St Hilary's School, Godalming

Saint Hilary's School, Godalming
Address
Holloway Hill

Godalming
,
Surrey
,
GU7 1RZ

England
Information
TypeIndependent prep school
MottoNon tibi sed omnibus
(Not for you but for all)
Religious affiliation(s)non-denominational[1]
Established1927
FounderMarjorie Hiorns[3]
PatronJenny Seagrove[3]
HeadmistressMrs Jane Whittingham (since 2013)[2]
Deputy HeadmistressMrs Gemma Mitchell
Staffc. 30 full-time teaching staff
Age2 to 11
Enrollment133 girls, 116 boys (2025)[1]
HousesFour
Colour(s)Yellow, brown
Former pupilsOld Hilarians[3]
Websitehttp://www.sthilarysschool.com/

St Hilary's School is an independent preparatory day school in Godalming, England, teaching around 250 girls and boys aged two to eleven. It holds the British Council's International School Award and in 2020 was named as Independent Prep School of the Year.

History

In August 1927, Miss Marjorie Hiorns, a member of the National Froebel Union whose training was in music, founded St Hilary’s School in Tuesley Lane, Godalming, as an independent co-educational preparatory day school.[4][5] In 1928, she was advertising "Individual Time-tables, Modern Methods, Art, Handwork, Poetry Speaking included".[6] For some years, her father, F. J. Hiorns, a retired civil servant, taught literature in the school.[7]

In 1936, the school moved a short distance to its present site on Holloway Hill, where it remains.[5] The property now occupied by St Hilary’s is marked on maps of 1895 and 1934 as "Killcott".[8] A chimney bears the date 1870. The house has been greatly added to since 1936, as the school has grown.[3] A nursery department was opened in 1946.[9]

By 1959, the school was also taking some boarders.[10] In 1968 there was a group of boarders aged between eight and twelve.[11]

In 1966, St Hilary's became a charitable trust, with a Board of Governors.[3][12] Miss Hiorns retired in July 1968, not long before reaching the age of seventy, and was presented with a pearl necklace.[13] She remained a trustee of the St Hilary's School Trust until her death in 1995.[5][14]

In July 1968, the school offered to make places available to Kent County Council for local children at no charge, but its Education Committee turned down the offer without explanation.[15]

In March 1971, the Surrey Girls' Chess Championship (for those under 18) took place at the school over two days.[16]

In 2020, the school was named as Independent Prep School of the Year 2020 by the Independent Schools Parent Magazine, when it was reported to be teaching 218 children. James Priory, headmaster of Tonbridge School, one of the judges, presented the award.[17]

In November 2024, the school announced a merger of governance with St Edmund's School, Hindhead, but with both to retain their identities.[18][19]

Present day

The school's facilities now include a dedicated music wing, a performing arts hall,[19] a library, a computing suite, art studios, an all-weather sports pitch, and the Hiorns Centre for drama and dance.[3] A facility called 'The Hive' is a Lego Innovation Studio, one of only sixty nationwide, with most others being in senior schools, colleges, and universities. The Hive promotes critical thinking, creativity, and communication, in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.[20]

In 2019, the British Council gave the school the accreditation of its International School Award, recognizing its commitment to international awareness and understanding across its teaching. Shortly after that, the school announced plans to become fully coeducational by 2022, bringing boys into all age groups.[20]

By 2024, St Hilary's was taking both boys and girls between the ages of two and eleven.[19]

In April 2025, the school announced the appointment of a new head, Duncan Sinclair, with effect from 1 September.[2]

Fees

In 2025, school fees were in the range of £1,983 to £6,576 per term, plus VAT, according to age.[1] Bursaries are available, in some cases for 100 per cent of the fees.[21]

Notable former pupils

The St Hilary's Association (SHA) is open to all past pupils and members of staff, bringing together those associated with the school.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "St. Hilary's School", Independent Schools Council, accessed 7 July 2025
  2. ^ a b "Appointment of new Headteacher at St Hilary’s School", isbi.com, 24 April 2025, accessed 7 July 2025
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "St Hilary's Association", sthilarysschool.com, accessed 7 July 2025
  4. ^ "St Hilary's School", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 24 December 1927, p. 8
  5. ^ a b c Mollie Hills, Howard Bailes, St Hilary's School Godalming : A history of its first seventy-five years (Godalming, 2002), pp. 9–12
  6. ^ "St Hilary's School", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 4 August 1928, p. 8
  7. ^ "Mr Frederick J. Hiorns" (obituary), Surrey Advertiser, Wednesday 23 January 1952, p. 5
  8. ^ 25-inch series, Surrey XXXI.15 (Ordnance Survey, revised 1895, published 1897); 25-inch series, Surrey XXXI.15 (Ordnance Survey, revised 1934, published 1934)
  9. ^ Hill & Bailes (2002), pp. 21–23
  10. ^ "ST HILARY'S SCHOOL GODALMING (Recognised by tbe Ministry of Education)" Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 21 February 1959, p. 10
  11. ^ "ST HILARY'S School Godalming", Surrey Advertiser, Friday 20 September 1968, p. 4
  12. ^ "St Hilary's School (founded 1927)", in Wendy Bosberry-Scott, Which School? 2010 (John Catt Educational Ltd, 2009), p. 147
  13. ^ "Miss Marjorie Hiorns", Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 13 July 1968, p. 1
  14. ^ "Marjorie HIORNS... Retired Headmistress", company-information.service.gov.uk, accessed 8 July 2025
  15. ^ "School Places", Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 5 July 1968, p. 9
  16. ^ "Surrey Girls' Chess Championship", Cobham News and Advertiser, Thursday 11 March 1971, p. 3
  17. ^ "ST HILARY’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL & NURSERY", timeandleisure.co.uk, accessed 7 July 2025
  18. ^ Georgia Hase, "St. Edmund’s and St. Hilary’s schools announce historic merger", Haslemere Herald, 19 November 2024, accessed 7 July 2025
  19. ^ a b c Victoria Shipp, "Surrey schools more than 10 miles apart set for 'exciting' merger", Get Surrey, 26 November 2024, accessed 7 July 2025
  20. ^ a b Leena Sidat, "This Godalming prep school has much to celebrate as it starts the new year", getsurrey.co.uk, 16 January 2020, accessed 7 July 2025
  21. ^ "St Hilary’s School - Bursary Policy", Independent Schools Council, accessed 7 July 2025
  22. ^ "SEAGROVE Jennifer (Jenny) Ann", in Elizabeth Sleeman, ed., International Who's Who of Women (Psychology Press, 2001), p. 517

References

Mollie Hills, Howard Bailes, St Hilary's School Godalming : A history of its first seventy-five years (Godalming, 2002)

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