History - Hallfield School

1879

Our School was founded by Mr Nowers and Mr Pughe. There were just 19 boys that first term. Many of them came from Dame Schools (small schools run by elderly women, often from their own houses) or been tutored at home.

We’ve been known by different names

Mr Ridgway named the school Hallfield as it was sited on the meadowland of Edgbaston Hall.

Kingsland House School

1879

Edgbaston High School for Boys

1880

Edgbaston Preparatory School

1887

Hallfield

1910

SIDWAY HALL, MARKET DRAYTON

1939

The War Years

In 1939, the entire school was evacuated to Denstone College in rural Staffordshire where they saved for four terms. A bomb fell close to the school, damaging Hallfield’s grounds and outbuildings. Some of the school masters were called away to join the army or RAF. In 1940, Sidway Hall became the home for Hallfield’s boarders for the rest of the war.

1950’s

The school was divided into houses

Nowers, Pughe and Ridgway came first. The Stork was later added in 1995.

1939

The Allday Cup

The Stanley Allday Memorial Cup commemorates Lieutenant Stanley Owen Allday of the 1/5th South Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed in action in France on 13 October 1915.

It is presented annually to “the boy chosen by his ‘comrades’ as the best sportsman in the School.”

stanley own allday (OH 1907 - 1911)

1950'S

Many boys were boarders. School was on two sites – one where boys slept and one where boys learnt. Boarders spent Sunday mornings at church and wrote letters home in the afternoon. Boys were allowed home for 2 half Sundays per term. School was strict with focus on academies. Food was different to today!

Memories included some of the most disgusting and even now avoided, dishes imaginable! These included tapioca, sago, boiled cabbage, fish pie and rabbit. The highlights were match teas and Sunday breakfast.

Old Hallfieldian from the 1960s

1960’s

In the 1960s, female staff members were addressed as ‘Please’ instead of their names. If a boy made a request, he would say ‘Please, Please’ and afterwards ‘Thank you, Please’!

mrs hackett

1995

The first intake of the girls into Pre-Prep meant the school was fully co-educational.

The Derry Bowl

The Derry Bowl was awarded to the School by the parents of the first girl at Hallfield in 1995, Amelia Derry. It is presented annually to the girl chosen by her peers for good sportsmanship and encouragement to others.

1997

We celebrated our centenary

To mark 100 years in the life of the school, the Governors planned an ambitious development project. The centenary building was the result! Celebrations included a fete and a donkey derby in the school grounds.

2019