Churcher's College
Encyclopedia
Churcher's College is an English
co-educational independent
, fee-paying school which is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
(HMC). The senior school (ages 11-17) is located in the market town
of Petersfield
, Hampshire
with the junior school (ages 5-11) in nearby Liphook
. The current headmaster is Simon Williams, who replaced Geoffrey Buttle in September 2004.
The college has several notable alumni, known as 'Old Churcherians' or 'OCs'. Male OCs are eligible to become members of the East India Club
, whilst women may join the University Women’s Club.
in 1722. Churcher was a wealthy local philanthropist
, who had made his fortune through interests in the British East India Company
. His will, dated 1722, decreed that the College was to educate:
Under the terms of the will, Churcher's College was created as a non-denominational foundation, a status it has kept to this day. The school was originally in a fine 1729 building, which still stands in College Street. The school became increasingly popular due to its successes, and in 1881 the school moved to a new location close to the original site in Ramshill, where the school is still based today. However, the school's expanding population has meant there are many modern buildings alongside the original 1881 buildings.
For much of the 20th century, Churcher's College operated as a voluntary aided
grammar school
. In 1979, Hampshire County Council decided to cease to maintain the college, which became an independent fee-paying school.
Girls were first admitted to the Sixth Form in 1980, and the school became fully co-educational in 1988. In accordance with the naval history, the college's five houses
are named for renowned naval heroes; Drake
, Grenville
, Nelson, Rodney and Collingwood
.
In 1993 the school purchased Morton House School
in Petersfield, which became the Churcher's College Junior School. Like the Senior school before it, the junior school is very successful, and soon outgrew its premises. Following an unsuccessful attempt to relocate in Petersfield, the school eventually purchased an existing school campus in Liphook (Littlefield's School), which from 2003 became the new site for the Junior School.
, field hockey
and cricket
, whilst the girls play netball
, field hockey
and rounders
.
- The school also has equestrianism
, golf
, tennis
, squash
, swimming
and athletics
teams and events.
- There are also Combined Cadet Force
and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, as well as regular World Challenge
and First Challenge expeditions.
- Churcher's College provides teams that compete in many physical contests, such as the Ten Tors
.
- The College was the first school to affiliate to the Hampshire RFU
in 1924. OC Frank Guy was responsible for the founding of local rugby union club Petersfield R.F.C.
in 1927.
6th formers are allowed more freedom in their dress code. Boys may wear a jacket, shirt and VI form or colours tie, whereas the girls wear either skirt or trouser suits.
The school's sports colours are red and dark blue.
Per term (3 terms in each academic year)
Junior School
Classes 3 – 6: £2,615
Classes R/1/2: £2,450
Senior School
All Years: £3,850
The above fees are inclusive of normal charges for examination fees and text books.
Lunches
Junior School £2.70 per day
Senior School All Years £3.10 per day
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...
co-educational independent
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, fee-paying school which is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
(HMC). The senior school (ages 11-17) is located in the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Petersfield
Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road. The town has its own railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line, the mainline rail link connecting Portsmouth and London. The town is situated on the...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
with the junior school (ages 5-11) in nearby Liphook
Liphook
Liphook is a large village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 4.1 miles west of Haslemere, on the A3 road, and lies on the Hampshire/West Sussex border.Liphook has its own railway station, on the Portsmouth Direct Line....
. The current headmaster is Simon Williams, who replaced Geoffrey Buttle in September 2004.
The college has several notable alumni, known as 'Old Churcherians' or 'OCs'. Male OCs are eligible to become members of the East India Club
East India Club
The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club, usually known as the East India Club, is a gentlemen's club founded in 1849 and situated at 16 St. James's Square in London...
, whilst women may join the University Women’s Club.
