History Norwich School (independent school)

1 history

1.1 establishment , history
1.2 16th , 17th centuries
1.3 18th , 19th centuries
1.4 20th century present

history
establishment , history

stained-glass depiction of herbert de losinga in norwich cathedral

norwich school traces origins founding of episcopal grammar school in 1096 herbert de losinga, first bishop of norwich. continuity of current norwich school 1096 school make 1 of oldest surviving schools in united kingdom. newly established school occupied site on holmstrete in parish of st matthew between close of norwich cathedral , river wensum. until english reformation bishop appoint headteacher (termed head master school), though on several occasions role had been fulfilled archbishop of canterbury. earliest known headteacher vincent of scarning, mentioned in 1240 regarding financial dispute school in rudham.

in 1538, school separated cathedral foundation , placed under control of mayor, sheriffs, , commonalty of city of norwich following successful petition henry viii possession of blackfriars hall, dominican friary surrendered crown in dissolution of monasteries. 2 prominent citizens of city, augustine steward , edward rede, after consulting thomas howard, 3rd duke of norfolk, promised on city s behalf fynd perpetual free-schole therein erudicion , education of yought in lernyng , vertue . following repairs, school moved former friary in 1541, occupying part of south-west cloister, educated 20 boys under master , sub-master.

16th , 17th centuries

illustration of schola regia norwicensis, former chapel of st john evangelist

the school refounded king edward vi grammar school in royal charter granted edward vi dated 7 may 1547. issued 4 months king s accession, charter expressly implemented arrangement designed henry viii , confirmed edward seymour, lord protector. unusually cathedral city norwich did not receive cathedral school following reformation, endowed city grammar school. norwich cathedral first of 8 cathedral priories surrender crown, formally being re-established secular cathedral dean , chapter on 2 may 1538. consequently, negotiations on refoundation charter between city, rather cathedral, , crown. known great hospital charter, granted city possession of st giles hospital, called great hospital, , merged school in hope of achieving integrated system of education , poor relief. these plans never realised, however, great hospital partially stripped building materials , later sacked during kett s rebellion in 1549. school temporarily occupied st luke s house, building north-west of cathedral.

in 1550 city purchased former chantry chapel , college of st john evangelist beside cathedral use of grammar school out of £200 each year @ disposal in licence in mortmain purchase , add revenues of great hospital. founded in 1316 john salmon, bishop of norwich, chapel, in addition role chantry dedicated souls of salmon s parents , predecessors , successors of bishops of norwich had been used charnel house , contained wodehouse chantry, founded henry v @ request of john wodehous, veteran of battle of agincourt. school moved site in summer of 1551, has remained ever since. chapel used main schoolroom while other buildings used provide library , accommodation master , boarding pupils. arrangement continued until 19th century, , today building used school chapel.

the school chapel today

a master , usher (deputy headteacher) appointed city out of revenues assigned them, required have knowledge of classical languages, namely latin , greek. additionally, master required university graduate, of sound religion , , not take on additional work. salary of usher £6. 13s. 4d. , master handsome sum of £10, 1636 had risen £50. 1566 statutes declared school provide greek , latin instruction 90 sons of norwich citizens free of expense , ten fee-paying pupils. 19th century city observed leave room many boarders , other day scholars sufficiently remunerate teachers. admission limited boys thought benefit education offered, , school highly selective result. education based on erudition, eventual goal being age of 18 pupils have learned vary 1 sentence diversely, make verse exactly, endight epistle eloquently , learnedly, declaim of theme simple, , last of attain competent knowledge of greek tongue . pupils taught rhetoric based on rhetorica ad herennium, , greek centred around works of homer , virgil. in addition classical literature, etiquette taught both deemed fundamental education. edward coke studied @ school @ age of 8 1560 until 1567, said have been taught value forcefulness of freedom of speech , later applied judge.

as part of annual guild day procession of inauguration of new mayor of norwich tradition head boy deliver short speech in latin school porch commending justice , obedyence mayor , corporation. afterwards orator attend guild dinner, historically riding in procession on white horse, in later years taken in mayor s carriage. when elizabeth visited norwich on separate occasion in 1578 master @ time, stephen limbert, said have delivered oration, pleased majesty said had been best had heard, , gave him hand kiss, , afterwards sent enquire name. encounter has been said characterise public image of elizabeth monarch indulged subjects goodwill , has been used interpretation of character of theseus in shakespeare s midsummer night s dream.

18th , 19th centuries

samuel parr, head master (1778–85)

the system of education remained largely unchanged until late 18th century. dr. samuel parr, master 1778 1785 noted use of corporal punishment, commonplace @ time. 1 pupil remarked;

parr s fame severity spread sort of panic through city, among mothers, interpose remonstrance, occasioned ludicrous scene, seldom availed culprit, while wiser willing leave boys in hands.

richard twining, tea merchant, however, advised brother john send eldest son norwich, writing of parr, have been told flogs much, doubt whom have heard think use of punishment . parr s daily teaching interrupted @ midday when sent boy pastry-cook s across road pie, ate schoolroom fire. on resignation of headship in 1785, historian warren derry comments, object of terror gone, glory of place had gone .

