The King's School, Worcester
Encyclopedia
The King's School, Worcester (also known as King's Worcester or KSW, archaically Worcester Cathedral Grammar School or Worcester Cathedral King's School) is an English independent school
refounded by Henry VIII
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
on the banks of the River Severn
in the centre of the city of Worcester
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
, Redditch
, Kidderminster
, and Pershore
.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
in Mid Wales
.
aug2006.jpg)
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
.
The monastery was dissolved
in 1540 at the behest of Henry VIII
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
in France and Magdeburg
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active Combined Cadet Force
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
The King's School, Worcester (also known as King's Worcester or KSW, archaically Worcester Cathedral Grammar School or Worcester Cathedral King's School) is an English independent school
refounded by Henry VIII
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
on the banks of the River Severn
in the centre of the city of Worcester
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
, Redditch
, Kidderminster
, and Pershore
.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
in Mid Wales
.
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
.
The monastery was dissolved
in 1540 at the behest of Henry VIII
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
in France and Magdeburg
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active Combined Cadet Force
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Year || Year Name || Notes
|-
| 7 || Lower Fourth (L4) ||
|-
| 8 || Upper Fourth (U4) ||
|-
| 9 || Lower Remove (LR) || The start of the house system.
|-
| 10 || Upper Remove (UR) || The start of the GCSE course.
|-
| 11 || Fifth Form (FF) || GCSE exams taken.
|-
| 12 || Lower Sixth (L6) || AS-level exams taken.
|-
| 13 || Upper Sixth (U6) || A2-level exams taken.
|}
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
The King's School, Worcester (also known as King's Worcester or KSW, archaically Worcester Cathedral Grammar School or Worcester Cathedral King's School) is an English independent school
refounded by Henry VIII
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
on the banks of the River Severn
in the centre of the city of Worcester
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
, Redditch
, Kidderminster
, and Pershore
.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
in Mid Wales
.
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
.
The monastery was dissolved
in 1540 at the behest of Henry VIII
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
in France and Magdeburg
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active Combined Cadet Force
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Year || Year Name || Notes
|-
| 7 || Lower Fourth (L4) ||
|-
| 8 || Upper Fourth (U4) ||
|-
| 9 || Lower Remove (LR) || The start of the house system.
|-
| 10 || Upper Remove (UR) || The start of the GCSE course.
|-
| 11 || Fifth Form (FF) || GCSE exams taken.
|-
| 12 || Lower Sixth (L6) || AS-level exams taken.
|-
| 13 || Upper Sixth (U6) || A2-level exams taken.
|}
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
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...
refounded by 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...
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
on the banks of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
in the centre of the city of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
, and Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
.
Campus
The King's Worcester group consists of three different schools. These are:- King's Hawford: (ages 2–11, c.320 pupils), formerly an autonomous fee-paying prep schoolPreparatory school (UK)In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
named Hawford Lodge, purchased by King's in 1992, situated 4 miles north of central Worcester. Hawford's Kindergarten department was deemed sufficiently impressive by OfstedOfstedThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
to receive no recommendations in the 2008 inspection. - King's St Alban's: (ages 4–11, c.215 pupils), formerly the Cathedral Choir School, amalgamated with King's in 1943, situated adjacent to the senior school. St Alban's includes a pre-prep department for ages 4–7, opened September 2009.
- King's Worcester: (ages 11–18, c.930 pupils), the senior school.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
Crickhowell
Crickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.-Location:The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
in Mid Wales
Mid Wales
Mid Wales is the name given to the central region of Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the National Assembly for Wales covered the counties of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionydd. A similar definition is used by the BBC...
.
History
King's has its roots in the varied forms of tuition offered by the monks at Worcester monastery. Saint OswaldOswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli was a medieval Bishop of Worcester, the second of three Italian absentees to hold the see before the Reformation.He was nominated on 24 December 1498 and consecrated about 6 April 1499. He died on 16 April 1521.-References:...
.
The monastery was dissolved
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1540 at the behest of 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...
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Sir Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich , was Lord Chancellor during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He was the founder of Felsted School with its associated alms houses in Essex in 1564....
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
Curriculum
King's follows the GCSE and A-level curricula. In 2010, 77.7% of A-levels taken were graded A* to B; 68.6% of all GCSEs were graded A* or A. In the junior schools and up to pre-GCSE level, the school follows the national curriculum, but SATsNational Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
Cambridge Latin Course
The Cambridge Latin Course is a series of textbooks published by Cambridge University Press, used to teach Latin to secondary school students. First published in 1970, the series is now in its fifth edition, and has sold over 3.5 million copies...
