Haileybury and Imperial Service College

History

The previous institution at Haileybury was the East India College (EIC), the training establishment founded in 1806 for administrators of the Honourable East India Company. The EIC was initially based in Hertford Castle, but substantial grounds on Hertford Heath were acquired for future development. William Wilkins, the architect of Downing College, Cambridge, and the National Gallery in London, was appointed principal architect. The buildings were completed and occupied in 1809. They comprise four ranges which enclose an area known as Quad, the largest academic quadrangle in the UK and one of the largest in the world. In the wake of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the East India Company was wound up, and its College closed in January 1858. In 1862, a public school that retained close links with the EIC opened on the site. Many of the houses were named after Old Boys or Principals of the EIC, and Haileybury's primary purpose during the second half of the 19th century was to serve the British Empire, principally in India.

The Chapel dome was added by Arthur Blomfield and completed in 1877. Further Victorian additions were designed by John William Simpson. The Memorial Dining Hall was opened by the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and acts as a monument to former pupils who gave their lives in the First World War. During the past 40 years, its use has been extended to commemorate deaths of OHs in all military conflicts.

The dining hall contains one of the largest unsupported domes in Europe. Until the 1990s, the entire school of over 700 pupils dined there at a single sitting, all brought to silence for grace by the beating of a massive brass howitzer shell, captured from a German gun emplacement during World War I and then converted into a gong. A gilded plaster boss in the centre of this dome represents an oak tree being struck by lightning. Known as Little Lightning Oak this decoration represents the massive oak tree that stands on the lawn in front of Terrace, the promenade visible in this photograph. This tree was struck by lightning and all but destroyed but re-sprouted.

As well as the wooden tablets surrounding the exterior of the dining hall, there are other memorials to the school's 1,436 war casualties. The memorial on Terrace, originally built to commemorate those lost in World War I, was unveiled by General Sir Alexander Godley, KCB, KCMG on 7 July 1923. It was designed by former pupil Sir Reginald Blomfield. Known as the Cross of Sacrifice this simple stone structure serves as a prototype for war memorials found in every Commonwealth War Cemetery and other war memorials around the world.

Seventeen former pupils of Haileybury and its antecedents have received the Victoria Cross, and three the George Cross.

In 1942, Haileybury and the Imperial Service College (which had itself subsumed the United Services College) merged to become Haileybury and Imperial Service College, now known as Haileybury.

In the late twentieth century, reforming headmaster David Jewell took charge of Haileybury, bringing it out of its post-cold-war austerity. Stuart Westley, Master of Haileybury until July 2009, was responsible for making the school fully co-educational.

Present day

Haileybury serves as a co-educational school for 11- to 18-year-olds. Girls' houses comprise Colvin, Melvill, Allenby, Albans, and Hailey, which provides for the needs of day girls. The seven boys' houses consist of Edmonstone, Lawrence, Bartle Frere, Kipling, Batten, Thomason and Trevelyan. The Ayckbourn Theatre functions as a modern auditorium with a fully equipped stage and back-stage. In 1997 the college chapel organ was re-built by Klais. Further developments include a Modern Languages Centre, a Design Technology Department, a vast sports centre, two all weather surfaces and a Costa Café "Grubber" for staff and pupils. On site is a rackets court, built in 1908, notable for its double gallery.

The school offers a wide range of GCSE and IGCSEs and the choice of IB Diploma or A Levels in the Sixth Form. Haileybury has taught the IB Diploma for 15 years; the average IB score of Haileybury pupils was 37 in 2013, with one pupil securing the maximum possible 45 points (one of only 110 pupils to achieve this globally). In 2013, over 55% of all grades (A Level & IB combined) were A*-A or equivalent, and over 85% of all grades were A*-B or equivalent. Nearly 60% of all (I)GCSE grades attained were at A*-A, and over a third of all Haileyburians obtained at least nine A*-As.

Haileybury supports such organisations as The Children's Trust, Tadworth, UK's leading charity for children with acquired brain injury (ABI), multiple disabilities and complex health needs. Teens Unite, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people aged 13–24, with cancer and other life limiting illnesses and the Haileybury Youth Trust (HYT), whose objective is to provide sustainable interventions to improve health, education and training, and employment prospects among impoverished young people in Uganda.

Haileybury Almaty

In 2006/2007, Haileybury advised on the building of a Haileybury in Almaty, Kazakhstan where all English GCSEs are taught and the curriculum is taught similarly under the guidance of Haileybury. The school, opened in September 2008, is known as Haileybury Almaty.

The pupils are made up mostly of Kazakhstan citizens. They are all required to speak English. Academic year 2010–2011 saw the first batch of pupils pass their IGCSE exams. Since August 2011 Haileybury Almaty has opened a 6th form. In 2016, 11 pupils graduated from the 6th form with one getting admission in Trinity College, Cambridge University and 6 securing positions in University College London (UCL). A second school, in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, was opened in September 2011.

Haileybury Astana

Following the successful foundation of Haileybury Almaty, a cognate school was opened in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. Haileybury Astana provides education for boys and girls from the two to eleven years of age under the headship of Andrew Auster. The school follows the UK National Curriculum with the option of studying Russian and Kazakh, as well as the history and geography of Kazakhstan. Provision of boarding facilities is planned for 2014, and the school intends to expand to include pupils up to the age of sixteen.

Haileybury Turnford

In September 2015 Turnford School in Turnford, Hertfordshire converted to academy status and was renamed Haileybury Turnford. Haileybury College acts as the main sponsor of the school, and this is the first state-funded school to have links with Haileybury.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations (MUN) is popular extra-curricular activity students in the senior school. Throughout the year, groups of students are chosen to form delegations which meet two times per week outside of school hours to practise writing and debating resolutions. These students then travel to several MUN conferences in the UK and mainland Europe to debate their resolutions.

Haileybury hosts their own Model United Nations conference every year (HMUN) for nearly 900 pupils, making it largest MUN conference in the UK. The conference is typically held the weekend before the Easter holiday.

Notable former pupils

Past pupils are known as Old Haileyburians.

Arts

Armed forces

Victoria Cross and George Cross holders

Seventeen former pupils, and one master, of Haileybury and its antecedents have received the Victoria Cross, and three former pupils the George Cross.

Victoria Cross

George Cross

Business

Law

Learning

Politics

Civil service

Sport

Miscellaneous