Handcross Park School Explained

Handcross Park School
Motto:Be Trewe
Established:1887
Religious Affiliation:Anglican
Head Label:Head Master
Head:Jonnie Besley
Founder:Rev. William Henry Webb
Address:London Road
Country:England
Postcode:RH17 6HF
Coordinates:51.0621°N -0.1968°W
Staff:A. Costello (Pastoral Deputy Head)
E. Johnson (Deputy Head) R. Clark (Academic)
Lower Age:2
Upper Age:13
Houses:Normans, Britons, Saxons, Vikings
Colours: Blue & gold

Handcross Park School is an independent co-educational preparatory school in Handcross, between Crawley, Horsham and Haywards Heath in West Sussex, England. The school provides private co-education from the Nursery aged 2, through Pre-Prep and into Prep until aged 13, with a mix of day pupils flexi, weekly and full boarders.

History

The school traces its origins back to 1887, when it was known as Wykeham Hall, based in Hampshire. In 1918 Wykeham Hall was bought by the Fleet Air Arm who used it as part of their Officers' Mess, and the School move to the opposite side of the airfield into Seafield Park and moved the school to Lower Beeding a town near Horsham changing the name to Newells.

In 1968 following a major fire where one pupil died, the school relocated to Handcross and merged with Desmoor School from Ewhurst in Surrey. In 1974 the school changed its name to 'Handcross Park' which has stuck since.

Originally there were two headmasters, Captain Peter Hope-Lang and Mr Alan McNeile, until Hope-Lang's death in 1970. For a time the school was also known as Newells and Desmoor School.

In 2011 Handcross Park joined a 'family of schools' with Brighton College and St Christophers.

As of 2019, the School has 414 pupils. The Headmaster, Richard Brown, joined the school in September 2016, taking over from Graeme Owton, who became Head in 2011. Graeme Owton has become Executive Head of the Brighton College Prep Schools.

In June 2011 a merger with Brighton College was announced.[1]

Badge

The school continues use of the badge that was in use when the school was at Newells, Lower Beeding, and before then, at Seafield Park, Lee-on-Solent. It is a device comprising an heraldic style shield of gold on a blue background, over the motto, worded in Middle English, "Be Trewe".[2]

Grounds and Facilities

The School is based in 52 Acres of parkland in rural West Sussex.

The school is a leading institution in Educational Resources such as interactive smartboards, and Google Chromebooks.

There is also an Art & Design Center, that includes a Gallery, Kiln, and Pottery Wheel.

For sport there is an all-weather pitch that accommodates Football, Hockey, Cricket, and PE. A large sports hall used for theater productions, an on-grass Athletics Track, a 6-Hole Golf course and multiple Tennis courts, The school also has an indoor swimming pool.

Further Education

With 35% of Alumni graduating to Brighton College the remaining latter move on to other schools including:

Governors

As of February 2024:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Handcross Park School to become part of Brighton College (From The Argus). 30 June 2011. The Argus (Brighton). 5 July 2011.
  2. Middle English Dictionary, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, USA 1997, p. 1053