Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School Coat of Arms, as redesigned in 2017.
Address
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill

London
,
NW7 1QS

England
Coordinates51°37′08″N 0°13′50″W / 51.6190°N 0.2305°W / 51.6190; -0.2305
Information
TypePublic school
Private day and boarding school
MottoLatin: Et virtutem et musas
(Instilling values, inspiring minds)
Established1807 (1807)
FoundersCommittee of Nonconformist merchants and ministers, including John Pye-Smith
Local authorityBarnet London Borough Council
Department for Education URN101367 Tables
Chair of GovernorsElliot Lipton
HeadDavid Benson[1]
GenderMixed
Age range13–18
Enrolment1,495[2]
Capacity1,661[2]
Campus size120 acres (49 ha)
Houses12
Colour(s)Blue and red   
AffiliationHeadmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
AlumniOld Millhillians
Websitewww.millhill.org.uk

Mill Hill School is a 13–18 co-educational private, day and boarding school in Mill Hill, London, England that was established in 1807. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

History

A committee of Nonconformist merchants and ministers, including John Pye-Smith founded the school,[3] originally called Mill Hill Grammar School,[4] for boys on 25 January 1807. They located it sufficiently distant of London at that time, because of "dangers both physical and moral awaiting youth while passing through the streets of a large, crowded and corrupt city". A boarding house was opened in the residence once occupied by Peter Collinson, with about 20 boys. John Atkinson was the first headmaster and chaplain until 1810.[lower-alpha 1]

Mill Hill School occupies a 120-acre (49 ha) site, part of which formed the gardens of Ridgeway House, the house of the botanist Peter Collinson. He was one of the most important importers of rare and exotic plants into English gardens. Many of the species that he introduced to Mill Hill in the 18th century continue to grow today in the grounds of the School. In 1746 Collinson planted Britain's first hydrangea on the grounds, now located adjacent to School House.

The estate was purchased by the botanist Richard Salisbury in 1802, Ridgeway House became the setting for a long-running scientific dispute between the new owner and his guest, James Edward Smith.[6] The flora of Mill Hill was supplemented by the work of the amateur botanist Richard William Bowry Buckland (died 1947), governor of the foundation from 1878 to 1889, who cultivated a garden in the south-west of the school's grounds for the enjoyment of future generations. He wrote in his diary:

In years bygone I pray to thee,
This willow here, my legacy
As I have sat, pray sit thee.
In shaded splendour
Millhillians; rest hither.

— (signed Richard Buckland)

In 1939, Mill Hill School's premises became a hospital. The school was evacuated to St. Bees School in Cumberland for the duration of the Second World War. Collinson House, a school for girls, was named for it. A St Bees Association was founded in commemoration of this period of evacuation in the school's history by Michael Berry and David Smith.[7]

Mill Hill first admitted sixth form girls in 1975 and became fully co-educational in 1997. The BBC news website usually uses a picture taken at Mill Hill School for articles about boarding schools.[8][9]

In 2005 the school was one of 50 of the country's leading independent schools which were found guilty of running an illegal price-fixing cartel, exposed by The Times. Together they had driven up fees for thousands of parents.[10] Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000, and all agreed to make ex-gratia payments totalling three million pounds into a trust. It is to benefit persons who were students at the schools during the cartel period.[11]

In March 2007, Mill Hill celebrated its bicentenary. To mark the occasion, the school was granted a new coat of arms by Robert Noel, Her Majesty's Lancaster Herald.[12]

In 2018, the school experienced controversy when it was featured in the music video of London rapper Stefflon Don. In it, she was shown nude in the changing room showers, dancing on tables in classrooms, and smoking marijuana in the dormitories.[13][14][15]

Combined Cadet Force

Mill Hill has kept the tradition of having a CCF as a legacy of the Mill Hill School Officer Training Corps (OTC). Today the contingent comprises the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections, along with an award winning Corps of Drums Platoon.

Fourth Form Training

Pupils are able to join the CCF at the beginning of the Spring term in year 9, where during the autumn term they take part in round robin of activities called the Martlet Programme. The cadets choose to join as Army (affiliated with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers), Royal Navy or RAF cadets and are put into recruits sections led by NCOs from their service section. During their recruit training, the cadets gain a base knowledge of cadet activities through a series of lessons led by cadet NCOs; these include drill, basic fieldcraft, campcraft and other army cadet activities, as well as lessons relating to the RAF and Royal Navy such as principles of flight, knot tying and field gun run.

Remove Training

Upon completion of Fourth Form training, the cadets are now fully fledged cadets and begin their service specific basic training. The cadets are led by cadet NCOs, with each service being led by the cadet Head of Section ranked WO1(RSM) (Army), WO (RN), CWO (RAF), usually with a 2ic depending on the size of the section ranked WO2(CSM) (Army), CPO (RN), FS (RAF). The activities involve topics from each service's phase one training, with time given to ensure cadets are ready for their first camp opportunities. In Remove, cadets are able to attend their first camps: a weekend Easter Camp and a weeklong Summer Camp.

