Cokethorpe School
Cokethorpe School is an independent school at Hardwick, West Oxfordshire, about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Witney. It was founded in 1957 by Francis Brown.[2] It is a member of HMC, IAPS and The Society of Heads (formerly known as SHMIS). The school has about 660 pupils, ranging in age from four to 18. The Junior School and the Senior School are on the same site.
| Cokethorpe School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
Witney , , OX29 7PU England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent Day School |
| Motto | Inopiam Ingenio Pensant |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England and Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1957 |
| Chairman of Governors | Sir John Allison |
| Headmaster | Damian Ettinger |
| Gender | Boys until 1992 Coeducational from 1992 |
| Age | 4 to 18 |
| Enrolment | about 660 |
| Houses | Upper School: Feilden, Gascoigne, Harcourt, Queen Anne, Swift, Lower House and Vanbrugh; Lower School: Baker, Gwyn, Lockwood and Symonds.[1] |
| Colour(s) | Navy blue and gold |
| Publication | The Ocellus- The termly newsletter & The SHEDule- The list of the academic year's event |
| Former Pupils | The Cokethorpe Society |
| Setting | Rural (150 acres) |
| Website | http://www.cokethorpe.org.uk/ |
At the heart of the school is an early 18th-century Grade II* listed Queen Anne style country house.[3] The school is set in 150 acres (1 km2) of parkland and there is also a chapel in the grounds. The tower of the chapel was virtually destroyed in a fire in 1994 but it has since been demolished and rebuilt. The grounds have a number of rugby/football pitches along with the recently built astro pitches. An expertly carved 'giant' peacock stands at the central crossroads within the school grounds, a symbol of the school.
The school has an outstanding recent sporting tradition with students playing national age group rugby (England under-16 & under-18) and also England women's hockey. The school also has numerous representatives in both regional and Oxfordshire rugby, football, cricket, hockey, athletics and tennis. Also the school has developed a reputation as a premier kayaking school as well as nurturing equestrian talents.
The school operates a house system, with houses called Harcourt, Gascoigne, Swift, Queen Anne, Vanbrugh, Lower House (Year 7) and Feilden. The houses compete in sport such as house rugby and football for boys, hockey and netball for girls, and in field and track events at the annual school sports day. There are also competitions in the arts, such as house music, drama, photography and art.
Inside the school, there is a theatre called the Shed, where they have drama productions, concerts and lectures. These can range from musicals to dance even hip hop competitions an productions of the Crucible, with perfect casting.
History
The country house was used by Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt.[4] When Major Percy Henry Guy Feilden and his wife, Dorothy Louisa Brand, moved there in 1908, they undertook extensive renovations.[5] He died on 25 March 1944, and was buried there.[6] His son, Major-General Randle Guy Feilden, who was later knighted, was his successor. In 1957, it was let with part of the grounds to Francis Brown, who opened the school as a secondary boys' boarding school with 14 pupils. In about 1960 Yarnton Manor was used as a dormitory of the school.[7] In 1963 a charitable trust was formed, and in 1966 the school buildings and grounds were sold to the school trustees.[2][4]
The school is a joint Church of England and Roman Catholic foundation.[8] The chapel is on the golf course in the school grounds. It is the former parish church of Hardwick, and was restored and extended in 1973.
In 1985 the roof of the north-west wing was studied while the building was being repaired.[9] In 1986 work began on the construction of further buildings. The school started admitting girls in 1992 and opened a junior school in 1994. The boarding facility was closed in 2003.
Notable former pupils
- Martin Edwards, a former Manchester United chairman
- Richard and Michael Hills, twins and both successful flat racing jockeys in the UK.
- Toby Sebastian, Actor – starring in the hit series Game of Thrones
- Henry Purdy, Rugby Player at Gloucester Rugby
- Florence Pugh, Actress (attended Cokethorpe Junior School)
References
- "Welcome from the Head of Sixth Form".
- Crossley, Alan; Currie, C.R.J. (eds.); Baggs, A.P.; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C. (1996). A History of the County of Oxford. 13: Bampton Hundred (Part One). pp. 110–118. ISBN 978-0-19722-790-9. Retrieved 27 January 2012.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Historic England. "Cokethorpe School (Grade II*) (1048970)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- "Cokethorpe School, Oxfordshire". Venues. Remotegoat. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- Jenkins, Stephanie (3 January 2012). "People of Headington: Katharine Feilden". Headington, Oxford. Stephanie Jenkins. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- Jeffery, Zoe. "Percy Henry Guy Feilden (b. – 1944)". Records. Geni. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- Crossley, Alan; Elrington, C.R. (eds.); Baggs, A.P.; Blair, W.J.; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Cooper, Janet; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C. (1990). A History of the County of Oxford. Victoria County History. 12: Wootton Hundred (South) including Woodstock. pp. 475–478. ISBN 978-0-19722-774-9. Retrieved 3 February 2012.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Pastoral Care". Cokethorpe School. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- Steane, John (1986). "Cokethorpe Park (PRN 11202 SP 37100620)" (PDF). The Newsletter of the Council for British Archaeology Regional Group 9 (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire). The Council for British Archaeology (16). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2012.