Moyles Court School is a private school located in Rockford, Hampshire, for children aged 2 to 16 years. Its Headmaster is Richard Milner-Smith.[1]

Moyles Court School
Location
Map
Rockford

Hampshire

England
Coordinates50°52′33″N 1°46′24″W / 50.8758362°N 1.773452°W / 50.8758362; -1.773452
Information
TypeIndependent School
Motto"Resurgam" - "I shall rise again"
Established1963
HeadmasterRichard Milner-Smith
GenderCoeducational
Age range2 to 16
Number of studentsc. 200
Campus size14 acres
HousesDockens, Latchmore, Linford
Colour(s)Red, black    
Websitemoylescourt.co.uk

History

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The school was established in the 1940s, in Bude, North Cornwall. It was briefly moved to a manor house in Wimborne, Dorset before the then-headteacher, Vesper Hunter, oversaw the move to the current site in 1963. The main building at Moyles Court - the current site - was the former manor house of Rockford, and later Ellingham. The 17th century manor house was once the home of Dame Alice Lisle, the last woman to be publicly beheaded in England following a judicial trial. In 1940 Moyles Court was requisitioned by the RAF as the station Headquarters of the RAF Ibsley Airfield and later derequisitioned in 1946.[2] Whilst they resided here the officers were known to have used the lawn for tennis.[3]

In 1962, the 53-acre (21 ha) estate was sold at an auction advertised and conducted by Woolley and Wallis. In all, ten lots were sold, including the one containing the current school on 14 acres (5.7 ha) of land.

The school was acquired in 2014 by Broadway Education.[4]

In November 2023, the school was closed due to flooding from Storm Ciarán.[5]

The School

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The Early Years part of the school caters for ages 2–4 (Preschool and Year R), with the Junior School covering Years 1–6. The Senior School takes pupils from Years 7-11. The school also accommodates boarders from Years 3-11.[6]

Moyles Court is known for its holistic approach to teaching, and the use of the immediate environment in The New Forestto capture the imagination of its children, as demonstrated in 2019 when the school raised ponies before putting them out to graze on the forest in line with the school's Common rights.[7]

The school is a member of the Independent Schools Council[8] and of the Boarding Schools’ Association.[9]

Moyles Court has enjoyed enviable GCSE results in the past,[10] and continues to perform well.[11]

Headteachers

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  • Miss F. M. Wilde, 1940 - 1958 (founder of the school)
  • Miss Vesper Hunter, 1958 - 1975 (oversaw the move to Moyles Court in 1963)
  • Mr C. J. Bryon Edmond, 1975 - 1978
  • Mr. G. H. L. Rimbault, 1978 - 1979
  • Miss Betty Hall, 1979 - 1983
  • Mrs. Diana Hitchcock, 1983 - 1988
  • Mr. Anthony Coghill, 1988 - 1993
  • Mr. Richard Dean, 1993 - 2008[12]
  • Mr. Greg Meakin, 2008 - 2014 [13]
  • Mr. Richard Milner-Smith, 2014–Present [14]

Inspection Reports

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The school has been inspected by the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), and gained a ‘Good’ rating across the board in 2018.[15] It also received a satisfactory compliance report from ISI in January 2023.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "New headteacher takes the reins at junior school". Daily Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "RAF Ibsley – Real New Forest Guide". Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Moyles Court – The House the School". Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley Parish Council. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Moyles Court School in Ringwood partnered with Broadway Education during April ..." Dorset View. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. ^ "School forced to close after being swamped with flood water". Bournemouth Echo. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Moyles Court School | Independent School in Hampshire". Moyles Court School. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Meet the adorable foal who has just been born at a New Forest school". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Moyles Court School, Ringwood - ISC". www.isc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. ^ "BSA". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. ^ "BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Moyles Court School". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Moyles Court School | Ringwood | Hampshire | United Kingdom | isbi Schools". www.isbi.com. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Kate opens new sports hall". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Moyles Court School: a place where parents can get more involved". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Moyles Court School | Moyles Court appoint new Headmaster for September 2014". Moyles Court School. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Moyles Court School :: Independent Schools Inspectorate". www.isi.net. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Moyles Court School :: Independent Schools Inspectorate". www.isi.net. Retrieved 27 September 2023.