Related Pages
- About Us - Past and Present
- Headteacher's Welcome
- Vision and Values
- Admissions and Appeals
- In-Year Admissions
- Early Years (Nursery and Reception) Admissions
- Governors
- Newsletters - hmail
- Ofsted Inspection April 2024
- Prospectus
- Pupil Premium and Sports Premium
- Special Educational Needs
- Statutory Information and Policies
- Teacher Training
- Vacancies
About Us - Past and Present
History of Hamilton
Hamilton Academy evolved from the old Priory Road School, which was one of the first Board Schools to be built after the 1870 Education Act. The original building dates from 1875 and is still in use, the stunning Victorian architecture is one of our many unique qualities. The building has a bell tower (sadly, no longer in use) and a Second World War air-raid shelter, recently refurbished.
The school is based across two sites and was officially formed in 1974 when the 'new' building was opened in Hampden Road. The school became a Foundation school on 1 September 1999 and gained academy status on 1 April 2012.
As of 23 July 2025, our school has been serving the local community for over 150 years! We celebrated this remarkable achievement with a Community Open day giving tours of the building and our historical archives. We also installed a commemorative timeline of events from the school's opening to modern day.
Safer Routes to School
Hamilton Primary School was Buckinghamshire's pilot school in the 'Safer Routes to School' project. Parents and children were asked, where possible, to walk or cycle all or some of the way to school. During this time 2000 physical changes were carried out to the roads around the school and a 20-mph zone created to discourage vehicles and improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. We continue to encourage walking and cycling, but parents who need to drive can apply for termly parking permits to use in 'pay and display'/residential bays, at the beginning and end of the school day.
Hamilton Academy today
Hamilton Academy is a self-governing state primary school in the heart of High Wycombe, with a roll number of 630 and a Nursery of up to 30 children in each morning and afternoon session. We have a three-form intake from Reception up to Year 6.
We serve a diverse multi-cultural and multi-faith community, striving to ensure that all cultures are embraced and that all children show real respect for each other and our school. Throughout the school year we celebrate Christmas, Eid and Diwali, as well as our own Hamilton tradition of 'Globetrotters', an annual evening of performances inspired by countries around the world.
We are split over two sites, each with its own Deputy Headteacher, and pastoral care is delegated to senior staff in the separate buildings. Children will go back and forth between the sites during their time at Hamilton Academy to allow them to benefit from both environments:
Year Group | Key Stage | Age | School Site | Telephone | Timings |
Hours per day |
Hours per week |
Nursery |
Foundation |
3-4 |
Priory |
01494 522231 |
Universal offer |
3 | 15 |
Extended offer |
6 | 30 | |||||
Reception | Foundation | 4-5 | Priory | 01494 522231 | 8.45am-3.15pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 1 | 1 | 5-6 | Hampden | 01494 437317 | 9.00am-3.30pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 2 | 1 | 6-7 | Hampden | 01494 437317 | 9.00am-3.30pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 3 | 2 | 7-8 | Priory | 01494 522231 | 8.45am-3.15pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 4 | 2 | 8-9 | Priory | 01494 522231 | 8.45am-3.15pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 5 | 2 | 9-10 | Hampden | 01494 437317 | 9.00am-3.30pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Year 6 | 2 | 10-11 | Hampden | 01494 437317 | 9.00am-3.30pm | 6.5 | 32.5 |
Priory Road
Priory Road is a large Victorian building in the heart of the town centre, boasting exceptional period features, a refurbished WWII air-raid shelter, a large lower playground, a garden, and a spacious hall for PE, lunches and assemblies. It is also home to our Early Years:
Nursery is a self-contained unit with ramped access, toilets (including an accessible toilet), washing facilities with a shower, large indoor and outdoor learning areas (including wooden play equipment), and a kitchen.
Reception has three classrooms leading onto a communal open area for free flow, which is enclosed on all sides and secured during the school day; it includes a large sandpit, wooden play equipment and a small climbing wall. Reception have their own toilet block, accessible from each classroom.
Hampden Road
Hampden Road is a more modern building with a vast amount of outdoor space; a large field, two playgrounds, an adventure playground for the younger children and a 'Tiny Forest' (trees planted by the school as part of a green initiative and to help the children study their growth). It also has a spacious hall for PE, lunches and assemblies.Drop off and collection
Pupils should not arrive until 15 minutes before the start of the morning session as the school cannot accept responsibility for children who arrive earlier. They should, however, be on the playground by 8.45am at Priory Road and 9.00am at Hampden Road, when the whistle is blown for registration and the gates are locked. If children go home for lunch, they should arrive back ten minutes before the start of the afternoon session.
Children in Nursery, Reception and Years 1-4 must be met at the end of their school day by a parent or designated person. Children in Years 5 and 6 can walk home with written permission from a parent.
Further information
Please browse our website for further information, or contact the school office. Our Headteacher's Welcome and Vision and Values explain more about our school ethos.