St. Edward's School, Cheltenham
Encyclopedia
St. Edward's School is an independent co-educational Catholic school
in Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
, England
welcoming pupils of all denominations from 11 to 18 years old.
The majority of pupils come to St Edward's from St Edward's Junior School
, although a significant number come from schools across the county each year.
As a day school St Edward's occupies a 'niche' market in the predominantly boarding school environment in Cheltenham.
The current headmaster is Mr Paul Harvey.
Independent education in Cheltenham is quite congested with an abnormally rich provision of choice for parents. St Edward's School now boasts a school roll of almost 500 pupils. The school motto is 'Quantum Potes Aude' which means 'Dare to do your best'.
In 1935 the property was acquired by a religious Order, the sisters of La Sainte Union, originally from France, who established a convent in the house and added new buildings for classrooms. Charlton Park School was opened as a Roman Catholic school for girls in 1939. An area on the edge of the site was given for the building of a new Catholic parish church, Sacred Hearts, in 1957.
The need for a similar Catholic school for boys in the Cheltenham area was met in 1958 when the Carmelite order of priests and brothers acquired another historic site, Ashley House, less than a mile a way on the London road. Here they opened Whitefriars School. The two schools had many natural links, with families educating their sons and daughters at them. For some years Catholic children who passed their 11+ were awarded places at the schools by the local education authority. Both schools attracted many pupils of other denominations, while retaining their Catholic ethos. New buildings were added on both sites as the schools grew.
The Whitefriars School purple blazer was very noticeable among the Cheltenham schools. Charlton Park School, also known as The Convent, remained a single sex day school but in the Sixth Form the boys and girls classes were merged. The teachers' explanation being that it provided greater curriculum and timetabling options. The students naturally saw other benefits.
By the 1980s, the numbers of L.S.U. sisters and Carmelite friars had dropped, and both Orders were moving out of education. The parents at Charlton Park and Whitefriars were very keen, however, that the Christian education provided in the schools should continue. A new lay-run trust was set up, and St.Edward's School was created as a fully independent school. The main school (Years 7 - 13) took over the Charlton Park site, while the Whitefriars site became St Edward's Junior School
(Years K - 6).
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, 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...
welcoming pupils of all denominations from 11 to 18 years old.
The majority of pupils come to St Edward's from St Edward's Junior School
St Edward's Junior School
St. Edward's Junior School is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Cheltenham, England welcoming pupils of all denominations from 1 to 11 years old.The majority of pupils move on to St...
, although a significant number come from schools across the county each year.
As a day school St Edward's occupies a 'niche' market in the predominantly boarding school environment in Cheltenham.
The current headmaster is Mr Paul Harvey.
Independent education in Cheltenham is quite congested with an abnormally rich provision of choice for parents. St Edward's School now boasts a school roll of almost 500 pupils. The school motto is 'Quantum Potes Aude' which means 'Dare to do your best'.
History
The school site, Charlton Park, was a hunting lodge belonging to Edward the Confessor (1003-1066), the only English monarch who is also a canonized Saint. The manor of Cheltenham which included Charlton was royal property - hence the local area's name, Charlton Kings - and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Later the property was owned by a succession of families, and the original medieval manor house, known as Forden House, was rebuilt several times. It now is substantially as it was in the 18th century, though incorporating 16th century beams and brickwork.In 1935 the property was acquired by a religious Order, the sisters of La Sainte Union, originally from France, who established a convent in the house and added new buildings for classrooms. Charlton Park School was opened as a Roman Catholic school for girls in 1939. An area on the edge of the site was given for the building of a new Catholic parish church, Sacred Hearts, in 1957.
The need for a similar Catholic school for boys in the Cheltenham area was met in 1958 when the Carmelite order of priests and brothers acquired another historic site, Ashley House, less than a mile a way on the London road. Here they opened Whitefriars School. The two schools had many natural links, with families educating their sons and daughters at them. For some years Catholic children who passed their 11+ were awarded places at the schools by the local education authority. Both schools attracted many pupils of other denominations, while retaining their Catholic ethos. New buildings were added on both sites as the schools grew.
The Whitefriars School purple blazer was very noticeable among the Cheltenham schools. Charlton Park School, also known as The Convent, remained a single sex day school but in the Sixth Form the boys and girls classes were merged. The teachers' explanation being that it provided greater curriculum and timetabling options. The students naturally saw other benefits.
By the 1980s, the numbers of L.S.U. sisters and Carmelite friars had dropped, and both Orders were moving out of education. The parents at Charlton Park and Whitefriars were very keen, however, that the Christian education provided in the schools should continue. A new lay-run trust was set up, and St.Edward's School was created as a fully independent school. The main school (Years 7 - 13) took over the Charlton Park site, while the Whitefriars site became St Edward's Junior School
St Edward's Junior School
St. Edward's Junior School is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Cheltenham, England welcoming pupils of all denominations from 1 to 11 years old.The majority of pupils move on to St...
(Years K - 6).