Caldicott School
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| Motto | Per Victoriam Ad Gloriam (Through victory to glory) |
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| Established | 1904 |
| Type | Preparatory school |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Headmaster | Simon Doggart |
| Chairman of the Governors | Graham Puttergill |
| Founder | Heald Jenkins |
| Location | Farnham Royal Buckinghamshire England |
| Staff | 50 (approx.) |
| Students | 250 (approx.) |
| Gender | Boys |
| Ages | 7–13 |
| Houses | Cooper, Jenkins, McArthur & Wood |
| Colours | Cerise and green |
| Former pupils | Old Caldicotians |
| Website | www.caldicott.com |
Caldicott, formally known as Caldicott Preparatory School[1], is a Prep School for boys aged 7–13, close to London.
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[edit] About Caldicott
Caldicott Preparatory School was founded in Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1904 by James Heald Jenkins who named his school after his new bride, a Miss Theodora Caldicott Ingram. There were just eight boys. In 1938 the school moved to its present site in Farnham Royal in Buckinghamshire, and became a charitable trust in 1968 under the Headmaster at the time Peter Wright. Today there are around 250 boys. The present headmaster, Simon Doggart, was appointed in 1998; he came from Eton College where he taught history and was master-in-charge of cricket. He is a member of IAPS and the school’s governors include past parents, old boys and headmasters of public schools.
According to the school's website, many pupils at Caldicott subsequently win places at major independent schools, such as Eton College, Harrow School, Winchester College, Marlborough College, Wellington College, Haileybury College and Radley College.
The original Victorian house remains. New buildings have been created around it to provide more contemporary facilities. In 2004 the Centenary Hall was completed to provide a theatre for drama and music and a venue for functions.
Although central London is only 20 miles (32 km) away the school has 40 acres (160,000 m2) of grounds and playing fields. Burnham Beeches, a National Nature Reserve owned by the City of London Corporation is adjacent to the grounds and is often used by pupils. Heathrow Airport is 7 miles (11 km) away.
On 30 September 2008 the school was the subject of a feature documentary, Chosen, transmitted on More4 as part of the "True Stories" strand, about the sexual abuse that went on at the school during the late 1960s and early 1970s.[2] The headmaster Peter Wright was active in this, as well as a number of other teachers, targeting boys good at sports and, to a lesser extent, in the choir. In The Guardian published on the same day, a former parent alleged that Lord Justice Scott Baker former Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Simon Doggart the current headmaster, mishandled a case of alleged sexual abuse of their son by a teacher in the early 2000s.[3]
On 4 December 2011, Peter Wright and Hugh Henry, another teacher, were charged with child sex offences alleged to have taken place between 1959 and 1970. They appeared in court in Aylesbury on 21 December 2011.[4] The police are still wanting other witnesses to come forward to help with their enquiries.[5]. This is the second time that Peter Wright has been charged for child abuse offences; the first time (in 2003) in a pre-trial abuse of process plea at bar, the judge awarded a stay of proceedings predicated upon the passage of time since the offences were allegedly committed. No stayed criminal case has ever returned to court. [6]
[edit] Houses
Each pupil in the school is a member of one of four houses. These are:
- Cooper: named after Judge Shewell Cooper, the School's fourth headmaster.
- Jenkins: named after Heald Jenkins, the founder and first headmaster.
- McArthur: named after Harry McArthur, an influential Leys parent who aided the School financially.
- Wood: named after F. Gordon Wood, the third headmaster of the School.
[edit] Notable alumni
- John Apthorp, Founder of Bejam Foods, now Iceland and Wizzard Wines, now Majestic Wines
- Ben Castle, British jazz musician, the son of entertainer Roy Castle.
- Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Robert Diament, singer/songwriter of pop band Temposhark
- Will Hoy (Decd, 2001), British Touring Car Champion 1991
- Ralph Izzard, Journalist for the Daily Mail
- Adrian Jarvis, Harlequins FC rugby union player; selected for England Saxons 2008 squad
- Malcolm Lowry, poet and novelist
- Ernest Saunders, former Chief Executive of Guinness 1981-86, best known for being one of the "Guinness Four"
- Chris Sheasby, England rugby union player
- Ed Stoppard, Actor
- Andrew Strauss, England cricketer and Captain
[edit] References
- ^ Full title on school website
- ^ Chosen - Chosen won the 2009 BAFTA for Best Single Documentary
- ^ The Guardian
- ^ "Two ex-teachers charged over 50-year-old sex offences". BBC. 5 December 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16037078. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ "Two men charged in connection with sex offences - Buckinghamshire". Thames Valley Police. 5 December 2011. http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/newsevents-pressreleases/newsevents-pressreleases-item.htm?id=201831. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "Hansard 17 December 2007 Column 1108W". Hansard. 17 December 2007. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071217/text/71217w0041.htm#07121824001126. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
[edit] External links
- Caldicott School official website
- Independent School Inspection Report on Caldicott - November 2007
- The Ofsted Care Inspection Report on Caldicott - November 2011
