The King's School, Grantham
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This article relies on references to primary sources. (June 2009) |
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| Motto | Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense |
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| Established | 1528 |
| Type | Grammar voluntary controlled school |
| Headteacher | Frank Hedley |
| Location | Brook Street Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 6RP England Coordinates: 52°54′56″N 0°38′27″W / 52.9156°N 0.6409°W |
| Local authority | Lincolnshire |
| DfE URN | 120698 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Staff | 90 |
| Students | 1000 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | Burghley, Curteis, Foxe, More, Newton, School. |
| Website | www.kings.lincs.sch.uk |
The King's School is a British grammar school with academy status located in the market town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England.
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History [edit]
The King's School has an unbroken history on the same site since its re-endowment in 1528 by Richard Foxe, although its history can be traced back to 1329.[citation needed] Nicholas Pevsner in his Buildings of England, dates the original School building to 1497. Foxe was born and raised locally. He entered into the service of Henry Tudor, while Henry was in exile in Brittany. When Henry took the throne of England as Henry VII, Foxe became his secretary, and later founded Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1517) and Taunton Grammar School (1522). In the 16th century the School became known as the Free Grammar School of King Edward VI. Scholars numbered perhaps a few dozen at foundation, and there were still fewer than one hundred until the 20th century.
Isaac Newton was a King's School scholar between 1655 and 1660. As was customary in his time, he carved his signature on the wall of what is today's school library, although the signature has never been confirmed as authentic; visitors from around the world come to view this indication of Newton's education. A replica of the signature is on display in Grantham Museum.
In 1998, a comprehensive illustrated history of the School was published by former King's School mathematics teacher, S J Branson: The King's School Grantham - 660 years of a Grammar School.[1]
Today [edit]
The King's School has just over 1000 pupils, and has been a selective state grammar school since the implementation of the 1944 Education Act.
The School adheres to long-held traditions: a prefect system to assist teachers in maintaining school discipline, the wearing of uniforms by sixth formers, the denotation of lower and senior School status by uniform, and the award of "Colours" for academic and sporting achievement. Students are allocated to one of six School houses: Burghley, Curteis, Foxe, More, Newton, and School. Five are dedicated to famous former benefactors or scholars. School House was originally for students residing in a boarding house which closed in 2002. Team competitions between houses include Rugby and Music, and those at Sports Day.
A new building project, developed on a neighbouring plot of land, was opened in 2007. Called The Isaac Newton Block or, simply, the Newton Block, it was designed for teaching business studies, languages, geography, and art. Part of the project was the refurbishment of the former Vicarage Block, previously used for teaching Geography; this building became a Sixth Form Centre providing for A-Level study. Buildings dating from before the time of Newton remain part of the site despite modern development.
Sport [edit]
The King's School has a long history of participation in rugby union football, cricket and association football.[citation needed] Since the early 1980s, it has excelled in water polo, contributing a large number of players at local, regional, national and international schools level.[citation needed]
Recently,[when?] a King's School team reached the national finals in the BSGA Gymnastics competition, the Under 13's table tennis team finished fourth in the country at a major tournament,[clarification needed] and one of the School's Year 11 students was chosen to join the UK Under 16 Rugby Squad.[citation needed]
In early 2008, the School cricket team toured Australia and Singapore, playing at grounds including Singapore Cricket Club, Trinity Grammar School, Mentone Grammar School, and Oxley College.[citation needed]
School links [edit]
King's and another Grantham grammar school, Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, have shared teaching resources for sixth form study in certain subjects.[which?] Since 2006-2007, timetables for this study have been co-ordinated between both schools to aid learning.
