City of Oxford High School for Boys
Encyclopedia
The City of Oxford High School for Boys (a.k.a. Oxford High School for Boys and City of Oxford School) was founded in 1881 by Thomas Hill Green
to provide Oxford boys with an education which would enable them to prepare for University.
(the present Oxford Spires Academy).
stone building, bearing the arms of both the City and University, was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson in Oxford
, England
, and still stands at the corner of George Street
and New Inn Hall Street
. Additional classrooms were later added in the playground, a space that was contained on the south side by an extensive length of the city's mediaeval wall. The school remained here until 1966, when it moved to the Southfield Grammar School site (now occupied by Oxford Spires Academy) in Glanville Road off Cowley Road. The George Street building for some years housed the Classics Department of Oxford University, but was transferred to the History Faculty in the summer of 2007.
The school's playing fields were in North Oxford
, along and beside Marston Ferry Road
and which later housed the Old Boy's Rugby Club.
Mr Eddie Swire
Each November the School Speech Day took place in Oxford Town Hall. First there was a church service in St. Mary's church in the morning, then the main event in the afternoon started with a procession of staff in Academic robes and hoods. In December there was a school carol service in the University Church.
The boy's blazers were chocolate brown, as were the caps. In later years Sixth formers wore blue blazers. The striped tie was brown with red and blue diagonal piping. On entry to the school, every boy became a member of one of the four school houses: Lawrence, Jolliffe, Kerry or Salter.
Still based at the Glanville Road site, Oxford Community School gained Business and Enterprise Status and in January 2011 became the Oxford Spires Academy.
Lawrence gave his name to one of the four school houses. Large photographs of Lawrence and Drinkwater were displayed to the right and left of the main hall, to inspire pupils during morning assembly — Lawrence is now above the main staircase.
Thomas Hill Green
Thomas Hill Green was an English philosopher, political radical and temperance reformer, and a member of the British idealism movement. Like all the British idealists, Green was influenced by the metaphysical historicism of G.W.F. Hegel...
to provide Oxford boys with an education which would enable them to prepare for University.
History
It was administered by the City of Oxford Education Committee, with around 400 boys enrolled. The school finally closed in 1966, when it was combined with what was then Southfield Grammar School to form a Grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
(the present Oxford Spires Academy).
The building
The VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
stone building, bearing the arms of both the City and University, was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and still stands at the corner of George Street
George Street, Oxford
George Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running east-west. Its eastern end meets Broad Street at a crossroads with Cornmarket Street to the south and Magdalen Street to the north...
and New Inn Hall Street
New Inn Hall Street
New Inn Hall Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running north-south parallel and to the west of Cornmarket Street, with George Street to the north and Queen Street to the south...
. Additional classrooms were later added in the playground, a space that was contained on the south side by an extensive length of the city's mediaeval wall. The school remained here until 1966, when it moved to the Southfield Grammar School site (now occupied by Oxford Spires Academy) in Glanville Road off Cowley Road. The George Street building for some years housed the Classics Department of Oxford University, but was transferred to the History Faculty in the summer of 2007.
The school's playing fields were in North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
, along and beside Marston Ferry Road
Marston Ferry Road
Marston Ferry Road is a link road in north Oxford, England.The road links the Banbury Road in North Oxford just south of Summertown with Cherwell Drive in Marston, continuing as Headley Way to Headington to the southeast. It is a modern link road with a bridge over the River Cherwell about half way...
and which later housed the Old Boy's Rugby Club.
Inscription
The George Street building has the following inscription on it:- Thomas Hill GreenThomas Hill GreenThomas Hill Green was an English philosopher, political radical and temperance reformer, and a member of the British idealism movement. Like all the British idealists, Green was influenced by the metaphysical historicism of G.W.F. Hegel...
(1832–82). Educationalist, Fellow of BalliolBalliol College, OxfordBalliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, White's Professor of Moral Philosophy, elected (1876) first UniversityUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Member of Oxford City CouncilOxford City CouncilThe Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
to help found and establish the High School for Boys (1881–1966), thereby completing the city's 'ladder of learning' from elementary school to university— - A project dearest to his heart.
- Thus were united town and gown in common cause.
The staff
During the late 1940s, the headmaster was F. C. ("Fred") Lay; he was succeeded by Mr R.W. Bodey in the 1960s. Other teachers included a Mr F. Rowland, Mr B. Vaughn, Mr E. J. Wright, Mr K G Rook, Mr C W Busby, Mr Coleman, Mr Lee, Mr M.J. Soulsby, Mr F.W. Sutton, Mr B.A. Field, Mr I.H.Taylor, G. Wright, B.C. Atkin, Len Bielby and Mr R. Atkinson.Mr Eddie Swire
School traditions
The school motto "Labor Vincit Omnia" ('tis work that conquers all) was carved above the prefects' door, and became the basis for the school song that every boy knew by heart:- In tranquil days of long ago
- Under good Victoria's rule
- Their faith in Oxford's youth to show
- Our grandsires built a school.
- "Labor Vincit Omnia"
- Tis work that conquers all.
- This gem of ancient Roman lore
- Was carved above the prefects' door.
- "Nemo Repente Sapit", too,
- Was there beside it in full view,
- Reminding those of slower pace
- That perseverance wins the race.
- Labor Vincit Omnia
- Labor Vincit Omnia
Each November the School Speech Day took place in Oxford Town Hall. First there was a church service in St. Mary's church in the morning, then the main event in the afternoon started with a procession of staff in Academic robes and hoods. In December there was a school carol service in the University Church.
The boy's blazers were chocolate brown, as were the caps. In later years Sixth formers wore blue blazers. The striped tie was brown with red and blue diagonal piping. On entry to the school, every boy became a member of one of the four school houses: Lawrence, Jolliffe, Kerry or Salter.
