The King's School, Canterbury: Difference between revisions
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The school was founded in AD [[597]] by [[Augustine of Canterbury|St. Augustine]], making it the world's oldest school; however this claim may be based simply on the fact that St Augustine founded an [[St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury|abbey]] (within the current school's grounds) where some teaching took place. |
The school was founded in AD [[597]] by [[Augustine of Canterbury|St. Augustine]], making it the world's oldest school; however this claim may be based simply on the fact that St Augustine founded an [[St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury|abbey]] (within the current school's grounds) where some teaching took place. |
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Enrollment is about 780 pupils (425 boys and 355 girls), 329 in the Sixth Form. The school is located within the Precincts of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] and St Augustine's Abbey. The school was in 2004 subject to a regular, independant inspection, and the results, which were very positive, can be found [http://www.isinspect.org.uk/reports/2005/0593_05.htm here]. However, there has |
Enrollment is about 780 pupils (425 boys and 355 girls), 329 in the Sixth Form. The school is located within the Precincts of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] and St Augustine's Abbey. The school was in 2004 subject to a regular, independant inspection, and the results, which were very positive, can be found [http://www.isinspect.org.uk/reports/2005/0593_05.htm here]. However, there has in the past been significant controversy about the pastoral care availiable. Former pupils and teachers have alleged that the school is rife with unchecked bullying and homophobia while the Headmaster's quasireligious conservatism means that the children grow up in an unhealthy environment. School rules occasionaly cited to prove this point are that being out of school after 6 p.m. is forbidden (not entirely unreasonable, considering that the school is situated in the middle of the city), and 'petting behaviour' is deemed inappropriate. It is, however, well worth noting that the independant inspection of 2005 found the standard of pastoral support and guidance is 'very good', and that 'pupil's welfare, health and safety are protected very well'. |
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More recently, the [[Office of Fair Trading]] has provisionally found that the school exchanged detailed information about prospective fee increases with approximately 50 other prominent UK independent schools, including [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[Sevenoaks School|Sevenoaks]]{{ref|ref-oft1}}. The [[Office of Fair Trading|OFT]] stated that "regular and systematic exchange of confidential information as to intended fee increases was anti-competitive and resulted in parents being charged higher fees than would otherwise have been the case." The school, which charges fees of £23,280, now faces a possible fine of up to 10% of its annual turnover, although the OFT have stated that they do not anticipate any penalty being at the top end of the available range. |
More recently, the [[Office of Fair Trading]] has provisionally found that the school exchanged detailed information about prospective fee increases with approximately 50 other prominent UK independent schools, including [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[Sevenoaks School|Sevenoaks]]{{ref|ref-oft1}}. The [[Office of Fair Trading|OFT]] stated that "regular and systematic exchange of confidential information as to intended fee increases was anti-competitive and resulted in parents being charged higher fees than would otherwise have been the case." The school, which charges fees of £23,280, now faces a possible fine of up to 10% of its annual turnover, although the OFT have stated that they do not anticipate any penalty being at the top end of the available range. |
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Revision as of 20:38, 17 January 2006
The King's School (founded 597) is a British Independent School (sometimes called Public School) located in Canterbury in the county of Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.The school is co-educational and has boarding and day pupils.
The school was founded in AD 597 by St. Augustine, making it the world's oldest school; however this claim may be based simply on the fact that St Augustine founded an abbey (within the current school's grounds) where some teaching took place.
Enrollment is about 780 pupils (425 boys and 355 girls), 329 in the Sixth Form. The school is located within the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey. The school was in 2004 subject to a regular, independant inspection, and the results, which were very positive, can be found here. However, there has in the past been significant controversy about the pastoral care availiable. Former pupils and teachers have alleged that the school is rife with unchecked bullying and homophobia while the Headmaster's quasireligious conservatism means that the children grow up in an unhealthy environment. School rules occasionaly cited to prove this point are that being out of school after 6 p.m. is forbidden (not entirely unreasonable, considering that the school is situated in the middle of the city), and 'petting behaviour' is deemed inappropriate. It is, however, well worth noting that the independant inspection of 2005 found the standard of pastoral support and guidance is 'very good', and that 'pupil's welfare, health and safety are protected very well'.
More recently, the Office of Fair Trading has provisionally found that the school exchanged detailed information about prospective fee increases with approximately 50 other prominent UK independent schools, including Eton and Sevenoaks[1]. The OFT stated that "regular and systematic exchange of confidential information as to intended fee increases was anti-competitive and resulted in parents being charged higher fees than would otherwise have been the case." The school, which charges fees of £23,280, now faces a possible fine of up to 10% of its annual turnover, although the OFT have stated that they do not anticipate any penalty being at the top end of the available range.
Subjects
Art, Biology, Bi-lingual French, Chemistry, Chinese, Classical Civilisation, Critical Thinking, Drama, English, Economics, English as an Additional Language, French, Further Mathematics, Greek, Geology, German, Geology, General Studies, Geography, History, History of Art, ICT (Computing), Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics, Spanish, Theatre Studies, Young Enterprise.