The School has been awarded[when?] Business and Enterprise College status in partnership with The Grantham Church (VA) High School, and has achieved Language College status.[when?][citation needed]
Combined Cadet Force [edit]
The King's School is one of a small number of state schools to run a Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Its military connection goes back around 200 years before that of the CCF (and indeed the Officers' Training Corps as it became in 1904).[citation needed] Records in the County Archives detailing the awarding of the rank of "Drum Major" to a King's School scholar in the early 19th century, suggest that the School had a military tradition long before that of the CCF.[citation needed]
The CCF unit of 180+ cadets is commanded by an RAF Squadron Leader and currently consists of Army and RAF sections. Students can join the Contingent from the September they enter Year 9; they are issued with uniforms, but are usually not permitted to attend out-of-school activities until they pass training examinations.[citation needed]
The Army section of the CCF, the larger of the two, regularly sends teams to the Combat Cadet Competition and National Cadet First Aid Competition.[clarification needed] The RAF section has sent teams to the CCF/RAF National Ground Training Competition held at nearby RAF Cranwell, and in 2011 at RAF Halton. In 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011 the section was placed first, in 2008, second, and in 2003 and 2010, third.
Uniform [edit]
The King's School uniform includes a badge: the emblem of Bishop Foxe surrounded by a garter containing the motto Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense,( "shame upon him who thinks evil upon it", or "evil to him who evil thinks") (Order of the Garter,) surmounted by a Bishop's Mitre. This use of the "garter motto" is almost unique for an institution as it is normally only used by holders The Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Students wear white shirts with black trousers, and black jackets, not blazers, with blue and maroon striped ties (years 7-11), or maroon jackets with blue ties (years 12-13). Jackets bear the school crest on the breast pocket.
Notable former pupils [edit]
Famous early scholars [edit]
- William Cecil (ca.1530s);
- Henry More (ca.1620s);
- Isaac Newton (1655–1659);
- Colley Cibber (1682–1687).
Notable scholars [edit]
- Oliver Anderson, writer[citation needed]
- James Atlay, Anglican bishop
- Albert Ball, World War I RFC flying ace[2]
- Frederic Barker, Anglican bishop
- Andy Bond, Asda CEO[3]
- Prof Eric Bradshaw MBE, University of Manchester professor[4]
- Andy Clarke, Asda CEO[5][3]
- Noel Cox OBE, Warden of the Royal Academy of Music[citation needed]
- Sir John Cust, 3rd Baronet MP, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1761-70
- Johnny Haddon Downes DFC, BBC television producer
- Prof Kenneth Durrands CBE, Vice-Chancellor from 1992-5 of the University of Huddersfield[citation needed]
- Michael Garner, actor
- Prof Vernon C. Gibson, Chief Chemist of BP
- Jason Haynes, cricketer[citation needed]
- Prof Lionel Charles Knights, academic]
- Philip Knights, Baron Knights CBE, Chief Constable
- Henry More, 17th century philosopher;
- Mark A. O'Neill, computational biologist
- Pinch, drummer with The Damned
- Sir William Tindal Robertson, Conservative MP
- Norman Shrapnel, political correspondent and author
- Bernard Smith, geologist[6][importance?]
- Prof Stanley Parker Smith CBE, electrical engineer[citation needed]
- John Still, former Bishop of Bath and Wells
- Joseph Harcourt Tombs, VC
- George M H Walker, editor, publisher and engineer[citation needed]
- Rt Rev Rt Hon William Wand KCVO, DD, Archbishop of Brisbane, Bishop of Bath & Wells, Bishop of London
References [edit]
- ^ Branson, S.J. (1988). A History Of The King's School Grantham. ISBN 0-9513861-0-7.
- ^ Albert Ball V.C. Lenton Times, Issue 14, September - October 1981; retrieved 12 May 2011
- ^ a b "Global retail giant's top bosses share Grantham connection" Grantham Journal 26 June 2008; retrieved 2 July 2009
- ^ International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education Manchester University Press; retrieved 12 May 2011
- ^ "The Business On... Andy Clarke, Chief executive, Asda" The Independent 24 June 2010; retrieved 12 May 2011
- ^ Bernard Smith bio
External links [edit]
- The King's School, Grantham
- The King's School CCF, Grantham
- The King's School Old Boys' Society
- Grantham Kings Water Polo Club
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