1935 - 2026
1935
Mr Burges and Miss Hanson
In 1935 Mr Burges and Miss Hanson (as Mrs Burges was then) were following very different careers. Mr Burges was a teacher and Miss Hanson worked as a private secretary in London. Mr Burges dreamed of having his own school and it was decided that an advert would be placed announcing the opening of a new school in the Staines area. They searched for a property to house the School and were able to rent No.1 Gresham Road.
1937
Mr Burges Married Miss Hanson
In 1937 Mr Burges married Miss Hanson who then became Mrs Burges. She continued with her work in London and the money she earned helped to support the School in its early days as it expanded into 3 Gresham Road.
1975
1975 — 1987 The Staines Preparatory School Trust
Mr Burges died in 1975 and Mrs Burges took over as Headmistress. In 1987 Mrs Burges safeguarded the long term future of the school by setting up The Staines Preparatory School Trust before retiring the following year.
1991
1991 — 1998 – Mr Monger
During the next nine years, the school continued to develop under the newly formed Board of Governors and Mr Monger’s leadership. In 1991, the Burges Wing was built and older parts of the site demolished. In terms of pupil numbers, the School hit its peak at this time with 419 pupils on role. Over the next few years further building work was undertaken; Thorndean and Ravenscroft were extended and in 1995 the Nursery was built. In 1998, Mr Monger stepped down as Head and returned to the classroom.
1999
Commemorating The Lives and Work Of Mr & Mrs Burges
Following Mrs Burges’ death in 1999, a stained glass window, which is located in Elmcroft overlooking the back of the School, was commissioned to commemorate the lives and work of Mr & Mrs Burges. Without them there would be no Staines Preparatory School and none of the fond memories that many treasure of their time at the School.
1935
May 8, 1935 – The Opening Of The School
The school opened on Wednesday 8th May 1935 with just eleven boys. This was because Miss Hanson had received an invite to attend the procession of the Silver Jubilee of King George V on the Monday.
1942
The School Expanded Further
During the Second World War was when girls were first admitted to SPS. By 1942, numbers had increased to 60 pupils despite the War. As numbers continued to increase Mr and Mrs Burges were able to buy No.5 Gresham Road and expand further. Mr Burges could often be seen after school working on the grounds after a hard day in the classroom; in addition to his teaching, Mr Burges enjoyed writing books and rhymes to help the children learn and inventing devices, such as his ‘bowling’ chute to help in other areas.
1989
The Friends Of Staines Prep
The Friends of Staines Prep was formed in 1989 and they have provided enormous support for the School in many ways ever since. In particular, by drawing the whole school community together, but also through their fundraising activities, which has enabled them to provide many valuable items that benefit the children.
1998
1998 — 2013 Mr Roberts and The Development Of Facilities
Mr Roberts was appointed as Head in 1998 and the School became a member of IAPS in 2002. The same year also saw the completion of the Jubilee Wing and in 2003 the ICT Suite and Peter Monger Library were completed. The Jubilee Wing was further extended in 2007, with the Floodlit Court and Cricket Nets built in 2008. The large scale development of the Founders Building was completed in the summer of 2013. This contains The Peter Roberts Hall, a multi-functional space of four badminton court size, which can be divided by an acoustic screen to provide theatre facilities with tiered seating at one end. The Founders Building also includes Science and Art, Design & Technology Suites, a Music Room and five standard classrooms for Upper School use.
2014
Celebrating Staines Preparatory School’s Success
Upon Mr Roberts’s retirement in 2014, Ms Sawyer was appointed as Headmistress. Under Ms Sawyer’s direction, the school has passed two ISI Inspections, with the most recent inspection in 2019 receiving the grade of ‘excellent’. The school is now a modern hub of educational excellence, and every year on 8th May the school comes together to remember Mr and Mrs Burges, and to celebrate the establishment of Staines Preparatory School.
1935
Mr Burges and Miss Hanson
In 1935 Mr Burges and Miss Hanson (as Mrs Burges was then) were following very different careers. Mr Burges was a teacher and Miss Hanson worked as a private secretary in London. Mr Burges dreamed of having his own school and it was decided that an advert would be placed announcing the opening of a new school in the Staines area. They searched for a property to house the School and were able to rent No.1 Gresham Road.
1935
May 8, 1935 – The Opening Of The School
The school opened on Wednesday 8th May 1935 with just eleven boys. This was because Miss Hanson had received an invite to attend the procession of the Silver Jubilee of King George V on the Monday.
1937
Mr Burges Married Miss Hanson
In 1937 Mr Burges married Miss Hanson who then became Mrs Burges. She continued with her work in London and the money she earned helped to support the School in its early days as it expanded into 3 Gresham Road.
1942
The School Expanded Further
During the Second World War was when girls were first admitted to SPS. By 1942, numbers had increased to 60 pupils despite the War. As numbers continued to increase Mr and Mrs Burges were able to buy No.5 Gresham Road and expand further. Mr Burges could often be seen after school working on the grounds after a hard day in the classroom; in addition to his teaching, Mr Burges enjoyed writing books and rhymes to help the children learn and inventing devices, such as his ‘bowling’ chute to help in other areas.
1975
1975 — 1987 The Staines Preparatory School Trust
Mr Burges died in 1975 and Mrs Burges took over as Headmistress. In 1987 Mrs Burges safeguarded the long term future of the school by setting up The Staines Preparatory School Trust before retiring the following year.
1989
The Friends Of Staines Prep
The Friends of Staines Prep was formed in 1989 and they have provided enormous support for the School in many ways ever since. In particular, by drawing the whole school community together, but also through their fundraising activities, which has enabled them to provide many valuable items that benefit the children.
1991
1991 — 1998 – Mr Monger
During the next nine years, the school continued to develop under the newly formed Board of Governors and Mr Monger’s leadership. In 1991, the Burges Wing was built and older parts of the site demolished. In terms of pupil numbers, the School hit its peak at this time with 419 pupils on role. Over the next few years further building work was undertaken; Thorndean and Ravenscroft were extended and in 1995 the Nursery was built. In 1998, Mr Monger stepped down as Head and returned to the classroom.
1998
1998 — 2013 Mr Roberts and The Development Of Facilities
Mr Roberts was appointed as Head in 1998 and the School became a member of IAPS in 2002. The same year also saw the completion of the Jubilee Wing and in 2003 the ICT Suite and Peter Monger Library were completed. The Jubilee Wing was further extended in 2007, with the Floodlit Court and Cricket Nets built in 2008. The large scale development of the Founders Building was completed in the summer of 2013. This contains The Peter Roberts Hall, a multi-functional space of four badminton court size, which can be divided by an acoustic screen to provide theatre facilities with tiered seating at one end. The Founders Building also includes Science and Art, Design & Technology Suites, a Music Room and five standard classrooms for Upper School use.
1999
Commemorating The Lives and Work Of Mr & Mrs Burges
Following Mrs Burges’ death in 1999, a stained glass window, which is located in Elmcroft overlooking the back of the School, was commissioned to commemorate the lives and work of Mr & Mrs Burges. Without them there would be no Staines Preparatory School and none of the fond memories that many treasure of their time at the School.
2014
Celebrating Staines Preparatory School’s Success
Upon Mr Roberts’s retirement in 2014, Ms Sawyer was appointed as Headmistress. Under Ms Sawyer’s direction, the school has passed two ISI Inspections, with the most recent inspection in 2019 receiving the grade of ‘excellent’. The school is now a modern hub of educational excellence, and every year on 8th May the school comes together to remember Mr and Mrs Burges, and to celebrate the establishment of Staines Preparatory School.