Houses
There are 15 houses at King's. Most are named after past headmasters or people of interest in the school history with the exception of Grange and the newest house, Carlyon. Carlyon is the area in Cornwall where the school evacuated to during World War II. The number of pupil in each house varies and the number given below are from the academic year 2005-2006.
Day Houses (mixed sex)
- Mitchinson's (69 mixed pupils, day, 1982) was opened in the Mint Yard by the Queen Mother. It is named after Headmaster John Mitchinson, co-founder of the Headmasters' Conference.
- Carlyon (47 mixed pupils, day, 2005).
- Marlowe (mixed pupils, day, 1936) is named after the poet and dramatist Christopher Marlowe (King's Scholar, 1580) and looks out over the Green Court.
Boarding Houses (boys)
- Grange (60 boys, 1928) The building includes many fine architectural features taken from the Archbishop's Palaces of Laud and Parker by the family who converted the granary ruins to a family house in the 1840s.
- Galpin's (53 boys, 1952) was built in the 1860s as the Headmaster's house and is named after Arthur Galpin.
- School House (56 boys) was the original School boarding house. The present building dates from the 1860s. It can list many famous OKS, but none has gone further than Michael Foale, the astronaut.
- Linacre (57 boys, 1953) is named after Thomas Linacre, fouder of the Royal College of Physicians, who was educated in Canterbury. The fine Georgian building was once the home of Canon Nelson. During visits by his brother Admiral Horatio Nelson, Lady Hamilton is reputed to have danced on a table in what is now the head of house's study. A recent Linacre OKS is David Gower.
- Meister Omers (53 boys, 1936) was built by Master Omer in the 13th century and has the widest fireplace in England. It was here that Edward IV held a Parliament in 1470. In 1568 Cardinal Coligny died in the house in suspicious circumstances. The arms of Queen Elizabeth I in the hall mark her visit in 1573.
File:Meisterohmershouseksc.jpg
- Tradescant (50 boys, 1976) named for John Tradescant, the 17th century Royal gardener and plant collector. The building, which is 19th century, was originally part of a missionary college.
Boarding Houses (girls)
- Harvey (54 girls, 1996) is a purpose-built house at St Augustine's and is named after William Harvey (educated at the King's School in 1588) who demonstrated the circulation of the blood. The building was opened in 1999 by the Director of the Royal Institution, Professor Susan Greenfield.
- Walpole (51 girls, 1935) is named after the novelist Sir Hugh Walpole (King's Scholar 1896). The 18th century building incorporates many remains of the mediaeval Archbishop's Palace and includes the spot where Thomas Becket's murderers armed themselves.
- Jervis (45 girls, 1992) is a purpose-built house just outside the Precincts and linked to them through the city wall. It is named after Douglas Jervis OKS and his sister Norah, benefactors to the School.
- Luxmoore (57 girls, 1945) moved from its original buildings to a purpose-built house in the Precincts, opened by the Queen Mother in 1981. A sundial in the front garden records the visit in fine Latin verse. The house is named after Sir Arthur Fairfax Coryndon Luxmoore, Lord Justice of Appeal, (King's Scholar, 1889), and his own sundial stands in the back garden.
- Bailey (19 Sixth Form girls) is in a mainly 18th and 19th century building which incorporates the fine 14th century Abbey gateway originally called St Ethelbert's Gate. Its present name commemorates Henry Bailey, second Warden of St Augustine's College and a good friend of the King's School.
- Broughton (51 girls, 1976) is named after an OKS, William Broughton, the first Bishop of Australia.
Traditions
King's has many 'old' traditions, though in truth most date no further back than the middle of the 20th Century, when the school was in the stewardship of Canon Shirley, who by all accounts probably saved the school.
These traditions include:
- The Beadle: A sergeant-major in the school's CCF, who is also responsible for the general smartness of pupils (who are not the tidiest of creatures). The current Beadle is A. Booth, who is a member of the BNP.
- Purples: The school prefects, who are marked out by their distinctive purple gowns. Some cynical persons consider this a fairly pointless honour, rewarding the most popular and obedient pupils in their final year.
- Scholars: Wear black gowns during the day and white frocks on Sundays. They prossess during Matins and, being members of the Canterbury Cathedral Foundation, may get married in the cathedral.
- The Goat on Green Court: The Captain of School is allegedly allowed to keep a goat on the large lawn in the centre of the school. Sadly, this particular tradition is no longer practised.
Notable alumni
- Michael Foale, astronaut
- David Gower, cricketer
- William Harvey, scientist
- Sir Tony Hoare, Computer Science Pioneer
- Patrick Leigh Fermor, travel writer
- Claudia G Kennaugh, wannabe singer
- Christopher Marlowe, playwright
- Michael Powell, film director
- Carol Reed, film director
- W. Somerset Maugham, novelist
- Christopher Watson-Shaw
- Jaquetta Wheeler, model
- Antony Worrall Thompson, TV chef