Hill House School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill House International Junior School |
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| Address | |
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Hans Place
, London
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SW1X 0EP
England
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| Coordinates | 51°29′51″N 0°09′37″W / 51.4975°N 0.1602°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Preparatory school |
| Motto | Latin: Semper vigilans (Always vigilant) English: "A child's mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." |
| Established | 1949 (Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland) 1951 (Knightsbridge, London), United Kingdom) |
| Founder | Lieutenant-Colonel H. Stuart Townend |
| Department for Education URN | 100518 Tables |
| Head Master | Richard Townend |
| Staff | 110 (approx.) |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age | 4 to 13 |
| Enrolment | 690 As of January 2018[update] |
| Houses | Grammont, Midi, Naye, and Rosa |
| Colour(s) | Old gold, rust & tan |
| Former pupils | Old Hill Housers |
| Website | http://www.hillhouseschool.co.uk/ |
Hill House International Junior School is a private day school located mainly in the Knightsbridge area of London. It is known as a "preparatory school," which means it prepares younger students for their next level of education. The school was started in September 1949 by Lt-Col Stuart Townend and his wife, Beatrice. It first opened in Switzerland, then later in London.
Hill House is the biggest preparatory school in London. It was originally only for boys, but in 1981, it became a school for both boys and girls. The school is famous for its unique uniform. This includes thick mustard-colored sweaters, rust-colored corduroy shorts called knickerbockers, knitted hats, and bags in a dark green color.
Contents
The School's History and Royal Connections
Hill House School was founded in Switzerland in 1949 and in London in 1951. It was started by Lieutenant-Colonel Townend and his wife, Beatrice. Today, the school is still run by the Townend family, with Richard Townend, the founder's son, as the current Headmaster.
A Royal Student at Hill House
One of the most famous students at Hill House was Prince Charles, who is now King Charles III. He attended the school after advice from Harold Macmillan, who was the Prime Minister at the time. This was a very important event because it was the first time an heir to the British throne went to a regular civilian school. Before this, princes were usually taught by private tutors or attended military schools.
As of 2018, about 690 students attend Hill House School. They range in age from 4 to 13 years old.
Hill House in the Media
The school has been featured in different media over the years.
Documentaries and Books
In 1989, Hill House School was shown in a documentary episode called "Knickerbockers in Knightsbridge." This was part of a BBC series called 40 Minutes. The show gave viewers a look into daily life at the school under its founder, Stuart Townend.
The school was also mentioned in a popular 1982 guide book called The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook. This book described Hill House as a good school for a "Sloane boy's" education. It was noted as "Prince Charles's old school" and described as "Outdoorsy, musical, for energetic extroverts."
Famous People Who Attended Hill House
Many notable people have studied at Hill House School.
- Lily Allen, a well-known singer-songwriter.
- Charles III, who is now the King of the United Kingdom and other countries.
- Rupert Degas, an actor.
- Sofia Ellar, a singer-songwriter.
- Nicky Gumbel, a religious leader who helped create the international Christian Alpha Course.
- Ian Macpherson, 3rd Baron Strathcarron, a member of the House of Lords (a part of the UK Parliament).
- Yasmine Naghdi, a main ballerina at The Royal Ballet in London.
- Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Member of Parliament (MP) and former government leader.
- Anya Taylor-Joy, a famous actress.
- Nick Watt, a political editor for BBC News.
- Mark-Francis Vandelli, a television personality from the show Made in Chelsea.
See also
- List of schools in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