Legacy
The former pupils of the City of Oxford High School now have their own Old Boys Association, called the City of Oxford School Association (COSA).Still based at the Glanville Road site, Oxford Community School gained Business and Enterprise Status and in January 2011 became the Oxford Spires Academy.
Alumni
- John Adams, Editor from 1958-73 of Country LifeCountry Life (magazine)Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
- Comedian Ronnie BarkerRonnie BarkerRonald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
- Philip Bee, one of the town planners of Hemel HempsteadHemel HempsteadHemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
- Prof Rupert E. BillinghamRupert E. BillinghamRupert Everett Billingham was a British American biologist who did significant research in the fields of reproductive immunology and organ transplantation...
, Professor of Cell Biology from 1971-86 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is one of the biomedical research institutions of the University of Texas System, incorporating three degree-granting institutions, four affiliated hospitals, including Parkland Memorial, the teaching hospital, and biomedical research...
, did important early work with Sir Peter MedawarPeter MedawarSir Peter Brian Medawar OM CBE FRS was a British biologist, whose work on graft rejection and the discovery of acquired immune tolerance was fundamental to the practice of tissue and organ transplants...
on organ transplantation, and President from 1974-6 of the Transplantation Society - Sir John Carter, Chief Executive from 1994-8 of Commercial Union plc (became CGU plcCGU plcCGU plc was a large insurance group, created by the merger of Commercial Union and General Accident. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange.- History :...
in 1998), and Chairman from 1995-7 of the Association of British InsurersAssociation of British InsurersThe Association of British Insurers or ABI is a trade association made up of insurance companies in the United Kingdom.-History:The ABI began in 1985 after several specialised insurance industry trade associations, including the British Insurance Association, the Life Offices’ Association, the Fire... - Stephen Coppock, mathematician and designer of anti-tank shells (armour-piercing discarding sabot shotArmour-piercing discarding sabotArmour-piercing discarding sabot is a type of kinetic energy projectile fired from a gun to attack armoured targets. APDS rounds are sabot rounds and were commonly used in large calibre tank guns, but have now been superseded by armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot projectiles in such...
- APDS) at Fort HalsteadFort HalsteadFort Halstead is a research site of Dstl, an Executive Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence. It is situated on the crest of the Kentish North Downs, overlooking the town of Sevenoaks...
for the Army in the Second World War which proved devastating to German Tiger IITiger IITiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...
and PantherPanther tankPanther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
tanks after D-Day - the poet John Drinkwater
- Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings HeathPhilip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings HeathPhilip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath OBE, PC is a former health administrator and a Labour member of the House of Lords.-Early life and career:...
OBE, Labour peer and former Minister in DEFRADepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
and the DECCDepartment of Energy and Climate ChangeThe Department of Energy and Climate Change is a British government department created on 3 October 2008 by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
, and President from 1998-9 of the Family Planning AssociationFamily Planning AssociationFPA is a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It is the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the United Kingdom. It celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2010... - Anthony Jarvis, Headmaster since 1994 of St Olave's Grammar School
- Professor John Krebs (now Lord Krebs), Principal since 2005 of Jesus College, OxfordJesus College, OxfordJesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
and President from 1993-4 of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour - Prof A.W. LawrenceA.W. LawrenceArnold Walter Lawrence was a British authority on classical sculpture and architecture. He was Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University in the 1940s, and in the early 1950s in Accra he founded what later became the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board as well as the...
, Laurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyLaurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyThe Laurence Professorship of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence.-Laurence Professors of Classical Archaeology:* Arthur Bernard Cook...
from 1944-51 at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... - Thomas Edward LawrenceT. E. LawrenceLieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, and his youngest brother Arnold Walter LawrenceA.W. LawrenceArnold Walter Lawrence was a British authority on classical sculpture and architecture. He was Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University in the 1940s, and in the early 1950s in Accra he founded what later became the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board as well as the...
, Professor of Archaeology at Cambridge UniversityUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... - scientist Heinz WolffHeinz WolffProfessor Heinz Wolff BSc. FIEE. FIBES FRCP FRSA is a German-British scientist, and television and radio presenter who was born in 1928. He is popularly known for his television and radio work, including the TV series The Great Egg Race....
- Kenneth Ray OBE, President from 1985-6 of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsBritish Association of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsThe British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is the British medical association for oral and maxillofacial surgeons - dentists who are also trained in oral surgery.-History:...
- Prof Thomas Thacker, Professor of Semitic Philology from 1951-77 and Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages from 1945-51 at Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
- Rt Rev Russell Berridge WhiteRussell Berridge WhiteRussell Berridge White was the inaugural Bishop of Tonbridge from 1959 to 1968. Born on 13 December 1896 he was educated at the City of Oxford School and St Edmund Hall, Oxford. After this he studied for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford followed by a curacy at St Philemon, Toxteth...
, Bishop of TonbridgeBishop of TonbridgeThe Bishop of Tonbridge is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester, in the Province of Canterbury, England...
from 1959-68 - Peter Williams, Chief Executive from 2002-9 of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher EducationQuality Assurance Agency for Higher EducationEstablished in 1997, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education works to ensure that higher education qualifications in the United Kingdom are of a sound standard. It protects the public interest by checking how universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality...
, and President from 2005-8 of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher EducationEuropean Association for Quality Assurance in Higher EducationThe European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education came into being in 2000 as the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. In 2004 it was transformed from a network into an association....
(ENQA)
Lawrence gave his name to one of the four school houses. Large photographs of Lawrence and Drinkwater were displayed to the right and left of the main hall, to inspire pupils during morning assembly — Lawrence is now above the main staircase.