Hinchingbrooke School

Hinchingbrooke School is a large school situated on the outskirts of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Originally all of the surrounding land—including what is now Huntingdon Town—comprised the grounds of Hinchingbrooke House. In fact, the Town was given the name "Huntingdon" as the owners of the house were known for hosting magnificent hunting parties. There is still an avenue of trees leading from the start of Hinchingbrooke House towards the town, which was the old entranceway through the grounds. It is now a comprehensive school.

History

Hinchingbrooke School was founded as Huntingdon Grammar School in 1565. Among its pupils in its early history were Oliver Cromwell and Samuel Pepys.

At the beginning of the 20th century the school began admitting girls as well as boys, and by the 1960s was admitting about 90 pupils per year.

On 1 September 1939 it opened in a new building on Brampton Road—the same day that war broke out. In 1970 the school began to take pupils of all abilities and soon became fully comprehensive. At the same time the school changed its name and above moved to new premises in Hinchingbrooke Park and the renovated Hinchingbrooke House.

In 1992 the former Grammar School buildings were closed and the school was united on a single site in Hinchingbrooke Park. Shortly after, the old 'lower school' building was severely damaged in a major fire and was subsequently demolished.In the school, there are four houses: Cromwell, Montagu, Pepys and Vesey.Each year the four houses compete for the house cup in both academic and sporting competitions.

In 2006 Hinchingbrooke School became a Specialist Sports College.The current headteacher Keith Nancekievill joined the school from Gosforth High School in 2003.