Hill House School

The school was founded in Switzerland in 1949 and in London in 1951 by Lieutenant-Colonel Townend. Townend chose his pupils solely on the basis of his approval of their mothers, and women teachers were preferentially chosen according to the height of their skirt's hemline.[5][6] His son, Richard Townend, is the school's current Headmaster. The school remains a family concern.[7][8]

Prince Charles went to Hill House, following advice from Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister at the time.[9] It was his first school and was the first time that an heir to the British throne had been to a civilian school, as princes were educated either by tutors or at a military or naval academy such as Osborne.

As of 2018 there are 690 pupils at the school from the ages of 4 to 13.[10]

Hill House pupils are often seen on the move around Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, and Chelsea, and are known in the area for their distinct uniforms, which entail rust coloured knickerbockers, fawn polo shirts, and v-neck jumpers, more often than not accompanied by "gold" round-neck jumpers. The uniform was designed by the founder's wife and is notable for its bright colours. It was designed to be used for sport as well as lessons, and therefore lacks a tie. However, there is a cravat to be worn in and between lessons and around town. It was the belief of the Colonel's wife that "a grey uniform produces grey minds, grey boys".

At entry into the school each boy and girl joins a "house", each named after one of the mountains in view or reach of the school's Switzerland boarding house. Houses regularly compete in inter-house sporting competitions such as the inter-house swimming gala or the field-day “gun run”. The houses are:

• Grammont (blue), named after Le Grammont
• Midi (green), named after the Dents du Midi
• Naye (red), named after the Rochers de Naye
• Rosa (yellow), named after Monte Rosa

Year groups are named using a system based on the Greek alphabet. The school is spread out over the Royal Borough in four buildings, separating the different year groups:

• Small School – children aged 4–5 – Flood Street
• Lower School – children aged 5–6 – Cadogan Gardens
• Middle School – children aged 6–7 – Cadogan Gardens
• Upper School – children aged 7–9 – Cadogan Gardens
• Main School – children aged 9–13 – Hans Place – consisting of:
  • Transitus – children aged 9–10
  • Senior School – children aged 10–11
  • Lower Sixth – children aged 11–12
  • Upper Sixth – children aged 12–13
• Founder's Hall – used for concerts, indoor sports, and the arts – Radnor Walk

The school was outlined on page 74, chapter 3.1 (Learning to be Sloane: Sloane Education), of Peter York's and Ann Barr's 1982 guide book The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook[11] as an appropriate calibre of school on the "third rung of the ladder" of a "Sloane boy's" education: describing it, amongst other things, as "Prince Charles's old school. Outdoorsy, musical, for energetic extroverts."

The school was featured in the 1989 documentary episode "Knickerbockers in Knightsbridge," part of the ninth season of the BBC series 40 Minutes, in which school life under Headmaster Stuart "The Colonel" Townend is narrated.[12]

The Good Schools Guide has described the school saying "'Tutors are characterful and brilliant' we heard. Classrooms all happy, lively, surprisingly chatty places, but work focussed and clearly productive too. 'Teachers go out of their way to bring out the best in every child with a lot of encouragement.' said one parent and results, as another pointed out are 'impeccable.'"[13]

• Lily Allen, singer-songwriter
• Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne
• Rupert Degas, actor
• Sofia Ellar, singer-songwriter
• Ian David Patrick Macpherson, 3rd Baron Strathcarron
• Yasmine Naghdi, Principal ballerina of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
• Anya Taylor-Joy, actress
• Nick Watt, BBC Newsnight political editor
• Mark-Francis Vandelli, television personality most known for his role in Made in Chelsea

• List of schools in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hill House School.

• School website