St John's Beaumont School

St John's Beaumont School

School entrance
Motto Aeterna Non Caduca
Not for this life alone, but for eternity.
Established 1888
Type Preparatory school
Day & Boarding school
Religion Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Headmaster Giles Delaney
Location Priest Hill
Old Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 2JN
England
Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead
DfE number 936/6422
Students 300~
Gender Boys
Ages 3–13
Affiliation IAPS
Website www.stjohnsbeaumont.org.uk

St John's Beaumont School is an independent boys preparatory school situated between Englefield Green and Old Windsor on Priest's Hill, with the school building in Surrey and the sports fields in Berkshire. It was opened on 25 September 1888 and it is the oldest purpose-built preparatory school in the UK.[1] The building is Grade II listed and was designed by John Francis Bentley in Tudor style with a Perpendicular chapel,[2] and it was named St John's, in honour of St John Berchmans, who was canonised that year.[3]

History

It was founded by the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus and was built as a preparatory school for Beaumont College, but the college was closed in 1968. It is a day and boarding school in the Jesuit tradition and is for boys aged 3 to 13 years old.[4]

In 1970, after an initial period of uncertainty following the closure of Beaumont College, the governors of Stonyhurst College accepted responsibility for St John's. However, when leaving St John's Beaumont, as well as Stonyhurst, students go on to nearer schools such as Eton College, Winchester College, Radley College and Harrow School.[5]

Facilities

It is located 11 miles away from both Heathrow Airport and Central London.[2]

The school was built initially for 60 boys aged between 7 and 13 and this can still be seen in the provision of 60 carved wooden chapel pews and 60 individual dormitory cubicles. However, the school has expanded both its classroom provision and its facilities to accommodate over 300 pupils.[6]

In 1993 a new swimming pool with four lanes was opened by David Wilkie, a former Olympic Champion and world record holder; it is run by a separate organisation called The Development Company. In October 2009, a new sports centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II,[2] giving the school day pupils, boarders and the local community access to football, cricket, judo and rock climbing of a 30-foot wall.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Queen visits St John's Beaumont School from Independent Catholic News, 22 October 2009, retrieved 24 July 2017
  2. 1 2 3 St John's Beaumont from British Listed Buildings, retrieved 25 July 2017
  3. ↑ St John's Beaumont from Jesuits in Britain, retrieved 25 July 2017
  4. 1 2 St John's Beaumont from Independent Schools Council, retrieved 25 July 2017
  5. ↑ St John's Beaumont from Tatler, Schools Guide 2017, retrieved 25 July 2017
  6. ↑ St John's Beaumont School Old Windsor from Good Schools Guide 2017, retrieved 25 July 2017
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Coordinates: 51°26′40″N 0°34′39″W / 51.444434°N 0.577521°W / 51.444434; -0.577521

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