History
Cranleigh School was founded in 1865 and the OC Society in 1897. Its distinguished President is Vivian Cox (1&4 South, 1929-34). The decision-making body is the OC Executive Committee (Excom), whose present Chairman is Nick Meyer (2&3 South, 1958-62). Apart from the Annual Dinner, there is an annual Luncheon for OCs in the South-West, there is an OC Lodge, an OC Livery Association, an OC Surveyors’ Club, an OC City Society, and a Ling-Cow Luncheon Club.
The OC Sports Club (previously the OC Club) was created in 1946 to link together individual Clubs like the Association Football (1886-1914 & 1998- ), Rugby (1919), Rifle (1922-27 & 1937- ), Cricket (1890 - reformed in 1927 and 1958), Hockey (1928), Golf (1937) and, more recently, the Clay-Pigeon, Tennis and Netball Clubs. Its Chairman is Anthony Fey (1 North, 1960-65). Martin Williamson (2&3S, 1975-80) runs its excellent website – see links. The Rugby and Hockey Clubs are fortunate to have fine facilities at the OC Sports Ground at Thames Ditton (ours since 1928), with its large clubhouse, its new astroturf pitch, and its fine stand. The Ladies’ Hockey and Netball teams are particularly successful.
Find Martin Williamson's Sports Clubs site at: www.oldcranleighan.com
Approximate Number of Pupils and Fees
| Year | No. Pupils | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 1865 | 18 on first day, soon 150 | £30 pa |
| 1915 | 250 | £75 pa |
| 1935 | 250 | £150 pa |
| 1950 | 350 | £225 pa |
| 1973 | 500 | £1,030 pa |
| 1985 | 564 (including 81 girls) | £6,045 pa |
| 1990 | 557 | £9,585 pa |
| 1998 | 484 | £13,710 pa |
| 2003-4 | 604 (including 201 girls) | £19,995 pa |
| 2004-5 | 610 | £21,330 pa |
| 2005-6 | 599 | £22,350 pa |
| 2006-7 | 610 | £23,685 pa |
| 2007-8 | 610 | £24,990 pa |
A Level Pass Rates (averages):
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 1966-70 | 76 |
| 1976-80 | 91 |
| 1986-90 | 92 |
| 1994-97 | 96 |
| 2003 | 100 |
| 2005 | 100 |
| 2007 | 100 |
In 2007, all grade results were the best ever. A grades: 48.01%. A/B grades: 82.57%.
A/B/C grades: 95.72%. A/B/C/D grades: 99.70%.
Leavers going on to higher education
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 1920 | very few |
| 1967 | 59 |
| 1977 | 90 |
| 1997 | 99 |
| 2007 | 99 |
School Timeline
1863 Foundation Stone laid
1865 School opened, as 'Surrey County School'. On the south side of the Quad: the original Headmaster's house, classrooms (two of which were used as dining room and chapel), a small gym (now the chapel corridor), and above them the 'South' dormitories. On the east side were classrooms and above them the 'East' dormitories
By 1869 The Chapel was built, and the present Dining Hall, above which were the 'West' dormitories. On the first floor of the north side were the 'North' dormitories
1870 Clock Tower built
1876 Gas arrived (hot water in 1902, and electricity in 1929)
1880 Preparatory House opened (now 'The Old House', a boarding house for the Preparatory School). It became a separate entity from the Senior School in 1913
1884 School Mission began in London
1887 Officially now 'Cranleigh School', though in fact called this many years earlier
1897 OC Society founded
1911 Present Preparatory School building purchased
1916 Rugby started
1919 Hockey started
1919 Golf course laid out for Common Room - boys allowed to play from 1936
1920 'Old' Common Room in hut
1921 First World War Memorial unveiled at the top of the main drive; removed when the Reading Room Memorial to the dead of both wars was opened in 1949
1924 Jubilee Pavilion built as OC Memorial to the 133 OCs killed in World War 1
1929 Connaught Building and Headmaster's House opened
1929 Williams Library and Reading Room opened
1947 Purchase of High Upfold Farm
1951 Quad grassed - the end of punishment drill on its paving!
1959 Golf course reopened after 20 years' disuse - hay grown for the war effort
1959 New Swimming Bath opened (the present open-air one) as OC Memorial to the 136 OCs killed in World War 2
1961 Sanatorium converted into Cubitt House. Present 'Medical Centre' is in Horseshoe Lane
1963 Daily compulsory Chapel abolished
1964 First girl pupil, not resident, studying for Oxbridge
1965 New 1 North House opened
1966 School Mission in London transferred locally to become Social Service
1972 Farm became Sixth Form Centre
1972 First girl for 2 years' A Level
1974 'Edgefield' converted for girls
1980 Loveday House opened
1985 New Common Room opened
1991 Indoor Swimming Pool opened
1996 First OC Liaison Officer appointed (Mike Payne)
1998 Extensions to 1 North and Cubitt
2001 Renaming of some Houses. Now four boys' Houses (East, North, Cubitt and Loveday) and two girls' Houses (South and West), each with Housemasters and Assistant Housemasters living adjacently
2002 Trevor Abbott Sports Centre opened
2002 North Extension opened.
2006 New Housemaster's House and Boarding Extension for Cubitt
School Magazines
1871 First 'The Cranleigh School Chronicle'
1878 First 'The Cranleigh School Magazine'
1900 First 'The Cranleighan'
1996 First 'Cranleigh Contact'
2004 First separate 'The Old Cranleighan'
