Abingdon School

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Coordinates: 51°40′22.63″N, 1°17′16.87″W

Abingdon School

Motto	Misericordias Domini In Aeternum Cantabo 'I will sing praises to the Lord forever'
Established	1100 (possible foundation), 1256 (earliest reference and endowment), 1563 (re-endowment), 1870 (move to current premises)
Type	Independent all-male secondary
Affiliations	Church of England
Headmaster	Mr. Mark Turner
Founder	Benedictine monks
Chaplain	Mr. Henry Kirk
Students	1st Yr (11), 3rd Yr (13), Lower 6th (17)
Grades	5-12
Location	Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
Campus	Suburban
Colours	Cerise and white
Main Sports	Rowing, Rugby, Hockey, Cricket
Website	www.abingdonschool.org.uk

Abingdon School is an independent day and boarding school for boys in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca’s, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford. Since September 2007 Josca’s has been known as Abingdon Preparatory School with both schools becoming part of the Abingdon Foundation. There are strong connections with the nearby School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon. It is at least the thirteenth oldest independent school in the UK (possibly the sixth) and celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006.

[edit] History

Abingdon School is believed to have been founded prior to 1100 by the Benedictine monks of Abingdon Abbey^{[citation needed]}. It may date from as early as the 950s when King Edgar is recorded as having been educated at the abbey^{[citation needed]}. From its early years, the school used a room in St Nicholas' Church, which itself was built between 1121 and 1184.

The school now takes its anniversary from the earliest surviving reference to the school - 1256 - a charter of Abingdon Abbey recording an endowment by Abbot John de Blosneville for the support of thirteen poor scholars^{[citation needed]}. In the past though, the school considered itself as having been founded by John Roysse in 1563. This led to the unusual circumstance whereby the school celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1963 (at which HRH Princess Margaret was guest of honour), and then its 750th in 2006. The focus on 1256 facilitated extensive anniversarial fundraising in 2006.

By the time of de Blosneville's endowment in 1256, the school had moved to a couple of rooms in Stert Street with a house for boarders at 3 Stert Street under the charge of a Dionysia Mundy. With John Roysse's re-endowment of 1563, the school moved to a site south of the Abbey gateway. Roysse was a prosperous mercer in the City of London, and through this association the school has received substantial benefactions from the Worshipful Company of Mercers. The name Roysse's School was used until the 1960s and many older Abingdon residents still use the term.

After the dissolution of Abingdon Abbey in 1538, the school passed through a difficult phase: the sixteenth century endowments by Old Abingdonians attempted to overcome the loss of monastic support. Thomas Tesdale, who had been a pupil in 1563^[1], made provision for an Usher to teach six poor scholars from the Borough of Abingdon and offered support for thirteen Abingdon students to study at Oxford. This benefaction eventually developed into Pembroke College in 1624 by the re-foundation of Broadgates Hall.

The original school building on the current site, which houses the chapel, library, and School House, along with several dayboy houses and classrooms. The bell tower is still in use, and the fields in the foreground are used for playing rugby union and cricket. Most of the school's buildings are to the right of the photographer.

The six poor scholars, known as Bennett Boys, or colloquially as the Gown Boys due to their dress, were financed by another Old Abingdonian, William Bennett. Between 1609 and 1870 the school maintained a dual management: the Headmaster, appointed by the Mayor and Corporation, and the Tesdale Usher and Bennett Scholars appointed by the Master and Governors of Christ's Hospital, Abingdon. The Old Abingdonian Club was inaugurated in 1743 during the Headship of Thomas Woods, and is consequently one of the oldest such organisations in the country.

In 1854, Pembroke College distanced itself from the school.

The current school site in the Victorian quarter of Abingdon adjacent to Albert Park was designed by Edwin Dolby and was developed from 1870. Extensions to the 1870 buildings were added in 1880. In 1901, a chapel and gymnasium were built. The adjacent Waste Court property was acquired in 1928. The Science School came in 1952. In 1963, to mark the Quatercentenary of the school's re-foundation, the big schoolroom was re-ordered as the Grundy Library (opened by HRH Princess Margaret), together with erection of further buildings east of the Science Wing, the whole becoming known as Big School. In 1980, the Amey Theatre and Arts' Centre was opened and the Sports' Centre opened in 1984. Mercers' Court was opened in 1994 by the Chancellor of Oxford University and Visitor of Pembroke College, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead. In 2003, the new Arts' Department was opened (adjacent to the Amey Theatre) and the Sports Complex is due to be completed for September 2008, having been formally commenced by HRH Princess Anne in 2006.