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center....
in France and Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
Activities
The school has an established commitment to the arts; it maintains a regular artist-in-residence and actor-in-residence. Art, drama and dance are offered as curricular as well extra-curricular activities, and the school provides one-to-one LAMDA tuition. The school has several performance venues, including College Hall and the John Moore Theatre. Art exhibitions, plays, musicals, dance showcases and other performances are staged across the age range. Partly due to its links with the cathedral the school has a musical tradition. It has regularly produced OxbridgeOxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active 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,...
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
Year classification system
The school uses its own class nomenclature. In the main section of the school (ages 11–18), the classification runs as follows:| Year | Year Name | Notes |
| 7 | Lower Fourth (L4) | |
| 8 | Upper Fourth (U4) | |
| 9 | Lower Remove (LR) | The start of the house system. |
| 10 | Upper Remove (UR) | The start of the GCSE course. |
| 11 | Fifth Form (FF) | GCSE exams taken. |
| 12 | Lower Sixth (L6) | AS-level exams taken. |
| 13 | Upper Sixth (U6) | A2-level exams taken. |
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
- Lower First (year 3)
- Upper First (year 4)
- Second Year (year 5)
- Third Year (year 6)
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
Houses
During the two years of the 'Fourth Form', pupils are assigned to forms. Their form tutor is responsible for their pastoral care, and they are taught in form groups (apart from for Mathematics, which is taught in streamed sets). Upon reaching the 'Lower Remove', pupils are assigned to one of the following houses (listed with their respective colours):{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
The King's School, Worcester (also known as King's Worcester or KSW, archaically Worcester Cathedral Grammar School or Worcester Cathedral King's School) is an English independent school
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...
refounded by 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...
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
on the banks of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
in the centre of the city of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
, and Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
.
Campus
The King's Worcester group consists of three different schools. These are:- King's Hawford: (ages 2–11, c.320 pupils), formerly an autonomous fee-paying prep schoolPreparatory school (UK)In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
named Hawford Lodge, purchased by King's in 1992, situated 4 miles north of central Worcester. Hawford's Kindergarten department was deemed sufficiently impressive by OfstedOfstedThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
to receive no recommendations in the 2008 inspection. - King's St Alban's: (ages 4–11, c.215 pupils), formerly the Cathedral Choir School, amalgamated with King's in 1943, situated adjacent to the senior school. St Alban's includes a pre-prep department for ages 4–7, opened September 2009.
- King's Worcester: (ages 11–18, c.930 pupils), the senior school.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
Crickhowell
Crickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.-Location:The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
in Mid Wales
Mid Wales
Mid Wales is the name given to the central region of Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the National Assembly for Wales covered the counties of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionydd. A similar definition is used by the BBC...
.
History
King's has its roots in the varied forms of tuition offered by the monks at Worcester monastery. Saint OswaldOswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli was a medieval Bishop of Worcester, the second of three Italian absentees to hold the see before the Reformation.He was nominated on 24 December 1498 and consecrated about 6 April 1499. He died on 16 April 1521.-References:...
.
The monastery was dissolved
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1540 at the behest of 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...
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Sir Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich , was Lord Chancellor during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He was the founder of Felsted School with its associated alms houses in Essex in 1564....
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
Curriculum
King's follows the GCSE and A-level curricula. In 2010, 77.7% of A-levels taken were graded A* to B; 68.6% of all GCSEs were graded A* or A. In the junior schools and up to pre-GCSE level, the school follows the national curriculum, but SATsNational Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
Cambridge Latin Course
The Cambridge Latin Course is a series of textbooks published by Cambridge University Press, used to teach Latin to secondary school students. First published in 1970, the series is now in its fifth edition, and has sold over 3.5 million copies...
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center....
in France and Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
Activities
The school has an established commitment to the arts; it maintains a regular artist-in-residence and actor-in-residence. Art, drama and dance are offered as curricular as well extra-curricular activities, and the school provides one-to-one LAMDA tuition. The school has several performance venues, including College Hall and the John Moore Theatre. Art exhibitions, plays, musicals, dance showcases and other performances are staged across the age range. Partly due to its links with the cathedral the school has a musical tradition. It has regularly produced OxbridgeOxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active 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,...
