Westbourne House School Explained

Westbourne House School
Coordinates:	50.8417°N -0.7403°W
Type:	Preparatory, boarding
Head Label:	Headmaster
Head:	Martin Barker
Address:	Coach Road, Shopwyke
Postcode:	PO20 2BH
Local Authority:	West Sussex County Council^[1]
Enrolment:	380
Lower Age:	2
Upper Age:	13
Houses:	Tigers, Otters, Panthers, Owls
Colours:	Red, Green, Yellow, Blue
Website:	westbournehouse.org

Westbourne House School is an independent preparatory school 1½ miles east of Chichester, West Sussex, England.^{[2] [3]} It is co-educational and serves around 450 boarding and day-school pupils from ages 2–13. The headmaster is Martin Barker.^[4] The school is set in grounds of 100 acres and has a lake for kayaking and canoeing.^[5] The school has extensive sports facilities, a performing arts centre and art, design and technology studios.^{[6] [7]} The school was the winner of the Alice Rose Award in the Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education in 2022.^[8] Westbourne House is a High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School and was first accredited in 2021.^{[9] [10]}

History

The school opened in 1907.^[11] It was originally a pre-prep school for boys located at Westbourne House in Folkestone, Kent. During World War I, the school moved to Dower House for safety under Miss Hare (later Mrs Hilton). In 1932, Geoffrey Shilcock took over from Mrs Hilton and the school became a preparatory school up to the age of 13. In 1939, the school moved by train to Upcott in Barnstaple, Devon, due to World War II. The previous site of the school was damaged during the war and the playing fields had been tarmacked over for use as tank parking, so the school moved to its current site at Shopwyke House in 1946. In 1961 the school temporarily closed, but reopened under Colin Sharman. In 1967, Westbourne House becomes a charitable trust. In 1992, the school became fully co-educational. Martin Barker became the headmaster in 2011. In 2022, a girls' cricket team at the school toured South Africa.^[12]

Notable alumni

The following attended the school:^[13]

• Tom Bradby, journalist and author
• Marcus Brigstocke, comedian
• Nick Clarke, presenter and journalist^[14]
• Holly Colvin, England cricketer
• Norman Heatley, scientist
• Alastair Mackenzie, film and television actor
• Charlie Tear, cricketer^[15]
• Drummond Money-Coutts, magician
• Will Green, rugby
• Lucy Foley, author

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Westbourne House School . West Sussex County Council . UK . 1 December 2023 .
2. Web site: About Westbourne House School . . 1 December 2023 .
3. Web site: School information and inspection reports: Westbourne House School . ISI Inspection reports . . 1 December 2023 .
4. Web site: Establishment: Westbourne House School . . UK . 1 December 2023 .
5. Web site: Westbourne House School . Talk Education . 1 December 2023 .
6. Web site: Westbourne House School, Chichester PO20 . Schoolsmith . UK . 1 December 2023 .
7. Web site: Westbourne House School Sports . Westbourne House School . 1 December 2023 .
8. Web site: Talk Education's Awards for Innovation in Education: what are our 2022 winners up to now? . 2024-01-29 . www.talkeducation.com.
9. Web site: 2020-10-16 . Westbourne House . 2024-01-29 . Tatler . en-GB.
10. Web site: UK Independent Schools - High Performance Learning (HPL) - Prof. Deborah Eyre . 2024-01-29 . www.highperformancelearning.co.uk.
11. Web site: Our History . Westbourne House School . 1 December 2023 .
12. News: Westbourne House School set to make history as first U13 girls' team to tour South Africa . . 5 October 2022 . 1 December 2023 .
13. Web site: Westbourne House School – Famous School Graduates . Paradise Education . 1 December 2023 .
14. News: Obituary: Nick Clarke . . 24 November 2006 .
15. Web site: Sussex cricketer returns to Chichester school to inspire pupils . Sussex World . Yahoo! Sport . 20 November 2023 . 1 December 2023 .