One of the earliest appointments was "Gilbert" who was to be groundsman for many years. He was actually called Robert Giblett but Mrs. Fyson misheard his name so 'Gilbert' he became.

The task was massive. The grounds were swampy and covered with weeds and the whole place was run down. It contained old farm buildings and disused R.A.F huts as well as the main house.

Farm buildings were turned into classrooms and the monumental undertaking of clearing the War debris began. Self help was the order of the day - the pitches sprang up in areas which had previously been marsh and grass - in Mrs. Fyson's words, ''as high as an elephant's eye". A swimming pool was built by Mr. Blum and the boarders. Mr. Adelbert Blum, who had taught at Halliford School in Shepperton with Mrs. Fyson, was recruited to teach under her. His total commitment and vast energy was an invaluable asset.

After opening in 1947, with three pupils, it was predictable that the school would greatly increase in size (Ravensfield had increased from 38 to 600 and Halliford's roll had gone up from 35 to 250 under the Fyson's control). Miss Milson, who had taught Music and also been a Junior Form Mistress at Halliford, was to join later.

By 1951 the school was already flourishing and had grown in size to 93 pupils of whom 11 were boarders. By 1958 the number had grown to 158.

Mr. Fyson died from war wounds in 1948 and Mr. Blum acted as headmaster until Mr. Kenneth Knowles was appointed in April 1955. During this period of course Mrs Fyson remained Principal

In the ten years since its inception, ten new classrooms were added together with a Gymnasium. An extra playing field was added and the swimming pool built.

In a Ministry of Education report published in 1951, H.M. Inspectors felt that there could be no doubt that creating a school of this type involves much planning, hard work and anxiety. They agreed that the Principal had met her problems with courage and skill, much support had been given by the staff and that the outlook for the school was promising.

Boarding School life during the 50's was interesting. Nearly all pupils were boarders, many of them coming from overseas. There were a few day pupils, including one Francis Howard!

Many of the upstairs rooms in the main house were dormitories. Corduroy shorts were worn in the summer and winter. The grounds were far bigger and included a swimming pool near the present cricket nets, a lake (the outline of which can still be seen in the Primary School next door) and a garden where the present Sports Hall stands.

The Dutch Barn was a great place to play and countless children through the years have learned to roller-skate or play marbles there. Big dogs were around. Mrs. Fyson kept Great Danes and the Howard family had a St Bernard.

Saturday morning trips were made on the No. 4 to Camberley (6d return) and pocket money was often spent at Woolworth’s.

School fees in 1951 were 50 guineas for a boarder in the Preparatory Department while a day pupil was charged 15 Guineas. Swimming was 10/6 (52.5p) per annum!