History

Background to Malvern College’s Beginnings

Malvern College’s origins are intimately tied to the Malvern Hills, where a popular spa resort was established that continues operating today. The area’s pure air and spring water provided not only the foundation for this wellness destination but also proved ideal when Reverend Arthur Faber decided to establish his school in this naturally wholesome environment.

The Beginning

When Malvern College opened on January 25, 1865, it welcomed just 24 boys—11 attending as day students while the remaining thirteen lived in two houses. Yet within a single year, enrollment had surged to 64 boys. A decade later, that number reached 200, prompting the school to establish five residential houses to accommodate its growing community.

Rapid Expansion

This swift growth marked a golden era for the institution. By the century’s end, 400 students were enrolled, necessitating five additional residences. Such success attracted distinguished visitors, including royalty, American poet Henry Longfellow, and Randolph Churchill. The 1889 Private Schools Yearbook recognized this achievement by listing Malvern College among Britain’s twenty finest schools.

During the World Wars

Like many British institutions, Malvern College lost former students to both world conflicts—457 in the first war and 258 in the second, with seven participating in the Battle of Britain. During WWII, the Admiralty requisitioned its facilities, temporarily relocating students to Blenheim Palace before moving them to Harrow School in 1942, where they remained until 1946. Meanwhile, the school’s former premises housed researchers who developed the TRE military radar and established what became QinetiQ laboratories.

Post-War Recovery

Reconstruction brought new facilities, including an innovative Design and Technology Centre. By the 1960s, the school pioneered educational initiatives, becoming the first to develop language laboratories. In 1990, it made history again as one of Britain’s first schools to introduce the IB programme, positioning itself at the forefront of progressive education.

Major Reforms

A defining transformation came in 1992 when Malvern College merged with Ellerslie and Hillstone schools, becoming co-educational and accepting students from age three onwards. Around this time, it also departed from traditional boarding school practice by welcoming day pupils, broadening access while maintaining its residential character.

The Modern Chapter

The contemporary era began in 2008 when the preparatory school merged with The Downs, forming The Downs, Malvern College—adding two Nobel laureates to its alumni roster. That same year, substantial investment funded a sports complex, numerous playing fields, and two new residences, equipping the school for twenty-first-century education.