Fifth Form (MOI Cadre)

In Fifth Form, cadets join the MOI Cadre in which they learn leadership and instructional skills for the Autumn term, culminating in them taking on 4th Form recruit sections as JNCOs. During this time, cadets from all 3 services attend weekly lessons together and attend a weekend Cadre Camp in which they fine tune their instructional skills and complete their MOI assessments. Upon successful completion of the MOI assessments, cadets usually qualify for promotion to become JNCOs (Army - LCpl, RN - 3 Star, RAF - LCpl). Once they are NCOs, the cadets qualify for attendance to the NCO Camp which consists of higher level fieldcraft training, with command opportunities given to those cadets who wish to try.

Sixth Form

In Sixth Form, cadets move back to their own service sections as NCOs, now having completed their Cadre year. Now with the experience they have they work as instructors mainly to Remove cadets. Sixth Form cadets are promoted based on their merit, with the opportunity to promotion as an SNCO. At the end of Year 12, cadets are given the opportunity to apply for senior leadership positions in the CCF. Currently these roles are: Senior Cadet, Head of the Army Section, Head of the Royal Navy Section, Head of the RAF Section & Drum Major. Those appointed hold these roles for the entirety of their Upper Sixth year, in which they work closely with section staff and the Contingent Commander and SSI to plan and deliver training. At the end of their time in the CCF, Upper Sixth cadets are invited to the Tower of London (RHQ of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) to be dined out and rewarded for their service and dedication.

Corps of Drums

Cadets have to option to become dual role and join the Corps of Drums. The Drums Platoon is commanded by the cadet Drum Major, who is assisted by the Drum Sergeant, Lead Tip (lead drummer) and Head of Fifes. In the Corps of Drums, cadets can choose from a number of instruments: side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbals and fife (Bb flute); with the option to learn the bugle as a secondary instrument. The Mill Hill School CCF Corps of Drums is very successful, taking part in many high profile events and parades, including the annual Lord Mayor's Show. The Corps of Drums recently took part in the Lord Mayor's Music Competition, in which they won the competition for best Corps of Drums; as well as the Drum Corps' bugler winning the solo bugler competition.

Structure

The Contingent is officially under the command of the Head of the School, however day to day running of the CCF comes under the Contingent Commander and School Staff Instructor (SSI). Each Section is Commanded by an OC, with other staff usually of officer rank. Sections are led by Cadet Heads of Sections, and dependant on size of the section a 2ic. Contingent Commander: Major Anthony Norrington

SSI: WO1(RSM) Fritz Albrecht

Officer Commanding Army Section: Lt R. Emirali

Officer Commanding Navy Section: Lt L. Lilley

Officer Commanding RAF Section: Plt Off I. Wong

OIC Corps of Drums: Capt K Kyle

Officers Who Have Commanded the Contingent
YearsRankName
1911-1921MajorN.G. Brett James
1921-1924MajorF.R.H. McLennan
1924-1929MajorH.B. Pegrum M.C.
1929-1938MajorW.P. Phillips
1938-1946MajorL.R. Bee
1946-1950MajorA. Bush M.C.
1950-1955MajorC.M.T. Bowring T.D.
1955-1968MajorC.S. Baker T.D.
1968-1977Wing CommanderD.M. Franklin
1977-1998Lieutenant ColonelP.S. Bickerdike
1998-unknownMajorH. Barnes
unknown-2004MajorJ. Monogham
2004–PresentMajorA. Norrington

Houses

Mill Hill School is divided into houses. These are:

Boarding houses

  • Burton Bank – Named to commemorate its original position on Burton Hole Lane
  • Collinson – Named after Peter Collinson, who once owned what is now the estate
  • Macgregor – Named after Mary Macgregor, the founder and first head of The Mount, Mill Hill International
  • Ridgeway – Peter Collinson's original house on the site

Winterstoke House was converted into Grimsdell Mill Hill Pre-Preparatory School, in 1995.

Day houses

  • Atkinson – Named after the first headmaster, John Atkinson
  • Cedars – Named in honour of the cedars planted by Peter Collinson
  • McClure – Named after Sir John McClure, headmaster at the turn of the 20th century
  • Murray – Named in honour of Sir James Murray, teacher and longtime editor of the Oxford English Dictionary; who began compiling his dictionary while a master at Mill Hill
  • Priestley – Named after headmaster Thomas Priestley
  • School House – Named after Tite's famous building constructed in the 1820s
  • Weymouth – Named after headmaster Richard Weymouth
  • Winfield – Named after headmaster William Winfield

Heads

In January 2016, Frances King became the school's first female Head.[16]

The following people have served as Head:

NameTenure
John Atkinson1807–1810
Maurice Phillips1811–1818
John Humphreys1819–1825
James Corrie1825–1827
George Samuel Evans18281
Robert Cullen1829–1831
H. L. Berry1831–1834
Thomas Priestley1834–1852
Philip Smith1852–1860
William Flavel1860–1863
Philip Chapman Barker1863–1864
George Donald Bartlet1864–1868
Richard Francis Weymouth1869–1886
Charles Arthur Vince1886–1891
John David McClure (later Sir)1891–1922
Maurice Leonard Jacks1922–1937
Thomas Kingston Derry1938–1940
Arthur Rooker Roberts1940–1943
Maurice Leonard Jacks1943–1944
John Seldon Whale1944–1951
Roy Moore1951–1967
Michael Hart1967–1974
Alan Fraser Elliot1974–1978
William Allan Phimester1978–1979
Alastair Carew Graham1979–1992
Euan Archibald MacFarlane MacAlpine1992–1995
William Winfield1995–2007
Dominic Luckett2007–2015
Frances King2016–2018
Jane Sanchez2018–2023
David Benson2023–

^1 Evans served as head from January 1828 to June 1828.

