Stamford School

Stamford School is an English public school in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire. It was founded in 1532 by a local man, William Radcliffe, with the encouragement of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, though there is evidence to suggest that it has existed from the beginning of the fourteenth century (1300s).

By 1566 teaching at the school took place in the remaining portion of St Paul's Church, which was originally built no later than 1152. This building was extended in the 20th century and, in 1930, began to be used as the school chapel.

Stamford School has a sister school, Stamford High School, which was founded in 1877. In recent years, the two have been united under the leadership of a single principal as the Stamford Endowed Schools. This organisation now comprises Stamford Junior School, a co-educational establishment for pupils aged between 2 and 11 years, Stamford School for boys aged 11-18, and Stamford High School catering for girls of the same age group. Sixth Form teaching is carried out jointly between Stamford School and Stamford High School.

Uniform

All boys wear black or charcoal-grey trousers and a school blazer, which is navy blue. The school's emblem is a stork sitting on a wool sack displayed over the motto + me spede, and is derived from the armorial bearings of medieval wool merchant William Browne. It is worn on the breast pocket of the blazer. Most boys wear a maroon stork, although school prefects wear a white one. House prefects wear a maroon stork, but also have a maroon ribbon attached to the top of the pocket. Blue storks are worn by fifth-form prefects. Boater hats are worn in summer and it has recently been suggested that boys wear tailcoats for special occassions and Sundays.

Traditions

The most well known school tradition is called 'Kissing the Old Man', a ceremony in which new boys kiss a worn stone head above the chapel's west door to the applause of the whole school.

The Head Boy enjoys a number of privileges. He is, for example, the only boy allowed to grow a beard, smoke a pipe in lessons, and graze his sheep on Headmaster's lawn.

Slang

Stamford School has its own slang, much of which refers to the school buildings and their history:

The Art Shack: the art department's building on St Paul's Street, which also used to be known as The Church Lad's Club. The term Art Shack derives from an earlier building elsewhere in the school grounds.

Big School: a block of classrooms in which boys in the Lower IV, Upper IV and Fifth Form were traditionally taught. The building has now been renamed 'Beaufort' and mixed Sixth Form teaching now takes place there.

The Bushes: a strip of woodland behind the cricket pavilion.

The Dell: the tennis courts behind the old Junior School building.

The Old Gym: a room, now used as a thoroughfare, which used to contain the gymnasium

The Rev: the school chaplain.

O'Brien's: The medical centre, so called because the building once housed a public house called 'The O'Brien's Arms'.

The Corps: The school's Combined Cadet Force.

Songs

Although they are rarely sung, Stamford School had a number of school songs that were regularly sung in the chapel or at assemblies in the school hall. The most formal songs were the Latin 'Carmen Stamfordiense' and 'Dulce Domum'. However, a more light-hearted song was written by a former master, A.W.S. Cowie, who was later killed in the First World War. The first verse of the song is below and it was sung to the tune of 'The Vicar of Bray'

In Father time's remoter days
By Strange coincidences,
Noah built the Ark, and someone else
Schola Stamfordiensis

Stamford School also had another song, sung in English and based round the school motto of + me spede (Christ me Spede).

Within these walls of grey
How much do we gather,
Friendship and laughter gay -
Gifts indeed:
Strength of limb and fingers' skill,
Cultured mind, undaunted will,
Hoping and praying still -
Christ me spede.

Then, in return to thee
Our service we offer,
Our love and loyalty
In word and deed,
Time and thought and energy
These will we render thee;
We will be true to thee,
Christ us spede.

Oh, Thou, to whom we pray,
Christ spede us in all things,
Help us from day to day,
In our need.
Give us then that virtue rare
Courage to do and dare;
Grant us our humble prayer -
Christ me spede.