john crome, landscape painter , founder of norwich school of painters, became drawing master @ school @ beginning of 19th century, position held many years. norwich school of painters first provincial art movement in england, , crome has been described 1 of prominent british landscape painters alongside constable , gainsborough. several notable artists of movement educated @ school including john sell cotman, james stark, john berney crome, george vincent , edward thomas daniell. frederick sandys, norwich pre-raphaelite , attended school, had roots in movement. staff, such dr. samuel forster, associated movement; forster headteacher when john sell cotman attended school. forster became vice president of norwich society of artists, society established in 1803 artists of movement. charles hodgson taught mathematics , art, , son david taught art, supporters of crome.

s. s. madders, 1853, rambles in old city, p. 5.

the number of pupils fluctuated @ beginning of 19th century, usual numbers between 100 , 150 pupils, falling 8 pupils in 1811 , 30 in 1859. under headship of classical scholar edward valpy (1810–1829) pupil numbers increased , school enjoyed prosperous period, though development hindered charter trustees preferred spend of £7,000 year income on great hospital, leaving £300 school. valpy published popular textbook on latin style, elegantiae latinae (1803), went through ten editions in lifetime , greek testament, english notes, selected , original (1815) in 3 volumes. in 1837, in wake of municipal reform act patronage of governors went twenty-one independent trustees appointed lord chancellor, separating governance of school city corporation. result of later 1858 court case attorney-general v. hudson school became independent of great hospital, gaining endowment of own , board of governors administer it. original objects of school provide education poor boys abolished , replaced boarding fees of £60 year sons of laymen, £45 sons of clergymen, , 12 guineas year day pupils. separate school established provide training boys enter industry , trade called king edward vi middle school or commercial school. opened in 1862 , located in cloisters of blackfriars had 200 pupils , charged tuition fee of 4 guineas year.

illustration of school upper close (1890)

by mid-19th century school failed cater requirements of new urban middle class due predominant focus on classical education , perceived city s large nonconformist community exclusively anglican. school, however, underwent dramatic reform under augustus jessopp, 1 of great victorian reforming headteachers, headship lasted 1859 1879. influenced thomas arnold s reforms @ rugby , new victorian public schools, school remodelled public school. curriculum broadened include non-classical subjects such mathematics, drawing, german , french, part of trend seen in several schools including marlborough college, rossall, wellington, clifton , richmond establish modern departments pupils allowed omit learning greek , follow non-classical curriculum fulfill increasing demand high less classical education. strict moral code instilled, chapel becoming focal point of school life, prefectorial system implemented encourage leadership , responsibility, , there greater focus on sport thought foster team spirit , individual initiative, reflecting prevailing belief in muscular christianity among educationalists.

the schools inquiry commission (1864–1868), examined endowed grammar schools under chairmanship of lord taunton, reported school gives highest education in county of norfolk , sent on average twice many boys university other endowed schools in norfolk each year. commissioners praised commercial school, despite facing competition similar schools: extent of usefulness , soundness of practical teaching, second none . these reforms accompanied building expansion, such completion in 1860 of gothic revival north wing of school house contained large dormitory boarding pupils. 1872 there 127 pupils, 91 of whom boarders drawn on south-east of england. @ first meeting of headmasters conference in 1869 jessopp represented norwich school 1 of original thirteen members. although successful efforts hindered effects of agricultural depression four-fifths of endowment income came land, , school thrived city day school.

20th century present

american service personnel relaxing in bishop s palace during second world war. today room sixth form common room.

extensive building development completed in 1908, included converting chapel religious use, redesigned school lodge , block of 6 classrooms designed edward boardman called new buildings. secure finances school accepted grant board of education in return offering 10 percent of intake places funded central government. first world war saw establishment of officers training corps company associated norfolk regiment, disbanded in 1918. pupil numbers grew steadily 277 in 1930 , there further modernisation of curriculum. during second world war several buildings destroyed in baedeker raids on norwich, while school end house commandeered auxiliary territorial service , bishop s palace used american red cross. inhumations reportedly disturbed in 1939 when air-raid shelters being dug on current site of playground, old cathedral cemetery. in total, 102 pupils attended school died in 2 world wars.

post-war reconstruction assisted dean , chapter leased further buildings in close , worshipful company of dyers, 1 of livery companies of city of london, through hh judge norman daynes, on , prime warden of company. though functional new buildings had little aesthetic value; according pevsner spoil north west part of precinct beyond hope of redemption . dyers continue major benefactor of school. following education act 1944 school became direct grant grammar school, increasing number of free places 1 quarter of intake, reverted full independence when scheme phased out in 1975. preparatory school called lower school established in 1946, rebuilt in 1971 architects feilden , mawson, , has undergone several extensions since. 1950s saw closer relationship dean , chapter following merger of choir school , lease of bishop s palace.

boarding phased out in 1989 , buildings used boarding, school house , bishop s palace, converted teaching space. girls admitted sixth form first time in 1994, ending 900 years of single-sex education. in 1999 daynes sports centre opened , former gymnasium converted blake drama studio , 2 further laboratories. same year artists cornford & cross commissioned norwich gallery produce series of sculptures beside river wensum. 1 of works, jerusalem, installed on school playing fields until july 2002. part of installation later donated art department. in 2008 new science laboratories opened on st faiths lane in south section of close. facilities include seismometer part of british geological survey s schools network. same year, school began admit girls below sixth form first time, young age eleven. next year, 2009, school-age girls eligible admission. eighth house called seagrim, named after distinguished ons derek , hugh seagrim, created in 2009. in 2011 first female head of school in school s history chosen. in late 2013 work began extend lower school.

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