The Skinners' School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Skinners' School (formally The Skinners' Company's School for Boys) was opened in Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1887. It was founded by the Skinners' Company, a London Livery Company, and is the sister school of the nearby Judd School in Tonbridge, with which it is particularly competitive. The current roll is approximately 770, of whom around 210 are in the Sixth Form.
Contents |
[edit] Recent history
On 1 April 1992, the school (formerly a Voluntary Aided Grammar School for Boys) became a Grant Maintained School, reverting to Voluntary Aided status again in 1998, following the Education Act of that year. Recently, additional accommodation has been provided for purpose-designed Design and Technology facilities and classrooms; a Modern Languages Centre was completed in 2002 and a new Music and Performing Arts Centre opened in 2003. Ongoing development of the latter will provide further valuable provision for both curricular and extra-curricular activities. Recent refurbishments have included new facilities for the Sixth Form.[citation needed]
A full programme of team games is maintained throughout the year with notable successes, particularly in rugby, cricket and athletics. Pupils are divided into four houses: Atwell, Hunt, Knott and Sebastian. Atwell and Hunt were donors who helped to fund the school; Knott was the first headmaster and Sebastian was the first chairman of governors.
The school's performance in public examinations is consistent above average[citation needed], with 100% of boys achieving five or more GCSE grades A* to C in 2006, and over 54% achieving A* or A Grades. Results are also good at A-level with over 71% of entries awarded an A or B grade.[citation needed]
In the summer term of Year 12 school prefects are selected. Leadership roles amongst the prefects include the Head Boy, two Deputy Head Boys, two Senior Prefects and four House Captains. Other school prefects are divided between the roles of Duty Prefect and Form Prefect. The current Head Boy (2006/07) is Hugh Wooster and the two Deputy Head Boys are Jonathan Gamble and Sean Baker. The Head Boy for 2005/2006 was Paul Tourle and Deputy Head Boys were Tom Kemp and Martin Phillips.
[edit] Alumni
Famous former pupils include:
- TV personality Nick Knowles,
- Archaeologist Neil Faulkner
- Actor Alec McCowen and
- International cricketer and coach Bob Woolmer.
Other Skinners’ boys have achieved many distinctions over the years – in classical music, on the West End stage, even in warship design – the flight decks of modern aircraft carriers follow the plans of an Old Skinner. Recently there has been a member of the National Youth Ballet, two members of the National Youth Orchestra, the England Under 18 Rugby Captain, an Oxford Rugby Blue, and a Commonwealth Games athlete. Outstanding students include Andrew Hamilton and Joe Harding getting consistant A grades at both sports and academics.[citation needed]
[edit] The Leopard song
The Skinners' School, like many schools started by London livery companies, has a school song. The Skinners' School song is much loved by the pupils and staff of The Skinners' School.The lyrics are by P Shawk-Jeffrey and are as follows:
Now hands about, good leopards all, and sing a rousing chorus,
In praise of all our comrades here
And those who went before us;
For to this lay all hearts beat true,
The gallant hearts that love us,
So fortune fend each absent friend
while theres a sun above us.
(Chorus) Sing, Leopards,Sing
Floreat sodalitas
Little matter, well or ill,
Sentiment is more than skill.
Sing together with a will,
Floreat Sodalitas, 'dalitas pardorum
The ivy climbs by brick and stone
Abot the buttressed hall;
So memory weaves a charm to keep
Her in thrall,
And whiskered Leopards think with awe
Of Bab-el Mandebs straits,
Where in the says of long ago
They wrestled with the fates.
(Chorus)
Then hears a toast beofre we part,
'The school house by the lew'
And may its friends be stout of heart,
Its enemies be few
So we pledge our noble selves
To use our best endeavour,
That while the merry world goes round,
The school may stand for ever.
(Chorus)
It is a customary tradition to loudly sing the word 'breathe' after the first line of the chorus, as a tribute to a departed teacher, Mr Star, and it is also customary to elongate the sound the s's make in the second verse.
[edit] Headmasters
Notable headmasters have included:
- The Reverend Frederick Knott,
- Cecil Beeby and
- Peter Braggins.
- The current incumbent is Simon Everson.
