Chelsea School
In 1939 at the onset of World War Two, the school, comprising 90 students, was evacuated to the Grand Hotel in Borth, Wales, during which time a profound friendship was formed with the local residents. Teaching practice occurred in Welsh-speaking schools, and games were played on the beach with the daily timetable being dictated by the tide.
At the start of the academic year of 1948–1949, Chelsea School celebrated its fiftieth year. It left Borth and moved to Eastbourne. When the school settled in Eastbourne, the original buildings it occupied had been formerly used by the Admiralty – Hillbrow, St Winifred and Granville Crest. These were complemented with the addition of a newly constructed gymnasium.
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By 1951 the school was home to 21 full-time staff and 225 students. All lectures were compulsory and the college day ran from 9am to 6pm weekdays and until 12pm on Saturday. The curriculum comprised of a strong medical bias and focused on games, gymnastics and dancing most afternoons. In 1958 Audrey Bambra was appointed principal and under her leadership, the college expanded significantly.
CALLING OUR CHELSEA GIRLS…
Students today
Since her retirement in September 2015, Dr Gill Lines (a Chelsea alumna and former Principal Lecturer and Assistant Head of Chelsea School) has been working on a project entitled Telling the Chelsea Story which involves digitising a collection of photographs and documents from the Chelsea archive. Gill is gathering unique video recordings of personal life histories to capture memories and influences of the Chelsea College experience. As the project develops, Gill is particularly keen to hear from Chelsea alumnae from the 1940s/1950s as well as notable alumnae including any Chelsea Olympians or Paralympians. If you would like to participate, contact Gill via alumni@brighton.ac.uk.
TODAY
Chelsea School reunion 2010
2000s
The school’s reputation for sports excellence continued to grow and by 2007 the Journal of Sport and Social Sciences cited the University of Brighton as a world-leading place for the study of sport and leisure studies. On 1 August 2012, Chelsea School of Sport merged with the School of Service Management which also occupied the Eastbourne campus. The merged schools formed the School of Sport and Service Management and drew on the strengths of both previous schools to develop a new school of national and international standing, offering a diverse and distinctive portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, research, and social and economic engagement. The values and traditions of the Chelsea School continue in the newly emerged school.
Under the direction of Professor Jo Doust, the School of Sport and Service Management is home to the Centre for Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine and the Centre of Sport, Tourism and Leisure Studies. The school is at the forefront of teaching, research and consultancy in events, hospitality, retail, tourism, travel, physical education and dance, sport and leisure cultures and sports and exercise science. The range covers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and doctoral study. The school’s degrees carry external accreditation including an Ofsted excellence rating for its PE Teacher Training; accreditation by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) and by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). Amongst the modern facilities there are two gymnasia, two dance studios, a culinary arts studio, six sport and exercise science laboratories, a strength and conditioning suite and journalism newsrooms. Each year, approximately 450 students graduate from the school. Professor Jo Doust said: “I am immensely honoured to be Head of the School of Sport and Service Management. The ambition and excellence established over 100 years ago by our founder permeates the school still. The work of our students and staff continues to influence people and societies throughout the world – long may that continue.”