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
Year classification system
The school uses its own class nomenclature. In the main section of the school (ages 11–18), the classification runs as follows:{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Year || Year Name || Notes
|-
| 7 || Lower Fourth (L4) ||
|-
| 8 || Upper Fourth (U4) ||
|-
| 9 || Lower Remove (LR) || The start of the house system.
|-
| 10 || Upper Remove (UR) || The start of the GCSE course.
|-
| 11 || Fifth Form (FF) || GCSE exams taken.
|-
| 12 || Lower Sixth (L6) || AS-level exams taken.
|-
| 13 || Upper Sixth (U6) || A2-level exams taken.
|}
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
- Lower First (year 3)
- Upper First (year 4)
- Second Year (year 5)
- Third Year (year 6)
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
Houses
During the two years of the 'Fourth Form', pupils are assigned to forms. Their form tutor is responsible for their pastoral care, and they are taught in form groups (apart from for Mathematics, which is taught in streamed sets). Upon reaching the 'Lower Remove', pupils are assigned to one of the following houses (listed with their respective colours):{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
The King's School, Worcester (also known as King's Worcester or KSW, archaically Worcester Cathedral Grammar School or Worcester Cathedral King's School) is an English independent school
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...
refounded by 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...
in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
on the banks of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
in the centre of the city of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. It offers mixed-sex mainstream education that follows the UK National Curriculum to around 1,465 students aged 2 to 18. At age 11, approximately two thirds of pupils join the senior school from its two primary schools, while others come from maintained schools in the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas that include Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
, and Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
.
Campus
The King's Worcester group consists of three different schools. These are:- King's Hawford: (ages 2–11, c.320 pupils), formerly an autonomous fee-paying prep schoolPreparatory school (UK)In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
named Hawford Lodge, purchased by King's in 1992, situated 4 miles north of central Worcester. Hawford's Kindergarten department was deemed sufficiently impressive by OfstedOfstedThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
to receive no recommendations in the 2008 inspection. - King's St Alban's: (ages 4–11, c.215 pupils), formerly the Cathedral Choir School, amalgamated with King's in 1943, situated adjacent to the senior school. St Alban's includes a pre-prep department for ages 4–7, opened September 2009.
- King's Worcester: (ages 11–18, c.930 pupils), the senior school.
The senior school is situated on Worcester's College Green, a space between Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
and the east bank of the River Severn. Many of the school's buildings on the Green are leased from the cathedral, including College Hall (formerly the monastic refectory, for many years the school's only teaching hall, and currently an assembly hall) and Edgar Tower, the medieval gatehouse to College Green, which for many years housed the school library. The school and the cathedral maintain a close relationship, with the school providing cathedral choristers and enjoying the use of the cathedral for major services. The most senior members of school staff, the cathedral choristers, and the school's King's and Queen's Scholars
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
are ex officio members of the cathedral foundation, while the school is required by statute to have the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
represented on its governing body.
The school owns extensive land next to New Road cricket ground across the river, used as sports pitches and fields. The school also owns an outward bound centre, the Old Chapel near Crickhowell
Crickhowell
Crickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.-Location:The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
in Mid Wales
Mid Wales
Mid Wales is the name given to the central region of Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the National Assembly for Wales covered the counties of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionydd. A similar definition is used by the BBC...
.
History
King's has its roots in the varied forms of tuition offered by the monks at Worcester monastery. Saint OswaldOswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
bound the monastery under the Benedictine Rule in the tenth century, with novices being kept according to the Rule; a century later Saint Wulstan, the Bishop responsible for the building of the Norman cathedral, was recorded as Magister et Custos Infantium (Master and Keeper of the Children) according to Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
, and Puerorum Custos (Keeper of the Boys) according to William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
. Although the novices studied religion at the monastery, grammar and Latin would have been learnt at the city school, now regarded as a precursor to the Royal Grammar School. Hugh Cratford, for example, was the monastic Magister Scholarum, before he was transferred to the city school in 1504 by order of Bishop Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli
Silvestro de' Gigli was a medieval Bishop of Worcester, the second of three Italian absentees to hold the see before the Reformation.He was nominated on 24 December 1498 and consecrated about 6 April 1499. He died on 16 April 1521.-References:...
.
The monastery was dissolved
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1540 at the behest of 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...
, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral. Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars. The school was one of seven "King's Schools" established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution. On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Sir Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich , was Lord Chancellor during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He was the founder of Felsted School with its associated alms houses in Essex in 1564....
. One early headmaster, Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
is mentioned in Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
’s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.
The school was managed by the cathedral Dean and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
until 1884, when Headmaster W.E. Bolland's New Scheme introduced governance by a separate Governing Body, on which the Chapter nonetheless retained a majority. From its inception until the construction of School House in 1888, all teaching was conducted in College Hall, the former monastic refectory.
The school first admitted girls to the sixth form in 1971, becoming fully co-educational in 1991. Having accommodated boarders since its inception, the school ended boarding in 1999.
Curriculum
King's follows the GCSE and A-level curricula. In 2010, 77.7% of A-levels taken were graded A* to B; 68.6% of all GCSEs were graded A* or A. In the junior schools and up to pre-GCSE level, the school follows the national curriculum, but SATsNational Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
are not taken. The 11+ entrance exam for the senior school is internally set.
