Hunter Hall History

 

Hunter Hall School was officially launched in January 1985 at a public meeting in Penrith addressed by Viscount Whitelaw. It opened, as a school for 7-11 years olds, the following September at Hunter Hall in the village of Great Salkeld, the home of Aidan Warlow, the Headmaster. In 1989 Mr Warlow handed over ownership of the school to a newly formed trust consisting of the whole parent body. An executive committee was formed which was empowered to make decisions on behalf of the parents.

 

Two years later, the school, having expanded from its original twenty five pupils to around sixty, moved to the present site, Frenchfield Farm, on the edge of Penrith. Lord Whitelaw came back to open the new buildings in December 1991.

 

In 1993 one of the school’s original staff members, Mrs Louise Dexter, took over as Headmistress. It was at this time that the school opened an infants’ department catering for 4-6year olds.

 

In 1994 the school became a charitable company with a newly constituted Governing Body. The whole parent body are no longer trustees of the school.

 

The Nursery department, ‘Nutkins’ opened in 1996.

 

In 2003, Mrs Dexter retired and Mr Allan Short, Deputy Headmaster of St. George’s Prep School in New Zealand, was appointed as the school’s third Headteacher.

 

When the school moved to Frenchfield the buildings were those of a normal working farm and far from suitable for an educational setting. However over the intervening years, committed and dedicated staff, parents and governors have helped to create the school we have today.

 

It is worth noting that the school has not had the benefit of any endowments or other financial assistance. At several points along its journey, parents and staff have made financial sacrifices to ensure the continued development of the school. In recent years however the continued healthy growth in school roll has given the Head and Governing body the security to progress with some major capital expenditure projects.

 

In a few short years Hunter Hall has gained a fine reputation for the achievements of its children on the sports field, in the classroom and for its cultural pursuits.

 

It is our firm belief that the children Hunter Hall produces are excellent examples of all that is good about the Independent School sector. Our children are happy, self-confident and keen to do well. They are articulate, well-mannered and enjoy school.

 

The breadth of the educational experience gained by our children reflects the school’s aim which is to really ‘make a difference’ for each and every child.

 

Academically the Year 6 children do well and results have been outstanding. Scholarships have been won; SATs results are well above national norms.
On the sports field the school ‘punches above its weight’. Our teams perform outstandingly well against larger state and independent schools and there has been much local and even national success.

 

Culturally all of our children participate in school activities, plays, concerts etc, and in the Carlisle Music and Drama festival.