History
The school was founded under the will of Richard ChurcherRichard Churcher
Richard Churcher was a wealthy English businessman and philanthropist, who had made his fortune through interests in the British East India Company. He was born in Funtington, West Sussex, and following his death was buried there....
in 1722. Churcher was a wealthy local philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, who had made his fortune through interests in the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. His will, dated 1722, decreed that the College was to educate:
Under the terms of the will, Churcher's College was created as a non-denominational foundation, a status it has kept to this day. The school was originally in a fine 1729 building, which still stands in College Street. The school became increasingly popular due to its successes, and in 1881 the school moved to a new location close to the original site in Ramshill, where the school is still based today. However, the school's expanding population has meant there are many modern buildings alongside the original 1881 buildings.
For much of the 20th century, Churcher's College operated as a voluntary aided
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
. In 1979, Hampshire County Council decided to cease to maintain the college, which became an independent fee-paying school.
Girls were first admitted to the Sixth Form in 1980, and the school became fully co-educational in 1988. In accordance with the naval history, the college's five houses
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...
are named for renowned naval heroes; Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
, Grenville
Richard Grenville
Sir Richard Grenville was an English sailor, sea captain and explorer. He took part in the early English attempts to settle the New World, and also participated in the fight against the Spanish Armada...
, Nelson, Rodney and Collingwood
Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood was an admiral of the Royal Navy, notable as a partner with Lord Nelson in several of the British victories of the Napoleonic Wars, and frequently as Nelson's successor in commands.-Early years:Collingwood was born in Newcastle upon Tyne...
.
In 1993 the school purchased Morton House School
Morton House School
Morton House School was a British Public School, that is an independent fee-paying school, situated in the town of Petersfield, Hampshire, England. In 1993 it was taken over by Churcher's College and became the college's junior school. However, following its notable success, the new school soon...
in Petersfield, which became the Churcher's College Junior School. Like the Senior school before it, the junior school is very successful, and soon outgrew its premises. Following an unsuccessful attempt to relocate in Petersfield, the school eventually purchased an existing school campus in Liphook (Littlefield's School), which from 2003 became the new site for the Junior School.
Sport and outdoor pursuits
- The boys compete in rugby unionRugby 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...
, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, whilst the girls play netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and rounders
Rounders
Rounders is a game played between two teams of either gender. The game originated in England where it was played in Tudor times. Rounders is a striking and fielding team game that involves hitting a small, hard, leather-cased ball with a round wooden, plastic or metal bat. The players score by...
.
- The school also has equestrianism
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
teams and events.
- There are also 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,...
and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, as well as regular World Challenge
World Challenge
World Challenge is British worldwide expeditionary branch of Thomson Holidays with businesses in the UK, Asia Pacific, The United States and the Middle East, founded in 1987...
and First Challenge expeditions.
- Churcher's College provides teams that compete in many physical contests, such as the Ten Tors
Ten Tors
Ten Tors is an annual weekend hike organised and run in early May for 2,400 young people by the British Army on Dartmoor. The majority of entrants are schools, colleges, Scout groups and Cadet squadrons from South West England, though groups from across the UK regularly take part, as do teams from...
.
- The College was the first school to affiliate to the Hampshire RFU
Hampshire RFU
Hampshire Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in the county of Hampshire, England.-History:At the initiative of the Trojans Rugby Club, a meeting was held on 13th April 1883 to discuss the formation of "The Hampshire County Rugby Football Union". In this inaugural season at...
in 1924. OC Frank Guy was responsible for the founding of local rugby union club Petersfield R.F.C.
Petersfield R.F.C.
Petersfield Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in the town of Petersfield, Hampshire, England.The club was formed in 1927, at the instigation of Frank Guy, a former pupil of Churcher's College, with which the club still enjoys an excellent relationship. Affiliated to the Hampshire...
in 1927.
Uniform
- Senior Boys - Black Blazer, Red & Blue Striped Tie, White Shirt, Black Trousers.
- Senior Girls - Black Blazer, White Blouse, White & Black Tartan Kilt.
- Junior Boys - Brown Blazer, Green & Red Striped Tie, White Shirt, Black Trousers.
- Junior Girls - Brown Blazer, White Blouse, Green & Red Tartan Skirt.
