Cranford House School

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Cranford School, previously known as Cranford House
Address
Willow Court Lane Wallingford , Oxfordshire , OX10 9HT England
Coordinates	51°33′11″N 1°09′10″W / 51.5531°N 1.1529°W / 51.5531; -1.1529
Information
Type	Private day school
Motto	Per Salicem Ad Alta: Through the Willows to the Heights
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	1931
Founder	WE Laurence
Local authority	Oxfordshire
Chairman of Governors	Stuart Wallis
Headmaster	James Raymond
Gender	Co-educational
Age	3 to 18
Enrolment	500
Houses	St. George, St. Francis, St. Christopher, St. Nicholas
Website	http://www.cranfordschool.co.uk

Cranford School is a co-educational private day school for students aged 3-18 in Moulsford, a village in South Oxfordshire near Wallingford, England.^[1] In September 2020, a sixth form was added and boys were admitted into years 7–12, with a view to the school gradually becoming fully co-educational.^[2] Established in 1931 by a Moulsford resident, Winifred E Laurence, for the education of Boris Higgs. The school now numbers approximately 500 pupils.

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Founded in 1931, the school originally called Cranford House started as a school for one pupil, six-year-old Boris Higgs. The school's founder, Winifred E Laurence, taught Higgs in her own home, Cranford House, a large Victorian mansion on the site of what is now Moulsford Preparatory School. Other children joined Higgs, some much younger, and Laurence's old nursery became a schoolroom where a Miss Tollit taught "the babies".

The school outgrew the three rooms in Cranford House, and more purpose-built classrooms were added to the existing building. The curriculum was expanded, with lessons taken outdoors as much as possible. New activities were included, such as horse riding lessons, piano and percussion, carpentry for the boys, and school outings. In 1937, the school produced its first play, A Market Square.

During the Second World War, Laurence opened the school during the summer holidays so that all children, including evacuees, could enjoy games, bathing and other activities. Due to the rationing of petrol, children were rowed up the river to school or used a pony and trap.

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

By 1950, when pupil numbers had reached 136, Cranford House was renovated, and a swimming pool was added. In 1953, the adjacent Moulsford House was acquired, and some of the school moved across the road, becoming a dual site. Cranford House was granted official recognition following an inspection by the Department of Education and Science in 1955.

By 1961, the traffic volume through Moulsford made crossing the road dangerous. As a result, the school was relocated to its current site. A sister school to Cranford House was opened near Worthing in West Sussex the same year. Called Rustington House, it had the same uniform and syllabus as Cranford. At Cranford House, a gymnasium was built in 1967, and new activities were introduced, such as canoeing, rock climbing and national show-jumping competitions at Hickstead.

In 1969, Laurence retired. Miss Shine became headmistress until her retirement in 1980. Shine left a school of over 300 pupils, and her departure marked the establishment of a Charitable Trust under a Board of Governors.

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Under the leadership of headmistress Miss Spencer, a new science block opened in 1985, the Barn was rebuilt in 1988, and additional tennis and netball courts were added in 1990. In 1992, the headmistress, Alison Gray, adopted a new curriculum and added extra-curricular activities. Recently, the school has developed its facilities to cope with the increase in pupil numbers and changes in the curriculum. A cover was added to the swimming pool, the third science block was built, the Orangery dining room, the Atrium/Library, an all-weather astroturf pitch and a modern sports hall in 2014.

2018 marked the opening of a renovated Junior School.

2020 saw a major re-branding of Cranford House, which included the addition of an on-site sixth form and refurbished creative and performing arts facilities. The school announced the move to a fully coeducational model, which started in September 2020, with boys entering the senior school in year 7 and the sixth form in year 12.

The school was inspected in 2014 by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and rated excellent in every category.^[3] It was inspected again in 2018 and met all standards.^[4]

• School Website
• Profile on the ISC website
• ISI Inspection Reports