Eaton House Schools Celebrates 125 Years in Style!

Traditional fair time fun was the order of the day at Eaton House The Manor School on Friday, as boys and girls aged 3-13 enjoyed a range of rides and games to celebrate the independent school group’s 125^th anniversary.

Custom bunting floated high above the Manor on Clapham Common North Side, as the pupils, dressed in their recognisable green and red uniforms, raced onto the forecourt to sample the delights of their pop-up fairground.

There was something for everyone, from Nursery to the Girls’ School, and the Boys’ Pre-Prep and Prep. Pupils could take a spin on the carousel, try their hand at hook-a-duck, and prove their sporting abilities at the Penalty Shoot Out stand. A Victorian style ‘test your strength’ machine prompted a lot of laughter and fun, as even the teachers struggled to reach the top score. Old fashioned candy floss and popcorn carts provided some sustenance and there were prizes to be won by all! The main school courtyard even played host to an inflatable obstacle course for the older pupils.

All day long the schools celebrated, including a special ‘birthday party’ lunch in the balloon decked dining halls. Pupils learnt all about the history of their school, which began with Eaton House Belgravia, the school’s sister site. Many famous faces have passed through the school in the last 125 years, including politician Tony Benn, actors Eddie Redmayne and Sir Laurence Olivier, writer Philip Pullman and adventurer Bear Grylls.

Early in the day, the pupils and teachers of Eaton House Belgravia excitedly joined their Manor counterparts on the Common, to take part in whole school photo. This was no standard school photo, however; through a lot of careful planning (and a little last-minute shuffling) the pupils and staff of both school sites formed a large, and very neat, 125 shape. A camera drone flew overhead, capturing the exuberance of the hundreds of waving children to mark this important piece of Eaton House history.

The schools are known for their high academic achievement, with generations of boys and girls going on to attend top schools such as Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s, Dulwich College, King’s College, Wimbledon, Wycombe Abbey, JAGS and more, many with scholarships. This year, Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School won 11 scholarships and is going from strength to strength under Headmistress Claire Fildes, formerly of Bute House.

Eaton House The Manor aims to be a diverse, inclusive and happy place – proven by their most recent ISI inspection in 2022, which saw them rated ‘excellent’ in all areas, including pupil wellbeing. To read the report in full, click here. A dedicated, fully staffed Wellbeing Hub will be opened in school grounds in September 2023, further demonstrating the schools’ commitment to pupils’ mental health and happiness.

One parent commented: ‘The children had so much fun – we love the events that Eaton House puts on because they create such wonderful lasting memories. At Christmas, they even have a snow machine that pours out onto the playground as the children leave for the holidays! There’s always something exciting going on at Eaton House.’

To find out more about Eaton House The Manor, contact Miss Sam Fielding on 020 3917 5050, or email admissions@eatonhouseschools.com.