A modern foreign language is compulsory up to GCSE. In the junior schools, French is taught. Upon entrance to the senior school, a language carousel operates during the Lower Fourth: pupils try each of French, German and Spanish for one term, before choosing one language to continue during Upper Fourth and Lower Remove. A second modern language is generally studied during the Lower Remove, and either language (or both) may be continued to GCSE. Latin (or Classical Civilisation during the Lower Remove) is also compulsory during the first three years of senior school (the school follows the Cambridge Latin Course
Cambridge Latin Course
The Cambridge Latin Course is a series of textbooks published by Cambridge University Press, used to teach Latin to secondary school students. First published in 1970, the series is now in its fifth edition, and has sold over 3.5 million copies...
). The School maintains exchange links with Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center....
in France and Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
in Germany.
Pupils start the GCSE course proper in the Upper Remove, and (usually) sit GCSE exams at the end of the Fifth Form. It is customary for pupils to take ten GCSEs, though a few take eleven. Seven core subjects are compulsory: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language, and the three sciences, which may be studied as 'separate sciences' awarding three GCSEs or as a 'dual award' awarding two GCSEs. The remaining three (or four) GCSEs may be chosen from a range of optional subjects, including a second modern foreign language, Latin or Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Reigious Studies, Music or Drama.
In the Lower Sixth Form, pupils usually choose four AS-level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
subjects; at the end of the year they may drop one subject or continue all four subjects to A2-level. All GCSE subjects are available at A-level, as well as exclusive sixth-form subjects including Economics, Business Studies, Further Mathematics and Sports Science. English may be taken as English Language, English Literature or English Lang & Lit; in Chemistry, students may follow either the London or the Salters syllabus; in accordance with the OCR syllabus, Mathematics students choose between statistics and mechanics courses, though fast-streamed Mathematics sets and Double Mathematicians take modules in both. Critical Thinking, taught in extra-curricular time, is offered at A-level, and at sixth form level a non-examined course in 'Key Skills' is compulsory.
Activities
The school has an established commitment to the arts; it maintains a regular artist-in-residence and actor-in-residence. Art, drama and dance are offered as curricular as well extra-curricular activities, and the school provides one-to-one LAMDA tuition. The school has several performance venues, including College Hall and the John Moore Theatre. Art exhibitions, plays, musicals, dance showcases and other performances are staged across the age range. Partly due to its links with the cathedral the school has a musical tradition. It has regularly produced OxbridgeOxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
organ and choral scholars. Many students learn to play instruments and in addition to numerous orchestras and music groups, the pupil-organised Keys Society, with its own choir, stages regular concerts. The school undertakes biennial music tours abroad.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, and football are among the main sports played at the school, and a wide range of sports are offered to pupils of all ages as curricular and extra-curricular activities. The school has achieved success at rowing, and maintains a boathouse on the River Severn. The school also has an indoor swimming pool on the senior school campus and an outdoor pool at Hawford. Several sports undertake regular tours abroad. Many pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme; the school has an active 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,...
with army and RAF sections.
The school produces three student-authored publications: Stepping Fourth (for the Fourth Forms, years 7–8), The Removes' Gazette (for the Removes, years 9–10), and Term Time a Sixth Form magazine, first published in summer 2010, as a replacement for the defunct King's Herald newspaper. The King's Herald, an annual newspaper written, compiled and formatted in a single day and submitted to a national competition which it has won three times. The school also runs a creative writing club and annual competition, and regular Sixth-Form Soundbites evenings devoted to literature, music and wine. The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests.
Other school societies include the School Archive, Astronomy, Chess, Christian Union, Robotics and Science Club.
Year classification system
The school uses its own class nomenclature. In the main section of the school (ages 11–18), the classification runs as follows:{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Year || Year Name || Notes
|-
| 7 || Lower Fourth (L4) ||
|-
| 8 || Upper Fourth (U4) ||
|-
| 9 || Lower Remove (LR) || The start of the house system.
|-
| 10 || Upper Remove (UR) || The start of the GCSE course.
|-
| 11 || Fifth Form (FF) || GCSE exams taken.
|-
| 12 || Lower Sixth (L6) || AS-level exams taken.
|-
| 13 || Upper Sixth (U6) || A2-level exams taken.
|}
This used to be accompanied by the following year classifications at King's St Alban's, although these have since been dropped in favour of the standard system.
- Lower First (year 3)
- Upper First (year 4)
- Second Year (year 5)
- Third Year (year 6)
King's Hawford, however, has always used the standard system due to the fact that its inclusion into the King's School 'chain' has been very recent.
