Kingston Grammar Schoolis aprivateco-educational day school inKingston upon Thames,England.The school was founded byroyal charterin 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century.[2]It is aregistered charityunder English law.[3]It was a boys' school from its foundation until 1978, when the first girls were admitted.
| Kingston Grammar School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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London Rd , KT2 6PY England | |
| Coordinates | 51°24′37″N0°17′47″W/ 51.4103°N 0.2965°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Privateday school Grammar school |
| Motto | Bene Agere ac Lætari ( "Work well and be happy" )[1] |
| Established | c. 12th century 1561 (royal chartergranted) |
| Local authority | Kingston upon Thames |
| Head Master | Stephen Lehec |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 837 (2018/19) |
| Houses | Lovekyn Queen's Stanley Taverner Walworth |
| Colour(s) | Red and Grey |
| Publication | The Kingstonian |
| Former pupils | Old Kingstonians |
| Website | www |
In 2018, theGCSEresults recorded 85% of grades were A*/A or 9–7, and at A-level 62.7% of all grades were A or A*.[4]In 2008, theGood Schools Guidedescribed the school as "An academic school with a modern edge".[5]
History
edit
The school's history is traceable into theMiddle Ages,where there are references to schoolmasters like Gilbert de Southwell in 1272, described as "Rector of the Schools in Kingston", and to Hugh de Kyngeston in 1364 "who presides over the Public School there". Notable in the school's history are the founding and endowing of the Lovekyn Chapel byJohnand then Edward Lovekyn in 1309–1352 and later byWilliam Walworthin 1371. The chapel is still used by the school.[6]
After the dissolution of the chantries in 1547, the chapel fell to theCrownand was deconsecrated. It, and by now its substantial related endowments, fell to a court favourite,Richard Taverner.He preserved the chapel so when in 1561 the bailiffs of Kingston petitionedQueen Elizabeth Ifor a royal grammar school, the building was still usable. The Queen granted the school aroyal charterin 1561.[2]
The school became adirect grant grammar schoolin 1946[7]as a result of theEducation Act 1944and became independent in 1978 after the scheme was abolished by the1974–79 Labour Government.[8]In the same year, the first girls were admitted.
KGS celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of its founding charter in 1961 with a visit fromQueen Elizabeth II.In 2005, she opened the new Queen Elizabeth II Building, where she unveiled a plaque, met with students of Music and Geography and watched an excerpt of the play "Smike" after which the new Recording Studio was named.
On 1 May 1965, the school opened its new playing fields at Thames Ditton, alongside which was built its boathouse, donated byR.C Sherriff.Prior to this it had sharedKingston Rowing Club'sboathouse, and had owned much smaller playing fields at Ditton Road, Kingston.[9]
Houses
editThere are fivehouses,named afterMedievalandElizabethanfigures connected with the school and the city of London, with the exception ofStanley Shoveller,an Old Kingstonian who played international hockey in the early 20th century.
| House | Named after | Symbol | Colour(s) | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lovekyn | Johnand Edward Lovekyn, benefactors | Eagle | 1914 | |
| Queen's | Queen Elizabeth I | Crown | 1914 | |
| Walworth | William Walworth,formerLord Mayor of London | Tiger | 1914 | |
| Taverner | Richard Taverner,Bible translator | Bear | 1921 | |
| Stanley | Stanley Shoveller,Old Kingstonian and Olympic hockey gold medalist | Stag | 2016 |
Extracurricular activities
editThe school has a sporting programme, with the main sports being football, netball, tennis, hockey, rowing and cricket.
Hockey, rowing and cricket are the school's performance sports with hockey and rowing having achieved successes at national level, including three national hockey titles in 2019.[citation needed]
The 'R.C. Sherriff' rowing boathouse is on the Thames atThames Ditton,Surrey.[11]Students may take up rowing beginning in Third Form (Year 9) and participate in local and national regattas, includingThe National Schools RegattaandHenley Royal Regatta.[12]
The school has produced professional and international athletes, most commonly in hockey and rowing but also more recently in football and cricket.
Notable former pupils
edit- Alexander McLean— activist, humanitarian, and lawyer, founder of Justice Defenders which seeks to improve the lives of people imprisoned in Africa.
- Christopher Bryan— international football player, Turks and Caicos
- Paul Butler—Bishop of Durham
- William Gilbert Chaloner— paleobiologist, Royal Holloway
- Richard Cheetham— Bishop of Kingston upon Thames
- James Cracknell— 2000 and 2004 Olympic rowing gold medallist, adventurer
- Philip Crosland— journalist
- Richard Dodds— International hockey player: Captain of the Great Britain Olympic 1988 gold medal hockey team
- Ian Dyson— Commissioner of the City of London Police
- Michael Edwards— poet & academic, first Briton elected to theAcadémie Française
- Brett Garrard— international hockey player
- Sarah Evans— international hockey player
- Neil Fox— DJ and television presenter
- Michael Frayn— playwright and novelist
- Edward Gibbon— author,The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
- Air MarshalSir Gerald Gibbs— RAF officer
- Tanya Gold—The Guardianjournalist
- Sophie Hosking— 2012 Olympic Rowing gold medallist
- Jonathan Kenworthy— sculptor
- Francis Maseres— lawyer, mathematician, Attorney-General of Quebec
- Leif Mills— author and former trade unionist
- Neil Mullarkey— actor, writer and comedian
- Jonathon Riley— Director General and Master of the Armouries
- R. C. Sherriff— playwright, who donated five rowingeights(named after his plays: "Journey's End", "White Carnation", "Home at Seven", "Long Sunset" and "Badger's Green" ) to the school boat club in the 1960s and 1970s
- John Spiers— entrepreneur
- Sir Denis Spotswood—Chief of the Air Staff,1971-1974
- Howard Stoate— formerly MP for Dartford
- Zachary Wallace— international hockey player
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Official translation as seen on the school website
- ^abHistoryArchived2016-03-13 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Kingston Grammar School, registered charity no. 1078461".Charity Commission for England and Wales.
- ^School website
- ^Good Schools GuideArchivedOctober 20, 2008, at theWayback Machine
- ^Lovekyn ChapelArchived2016-03-13 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Grammar Schools (Direct Grant Status)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. 31 May 1946. col. 234W–234W.
- ^"Direct Grant Schools".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons.22 March 1978. col. 545–545.
- ^Sport historyArchived2018-07-09 at theWayback MachineandWard, David; Evans, Gordon (2000).Chantry Chapel to Royal Grammar School, The History of Kingston Grammar School 1299-1999.Gresham Books. pp. 110, 185.
- ^HousesArchived2016-03-11 at theWayback Machine
- ^RowingArchived2016-03-13 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Kingston Grammar School BC".britishrowing.org.
Sources
edit- Ward, The Rev David; Evans, Gordon W. (2000).Chantry Chapel to Royal Grammar School: the History of Kingston Grammar School 1299–1999.Gresham Books.ISBN978-0946095360