Editing Millfield (section)

==History==
Millfield was founded in 1935 by [[Jack Meyer (educator and cricketer)|Jack Meyer]] (referred to at Millfield as "Boss"), following his return from India with seven Indian boys, six of whom were [[Princely state|princes]]. Among these Indian princes included [[Meghrajji III]], the last ruling [[Maharaja]] of [[Dhrangadhra State|Dhrangadhra-Halvad]].<ref name="maharaja of dhrangadhra">{{cite journal |last1=Jhala |first1=Angma |year=2010 |title=The Jodhpur regency: princely education, politics and gender in post-colonial India |journal=South Asian History and Culture |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=378–396 |doi=10.1080/19472498.2010.485380 |s2cid=145707095}}</ref> The school started in the mansion built and originally owned by the Clark family, who owned and ran the shoe manufacturer [[C&J Clark|Clarks]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lobb|first1=Adrian|title=Lancelot Clark: "If you teach your workers well, it is good for business"|date=2 September 2015 |url=https://www.bigissue.com/interviews/lancelot-clark-teach-workers-well-good-business/|publisher=Th Big Issue|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>

Meyer, educated at [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College]],<ref name="oliver">{{cite web|last1=Oliver|first1=Mary|title=Millfield in its Infancy|url=http://www.streetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Millfield-in-its-Infancy.doc|publisher=Street Society|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> adhered to the philanthropic aim, known at the school as The Millfield Mix:  "...to nurture talent by providing the very best facilities, teaching, coaching and opportunities in which young people can exercise and explore their abilities; and to give awards to those in financial need."<ref name="Boss Meyer">{{cite web|url=http://www.millfieldschool.com/about/millfieldfoundation/development_foundation.htm |title=Boss Meyer |publisher=Millfield School |access-date=9 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404234817/http://www.millfieldschool.com/about/millfieldfoundation/development_foundation.htm |archive-date=4 April 2011 }}</ref>

In 1939, the school became one of the first independent schools to become co-educational.<ref>{{cite web|title=Millfield School|work=IVC Technologies |url=https://www.ivctech.com/portfolio/millfield-school/|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> Over the years, the school acquired land and houses around the locale, and as a result there were many boarding houses within a 10-mile (16-kilometre) radius of the original site; this resulted in boarders living at houses or billets in the outlying villages&nbsp;– being bussed in and out for lessons and meals.<ref name="oliver"/> The girls' boarding house was at [[Ashcott]] House from 1967 until 1984.<ref>'Ashcott', in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 8, the Poldens and the Levels, ed. Robert Dunning (London, 2004), pp. 13–25. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol8/pp13-25 [accessed 1 October 2017].</ref>

Over recent years, many of these houses have been sold and the proceeds invested in new on-campus boarding houses. There are three remaining country boarding houses occupied by male pupils.

In the 1990s, the school gained a reputation for drug and alcohol use among the pupils and a teacher was charged with assaulting a female pupil.{{fact|date=March 2024}} Any pupils found with any illegal substances are immediately expelled.<ref name="marks"/>

In 2005, the school was one of fifty independent schools found guilty of running an illegal price-fixing cartel, exposed by ''[[The Times]]'', which allowed them to drive up fees for thousands of parents.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article588559.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310233300/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article588559.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 March 2007 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees | first=Tony | last=Halpin | date=2005-11-10 | access-date=2010-05-12}}</ref> Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000 and all agreed to make ex-gratia payments totalling £3 million into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools during the period in respect of which fee information was shared.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06|title=The Office of Fair Trading: OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402142426/http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06|archive-date=2 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, the school made national news when allegations of bullying arose after a student reported that Year 10 pupils were beaten with cricket bats and belts for an initiation ceremony.{{fact|date=March 2024}} After the parent of the student reported these allegations to the headmaster, an investigation was conducted and two pupils were suspended. Headmaster Gavin Horgan said: "I believe passionately in pupils having a voice and their wellbeing continues to be our top priority. Our rigorous safeguarding procedures mean any concerns that arise at school are dealt with quickly, transparently and fairly."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Violette Herbaux |first1=Claire |title=Millfield School responds to Times article claiming boys were hit with bats by older students |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/millfield-school-responds-times-article-2012683 |website=Somerset Live |date=17 September 2018 |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> According to a [[Freedom of Information]] request the school left the [[Teacher's Pension Scheme]] on 31 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/763181/response/1830358/attach/3/FOI%20Response%20Smail.pdf | title=Letter | publisher=[[Department of Education]] | location=UK | website=whatdotheyknow.com | first=Kate | last=Copley | date=9 July 2021 | accessdate=27 March 2024 }}</ref>

Here are the latest academic results for Millfield:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryan |date=2024-04-24 |title=Millfield School Review: Academic and Sporting Excellence |url=https://britannia-study.co.uk/boarding-schools/millfield-school-review/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Britannia UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{better|reason=not a reliable source |date=January 2025}}

GCSE Results (2023): 47% achieved grades 9-7, with 95% achieving grades 9-4.

A Level Results (2023): 31% A*/A grades, with 61% achieving A*-B.