Hinchingbrooke School

Summary

Hinchingbrooke School is a large comprehensive secondary school situated on the outskirts of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, historically in Huntingdonshire. Originally all of the surrounding land—including what is now Huntingdon Town—comprised the grounds of Hinchingbrooke House. There is still an avenue of trees leading from the start of Hinchingbrooke House towards the town, which was the old entranceway through the grounds. It is now an academy.

Hinchingbrooke School
Address
Map
Brampton road

,
Coordinates52°19′43″N 0°12′05″W / 52.32855°N 0.20142°W / 52.32855; -0.20142
Information
TypeAcademy
Mottoinspiring excellence fulfilling potential
Established1565; 459 years ago (1565)[1]
Department for Education URN137475 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalMark Patterson
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1918
HousesCromwell, Vesey, Montagu, Pepys & Wylton
Colour(s)         
Green, red, yellow, blue and purple
Websitehttp://www.hinchingbrookeschool.net

History edit

Hinchingbrooke School was founded as Huntingdon Grammar School in 1565.[1][2] Among its pupils in its early history were Oliver Cromwell[1] and Samuel Pepys.[3]

On 1 September 1939 it opened in a new building on Brampton Road. The girls from Highbury Hill High School in London were evacuated for safety and attended the premises from 1939 to 1943. In 1970 the school began to take pupils of all abilities and soon became fully comprehensive. At the same time the school changed its name and moved to new premises in Hinchingbrooke Park and the renovated Hinchingbrooke House.[4]

In 2006 Hinchingbrooke School became a Specialist Sports College.[2] It is now an academy.

 
The Performing Arts Centre

Hinchingbrooke sixth form edit

The sixth form is located in the historic Hinchingbrooke House itself, with most classrooms and student areas within the Grade I listed building.

 
Hinchingbrooke House

Hinchingbrooke main school edit

The main school includes sports facilities, such as a swimming pool, the Fisherhall Dance Studio, a 3rd generation Artificial Grass Pitch and a fitness suite. Some of these are open to the public. A new sports hall has recently been constructed.

Notable former pupils edit

Hinchingbrooke sixth form edit

Huntingdon Grammar School edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Huntington Historic Town Walk[permanent dead link], huntslesure.org, accessed December 2009
  2. ^ a b School site, accessed December 2009
  3. ^ The History of Hinchingbrooke House, accessed December 2009
  4. ^ About Hinchingbrooke House Archived 9 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, hhpac.org, accessed December 2009
  5. ^ "Brampton's Arsenal starlet Carla Humphrey bags top awards". The Hunts Post. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2022.