Royal Grammar School Worcester

Royal Grammar School Worcester
Address
Map
Upper Tything

Worcester
,
Worcestershire
,
WR1 1HP

England
Coordinates52°12′01″N 2°13′27″W / 52.2004°N 2.2242°W / 52.2004; -2.2242
Information
Other names
  • RGS Worcester
  • RGSW
  • RGSAO (2007–2009)
TypePrivate day school
Grammar school
MottoLatin: Respice et Prospice
(Remember the Past and Look to the Future)
Established1291; 733 years ago (1291)
FounderBishop Bosel
Local authorityWorcestershire County Council
Department for Education URN117038 Tables
HeadmasterJohn Pitt[1]
GenderMixed
Age range11–18
Enrolment1,272 (Across all of the family of schools in 2019)[2]
Capacity2,182[2]
Houses
  •   Whiteladies
  •   Elgar
  •   Ottley
  •   Wylde
Colour(s)    Green, blue, white
AlumniOld Elizabethans
Websitewww.rgsw.org.uk

The Royal Grammar School Worcester (also known as RGS Worcester or RGSW) is an eleven-eighteen co-educational, private day school and sixth form in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent day schools.

In September 2007, the school merged with the neighbouring Alice Ottley School and was briefly known as RGS Worcester and The Alice Ottley School (RGSAO) before reverting to the original name. The school began accepting girls in 2003, prior to the merger. The school currently consists of the main secondary school and three preparatory campuses known as RGS Springfield (previously a boarding house of the Alice Ottley School),[3] RGS The Grange (opened 1996),[4] and RGS Dodderhill.[5]

Until 1992 it accepted boarders. Boarding pupils would reside in Whiteladies House, a building that is rumoured to contain hidden treasure from Charles I from when he sought refuge there during the Civil War.[6] It is now a day school and in 2024 was named the top co-ed independent school in the West Midlands.[7]

Tracing its origins back to the 7th century, it is the sixth oldest school in the world.

  1. ^ "Headmaster's Welcome". Royal Grammar School Worcester. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Royal Grammar School Worcester". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. ^ RGS Springfield – History
  4. ^ RGS The Grange – History
  5. ^ RGS Dodderhill – History
  6. ^ Wheeler, A R. Royal Grammar School Worcester, 1950 to 1991 with retrospect to 1291, Royal Grammar School Worcester, 1991. ISBN 0-9516775-0-0
  7. ^ "Worcester school named top co-educational independent school in West Midlands". Worcester News. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.