Ellesmere College
Encyclopedia
Ellesmere College is an independent co-educational
English
independent school
located in Ellesmere
and based in rural northern Shropshire
, England
.
as a boys' school in association with the Church of England
, on a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) campus
, with views across to the Breidden Hills.
, Senior School
and Sixth Form
. In addition to academic classroom work, the school places a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities, such as artistic, sporting or outdoor endeavours. The school has in recent years become famous for its elite age group and youth swimming programme - Ellesmere College Titans - attracting top swimming pupils from all over the UK and Europe. The school also has a rugby academy and offers scholarships for talented young swimmers and rugby players.
The musical tradition is strong, and it has two of the finest pipe organs in England. More than thirty per cent of the students learn to play a musical instrument
. The drama
and art
traditions are strong also.
All students are encouraged to join the CCF
, social services or the Duke of Edinburgh
's Award Scheme. Through the Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation (CVQO
) the CCF offers cadets (aged 16–19) the opportunity to gain internationally-recognised BTEC First Diploma qualifications in Public Services and Music. Each BTEC First Diploma is the equivalent of 4 GCSEs, grade C - A*.
Ellesmere is a member of the Woodard Corporation of Schools
, and has a Drama Exchange relationship with Tabor Academy
in Marion, Massachusetts
in the United States
.
In 1978 the movie "Absolution" starring Richard Burton
and Billy Connolly
was partly filmed within the college.
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
English
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...
independent school
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...
located in Ellesmere
Ellesmere, Shropshire
Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in north Shropshire, England, notable for its proximity to a number of prominent lakes, the Meres.-History:...
and based in rural northern Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, 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...
.
History
It was founded in 1884 by Canon Nathaniel WoodardNathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith...
as a boys' school in association with the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, on a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
, with views across to the Breidden Hills.
Description
Ellesmere College is a member of the Woodard Corporation, the largest group of independent schools in the United Kingdom. Pupils range in ages from 7 to 18, and the school consists of a Lower School, Middle SchoolMiddle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, Senior School
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and 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,...
. In addition to academic classroom work, the school places a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities, such as artistic, sporting or outdoor endeavours. The school has in recent years become famous for its elite age group and youth swimming programme - Ellesmere College Titans - attracting top swimming pupils from all over the UK and Europe. The school also has a rugby academy and offers scholarships for talented young swimmers and rugby players.
The musical tradition is strong, and it has two of the finest pipe organs in England. More than thirty per cent of the students learn to play a musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. The drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
traditions are strong also.
All students are encouraged to join the CCF
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,...
, social services or the Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
's Award Scheme. Through the Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation (CVQO
Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation (CVQO)
The CVQO manages Vocational Qualifications for members of the British cadet organisations.- Rationale :Young people who are members of the Cadet Forces gain skills that include :* Leadership* Team building* Problem-solving* Communication...
) the CCF offers cadets (aged 16–19) the opportunity to gain internationally-recognised BTEC First Diploma qualifications in Public Services and Music. Each BTEC First Diploma is the equivalent of 4 GCSEs, grade C - A*.
Ellesmere is a member of the Woodard Corporation of Schools
Woodard 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....
, and has a Drama Exchange relationship with Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy is a highly selective independent preparatory school located in Marion, Massachusetts, United States. Tabor is known for its marine science courses...
in Marion, Massachusetts
Marion, Massachusetts
Marion is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,123 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Marion Center, please see the article Marion Center, Massachusetts.-History:...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1978 the movie "Absolution" starring Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
and Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
was partly filmed within the college.
Student Numbers
Total Number of Pupils: 555, Age Range: 7-18- Number of Boys: 378
- Number of Girls: 177
- Number of Boarders: 187
- Number in 6th Form: 140
Notable Old Ellesmerians
Former students of Ellesmere College are referred to as Old Ellesmerians. See also :Category:Old Ellesmerians.- Martin AitchisonMartin AitchisonMartin Aitchison was an illustrator for the Eagle comic from 1952 to 1963, and then one of the main illustrators for Ladybird Books from 1963 to 1990....
- illustrator - Bill BeaumontBill BeaumontWilliam "Bill" Blackledge Beaumont CBE was captain of the England rugby union team at a time when they struggled to win games. His greatest moment as captain was the unexpected 1980 Grand Slam. He played as a lock...
CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
- rugby player - Ralph BenjaminRalph BenjaminRalph Benjamin, CB, PhD, DSc, DEng, FIET, FCGI, FREng, FRSA is a British scientist.Dr Benjamin was born in Darmstadt, Germany. He attended boarding school in Switzerland from 1937, and was sent to England in 1939 as a refugee...
- scientist - John Brunt VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- recipient of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - Sir Paul Dean, Baron Dean of Harptree - ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament - Robert GodwinRobert GodwinRobert Godwin is an author who has written about rock music and spaceflight. Early in his career he was a rock music impresario who managed a venue in Burlington, Ontario and founded Griffin Music.-Personal information:...
- author - Frederick HarveyFrederick Maurice Watson HarveyFrederick Maurice Watson Harvey VC, CBE, MC, Croix de Guerre was an Irish Canadian rugby union player and soldier. During the First World War, while serving in the Canadian Army, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He was later awarded a CBE...
VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Ireland rugby player and recipient of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - Chris HawkinsChris HawkinsChris Hawkins is a presenter, performance DJ, reporter, journalist, producer, and music pundit....
- DJ, television and radio presenter and reporter - Peter JonesPeter Jones (actor)Peter Jones was an English actor, screenwriter and broadcaster.-Early life and career:Jones was born in Wem, Shropshire and he was educated at the Wem Grammar School and Ellesmere College. He made his first appearance as an actor in Wolverhampton at the age of 16 and then appeared in repertory...
- actor, broadcaster and screenwriter - Marty NatalegawaMarty NatalegawaRaden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, more commonly known as Marty Natalegawa, is an Indonesian diplomat and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second United Indonesia Cabinet...
- Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Chris MoncrieffChris MoncrieffChris Moncrieff, is a British journalist. He was the political editor of the Press Association from 1980 to 1994.He joined the agency's political staff in the Houses of Parliament in 1962 and became a lobby correspondent in 1973...
- Journalist