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King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

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King Edward VI Grammar School
Address
Map
Broomfield Road

Chelmsford
,
Essex
,
CM1 3SX

England England
Information
Typefoundation grammar
MottoQuicquid agas sapiens age fortiter ex animoque ('Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might', Ecc 9:10)
Established1551
FounderEdward VI
Local authorityEssex County Council
SpecialistScience
OfstedReports
Head teacherDr Michael Walker
GenderMostly Male; Mixed in VI Form
Age11 to 18
Enrollment857
HousesHolland ; Mildmay ; Strutt ; Tindal 
Former pupilsOld Chelmsfordians
Websitehttp://www.kegs.org.uk/

King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford. It takes pupils from the aged 11–18 — from Year 7 to 11 the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form (Years 12 and 13).

The present headmaster is Dr Mike Walker, who succeeded Anthony Tuckwell in 1999, having previously taught history at the school as senior Deputy Headmaster. Dr Walker is leaving at the end of the school year. As of September 2008, the new headmaster will be Mr Tom Sherrington.

History of the school

KEGS was one of many grammar schools founded by Edward VI. Its current form resulted from a royal warrant dated 24 March 1551, although evidence of this school exists from as far back as the 13th Century, possibly earlier, in an alternative location. Indeed, the school of 1551 was merely a "rebranding" of the Chelmsford Chantry School, a Roman Catholic institution which had been abolished along with the monasteries during the English Reformation. The school was moved to its present site on Broomfield Road in 1892[1]. Once a boarding school, it was one of many grammar schools to fully join the state sector and abolish the nominal fees. The last boarders left in the 1970s.

The school has been very successful academically over recent years, ranking in the top 20 schools in the country in national examination league tables. KEGS is a Foundation and Leading Edge school, and has also recently become a Specialist Science College. As of April 2008, KEGS will also be a Languages College, further enhancing the way in which languages are learnt at the school. The school continues to perform very strongly in other fields.

In 1981 it was named by The Sunday Times as the most successful state school as measured by Oxbridge open awards. In 1998, it was rated by the Financial Times as the most successful state school at GCE advanced level in the period 1993-1998. In 2001 the school was named Sunday Times School of the Year. In 2003 the Daily Mail called the school "one of England's most ancient and traditional grammar schools". The 2006 Good Schools Guide names KEGS as the top school (independent or maintained) in England for A-level Chemistry, and the top selective state school for boys in English Literature at A-level. In November 2006, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.[2]

House system

In 1907, with the school growing larger than it ever had been before, headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of "Houses"[3] — Holland, named for Philemon Holland; Mildmay, for Sir Walter Mildmay; Strutt, for Joseph Strutt; and Tindal, for Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, dividing the school into four forms in each year. The four houses, each with a staff head of house and a team of house officials drawn from the Upper Sixth, including a House Captain and deputies, compete throughout the year in sporting, musical and theatrical events, among others, to gain points towards the house championship. Each House is represented by a colour:

Holland Mildmay Strutt Tindal

House events

The House System has adapted into a competition in which each house competes in various inter-house competitions in order to win points, which are added to a continually updated scoreboard.

Standards: In June, every member of the house is encouraged to partake in athletic events over three evenings, with each event awarding the participant a maximum of three points depending on how well the task was completed. A single point is awarded simply for turning up, encouraging mass participation.

House Music: Each house is designated 25 minutes to present five musical acts, with requirements such as representation from each section of the school, which are judged by a panel including a guest well-renowned in a field of music.

House Drama: Each house must perform five acts that fall into different categories (e.g. Monologue, Duologue), and again requiring participation from across the school, which are each then marked out of 100.

House Film: Students are allowed to enter any number of two minute productions of any genre, following a given theme. These are divided into junior and senior films, with the top two films in each category, as well as two overall top films, being awarded individual and house prizes.

House Sporting Events: Particularly in the lower school, emphasis is placed on sporting events, with annual rugby union, football, cross-country and other events being held for each year group. 'Sports Morning', in the winter, and 'Sports Day' in the summer are also held with a larger amount of pupils taking part.

Student Voice

A group of students who are explicitly involved in the school's decision making processes, including a role in selecting new teachers. In addition to this, there are specialist groups formed to discuss important issues as they arise.

The Student Councils

Recent reforms have split the student council in three, one for each section of the school (Years 7-9, Years 10-11 and Years 12-13), in order to increase effectiveness, since the original council was composed of 34 students, making meaningful discussions or decisions difficult. Eggy Bread Tastes Nice Served with Toe Jam

Extracurricular activities

Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums

The school maintains an Army contingent of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which is also open to students of Chelmsford County High School for Girls. Military music is provided within the contingent by a Corps of Drums playing drums, flutes and bugles. The Corps wears the full dress scarlet tunics of The Essex Regiment, incorporating the purple facings which gave the Essex Regiment its nickname 'The Pompadours'. It carries the drums of the 4/5th Battalion (Territorial Army) emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.

KEGS music

The school has a many ensembles, of which the orchestras include members from other schools, though the majority are from KEGS and Chelmsford County High School for Girls. The other ensembles are exclusive to those who attend KEGS.

  • Junior Orchestra
  • Senior Orchestra
  • KEGS Strings
  • Chamber Ensemble
  • Choir
  • Wind Band
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Big Band

World Challenge

Whilst in the sixth form, each student has the chance to embark on a biannual World Challenge. Each team of about ten students, goes to developing countries in order to complete a two-part challenge:

  • Community Involvement, namely helping the community by completing tasks such as building a church or constructing a well
  • Personal Challenge whereby each individual must complete a gruelling physical task, such as a trek through the Himilayas

The Fleur De Lys Society

The Fleur de Lys Society (FDL) was a sixth-form debating society cum charity fundraising society. The FDL was believed to have been started by Frank Rogers, an influential Headmaster.[3] As well as holding debates on a variety of topical subjects, it was also an important charitable organisation within the school. From 1980 to 2007 the FDL held its annual charity week, usually the final week of Spring Term. FDL Week involved events for the entire school, where money was raised for chosen charities - in 2005, £5,000 was raised and divided among J's Hospice, The Teenage Cancer Trust and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. However, due to the controversial nature and content of most debates, the Society, was suspended in 2007. As ever, its reformation is a possibility.

Notable alumni

Of the Chelmsford Chantry School (before the Royal Charter of 1551)

  • John Dee, noted mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, occultist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I; responsible for the English translation of Euclid's work.

Pre 1900

Post 1900

References

  1. ^ A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001 — Anthony Tuckwell
  2. ^ http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/assets/files/Recruitment%20Pack/General%20Information.pdf
  3. ^ a b King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Past and present
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