The School house was built around the turn of the century by an American family named Ubsell. In 1914 they moved out and Great Ballard School began to use the building.
Just after the start of the Second World War the army commandeered the building and the grounds, so Great Ballard School had to move out. Great Ballard School is now at Eartham near Chichester.
Meanwhile, in 1895 a boys school was started in Lee on Solent. It was originally named The Royal Naval School. But, when the Royal Navy started their own school they asked the headmaster to rename it. The headmaster was a Scotsman and he chose to rename the school Edinburgh House.
During the Second World War the boys of Edinburgh House School were evacuated to the safety of the countryside. After the war, Edinburgh House School needed to relocate. Because all the boys were boarders it didn't really matter where they went. When the current headmaster Mr. Edward Kingsley-Kefford came to Barton on Sea for a holiday he found that the army had departed, and Great Ballard School didn't want to return, so Ted Kefford negotiated a lease and moved Edinburgh House School in.
Ted Kefford was Headmaster of Edinburgh House until his retirement in July 1969. Earlier in that year discussions with the Headmasters of Gorse Cliff and Marchwood Park Schools led to them merging with Edinburgh House School in September 1969.
The new Principal was the Rev. Ian Watson who remained in post until 1973.
Extensive improvements to facilities were completed in 1970. Rev R. Drown was the next Headmaster (1973-1984) and in 1980/81 a £72,000 Development Plan was announced.
Mr. J. Quibell-Smith (1984-1988) was next head master and he put strong emphasis on the welfare of the pupils as well as their education and of the school being a happy place.
Next came Mr A.R. Leighton (1988-1995) and a further development programme was carried out in the early 1990s. In September 1995 Mr Leighton oversaw the merger of Edinburgh House School with Fernhill Manor the adjoining girls school. The larger school was named Ballard School.
The current website for Ballard School
Memories
Read
Robert's memories of Edinburgh House 1960-63
Last updated 2023