Ipswich School
Encyclopedia
Ipswich School is a co-educational public school
for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk
, England
in the town of Ipswich
, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528.
Located north of the town centre, Ipswich School has four parts, located on three adjacent sites. The Pre-Prep and Nursery cater for pupils aged three to seven. It was established in 1883 with the aim of preparing children aged 7 to 11 for entry into the Senior School. The Senior School occupies the main school site. The school's main buildings are a distinctive example of Victorian architecture
, with Tudor
style brick. The main building and chapel are both Grade II listed. The school buildings surround a central playing field and cricket square along with the Cricket Pavilion. The remainder of the School's sport's fields are located at a nearby site on the edge of the town. Within the Senior School the students are divided into three, the Lower School (Years 7 and 8), the Middle School (Years 9-11) and the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13).
The School continues to flourish under an independent, fee-charging basis, and does exceptionally well in league tables and with university entrances, sending between 6 and 12 students to Oxford and Cambridge every year.
The School was designated as having a "Church of England
" Religious Character. The school has, however, not chosen to register as having a Religious Charter under the 2009 order.
The oldest record of Ipswich School goes back to 1299 but the school was founded in its current form in 1528 by Thomas Wolsey, later Cardinal Archbishop of York
and Lord Chancellor
of England, who was a pupil of the school. A merchant and Portman (Alderman) of Ipswich called Richard Felaw (a school house is named in his honour) bequeathed his house in what is now Foundation Street to the School, endowing it with lands so that children of needy parents could attend without paying fees. One of the first pupils to benefit from Felaw's endowment was Thomas Wolsey who never forgot that it was largely thanks to Felaw that he became what he became. In part to thank the school, Wolsey wanted to transform it into an institution that would compete with likes of Eton College
, recently founded by King Henry VI
, and would become one of England's greatest educational institutions. Wolsey created his new college, funded by the suppression of religious houses such as Rumburgh Priory
, by absorbing into the former school some of the institutions in the town such as St. Mary's College, and named it (The King's School, Ipswich). Since the time of Wolsey the school has gone from strength to strength as he hoped it would.
After Wolsey's downfall in 1530 Thomas Cromwell ensured the survival of the School by securing for it a new endowment from King Henry VIII
and the status of a royal foundation. This was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth I in the charter
that she granted to the School in 1566. For part of the School's history it was known as Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Ipswich. The School's coat of arms and motto, Semper Eadem (Always the Same), are those of Elizabeth I. The Monarch of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the School's Visitor
.
During the reign of James I part of the Blackfriars Monastery was appropriated for use as a classroom, and the Blackfriars remained the School's home until 1842 when the building was deemed to be unsafe. For a few years teaching was carried on in temporary premises in Lower Brook Street. In 1851 Prince Albert laid the foundation stone for the School's first purpose-built premises in Henley Road, and by 1852 the new buildings were in use. The School has remained on the Henley Road site ever since.
More recently the School has moved away from the traditional full boarding ethos still held by similar schools such as Eton
and Harrow
. The number of boarding houses has reduced to one and the majority of students are day pupils. However, despite frowns from the full boarding traditionalists, the School has flourished under this new approach.
On 9 March 2009, Ian G. Galbraith announced his resignation which would be effective from July 2010. On 10 June 2009, Nicholas Weaver was announced as the new headmaster from September 2010.
The school's single large boarding house is called Westwood. Westwood is no longer a part of the school house system where students were organised into school houses depending on which boarding house they were in. For example Sherrington House occupied Highwood and, as previously mentioned, School House occupied part of the main Victorian building on Henley Road. A large percentage of the pupils who occupy Westwood today are overseas students, often Asian, nearly 80% are Chinese.
, hockey
and cricket
, to others such as indoor hockey, sailing
and Eton Fives
, being one of a handful of schools in the country to have Fives Courts. The School also offers a wide range of activities for the pupils to partake in including the Torino Debating Society, a Sub Aqua Club, Duke of Edinburgh Award and a Combined Cadet Force
of which the School has an Army
and Royal Air Force
section. The School has a flourishing music department. It provides several Orchestras, Ensembles
and Choirs. Many plays are put on to a very high standard every year, in either Great School or Little School.
match on the school ground was in 1859, when Suffolk played an All-England Eleven
. The ground hosted its first Minor Counties Championship match in 1935 when Suffolk played Hertfordshire
. To date the ground has hosted 33 Minor Counties Championship matches and 2 MCCA Knockout Trophy
matches.
