Churcher's College

Churcher's College is an English coeducational public school - that is, an independent, fee-paying school which is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). The senior school (ages 11-17) is located in the market town of Petersfield, Hampshire, with the junior school (ages 5-11) in nearby Liphook. The current headmaster is Simon Williams, who replaced Geoffrey Buttle in September 2004.

The college has several notable alumni, known as 'Old Churcherians' or 'OCs'. Male OCs are eligible to become members of the East India Club, whilst women may join the University Women’s Club.

History

The school was founded under the will of Richard Churcher in 1722. Churcher was a wealthy local philanthropist, who had made his fortune through interests in the British East India Company. His will, dated 1722, decreed that the College was to educate "10 or 12 local boys from Petersfield, of any age from 9 to 14, in the arts of writing, arithmetic, mathematics and navigation so they could be apprenticed to masters of ships sailing in the East Indies". Girls were first admitted to the Sixth Form in 1980, and the school became fully co-educational in 1988. Accordingly with the naval history, the college's five houses are named for renowned naval heroes; Drake, Grenville, Nelson, Rodney and Collingwood.

Under the terms of the will, Churcher's College was created as a non-denominational foundation, a status it has kept to this day. The school was originally in a fine 1729 building, which still stands in College Street. The school became increasingly popular due to its successes, and in 1881 the school moved to a new location close to the original site in Ramshill, where the school is still based today. However, the school's expanding population has meant there are many modern buildings alongside the original 1881 buildings.

In 1993 the school purchased Morton House School in Petersfield, which became the Churcher's College Junior School. Like the Senior school before it, the junior school is very successful, and soon outgrew its premises. Following an unsuccessful attempt to relocate in Petersfield, the school eventually purchased an existing school campus in Liphook (Littlefield's School), which from 2003 became the new site for the Junior School.

Sport and outdoor pursuits

- The boys compete in rugby union, field hockey and cricket, whilst the girls play netball, field hockey and rounders.

- The school also has equestrianism, golf, tennis, squash, swimming and athletics teams and events.

- There are also Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, as well as regular World Challenge expeditions.

- Churcher's College provides teams that compete in many physical contests, such as the Ten Tors.

- The College were the first school to affiliate to the Hampshire RFU in 1924. OC Frank Guy was responsible for the founding of local rugby union club Petersfield R.F.C. in 1927.

Drama and music

The school has various avid drama groups, including the Churcher's Footlights, and BlackRose Pictures, a film group. In 2006 the Footlights aired their production of Macbeth: The Director's Cut to the school, and in March 2007 released their film 'The Picasso Code'. BlackRose Pictures is a dynamic young group of film-makers, currently working on their latest film, to be released soon.

Uniform

• Senior Boys - Black Blazer, Red & Blue Striped Tie, White Shirt, Black Trousers.
• Senior Girls - Black Blazer, White Blouse, White & Black Tartan Kilt.
• Junior Boys - Brown Blazer, Green & Red Striped Tie, White Shirt, Black Trousers.
• Junior Girls - Brown Blazer, White Blouse, Green & Red Tartan Skirt.

6th formers are allowed more freedom in their dress code. Boys may wear a sports jacket, shirt and VI form or colours tie, whereas the girls wear either skirt or trouser suits.

The school's sports colours are red and dark blue.

Notable alumni

• Chris Owen (1944 - ) Film Maker. Director National Film Institute of Australia.
• Stuart Ernest Piggott (1910 - 1996) One of the greatest archaeologists of the 20th Century.
• Tiny Rowland (1917 - 1998) British businessman and chairman of the Lonrho conglomerate.
• Tim Rodber (1969 - ) Former England Rugby Player.

External links

• Churcher's College website
• BlackRose Pictures website
• Churcher's Footlights website
• Churcher's College Facebook Group