Spratton Hall School
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Spratton Hall School
| image =
| image_size =
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| motto =
| established = 1951
| closed =
| type = Preparatory school
| trust =
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label = Head Master
| head = Simon Clarke
| chair_label =
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| founder =
| address = Smith Street
| city = Spratton
| county = Northamptonshire
| country = England
| postcode = NN6 8HP
| local_authority =
| ofsted =
| urn = 122133
| staff =
| enrolment =
| gender = Co-educational
| lower_age = 4
| upper_age = 13
| houses =
| colours =
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| website = https://www.sprattonhall.com/
}}
Spratton Hall School is a private preparatory school that welcomes girls and boys aged 4–13, located in the village of Spratton, 8 miles outside Northampton, England, on the A5199 Welford Road.
History
=Spratton Hall=
The main school building was built in the late 1700s on the site of an earlier farmhouse and owned by the Clark family as a private home.{{cite book|last=Pevsner|first= Nikolaus|year=1998|title=Northamptonshire – The Buildings of England: Description of the Spratton Hall and reference to build date|publisher=Penguin Books|location=London|page=407|isbn=978-0-1407-1022-9}} It is mainly constructed from limestone from Kingsthorpe.{{National Heritage List for England |num=1280210|desc=Spratton Hall School|access-date=22 December 2022}}
=The school=
Ownership of the building passed through several hands until Kenneth C Hunter and his wife Joan bought it and opened it as a boys’ boarding school in 1951 with 20 boys. They chose the stag for the new school's crest. The stag was originated from a tale of Saint Hubertus' vision, Patron Saint of Hunters.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-360241-spratton-hall-school-spratton-northampto|title=Spratton Hall School, Spratton|publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=6 December 2014}}
In 1972 the Charitable Trust was established so the school was administered by a board of governors. The Hunters remained with the school until their retirements in 1975 and Mr Bickley became its first Head Master. In 1987 it became a day-only school and turned co-educational nine years later.{{cite news|title=Spratton Hall celebrates its 70th anniversary|url=https://www.sprattonhall.com/spratton-hall-celebrates-its-70th-anniversary/|website=sprattonhall.com|date=14 May 2022}}
=Former Heads=
- 1951–1975: Mr and Mrs K C Hunter
- 1975–1996: Mr Bickley
- 1996–2005: Dr Robin Barlow
- 2005–2013: Mr Stephen Player
- 2013–present: Mr Simon Clarke
Campus and facilities
The present-day campus consists of various buildings surrounding the historic Spratton Hall, now called "Main House", and subsequent buildings were added as the school expanded. The School has {{convert|50|acre}} of grounds, including a wooded area designated for use as a "forest school".{{cite web|title=Facilities|url=https://www.sprattonhall.com/about-us/facilities/|website=sprattonhall.com|accessdate=22 December 2022}}
Curriculum
Pupils are prepared for entry into a private and public schools, which traditionally admitted pupils at age 13. As such, the curriculum of the prep school section prepares pupils to take the Common Entrance Examination at the end of Year 8.{{cite web|title=Where Pupils go after Spratton|url=https://www.sprattonhall.com/about-us/where-pupils-go-after-spratton/|website=sprattonhall.com|accessdate=22 December 2022}}
Notable people
- Michael Ellis, politician[https://www.sprattonhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Newsletter-Old-Sprattonians-Autumn-Term-2021.pdf Old Sprattonians News]. Autumn Term 2021. Spratton Hall School.
- Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time{{cite news|title=Mark Haddon: How I overcame my horror of history|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/mark-haddon-overcame-horror-history/|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 May 2020}}
- Harry Mallinder, professional rugby player{{cite news|title=International Rugby Stars for Spratton Hall|url=https://www.isbi.com/story/2188/international-rugby-stars-for-spratton-hall.php|website=isbi.com|date=1 December 2014}}
=Former staff=
- Matt Dawson coached rugby while playing for the Northampton Saints before the sport became professional.{{cite news|title=Dawson happy to get his kicks off the field|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/nov/10/rugbyunion.gdnsport3|publisher=The Guardian|date=10 November 2005}}{{cite book|title=Matt Dawson: Nine Lives|isbn=978-0007165674|publisher=Willow Publishing|year=2011}}
- Tenniel Evans taught at the school during a slack period in his performing career.{{cite news|title=Tenniel Evans: Taffy Goldstein in 'The Navy Lark'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tenniel-evans-taffy-goldstein-in-the-navy-lark-1706869.html|work=The Independent|date=17 June 2009}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.sprattonhall.com Official Website]
- [https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/northamptonshire/northampton/spratton-hall-school/ Profile] on the Independent Schools Council website
- [https://www.sprattonhistory.org/photo-archive.php?keyword=sprattonhall 1950s photos of the school] — Spratton Local Historical Society archives
{{Schools in Northamptonshire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Private schools in West Northamptonshire District
Category:Educational institutions established in 1951