Sir William Perkins's School

Last updated
Sir William Perkins's School Chertsey.JPG

Sir William Perkins's School
Address
Sir William Perkins's School
Guildford Road

, ,
KT16 9BN

Coordinates 51°23′17″N0°30′50″W / 51.388°N 0.514°W / 51.388; -0.514
Information
Type Private day school
MottoA Spe in Spem
(Latin: From Hope to Hope)
Established1725
FounderSir William Perkins's School
Local authoritySurrey
Department for Education URN 125425 Tables
HeadD Picton
GenderGirls
Age11to 18
Enrolmentapprox. 580
HousesLonsdale, Montagu, Pankhurst, Quant
Colour(s)Navy and Gold    
Website www.swps.org.uk

Sir William Perkins's School is a private day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Chertsey, Surrey, England. Founded in 1725, it is situated on 13 acres of greenbelt land on the outskirts of Chertsey. The Good Schools Guide described the school as "a friendly school with very good academic standards - ideal for girls who enjoy healthy competition and getting stuck into what is on offer." [1]

Contents

History

The school was founded in 1725 by a wealthy Chertsey merchant, Sir William Perkins. Originally for twenty-five boys, the school extended its education to include twenty-five girls in 1736. It moved to purpose-built accommodation on its present twelve-acre site in 1819.

In 1944, the school became a voluntary controlled grammar school for girls maintained by Surrey Education Authority and in 1978 became fully independent as an educational foundation administered by trustees. [2] [3]

Facilities

The School is situated in 13 acres of greenbelt land in Surrey with grounds and playing fields, tennis courts and a floodlit Astroturf pitch. The School embarked on a number of building projects during the mid 2000s starting with a new Sports Hall, Performing Arts base, fitness studio and a dance studio. More recently a large Atrium café has been built to connect to the existing dining hall, two new Drama Studios and a state of the art Sixth Form Centre with seminar rooms, a careers centre, large common room with kitchen, work spaces and an outdoor terrace. The SWPS Boat Club was opened in 2016 as part of the School's Building Development programme and is situated at Laleham Reach.

Houses

Originally there were just two houses: L and P. The girls who were perceived to be more literary from their entrance exam were put into L (Latin) and the girls more inclined towards Mathematics were put into P (Parallel). The additional houses, M and Q, were added in the later formative years of the school that stands today. In 2014, the house names were changed, from single letters to names of famous and intelligent women of Britain: Lonsdale, Montagu, Pankhurst and Quant. Each house bears its own crest and colour: Lonsdale (red), Montagu (yellow), Pankhurst (green) and Quant (blue).

Curriculum

Sir William Perkins’s School has a tradition of academic excellence. It achieves outstanding results at GCSE and A level, and is regularly listed highly in league tables and the Sunday Times Parent Power. The 2019 ISI inspection report stated 'The quality of the pupils' academic and personal development is excellent.'. [4] The school has had a tradition of academic excellence and is often at the top of examination result tables in the county. [5] Appearing within The Sunday Times Top 150 Independent Secondary Schools (Dec 2021).

Co-Curricular

Sir William Perkins’s offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, including sport, drama, music, art, the Duke of Edinburgh award and many more. Sports teams and athletes regularly take part in competitions at district, county and national level. The rowing team Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club is one of the country’s most successful school programmes, competing in the National Schools’ Regatta, Henley Womens’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. It is coached by Chris Boddy, former GB rower and current junior GB coach. SWPS pupils and former pupils are regularly selected to the GB Rowing Squad.


The Perkonian Network

The Perkonian's form the Alumnae and are an active part of the Sir William Perkins’s School life. There are various events arranged for them throughout the year, in particular Henley Royal Regatta.

Notable former pupils

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chertsey</span> Town in Surrey, England

Chertsey is a town in the Borough of Runnymede, Surrey, England, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of central London. It grew up around Chertsey Abbey, founded in AD 666 by St Erkenwald, and gained a market charter from Henry I. A bridge across the River Thames first appeared in the early 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston Grammar School</span> Private day school in Kingston upon Thames, England

Kingston Grammar School is a private co-educational day school in Kingston upon Thames, England. The school was founded by royal charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century. It is a registered charity under English law. It was a boys' school from its foundation until 1978, when the first girls were admitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Edward's School, Oxford</span> Fee-charging school in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

St Edward's School is a public school in Oxford, England. It is known informally as 'Teddies'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Eleanor Holles School</span> Private day school in Hampton, England

Lady Eleanor Holles School is a private day school for girls in Hampton, London. It consists of a small junior school and a larger senior school, which operate from different buildings on the same 24-acre (10-hectare) site. It is a member of the Girls' Schools Association and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Catherine's School, Bramley</span> Private day and boarding school in Bramley, Guildford, Surrey, England

St Catherine's School is an independent girls' boarding and day school in the village of Bramley, near Guildford, Surrey, England. The school is divided into a senior school, for ages 11–18, and a preparatory school for girls aged 3–11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caterham School</span> Private school in Caterham, Surrey, England

Caterham School is a private co-educational day and boarding school located in Caterham, Surrey and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ash, Surrey</span> Village and civil parish in Surrey, England

Ash is a village and civil parish in the far west of the borough of Guildford, Surrey. Ash is on the eastern side of the River Blackwater, with a station on the Reading-Guildford-Gatwick line, and direct roads to Aldershot, Farnham and Guildford. The 2011 census counted the residents of the main ward of Ash, which excludes Ash Vale, as 6,120. Ash has a small museum in the local cemetery chapel, a large secondary school and a library.

