Princess Helena College

Princess Helena College
Established 1820[1]
Religion Church of England
Interim Headmistress Mrs Lynda Corry
President HRH The Duchess of Gloucester[1]
Location Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 7RT
England
51°54′34″N 0°16′58″W / 51.90943°N 0.28291°W / 51.90943; -0.28291Coordinates: 51°54′34″N 0°16′58″W / 51.90943°N 0.28291°W / 51.90943; -0.28291
Local authority Hertfordshire
Gender Co-ed (from Sept 2019 Boys in Years 7 and 12)
Ages 11–18
Houses Gloucester, Windsor and York
Colours purple, green
Website www.princesshelenacollege.co.uk/

Princess Helena College is an independent school for students aged 11 to 18 in Preston near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England.

The College is set in over 100 acres of rolling hills, fields and beautiful woodland. It is housed in a Queen Anne country house, formerly known as Temple Dinsley, which was redesigned by Edwin Lutyens, at the same time as the gardens were designed by his great friend, Gertrude Jekyll.[2] The house is listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England, and the gardens and landscaped park are listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[3][4]

History

It was founded for daughters of officers who had served in the Napoleonic Wars and daughters of Anglican clergy in 1820 by Miss Sophia Williams. It was originally established in Mornington Crescent, London before moving to Regent's Park and then Ealing. The school moved to Temple Dinsley in 1935.[1] In 1874, Princess Helena, Queen Victoria's third daughter, became President of the College, and the school has enjoyed royal patronage ever since. In 2019, the college will accept boys at age 11 and age 16.

House system:

Each new pupil is allocated to one of three Houses: Gloucester, Windsor or York. The House system offers a platform for pupils of varying ages to work together, whether it be choreographing a House dance or researching for public speaking. House points are awarded for each event and students can also earn points for excellent pieces of work.

Boarding

There is one Boarding House which is situated in the Main School. Year 11 and Sixth Form students have single rooms whilst all other year groups share rooms with a number of peers depending on their age. There are common rooms, kitchens and other spaces for relaxation and games. Boarders have access to music practice rooms and sports facilities in evenings, together with a varied range of weekend activities.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "History". Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Details from image database (162902)". Images of England. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  3. ↑ Historic England, "Princess Helena College, Temple Dinsley, with terraces, steps, walls, railings, gates, pergolas, and garden buildings (1307766)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 February 2018
  4. ↑ Historic England, "Temple Dinsley (1000919)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 February 2018
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