Priory Preparatory School

Priory Preparatory School is a preparatory school in Banstead, Surrey, England, for boys aged two to thirteen years.^[1] The school is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS)^[2] and of the Independent Schools Council (ISC).^[3] It was founded in 1921, and moved to its current location in 1936. It is a charitable trust^[4]

History

The main building, known as the Red House, was built in 1885 and given as a wedding present to Herbert Edgar Reid (and his wife) by his father-in-law.^[5]

The Priory School was founded in 1921 within Sydenham, County of London by Charles S. Poole and was called as such because it occupied an old building that had been a priory. It actually came to the Red House in 1936.^[6][7]

The school originally catered for both boys and girls up to the age of twelve, but after the move to Banstead it eventually became an all-boys preparatory school.^[5] The task of changing the school to an all-boys school fell to John Skinner, who was given this task when he first came to the Red House at Priory in 1938.^[6]

The Priory was one of the schools in Banstead that remained open throughout World War II. On 17 November 1940, the school was extensively damaged by fire resulting from High Explosive incendiary bombs which hit the top floor of the Red House.^[5][7] The damage to the school was so severe that repairs could not be carried out until after the wars end, because of the fire damage the number of pupils dropped dramatically and in 1944 the school only had eighteen pupils, during this period the school was only able to operate on half days, with lessons being held in the cellar of the Red House.^[7]

Headmasters

• Mr. Charles S. Poole (1921–1951)
• Mr. John Skinner (1951–1980)
• Mr. John Saunders-Griffiths (1980–1990)
• Mr. Ian R Chapman (1990–2000)
• Mr. Graham Malcolm (2000–Present)^[6]

Priory School, February 2009

References

External links

• School website
• Banstead History Research Group

Borough of Reigate and Banstead
Towns, villages, neighbourhoods and hamlets	Banstead Banstead Nork Woodmansterne Coulsdon Chipstead Hooley Netherne-on-the-Hill Epsom Tattenham Corner Horley Horley Redhill Earlswood Meadvale Merstham New Merstham St John's Salfords Redhill Whitebushes Reigate Flanchford Reigate Skimmington Sidlow South Park Woodhatch Tadworth Burgh Heath Kingswood Margery Mogador Mugswell Tadworth Walton-on-the-Hill
Most notable parks	Chipstead Downs Colley Hill Priory or Reigate Park
Places of worship	Church of Jesus Christ and the Wisdom of God, Kingswood St John the Evangelist's Church, Earlswood
Education	Aberdour School The Beacon School Chinthurst School Dunottar School for Girls East Surrey College Oakwood School Priory Preparatory School Reigate College Reigate Grammar School Reigate School The Royal Alexandra and Albert School St. Bede's School The Warwick School
Transport	Railway stations Banstead Chipstead Earlswood Horley Kingswood Merstham Redhill Reigate Salfords Tattenham Corner Woodmansterne Roads M25 M23 A23 A25 A217 A240
Buildings and structures	Archway Theatre East Surrey Hospital Netherne Hospital Redhill Aerodrome Reigate Heath Windmill Royal Earlswood Hospital The Children's Trust, Tadworth
Sport	Banstead Athletic F.C. Chipstead F.C. Horley Town F.C. Merstham F.C. Redhill F.C. Reigate Priory F.C. South Park F.C.
Politics and Administration	Crispin Blunt Reigate Constituency Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Places listed are articles notable as settlements, arranged by post town The two principal towns are emboldened The M23 motorway follows approximately a boundary and is chiefly included for its regional importance.