Donhead Preparatory School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donhead School |
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Front of school
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| Address | |
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33 Edge HIll
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| Coordinates | 51°25′05″N 0°13′20″W / 51.4180°N 0.2223°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, preparatory, day school |
| Motto | Semper Magis (Latin) (Always More) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
| Established | 1933 |
| Headteacher | Ms Catherine Hitchcock |
| Gender | all |
| Age | 4 to 11 |
| Number of students | 280 |
| Houses | 3 Xavier (Francis Xavier') Loyola (Ignatius') Campion (Edmund Campion) |
| Colour(s) | Royal blue and white |
| Archdiocese | Southwark |
Donhead is a private day school for students aged 4 to 11. It is located in Wimbledon, which is part of the London Borough of Merton in the United Kingdom. The school is run by the Jesuits, a Catholic religious group started by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. After leaving Donhead, students often go on to other independent schools in London or Catholic schools like Oratory School and Stonyhurst College.
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Donhead School: A Look at Its History
The name Donhead might come from old English words. "Don" means hill and "head" means top, so it could mean "the top of the hill." The building was first owned by a lawyer named Mr. Oliver Haynes. Later, in 1880, Mary Arnold bought it and used it as a school for ladies until 1902.
In 1932, the owner Henry Small left the building to the Jesuits after his wife passed away. The first headmaster of Donhead School was Father Miller. When the school first opened on September 5, 1933, it had about 67 boys. They were divided into three classes: Elements, Preparatory, and Lower Preparatory.
How Donhead's Age Groups Changed
In the late 1980s, the Merton London Borough Council decided to close middle schools. This meant that students would move from Donhead to Wimbledon College at age 11 instead of 13. Because of this change, Donhead started accepting younger students. This way, students could still spend the same number of years at Donhead before moving on.
Recent Developments at Donhead
Donhead School has seen some exciting changes recently. In 2011, the school's Under 11A Rugby Union team became national champions! They won against Blundell's in the final game.
By September 2018, the school finished a big development plan that cost £8 million. This plan included building a new chapel that can hold 50 students. The school has also grown a lot, more than doubling in size between 2006 and 2016.
School Traditions and Values
Donhead School has three terms each year: Michaelmas, Lent, and Trinity. Following Jesuit teachings, students are encouraged to use special Latin phrases. They write AMDG (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam), which means For the greater glory of God, before starting their work. After finishing, they write LDS (Laus Deo Semper), meaning Praise God Always.
The school also names its prep school years based on Jesuit traditions. Year 3 is called Lower Prep 1, Year 4 is Lower Prep 2, Year 5 is Prep, and Year 6 is Elements.
When the 1st XV rugby team plays, their uniform has an extra red stripe. This makes their jersey a mix of red, blue, and white.
Old Wimbledonians Association
The Old Wimbledonians Association (OWA) was started in 1905 by former students of Wimbledon College. This association is for old boys from both Wimbledon College and Donhead Preparatory School. It helps former students stay connected.
Notable Former Students
Many talented individuals have attended Donhead School. Here are a few:
- Peter Milward (1925–2017) – A Jesuit scholar who studied literature.
- Michael Quinlan (1930–2009) – A high-ranking government official.
- Nicholas Hudson (b. 1959) – An Auxiliary Bishop in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster.
- Danny Cipriani (b. 1987) – A well-known English rugby union player.
- Tom Holland (b. 1996) – A famous actor and dancer.
- Donal Donat Conor Bradley – A physicist.
- Michael Kenny – A political scientist.
Headteachers of Donhead School
- Fr Edmund Millar, SJ (1933–1939)
- Fr Francis Moran, SJ (1939–1942)
- Fr Edmund Basset, SJ (1942–1945)
- Fr Christopher Farwell, SJ (1945–1949)
- Fr Bernard Egan, SJ (1949–1971)
- Fr Philip Wetz, SJ (1971–1985)
- Mr Denis O'Leary (1985–1997)
- Mr Chris McGrath (1997–2017)
- Mr Philip Barr (2017–2023)
- Mrs Annie Thackray (2023)
- Ms Catherine Hitchcock (2023–present)
See Also
- Jesuit locations in the United Kingdom
- List of Jesuit schools