Houses
During the two years of the 'Fourth Form', pupils are assigned to forms. Their form tutor is responsible for their pastoral care, and they are taught in form groups (apart from for Mathematics, which is taught in streamed sets). Upon reaching the 'Lower Remove', pupils are assigned to one of the following houses (listed with their respective colours):{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Bright
(Br) || Orange || Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
,
Headmaster 1589–1627 || Day, 1961–
|-
| Chappel
(Cl) || Yellow || W.H. Chappel,
Headmaster 1896–1919 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Choir
(Ch) || Dark Blue (double white stripe for ties) || Choir House building
(Worcester Cathedral Choir) || Boarding, 1948–1995;
Day, 1995–
|-
| Creighton
(Cr) || Pink || Cuthbert Creighton,
Headmaster 1919–36 & 1940–42 || Day, 1936–
|-
| Kittermaster
(K) || Light Blue & Yellow
|| F.R. Kittermaster,
Headmaster 1942–1959 || Day, 1984–
|-
| Oswald
(Os) || Red & White
Headmaster 1942–1959 || Day, 1984–
|-
| Oswald
(Os) || Red & White
|| Saint Oswald
,
Bishop of Worcester 961–992 || Day, 1984–
|-
| School
(S) || Light Blue || School House building || Boarding, 1888–1991;
Day, 1991–
|-
| Wulstan
(W) || Purple || Saint Wulstan,
Bishop of Worcester 1062–1095 || Day, 1961–
|-
! colspan=4 | Discontinued Houses
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Castle
(Ca) || Red || Castle House building
(Worcester Castle
) || Boarding, 1902–1997
|-
| Hostel
(H) || Green || The Hostel building || Boarding, 1903–1999
|}
House ties consist of a navy blue background with diagonal house colour stripes. House ties are worn by pupils from the beginning of the Lower Remove to the end of the Fifth Form. As school uniform is not worn by sixth-form students, who follow an office attire dress code, they do not wear these ties; they may however wear ties that signify colours, monitorship, or headship of house.
Castle, Choir, Hostel and School Houses, all former boarding houses, are named for the buildings which originally housed them. As boarding diminished during the 1990s, these houses either converted to day houses (School and Choir), or were discontinued (Castle and Hostel). Confusingly, due to post-boarding reshuffles houses generally no longer inhabit the building they are named for: Choir House is in Castle House building, Castle and Hostel Houses have been discontinued, and School House shares School House building with Chappel, Oswald and Wulstan Houses. Bright, Crieghton and Kittermaster Houses are in Choir House building. The remaining houses, which originated as day-boys' houses, are named for former school headmasters (Saint Oswald
and Saint Wulstan, both Bishops of Worcester, being regarded as "headmasters" of the former monastic school).
Pupils register in houses and house staff are responsible for their pastoral care, but they are not taught in houses. The houses compete in events on sports day and in other sports and disciplines, and in the annual 'House Song Competition'.
The two King's junior schools each operate their own house systems. These are neither pastoral nor academic: pupils are merely assigned to houses for the purposes of inter-house competitions. The St Alban's houses are Armstrong, Bailey, Thomas and Wilson. Since restructuring in 2007 the Hawford houses are Bredon, Clent, Kinver and Malvern.
OV. There is some dispute as to whether the monastic school attached to the monastery at Worcester until its dissolution
in 1540 was a precursor to King's or to the Royal Grammar School. For this reason, both schools claim alumni of the monastic school such as lawyer Thomas de Littleton
and statesman Reginald Bray
as their own alumni. To avoid resultant controversy, only those who attended King's from its refoundation in 1541 onwards are listed below:
Historic Old Vigornians include:
Notable OVs from the 20th and 21st centuries include:
is always a well-attended and lively event.
Oswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
,
Bishop of Worcester 961–992 || Day, 1984–
|-
| School
(S) || Light Blue || School House building || Boarding, 1888–1991;
Day, 1991–
|-
| Wulstan
(W) || Purple || Saint Wulstan,
Bishop of Worcester 1062–1095 || Day, 1961–
|-
! colspan=4 | Discontinued Houses
|-
! House !! House Colours !! Eponym !! Type & Timespan
|-
| Castle
(Ca) || Red || Castle House building
(Worcester Castle
Worcester Castle
Worcester Castle was a Norman fortification built between 1068 and 1069 in Worcester, England by Urse d'Abetot on behalf of William the Conqueror. The castle had a motte-and-bailey design and was located on the south side of the old Anglo-Saxon city, cutting into the grounds of Worcester Cathedral...
) || Boarding, 1902–1997
|-
| Hostel
(H) || Green || The Hostel building || Boarding, 1903–1999
|}
House ties consist of a navy blue background with diagonal house colour stripes. House ties are worn by pupils from the beginning of the Lower Remove to the end of the Fifth Form. As school uniform is not worn by sixth-form students, who follow an office attire dress code, they do not wear these ties; they may however wear ties that signify colours, monitorship, or headship of house.