The ground has also hosted a single List A match between Suffolk and Kent
in the 1966 Gillette Cup
.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, 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...
in the town of Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528.
Located north of the town centre, Ipswich School has four parts, located on three adjacent sites. The Pre-Prep and Nursery cater for pupils aged three to seven. It was established in 1883 with the aim of preparing children aged 7 to 11 for entry into the Senior School. The Senior School occupies the main school site. The school's main buildings are a distinctive example of Victorian architecture
Victorian 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...
, with Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
style brick. The main building and chapel are both Grade II listed. The school buildings surround a central playing field and cricket square along with the Cricket Pavilion. The remainder of the School's sport's fields are located at a nearby site on the edge of the town. Within the Senior School the students are divided into three, the Lower School (Years 7 and 8), the Middle School (Years 9-11) and the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13).
The School continues to flourish under an independent, fee-charging basis, and does exceptionally well in league tables and with university entrances, sending between 6 and 12 students to Oxford and Cambridge every year.
The School was designated as having a "Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
" Religious Character. The school has, however, not chosen to register as having a Religious Charter under the 2009 order.
History
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
of England, who was a pupil of the school. A merchant and Portman (Alderman) of Ipswich called Richard Felaw (a school house is named in his honour) bequeathed his house in what is now Foundation Street to the School, endowing it with lands so that children of needy parents could attend without paying fees. One of the first pupils to benefit from Felaw's endowment was Thomas Wolsey who never forgot that it was largely thanks to Felaw that he became what he became. In part to thank the school, Wolsey wanted to transform it into an institution that would compete with likes of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, recently founded by King Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
, and would become one of England's greatest educational institutions. Wolsey created his new college, funded by the suppression of religious houses such as Rumburgh Priory
Rumburgh Priory
Rumburgh Priory was a Benedictine priory in located in the village of Rumburgh in the English county of Suffolk. The priory was founded in about 1065 as a cell of St Benet's Abbey at Hulme in Norfolk. At the time of the Domesday survey it had 12 monks. The ownership of the priory was transferred to...
, by absorbing into the former school some of the institutions in the town such as St. Mary's College, and named it (The King's School, Ipswich). Since the time of Wolsey the school has gone from strength to strength as he hoped it would.
After Wolsey's downfall in 1530 Thomas Cromwell ensured the survival of the School by securing for it a new endowment from King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
and the status of a royal foundation. This was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth I in the charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
that she granted to the School in 1566. For part of the School's history it was known as Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Ipswich. The School's coat of arms and motto, Semper Eadem (Always the Same), are those of Elizabeth I. The Monarch of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the School's Visitor
Visitor
A Visitor, in United Kingdom law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous ecclesiastical or eleemosynary institution , who can intervene in the internal affairs of that institution...
.
During the reign of James I part of the Blackfriars Monastery was appropriated for use as a classroom, and the Blackfriars remained the School's home until 1842 when the building was deemed to be unsafe. For a few years teaching was carried on in temporary premises in Lower Brook Street. In 1851 Prince Albert laid the foundation stone for the School's first purpose-built premises in Henley Road, and by 1852 the new buildings were in use. The School has remained on the Henley Road site ever since.
More recently the School has moved away from the traditional full boarding ethos still held by similar schools such as Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. The number of boarding houses has reduced to one and the majority of students are day pupils. However, despite frowns from the full boarding traditionalists, the School has flourished under this new approach.
On 9 March 2009, Ian G. Galbraith announced his resignation which would be effective from July 2010. On 10 June 2009, Nicholas Weaver was announced as the new headmaster from September 2010.