6th formers are allowed more freedom in their dress code. Boys may wear a jacket, shirt and VI form or colours tie, whereas the girls wear either skirt or trouser suits.
The school's sports colours are red and dark blue.
Fees
Termly Fees and Extras for the academic year 2011/2012Per term (3 terms in each academic year)
Junior School
Classes 3 – 6: £2,615
Classes R/1/2: £2,450
Senior School
All Years: £3,850
The above fees are inclusive of normal charges for examination fees and text books.
Lunches
Junior School £2.70 per day
Senior School All Years £3.10 per day
Notable Old Churcherians
- BrigBrigadier (United Kingdom)Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
Henry Baxter CBE GM, Commander from 1973-6 of the Ulster Defence RegimentUlster Defence RegimentThe Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
, who won the George MedalGeorge MedalThe George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
in 1957 for removing an IRA bomb in Armagh - Charles BeesonCharles Beeson (director)Charles Beeson is a British television director.Some of his credits include the films: Second Sight, Four Minutes, Stranded, Cider With Rosie, Thursday 12th, and episodes of EastEnders, Spooks, Inspector Morse, and Casualty...
(1957- ), TV director - Dr Geoffrey BoxshallGeoffrey BoxshallGeoffrey Allan Boxshall FRS is a British zoologist, and Merit researcher at the Natural History Museum.-Works:*Rony Huys, Geoffrey Allan Boxshall, Copepod evolution, Ray Society, 1991, ISBN 9780903874212*Geoffrey Allan Boxshall, Sheila H...
, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer since 1997 of the Natural History MuseumNatural History MuseumThe Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
, and joint winner in 2004, with John DransfieldJohn DransfieldJohn Dransfield is an honorary research fellow and former head of palm research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom, as well as being an authority on the phylogenetic classification of palms....
, of the Linnean MedalLinnean MedalThe Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year... - Rhidian BrookRhidian BrookRhidian Brook is a novelist, screenwriter and broadcaster.He has written two novels. His first - The Testimony of Taliesin Jones - won the 1997 Somerset Maugham Award, a Betty Trask Award and the Author's Club First Novel Award as well being runner up for Welsh Book of The Year...
, writer, broadcaster - Arthur BroughArthur BroughArthur Brough was a British actor, best known for portraying the character of senior menswear salesman Mr...
, actor (Are You Being Served?Are You Being Served?Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London department store. It was written mainly by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, with contributions by Michael Knowles and John...
) - Prof John Bull CBE, Vice-Chancellor from 1992-2002 of the University of PlymouthUniversity of PlymouthPlymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
, Director from 1989-92 of Polytechnic South West, and Director from 1994-7 of the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) - Rt Rev Harry Carpenter, Bishop of OxfordBishop of OxfordThe Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
from 1955-70 - Howard DrakeHoward DrakeHoward Ronald Drake, OBE, is the current British High Commissioner to Jamaica. He was appointed in January 2010.- Career :* 1981–1983: Vice-Consul Commercial, Los Angeles, United States* 1985–1988: Second Secretary Political, Santiago, Chile...
OBE, High Commissioner to Jamaica since 2010, and Ambassador to Chile from 2005-9 - Dr Richard Dyer OBE, Chief Executive from 2006-9 of the Biosciences FederationBiosciences Federation-Function:The Federation aimed to unite the bioscience community over issues of common interest that related to both research and teaching. These organisations are a key component of the UK's knowledge economy. It also aimed to influence the formulation of UK policy relating to biosciences, and to...
, and Director from 1994-2005 of the Babraham InstituteBabraham InstituteThe Babraham Institute, set in an extensive parkland estate just south of Cambridge, is an independent charitable life sciences institute involved in biomedical research. The aim of this research is to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how... - Tim FootmanTim FootmanTim Footman is a British author, journalist and editor. He was educated at Churcher's College, Appleby College in Canada, and the University of Exeter....
, writer and quiz show regular - Reg Gammon, artist
- Ned Goy, slavonic translator
- Jim HetheringtonJim HetheringtonJames Gilbert George Hetherington, known as Jim , is a former England rugby union player. He played 6 matches for the England national rugby union team between 1958 and 1959....
