Lower II History expedition

Posted: 14th March 2022

Visit to Hampton Court Palace.

Lower II historians recently visited one of the UK’s most magnificent historic buildings, Hampton Court Palace.  Originally owned by Cardinal Wolsey, chief minister to Henry VIII, it passed to the king when Cardinal Wolsey fell from favour.  In the seventeenth century, King William III undertook to rebuild and extend the palace and, in so doing, much of the Tudor palace was destroyed.

However, enough remains of the Tudor Hampton Court to provide a wonderful educational outing for our pupils.

     

On 4th March, Lower II saw food prepared in the enormous kitchens, which had to produce over 800 meals a day for King Henry VIII and his court.  The pupils also visited the chapel, the Great Hall, which lies at the heart of the Tudor Hampton Court and houses a series of tapestries dating from Henry VIII’s time, and saw much of the artwork, which adorns the palace.  Lower II were also able to study examples of Tudor clothing and hear about the different strata in society in Tudor times.

We are fortunate that Hampton Court Palace lies within easy reach of St Augustine’s Priory, for it is such a valuable resource and a fascinating venue for historical study.

 

Categories: Junior Whole School
Strengthening Our Community: The Return of Boys to our Preps and Pre-Preps

We are excited to share that, from September 2026, boys will begin moving up from our Nursery into Reception, marking the gradual reintroduction of boys into our Prep and Pre-Prep School.

This step reflects growing interest from families who value our strong holistic ethos and unique grounds and setting and would like their sons and daughters to share their educational journey together.

At St Augustine’s, our strong sense of community, academic excellence, and deep care for each individual child remain at the heart of everything we do. This is a natural evolution of our school rather than a change to who we are, building on our strengths and allowing us to offer the same joyful, inspiring education to even more children.

Interested in learning more about our school?
Join us for one of our upcoming Open Days! You can book your visit via the Admissions section of our website.

  • Prep & Pre-Preps Open Day – School in Action (Nursery to Year 6)
    Tuesday, 23rd September
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Senior School Open Day (Year 7 and above)
    Saturday, 20th September
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM