Archbishop Tenison's C of E High School, Croydon
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Tenison's Church of England High School, commonly known as Tenison's, is a selective historic 11-18, voluntary aided, mixed school
in the London Borough of Croydon
, England
, part of the educational provision of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark
and Croydon Council. It is a specialist Mathematics and Computing College. Its 11-18 year-old pupils are predominantly active in the Church of England, as selected by the Governors, with a minority of places available to members of other Christian denominations.
, an educational philanthropist, in the late 17th and early 18th century. In 1714, Tenison, by then Archbishop of Canterbury
, founded a school for some “ten poor boys and ten poor girls” on a site which is now close to the heart of Croydon
’s shopping centre; almost 300 years and three sites later, Archbishop Tenison's School is one of the oldest originally co-educational establishments in Britain. It is a little known fact that the School is the oldest surviving mixed-gender school in the world.
Due to the hostilities of the Second World War, the School was moved away from the dangers of the Blitz in South London
and relocated to Craigmore Hall in the countryside near Crowborough
, East Sussex
, with pupils being evacuated and billeted with the local populace. After the War, the School returned to Croydon and Craigmore Hall returned to private use.
The School now occupies a site established almost 50 years ago in a leafy residential area of Croydon - Park Hill, just ten minutes walk from East Croydon station
. It caters for around 770 pupils, of whom approximately 270 are in the Sixth Form
. Since 1959, the facilities have been augmented by the building of a Sixth Form Centre, an Art block, and Geography and Technology Centres. The school selects the pupils who attend; although it is comprehensive in the sense that ability is not taken into account.
The School has recently come to the end of a planned expansion from two forms of entry to three. This, of course, required additional accommodation, and a new wing was built which included a library with mezzanine level incorporating an educational resource area, a music suite, new technology rooms and science laboratories and several general-purpose classrooms.
Archbishop Tenison's has recently become a Mathematics and Computing Specialist school and has received funding for the extra provision for ICT and Mathematics facilities. These have included interactive teaching whiteboards and tablet PCs across the School.
An essential part of the funding to gain the specialist status was donated by Lord Harris of Peckham who recently visited the School and opened a new IT suite. Lord Harris has also recently funded the School with the money to allow pupils to visit a school in Singapore
in order to further develop Tenison's international reputation.
Archbishop Tenison's has recently completed significant investment in its facilities, which includes 4 new mobile classrooms, mostly for the provision of English lessons, but including an UVIth study room as well. The School is also over half way to having interactive whiteboards in all classrooms, which has helped to improve the quality of teaching immensely.
In its recent Ofsted report, from February 2008, the Lower School and Sixth Form were both described as being "Outstanding", receiving the highest inspection grades available.
.
The annual report is read by the Headmaster and a short speech is given. After the service pupils do not have to return to lessons. It is also a longstanding custom for girls in the Lower Sixth to dress in 18th Century school uniform and greet visitors to the church, in reference to the historic origins of the school.
, which consist of the arms of the see of Canterbury impaled
with the Tenison family arms. The former, placed on the dexter
side of honour, are blazoned
as: Azure
, an archiepiscopal cross in pale or
surmounted by a pall
proper charged with four crosses patee fitchee sable
. The arms of Tenison, placed on the sinister
side of the escutcheon
are blazoned as: Gules
, a bend engrailed argent voided azure, between three leopard
's faces or jessant-de-lys
azure.
In standard English: a red field bearing a white (or silver) diagonal band with scalloped edges, and a narrower blue band running down its centre. This lies between three gold heraldic lion's faces, each of which is pierced by a fleur-de-lys entering through the mouth.
, Gloucestershire, and may have been adopted by the Tenison family because its name signifies "Denys's or Denis's son". The arms were originally those of the Norman de Cantilupe family, whose feudal tenants the Denys family probably were in connection with Candleston Castle
in Glamorgan
. St Thomas Cantilupe(d.1282), bishop of Hereford, gave a reversed (i.e. upside down) version of the Cantilupe arms to the see of Hereford, which uses them to this day. A version of the Denys arms was also adopted by the family of the poet laureate
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, not known to have been a descendant of Archbishop Thomas Tenison.
embroidered in house colours. Boys wear white shirts with grey trousers with an optional royal blue pullover with Archbishop Tenison's crest, girls wear light blue blouses, grey skirts, cardigans (optional) or jumpers and are allowed to wear trousers, however this is not widely practised.
