Orley Farm School

Orley Farm School
Motto Haec Cogitate
(Think on these things)
Established 1850
Type Preparatory school
Headmaster Mr Tim Calvey
Chairman of the Governors Mr C Hayfield
Founder Edward R Hastings
Location South Hill Avenue
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 3NU
England
Coordinates: 51°33′45″N 0°20′37″W / 51.56255°N 0.34368°W / 51.56255; -0.34368
Local authority Harrow
DfE number 310/6003
DfE URN 102248 Tables
Students 496
Gender Coeducational
Ages 4–13
Houses 4
Website www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk

Orley Farm School is a coeducational preparatory day school in the London borough of Harrow, at the foot of Harrow Hill on South Hill Avenue. It was founded as the preparatory school for the nearby Harrow School but is now a fully independent school in its own right and leavers continue to other independent schools. The school grounds cover over 39 acres (160,000 m2).

History

Orley Farm has evolved since September 1850 from a boarding school for boys preparing for Harrow, to a co-educational, vibrant, day school that specialises in preparing children for their own journey through life.

In 1984 the Official Grant of Arms was awarded. The arms and crest have three historical sources: (1) the stag holding an oak leaf is the Trollope family crest; (due to the renaming of the school in 1862 to that of the book of the same name written by Anthony Trollope describing the buildings owned by the family and occupied by the school) (2) crossed arrows and a silver laurel wreath are included on the Harrow arms, and (3) the “Hurst” of oak trees on the shield and sprig of oak in the badge refer to the Gardner family. The motto, Haec cogitate., “think on these things”, comes from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Having had only 10 Headmasters in its 160+ years the school maintains a family feel and has a warmth that we hope you will experience for yourself when you visit.

The School community is proud of the journey Orley Farm has made since its beginning but without the vision of Edward Ridley Hastings, the patronage of Samuel Gardner and the dedicated support of generations of staff, parents and pupils none of it would exist today. Orley Farm was originally a traditional boarding prep school similar to the likes of Ludgrove and Heatherdown Preparatory Schools. During the 1980s, boarding was phased out after over 130 years and the dormitories were converted into classrooms. In 1994, the school administration made the landmark decision of admitting girls for the first time. The pre-prep department opened the following year.[1]

Controversy

In October 2012, the then Headmaster, Mark Dunning, was forced to step down after hiding an offensive coded message in the form of an acrostic in the school news letter. The target of this insult was a retiring teacher, and the hidden message was in the text announcing his forthcoming retirement.[2] The Deputy Headmaster, Tim Calvey, took on the role of acting Headmaster (later made permanent).

In February 2015 Ex Teacher David Gutteridge was found guilty of indecent assault on a male pupil aged under 16 (Not a pupil from the school).[3] from 1986 to 1988 Gutteridge would invite the 14-16 year old victim to his flat at weekends and ply him with cigarettes and alcohol before abusing them. Gutteridge was jailed for 18 months.[4]

Teachers

Orley Farm School has a variety of staff and teachers. Here are their head staff:

Mr Tim Calvey - Head

Mrs Nicola Mitchell - Deputy Head / Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss Samantha Mowle - Head of Pre Prep / Designated Staff

Ms Melanie Gentles - Head of Middle School

Mr Matthew King - Head of Pastoral Care

Mrs Carol Cliffe - Director of Studies

Mr Ceri Davies - Head of Extra Curricular

Miss Inez Brodie - Deputy Head of Pre Prep

Houses

Each pupil is randomly assigned to one of the four houses upon entry. The houses are named after former headmasters and activities are overseen by house teachers.[5]

New Buildings

Elliot Block

In September 2015, the original music school was turned into a building called the Elliot Block. It consists of 13 new classrooms.

Gardener Building

In February 2016, the new Gardener Building opened. It has 12 brand new classrooms and form rooms that are in Oakmead (across the road) are being moved here. The English & Science department will be moving into this building.


Former Pupils

References

  1. ↑ About Us - School History
  2. ↑ Ward, Victoria (28 Feb 2013). "Headmaster's hidden insult gives teacher the last laugh". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/former-teacher-has-been-found-32299/
  4. ↑ http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/local/former-chichester-school-worker-jailed-for-indecent-assault-on-teenage-boy-1-6632847
  5. ↑ House System
  6. ↑ "Me and my school photo: Anthony Horowitz remembers the brutal experiences that sparked his passion for escapism". Daily Mail. 2 December 2011.
  7. ↑ Winton, Dale (2003). Dale Winton: My Story. Random House. p. 37. ISBN 9780099443155.
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