St. Piran's is a British independent prep school located on Gringer Hill in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The school has been co-educational since the 1990s.
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St. Piran’s can trace its origins to 1805 when pupils received their early education at a small school, the Revd John Potticary's school in Blackheath, at 2-3 Eliot Place.[1] Benjamin Disraeli was an early pupil.
The school moved to its present site in 1873 while Thomas Nunns was the Headmaster, to gain from the better air and the space to play sports. Plenty of space was essential for the sons of the gentry and aspiring gentry! Cordwalles School was born and remained a successful boys' boarding school for the next 47 years.
In 1919, Major Vernon Seymour Bryant became Headmaster. He was born in Truro, Cornwall and after being educated in Exeter and then Downing College, Cambridge, became an assistant master at Wellington. He bought Cordwalles School for £7,700 and in the Year Book of 1920 it read, "Cordwalles is no more! Long live St. Piran's!" as Major Bryant bestowed on his school the name of the Patron Saint of Cornwall. His philosophy: "Boys will have the opportunity of becoming good craftsmen in workshop, library and field. Young boys can be set to work with machinery, heavy machinery, such as will excite the imagination and create the scientific sense."
23 boys started in 1920 at St. Piran's and by 1921 there were 65 on the books paying 50 guineas each per term. In 1972 the school became an educational trust with a Board of Governors and about 180 boys. Many additions were made to the building in the seventies including an outdoor swimming pool, assembly hall, a new gymnasium, a library and a science laboratory.
In 1993, the school became fully coeducational, accepting boys and girls from age three to thirteen. Boarding came to an end at St. Piran's after 188 years and the school adapted to the demands of the local market, becoming a local school meeting local needs. Further developments under Andrew Blumer included the building of the St. Piran's Centre, providing swimming, dance and sports facilities for the pupils.
The school continues to grow under Jonathan Carroll's headship and remains an Independent Preparatory School. Pupil numbers are as high as they have ever been, with nearly 400 children attending the school.
In 2005, St. Piran's celebrated its 200th anniversary with a bicentinial pagent.
In 2008 a new geography room and lower school hall were completed. Also new girls changing rooms have been built.
Christmas Term
Boys: Football and Swimming
Girls: Netball Hockey and Swimming
Easter Term
Boys: Rugby, Hockey, Cross-Country and Swimming
Girls: Netball, Hockey, Cross-Country and Swimming
Summer Term
Boys: Cricket, Athletics, Tennis and Swimming
Girls: Athletics, Rounders, Tennis and Swimming
2001-2002
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012