During the warmer summer months, at the discretion of the Headmaster, blazers may be removed whilst in School and ties need not be worn. Sixth Formers do not have to wear school uniform however boys are expected to wear a dark suit, shirt and tie, and girls are expected to wear similarly formal clothing.
schools - they are sorted into a House system
. These Houses determine the colour of a pupil's sports kit and the colour of the mitres on their school tie. Pupils are actively a part of the house system from years 7 to 9, and compete annually for the House Points Cup and the Inter-House Cup (a sporting competition). Involvement within the house system lessens in years 10 and 11; however, there have been calls to put greater emphasis on the house system, and inter-house competitions, for all year groups.
The houses at Tenison's are named after famous Archbishops of Canterbury, and include:
Schools sporting competitions, and pupil involvement is high. There are very successful association football and netball teams in every year, 7 - UVIth, entry into various local athletic events, as well as rugby. The football 1st XI regularly reach the final of the Surrey Cup, most recently in 2008, losing on penalties to Richmond upon Thames College
, and in 2009 the 1st XI won the Surrey Schools FA league for the 3rd year in a row.
In 2006, Tenison's 1st XV rugby
team hosted a touring side from a Canadian school, St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School, Cobourg
, winning 33-22.
The school has no on-site grass playing fields but does enjoy the use of excellent facilities at nearby Coombe Lodge, providing pitches for both football and cricket, and a recently constructed all-weather surface on the School site enables the provision of tennis, basketball, netball and five-a-side football, as well as four other on-site tennis courts. Cross-country runs are also regularly held, with routes through Lloyd Park and the surrounding woodlands. The School holds its annual summer Sports Day at Croydon Sports Arena in nearby South Norwood
.
in 1978 but resides on the Tenison's premises. Tenison's School Sixth Form is regularly the top performing, non-independent Sixth Form in Croydon, with pupils going up to Oxbridge
most years, as well as other top British universities (approximately 80% of Upper Sixth leavers immediately enter university, with more entering after taking a gap year
).
Ex-pupils, along with former teachers and friends of the School automatically become members of the Old Tenisonian Society.
The Society has existed for many years and its main objectives are:
OTs are to be found worldwide, both staff and pupils, and there are regular events including dinners and reunions, as well as a Society newsletter.
Notable Old Tenisonians include Surrey CCC and England cricketer, Mark Butcher
.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, part of the educational provision of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
and Croydon Council. It is a specialist Mathematics and Computing College. Its 11-18 year-old pupils are predominantly active in the Church of England, as selected by the Governors, with a minority of places available to members of other Christian denominations.
History of the School
Several schools were founded by Thomas TenisonThomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs.-Life:...
, an educational philanthropist, in the late 17th and early 18th century. In 1714, Tenison, by then Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, founded a school for some “ten poor boys and ten poor girls” on a site which is now close to the heart of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
’s shopping centre; almost 300 years and three sites later, Archbishop Tenison's School is one of the oldest originally co-educational establishments in Britain. It is a little known fact that the School is the oldest surviving mixed-gender school in the world.
Due to the hostilities of the Second World War, the School was moved away from the dangers of the Blitz in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
and relocated to Craigmore Hall in the countryside near Crowborough
Crowborough
The highest point in the town is 242 metres above sea level. This summit is the highest point of the High Weald and second highest point in East Sussex . Its relative height is 159 m, meaning Crowborough qualifies as one of England's Marilyns...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, with pupils being evacuated and billeted with the local populace. After the War, the School returned to Croydon and Craigmore Hall returned to private use.
The School now occupies a site established almost 50 years ago in a leafy residential area of Croydon - Park Hill, just ten minutes walk from East Croydon station
East Croydon station
East Croydon station is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon, 10.35 miles south of London Bridge in Travelcard Zone 5. It is the largest and busiest station in Croydon and the busiest in London outside Travelcard Zone 1 in terms of the number of passengers entering and exiting...
. It caters for around 770 pupils, of whom approximately 270 are in the Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
. Since 1959, the facilities have been augmented by the building of a Sixth Form Centre, an Art block, and Geography and Technology Centres. The school selects the pupils who attend; although it is comprehensive in the sense that ability is not taken into account.
The School has recently come to the end of a planned expansion from two forms of entry to three. This, of course, required additional accommodation, and a new wing was built which included a library with mezzanine level incorporating an educational resource area, a music suite, new technology rooms and science laboratories and several general-purpose classrooms.
Archbishop Tenison's has recently become a Mathematics and Computing Specialist school and has received funding for the extra provision for ICT and Mathematics facilities. These have included interactive teaching whiteboards and tablet PCs across the School.
