HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL & ROYAL PATRONAGE

The Royal School came into existence in 1995 as a result of a merger between the Royal Naval School (1840) and The Grove School (1858).

The Royal Naval School was amongst the first girls' schools in England. The foundation documents refer to the aim to enable women to be independent. This concept was revolutionary at that time and pre-dates the movement for the education of women in the late 19th Century.

The founder of The Grove School was devoted to the cause of women’s education at a time when it was generally considered of minor importance; the course of study included attendance at University College classes. The second headmistress, herself the daughter of the founder, was among the first women to achieve a degree at Oxford University.

The Royal School continues to be in the forefront of change, enabling individual girls to understand their own learning process and preparing them for the challenges of the future.

Two sites make up the School as it is today with the Senior School in Haslemere on the RNS site and the Junior School occupying part of The Grove site at Hindhead four miles away.

The Royal connection remains strong. HRH The Queen is our Patron and HRH The Princess Royal is our President. These ties go back to 1840 when Queen Victoria was one of our founder donors.

The Royal School has strong links with the local communities in Haslemere and Hindhead and both girls and staff are regularly involved with charity work, religious worship, performing arts and sports clubs based around the town.