View source for Millfield

{{Short description|Public school in Street, Somerset, England}}
{{About}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Millfield
 | image                   = MillfieldHouse.JPG
 | image_size              = 250px
 | coordinates             = {{coord|51.1225|-2.7275|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
 | motto                   = 
 | established             = 1935
 | closed                  = 
 | type                    = [[Public school (United Kingdom)|Public school]]<br>[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private]] [[boarding school|boarding]] and [[day school]]
 | religion                = 
 | president               = 
 | head_label              = Headmaster
 | head                    = Gavin Horgan
 | r_head_label            = para
 | r_head                  = 
 | chair_label             = 
 | chair                   = 
 | founder                 = [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack Meyer]]
 | specialist              = 
 | address                 = Butleigh Road
 | city                    = [[Street, Somerset|Street]]
 | county                  = [[Somerset]]
 | country                 = England
 | postcode                = BA16 0YD
 | local_authority         = 
 | urn                     = 123911
 | ofsted                  = 
 | enrollment              = 1,240
 | gender                  = Co-educational
 | lower_age               = 2
 | upper_age               = 18
 | houses                  = [[#Houses|19 Boarding, 5 Day]]
 | colours                 = 
 | publication             = 
 | alumni                = [[List of people educated at Millfield|Old Millfieldians]]
 | free_label_1            = 
 | free_1                  = 
 | free_label_2            = 
 | free_2                  = 
 | website                 = {{URL|https://www.millfieldschool.com/}}
}}
'''Millfield''' is a [[Public school (United Kingdom)|public school]] (English [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|fee-charging]] [[boarding school|boarding]] and [[day school]] for pupils aged 13–18) located in [[Street, Somerset]], England. It was founded in 1935.

Millfield is a [[registered charity]] and is the largest co-educational [[boarding school]] in the UK with about 1,330 students, of whom over 990 are full boarders from 75 countries. Millfield Development and the Millfield Foundation raise money to fund scholarships and bursaries. The school is a member of the [[G20 Schools]] Group and a member of the [[Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]]. The Millfield campus is based over 240 acres in Somerset, in and around [[Street, Somerset|Street]], in the South West of England.

Millfield has its own [[pre-prep]] and [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]], [[Millfield Preparatory School]] (also known as Edgarley) in nearby [[Glastonbury]], which takes children from 2 to 13 years old. The prep school shares some of Millfield's facilities. It acts as a [[feeder school]], with over 90% of its pupils typically moving up to Millfield.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==History==
Millfield was founded in 1935 by [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack Meyer]] (referred to at Millfield as "Boss"), following his return from India with seven Indian boys, six of whom were [[Princely state|princes]]. Among these Indian princes included [[Meghrajji III]], the last ruling [[Maharaja]] of [[Dhrangadhra State|Dhrangadhra-Halvad]].<ref name="maharaja of dhrangadhra">{{cite journal |last1=Jhala |first1=Angma |year=2010 |title=The Jodhpur regency: princely education, politics and gender in post-colonial India |journal=South Asian History and Culture |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=378–396 |doi=10.1080/19472498.2010.485380 |s2cid=145707095}}</ref> The school started in the mansion built and originally owned by the Clark family, who owned and ran the shoe manufacturer [[C&J Clark|Clarks]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lobb|first1=Adrian|title=Lancelot Clark: "If you teach your workers well, it is good for business"|date=2 September 2015 |url=https://www.bigissue.com/interviews/lancelot-clark-teach-workers-well-good-business/|publisher=Th Big Issue|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>

Meyer, educated at [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College]],<ref name="oliver">{{cite web|last1=Oliver|first1=Mary|title=Millfield in its Infancy|url=http://www.streetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Millfield-in-its-Infancy.doc|publisher=Street Society|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> adhered to the philanthropic aim, known at the school as The Millfield Mix: "to nurture talent by providing the very best facilities, teaching, coaching and opportunities in which young people can exercise and explore their abilities; and to give awards to those in financial need."<ref name="Boss Meyer">{{cite web|url=http://www.millfieldschool.com/about/millfieldfoundation/development_foundation.htm |title=Boss Meyer |publisher=Millfield School |access-date=9 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404234817/http://www.millfieldschool.com/about/millfieldfoundation/development_foundation.htm |archive-date=4 April 2011 }}</ref>

In 1939, the school was one of the first independent schools to become co-educational.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millfield School|work=IVC Technologies |url=https://www.ivctech.com/portfolio/millfield-school/|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> Over the years, the school acquired land and houses within 10 miles (16 kilometres) of its campus. These were largely turned into boarding houses for students.<ref name="oliver"/> The girls' boarding house was at [[Ashcott]] House from 1967 until 1984.<ref>'Ashcott', in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 8, the Poldens and the Levels, ed. Robert Dunning (London, 2004), pp. 13–25. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol8/pp13-25 [accessed 1 October 2017].</ref> Many of these houses have been sold and the proceeds invested in new on-campus boarding houses. There are three remaining country boarding houses occupied by male pupils.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

