The Hampshire School was founded in 1928 by June Hampshire, the visionary artist and teacher. June Hampshire’s daughter and pupil is the celebrated actor Susan Hampshire OBE.
June Hampshire began teaching when she founded the dance school in 1928. Her vision was a comprehensive education to help children achieve outstanding academic results and a deep appreciation of culture. After serving in the WAAF in WWII, June Hampshire put her plans in place. Her renowned dance school soon expanded to include a rigorous academic curriculum. Her daughters Jane and Ann joined the school to teach. Arthur Bray took the helm as headmaster in 1986.
The school’s unique mix of taught classes, enquiry-based learning, music, dance and cultural trips in London and Europe was very popular from the beginning. The Hampshire School grew so quickly that the school moved to bigger premises in 1946. June Hampshire’s daughter Jane Box-Grainger became Head when her mother retired. For a time, Jane Box-Grainger ran a sister school in France to expand students’ cultural reach.
