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    Our Mission, Values and History

    Mission Statement

    Kimbolton School creates a caring, challenging environment in which all pupils are encouraged to fulfil their potential and are given opportunities to flourish in a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular interests. 

    We provide a close family environment where young people are educated to be tolerant, socially responsible and independent of mind, equipping them for our changing world. We are a community that challenges pupils to discover their talents, develop socially and excel.

    Our Values

    At Kimbolton School, we value:

    • each individual.
    • a rounded education, encompassing both academic and extra-curricular activity.
    • high standards, ensuring that everyone reaches their potential.
    • and celebrate personal success and achievement equally in all areas.
    • a warm, supportive and inclusive day and boarding community encompassing staff pupils, parents and town.
    • tolerance and respect for others, facilitating equality of opportunity.
    • enthusiasm, commitment and self-discipline.
    • the development of social responsibility and integrity.
    • the beliefs and traditions reflected in the School’s Christian heritage, whilst respecting those of other cultures.
    • the rich history of our school and our setting; an awareness of our responsibilities to others in line with our charitable foundation.
    • the building of self-esteem so that pupils develop the confidence and independence of mind to be true to themselves.
    • a variety of opportunities for every pupil to discover an individual sphere of excellence and thus be challenged and inspired.
    • preparation of pupils for lifelong learning.

    When we challenged our pupils to conceive an extra value, they said:

    • We value... waking up, wanting to go to school.

    Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire

    School History

    1531-87    Early references to school at Kimbolton
    1600 Henry Balye & William Dawson appointed feoffees (trustees)
    1874 School in churchyard closed
    1877
    New School buildings (Prep School and Headmaster’s House)
    1878 Sports Day introduced
    1913-47 William lngram, Headmaster
    1914 Sports Day revived
    1915-56
    Canon Frank Powys Maurice, Chairman of Governors
    1919 Kimbolton House, White House & Castle Green House acquired
    1920 Old Kimboltonians Association formed
    1927 1927 Building (Prep Dining Hall) & Mandeville House (Armoury) built
    1940 Houses introduced, including Balyes, Dawsons, lngrams & Gibbards
    1945 School given Direct Grant status
    1947-73 Cyril Lewis, Headmaster
    1948 School Orchestra & Combined Cadet Force formed First School Play
    1949 Kimbolton Grammar School renamed Kimbolton School
    1950 School bought Kimbolton Castle, State Rooms used for teaching, Founders’ Day
    1951 Preparatory Department opened
    1952 First service in refurbished Chapel
    1952-65
    Science Block converted & extended (Hunter Hall & classrooms)
    1953 Dining Hall created in Mews
    1956-66
    William Brown, Chairman of Governors
    1956
    Geography & Music Rooms created in Mews, Open air swimming pool built, First
    match on Castle cricket square
    1957
    Five Orangery classrooms built, Pageant of Kimbolton performed on portico
    1959
    First play produced in Castle Courtyard
    1962 White House extended
    1963 Woodwork Shop (Design & Technology Centre) built
    1964 Cyril Lewis elected to Headmasters’ Conference
    1965 Domestic staff hostel (Health Centre) built
    1966 Gibbards becomes first day house, Pageant of Kimbolton performed on portico
    1966-77 John Strong, Chairman of Governors
    1967 Four additional Orangery classrooms built, Community Service Unit set up
    1969 Duke’s Field (lst XI football) acquired
    1969
    Parents’ Association renamed Kimbolton School Society
    1970 Lewis Hall opened by HRH Duchess of Gloucester
    1971 Sixth Form Club opened in George House
    1972 Iron Gates hard tennis courts built
    1973-87 David Donaldson, Headmaster
    1973 Owens House created
    1974
    Dining Hall modernised, White House extended, Duke of Edinburgh Award
    Scheme introduced
    1976
    School becomes independent, Girls admitted to Prep Department, Grounds
    extended, including Duchess Walk
    1977 Spinney Block built, Cricket Festival started
    1977-84 Norman Boyes, Chairman of Governo
    1978 Girls admitted to Main School, Spinney Block extended
    1982 Kyffin Owen Pavilion built
    1984 All-weather surface & Prep Gym built
    1984-92 Peter Carr, Chairman of Governors
    1985 Castle becomes 6th Form Centre, Boarding accommodation upgraded
    1987-2002
    Roger Peel, Headmaster
    1988
    Girl boarders admitted to White House, Donaldson Building opened, former
    science labs converted to Hunter Hall
    1989 Further extension to White House; Castle Green House & stables converted.
    1990 ICT Centre built
    1991 Music Department upgraded, Drama Studio created
    1992 Sports Hall built
    1992-2000 Hugh Duberly, Chairman of Governors
    1993
    Lewis Hall converted to Theatre/Assembly Hall
    1994 Castle astroturf surface laid
    1995 Pellegrini Art Centre built
    1996 Castle ‘dungeons’ converted to 6th Form Common Room & Club. Pre-Prep Department opened in temporary buildings.
    1998 School grounds extended
    1999 Pre-Prep (Aragon House) opened. Vanbrugh Library opened
    2000
    Swimming Pool opened by HRH Duke of Gloucester, Quatercentenary Founders’
    Day Service at Ely Cathedral
    2000-2006 Richard Brown, Chairman of Governors
    2002-2023 Jonathan Belbin, Headmaster
    2002 Sports Hall renamed Roger Peel Sports Centre
    2003 Prep & Pre-Prep Departments reorganised as Kimbolton Preparatory School
    2005 New Hunter Hall completed at Preparatory School
    2006-2018 Charles Paull, Chairman of Governors
    2008 Queen Katharine Building (QKB1) opened
    2010 Flood-lit Duchess astroturf pitches built and football pitches extended
    2011
    Dining Hall extended
    2012
    Kyffin Owen Pavilion renovated
    2012 Castle astroturf re-laid
    2014 Work starts on QKB2
    2015 Queen Katharine Building 2 completed and Donaldson refurbished
    2016 Orangery refurbished
    2018- Jonathan Gray, Chairman of Governors
    2020 New Prep School entrance building opened; Aragon House at Lower Prep refurbished.  COVID-19 pandemic: Summer term teaching moves online, although the School remains open for the children of keyworkers. A few year groups are able to return to classrooms in June, and all year groups in September, albeit in year group 'bubbles' for the academic year.
    2023- Will Chuter, Headmaster