In the 1990s, the school gained a reputation for drug and alcohol use among the pupils and a teacher was charged with assaulting a female pupil.{{fact|date=March 2024}} Any pupils found with any illegal substances are immediately expelled.<ref name="marks"/>

In 2005, the school was one of fifty independent schools found guilty of running an illegal price-fixing cartel, exposed by ''[[The Times]]'', which allowed them to drive up fees for thousands of parents.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article588559.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310233300/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article588559.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 March 2007 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees | first=Tony | last=Halpin | date=2005-11-10 | access-date=2010-05-12}}</ref> Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000 and all agreed to make ''ex gratia'' payments totalling £3 million into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools when the collusion took place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06|title=The Office of Fair Trading: OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402142426/http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06|archive-date=2 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, the school made national news when allegations of bullying arose after a student reported that Year 10 pupils were beaten with cricket bats and belts for an initiation ceremony.{{fact|date=March 2024}} After the parent of the student reported these allegations to the headmaster, an investigation was conducted and two pupils were suspended. Headmaster Gavin Horgan said: "I believe passionately in pupils having a voice and their wellbeing continues to be our top priority. Our rigorous safeguarding procedures mean any concerns that arise at school are dealt with quickly, transparently and fairly."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Violette Herbaux |first1=Claire |title=Millfield School responds to Times article claiming boys were hit with bats by older students |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/millfield-school-responds-times-article-2012683 |website=Somerset Live |date=17 September 2018 |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> According to a [[Freedom of Information]] request the school left the Teacher's Pension Scheme on 31 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/763181/response/1830358/attach/3/FOI%20Response%20Smail.pdf | title=Letter | publisher=[[Department of Education]] | location=UK | website=whatdotheyknow.com | first=Kate | last=Copley | date=9 July 2021 | accessdate=27 March 2024 }}</ref>

Here are the latest academic results for Millfield:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryan |date=2024-04-24 |title=Millfield School Review: Academic and Sporting Excellence |url=https://britannia-study.co.uk/boarding-schools/millfield-school-review/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Britannia UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{better|reason=not a reliable source |date=January 2025}}

GCSE Results (2023): 47% achieved grades 9-7, with 95% achieving grades 9-4.

A Level Results (2023): 31% A*/A grades, with 61% achieving A*-B.

==Houses==
Millfield is predominantly a boarding school, having around 75% of its pupils as boarders.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millfield|url=https://www.wintersschoolfinder.com/schools/profiles/millfield/|publisher=Winter's|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> The school operates a house system, which is based on sex and status as a day pupil or boarder. With the introduction of 'Nine at Millfield' in 2014, Year 9 is now treated as a transitional year with the school having 'Year 9 only' day and boarding houses. All of the other houses are Years 10–13 boarders, and two are exclusively for [[Sixth Form]]ers (i.e., Years 12 and 13). The boarding houses are supervised by house parents, assisted by assistant house parents, tutors, and matrons. Each house generally has around 40 to 50 pupils.

There are fourteen boys' and nine girls' houses; the oldest house is Millfield House, which is the original building in which the school first began operating. The house opened when the school was established in 1935 and is now one of Year 9 boarding houses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.millfieldschool.com/school-life/boarding/millfield.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718095637/http://www.millfieldschool.com/school-life/boarding/millfield.htm|url-status=dead|title=Boarding – Millfield|archivedate=18 July 2012}}</ref> The house, designed by the architect [[George Skipper]], and built in 1888, used to be the mansion of the Clark family, whose shoe business, [[C. & J. Clark]], is based in the town.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Palmer|first1=Mark|title=Clarks: Made to Last: The story of Britain's best-known shoe firm|date=2013|publisher=Profile Books|isbn=9781847658456|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RHfObm1VvSAC&q=Millfield+School+Houses+Clark&pg=PT71}}</ref>

; Girls

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! Year Groups<sup>1</sup> !! Day/Boarding
|-
| Abbey || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Acacia || Year 9 || Boarding
|-
| Kernick || Senior || Boarding
|-
| The Lakes || Senior || Day
|-
| Martins || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Overleigh || Senior || Day
|-
| Portway || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Southfield || Senior || Boarding
|-
| The Grange || Sixth Form || Boarding
|-
| Warner || Senior || Boarding
|}

