King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon

Infobox UK school
name = King Edward VI Grammar School


size =
latitude = 52.19
longitude = -1.7075
dms =
motto =
motto_pl =
established = 13th Century, refounded in 1553
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Voluntary aided grammar
religion =
president =
head_label = Headmaster
head = Mr T. P. Moore-Bridger
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r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder = King Edward VI
founder_pl =
specialist = Humanities
specialist_pl =
street = Church Street/Chapel lane
city = Stratford-upon-Avon
county = Warwickshire
country = England flagicon|England
postcode = CV37 6HB
LEA = Warwickshire County Council
ofsted = 125752
staff = 32 full-time teachers, 12 part-time
enrollment = 500
gender = Boys
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = Blue and yellow color box|bluecolor box|yellow
publication =
free_label_1 =
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free_2 =
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website = http://www.kingedwardvi.warwickshire.sch.uk/
website_name = www.kingedwardvi.warwickshire.sch.uk

King Edward VI School (commonly shortened to KES) is a single sex (Boys) grammar school in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. The poet and playwright William Shakespeare may have attended KES (no direct evidence of this survives), leading to the label of "Shakespeare's School."

History

There has been an educational facility on the site since at least the early thirteenth century. The school was given money and a regular income from the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust, which gained a charter, refounding the school, from King Edward VI nine days before he died in 1553. [ [http://www.kingedwardvi.warwickshire.sch.uk/ King Edward VI School website] ]

While there is no evidence to support the claim, the playwright and poet William Shakespeare is believed to have attended the school between the ages of seven to fourteen [ [http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/soawshst.htm#kes Stratford-upon-Avon website] ] . This is believed likely, as his father, John Shakespeare, a glover and wool dealer of good standing, held the office of Bailiff of the Borough in 1568 and William would have, therefore, been entitled to a free place at the school.

In 2003, there were many celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the school's charter.

In March 2006 the school was granted a specialist Humanities College status, emphasizing on English, Drama and Classics.

Buildings

There is a wide variety of architectural styles on the site ranging from the fifteenth century Big School to the multi-purpose Levi Fox Hall, built in 1997.

The old part of the school is still in use. The Guild Hall on the ground floor, where the Town Council of Shakespeare's time met, is currently used as a library, as is the other Council Chamber on the first floor. The second first floor room, known as Big School, is the room in which William Shakespeare is believed to have been taught and is still used for school assemblies and some classes, although it is not ideal as a teaching room due to the poor heating and ancient desks. The building known as Pedagogue's House across the courtyard currently houses the school office and the Headmaster's office as well as the recently founded archive and Deputy Headmaster's Office. Pedagogue's House is attached to The Old Vicarage, where the Headmaster lives. There is also the Guild Chapel, founded by the Guild of the Holy Cross, it is currently used by the school for assemblies and various other school events, such as the annual carol service.

Many of the buildings of the main part of the school date from the 1930s. The newest part of the school is the Science Block which has two chemistry, two biology and three ICT Rooms, the second newest is the Levi Fox Hall, which is mostly used for sport, assemblies, school plays, concerts and exams. The Levi Fox Hall was named after the chair of Governors at the time of its construction. Within this facility, there are also three music practice rooms.

Building of new science and ICT blocks was due to start in September 2006 but was delayed. It started in March 2007. The Science Block was completed in the first half of Lent Term 2008 and the keys handed over to the school. However, as yet the top floor of the 3-storey building, to be the ICT department, is still being finished. The old science labs are currently undergoing restoration into English and Drama classrooms.

Student life

KES is a completely selective school: to enter the school, all students must pass a selective exam, primarily the eleven plus, which is taken in Year 6 (ages 10 and 11) across Warwickshire. KES is a brother school to Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls and in the Sixth Form students can attend classes at either school in some subjects. Unlike the Girls' Grammar, however, it is a voluntary aided school, drawing extra funds from other sources.

The school has flourishing sporting, music and drama departments. The school's rugby team is very successful and regularly reaches the later stages of the Daily Mail Cup. It also goes on annual international tours. The annual rugby match against Warwick School is well attended. Students also fence, do athletics, play hockey, basketball, badminton, table tennis and volleyball. Fencing has recently re-emerged as a more popular sport at the school, with wins from pupils at several major fencing tournaments. However, the school is unusual in that it does not participate in any football events, due to not playing football as a school sport.

The music department holds termly concerts with the King Eddie's Revival Big Band being featured. The band has played at the prestigious 100 Club, Oxford Street, London. The band Pull Tiger Tail (formerly Antihero) attended KES and became alumni in 2000, as can be seen the school produces a high pedigree of musical talent. The school also puts on an annual play. 2005's production was Unman, Wittering and Zigo. 2006's production was Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale". 2007's production was an adaption for the stage of Simon Armitage's The Odyssey.

Students take part in a variety of other competitions and events, including the Warwickshire Mock Magistrates and Mock Bar court trials, Young Enterprise (year 12) , Bank of England Target Two Point Zero Challenge (early year 13), as well as other debating and public speaking competitions.

The school is currently led by the Headmaster, Mr. Timothy Moore-Bridger MA Cantab, and the Head of Governors, Prof. Ronnie Mulryne. The Head Boy, elected by the boys of the Lower Sixth and teachers is currently David Massey with deputies Tom Adams, Jack Connor and Jack Harrison. There is also a team of similarly elected prefects, currently: Lobby Akinola, Oliver Archer, Alex Attwood, Tom English, Sam Gorick, Fred Gravestock, Toby Grieves, Max Hodges, Lawrie Mills and Luke Terry.

The pupils are divided into four houses: Dyson (Red), Fitzmaurice (Blue), Spender (Purple) and Warneford (Green). These are named after four people connected with the school: Dyson, a physics teacher at the school for many years; Fitzmaurice, a pupil of the school who left before World War 1 and was invalided out of service during that war. He later became an engineer; Richard Spender, an old pupil who was killed assaulting German machine-gun positions in 1944, during World War Two; and Reginald Warneford, an old boy who was the first naval airman to receive the Victoria Cross. He was killed in 1915. The houses are headed by four teachers and take part in a competition each year to win the house trophy. This trophy is often hotly contested and has been won by Fitzmaurice for the last 5 years.

There is a School Council, consisting of elected members from each year group, and a Sixth Form Committee, consisting of members of the sixth form, which provide a voice for the students in many different aspects of the running of the school. There is also an ICT Committee to develop ICT use at the school. This is very similar in format to the School Council.

External links

* [http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/grammarschool.html Some old postcards of KES]
* [http://www.kingedwardvi.warwickshire.sch.uk/ King Edward VI School Website]

References