Castle, Choir, Hostel and School Houses, all former boarding houses, are named for the buildings which originally housed them. As boarding diminished during the 1990s, these houses either converted to day houses (School and Choir), or were discontinued (Castle and Hostel). Confusingly, due to post-boarding reshuffles houses generally no longer inhabit the building they are named for: Choir House is in Castle House building, Castle and Hostel Houses have been discontinued, and School House shares School House building with Chappel, Oswald and Wulstan Houses. Bright, Crieghton and Kittermaster Houses are in Choir House building. The remaining houses, which originated as day-boys' houses, are named for former school headmasters (Saint Oswald
Oswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
and Saint Wulstan, both Bishops of Worcester, being regarded as "headmasters" of the former monastic school).
Pupils register in houses and house staff are responsible for their pastoral care, but they are not taught in houses. The houses compete in events on sports day and in other sports and disciplines, and in the annual 'House Song Competition'.
The two King's junior schools each operate their own house systems. These are neither pastoral nor academic: pupils are merely assigned to houses for the purposes of inter-house competitions. The St Alban's houses are Armstrong, Bailey, Thomas and Wilson. Since restructuring in 2007 the Hawford houses are Bredon, Clent, Kinver and Malvern.
Old Vigornians
All former students are considered to be an Old Vigornian, and can use the post-nominal lettersPost-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
OV. There is some dispute as to whether the monastic school attached to the monastery at Worcester until its dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1540 was a precursor to King's or to the Royal Grammar School. For this reason, both schools claim alumni of the monastic school such as lawyer Thomas de Littleton
Thomas de Littleton
Sir Thomas de Littleton was an English judge and legal writer.-Early life:He was born, it is supposed, at Frankley Manor House, Worcestershire, England in about 1407. Littleton’s surname was that of his mother, who was the sole daughter and heiress of Thomas de Littleton, Lord of Frankley. She...
and statesman Reginald Bray
Reginald Bray
Sir Reginald Bray KG the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under Henry VII, English courtier, and architect of the Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey.-Early life:...
as their own alumni. To avoid resultant controversy, only those who attended King's from its refoundation in 1541 onwards are listed below:
Historic Old Vigornians include:
- Edward KelleyEdward KelleySir Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot was an ambiguous figure in English Renaissance occultism and self-declared spirit medium who worked with John Dee in his magical investigations...
– Alchemist and spirit medium. - Edward WinslowEdward WinslowEdward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
– Pilgrim father and governor of Plymouth ColonyPlymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. - Sir John VaughanJohn Vaughan (judge)Sir John Vaughan SL , of Trawsgoed, was a British justice.-Life:He was born in Ceredigion, Wales, the eldest of eight children of Edward Vaughan and his wife Letitia Stedman of Strata Florida, and was educated initially at The King's School, Worcester between 1613 and 1618, when he was admitted to...
– Judge and statesman. - Thomas GoodThomas GoodThomas Good was an English academic and clergyman, and Master of Balliol College, Oxford. He is known as a moderate in and orthodox apologist for the Church of England, engaging with Richard Baxter and urging him to clarify a 'middle way'.-Life:Originally from the Tenbury Wells area of...
– Master of Balliol College, OxfordBalliol 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.... - Thomas HallThomas Hall (minister)-Life:He was son of Richard Hall, clothier, by his wife Elizabeth , and was born in St. Andrew's parish, Worcester, about 22 July 1610. He was educated at the King's School, Worcester, under Henry Bright , one of the most celebrated schoolmasters of the day. In 1624 he entered Balliol College,...
– Presbyterian minister, religious radical during the Civil Wars and Commonwealth. - Samuel ButlerSamuel Butler (poet)Samuel Butler was a poet and satirist. Born in Strensham, Worcestershire and baptised 14 February 1613, he is remembered now chiefly for a long satirical burlesque poem on Puritanism entitled Hudibras.-Biography:...
– Poet and satirist. - John SomersJohn Somers, 1st Baron SomersJohn Somers, 1st Baron Somers, PC, FRS was an English Whig jurist and statesman. Somers first came to national attention in the trial of the Seven Bishops where he was on the their defence counsel. He published tracts on political topics such as the succession to the crown, where he elaborated his...
– Lord High Chancellor. - Dr John WallJohn Wall (physician)John Wall , was an English physician, one of the founders of the Worcester Royal Infirmary and the Royal Worcester porcelain works. He was also involved in the development of Malvern as a spa town.-Early life:...