Shiplake College is a private boarding and day school in Shiplake, by the River Thames, just outside Henley-on-Thames, England. The school, with 540 pupils, takes girls and boys from 11–18. Originally boys-only, a co-educational Sixth Form was formed in 1998 and in 2023 girls started joining in Year 7 as the school goes fully co-educational.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cransley School</span> Mixed independent school in Great Budworth, Cheshire, England

Cransley School is an independent day school in Great Budworth, close to the town of Northwich, Cheshire, England. The school educates girls and boys aged 4–16. The headmaster since 2016 is Mr Richard Pollock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halliford School</span> School in Shepperton, Surrey, England

Halliford School is a selective boys private day school, which also admits girls into its sixth form, in Lower Halliford, Shepperton, Surrey, England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). The current Headmaster is Mr James Davies. Former pupils of the school are known as "Old Hallifordians". The school's grounds are situated on the edge of Spelthorne, providing access from London, the major airports, the M3 and M4 motorways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrogate Ladies' College</span> Private day and boarding school in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England

Harrogate Ladies' College is a private boarding and day school located in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a girls' senior school in 1893, the college includes Highfield Prep School and educates girls from ages 2 to 18 and boys up to age 11. It is a member of the Girls' Schools Association and Allied Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lingfield College</span> Private day school in Lingfield, Surrey, United Kingdom

Lingfield College is a private day school situated in Lingfield in the English county of Surrey, for pupils aged six months to eighteen years old. It was originally a boarding school for girls and became fully co-educational in 1996. As of 2022 there are approximately 940 pupils at the School spread over two sites situated next to one another: the Prep School and the Senior School. The School is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarm School</span> Private school in Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, England

Yarm School is a co-educational private day school in Yarm, North Yorkshire in the North East of England. The school accepts pupils aged 3–18 years old and has a Nursery Pre-Prep, Preparatory School, Senior School and Sixth Form. The school was founded in 1978 and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exeter School</span> Private day school in Exeter, Devon, England

Exeter School is a private co-educational day school for pupils between the ages of 3 and 18 in Exeter, Devon, England. The younger year groups are based at Exeter Pre-Prep School in Exminster, which was previously known as The New School. In 2019, there were around 200 pupils in the Junior School and 700 in the Senior School.

Langley School is an HMC private co educational day, weekly, flexi and full boarding school situated near the market town of Loddon in South Norfolk, England. The current headmaster is Simon Cooke, who has been in post since 2024, and the school is a member of the Society of Heads. Termly fees are currently £6,750 for day pupils, £11,395 for weekly boarders and £13,365 for full boarders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Anne's School</span> Private boarding and day school in Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, England

Queen Anne's School is a private boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in the suburb of Caversham just north of the River Thames and Reading town centre and occupying a 35-acre (14 ha) campus. There are around 450 pupils. Nearly half are boarders. Some stay seven nights a week; others stay during the working week or two, three or four nights a week. Saturday morning lessons were replaced in 2009 by a programme of optional sport, hobbies and extended learning activities, including rowing, horse riding, textiles and first aid. The school awards scholarships in academic subjects, sport, music, art and drama at ages 11 and 13 and at sixth form entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prior's Field School</span> Private school in Surrey, UK

Prior's Field is an independent girls' boarding and day school in Guildford, Surrey in the south-east of England. Founded in 1902 by Julia Huxley, it stands in 42 acres of parkland, 34 miles south-west of London and adjacent to the A3 road, which runs between the capital and the south coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballard School (New Milton)</span> School in Hampshire, UK

Ballard School is a private, private school located in New Milton, Hampshire, for children aged 2 to 16 years. The Headmaster is Andrew McCleave.

Alton School was an independent Catholic day school on the outskirts of Alton, Hampshire for boys and girls from 6 months to 18 years. Before its closure, it had approximately 450 pupils of all faiths. Situated on a 19-acre (77,000 m2) campus, it had a nursery, prep, senior and 6th form.

Sir William Perkins's School Boat Club (SWPSBC) is a rowing club based on the River Thames at Sir William Perkins's School Boathouse, Thameside, Laleham, Surrey.

References

  1. Profile on Good Schools Guide
  2. About [ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Students celebrate record-breaking GCSE results". Surrey Advertiser. 24 August 2010.
  4. "Sir William Perkins's School: Independent Schools Inspectorate". isi.net. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  5. "William Perkins' hit A-level bonanza". Surrey Herald. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.