| Horris Hill School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Newtown Near Newbury , Hampshire , RG20 9DJ England | |
| Coordinates | 51°21′52″N 1°20′04″W / 51.36449°N 1.33448°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Other Independent School |
| Founder | Alfred Evans |
| Local authority | Hampshire |
| Department for Education URN | 116526 Tables |
| Headmaster | Rob Stewart |
| Gender | Boys and Girls |
| Age | 4 to 13 |
| Enrolment | 120 |
| Houses | The Hill, The Wood, The Bank |
| Colour(s) | Blue, red, green, yellow |
| Website | horrishill.com |
Horris Hill, is an independent day and boarding preparatory school for boys aged 4–13.[1] It is located in Hampshire in England, south of Newbury in Berkshire[2] and near the village of Newtown. The school was founded on its present site in 1888 by A. H. Evans, a master at Winchester College. It is located within an 85-acre estate.[3] Expats make up 15% of the total number of pupils at the school.[4]
Controversy
In April 2021, Will Young opened up about his experience at prep school, claiming to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "I've been thinking a lot about prep school, and wondering if any of those institutions will be brought to justice for the things that I saw happen... kids thrown against radiators. Other things I can’t talk about." Young also remembered drunk teachers "rolling around dormitories", one "you wouldn't go for a ride with", and teachers "looking at [students'] penises in the shower". He described feeling a sense of injustice, saying "I think I escaped – not that it didn't damage me."[5][6]
In October 2022, an appeal was launched for witnesses to alleged abuse by teachers at Horris Hill School in the years spanning the 1960s to the 1990s.
This action was taken in support of a group of former pupils who have instructed a solicitors' firm to represent them in their legal claim(s).
With regard to the allegations, "some of the [ex-pupils] say they were abused by one teacher while some say they were abused by a number of teachers. The teachers were allegedly able to abuse without any repercussions for decades and former pupils say they used their positions of trust to manipulate the boys and to silence them."[7]
Notable alumni
- Richard Adams, author of Watership Down, Shardik and The Girl in a Swing, from 1929
- Ben Britton, materials scientist and engineer
- Sebastian Doggart, film & television producer and director, and writer
- Benjamin Fry, psychotherapist [8]
- James Innes, author
- Douglas Jardine, Former England cricket captain
- Moray Macpherson, cricketer[9]
- Patrick Minford, economist
- Jon Naismith, BBC radio producer
- Maxwell Woosnam, sportsman, from 1900 to 1905. An Olympic and Wimbledon doubles champion in lawn tennis, Woosnam was captain of the England national football team.
- Will Young, singer and winner of Pop Idol [10]
References
- ^ "Horris Hill". www.newburytoday.co.uk.
- ^ "Why you should move to Newbury in Berkshire". The Times. 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Horris Hill". www.newburytoday.co.uk.
- ^ "Boarding schools for expat pupils: a checklist for parents". Telegraph. 19 January 2016.
- ^ Godfrey, Chris (26 April 2021). "Will Young on prep school, PTSD and psychotherapy: 'Shame doesn't help anything'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Whitehead, Joanna (26 April 2021). "WILL YOUNG SAYS 'APPALLING' EXPERIENCES AT PREP SCHOOL GAVE HIM PTSD - The singer recounted how teachers looked at pupils' genitalia whilst they were showering". The Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Horris Hill School: appeal for information about alleged sexual abuse by former teachers". Leigh Day. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ "Denied The Chance To Love: Examples Of Abuse In British Boarding Schools". 13 May 2014.
- ^ "Horris Hill - 2016" (PDF). www.horrishill.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "Where celebrities who grew up in Berkshire live now". Berkshire Live. 23 August 2020.