; Boys

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! Year Group<sup>1</sup> !! Day/Boarding
|-
|Butleigh
|Sixth Form
|Boarding
|-
| Etonhurst || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Great || Senior || Day
|-
| Holmcroft || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Joan's Kitchen || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Keen's Elm || Year 9 || Boarding
|-
| Kingweston || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Mill || Senior || Day
|-
| Millfield || Year 9 || Boarding
|-
| Orchards || Senior || Boarding
|-
| St Anne's || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Shapwick || Senior || Boarding
|-
| Walton || Senior || Boarding
|}
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.millfieldschool.com/school-life/boarding/index.htm|title=Boarding Houses|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.millfieldschool.com/school-life/daypupils/day-pupils.htm|title=Day Houses|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

==Sports==
Millfield is known for its sporting prowess and has produced many international and [[Great Britain at the Olympics|Olympic]] athletes;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Sally|title=The Best British Schools for Sport|url=https://www.schoolhousemagazine.co.uk/education/subjects/best-british-schools-sport/|publisher=School House|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> its campus houses a wide range of sports facilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools Guide 2012 – Millfield| work=Tatler |url=http://www.tatler.com/guides/schools-guide/2012/search?Location=South%20West%20and%20Wales&LocationName=Millfield|publisher=[[Tatler (1901)|Tatler]]|year=2012}}</ref> 130 staff sports coaches oversee the 29 different sports on offer, including athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, clay shooting, cricket, cross country, dance, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, netball, outdoor activities, rowing, rugby, ski racing, squash, swimming, tennis, trampolining and triathlon.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Guy|title=Talent factory: How Millfield produces more Olympians than any other school|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/08/04/talent-factory-how-millfield-produces-more-olympians-than-any-ot/|access-date=31 December 2017|work=Telegraph|date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

===Olympic Games===
Millfield has been represented at every [[Olympic Games]] since [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]. At the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012]] Games, Millfield was the most represented UK school. At the [[2016 Summer Olympics|Rio Games in 2016]], eight Millfieldians took part and won a total of four medals in rowing, swimming and rugby sevens.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Guy|title=Talent factory: How Millfield produces more Olympians than any other school|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/08/04/talent-factory-how-millfield-produces-more-olympians-than-any-ot/|access-date=1 October 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

Millfield has an indoor and outdoor riding arena and golf courses, as well as a 50 metre swimming pool, which appeared as a venue in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/dominique-olympic-values-and-culture-summer-camp|title=Dominique / Olympic values and culture: summer camp|date=20 December 2018|website=International Olympic Committee|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> The Russian swimming team used the school as its training base before the London Olympics, and the [[Modern Pentathlon Association Great Britain|Great Britain modern pentathlon]] squad also used the school's facilities in preparation for the games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russian Olympians to train in Somerset school pool|work=BBC News |date=4 October 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15169172|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

==Preparatory School==
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Millfield Preparatory School
 | image                   = Millfield_Preparatory.png
 | image_size              = 
 | coordinates             = {{coord|51.139|-2.689|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline}}
 | motto                   = 
 | established             = 1946
 | closed                  = 
 | type                    = [[Preparatory school (UK)|Preparatory]] day and boarding
 | religious_affiliation   = 
 | president               = 
 | head_label              = 
 | head                    = Dan Thornburn
 | r_head_label            = 
 | r_head                  = 
 | chair_label             = 
 | chair                   = 
 | founder                 = [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack "Boss" Meyer]]
 | specialist              = 
 | address                 = 
 | city                    = [[Glastonbury]]
 | county                  = [[Somerset]]
 | country                 = England
 | postcode                = BA6 8LD
 | local_authority         = 
 | ofsted                  = 
 | dfeno                   = 933/6115
 | urn                     = 123921
 | staff                   = 
 | enrolment               = 
 | gender                  = [[Mixed-sex education|Coeducational]]
 | lower_age               = 2
 | upper_age               = 13
 | houses                  = 
 | colours                 = 
 | publication             = 
 | website                 = {{URL|http://millfieldschool.com/prep}}
}}
'''Millfield Preparatory School''' is a coeducational [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]] in [[Glastonbury]] and is the feeder for the senior school. Currently,{{when|date=March 2024}} there are 442 pupils attending the school, 231 boys and 211 girls. 146 of the pupils are boarders and 296 are day pupils.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

===History===
The school was founded in 1946,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/192-Millfield_Preparatory_School.html|title=Millfield Preparatory School, Somerset|publisher=isbi schools|access-date=6 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108055015/http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/192-Millfield_Preparatory_School.html|archive-date=2009-01-08|url-status = live}}</ref> by [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack 'Boss' Meyer]] who also founded and ran Millfield and later became the headteacher. He bought Edgarley Hall and its grounds from the Thomas-Ferrands, following use by the army in [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://millfieldschool.com/about-millfield/our-history |title=History |publisher=Millfield Preparatory School |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627055020/http://millfieldschool.com/about-millfield/our-history |archive-date=2017-06-27 |url-status = live}}</ref>

Meyer's philosophy was "...to nurture talent by providing the very best facilities, teaching, coaching and opportunities in which young people can exercise and explore their abilities; and to give awards to those in financial need."<ref name="Boss Meyer"/>

A pre-preparatory department was initially started at the 19th-century house, The Hollies,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345430|title=The Hollies|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=English Heritage|access-date=6 September 2009}}</ref> in the centre of Glastonbury in the mid-1980s, later moving to the main preparatory school site.