Houses
The school now has six day houses - Holden, Rigaud, Sherrington, School, Broke and Felaw - into which all pupils are filtered from year 9/Upper 6th Form onwards, and a single large boarding house - Westwood. Those with relatives who attended the school are generally expected to be placed in the same house. There is a good deal of competition between the houses and every year, the houses compete for the Ganzoni Cup (house cup), which is won by gaining points from winning inter-house events. These include most sports as well as others such as debating and art. The final and most important event is Sports Day, in the Summer Term, on which the athletics competitions take place. Felaw has won more times than any other house, with Rigaud in second place; it is believed that School has not won since the days of the reign of Queen Victoria. However, School is the oldest house and dates from the days when the boys lived and were taught in one house (called School House). It later became the boarding house which occupied a part of the main building on Henley Road.| House | House Colours |
|---|---|
| Sherrington | Maroon/Yellow |
| Felaw | Brown/Blue |
| School | Navy/Yellow |
| Broke | Purple/Yellow |
| Holden | Scarlet/Yellow |
| Rigaud | Green/Yellow |
| Westwood | Grey/Black |
The school's single large boarding house is called Westwood. Westwood is no longer a part of the school house system where students were organised into school houses depending on which boarding house they were in. For example Sherrington House occupied Highwood and, as previously mentioned, School House occupied part of the main Victorian building on Henley Road. A large percentage of the pupils who occupy Westwood today are overseas students, often Asian, nearly 80% are Chinese.
Sports and activities
The School does very well in sports often reaching National Finals in competitions. The School offers a wide selection of sports ranging from the traditional rugbyRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, to others such as indoor hockey, sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and Eton Fives
Eton Fives
Eton Fives, one derivative of the British game of Fives, is a hand-ball game, similar to Rugby Fives, played as doubles in a three-sided court. The object is to force the other team to fail to hit the ball 'up' off the front wall, using any variety of wall or ledge combinations as long as the ball...
, being one of a handful of schools in the country to have Fives Courts. The School also offers a wide range of activities for the pupils to partake in including the Torino Debating Society, a Sub Aqua Club, Duke of Edinburgh Award and a Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
of which the School has an Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
section. The School has a flourishing music department. It provides several Orchestras, Ensembles
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
and Choirs. Many plays are put on to a very high standard every year, in either Great School or Little School.
Cricket Ground
The first recorded cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
match on the school ground was in 1859, when Suffolk played an All-England Eleven
All-England Eleven
In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team...
. The ground hosted its first Minor Counties Championship match in 1935 when Suffolk played Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Hertfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
. To date the ground has hosted 33 Minor Counties Championship matches and 2 MCCA Knockout Trophy
MCCA Knockout Trophy
The Minor Counties Cricket Association Knockout Cup was started in 1983 as a knockout one-day competition for the Minor Counties in English cricket...
matches.
The ground has also hosted a single List A match between Suffolk and Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in the 1966 Gillette Cup
1966 Gillette Cup
The 1966 Gillette Cup was the fourth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 28 April and 3 September 1966 . The tournament was won by Warwickshire County Cricket Club in the final at Lord's.-Format:...
.
School Publications
The three main publications are The Ipswichian which is the annual School magazine, The Cardinal which is a publication for Old Ipswichians and The Occasional. The Occasional is the school newspaper published every Monday and written by pupils, and edited by the Press Officer. It contains articles of note and interest to the members of the school such as sports results and upcoming events. It has recently celebrated its 600th issue and is now in full colour as of the start of the school year 2008.Literary and Media References
- Ipswich School is mentioned in Shakespeare's play, Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
:
'Those twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipswich and Oxford! One of which fell with him,
Unwilling to outlive the good that did it;
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous'
Headmasters
- 2010- Nicholas J. Weaver
- 1993-2010 Ian Galbraith
- 1972-1993 John Blatchly
- 1950-1972 Patrick Hassell Frederick MermagenPatrick MermagenPatrick Hassell Frederick Mermagen was a public school teacher and cricketer who played eight first-class matches for Somerset in 1930....
- 1894- Philip Edwin Raynor
- 1883-1894 Frederick Herbert Browne
- 1858-1883 Hubert Ashton HoldenHubert Ashton HoldenHubert Ashton Holden , English classical scholar, came of an old Staffordshire family. He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge...
- 1850-1858 Stephen Jordan RigaudStephen Jordan RigaudStephen Jordan Rigaud was an English clergyman and schoolmaster.He was appointed as the senior assistant master of Westminster School, and was put in charge of a boarding house from 1846 - 1850. The house in question is now known as Rigaud's...