Robinson, who moved in with her husband Mark and young daughter Gemma. Julie Robinson moved to work as Director of Education and Training at IAPS. She was succeeded in January 2011 by Mr. Richard Follett whose wife Jo is also a teacher, and their two daughters Hannah and Rebecca are pupils at Vinehall. The Chaplins remain in close contact with the school.
Houses
Students at Vinehall are entered into one of four houses, Saxton, Paxton, Ashton or Rushton. Ashton was named after Lord Ashton, the original owner of Vinehall. Paxton is named after the VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
architect who is believed to have designed the grounds. Rushton (red) was the name of the park located near Vinehall in the 19th century. The Saxton house was invented later in the 20th century to accommodate for the influx of students.
Members of the same family are automatically entered into the same house, to maintain a family environment. If a student's parents or relatives attended Vinehall, the student is entered into their previous house.
Notable alumni
- Tim SmitTim SmitTim Smit KBE is a Dutch-born British businessman, famous for his work on the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project, both in Cornwall, Britain.-Biography:...
, founder of The Eden ProjectEden ProjectThe Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world.... - Tom ChaplinTom ChaplinThomas Oliver "Tom" Chaplin is a singer, musician and composer, best known as the lead vocalist of the piano rock band, Keane.-Life and career:...
, Tim Rice-OxleyTim Rice-OxleyTimothy James Rice-Oxley , is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as co-founder, the principal composer and pianist, backing vocalist of piano rock band Keane.-Life and career:...
and Richard HughesRichard Hughes (musician)Richard David Hughes is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the British piano rock band Keane. He is the eldest member of the band.-Biography:...
- Keane - Tom AveryTom AveryThomas Avery is a British explorer and author. He gained notoriety for his record-breaking journey to the South Pole in 2002. He has travelled by foot to both the North and South Poles.-Early life:...
- polar explorer