Old Swinford Hospital
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| Old Swinford Hospital | |
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| Motto | Ut Prosim Vince Malum Bono |
| Established | 1667 |
| Type | Voluntary aided school |
| Religious affiliation | Church of England |
| Headteacher | Mr Peter Jones |
| Founder | Thomas Foley (1616-1677) |
| Specialism | Business and Enterprise College, Science College |
| Location | Heath Lane Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QX England |
| LEA | Dudley |
| Students | 603 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Ages | 11 to 18 |
| Houses | 6 Senior Boarding Houses, 1 Junior Boarding House, 1 Day Student House |
| School colours | |
| Publication | The Foleyan |
| Former Pupils | Old Foleyans |
| Website | Old Swinford Hospital |
| Coordinates: | |
Old Swinford Hospital is a private boys' boarding school in Oldswinford in Stourbridge, West Midlands (county), England that has been in continuous operation since the 17th century.
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[edit] The School
Founded in 1667 by Thomas Foley, a Worcestershire Ironmaster, Old Swinford Hospital is placed in the top 5% of all schools at GCSE and with a strong record at A level. In October 2006, OFSTED rated the school as "outstanding" in each of the 39 inspection judgements.
Some two thirds of the current (approximately 600) pupils are boarders from the immediate surrounding area and further afield in the UK. There is also a significant contingent of pupils from overseas, as all those with a full UK or EU passport are entitled to apply for admission.
Old Swinford Hospital is a member of the State Boarding Schools Association (formerly STABIS).
Although the name can be written Old Swinford Hospital School for the sake of clarity, it is generally agreed that the word school is not part of the official title for unknown reasons.
[edit] Houses
The school consists of six senior boarding houses:
- Baxter House. Built in 1990 and named after the 17th Century Puritan Minister Richard Baxter. Colours: Grey, White, Black. Housemaster: Mr. Hannah (History)
- Dudley House. Named after the Earls of Dudley, the family who bought the Foley's estate of Witley Court. Colours: Purple. Housemaster: Mr. Gregory (French and Spanish)
- Foley House . Named after the founder of the School, Thomas Foley. Colours: Green, Black, Gold. Housemaster: Mr. Goode
- Foster House. Named after the Foster family. Colours: Red, Black, White. Housemaster: Mr. Coalter (Director of Sport and Physical Education)
- Maybury House. Named after the Headmaster of the School from 1883-1928, William Maybury. Colours: Royal Blue, Yellow. Housemaster: Mr. Smith (Business Studies)
- Witley House. Named after the Foley family mansion Witley Court. House Colours: Yellow, Prussian Blue. Housemaster: Mr. Maclean (Religious Studies and Geography)
In 2009, there will be a 7th Senior Boarding House, Potter House. Named after the Headmaster from 1978-2001, Christopher Potter OBE. House Colour: Sky Blue
There is one junior boarding house: Prospect House named after it is location on Prospect Hill in Stourbridge. Housemaster: Mr. Kay (History and PSHE)
There is also one Day Student House for Day Boys and Day Girls in the Sixth Form, called Harris House named after Richard Harris, a Feoffee of the school. Housemaster: Mr. Holder (Mathematics)
There is a list of Staffs at www.oshsch.com (Word Document)
[edit] History
Old Swinford Hospital opened in the late summer of 1670. It was founded by Thomas Foley, an ironmaster whose estate was at Great Witley in Worcestershire, to educate 60 boys from “poor but honest” families nominated by parishes in Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. Due to the style of the clock tower, the school's oldest buildings are thought to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren, although it is unlikely that proof of this possibility will be forthcoming.
The shield comes from the Foley family arms. The motto is in two parts "Ut Prosim" can be translated as "That I may serve", and the second or lower motto is "Vince Malum Bono" comes as a partial quotation from Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
When Foley died in 1677 he left the manor of Pedmore and a considerable sum of money in trust for the maintenance of the School. The fifteen trustees of this bequest were called Feoffees and included amongst them Thomas' three sons, Thomas, Philip and Paul. Today there are still fifteen Feoffees who are the trustees of the original foundation. Three of the Feoffees are still direct male descendants of the Founder.
In 1950 the School ceased to be independant and became a Voluntary aided school under an arrangement with Worcestershire County Council. Numbers in the School began to increase and a Sixth Form was started in the mid 1950s. New buildings, including a gymnasium and Lyttleton block were built to accommodate the enlarged School.
The school became "Direct-Grant" under Ted Heath's Conservative Government in September 1972 (an early forerunner of the "Grant Maintained" system). In October 1974 the newly elected Labour Government of Harold Wilson announced the end of the scheme with effect from September 1975, and the school once more reverted to being Voluntary-Aided by Dudley Council. By the late 1970s day boys outnumbered boarders and an ambitious building programme commenced to enhance and extend the boarding provision. This included the construction of Foley House (1982), Witley House (1983), Dudley House (1984) and Baxter House (1990) in line with the existing house system. Facilities have been further improved in more recent years by the construction of a new classroom block and a large sports centre.
In September 1989 Old Swinford Hospital became one of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government's first Grant-maintained school, independent of the Local Education Authority. With the ending of that status in September 1999 by Tony Blair's Labour Government, the School reverted to being a Voluntary Aided school. The Governors and Headmaster retain considerable autonomy, however, and the Feoffees, as Foundation Trustees, continue to appoint a majority of the Governors.
The School is remarkable for having had only 6 Headmasters since 1882.
[edit] Famous Old Foleyans
Old boys of the school are called Old Foleyans after the founder of the school, Thomas Foley.
- Nicholas Bailey - actor - performed in Coronation Street, Casualty, Eastenders.
- Matthew Chance - CNN reporter
- Richard West - Former[England Rugby Player]
- Philip Davies - Conservative MP for Shipley
- Richard Martin - Businessman and local landowner.
- Dean Headley - Former England Cricketer
- James Collins- Rugby player for Worcester Warriors
- Chris Pennell - Rugby player for Worcester Warriors
- Sean Pertwee - Actor
[edit] Headmasters since 1883
- Mr WJ Maybury (1883-1928)
- Mr HC Stone (1928-1951)
- Mr Peter Sheppard (1951-1978)
- Mr Christopher Potter OBE (1978-2001)
- Mr Melvyn Roffe (2001-2007)
- Mr Peter Jones (2007- )
