The Mermaid Centre is now open to pupils. An official opening celebration ceremony will be organised for later this academic year.
Lend Your Support
You can still support the building by naming a seat or sponsoring part of the lecture theatre. 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 seat in The Mermaid, perhaps after your family, yourself, an inspirational teacher or past Master. All proceeds raised will help to further fund this development.
Our challenge is to have every seat in the lecture theatre named. We do hope that our community will come together to make this possible.
A seat in The Mermaid can be named for a donation of £350.
For further details please contact development@epsomcollege.org.uk or call 01372 821042
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 £50,000 for a large classroom and go to £2 million for full naming rights for the whole building.
Please contact the Director of Development, Ms Helen Tranter, to find out more on 01372 821290 or helen.tranter@epsomcollege.org.uk.
The Vision
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 provides a much-needed space for academic and cultural enrichment. Occupying 2,000sqm at the heart of the campus, the Centre offers an environment for:
- Academic excellence
- Social time
- Careers planning and advice
- Cultural enrichment
The Mermaid houses seminar rooms, discussion pods, classrooms and a large study area. It also features a screening room, a state-of-the-art Lecture Theatre that accommodates 190 students and a large café and gallery.
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, 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 given way to a wonderful new building.
