The History of King’s House School

King’s House School was founded in 1946, and since then over 5,000 children have passed through its doors on the very same site in King’s Road, Richmond.

In January 2009 the doors of King’s House Nursery opened, and we welcomed boys and girls from age 3 to King’s House. The Nursery is located in a spacious Victorian building called The Old School House, just around the corner from King’s House School.

We are delighted to be welcoming the first girls into Reception and Year 1 from September 2024, as King’s House makes the move to full co-education.

School Development

Ronald Pattulo (1946 – 1962) was fondly known as Pluto by his pupils, and established King’s’ House School in 1946 after purchasing The Holy Trinity Vicarage and Parish Hall in Kings Road. The School opened with a roll of twenty-four boys and three staff, who were housed in three classrooms.

Under his leadership, the roll had increased to 70 by 1951. In 1955 the Junior Department was established at 61 Kings Road, providing more space for the School. In 1959 the Hall was extended to provide an additional classroom capable of being transformed into a stage.

Pluto retired in 1962 and Harry Jones (1962 – 1973) became Headmaster; it was under his leadership that the School continued to grow and expand. By 1965 the School has almost doubled in size and several important improvements had been implemented, including:

• The purchase of 66 Kings Road
• The conversion of the basement to a science laboratory
• The erection of two temporary classrooms in the playground
• The creation of an art room in the attic
• The start of Saturday Club

David Dearle (1973 – 1989) was Head when a state-of-the-art gymnasium was built, which was of huge benefit to all pupils.

Stephanie Piper (2002 – 2011) became Head in 2002, and under her leadership the Nursery established and the Civil Service Sports Ground in Chiswick was taken over by the School, securing excellent sports facilities. 

There have been several major developments under the current leadership of Mark Turner, including:

• The opening of a 3G astro-turf pitch at the Chiswick grounds
• The improvement of access to the Junior Department
• The re-introduction of School Choir tours
• The Introduction of School Drama tours
• Planning permission granted for re-development of the Senior Department in 2017
• The improvement of the Junior Department playground
• The opening of a specialist Art Room with a kiln in the Senior Department

Much has changed since those early days, but King’s House remains true to Pluto’s original vision for the School, with an informal atmosphere tempered by benign authority.