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 -- from Year 7 to 11 the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form (years 12 and 13).
The current headteacher is Tom Carter, who was appointed in the autumn of 2014 after Tom Sherrington left in August 2014.
Video King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
History of the school
KEGS was one of many grammar schools founded by Edward VI. 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, in an alternative location. 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. Once a boarding school, it was one of many grammar schools to join the state sector and abolish the nominal fees. The last boarders left in the 1970s. In 1976 it admitted the first female pupil to the Sixth Form, to study Classics.
The school has been ranked in the top 50 schools in the country in national examination league tables. KEGS was previously a Foundation School and Specialist Science College and Language College. The school converted to academy status in April 2011, but continues to have science and languages as specialisms. It is also a Leading Edge school.
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. In 2001 the school was named Sunday Times School of the Year. 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. In November 2006, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.
Maps King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
House system
In 1907, headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of "Houses" -- 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.
House events
The House System has adapted into a competition in which each house competes in various inter-house competitions in order to win points to get the 'House Trophy'.
Standards: In June, every member of the house is encouraged to partake in athletic events on one evening, with each event awarding the participant a maximum of three points depending on how well the task was completed. A single point is awarded simply for turning up, encouraging mass participation.
House Music: Each house is designated 30 minutes to present five musical acts, with requirements such as representation from each section of the school, which are judged by a panel including a guest well-renowned in a field of music.
House Drama: Each house must perform five acts that fall into different categories (e.g. Monologue, Duologue, Junior & Senior Pieces), and again requiring participation from across the school, which are each then marked out of 100.
House Sporting Events: Particularly in the lower school, emphasis is placed on sporting events, with annual rugby, football, cross-country, rowing and other events being held for each year group. 'Sports Morning', in the winter, and 'Sports Day' in the summer are also held with a larger amount of pupils taking part.
Extracurricular activities
Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums
The school maintains an Army contingent of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which is also open to students of Chelmsford County High School for Girls. 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) emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.
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.
- Junior Orchestra (Combined with previous KEGS Strings)
- Senior Orchestra
- Chamber Ensemble
- Choir
- Wind Band
- Jazz Ensemble
World Challenge
Whilst in the sixth form, each student has the chance to embark on a biennial World Challenge Expedition. Here teams of around 10-15 students undertake an eighteen-month build-up to raise money for, and participate in a month-long expedition in a remote, wild destination.
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 is the school's independent student newspaper. Since its creation in January 2009, it has featured numerous articles by alumni, staff and students.
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
- 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
- Christopher Roberts master at arms and eminent social anthropologist. Credited with the "theory of the humours." Close friend of Ship's commander and author Samuel Pepys.
1900-1960
- Harold Henry Abbott, poet
- 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
- Lord Fowler, 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
- Wing Commander Wilf Sizer , fighter pilot with 213 Squadron
- 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 of the Opposition at the National Assembly for Wales and AM for Mid and West Wales
- 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
- 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
- Grayson Perry, 2003 Turner Prize winner
- Mike Smith, touring car driver and television presenter
- Joe Thomas, actor - The Inbetweeners
- John Tipler, international motoring journalist
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
External links
- The official KEGS website
- The School's most recent Ofsted inspection report
Source of the article : Wikipedia