Ascham St Vincent's School
| Established | 1889 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 1938 |
| Type |
Preparatory School (UK) Boarding school |
| Founder | W N Willis |
| Location |
Eastbourne Sussex England |
| Gender | M |
| Ages | 4–14 |
Coordinates: 50°45′43″N 0°16′41″E / 50.762°N 0.278°E
Ascham St Vincent's School was an English preparatory school for boys at Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations (usually taken around the age of 13) to gain admission to leading "public schools" (as private secondary schools are known in England).
The school was founded by the Rev William Newcombe Willis in 1889 with one pupil. Willis, a graduate of St Johns College, Cambridge, was appointed curate at the parish church at Meads in Eastbourne. A year later he married Sophia Caroline Baker and he and his wife decided to use their house in Selwyn Road as a small school called Ascham. He named the school after Roger Ascham, a fellow of St. Johns College Cambridge and tutor to Lady Jane Grey in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Between 1891 and 1905 they had seven children at a time but in 1908 the numbers had increased. In that year they joined with St Vincent's School in Carlisle Road and became known as Ascham St Vincent's. Later, larger premises were acquired in St. Anne's Road. Willis was extremely well supported by his wife and at certain times by some of their 7 children.
Ascham was very successful in preparing boys for public schools and obtaining scholarships. Willis played for Eastbourne Football Club from 1889 to 1904, part of that time as captain, and was very keen on sport for the school, including shooting. Willis retired in 1927 after 38 years as headmaster and his son Arthur took over.
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