Cranbrook School, Kent

In 2003 alumnus Piers Sellers, a NASA astronaut, took a copy of the school charter into space with him. A photo is exhibited in the school cafeteria. In 2005 Sellers opened the school's observatory, which is named after him. This observatory houses the 22.5-inch Alan Young telescope operated by the Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomy Society (CADSAS). In May 2010 Sellers took into outer space aboard the Space Shuttle an original watercolour portrait of Cranbrook School painted by Brenda Barratt. The painting was later returned to the school with official NASA verification that it has travelled into space.[3] In 2018, a new day house specifically for the 120 students in Years 7 and 8 was named after Sellers. The sellers house will have 180 students in the future.

Barham House is the school's main office. It contains the reception room, the offices of both the headmaster and the deputy head, and meeting rooms. The school medical centre is also in Barham House, but has its own reception and entrance. The building was originally the local vicarage.

Central to the school, there is a large library which is one of the oldest parts of the school. It was once the school hall, but it was converted to the library after the number of pupils became too big to fit in the hall. School assemblies are currently held in the local church, St Dunstan's, or the Queen's Hall Theatre. The library also plays host to the original royal charter provided to the school by Queen Elizabeth I in 1588. In 2019, the roof of The Library fell through, meaning it had to be closed for renovations and reopened in November 2022.

The Queen’s Hall Theatre was first opened in 1976; the original vision for the building was to provide a local community theatre which was funded by Cranbrook school, by the Education Authority and by Public subscription. [4]

The subsequent refurbishment twenty years later in 1996 was financed by a generous grant from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the Lottery Agency and by the Governors of the School, to capitalise upon the venue’s ability to attract visiting Arts Companies of a high calibre to the local area. [5]

Today the Queen’s Hall Theatre provides a diverse range of professional shows to appeal to all ages and tastes within the Cranbrook community,[6] such as live music events and The Cranbrook Comedy Club.[7] As well as professional productions, The Cranbrook Operatic and Dramatic Society puts on 3 shows a year,[8] whilst the school puts on a musical and a play each year, both are done to a very high standard.[9]

Seating a maximum of just over 350 people, The performance space is very flexible with adaptable seating allowing performances in the round, as well as on stage within the traditional proscenium arch. [10]

The building is well equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment and includes a large retractable cinema screen, a comprehensive lighting rig including intelligent moving fixtures, and a high-quality sound system. [11]

There are two good-sized dressing rooms backstage as well as a classroom and green room which can double as extra-large dressing/band rooms when required. [12]

The Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was opened in 2004. It contains the Wilkinson Studio, Music Practice Rooms, Vickers Auditorium, and a Recording Studio.[13] The PAC is used for drama and music lessons and is open to students for practice during break.

• Cornwallis
• Crowden
• Rammell
• School Lodge (only for Year Nine boys)

• Blubery
• Scott

• Allan House, formerly split:
  • Allan Boys
  • Allan Girls
• Horsley House, formerly split:
  • Horsley Boys
  • Horsley Girls
• Webster House, formerly split:
  • Webster Boys
  • Webster Girls
• Lynx
• Sellers (Junior School)

• Telegraph July 2008