The school was founded by Adrian Stokes and Richard Arnold Jones in 1961 with patronage of The Bishop of Portsmouth.

A pupil could start after passing the Common Entrance examination, and end after taking 'A' levels.

That five-year period, and through the use of streaming, gave an average class size of fewer than 15 pupils.

This Roman Catholic boarding school had the motto Alta Patens (English: 'Aiming High').

Some attempts were made to convert an ornamental water garden into a swimming pool.