An essential part of the funding to gain the specialist status was donated by Lord Harris of Peckham who recently visited the School and opened a new IT suite. Lord Harris has also recently funded the School with the money to allow pupils to visit a school in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in order to further develop Tenison's international reputation.
Archbishop Tenison's has recently completed significant investment in its facilities, which includes 4 new mobile classrooms, mostly for the provision of English lessons, but including an UVIth study room as well. The School is also over half way to having interactive whiteboards in all classrooms, which has helped to improve the quality of teaching immensely.
In its recent Ofsted report, from February 2008, the Lower School and Sixth Form were both described as being "Outstanding", receiving the highest inspection grades available.
Founder’s Day
A Tenisonian tradition is that once a year, usually the morning of the first Friday in May, the entire School gathers to celebrate the anniversary of its foundation in 1714, the life of the founder Thomas Tenison and the achievements of the past academic year. The event is attended by pupils, the Governors and representatives from the Diocese of SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
.
The annual report is read by the Headmaster and a short speech is given. After the service pupils do not have to return to lessons. It is also a longstanding custom for girls in the Lower Sixth to dress in 18th Century school uniform and greet visitors to the church, in reference to the historic origins of the school.
The School Armorials
The badges of both the schools founded by Thomas Tenison are based on his personal coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, which consist of the arms of the see of Canterbury impaled
Impalement (heraldry)
In heraldry, impalement is the combination of two coats of arms side-by-side in one shield or escutcheon to denote union, most often that of a husband and wife, but also for ecclesiastical use...
with the Tenison family arms. The former, placed on the dexter
Dexter and sinister
Dexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms and by extension also to a crest. "Dexter" means to the right from the viewpoint of the bearer of the arms, to the left of that of the viewer...
side of honour, are blazoned
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
as: Azure
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
, an archiepiscopal cross in pale or
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
surmounted by a pall
Pall (heraldry)
A pall is a Y-shaped heraldic charge. An example of a pall placed horizontally is the green portion of the Flag of South Africa....
proper charged with four crosses patee fitchee sable
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
. The arms of Tenison, placed on the sinister
Dexter and sinister
Dexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms and by extension also to a crest. "Dexter" means to the right from the viewpoint of the bearer of the arms, to the left of that of the viewer...
side of the escutcheon
Escutcheon
In heraldry, an escutcheon is a shield which forms the main or focal element in an achievement of arms. The word is used in two related senses....
are blazoned as: Gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
, a bend engrailed argent voided azure, between three leopard
Leopard (heraldry)
The leopard or lion passant guardant is a frequently used charge in heraldry. It mostly appears in groups of three, which are positioned over each another.-Heraldic and zoological leopards:...
's faces or jessant-de-lys
Jessant-de-lys
Jessant-de-lys is a heraldic term denoting a fleur-de-lys issuing out of any object. It is most frequently seen in conjunction with a leopard's face, meaning in heraldic language the face of a lion.-Description:...
azure.
In standard English: a red field bearing a white (or silver) diagonal band with scalloped edges, and a narrower blue band running down its centre. This lies between three gold heraldic lion's faces, each of which is pierced by a fleur-de-lys entering through the mouth.
Origin
These arms are a difference, or variant, of the mediaeval arms of the family of Denys of SistonSiston
Siston is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England east of Bristol Castle, ancient centre of Bristol, recorded historically as Syston, Sistone, Syton, Sytone and Systun etc. The village lies at the confluence of the two sources of the Siston Brook, a tributary of the River Avon...
, Gloucestershire, and may have been adopted by the Tenison family because its name signifies "Denys's or Denis's son". The arms were originally those of the Norman de Cantilupe family, whose feudal tenants the Denys family probably were in connection with Candleston Castle
Candleston Castle
Candleston Castle is a 14th.c. fortified manor house, in ruins since the nineteenth century southwest of Merthyr Mawr, former Glamorgan, Wales, and just northwest of Ogmore Castle, separated by the River Ogmore. Candleston's original long and narrow rectangular structure lay across the western...
in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. St Thomas Cantilupe(d.1282), bishop of Hereford, gave a reversed (i.e. upside down) version of the Cantilupe arms to the see of Hereford, which uses them to this day. A version of the Denys arms was also adopted by the family of the poet laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, not known to have been a descendant of Archbishop Thomas Tenison.
