The Beacon School, Amersham
Introduction
The Beacon is an independent prep school for boys aged 3–13 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.[1][2]
In 2024, there were 510 boys at the school, making it the largest single-sex prep school in the UK.[3][4] The current Headmaster is Nick Baker.[5]
The Good School’s Guide has described The Beacon as a ‘flourishing preparatory boys’ school. Outdoorsy and outward-looking, it consistently delivers on its sporty and academic reputation while making progressive inroads in arts and technology.’[6]
An ISI inspection report, dated February 2022, found the school to be ‘Excellent in all areas.’[7]
History
The Beacon was founded in 1933 by its first Headmaster, Stanley Fieldhouse. It started with just five boys, the origin of the five-pointed star on the school’s crest, and classes were taught in the original School House building on Amersham Road.[8]
The school’s 17th-century farmhouse and timbered barn buildings were acquired by Pip Masters, who became Headmaster in 1953.[8] The buildings had been used for a soldiers' camp during the Second World War, and the sign for the Sergeants' Mess can still be seen engraved on one of the wooden beams in the school's dining room today.[9] [10] [11] When Pip retired in 1972, his son-in-law, Hugh Davies Jones, succeeded him and The Beacon Educational Trust was formed.[12]
In 2012, under Headmaster Michael Spinney, The Beacon became one of the founding schools of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB).[13]
Facilities
The Beacon’s facilities include 16 acres of playing fields, a Sports Hall, AstroTurf, and covered heated swimming pool. There is also a 220-seat theatre, Drama Studio, and Mac-technology Music Suite for Performing Arts.[14]
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni include:
- Tom Blomfield, entrepreneur and co-founder of Monzo bank
- Ross Brewer, Commonwealth double-gold gymnast[15]
- Hugh Coles, actor[16]
- David Eldon CBE, former chairman of HSBC
- Philip Franks, actor and director
- David Honigmann, journalist
- Joe Lister, Luxemburg International Rugby player
- Fitz Harding, English Rugby Union player[17]
- Lieutenant General Sir Mark Mans, KCB, CBE, DL
- Ben Merrick, British civil servant
- Hugh Padgham, Grammy award winning record-producer
- Adam Thorpe, poet and novelist
- Mark Watson-Gandy CStJ KSG OBE, lawyer, educationalist and Founder KidsMBA[18]
References
- ↑ "About Us". The Beacon School.
- ↑ "Everything you need to know about moving to Amersham, Buckinghamshire". The Times. 22 July 2022.
- ↑ "The Beacon School". Independent Schools Council.
- ↑ "Where to live for the best schools in Oxon and Bucks". Muddy Stilettos. 30 April 2021.
- ↑ "Amersham: The Beacon School appoint new headteacher". Bucks Free Press. 8 September 2022.
- ↑ "The Beacon School". The Good Schools Guide.
- ↑ "The Beacon School ISI Report" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. February 2022.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Davies Jones, Hugh (2024). "A Personal Memoir of The Beacon School 1953 – 1984" (PDF).
- ↑ "History of Bois Farm Residential Club and Ida Teather". Bucks Free Press. 13 December 2023.
- ↑ "Beech Barn Camp". Amersham Museum.
- ↑ "David James". Amersham Museum.
- ↑ "Our History". The Beacon School.
- ↑ "Our Story". PSB.
- ↑ "The Beacon". Tatler Address Book.
- ↑ "Ross the golden boy at the Games". Bucks Free Press. 30 July 2012.
- ↑ "The Beacon Bulletin - Autumn Term 2022". 10 January 2023.
- ↑ "The Beacon Bulletin: Autumn Term 2023". 24 October 2023.
- ↑ "The Beacon Entrepreneurs". The Beacon School. 13 June 2023.
This article "The Beacon School, Amersham" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Beacon School, Amersham. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
