History

Founding and Early Years

Frederick Noel Hamilton Wills, nephew to Bristol University’s renowned benefactors, purchased the Rendcomb village in 1918 with a vision. Two years later, alongside headmaster J.H. Simpson, he welcomed twelve boys to what would become the college—a place offering quality education to rural Gloucestershire youth without demanding fortune. The estate itself carries centuries of memory: its house and church date back to the twelfth century, though they were reimagined in the late 1600s. These 230 acres of Cotswold landscape became the foundation for something both historically rooted and educationally progressive.

Path to Co-education

For fifty years, only boys walked these halls. Then 1972 marked a shift—girls joined the senior classes, signaling that the administration was ready to evolve with society’s changing needs. This experiment in mixed learning proved successful enough that two decades later, in 1992, Rendcomb opened fully to both genders across all ages. The decision created a more natural environment where students learned to collaborate beyond gender lines, developing social skills alongside their academic ones while the institution’s core philosophy remained intact.

Expanding Opportunities

The turn of the century brought structural growth. A junior school opened in 2000, followed by a nursery in 2005 that welcomes children from age three. This expansion meant families could now choose continuous education under one roof—from a child’s earliest steps in learning through their final exams. Such continuity allows teachers to know their students across years, understanding their strengths and needs more deeply, while younger children naturally look to older peers as role models.

Rendcomb College Today

The institution now cultivates curious, adventurous, and ambitious young people prepared for contemporary challenges. Students develop critical thinking and courage to pursue their goals while receiving support for their individual talents through varied programs. This happens within an atmosphere where mutual respect encourages trying new things without fear of failure. The sprawling Cotswold grounds offer space for creativity, athletics, and exploration—giving learners comprehensive development in surroundings that inspire rather than confine.