A dire warning of “threats to the future health” of Marlborough College, where the Duchess of Cambridge was among many high profile students, has come from the independent school’s former master Nicholas Sampson.
“These range from the political to the economic – the historic rise in fee levels cannot be maintained if Marlborough is to continue to cherish its founding purpose,” he declares.
And he claims: “Some parents do not uphold our ethos, regarding an education as an expensively-purchased service rather than an alliance, based upon shared values, designed to develop and encourage scholarship, good citizenship and a sense of community.”
The warning comes in “The Master’s Review” he has written in the latest edition of the Marlburian Club magazine, which carries on its cover a portrait of 54-year-old Mr Sampson painted by Susannah Fiennes, herself a former Marlborough student.
However, Mr Sampson adds: “The strengths of Marlborough will, however, overcome these challenges. Just as we ask young Marlburians to prepare themselves for a world of rapid change by being both flexible in their application and acquisition of skills and constant in their values, so Marlborough holds true to its central purpose whilst embracing judicious and appropriate change.”
“The beauty of our setting is inspirational, but so is the sense of humane possibility the College has fostered for so long and continues to uphold. It has been a privilege to serve this great place.”
Mr Sampson, who left last summer after eight years, is now headmaster of Cranbrook, Sydney, after previously serving as principal of Geelong Grammar, in Victoria, before returning to England from Australia to join Marlborough College, originally founded for the sons of clergy in 1843.
Its fees for some 870 pupils, aged from 13 to 18, rose this year to an unprecedented £31,350 a year for boarders, who make up 98 per cent of the students, and £26,640 for day students.
The current term ends tomorrow (Friday).
Referring to his final term at Marlborough, Mr Sampson writes: “Young Marlburians remain true to their heritage: they offer delightful company and, as the recent Inspection Report put it, they display ‘confidence without arrogance’ and are genuinely interested in the views and lives of others.”
“We know, and acknowledge regularly, that ours is a high privileged community: we expect our pupils to recognise their duty to make the most of their head start by developing their own talents but also by acting on behalf of others.”
“They do so here, and they have placed a growing emphasis upon service-related work and charitable activity. They will continue to do so, as so many old Marlburians commit themselves to public service, charitable work or philanthropy.”
And he continues: “Much of the College’s current strength springs from a perhaps archaic source. In an age when young people are all too often isolated and cocooned by technology and starved of humane interaction, boarders are asked to live and work, play and create, alongside each other…”
The benefits are a great liberal education based upon disciplined preparation, not to be confused with either self-indulgent laxity or the modern fixation upon performance, however strong or weak it is.
“As the tides of fashion wash around and political currents change, schools such as Marlborough must lead by example – and with confidence, not arrogance.”
A chance to win a bumper £300 Christmas hamper at this Sunday’s communties market
