Kingston Grammar School
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| Motto: BENE CONSUMERE AC LAETARI (Eat Well and be happy) | |
| Superintendent/Principal Administrator | Duncan Baxter |
| School type | Independent |
| Religious affiliation | None |
| Founded | 1561 |
| Location | Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom |
| Campus surroundings | URBAN |
Brief Description
Kingston Grammar School is an independent selective co-educational school in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. It has a strong academic record, with 2006 being one of the best years for GCSE results; 68.8% of all grades being A's or A*'s. Is particularly renowned as a first class sports school, offering Hockey and Rowing with consistently good competition results, although a wide range of skills are possessed by its pupils including Drama and other academic subjects. The Old Kingstonian hockey team is internationally famous. In 2004, Kingston celebrated the 25th anniversary of the introduction of co-education.
History
The school was granted a Royal Charter in 1561 by Elizabeth I which provided several endowments, including the Chapel of St Mary Magdalen and the various lands and buildings then attached to it. The Chapel had housed a school prior to its dissolution by Henry VIII as part of the general attack on Chantries, therefore historians have said that it is probable Elizabeth was doing no more than giving life to something which her father had brought to an untimely end. Though this is the last recorded event that can be reliably traced back, the history of the school extends to earlier times, possibly as early as 1309, the date of its Lovekyn Chapel, one of the few remaining Chantry chapels in England. It celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of its charter in 1961 with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. It is also second to Tiffin.
The school's history is traceable into the middle-ages, where there are references to schoolmasters lke 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". Other notable events in the school's history are the founding and endowing of the Chapel by John and then Edward Lovekyn in 1309-1352 and later by William Walworth in 1371. In 1926 the school accepted direct grant status but has long since reverted to full independence as a day school for boys and girls between the ages of ten and nineteen and is represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
Facilities
Kingston Grammar has an excellent array of facilities. There are three buildings, The Fairfield Building, The London Road Building and the recently opened Queen Elizabeth II Building. The Science, Modern Languages, History and Politics, Economics and Psychology departments are housed in the Fairfield Building. Geography, English, Religious Studies, Latin, Maths, Music and Drama departments are housed in the QEII Building. The London Road Building connects to the Finlay Gallery which has the D.T. and Art departments. The school also has acres of playing fields and a boathouse on the Thames opposite Hampton Court Palace.
Notable alumni
- James Cracknell — Olympic rowing gold medallist
- Neil Fox (better known as Dr. Fox), — Radio DJ
- Michael Frayn — playwright and novelist
- Edward Gibbon — author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, who did not stay long at the school
- R. C. Sherriff, — playwright, who donated a rowing "eight" (named "Journey's End" after one of his plays) to the school boat club in the 1960s
- Simon Fieldhouse — Great Britain rower, also know as "Munky"
- Jane Hall — Successful lightweight oarswoman, who has won numerous medals, including a gold at the Junior World Championships. She is currently racing in the double sculls with Helen Casey, having placed fifth at the World Championships at Dorney in August 2006.
- Queen Elizabeth II, — Monarch
External links