, former England rugby union player - Simon IngsSimon IngsSimon Ings is an English novelist and science writer living in London. He was born in July 1965 in Horndean and educated at Churcher's College, Petersfield and at King's College London and Birkbeck College, London....
, writer - Edward KelseyEdward KelseyEdward Kelsey is a British actor of stage and screen as well as a voiceover artist. He is perhaps best recognised as the voice of Joe Grundy on the long-running BBC radio soap opera The Archers - a role he took over in 1985.On television, he is known for voicing the characters of Colonel K and...
, actor (The ArchersThe ArchersThe Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
- Joe Grundy, DangerMouseDangerMouseDanger Mouse is a British animated television series which was produced by Cosgrove Hall Films for Thames Television. It features the eponymous Danger Mouse, an English mouse who works as a superhero/secret agent. The show is a loose parody of British spy fiction, particularly James Bond and the...
) - William Kirkman MBE, Chairman from 1971-3 of the Standing Conference of University Appointments Services (now the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services - AGCAS)
- Prof John Laver CBE, Professor of Phonetics from 1985-2000 at the University of EdinburghUniversity of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and President from 1991-5 of the International Phonetic AssociationInternational Phonetic AssociationThe International Phonetic Association is an organization that promotes the scientific study of phonetics and the various practical applications of that science. The IPA’s major contribution to phonetics is the International Phonetic Alphabet—a notational standard for the phonetic... - Rear AdmRear Admiral (Royal Navy)Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
Philip Mathias MBE, Director since 2010 of the Strategic Defence and Security ReviewStrategic Defence and Security ReviewThe Strategic Defence and Security Review was announced by the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government of the United Kingdom in May 2010, and published on 19 October 2010...
(Nuclear), and President in 2004 of the Admiralty Interview BoardAdmiralty Interview BoardThe Admiralty Interview Board is the instrument of Officer selection for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary... - John Peters (RAF officer), first pilot shot down in first Gulf War, with John NicholJohn Nichol (RAF officer)Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.-Early life:...
on 17 January 1991 - Stuart Ernest Piggott (1910-1996), archaeologist
- Tim RodberTim RodberTimothy Andrew Keith Rodber formerly a rugby union footballer who played at Number eight, flanker or lock for Northampton Saints, England, and the British and Irish Lions...
(1969- ), former England rugby union player - Tiny RowlandTiny RowlandRoland "Tiny" Rowland was a British businessman and chairman of the Lonrho conglomerate from 1962 to 1994...
(1917-1998), businessman and chairman of the Lonrho conglomerate - Malcolm Shirley, Director General from 1998-2001 of the Engineering Council
- Tim SpantonTim SpantonTim Spanton is an award-winning UK journalist and amateur international chess player. Born in 1957, he was educated at Churcher's College, Petersfield, Hampshire, Guildford College, Surrey, and Highbury College, Portsmouth.-Career:...
(1957- ), journalist - Rear AdmRear Admiral (Royal Navy)Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
Chris Snow, Flag Officer Sea TrainingFlag Officer Sea TrainingFlag Officer Sea Training is a Royal Navy training organisation responsible for ensuring that Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are fit to join the operational fleet. FOST certifies crews and vessels as being sufficiently prepared for any eventuality through rigorous exercises and...
since February 2009, and commanded HMS OceanHMS Ocean (L12)HMS Ocean of the Royal Navy is an amphibious assault ship , the sole member of her class. She is designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force...
from 2005-6 - Robert Tronson, TV (and some films) director, notably of police dramas and The Darling Buds of MayThe Darling Buds of MayThe Darling Buds of May is a British comedy drama which was first broadcast between 1991 and 1993 produced by Yorkshire Television for the ITV Network. It is set in an idyllic rural 1950s Kent, among a large, boisterous family. The three series were based on the novels by H. E. Bates. Originally...
- Philip Wood, epidemiologist