Repton School has been providing education and a way of life for students for hundreds of years since its founding in Derbyshire in 1557. As a result, thousands of individuals from a variety of walks of life have called Repton School home at some point in their academic lives. These alumni, affectionately referred to as Old Reptonians, have gone on to carry the School’s legacy into the world across the centuries, transcending industries to become true trailblazers of their craft.
Since early in the School’s history, Repton students have had the opportunity to practise and perform. Starting out as student written plays staged in the old rectory buildings, the modern Reptonian has access to all of the latest creature comforts and technologies available in the industries today. The stellar 400 Hall complex boasts a state-of-the-art auditorium, theatre, foyer, and dressing room spaces resplendent with all the amenities a drama student could dream of.
And Repton School has been graced by quite a number ofnotable drama students, one of the most reputable of whom is George Rainsford. A 1996 Repton graduate, Rainsford made frequent use of the 400 Hall throughout his time as a student, where he fell in love with the performing arts. Rainsford went on to pursue drama at Manchester University and later the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts upon receiving a scholarship. His roles in popular BBC TV presentations such as Call the Midwife and Casualty have gained him notoriety on the screen, but his work off screen has done much more. Rainsford recently started a fundraising campaign for The Huntington’s Disease Association and was named a Patron for the association in recognition of his efforts.
Old Reptonian performances have not been limited to the stage. They take place on the field, pitch, and even in the pool as well. Competitive sports and athletics lay at the heart of the Repton experience, which makes room for people of all calibres to participate to their own best ability. To this end, over 80% of students take part in at least one sport and remain active at least three times per week. The result is an engaged community that learns to love, not just excel, in sport across areas like tennis, cricket, football, swimming, and Repton Fives.
In January 2022, Old Reptonian Anoop Chima led off as a batter for the Canadian cricket team in the U19 World Cup. A 2020 Repton School graduate, Chima was known to take to the pitch in a number of matches during her time as a student. Now, she has graced the pitch at the famous Warner Park cricket stadium in St. Kitts. Her performance, which included scoring 38 against the England side, garnered the attention and respect of Sky Sport’s broadcasters, who put Chima’s play in the spotlight and mentioned her hailing from Repton School as part of her story. Also mentioned during the broadcast was Repton’s Director of Cricket, Chris Read, who formerly played as an England wicket-keeper.
The written arts are no less acclaimed when it comes to Old Reptonians. The School has always supported student creativity and expression with issues of its student-led newspaper dating well back to the 1600s. Over the years, the Reptonian has chronicled student life and experiences and served as a time capsule of sorts that captures the experiences and histories of the students enrolled at Repton School at the time.
Many contributors and writers for the Reptonian have gone on to become prominent authors, playwrights, and poets in their own right. Perhaps most famously, the children’s author Roald Dahl attended Repton School, graduating in 1930 and going on to write books that have sold over 250 million copies the world over. It was during his time at Repton, on a field trip to a local Cadbury location, that Dahl came up with the idea that would become Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. James Fenton, a 1963 Repton graduate, went on to become a renowned poet, journalist, and literary critic. Also counted among the literary Old Reptonians is novelist Christopher Isherwood, who wrote the novel “Goodbye to Berlin” which was to become the source material for the musical Cabaret. Isherwood credited much of his experience and the relationships he formed while at Repton School with having some of the greatest influences on his astounding career.
Repton School is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged between 13-18. The School’svalues of respect, wholeness, truth, and excellence create a foundation designed to inspire wellness and development for students from all walks of life. Aims in critical, socially conscious, and confident thought help cultivate skills in teamwork, leadership, and resilience that can equip students to thrive beyond graduation.
