King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school with academy status located in the city of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It takes pupils between the ages of 11 and 18, ie. school years 7 to 13. For years 7 to 11 the school is boys-only, whereas it is mixed in the sixth form (years 12 and 13).[5]
King Edward VI Grammar School | |
---|---|
Address | |
Broomfield Road , , | |
Coordinates | 51.74°N 0.465°E |
Information | |
Type | Grammar school, Academy |
Motto | Quicquid agas sapiens age fortiter ex animoque ('Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might', Ecc 9:10)[1] |
Established | 1551 |
Founder | Edward VI |
Department for Education URN | 136642 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Chairman | Mary Turner[2] |
Headteacher | Tom Carter |
Staff | 74 teaching, 62 support[3] |
Gender | Boys; Mixed (Sixth Form) |
Age | 11 to 18 |
Enrolment | Over 1000 |
Houses | Holland ; Mildmay ; Strutt ; Tindal |
Publication | The Chelmsfordian[4] |
Former pupils | Old Chelmsfordians |
Website | http://www.kegs.org.uk/ |
The headteacher is Tom Carter,[1] who was appointed in the autumn of 2014.
History of the school
KEGS was one of many grammar schools founded by Edward VI.[6] Its current form resulted from a royal warrant dated 24 March 1551, although evidence of this school exists from as far back as the 13th century, possibly earlier, as a chantry school in a different location in Chelmsford.[7] Indeed, the school of 1551 was merely a "rebranding" of the Chelmsford Chantry School, a Roman Catholic institution which had been abolished along with the monasteries during the English Reformation. The school was moved to its present site on Broomfield Road in 1892.[8] Once a boarding school, it was one of many grammar schools to join the state sector and abolish the nominal fees. The last boarding students left in the 1970s. In 1976 it admitted the first female pupil to the Sixth Form, to study Classics.[6]
The school has been ranked in the top 50 schools in the country in national examination league tables.[9] KEGS was previously a Foundation School and Specialist Science College and Language College. The school converted to academy status in April 2011,[10] but continues to have science and languages as specialisms. It is also a Leading Edge school.[11]
In 1981 it was named by The Sunday Times as the most successful state school as measured by Oxbridge open awards. In 1998, it was rated by the Financial Times as the most successful state school at GCE advanced level in the period 1993-1998.[6] In 2001 the school was named Sunday Times School of the Year.[8] The 2015 Good Schools Guide names KEGS as the top selective state school for a number of A-level subjects, as well as GCSE History and FSMQ Additional Mathematics.[12] In November 2006, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.[13]
House system
In 1907, headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of "Houses"[14] — Holland, named for Philemon Holland; Mildmay, for Sir Walter Mildmay; Strutt, for Joseph Strutt; and Tindal, for Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, dividing the school into four forms in each year. Due to the expansion of the school roll over the last few years, this has not been the case. Instead, there are five forms, which contain a mix of people from different houses.
Extracurricular activities
Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums
The school maintains an Army contingent of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which was also open to students of Chelmsford County High School for Girls until 2017. Military music is provided within the contingent by a Corps of Drums playing drums, flutes and bugles. The Corps wears the full dress scarlet tunics of The Essex Regiment, incorporating the purple facings which gave the Essex Regiment its nickname 'The Pompadours'. It carries the drums of the 5th Battalion (Territorial Army)[15] emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.[16]
KEGS music
The school has many ensembles, of which the orchestras include members from other schools, though the majority are from KEGS and Chelmsford County High School for Girls. The other ensembles are exclusive to those who attend KEGS.[17]
- Junior Orchestra (Combined with previous KEGS Strings)
- Senior Orchestra
- Chamber Ensemble
- Choir
- Wind Band
- Jazz Ensemble
The Fleur De Lys Society
The Fleur de Lys Society (FDL) was a sixth-form debating society-cum-charity fundraising society. The FDL was believed to have been started by Frank Rogers, an influential Headmaster. As well as holding debates on a variety of topical subjects, it was also an important charitable organisation within the school. However, due to the controversial nature and content of several debates, the Society was suspended in 2007.
The KEGS Ambassador
The KEGS Ambassador[18] is the school's independent student newspaper. Since its creation in January 2009, it has featured numerous articles by alumni, staff and students.
