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King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
Encyclopedia
King Edward VII School (KES) is a secondary school
and language college
located in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, England
. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College
was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School (SRGS)
on the site of the former on Glossop Road. The former buildings of Wesley College, now King Edward VII Upper School, were Grade II* listed in 1973.
The School supported a Junior School until the advent of the 11-plus examination entry that was a consequence of the Education Act 1944
. The last boys left the Junior School in 1947 and the 1948 entry was the first entirely from the 11 plus examination
. The School has been particularly successful in preparing boys for entry to the University of Oxford
and the University of Cambridge
. These reached a peak in 1961 (28 Oxbridge entries) and 1962 (26 Oxbridge entries) although after the latter, the headmaster N L Clapton in his 1962 Speech Day address observed that the figure was unlikely to be attained again. In particular, many boys went to the Queen's College, Oxford
as the School was one of 20 Schools in Yorkshire
, Westmorland
and Cumberland
that were eligible for the hotly-contested Hastings Scholarships at that College. The last 11-plus examination entry was in 1968 and the School became a co-educational Comprehensive School in September 1969. Girls were admitted in 1969 to Crosspool
Secondary Modern School which became the Lower School for King Edward VII School. In 2005, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary. During 2011-12 a major building programme of extension and refurbishment is being undertaken (in progress, November 2011).
Further details about the school's history are to be found on the Old Edwardians Website (see references below, Archive). This comprehensive site includes about 1150 relevant articles and photographs, with such documents as School magazines, Speechday Leaflets and official form photographs, plus a list of approximately 400 Old Edwardians.
report of 13 September 2006 as a mixed Community Secondary School (11–19). The school has 1,678 students in all, 524 of whom are in the 6th form.
Of the 6th form roughly 50% originate from the Lower School, the remainder coming from other schools in the Sheffield region (many of which are 11–16).
The Chair of Governors is Ms C Leary and the Headteacher is Mrs Beverley Jackson.
The Upper School is currently being refurbished, with the addition of a sports hall and science block, as part of the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme; work began in July 2010 and is scheduled to finish in May 2012.
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 language college
Language College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
located in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, 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...
. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College
Wesley College, Sheffield
Wesley College, a school to educate the sons of the laity, opened in 1838 in new buildings designed by William Flockton on Glossop Road, Sheffield, England. It was founded by Rev...
was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School (SRGS)
Sheffield Grammar School
Sheffield Grammar School began in 1604 as 'The Free Grammar School of James King of England within the Town of Sheffield in the County of York' in buildings in the Townhead area of Sheffield, resulting from the benefaction of John Smith of Crowland...
on the site of the former on Glossop Road. The former buildings of Wesley College, now King Edward VII Upper School, were Grade II* listed in 1973.
The School supported a Junior School until the advent of the 11-plus examination entry that was a consequence of the Education Act 1944
Education Act 1944
The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. This Act, commonly named after the Conservative politician R.A...
. The last boys left the Junior School in 1947 and the 1948 entry was the first entirely from the 11 plus examination
Eleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
. The School has been particularly successful in preparing boys for entry to the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. These reached a peak in 1961 (28 Oxbridge entries) and 1962 (26 Oxbridge entries) although after the latter, the headmaster N L Clapton in his 1962 Speech Day address observed that the figure was unlikely to be attained again. In particular, many boys went to the Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
as the School was one of 20 Schools in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
and Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
that were eligible for the hotly-contested Hastings Scholarships at that College. The last 11-plus examination entry was in 1968 and the School became a co-educational Comprehensive School in September 1969. Girls were admitted in 1969 to Crosspool
Crosspool
Crosspool is a suburb of the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, located west of the city centre. It is a Middle class residential area in an elevated position above the Porter and Rivelin valleys and stands at around 200 metres above sea level...
Secondary Modern School which became the Lower School for King Edward VII School. In 2005, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary. During 2011-12 a major building programme of extension and refurbishment is being undertaken (in progress, November 2011).
Further details about the school's history are to be found on the Old Edwardians Website (see references below, Archive). This comprehensive site includes about 1150 relevant articles and photographs, with such documents as School magazines, Speechday Leaflets and official form photographs, plus a list of approximately 400 Old Edwardians.
The school today
The school is described in the 2006 OFSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report of 13 September 2006 as a mixed Community Secondary School (11–19). The school has 1,678 students in all, 524 of whom are in the 6th form.
Of the 6th form roughly 50% originate from the Lower School, the remainder coming from other schools in the Sheffield region (many of which are 11–16).
The Chair of Governors is Ms C Leary and the Headteacher is Mrs Beverley Jackson.
The Upper School is currently being refurbished, with the addition of a sports hall and science block, as part of the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme; work began in July 2010 and is scheduled to finish in May 2012.
Headteachers of King Edward VII School
- 1905–1926 J. H. Hichens MA, LLD (Hons)
- 1926–1928 S. R. K. Gurner, MC, MARonald GurnerStanley Ronald Kershaw Gurner M.C. M.A. was a headmaster and writer who was born in London.-Early years:Educated at Merchant Taylors' School, London, Gurner went to Oxford University, where he was a classics scholar at St. Johns. He gained a First in honour moderations and won a university Latin...
- 1928–1938 R. B. Graham, MA
- 1938–1950 A. W. Barton, MA, PhDArthur W BartonArthur Willoughby Barton was a noted headmaster, academic author and top-class football referee. He was educated at Nottingham High School and then Trinity College, Cambridge, after military service with the Royal Engineers...
- 1950–1965 N. L. Clapton, MA
- 1966–1988 R. Sharrock, MSc
- 1988–2008 M. H. A. Lewis, MA
- 2008–present Mrs B Jackson, MA
Notable alumni of King Edward VII School
See List of Old Edwardians (Sheffield) and also :Category:People educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield.Notable staff of King Edward VII School
- Horace BrearleyHorace BrearleyHorace Brearley was an English cricketer and schoolmaster.Born in Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, England, Brearley represented Yorkshire for a solitary County Championship appearance as a right-handed batsman in 1937, and played for Middlesex in 1949. He appearance with Yorkshire yielded seventeen runs...
, 1937–46 (father of Mike BrearleyMike BrearleyJohn Michael Brearley OBE is a former cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2007–08.-Early life:...
, England cricketer) - E F WatlingE F WatlingEdward Fairchild Watling was an English school-master, classicist and translator. He produced translations for Penguin Classics of Sophocles's Theban Plays, nine plays of Plautus and a selection of Seneca's tragedies....
, 1924–60, Classics master and translator of Sophocles
External links
- King Edward VII School and Language College
- Archive of school photos and magazines
- LinkedIn Group
- About King Edward VII School
- BBC News – King Edward VII School – League Tables
- OFSTED report 2002
- 2005 GCSE results for Sheffield LEA
- 2005 A-level results for Sheffield LEA
- DCSF Achievement and Attainment levels 2007