Plans for The Mermaid were announced at the start of 2018, as the College launched its largest-ever fundraising campaign. The centre is due to open in 2022/23 Academic year, but there is still time to help the College develop this lasting legacy for future generations of Epsomians.
Lend Your Support
You can support this ambitious project in a number of ways, by naming a brick, a seat, a room, or even the building. Please contact the Director of Development, Ms Helen Tranter, on 01372 821290 or helen.tranter@epsomcollege.org.uk
What’s in a Name?
We are asking all OEs and members of the Epsom College community to join us in naming a brick or a seat in The Mermaid, perhaps after your family, yourself, an inspirational teacher or past Master. All proceeds raised will help to fund this new exciting development.
Our challenge is to have all OEs’ names in stone, demonstrating the weight of tradition and success of our community.
A brick can be named for a donation of £250 and a seat in The Mermaid can be named for a donation of £350. Donations of over £500 will be recognised on a Donor Board which will be located in the new building.
Elite Tier Support
For those seeking a more exclusive association with Epsom’s newest venture, it is still possible to associate your name with classrooms or other key parts of the building. Prices start from £75,000 for a large classroom and go to £2 million for full naming rights for the whole building – with advertising and marketing options available.
Please contact the Director of Development, Ms Helen Tranter, to find out more on 01372 821290 or helen.tranter@epsomcollege.org.uk.
The Vision
The plans come in response to a step-change in the academic performance of Epsom over recent years, and the resultant growth in pupil numbers. Since 2004, our community has increased by more than 35%.
Today, we teach 1100 bright, talented and enthusiastic pupils, and our academic star is in the ascendancy – record exam results, a leap up the league tables, and continued strong performance inside and outside the classroom.
Rather than rest on our laurels, the College is taking ambitious steps to secure its position as the pre-eminent co-educational school in London and the South East.
The Space
The Mermaid will provide much-needed space for academic and cultural enrichment. Occupying 2,000sqm at the heart of the campus, the centre will provide space for:
- Academic excellence
- Social time
- Careers planning and advice
- Cultural enrichment
The Mermaid will house seminar rooms, discussion pods, classrooms and a large study area. It will also feature a screening room, a state-of-the-art lecture theatre that accommodates 190 students and a large café and gallery space.
The Mermaid is set to equip pupils with the essential skills to succeed in the 21st century, preparing them for university and the world beyond.
The Name
The building’s name is inspired by an audacious and enterprising group of pupils from Epsom’s past. In 1922, the reading of plays had been prohibited by the College as it was seen as a distraction from the rigour of academic pursuit.
Undeterred and undaunted, a group of bright young things formed The Mermaid Society to indulge their passion for the life of the mind, and their love of literature and the arts.
The Society was named after the Mermaid Tavern in London’s Cheapside, where Ben Johnson, John Donne, John Fletcher, Francis Beaumont and even – reportedly – William Shakespeare would meet on the first Friday of every month to discuss the ways of the world, away from the cares of the world.
A society formed independently by pupils, to quench their thirst for knowledge; they displayed bravery and initiative to break convention in pursuit of academic and cultural enrichment outside the classroom.
The very qualities held by the original Mermaid Society, find their expression in the transformative power of our exciting new building.
The Build
The initial demolition work commenced in July 2020. Over the summer months, several temporary classrooms were installed in the car park opposite the Head’s house, some buildings and garages were demolished and part of the groundworks needed to build The Mermaid were completed. The large space, where once stood the Sixth Form Centre (formerly the Tuck Shop and College Store), has now given way to a wonderful new building, set to open in Lent Term 2022/23.
