Chilton Saint James School

Chilton Saint James played a huge role in shaping who I am today. I felt incredibly supported, encouraged to aim high, and able to make the most of the many opportunities the school offered. Some of my closest lifelong friendships began there, and I’m proud to be a former student.

It’s disappointing to hear that others didn’t have the same experience, because within my cohort the memories and reflections are overwhelmingly positive.

I am a former student. I got into Hilton on a scholarship and it was definately obvious. Obvious in the fact that I was treated by other students and their parents as the "poor kid" at a rich school. I must admit the teaching there was good and they really helped me go from a shy, timid girl to a confident one but as for the culture of the school..... horrible.
I never spoke up in class, felt the friends I made were fake and only friends out of convenience for themselves and everyone there was really judgy.
this was a long time ago now though (like 2005) so might have improved from then

This school continues to have a reputation for having a toxic anti-feminist elitist culture. As a former student, we were meant to be the perfect little ladies. Sewing, cooking, mandatory in the 21st century. We saw lgbtq+ teachers forced out, bullied by other staff, who encouraged students to do the same, and fired. We saw independence and analytical minds squashed. I would never send my children to a school like this. Ironically when they realise that a former student is successful, they ask if they would be willing to come back and talk at an assembly. When asked, my answer was simply that they wouldn’t like what I had to say. What would I say: students, there is life after this. This experience will not define you as long as you realise that what is portrayed here is not okay.