Our school, the buildings and facilities.

Main Building

Hilden Oaks School, founded in 1919, is a day preparatory school for boys from 3 months to 7 years and girls from 3 months to 11 years. Staff are available to supervise children from 8am until 5.30pm, providing the flexibility that families need around school hours. The red front door of the Victorian Main School Building is the gateway to the many opportunities offered by Hilden Oaks School. The administration offices and years 1 & 2 are located in the Main Building which also contains the School Hall, a well-stocked Library with around 5500 books, the Learning Support Room and the ICT Suite opened in May 2006 by Dame Kelly Holmes. In addition, the school has pleasant, enclosed grounds with hard and grassed playing areas for netball and football.

The Stable Block
This secluded self contained unit is home to our Reception classes. An outdoor learning and play area is being developed at the front of the building to enhance the learning experience of the children.

The Salmon Building
The Salmon Building was officially opened in May 2002 and the ground floor is home to our Preparatory Department. Years 3 and 4 occupy the ground floor, while Years 5 and 6 have their classrooms on the first floor. The first floor also contains contains a large science/art room used by pupils throughout their years in the school.

Acorn House

This designer building was completed in September 2004 and is the home of our Pre-School Department. Its position on a hill means that there is easy, step-free access to both floors of this building from outside, making it the perfect location for the youngest children at Hilden Oaks. The new Nursery for babies from the age of 3 months is on the lower floor. Above are two bright and airy rooms, home to Kindergarten and Transition. The Pre-School has its own secure play area where the children can enjoy exploring the outdoor environment. Acorn House also contains a large, modern music, drama and PE room with a specially sprung floor on the lower floor.

Hilden Oaks School is a member of
IAPS: The Independent Association of Prep Schools http://www.iaps.org.uk/ ISC: Independent Schools Council http://www.isc.co.uk/

Some Early History of Hilden Oaks

On 7th May 1919, Mrs Alys Keith-Lucas founded her school round the corner from its present site with just 3 pupils. As the school expanded rapidly, she soon moved to Dry Hill Park Road in a building opposite the current one. The picture shows pupils in 1920. Following the foundation of The Hilden Oaks School Educational Trust, the school moved across the road to number 38 in 1965 and the school uniform changed from its original green to cherry red. The house was a former home of novellist EM Forster who lived here with his mother between 1893 and 1898 while he was a pupil at Tonbridge School. Academics believe it is the house described in his novel "Nottingham Lace". The view from the window of the office of our Headmistress, Mrs Sunderland, is described in "A Room with a View". Music teacher Mrs Carol Bottle was appointed in 1921. She was a founder member of "The Pipers' Guild" and taught the children to make and play bamboo pipes; escorting a group of children to Oxford in 1932 to demonstrate to the Board of Education. Mrs Bottle published much music for voice, pipes and piano and we have been delighted to trace some of this and teach it to present pupils. American aviator Charles Lindbergh moved to Sevenoaks Weald in 1935 fearing that his second son Jon would, like his older brother, be kidnapped and murdered. Jon attended Hilden Oaks School until the family moved to France in 1938. In a letter to the school, Charles Lindbergh says "I want you to know how much my wife and I have appreciated the opportunity of sending John to your school... The training has been excellent for him and it is easy to see the advance he has made under your instruction."