– Physician and founder of the Royal WorcesterRoyal WorcesterRoyal Worcester is believed to be the oldest remaining English pottery brand still in existence today.-Overview:Royal Worcester is a British brand known for its history, provenance and classically English collections of porcelain...
porcelain company. - Samuel FooteSamuel FooteSamuel Foote was a British dramatist, actor and theatre manager from Cornwall.-Early life:Born into a well-to-do family, Foote was baptized in Truro, Cornwall on 27 January 1720. His father, John Foote, held several public positions, including mayor of Truro, Member of Parliament representing...
– Actor. - Dr Treadway Russell NashTreadway Russell NashTreadway Russell Nash was English clergyman, now known as an early historian of Worcestershire, and the author of Collections for the History of Worcestershire, an important source document for Worcestershire county histories. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London...
– Worcestershire antiquarian and historian.
Notable OVs from the 20th and 21st centuries include:
- Sir Philip Strong – Archbishop of Brisbane.
- Sir Jack LonglandJack LonglandSir John Laurence "Jack" Longland was an educator, mountain climber, and broadcaster.He was educated at the King's School, Worcester, and Jesus College, Cambridge. He lectured in English at Durham University from 1930 to 1936. He then served as Director of Education for Derbyshire for 23 years,...
– Everest pioneer and educator. - Tim DinsdaleTim DinsdaleTimothy Dinsdale, ARAeS was famous as a seeker of the Loch Ness Monster. He attended King’s School, Worcester, served in the Royal Air Force and worked as an aeronautical engineer. He was survived by his wife, Wendy Dinsdale and four children.Tim believed Nessie was real, and he was eager to...
– Loch Ness MonsterLoch Ness MonsterThe Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
hunter. - Lord WolfsonLeonard Wolfson, Baron WolfsonSir Leonard Gordon Wolfson, 1st Baron Wolfson, 2nd Bt FRS was a British businessman, the former Chairman of GUS, and son of GUS magnate Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet. He was Chairman of the Wolfson Foundation...
– Businessman and philanthropist. - Clifford RoseClifford RoseClifford Rose is a British classical actor.He was born in Herefordshire. He was educated at the King's School, Worcester and King's College London, before appearing in rep and with the Royal Shakespeare Company....
– British classical actor. - Clive EvertonClive EvertonClive Everton , is a Welsh veteran BBC snooker commentator, journalist and author. He began his BBC career on the radio, but has been commentating on the television from the 1978 World Championship through to the present...
– BBC snooker commentator, journalist and author. - Jonathan RabanJonathan RabanJonathan Raban is a British travel writer and novelist. He has received several awards, such as the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Award, the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, the PEN West Creative Nonfiction Award, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers...
– Writer. - Derek BellDerek Bell (auto racer)Derek Reginald Bell MBE is a former racing driver from England who was extremely successful in sportscar racing, winning five times at Le Mans. He also raced in Formula One for the Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams...
– Racing driver. - Sir Geoffrey MulcahyGeoffrey MulcahySir Geoffrey John Mulcahy is a leading British businessman who led Kingfisher plc, the FTSE 100 Index company.-Career:Born in Sunderland and educated at The King's School, Worcester, Manchester University and Harvard University , Geoffrey Mulcahy started at Esso before moving to British Sugar and...
– Businessman, Chief Executive of Kingfisher plcKingfisher plcKingfisher plc is a multinational retailing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest home improvement retailer in Europe and the third-largest in the world...
. - Lord GardenTimothy Garden, Baron GardenAir Marshal Timothy Garden, Baron Garden, KCB, FRAeS, FRUSI, FCGI was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force and later became a university professor and a Liberal Democrat politician....
– RAF Air Marshal and defence advisor. - Jeremy ThompsonJeremy ThompsonJeremy Gordon Thompson is a presenter on Sky News, regularly presenting Live at Five weeknights at 5pm.-Broadcasting career:Thompson was educated at King's School Worcester and was a contemporary of Chris Tarrant. Thompson is frequently Sky News' leading anchor on major stories, often presenting...
– Newscaster and presenter on Sky News, regularly presenting Live at Five weeknights at 5pm. - Chris TarrantChris TarrantChristopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris...
– TV and Radio Broadcaster, most well known for hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK game show)Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a British television quiz show which offers a maximum cash prize of one million pounds for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty... - Nicholas CleoburyNicholas CleoburyNicholas Cleobury is an English conductor.He was organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, conductor of Schola Cantorum of Oxford and held assistant organist posts at Chichester Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford before turning to orchestral and operatic work...
– Musician, conductor of the Britten SinfoniaBritten SinfoniaBritten Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra ensemble based in Cambridge, UK. It was created in 1992, following an initiative from Eastern Arts and a number of key figures including Nicholas Cleobury, who recognised the need for an orchestra in the East of England. It is a flexible ensemble composed of...
