Windlesham House School is an independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13 on the South Downs, in Pulborough, West Sussex, England. It was founded in 1837 by Charles Robert Malden and was the first boys' preparatory school in the United Kingdom. In 1967 it became the first IAPS co-educational school. The school moved to its current location in 1934. It caters for over 300 pupils. Children aged 4 to 7 are taught in the pre-prep.

From 2011 onward, the school has been inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, who awarded it 'excellent' in its 2017 report. The school received an 'outstanding' award in its Ofsted inspection in 2010. Additionally, their work enabled them to donate £3,000 to Cystic Fibrosis, Cardiac Support, Sanchat Charitable Trust, Worthing Food Bank, Sussex Autistic Society and Canine Partners. However, in the 2017 Independent Schools Inspectorate data from the school were seen to indicate that the majority of the students were working above the national average.

Headship

The headship of Windlesham remained within the Malden family for 157 years spanning five generations. From its founding in 1837 until 1994 each headmaster had been the son of his predecessor, with the exception of Grace Scott Malden, who succeeded her husband, and Charles Christopher Malden, whose elder brother, Roger, led the school while he completed his national service and degree.

  • 1837–1855 Lieutenant Charles Robert Malden, RN
  • 1855–1888 Major Henry Charles Malden
  • 1888–1896 Charles Scott Malden
  • 1896–1927 Grace Gilbert Scott Malden
  • 1927–1953 Christopher Scott-Malden, as principal, with a subordinate headmaster
  • 1953–1957 Lieutenant-Colonel Roger William Malden
  • 1957–1994 Charles Christopher and Elizabeth Ann Malden, jointly

Christopher Scott-Malden, who had expected to run the school in partnership with his more scholarly elder brother, Gilbert, structured his role as principal, appointing subordinate headmasters. Gilbert held the title of Head Master between 1914 and 1921, but in a subordinate role to his mother, Grace.

  • Lieutenant Colonel Charles Ichabod Wright (1828–1905), banker and Conservative politician Windlesham's first pupil and second headmaster
  • Roden Noel (1834–1894), poet
  • Sir Edmund Verney, 3rd Bt., FRGS, DL, JP (1838–1910), Royal Navy officer, author and Liberal politician
  • Alexander Wallace Rimington, ARE, RBA, Hon. FSA (1853–1918), etcher, painter, illustrator and author
  • Ian Hannah (1874–1944), academic, writer and Conservative politician
  • Sutton Vane (1888–1963), British playwright
  • Robert Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury (1897–1979), Conservative politician
  • Sir Michael Hordern, CBE (1911–1995), actor
  • John Davies, MBE (1916–1979), Conservative politician and Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry. Father of Frank Davies (q.v., born 1946)
  • Prince Emanuel Vladimirovich Galitzine (1918–2002), Spitfire pilot and member of the Russian royal family
  • Chris Tyler (1938–2016), surfing entrepreneur
  • James Hamilton-Paterson (born 1941), poet and novelist
  • Frank Davies (born 1946), Anglo-Canadian record producer. Son of John Davies, MBE (q.v., born 1916)
  • John Michie (born 1956), actor
  • Duncan Goodhew, MBE (born 1957), swimming athlete and Olympic gold medalist
  • Dr Martha Holmes (born 1961), BAFTA award-winning producer of wildlife documentaries
  • Alexandra Hall Hall (born 1964), diplomat
  • Andrew Palmer (born c.1964), three time BAFTA award-winning producer, director and cinematographer
  • Lilibet Foster (born 1965), American director, producer and writer
  • Andrew Page (born 1965), diplomat
  • Professor Chris Whitty (born 1966), Chief Medical Officer to the UK Government
  • Sophie Darlington (born 1966), BAFTA award-winning wildlife filmmaker and cinematographer
  • Guy Ritchie (born 1968), film director, producer and screenwriter, married to Madonna 2000–2008
  • Frances Osborne (born 1969), author, married to George Osborne 1998–2019
  • Adam Buxton (born 1969), actor and comedian
  • Natasha Ellis (born c.1970), poker player and author of The D'Evil Diaries series of books (as Tatum Flynn)
  • Gabriel Weston (born 1970), surgeon, author and television presenter
  • Polly Renton (1970–2010), documentary film-maker
  • Tina Cook (born 1970), three-time Olympic medalist event rider and 2009 European Champion
  • Noah Huntley (born 1974), actor
  • Simon Wheeler (born 1975), TV screenwriter and producer, married to Hermione Norris
  • Alex Chalk (born 1976), Conservative politician, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor 2023–2024
  • Tom Hiddleston (born 1981), actor
  • Jacquetta Wheeler (born 1981), fashion model
  • Christopher Wheeler (born 1982), headmaster of Monkton Combe School (2016) and Canford School (from September 2025)
  • Tom Williams (born 1983), English rugby union player
  • Georgia Hardinge (born 1984), fashion designer
  • Ted Dwane (born 1984), musician, bass guitarist of Mumford & Sons
  • Thom Evans (born 1985), Scottish international rugby union player
  • Alfie Allen (born 1986), actor
  • Lucy Griffiths (born 1986), actor
  • Alan Pownall (born 1986), singer/songwriter, married to Gabriella Wilde (q.v., born 1989)
  • Tamzin Merchant (born 1987), actress
  • Gabriella Wilde (born 1989), actress and model, married to Alan Pownall (q.v., born 1986)

References

Further reading

  • Official Website