Sevenoaks School

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"Sevenoaks school" redirects here. If you were looking for the other school based in Sevenoaks, see The New School at West Heath.

Sevenoaks School is a consistently top-ranking English independent school, located in the town of Sevenoaks, Kent. It is the oldest secular school in the United Kingdom, dating back to 1432. Almost 1000 day pupils and boarders attend, ranging in age from 11 to 18 years. There are approximately equal numbers of boys and girls. The current Headteacher is Katy Ricks.

The school is considered a leader in liberal education and was a pioneer of coeducational schooling in the 1980s and International students in the 1960s. Today, it continues to attract foreign students (especially in the sixth form) and the pupils represent over 40 countries. Despite its age, the school has remained relatively free from the archaic traditions that often feature in old British schools. Many of the traditions that the school does maintain, such as the Knole run, Sevenoaks festival, Sevenoaks vs. Tonbridge rugby match and lunchtime music recitals date back to the 1960s and 70s.

In 1999 it featured in the media by becoming the first major UK school to switch entirely from doing A level exams to the International Baccalaureate. In 2006, it reached top of the league tables in The Times and The Independent

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[edit] Academic

The school achieves excellent exam results. Due to the recent re-evaluation of the International Bacalaureate by UCAS Sevenoaks consistently ranks at the top of nationwide school league tables. In 2006 it was placed 1st in the UK by The Times League Table of A-level and IB schools with an average of 587.9 UCAS points per pupil. In 2004 The Independent using UCAS points per candidate, placing them 1st. The Financial Times placing them 2nd in their table of IB schools with an FT score of 1.18. In 2005, a record-breaking 9 people achieved the highest score of 45 in the IB, a feat accomplished by only 40-50 of the 22,000 students worldwide.

GCSE results are equally impressive, the school being ranked within the top 2 by all major papers.

[edit] Facilities

The facilities are mostly modern and there are only 3 buildings dating prior to the 20th century - the Old School House (built in the early 18th century in the Palladian style and reputedly designed by Lord Burlington), and the old gymnasium and cottage blocks (Both late 19th century). The school also has an extensive library of 120,000 books housed in the old Assembly Hall (1930s), athletics track, indoor tennis centre, auditorium (the Aisher hall) and theatre (Sackville theatre).

The main school grounds are close to the center of Sevenoaks town, straddling the A225 Tonbridge Road. Knole Lane also runs through the site, providing access to Knole House, which is situated in the park behind the school.

On 10 March 2005 a new £7.5 million sports centre (the "Sennocke Centre") was opened by middle distance athlete Dame Kelly Holmes.The Sennocke centre contains 3 tennis courts, squash courts, a huge sports hall, a swimming pool, a dance studio and a gym. Space has been allocated for a climbing wall, but a lack of funding has slowed its construction.

[edit] Knole Run

Each January, the school hosts the annual Knole run, which is raced over a 7.2 mile cross-country course in the park. School teams from across the UK (and abroad) compete in the race, which is often characterised by mud and rain. The tradition began with the idea that if a race was held in such conditions, it would give the home team the greatest possible advantage. Unfortunately for Sevenoaks, the same advantage applied for other local schools, and they have never won the boys' race, although they have had greater success in the smaller girls event. The run has grown to become known as the unofficial schools' cross country championships.There is also a junior Knole run for younger runners to take part in, which normally takes place at the beginning of December.

[edit] Other Sport

Apart from cross country, the school participates in many sports such as football, rugby, hockey, cricket, basketball and athletics including shot putt, 100m, with increasing success due to a greater emphasis on sports in recent years. Its reputation amongst major public shools in the 5 main sports has risen sharply. However, it has had most success in sailing and shooting, with its teams of national, and even international, standing, winning the international school sailing championship several times.The school has great sport facilities to help sport flourish from the first year until the upper sixth.

[edit] Controversy

In 2005, the reputation of the school was tarnished with allegations of fee fixing.[1] The school was found to have breached the Competition Act 1998. It was investigated along with other independent schools such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester by the Office of Fair Trading and the provisional ruling is that it along with 50 other independent schools may have broken competition law by sharing information about fees. The schools involved exchanged information between 2001 and 2004 via the ‘Sevenoaks Survey’ which was circulated several times each year to the schools involved. If the Office for Fair trading decides the law has been broken then penalties could be imposed.

[edit] History

Founded in 1432 by William Sevenoke as a part of his last will and testament. The school was intended to give a classical education to boys from to town, free of constrictions of the Church. It is one of the oldest Lay foundations in England.

The school was housed in small buildings around the town (even outside the town in the 1730s) until a permanent schoolhouse was built in 1730 to the desings of Lord Burlington, a friend of the headmaster of the time, Elijah Fenton.

The school remained small until the late nineteenth century. At one stage, under the headmastership of the Revd Simpson the school housed only four boys.

In 1884 the governers appointed James Birkett as headmaster. It was Birkett's vision to elevate the school's status to that of a First Grade Classical School. He started this revolution, reducing the number of free places to the townfolk and expanding boarding. When he resigned nthe 1890s the school had over 100 boys. Birkett's revolution was continued by George Heslop who increased the size to a peak of 134 boys and then by G.A. Garrod.

James Higgs-Walker succeeded Garrod in 1924. Higgs-Walker or 'Jimmy' as he was known by the boys started a revoltion at the school with the introduction of day houses, the expandment of school sports and extra-curricular activities and the vast expandment of the school with the help of the school's greatest benefactor since the founder, Charls Pumtree Johnson or C.P.J. who served as a governor from 1913 to 1923 and chairman from 1923 to his death in 1938. Johnson donated many gifts to the school with his brother, Edward:

  • The Flagpole, 1924
  • Thornhill, 1924 (Johnson's House)
  • Johnson's Hall, 1936 (Now Johnson's Library)
  • The Sanitorium, 1938
  • Park Grange and the surrounding estate, 1946

Higgs-Walker led the school until 1956 when he was suceeded by L.C. Taylor.

[edit] Notable Past pupils

Past Pupils are known as Old Sennockians.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ BBC News report on fee-fixing
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