KEGS Medical Society
The KEGS Medical Society (MedSoc) is where topical medical issues are discussed.
The KEGS Economics Journal
The KEGS Economics Journal is another of the school's student-led newspapers. They feature articles on a wide variety of national and international economic and political affairs.
Notable former pupils
Of the Chelmsford Chantry School (before the Royal Charter of 1551)
- John Dee, mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, occultist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I; responsible for the English translation of Euclid's work.
Pre 1900
- John Hilton (surgeon), professor of human anatomy and surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, president of the Hunterian Society
- Philemon Holland, classical scholar
- Thomas Plume, Archdeacon of Rochester and educational benefactor, founded the chair of Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge
- Joseph Strutt, author of "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England"
- Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, Lord Chief Justice of The Court of Common Pleas
1900-1960
- H. H. Abbott, poet and headmaster
- Professor Sir John Baker, Downing Professor of the Laws of England at the University of Cambridge and leading legal historian
- J. A. Baker, Author of The Peregrine and The Hill of Summer
- Peter Baldwin CBE, Chief Executive of the Radio Authority from 1991-5[19]
- Norman Fowler, current Lord Speaker; Conservative politician; former Cabinet minister
- Peter Joslin, QPM, Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police (1983–1998)
- Tony Oliver (referee), English Football League referee
- Brian Parkyn, Labour MP for Bedford from 1966–70
- Peter Seabrook MBE, gardener
- John G. Taylor, Professor of Mathematics at King's College London from 1971–96, and President of the European Neural Network Society from 1993-4
- Paul White, Baron Hanningfield
- Denis Wick, trombonist
- Clive Young, former Bishop of Dunwich
Post 1960
- Nick Alston, Essex's first Police and Crime Commissioner
- Nick Bourne, Former Conservative Leader (2000-2011) and Leader of the Opposition (2007-2011) and AM for Mid and West Wales (1999-2011), Peer (2013-date) and Government Minister (2014-date)
- Lewis Brindley, Managing Director and Senior Content Producer at the Yogscast
- Neil Cole, comedian, television presenter and radio broadcaster
- Mervyn Day, former FA Cup winning professional footballer and former assistant manager of West Ham United Football Club
- Simon Dolan, businessman and entrepreneur
- Paul Dorrington, guitarist in The Wedding Present
- Alex Dowsett, British cyclist
- Guthrie Govan, guitar virtuoso
- Jason Hazeley, comedy writer
- Simon Heffer, British journalist and writer, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail
- Thomas Jenkinson, prominent electronic and jazz musician, also known as Squarepusher
- Jonathan Lewis, former Essex and Durham cricketer
- Anthony Marwood, concert violinist
- James Maynard, mathematician working on prime gaps
- Andrew McGarry, former Essex cricketer
- Tim Mead, countertenor
- Anthony Milton CB OBE, Commandant General Royal Marines and Commander UK Amphibious Forces from 2002-4
- Ivan Moody, composer
- Joel Morris, comedy writer
- Grayson Perry, 2003 Turner Prize winner
- Mike Smith, touring car driver and television presenter
- Joe Thomas, actor - The Inbetweeners
- John Tipler, international motoring journalist
- Rajeeb Dey, MBE, British entrepreneur
- Jonathan Clayden, professor of organic chemistry
Fictional
- John Watson, character in the 2010 BBC series of Sherlock. John Watson's CV is visible in episode two, where KEGS is cited under Education Qualifications (with 6 A*).
References
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Headteacher's Welcome". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- "Board of Governors – KEGS". Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- "Staff List". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » 'The Chelmsfordian". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Admissions Policy". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Our History". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- "KEGS Prospectus: A 21st Century Grammar School". Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001 — Anthony Tuckwell
- "BBC News: Secondary league tables". Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- "William de Ferrers and KEGS get academy status". Essex Chronicle. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- "Leading Edge and Learning Lessons". Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford - The Good Schools Guide". Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Ofsted Report". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » House System
- corrected after reference to the Band Master Mr Worrall
- King Edward VI Grammar School » CCF
- King Edward VI Grammar School » Music
- "The KEGS Ambassador: KEGS school newspaper". Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- "Major General Peter Baldwin - obituary". The Telegraph. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.