Architecture

Chapel

Unveiled in 1896, the school chapel is a basilica in form. The architect was Basil Champneys, well known for his work at the University of Oxford and Winchester College.

School House

Designed by Sir William Tite, famous for his work on the London Royal Exchange, School House was erected in 1825 and is described as being in the Greco-Roman style.

Boarding houses

Although the number of day pupils has risen over recent years, both full and weekly boarding at Mill Hill is still possible.

Faculties and other

The school occupies a number of buildings within its site of both traditional and modern styling.

The cricket house was used as a set in the tenth episode of Inspector Morse.

In honour of Patrick Troughton the Mill Hill theatre was dedicated to the actor and named the Patrick Troughton Theatre in 2007.

The Mill Hill Education Group

The school is run by the Mill Hill School Foundation (now known as The Mill Hill Education Group),[17] a registered charity under English law.[18] The Education Group offers education to boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in seven schools.[19] The Mill Hill Education Group's other schools are:

  • Belmont – a day school for pupils aged 7 to 13. Head: Leon Roberts
  • Grimsdell – a pre-preparatory day school for pupils aged 3 to 7.[20] Head: Kate Simon
  • The Mount, Mill Hill International – a mixed day and boarding school for international pupils aged 11 to 16. Head: Sarah Bellotti.
  • Cobham Hall – an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18. Head: Wendy Barrett.[21]
  • Lyonsdown – an independent preparatory school for girls aged 3 to 11. Head: Rittu Hall.
  • Keble Prep – an independent preparatory school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13. Head: Perran Gill.
  • St Joseph's In The Park – an independent preparatory school for boys and girls aged 2 to 11. Head: Douglas Brown.

Notable alumni

References

Notes

  1. ↑ John Atkinson was later head of Wymondley College.[5]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Mill Hill School". Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Mill Hill School Foundation". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. ↑ A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 1
  4. ↑ Chilton, Trevor (March 2016). "The remaining Peter Collinson trees at Mill Hill" (PDF). Mill Hill Preservation Society.
  5. ↑ "Wymondley Academy (1799–1833)". Dissenting Academies Online. Queen Mary Centre for Religion and Literature in English. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Boulger, George Simonds (1897). "Salisbury, Richard Anthony" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 50. London: Smith, Elder & Co. sources: Journal of Botany, 1886.
  7. ↑ "Evacuation of Mill Hill School to St Bees". The St Bees Association. Archived from the original on 25 May 2005.
  8. ↑ "Private sector 'to loan teachers'". BBC News. 26 May 2007.
  9. ↑ Smith, Alison (3 January 2015). "Private schools 'feel downturn". BBC News.
  10. ↑ Halpin, Tony (10 November 2005). "Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  11. ↑ The Office of Fair Trading: OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement Archived 2 April 2014 at the UK Government Web Archive, oft.gov.uk; accessed 3 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "The Coat of Arms of Mill Hill School", millhill.org.uk; accessed 13 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Mill Hill school seeks legal action over rapper Stefflon Don's explicit music video".
  14. ↑ "Stefflon Don music video forces Mill Hill School apology". BBC News. 23 August 2018.
  15. ↑ "Stefflon Don – how the rapper's new video taught a private school a lesson". TheGuardian.com. 22 August 2018.
  16. ↑ King, Frances. "Mrs Frances King". Mill Hill School. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  17. ↑ Mill Hill School Foundation
  18. ↑ "THE MILL HILL SCHOOL FOUNDATION, registered charity no. 1064758". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  19. ↑ "The Mill Hill School Foundation Announces More School Mergers". Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  20. ↑ Adonis, Andrew; Bright, Martin (15 February 1998). "A through train for the monied". The Observer. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Cobham School" (PDF). Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Sir John Batten". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  23. ↑ Alumni, Mill Hill School (11 February 2019). "Ben Glassberg New Principal Conductor At Glyndebourne". Mill Hill Alumni. Mill Hill School. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Tulip Siddiq". 11 February 2019.
  25. ↑ Grief at Mill Hill

Further reading

  • Braithwaite, Roderick (2006). 'Strikingly Alive': The History of the Mill Hill School Foundation 1807–2007. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 978-1-86077-330-3.
  • Brett-James, Norman G. The Book of Remembrance and War Record of Mill Hill School 1914-1918 (1919)
  • Brett-James, Norman G. The Book of Remembrance and War Record of Mill Hill School 1939-1945 (1948)
  • Brett-James, Norman G. The History of Mill Hill School 1807-1923 (revised ed. 1923)
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