The Prebendal School

The Prebendal School is a private preparatory school in Chichester, situated adjacent to the Chichester Cathedral precinct. It is a boarding and day school educating the cathedral choristers. The school has ancient origins as the medieval cathedral song school at the thirteenth-century school house in West Street. In 2020, The Telegraph named The Prebendal School as one of the best-value independent schools in the country. In January 2023, the school announced that its recent ISI inspection in November had found the school to be Excellent in all areas. History The Prebendal is the oldest school in Sussex and probably dates back to the foundation of Chichester Cathedral in the 11th century when it was a 'song school', teaching and housing the choristers. It was later extended to admitting other boys from the city and neighbouring areas. In 1497, it was re-founded as a grammar school by the Bishop of Chichester, Edward Story, who also attached it to the Prebend of Highleigh in Chichester Cathedral, hence the name of the school. The thirteenth-century school house with its narrow tower still stands in West Street. Girls were introduced into the school in 1972. The school is now a co-educational, day and boarding preparatory school for children between 3 and 13 years of age. Due to its financial position, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the school confirmed in April 2021 that it was seeking external financial support. In July 2021, it confirmed that it had been acquired by the Alpha Schools Group. Structure The school consists of the Pre-Prep (Nursery to Year 2) and the Prep (Years 3–8). Each pupil is a member of a school house, which are named after former Bishops of Chichester. There is also a boarding house that accommodate up to 46 boarders. The school remains open for Choristers in the weeks prior to Christmas, Easter and the Southern Cathedrals Festival. The Nursery, Pelicans, is open throughout the normal school holidays. Academia Pupils are taught the Common Entrance or Common Academic Scholarship examination to senior independent schools, offered by the Independent Schools Examinations Board. Heads The following list includes Heads of the school prior to its re-founding in 1497: Old Prebendalians Alumni are known as Old Prebendalians. Notable Old Prebendalians include: William Juxon (1582–1663), Archbishop of Canterbury (1660–1663) John Selden (1584–1654), jurist, philosopher and parliamentarian William Cawley (1602–1667), politician and regicide of Charles I William Collins (1721–1759), poet James Hurdis (1763–1801), clergyman and Professor of Poetry at Oxford University (1793–1801) Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond (1791–1860), MP for Chichester (1812–1819) and Postmaster General (1830–1834) Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson (1823–1913), politician Edward B. Titchener (1867–1927), psychologist who developed the theory of structuralism MacDonald Gill (1884–1947), graphic designer, cartographer, artist and architect Peter Hitchens (1951–), conservative journalist and author Rupert Holliday-Evans (1964–), actor Isaac Waddington (1999–), singer, pianist and finalist on the ninth series of Britain's Got Talent See also List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom List of private schools in England References External links The Prebendal School website Profile on West Sussex County Council website Ofsted Inspection Reports