===Boarding===
Around 43% of pupils are boarders. Boarding has been an integral part of the school for most of its history. There are three boys' boarding houses and two girls' houses, each housing between 30 and 40 pupils. Flexi-boarding is also available.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! Gender
|-
| Berewall || Boys
|-
| Champion || Boys
|-
| Chestnut || Girls
|-
| Hollies || Girls
|-
|}
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.millfieldprep.com/school-life/boarding/index.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508073656/http://www.millfieldprep.com/school-life/boarding/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=Boarding|archivedate=8 May 2012}}</ref>

===Sport===
There are 24 sports on offer and over 70 co-curricular activities. Sports facilities include: a 50m swimming pool,<ref>{{cite news|title=Millfield swimming pool offers lifeline to local swimmers|url=https://ie-today.co.uk/news/millfield-swimming-pool-offers-lifeline-to-local-swimmers/|work=IE Today|date=26 October 2020|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> an equestrian centre, sports halls, cricket nets, putting green, squash courts, [[Astro-turf]] hockey pitch, outdoor tennis courts, netball courts and a 9-hole golf course.

===Chapel===
The [[St Andrew's Church, Edgarley|school chapel]] was opened in 1897 as a mission church serving Edgarley.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Edgarley Mission Chapel. Dedication by the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002470/18971204/055/0004 |newspaper=The Central Somerset Gazette |date=4 December 1897|access-date=7 February 2021|via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Notable former masters===
*[[John le Carré]], author and secret service operative<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/1993/jul/17/crimebooks |title=Crimebooks |work=[[The Guardian]] | date=17 July 1993 | access-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909095425/https://www.theguardian.com/books/1993/jul/17/crimebooks |archive-date=2017-09-09 |url-status = live}}</ref>

==Headmasters==
# 1935–1971 [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack 'Boss' Meyer]]<ref name="marks"/>
# 1971–1986 [[Colin Atkinson]]<ref name="oliver"/>
# 1986–1990 Brian Gaskell<ref name="oliver"/>
# 1990–1998 Christopher Martin<ref name="oliver"/>
# 1998–2008 Peter Johnson<ref name="marks">{{cite news|last1=Marks|first1=Kathy|title=Public school for scandal|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/public-school-for-scandal-1197310.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/public-school-for-scandal-1197310.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2017|work=Independent|date=10 September 1998}}</ref>
# 2008–2018 Craig Considine
# 2018– Gavin Horgan

==Notable former pupils==
{{Main article|List of people educated at Millfield}}

==Images==
<gallery>
File: MillfieldHouse.JPG|Millfield House
Image: MillfieldMathsBlock.JPG|The new maths block
Image: Millfield main ground pavilion.jpg|The school cricket ground and pavilion
Image: MillfieldPool.JPG|The 50m Olympic Pool at Millfield
Image: MillfieldCampusMap.PNG|A map of the campus showing the facilities
File: BossMeyer.JPG|Boss Meyer's bust outside Millfield House
</gallery>

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Millfield School Escutcheon.png
|escutcheon = Vert the sails of a windmill saltirewise between four crosses bottonee Argent.
|crest = On a wreath Argent and Azure kn a mount vert a windmill Gules between two branches of hawthorn Proper.
|motto = Molire Molendo (Success by Grinding) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Millfield_School |title=Millfield School |publisher=Heraldry of the World |access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Millfield_(school)|Millfield School}}
* [http://www.millfieldschool.com Millfield School website]
** [http://www.millfieldprep.com/ Prep school website]
* [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/somerset/street/millfield-school Profile] on the [[Independent Schools Council]] website
** [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/somerset/glastonbury/millfield-preparatory-school Prep school profile]
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/768.html Millfield School] at CricketArchive
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57341.html Millfield School] at [[Cricinfo]]

{{Schools in Somerset}}
{{Somerset CCC}}
{{Western Storm}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1935 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1935]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Somerset]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in Somerset]]
[[Category:Private schools in Somerset]]
[[Category:Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]]
[[Category:Street, Somerset]]