Motto | Be Strong in Understanding |
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Established | 1922 (Claremont School) 1934 (Fan Court School) 1978 (CFCS) |
Type | Independent School |
Head of Senior School | Jonathan Insall-Reid |
Head of Preparatory School | Duncan Murphy |
Head of Pre-Preparatory and Nursery School | Louise Fox |
Location |
Claremont Drive Esher Surrey KT10 9LY |
Students | 700 |
Gender | Co-educational |
Ages | 2½–18 |
Houses | Esher, Longcross, Norwood, Radnor |
Chair of Governors | Mr G Hunt |
Website | Official site |
Coordinates: 51°21′29″N 0°22′16″W / 51.358°N 0.371°W
Claremont Fan Court School is a co-educational independent school, for pupils from 2½ to 18 years. Situated outside of Esher, in Surrey, sixteen miles from London, it is set in the historic grounds of the Claremont Estate. It is a member of the Society of Heads, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS).
The first house to be built on the Claremont Estate was Vanbrugh House in 1708 by Sir John Vanbrugh. In 1714 it was bought by the Earl of Clare (from which the name Claremont is derived) who later became the Duke of Newcastle. Many notable residents have lived on the estate since, including: Lord Clive of India, Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, Princess (later Queen) Victoria, King Louis Philippe and Queen Marie-Amélie, and the Duke and Duchess of Albany. The grounds too have been sculpted by several notable architects, including Vanbrugh, Capability Brown and William Kent. Throughout this period many changes were made to the buildings and grounds of the estate.
In 1922, a school for girls began at Mrs Packers’ house (who later became the first principal of Claremont School). After moving to Clear View in Norwood in 1923 due to an expansion in pupil numbers the school moved again to Claremont in 1931 after acquiring 33 acres of the Claremont estate. By 1936 it was at full capacity with 85 pupils.
During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Llandrindod Wells in Wales, and Claremont was let to the Hawker Aircraft company, whose design team under the aeronautical engineer Sydney Camm produced the Hawker Tempest fighter.