Royal Grammar School, Guildford

Royal Grammar School
Address
Map
High Street

Guildford
,
Surrey
,
GU1 3BB

England
Coordinates51°14′12″N 0°34′08″W / 51.23667°N 0.56889°W / 51.23667; -0.56889
Information
TypePrivate school
Day school
Grammar school
Religious affiliation(s)Inter- / non- denominational[1][2]
Established1509; 515 years ago (1509)
FounderRobert Beckingham
Department for Education URN125424 Tables
Chair of governorsS K Creedy
HeadmasterJonathan Mark Cox
Staff100~
GenderBoys
Age11 to 18
Enrolment974~
HousesAusten
Beckingham
Hamonde
Nettles
Powell
Valpy
Colour(s)Red, Green, White
     
PublicationThe Guildfordian
Former pupilsOld Guildfordians
School hymn'To Be a Pilgrim'
Websitewww.rgs-guildford.co.uk
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameThe Grammar School
Designated1 May 1953
Reference no.1294936

The Royal Grammar School, Guildford (originally 'The Free School'), also known as the RGS,[3] is a private selective day school for boys in Guildford, Surrey in England. The school dates its founding to the death of Robert Beckingham in 1509 who left provision in his will to 'make a free scole at the Towne of Guldford'; in 1512 a governing body was set up to form the school. The school moved to the present site in the upper High Street after the granting of a royal charter from King Edward VI in 1552.[4] Around that time, its pupils were playing cricket and their activity was later documented as the earliest definite reference to the sport. The school's Old Building, constructed between 1557 and 1586, is the home of a rare example of a chained library. It was established on the death of John Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich, in 1575.[5] Although defined as a 'free' school, the first statutes of governance, approved in 1608, saw the introduction of school fees, at the rate of 4 shillings per annum, along with the school's first admissions test.[6] During the late 19th century the school ran into financial difficulty, which nearly resulted in its closure. A number of rescue options were explored, including amalgamation with Archbishop Abbott's School. Funds were eventually raised, however, which allowed the school to remain open, although boarding was no longer offered.[7]

Fee paying continued until the school adopted voluntary controlled status under the Education Act 1944; thereafter tuition was free and the common entrance examination at 11 was introduced. Soon after, in 1958, the school expanded with the construction of the New Building in the grounds of Allen House, a building used for a number of years as a boarding house and later as classrooms. Allen House was later demolished in 1964 just after the completion of the New Building.[8] During December 1962 the historic Old Building caught fire, damaging a large part of it, including the two oldest rooms in the school. The damage was so great the reconstruction took over two years.[9] The school became independent and fee paying in 1977, when the parents and staff raised sufficient funds to purchase the school following concerns about the abolition of grammar school status with the introduction of comprehensive education.[10]

The school initially educated 30 of the 'poorest men's sons',[11] though has since grown to have approximately 900 students, about 300 of whom are in the sixth form.[12] The majority of pupils, approximately two thirds, enter at age 11 in the first form, a few (3–5 pupils) enter in the second form at the age of 12, with the remainder entering at 13 in the third form. Admissions are based on an entrance examination set by the school, and an interview.[13] The school partakes in a number of sporting activities, and has enjoyed some success, including finishing within the top two in the Daily Mail Cup twice.[14] The school maintains a grammar school ethos, and as such runs a number of outreach programmes for students from local maintained schools, for which it won the Independent School Award 2010 for Outstanding Community/ Public Benefit Initiative.[15] The Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.[16]

  1. ^ "EduBase – Royal Grammar School". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. ^ "School Overview – Royal Grammar School : Directgov". Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rambles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Russel, p94
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference chain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference bray371 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference surhist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference rgsbuild was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference fire was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference rgshist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference bray370 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Royal Grammar School, Guildford Report 2007" (PDF). ISI Inspection Report. Independent Schools Inspectorate. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference rgsadmis1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference rugby was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference fisa1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "HMC Schools Q-S". HMC Website. Headmasters' and Headmistress' Conference. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2011.