. - Stephen CleoburyStephen CleoburyStephen Cleobury CBE is an English organist and conductor. He was organ scholar at St John's College, Cambridge and sub-organist of Westminster Abbey before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in 1979...
– Musician, director of music at King's College, CambridgeKing's College, CambridgeKing's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. - Stephen DarlingtonStephen DarlingtonStephen Darlington is a British choral director and conductor, and president of the Royal College of Organists from 1999-2001.During the early 1970s Darlington was organ scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, studying under Simon Preston...
– Musician, director of music at Christ Church, OxfordChrist Church, OxfordChrist Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. - Mark Webster – Journalist and broadcaster who has presented many of five's late night sports shows.
- Alistair Magowan – Bishop of LudlowBishop of LudlowThe Bishop of Ludlow is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford, which is within the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the market town of Ludlow in Shropshire....
. - Jonathan DarlingtonJonathan DarlingtonJonathan Darlington is a British conductor and the Music Director of the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Vancouver Opera...
– British conductor and the Music Director of the Duisburg Philharmonic OrchestraDuisburg Philharmonic OrchestraThe Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra is a German orchestra based in Duisburg. The orchestra was founded in 1877.Conductors include:* Walter Josephson * Paul Scheinpflug...
and Vancouver OperaVancouver OperaVancouver Opera is the second largest performing arts organization in British Columbia and the largest opera company in western Canada.It performs in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre accompanied currently by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, one of two specialized opera orchestras in Canada...
. - Rik MayallRik MayallRichard Michael "Rik" Mayall is an English comedian, writer, and actor. He is known for his comedy partnership with Ade Edmondson, his over-the-top, energetic portrayal of characters, and as a pioneer of alternative comedy in the early 1980s...
– English actor, writer and comedian, known for his comedy partnership with Adrian EdmondsonAdrian EdmondsonAdrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
. - Richard Bacon MPRichard Bacon (politician)Richard Michael Bacon is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for the South Norfolk constituency.-Early life:...
– Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician, MP for South Norfolk. - Jonathan NottJonathan NottJonathan Nott is an English conductor, the son of a priest at Worcester Cathedral. He was a music student and choral scholar at the University of Cambridge, and also studied singing and flute in Manchester at the Royal Northern College of Music. Nott was also a conducting student in London...
– Musician and conductor. - Jonathan DowJonathan DowJonathan Dow is a British actor. He joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of 14, and after finishing his A levels he trained at the Guildhall Drama School. His first big television role was as Under Secretary Tim in No Job for a Lady with Penelope Keith.He has also appeared as P.C....
– British actor. Played the roles of Under Secretary Tim in No Job for a LadyNo Job for a LadyNo Job for a Lady is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1990 to 1992. Starring Penelope Keith, it was written by Alex Shearer, and directed and produced by John Howard Davies...
, P.C. Stringer in The BillThe BillThe Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
and Dr. James Mortimer in Cardiac ArrestCardiac Arrest (TV series)Cardiac Arrest is a British medical drama series made by World Productions for BBC One and first broadcast between 1994 and 1996. The series was controversial due to its depiction of doctors, nurses, and the National Health Service.-Creation:...
. - Ashley FoxAshley FoxAshley Fox is a British solicitor and politician who is currently a Member of the European Parliament, representing South West England for the Conservative Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists political group....
– Conservative Party politician, MEPMember of the European ParliamentA Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the South West of England. - Luke NarrawayLuke NarrawayLuke Narraway is a rugby union footballer who plays for Gloucester Rugby.-Club career:Narraway joined Gloucester Rugby from The King's School, Worcester after 4 years at The Chantry High School, Worcestershire...
– Rugby unionRugby unionRugby 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...
footballer who plays for Gloucester Rugby. - Zac PurchaseZac PurchaseZachary Jake Nicholas 'Zac' Purchase MBE is an English rower.Born in Cheltenham, Purchase started rowing in 1999 at the King's School, Worcester. He competed at the Junior World Rowing Championships in 2003 and 2004...
– Rower, Olympic gold medallist.
Rivalry
The school has had a long and sustained rivalry with Worcester's only other co-educational private school, the Royal Grammar School, which merged with The Alice Ottley School in September 2007. Matches between the schools are keenly contested over a range of sports; the annual rugby match between King's and the RGS at the Sixways StadiumSixways Stadium
Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Worcester Rugby Football Club. The stadium is able to hold 12,068. It opened in 1975 and is located off junction 6 of the M5 motorway, hence the name Sixways.An...
is always a well-attended and lively event.
Further reading
Roslington, Caroline The King's School, Worcester, and a History of its Site Worcester, The King's SchoolExternal links