Uniform
All pupils wear a distinctive blue blazer with the school crest embroidered to the left breast. Ties must be worn at all times and are dark navy blue with bishop's mitresMitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
embroidered in house colours. Boys wear white shirts with grey trousers with an optional royal blue pullover with Archbishop Tenison's crest, girls wear light blue blouses, grey skirts, cardigans (optional) or jumpers and are allowed to wear trousers, however this is not widely practised.
During the warmer summer months, at the discretion of the Headmaster, blazers may be removed whilst in School and ties need not be worn. Sixth Formers do not have to wear school uniform however boys are expected to wear a dark suit, shirt and tie, and girls are expected to wear similarly formal clothing.
The Houses
Pupils at Tenison's are organised in a manner typical of historic BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
schools - they are sorted into a House system
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
. These Houses determine the colour of a pupil's sports kit and the colour of the mitres on their school tie. Pupils are actively a part of the house system from years 7 to 9, and compete annually for the House Points Cup and the Inter-House Cup (a sporting competition). Involvement within the house system lessens in years 10 and 11; however, there have been calls to put greater emphasis on the house system, and inter-house competitions, for all year groups.
The houses at Tenison's are named after famous Archbishops of Canterbury, and include:
- Fisher
- RamseyMichael RamseyArthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury PC was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. He was appointed on 31 May 1961 and was in office from June 1961 to 1974.-Career:...
- TempleWilliam Temple (archbishop)William Temple was a priest in the Church of England. He served as Bishop of Manchester , Archbishop of York , and Archbishop of Canterbury ....
- BecketThomas BecketThomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
Sport at Tenison's
Despite its urban location and comparatively small intake, Tenison's does very well in local and SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
Schools sporting competitions, and pupil involvement is high. There are very successful association football and netball teams in every year, 7 - UVIth, entry into various local athletic events, as well as rugby. The football 1st XI regularly reach the final of the Surrey Cup, most recently in 2008, losing on penalties to Richmond upon Thames College
Richmond upon Thames College
Richmond upon Thames College is a further education college in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which provides education primarily to 16-19 year olds...
, and in 2009 the 1st XI won the Surrey Schools FA league for the 3rd year in a row.
In 2006, Tenison's 1st XV rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team hosted a touring side from a Canadian school, St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School, Cobourg
St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School, Cobourg
St. Mary's Secondary School was built in the small town of Cobourg, Ontario.-External links:*...
, winning 33-22.
The school has no on-site grass playing fields but does enjoy the use of excellent facilities at nearby Coombe Lodge, providing pitches for both football and cricket, and a recently constructed all-weather surface on the School site enables the provision of tennis, basketball, netball and five-a-side football, as well as four other on-site tennis courts. Cross-country runs are also regularly held, with routes through Lloyd Park and the surrounding woodlands. The School holds its annual summer Sports Day at Croydon Sports Arena in nearby South Norwood
South Norwood
South Norwood is an urban town and in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development 7.8 miles south-east of Charing Cross. South Norwood is an electoral with a resident population in 2001 of just over 14,000...
.
The Sixth Form
There is a widely sought after, heavily over-subscribed Sixth Form, offering a variety of subjects to pupils who have finished their GCSEs. This is a joint sixth form which was established with St Andrew's High School, CroydonSt. Andrews C of E High School
- History :Established by in 1857, St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided High School moved to its current site in 1964. St Andrew’s Church stands on the corner of Southbridge Rd and Lower Coombe St. and is 153yrs old . The priest and people were responsible for building ‘The Ragged School’ on the site...
in 1978 but resides on the Tenison's premises. Tenison's School Sixth Form is regularly the top performing, non-independent Sixth Form in Croydon, with pupils going up to Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
most years, as well as other top British universities (approximately 80% of Upper Sixth leavers immediately enter university, with more entering after taking a gap year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
).
Old Tenisonians
Current pupils are known as Tenisonians and all former pupils are known as Old Tenisonians, often referred to as "OTs".Ex-pupils, along with former teachers and friends of the School automatically become members of the Old Tenisonian Society.
The Society has existed for many years and its main objectives are:
- To allow former pupils and staff to maintain contact and to keep in touch with the School
- To support the School, both financially and non-financially
OTs are to be found worldwide, both staff and pupils, and there are regular events including dinners and reunions, as well as a Society newsletter.
Notable Old Tenisonians include Surrey CCC and England cricketer, Mark Butcher
Mark Butcher
Mark Alan Butcher is a former English Test cricketer, who played county cricket for Surrey from 1992 until his retirement from the sport in 2009. He was a left-handed batsman, and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler....
.
See also
- Archbishop Tenison's School in LambethLambethLambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...