History

The Buildings

Sackville was formerly Foxbush House which was built in 1866 for Charles Fitch Kemp, a London Chartered Accountant.  His crest appears to the left. The Charing Cross to Tonbridge Railway Line was in the process of construction and the purchase enabled him to continue his London career with his ambition to be a country landowner. Charles played an important role in local affairs, being the first Chairman of the Hildenborough Parish Council.

The School

The first school on the current site was ‘The Convent of Our Lady School’, a girls' convent boarding school which opened in 1905. It was taken over by St. Thomas Roman Catholic Private School founded in 1949. The school catered for just 70 boys and ran successfully for almost thirty years when, in 1978, it was purchased by a number of staff members and re-named Foxbush School. Mr. Bernard Pemberton was the Headmaster of both schools from 1953 until 1987 when Foxbush unexpectedly announced its closure after being denied planning permission for expansion.

Mr. Edward Oatley, then Headmaster of Sevenoaks Prep School, was in the throws of starting a new school when Foxbush announced its impending closure. This school’s formation was in response to Sevenoaks School going co-ed and creating a shortage of private school places for boys combined with a need for a non-selective private school in the area. The school was due to be built close to Sevenoaks Prep on the site of Stake Farm (a former girls' college) but when the Foxbush facility became available the switch was made and Sackville school started life at the Hildenborough site.

The school became co-educational in 1993 and currently girls make up 25% of the students; this number is increasing year on year.

Sackville joined the Cognita group of schools in November 2006.

The Name

Sackville School had been named prior to the 11th hour decision to move to the site of Foxbush school. It was originally due to be built on Lord Sackville’s estate near Sevenoaks School.

Head Teachers

1986-87 Mr. Harold Edwards.  Was the first appointed Headmaster, who in 1986 had just retired from being a teacher, registrar and housemaster at Tonbridge School.  Unfortunately, Mr. Edwards, who had prepared Sackville for opening, was unable to start his new post due to medical issues and Mr. Edward Oatley, the Head of Sevenoaks Prep, stepped into the breach and ran both schools.

1987-88 Mr. Edward Oatley, the Head of Sevenoaks Prep and founder of Sackville ran both schools.

1988-89 Mr. Richard Simmons, formerly Housemaster at Dover College, took the helm at Sackville. Unfortunately he had to leave the post in October 1989.

1989-90 Mr. Edward Oatley stepped into the breach again.

 1990-95 Mr. Jonathan Langdale, previously Headmaster of Hilden Grange.

 1995-2008 Mrs. Michele Sinclair, previously Deputy Head at the Malling School.

 2008-9  Mr. Philip Humphries, previously a Housemaster at Cranbrook

 2009 -  Mr. Peter Lane, previously President of Windermere Prep and Lake Mary Prep in Orlando, Florida.

Interesting Facts

 Sackville School was opened on 3^rd October 1987 by Kenneth Clark, the then Minister for Trade and Industry. 

 On the 16^th October, 2 weeks after the official opening, Sackville was devastated by the notorious hurricane which hit Southern England.  450 trees were lost and £137,000 of damage caused.

 A founder parent was Mike Denness, the Kent and England Cricket Captain, who helped design the cricket field.

 The original painting and decorating of Sackville was done by ex-students from Judd, Sevenoaks Prep and Tonbridge schools.

 MC Kemp, son of the original owner of the Sackville buildings, was Kent Wicket Keeper from 1879 to 1895.

 During the Second World War, the house was requisitioned as the headquarters of a Royal Artillery Regiment. 

 The grounds of Sackville are a registered historical park.