A grand vision in the south Shropshire countryside: We visit the rural school founded by two first-class cricketers
It all began when two first-class cricketers and schoolmasters purchased a grand old house nestled within the rolling hills of south Shropshire and decided to found a school.
In 1964, Hugh Edmund Watts and Derek Henderson, who played for Somerset and Oxford University respectively, bought the Moor Park Estate near Ludlow, where they established Moor Park School.
With just nine boys and more staff than pupils in its first term, few could have imagined that six decades later the school would stand as one of the county’s leading independent prep schools - educating children from three months to 13 years old across 85 acres of unspoiled countryside.
Last year Moor Park celebrated its 60th anniversary with a series of events including a 1960s-style lunch and a glittering September ball attended by past pupils, parents, and teachers - all honouring the founding vision of Henderson and Watts.
But 2024 also marked another special milestone - the arrival of James Duffield as headmaster. His appointment represented a full-circle moment, as he was once a Moor Park pupil himself.
Mr Duffield returned years later as a teacher before rising through the ranks to lead the very school that first shaped him.
"I was very lucky to be a child here many years ago and all these years later I am the very proud headmaster of what is a wonderful preparatory school," he said.
"We have children from three months to 13 years old. I have very dedicated staff who take great care of the children and we are enormously proud of the work they do.
"We are a Roman Catholic school with a faith foundation that flows through everything that we do.
"We are set within 85 acres of beautiful Shropshire rolling countryside which the children very much enjoy playing in."
Founded on Catholic principles, Moor Park prides itself on nurturing kindness, integrity, and tolerance - key values at the heart of the school.
The school's focus on a wholesome, balanced education is reflected in its vibrant mix of activities, including adventurous outdoor learning in the woodlands to excelling in the arts.
This summer, pupils took to the stage for two sold-out performances of Shrek the Musical, transforming the school theatre into the colourful world of Duloc after months of rehearsals.
Moor Park has also recently expanded its nursery provision to meet growing demand from local families, offering more places for early years education in a nurturing countryside setting.
Community and compassion remain at the school’s heart. Earlier this year, the school chose Hope House Children's Hospice as its charity of the year, and Moor Park has organised events including bake sales and a lively colour run to raise vital funds.
"I ask two things of the children here, I ask them to work hard and be kind, and if they do that then everything else will fall into place," added Mr Duffield.
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