Cawston College
Encyclopedia
Cawston College was a public school in the English county of Norfolk
in Great Britain
.
, opened in 1964 at the former manor house of Cawston, Norfolk
, with Mr. John Asquith as Headmaster. Cawston Manor had been constructed by George Cawston, an American stockbroker, who settled in the area in 1897, beguiled by the fact that the village had his name. Ironically, two American students attended in the late 80s and are currently U.S. Marine pilots. It was an independent Christian College with its own Chapel for day and boarding boys and later included girls. It had a good reputation and accommodated dyslexic pupils.
In addition to its academic work, the school was keen to provide as broad a range of activities for its pupils as possible. There were ambitious annual hill-walking expeditions, including destinations in South America and India, an active Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and most pupils were encouraged to join the Combined Cadet Force
, all run by members of the school staff. The College grounds included woods, heathland and a lake with boat house (a total of about 135 acres), which aided the provision outdoor education and adventurous activity.
The senior school had two Houses, those of Woodard and School House; when Girls were eventually admitted to the college they were also assigned to one of these houses. Over the course of the schools history the houses remained fairly balanced in terms of sports, however Woodard won Sports Day for seven consecutive years between 1987 - 1993, thus setting a school record that remained unbroken.
The number of pupils over the years had fluctuated from 45 at the opening of the college to 145 then to 96 when it closed, 120 pupils were reportedly required for it to survive. The College closed in 1999 after a series of rescue bids were put forward, which were rejected by the school governors, much to the annoyance of parents and staff members.
10 July 1999 was the final day of the summer term and speech day when television journalist Kate Adie
, who had a godson at the college was guest speaker. After the school closed there was an auction of its equipment, which was reported on in the local press. In one classroom a simple phrase had been left written on a board, "This was a good school," while in another a message had been left which told another widely felt opinion. A single word. "Betrayed."
Headmasters:-
The site then became the home of Cawston Park psychiatric hospital. In November 2006 former Tory MP David Prior
, non-executive chairman of Cawston Park was arrested among others by Norfolk Constabulary
who were investigating allegiations of financial irregularities. He was cleared of involvement in the alleged fraud on the 15th February 2007 The hospital closed in 2009 in the aftermath of the trial, along with its sister unit Kelling Park near Holt, after owners Chancellor Care went into administration. In 2010 it was sold to the Jeesal Group for use as a specialist hospital providing treatment for adults with learning difficulties and problems including mental-health breakdowns.
The school's old water tower
has been converted into a house by former pupil David Forster. This conversion has been featured on Channel 5's "Build a New Life in the Country".
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in Great Britain
Great 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...
.
History
Cawston College, one of the Woodard SchoolsWoodard Schools
Woodard Schools is a group of Anglican schools affiliated to the Woodard Corporation which has its origin in the work of Nathaniel Woodard, an Anglo-Catholic clergyman....
, opened in 1964 at the former manor house of Cawston, Norfolk
Cawston, Norfolk
Cawston is a small village located approximately North of Norwich, off the B1149 main road to Holt. Nearby villages are Reepham and Aylsham.-Church of St Agnes:...
, with Mr. John Asquith as Headmaster. Cawston Manor had been constructed by George Cawston, an American stockbroker, who settled in the area in 1897, beguiled by the fact that the village had his name. Ironically, two American students attended in the late 80s and are currently U.S. Marine pilots. It was an independent Christian College with its own Chapel for day and boarding boys and later included girls. It had a good reputation and accommodated dyslexic pupils.
In addition to its academic work, the school was keen to provide as broad a range of activities for its pupils as possible. There were ambitious annual hill-walking expeditions, including destinations in South America and India, an active Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and most pupils were encouraged to join the Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
, all run by members of the school staff. The College grounds included woods, heathland and a lake with boat house (a total of about 135 acres), which aided the provision outdoor education and adventurous activity.
The senior school had two Houses, those of Woodard and School House; when Girls were eventually admitted to the college they were also assigned to one of these houses. Over the course of the schools history the houses remained fairly balanced in terms of sports, however Woodard won Sports Day for seven consecutive years between 1987 - 1993, thus setting a school record that remained unbroken.
The number of pupils over the years had fluctuated from 45 at the opening of the college to 145 then to 96 when it closed, 120 pupils were reportedly required for it to survive. The College closed in 1999 after a series of rescue bids were put forward, which were rejected by the school governors, much to the annoyance of parents and staff members.
10 July 1999 was the final day of the summer term and speech day when television journalist Kate Adie
Kate Adie
Kathryn "Kate" Adie , OBE , is a British journalist. Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News, during which time she became well known for reporting from war zones around the world...
, who had a godson at the college was guest speaker. After the school closed there was an auction of its equipment, which was reported on in the local press. In one classroom a simple phrase had been left written on a board, "This was a good school," while in another a message had been left which told another widely felt opinion. A single word. "Betrayed."
Headmasters:-
- 1964 John P.K. Asquith
- 1986 James Barry
- 1991 John Sutton
- On the retirement of Mr Sutton, Mrs Barbara Harrison took over and stayed until the College closed.
Today
After closure the main school buildings were used by International Foundation of Inspiration, Spirituality and Healing (IFISH), who used it for the study, promotion and practice of psychic science and spiritual healing until 2003.The site then became the home of Cawston Park psychiatric hospital. In November 2006 former Tory MP David Prior
David Prior (UK politician)
David Gifford Leathes Prior is a former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He served as Member of Parliament for North Norfolk from 1997 until the 2001 general election, when he lost his seat to Norman Lamb of the Liberal Democrats by 483 votes.-Early life:He went to the...
, non-executive chairman of Cawston Park was arrested among others by Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:...
who were investigating allegiations of financial irregularities. He was cleared of involvement in the alleged fraud on the 15th February 2007 The hospital closed in 2009 in the aftermath of the trial, along with its sister unit Kelling Park near Holt, after owners Chancellor Care went into administration. In 2010 it was sold to the Jeesal Group for use as a specialist hospital providing treatment for adults with learning difficulties and problems including mental-health breakdowns.
The school's old water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
has been converted into a house by former pupil David Forster. This conversion has been featured on Channel 5's "Build a New Life in the Country".
Notable former pupils
- Nick YoungsNick YoungsNicholas Gerald Youngs is a former English rugby union footballer who played for Leicester Tigers and England, at scrum-half, gaining six England caps in 1983-1984...
, England scrum-half. - Herbie HideHerbie HideHerbie Hide is a British boxer of Nigerian heritage from Norwich currently fighting in the cruiserweight class...
, the heavyweight boxer, was a pupil at the College in the 1980s.