Vinehall School was built in 1838 by Tilden Smith, a partner in Hastings Old Bank as his family home. However, he was declared bankrupt in June 1857 and just under a year later Vinehall was sold to Felix Champney for £20,170. His stay was brief, and in October 1860 Vinehall was sold again, this time to William Rushton Adamson for £35,700. For the next 42 years Vinehall remained in the Adamson family, who renamed it Rushton Park. In 1902, the Ashton family bought Vinehall and enlarged the house to create the building we recognise today. It is believed that the great Joseph Paxton designed the grounds. On the death of Lady Ashton in 1938, the house was sold to the Jacoby family. At the time, Mary Jacoby was headmistress of nearby Battle Abbey School for Girls and she saw the opportunity to set up her son, John and his wife, Nell with a neighbouring boys’ school. Vinehall became a school in the late summer of 1938 with 6 pupils on roll.
During the Second World War, the School was evacuated to Killerton Park in Devon, along with a local girls’ school. The School returned to its Robertsbridge home after the war and in 1946 was bought by Major Tom Stuart-Menteath. He and his wife ran the school until 1957 when his stepson, Richard Taylor and his wife Pat continued running the school. Many of the old traditions of the school began under their care; for example, the dormitories acquired their unusual names (Squirrels and Hurricanes). The Taylors also had the foresight to build an indoor heated swimming pool, still in use today.
In 1977, Richard and Pat Taylor entrusted the leadership of Vinehall to their son-in-law, David Chaplin, and daughter Sally. The couple led the school for the next 25 years, guiding it through a remarkable period of expansion.
During their tenure, the school — already a charitable trust — acquired full ownership of the entire estate, paving the way for significant development. Pupil numbers steadily increased, and the facilities grew to match.
This era saw Vinehall become one of the best-equipped preparatory schools in the country. Notable additions included:
- A purpose-built Pre-Prep building
- A fully equipped theatre and sports hall
- The impressive Millennium Library and classroom complex, completed in 2000
David and Sally Chaplin's leadership left a lasting legacy — one of vision, growth, and commitment to excellence in education.
2002 - 2010 - Julie Robinson
Julie Robinson’s leadership marked a period of stability, continuity, and optimisation. She built upon a solid platform - maintained high enrolment, upheld the school's ethos, and benefited from state‑of‑the‑art facilities. By the time of her departure, Vinehall stood as a confident, resource-rich prep school fully primed for its next leadership phase under Richard Follett.
2010 – 2017 – Richard Follett
Between 2011 and 2017, Richard Follett led Vinehall School with a proactive, student-centred approach - from digital safety campaigns and dynamic teaching to a thriving boarding community and a wealth of co-curricular opportunities. His tenure reinforced Vinehall’s reputation for balanced excellence, personal development, and safe, modern learning environments.
2017 – 2025 – Joff Powis
Joff Powis’s tenure marked a transformative period in Vinehall’s history, combining a deep respect for the school’s traditions with a bold, child-centred vision for the future. A visible and approachable leader, he placed values and wellbeing at the heart of school life, cultivating a culture where kindness, confidence, ambition and respect were lived every day.
He revitalised teaching and learning with thematic, cross-curricular programmes, encouraged critical thinking, and championed outdoor education through a thriving Forest School and sustainability initiatives. His passion for environmental awareness and experiential learning made full use of the school’s 47-acre grounds, helping children grow not only academically but personally.
In 2023, he led Vinehall into the Repton Family of Schools - an exciting partnership that connected Vinehall with a global network of educational excellence while safeguarding its independence, identity and community spirit. This strategic move expanded opportunities for pupils and staff alike and positioned the school confidently for the future.
Joff Powis leaves behind a school that is vibrant, nurturing, and globally connected - his legacy, one of innovation, integrity, and holistic education.
In 2025, Vinehall School merged with Marlborough House School to be known as Marlborough House Vinehall School, operating on the existing Vinehall site.