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.
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 |