Monmouth School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Monmouth School | |
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Serve and Obey
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| Location | |
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| Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales | |
| Information | |
| Headmaster | Dr. Steven Connors |
| Pupils | 600 (approx.) |
| Type | Public school |
| Founded | William Jones |
| Established | 1614 |
| Homepage | www.habs-monmouth.org |
Monmouth School is a public school for boys in Monmouth, Monmouthshire in south east Wales. It is run under trust by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Livery Companies. It was founded in 1614 by William Jones, local to the area, and first began teaching in 1615. Its Latin name (which is now out of use) is Schola Grammatica Monmouthensis.
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[edit] History
In 1613, William Jones, a prominent merchant and Haberdasher, gave the Haberdashers’ Company £6,000 and bequeathed a further £3,000 to be expended on charitable works and the founding of a school in Monmouth. Monmouth School was originally a grammar school for boys. It was rebuilt in 1865 and as a result of rising revenues from investments, the original foundation was re-organised in 1891 to support a new girls’ school and an elementary school in the town, as well as a boys grammar school in Pontypool. The elementary school was transferred to County Council control in 1940 with West Monmouth School at Pontypool following in 1955. This left the William Jones’s Schools Foundation responsible for Monmouth School and Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, both of which acquired Direct Grant status in 1946. The schools became independent and fee-paying in 1976.
[edit] The School today
With 580 pupils at the boys' school (174 boarders and 406 day boys) and 650 at its sister-school, Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG), the two schools offer boarding and day places as well as preparatory departments in a sexual environment via The Grange and Gilbert Inglefield House respectively. However, to enable a wide range of A and AS level subjects to be taken, there is some combined teaching in the Sixth Form. Joint extracurricular activities in other years include the CCF, foreign expeditions, music and drama events as well as the extremely successful Lion newspaper.
There are four senior boarding houses at Monmouth School; Chapel House, New House, School House and Weirhead House. There are four senior day houses; Severn House, Monmouth House, Hereford House and Town House. Hereford House hold the day house cup, and have done for several years running. There are also three junior houses for Form I and II; Wye, Dean (cup holders) and St. James' (boarding). Placement for day-boys is down to geographical location of their home: boarders choose their own house on progression into Form III (year 9).
Last summer, the latest construction at the school, The Blake Theatre, was opened. Funded by Bob Blake, it is used as a venue for performances by both the boys' and girls' schools, and by external performers. It was officially opened by HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
In July 2005, the then Headmaster, Tim Haynes, left the school to take up the Headmastership of Tonbridge School. At the start of the Michaelmas Term in 2005, Dr Steven Connors, took up the post of Headmaster.
[edit] Houses
There are three main age divisions in the school; lower, middle and sixth form. Within these divisions, pupils are members of different houses as follows:
Wye and Dean Houses are the lower school houses, which are incorporated under the same roof in a building at the south of the campus.
St. James' Boarding House is the lower school boarding house, located off-site nearby in St. James' Square.
Severn House is the newest of the middle school day houses, formed in 2003 as a result of an increase in pupil intake and the redevelopment of the day houses. It is located on the ground floor of the middle school house complex at the north of the campus. The house in its time has had three housemasters Mr. HF Tatham 2003-2006, Mr. AM Brown 2006-2008 and Mr S McQuitty 2008-Onwards.
Town House became a day house in the late 1960s and moved to its current location on the upper floors (above Severn House) in 2003.
Monmouth House is one of the original day houses, currently located below Hereford House.
Hereford House is one of the original day houses, currently located above Monmouth House
Weirhead House a boarding house, located at the south of the campus, near WyeDean, like a small nazi state
New House a boarding house, located next to the administrative buildings in the centre of the campus
School House a boarding house, located next to the middle school house complex at the north-east of the complex.
Chapel Boarding House is located offsite, on the Hereford Road at the north of town. Dating from the 1700s, it is a large Grade II listed building with a terraced garden leading down to the River Monnow. Its panelled walls are of particular interest. It was converted in the mid-1970s to its current use, before which it served as a boarding house for Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Its name is a result of it having been a home for retired clergymen.
Tudor House is the sixth form common room. There are many excellent recreational facilities such as table-tennis and the cafe.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Angus Buchanan - awarded the Victoria Cross during World War I
- Eddie Butler - rugby player / TV commentator
- Derek Ezra - former chairman, National Coal Board
- John Josiah Guest - industrialist
- John Gwilliam - rugby player
- Christopher William Herbert - ecclesiastic(the present Bishop of St Albans)
- Steve James - cricketer
- Keith Jarrett - rugby player
- Paul Langford - historian
- Tom Little - youngest person to die in World War II, aged 16 years and 186 days
- Richard Marner - actor (best known for his role as Colonel von Strohm in the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!)
- Colin Moynihan - politician and sportsman (4th Baron Moynihan)
- Grant Nicholas - guitarist and singer with rock band Feeder (Although he was expelled from the school)
- Tom Price - actor and comedian
- Victor Spinetti - actor
- Cliff Tucker - politician
- Huw Waters - cricketer
- Kyle Tudge - cricketer
- John Vassall - civil servant and soviet spy
- Robin Williams - Amateur Rowing Association, Chief Coach for Great Britain Lightweights; former Chief Coach of Cambridge University Boat Club
- Glyn Worsnip - Actor and broadcaster
- Richard Pearson - Actor
- Frank Owen - Newspaper Editor
- Tom Lucy - Beijing 2008 Olympic hopeful and Rowing World Cup oarsman
