Bedford Modern School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Bedford Modern School is not to be confused with Bedford School.
Bedford Modern School is a public school in Bedford, England.
Ths school has its origins in the endowments of Sir William Harpur in the 16th century, and was known as the Writing School, teaching copperplate handwriting in what is presently the Old Town Hall in Bedford. In 1834 it moved to new mock-Tudor Gothic premises in Harpur Square, designed by Edward Blore. In 1874 the name was changed from English School to Modern School to reflect the new curriculum. In 1974 the school moved to new premises and in 1976 became an independent school. The school became co-educational in 2003.
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[edit] Uniform
Basic senior school dress consists of the following: Senior Boys years 7 - 11: Black trousers, white shirt, house tie, black blazer; Sixth form Boys : Any type of suit; Sixth form girls : Black trousers or skirt, beige skirt, any type of shirt. Junior Boys: Black blazer, white shirt, junior house tie, white shirt, black trousers. Junior Girls: Black embrioded blazer, white shirt, tartan skirt or black trousers, optional black jumper.
[edit] The School Houses
In the Senior School, there are 6 houses: Farrar, Tilden, Bell, Mobbs, Oatley, and Rose. Each student is a member of one of these houses. Inter-house sports cover all major and minor sports run by the school, at both junior and senior level, and range from rugby and hockey (major sports) to shooting and fencing (minor sports). There are also non-sporting events such as quizzes and music and drama competitions. The house system is designed to enable all students to have a sense of competition, which will hopefully encourage them to perform to their highest standards during their school life. Each house is led by a Head of House (a member of staff), and a House Captain, two Monitorial Deputies and a Co-opted Deputy (Upper Sixth Formers). Previously the six houses were known as North, South, East, West, Counties & Borders. The Junior School house system operates on simlar principles, with 4 houses: Taylor, Kaye, Poole and Liddle.
[edit] Monitors and Heads of Houses
Students can volunteer to become monitors once they are in the top year of the school (Year 13). It is an opportunity for them to develop leadership skills and the ability to mediate in difficult situations. There are two heads of school, one boy and one girl, each with a deputy. These are selected by the headmaster and are considered by some to be prestigious roles. Heads of school make occasional speeches and attend school events, as well as overseeing Senior Monitors, House Captains and Monitors. Senior Monitors are responsible for organising a team of monitors who provide pastoral care for one year group. House Captains are responsible for organising members of their relevant house in various competitions and events. All monitors wear a distinct monitors tie.
[edit] School sports
Sport and physical activity play an important part in school life, with students involved in over thirty different sports and more than 1,000 fixtures during the year. Staffing, resourcing and period allocation all reflect the high priority given to sporting activity within the School.
Many teachers and coaches are recognised at national level within their respective sport. The department has thirteen full-time and six part-time staff dedicated to sport across both the Junior and Senior School, and they are supported by many academic staff who have specific expertise in one or more sports.
Some activities available in the Senior School include rugby, football, cricket, rowing, water polo skiing/boarding, athletics, cross-country, mountain biking, dance, basketball, badminton, golf, table tennis, squash, equestrian, fencing, swimming, hockey, weights & fitness, sailing, gymnastics, rugby sevens, rounders, shooting, fives and tennis, with the addition of basketball, badminton and touch rugby for girls. Bedford Modern are the best rugby team in England
[edit] Notable Old Bedford Modernians
- Francis Penrose (1817–1903), Surveyor of St Paul's Cathedral, 1852–, architect, archaeologist and astronomer
- John Holland Rose (1855–1942), Vere Harmsworth Professor of Naval History, University of Cambridge, 1919–1933
- W. H. D. Rouse (1863–1950), schoolmaster and classicist
- E. D. Morel (1873–1924), journalist and activist
- Edgar Mobbs (1882–1917), rugby union player
- Gillie Potter (1887–1975), comedian and broadcaster
- Sir Charles Oatley (1904–1996), Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Cambridge, 1960–1971, and developer of the first scanning electron microscope
- Peter Grimes (1905–1988), Director, London Museum, 1945–1956, and Director, Institute of Archaeology and Professor of Archaeology, University of London, 1956–1973
- Sir Bill Johnson (1906–1988), General Manager, Eastern Region, British Railways, 1958–1962, and London Midland Region, British Railways, 1962–1967, and Chairman, British Railways Board, 1968–1971
- Derick Emmison (1907–1995), County Archivist of Essex, 1938–1969
- Christopher Fry (1907–2005), playwright
- Sir Arthur Mooring (1908–1969), British Resident in Zanzibar, 1959–1963
- Robert Alec Gale (born 1933), England cricketer
- Sir Keith Speed (born 1934), politician
- Patrick Hall (born 1951), current MP for Bedford
- John Sessions (born 1953), comedian and broadcaster
- Lionel Weston (born 1954), England Rugby Union scrum half
- Toby Litt (born 1968), novelist and short story writer
- Tim Foster (born 1970), Olympic Gold Medallist rower
- Christian Coulson (born 1978), actor
- Monty Panesar (born 1982), England cricketer
