The King's School, Grantham

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The King's School, is an English educational institution in Grantham, Lincolnshire with an unbroken history on the same site since the date of its endowment as one of the last acts of Richard Fox, Bishop of Exeter in 1528. Foxe was a local boy who rose owing to his position as secretary to Henry, Earl of Richmond, while he was in exile in Brittany, prior to the famous events of the Battle of Bosworth which led to Henry's capturing the throne as Henry VII. Ultimately, Bishop Foxe also founded Taunton Grammar School.

In 1998 a comprehensive illustrated history of the school was published by a former King's School Maths teacher, S J Branson, entitled A History of The King's School, Grantham.

1 Famous names
2 Today
3 External links

[edit] Famous names

The heyday for King's probably came in the 17th century, with alumni including the 'Cambridge Platonist', Henry More, Poet Laureate Colley Cibber, and the outstanding Sir Isaac Newton, not to mention successful 18th Century mathematician, John Newcombe. Previously the most notable old boy had been William Cecil, Lord Burghley, whose family seat survives in the grand Burghley House in Cambridgeshire, near Stamford in Lincolnshire. Burghley became Principal Secretary to Queen Elizabeth I. In the 17th Century, Newton, as was customary in his time, carved his signature on the wall of what is today's school library (although the signature has never officially been confirmed as real). Visitors from around the world have come and viewed this landmark evidence of Newton's education, a replica of which is on display in the town museum.

A small school of perhaps a few dozen scholars at this period, it remained fewer than one hundred strong until the 20th century, and its reputation did not grow as that of other similar schools grew, as they outpaced it. The most notable recent pupils would probably be; World War I fighter ace Albert Ball VC DSO and MC two bars (1896-1917); John W C Wand, Archbishop of Brisbane from 1934 to 1943 and Bishop of London from 1945 to 1956; Norman Shrapnel (1912-2004) chief fiction reviewer for the The Guardian and Noel F Cox OBE, Warden of the Royal Academy of Music.

[edit] Today

Now a school of slightly fewer than 1000 boys, it is unusual in that it remains a selective state grammar school, as it has been since the 1944 Education Act was implemented, and despite modern development on the town centre site, retains many buildings dating from Newton's time and before. The school adheres to long-held traditions, requiring sixth form (years twelve and thirteen of study) students still to wear their uniforms, the denotation of lower/senior school status and the award of "Colours" (for academic and sporting achievement) by colour of tie and blazer, and a prefect system to assist teachers in maintaining school discipline.

The School's students are each allocated to one of six houses: Burghley, Curtis, Foxe, More, Newton, or School. Five of them are dedicated to important former benefactors or students of the school. School House was originally for boys residing in the boarding house, which closed a few years ago.

King's School has recently expanded to the plot of land neighbouring the school, formerly a petrol station. The new building, known as the Isaac Newton block or simply the Newton block, was opened in February 2007 and is used as teaching space for business, languages and art. The "chamber of secrets" toilets have already become legendary within the school.

[edit] Sport

The School has a long history of participation in Rugby union football, cricket and association football. Since the early 1980s, it has also excelled in water polo and has contributed large numbers of players at local, regional, national and international schools level. Every few years, The King's School goes on a Barbados cricket tour in exchange for a scholarship of a West Indian boy.

[edit] Social and business links

There is also an equivalent girls' grammar school in the town, Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School (KGGS, or simply KG), and also a secondary modern school for girls, The Walton Girls' School as well as several other secondary schools in the town.

The two grammar schools traditionally share resources during the sixth form with students from both sides studying at the alternate school, in some cases, for certain subjects. For the 2006-2007 year, the timetables have been standardised across the two schools to help with sixth form students who have lessons at both schools.

The School has recently been awarded Business and Enterprise College status in partnership with another local school, The Grantham Church (VA) High School, which promises to benefit the students of both institutions.