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Most prep schools were built around buildings that were not constructed as schools. Commonly they were centered on an old manor home and grounds. This process began in the late-19th century. Often they were estates that the owners could no longer afford to maintain after laws and tax rates began to change substantially after Wiorld War I. As aesult, many prepschools have lovedly old buildings and grounds.School publications include a setailed decription of the facilities offered. Until after World War II, the facilities at many schools, other tham extensive playing fields, were quite limited. Since that time, successful schools persued major efforts to improve and expand facilities. There are, however, substantial differences in the facilities offered at British prep schools. Most are now substantial well founded institutions which have in recent years added important facilities like sports halls and music rooms as well as a range of amenities. There are also smaller schools will still very basic facilities. few prep schools are purpose-built schools. There are not very many of these and they are mostly, but not entirely day schools located in the cities.
Most prep schools were built around buildings that were not constructed as schools. Commonly they were centered on an old manor home and grounds. This process began in the late-19th century. Often they were estates that the owners could no longer afford to maintain after laws and tax rates began to change substantially after Wiorld War I. As aesult, many prepschools have lovedly old buildings and grounds. The schools have attemopted to transforms these facilities with varying degrees of success. There are of course limitations exerted by the original design of the old buildings.
Boundary Oak, Roche Court is an historic, picturesque site with well-maintained buildings set in 22 acres of pleasant Hampshire countryside. The peaceful, pastoral settings belies its closeness to main roads .... The main school building, parts of which date from Tudor times, is attractively decorated and equipped to a high standard, with full central heating. The accomodations consists of dormitories, modern lavoratories and washrooms, dining hall and kitchens, a library, separate commons room for staff and boys and one classroom. Full fire precautions are observed throughout the building, fire doors having been installed, ladders and extinguishers provided and fire drills practised regularly. Adjacent is a multi-purpose hall connected by covered walks to the principal classrooms. Nearby is the science laboratory, French room, art studio, geography room and a new block of six classrooms--the Jubilee block--opened in 1977. A new activity studio, with a great emphasis on musical facilitiex, will be opened in the near future. An extensive new hard-playing surface was completed in 1978, next to the large outdoor swimming pool, the necessary funds having been raised by parents' efforts alone without the aid of professional fund-raisers--a tribute to the close relationship of parents with the school. The grassed playing field extends to 6.5 acres, giving ample space for six football pitches in Winter and six cricket pitches in Summer.
Boundary Oak School Prospectus
A few prep schools are purpose-built schools. There are not very many of these and they are mostly, but not entirely day schools located in the cities.
The Downs was originally built as a school, and on tht foundationthere has been a continuous and systematic policy of development, modernization and improvement so tht the School today has an exceptionally wide range of well-equipped facilities innkeeping with the needs of modern education. The dormitories, recreation rooms, library, dining hall, changing rooms, and gymnasium are built on three sides of a quadrangle, whilst classrooms, art rooms, carpentry shop, music school, assembly/concert hall, and girls' boarding House are in separate blocks nearby. The Schools grounf=ds themselves extend to some 90 acres of playing fields and woods spread out at the foot of the Malvern Hills, and include an open air heated swimming poo, large all-weather hockey pitch, a pond for sailing model boats, two hard tennis courts and 9"-gague working model railway system.
The Downs School Prospectus
Until after World War II, the facilities at many schools, other tham extensive playing fields, were quite limited. Thus many schools operated through the 1970sith a rather limited physical plant. And financial contraints through the 1970s limited new building projects. This began to change in the 1880s whenthanks in part to Mrs Thatcher, the economy began to improve and the schoolls acquired the financial where-with-all to build needed modern facilities. Since that time, successful schools persued major efforts to improve and expand facilities. There are, however, substantial differences in the facilities offered at British prep schools. Most are now substantial well founded institutions which have in recent years added important facilities like sports halls and music rooms as well as a range of amenities. There are also smaller schools will still very basic facilities.