[edit] Abingdon School in the Press

In 1995, the school received publicity in the national press after three pupils were charged with an armed hold-up a local off-licence. ^[2] It was also reported that the event took place in Unwins and two of the accused were aged 16 and the third, 15. ^[3]

Abingdon School attracted further unwanted attention in the press in May 1999, when the resident matron, Christine Barrington ^[4] was asked to step down after an affair with a boarder, Timothy Andrews.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

[edit] Students and Houses

The school currently has 812 pupils aged 11-18, of whom 126 are boarders. The school is split into 10 houses, 3 of which are for boarders and dayboys, 7 for day boys only. These are:

• School - 57 boys (9 dayboys, 48 boarders) (Head of House 07/08 - Michael Chan, Gus Bartholomew)
• Crescent - 60 boys (7 dayboys, 53 boarders) (Head of House 07/08 - Peter Nikitin, Shashank Tandon)
  • These two houses have all the middle school boarders (aged 13-16) and the majority of the sixth form boarders (aged 16-18).
• Waste Court - 25 boarders (16 6th form (with 2 in Boyd's) and 9 lower school)(Head of House 07/08 - Boarding: Fabian Schrey, Geoffrey Wai → for day see Phelps')
  • This house has the remainder of the sixth form boarders and all of the lower school boarders (aged 11-13).
• Boyd's - 79 boys (2 boarders in Waste Court and 77 dayboys) (Head of House 07/08 - Harry Hole)
• O'Dohertys - 83 dayboys (Head of House 07/08 - Pete Statham)
• Franklin's - 80 dayboys (Head of House 07/08 - Tom Durrands)
• Gooding's - 82 dayboys (Head of House 07/08 - Josh Wilkins)
• Olders' - 81 dayboys (Head of House 07/08 - Tom Altmann/Beardsley)
• Phelps' (Situated on the same site as Waste Court) - 84 boys (72 dayboys, 13 boarders, (11 lower school boarders and 2 from Boyd's house) (Head of House 07/08 - Jonathan Bayfield)
• Webb's - 81 dayboys (Head of House 07/08 - George Collier)

Day boys from 11-13 belong to the Lower School which has 123 boys (114 dayboys and 9 boarders).

The day houses (with the exception of Lower School) take their names from their current Housemasters and are thus prone to change.

In the 20th century, the school owned another upper school boarding house, Larkhill, to the north of the Faringdon Road. Various smaller buildings have also been used for boarders at various times, with the pupils being part of one of the larger houses. The Bath Street house, Lacies Court (rare) and Glyndowr come into this category, see school map.

There are many Inter-House competitions at Abingdon, both sporting and academic. These include Cricket, Singing and Public Speaking. The competitions themselves are held every year, and each house has its traditional strengths. Elliot's (which holds the record of most 'tag-rugby' titles held at once, 4 of 5), School House and Crescent House, for example, are known to be particularly strong in the sports competitions, while Phelp's (which holds the record of the most public speaking titles held at one time, 3 of 5), Boyd's (Mr Boyd, Housemaster is Head of Debating) and Franklin's are better known for debating. There is also an annual inter-house singing competition, usually judged by a music department head from another school and by the Headmaster of Abingdon School.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

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Abingdon is notable in the region for its dedication to extracurricular activities, dubbed the "Other Half" (of the syllabus).

Abingdon has a strong sporting tradition, especially in rowing and Rugby. Documentary evidence indicates rowing was a school activity in 1830.^{[citation needed]} Roysse's School Rowing Club (1840) became Abingdon School Boat Club. The 1st VIII won the "triple" in 2002: the Schools' Head of the River, the Queen Mother's Cup at the National School's Regatta and the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. This was masterminded by Mike Martin, the Head of Rowing. 2006's J14's A and B squads, coached by Mr. Athol Hundermark (now J16 coach), both became National School Champions. Athol also coached the 2007 J16's to victory in the junior Inter-Regionals, and took a J16 4+ crew to the GB 8 in the GB-France race.

The Debating Society is the school's oldest non-sporting society, founded in 1904. A wide range of motions is debated, from humorous to serious, dealing with the great issues of the day. There are dinner debates with girls' schools including the School of St Helen and St Katharine, Wycombe Abbey and St Mary's, Wantage.

Abingdon's Combined Cadet Force is nationally acclaimed, with the cadets in the contingent's Royal Air Force section winning the 2002 Ground Training Competition (South East) at RAF Uxbridge, Middlesex. The team consisted of 15 cadets of all ranks and became the overall winner by coming first in trim-trail, shooting and Aircraft Recognition. The shooting team went on to become the top team at the National final that same year.

[edit] Academic

Abingdon is academically a strong school: the students regularly achieve good results and a significant number progress to the most prestigious universities, including a yearly average of more than 25 to Cambridge and Oxford.

Subjects taught to GCSE and A-Level include English, History, Design Technology, Geography, French, Russian, German, Religious Education and Religious Studies, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Drama, Music, Art and Design, Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation or Ancient History.

Subjects taught to GCSE only are Italian and Chinese.

Subjects taught for A-Level only are Government and Politics, Economics, Business Studies and Art History, often taught in conjunction with the neighbouring girls' school, The School of St Helen and St Katharine.

Abingdon's Russian department is notably strong and was determined the best in the country by a leading national newspaper.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Headmasters

• Richard the Pedagogue, 1100 (unverified)
• Chaplain of St. Nicholas, 1184
• Benjamin, 1230
• Walter de Mortimer, 1261
• William de Coleshill, 1310-1316
• John Brules, 1381-1384
• Thomas Weston, 1387-1415
• Hacker, 1420-1421
• John Maltby, 1440-1441
• John Tesdale (Clyffe), 1504-1540
• Richard Croose, 1557
• John Argall, 1568-c.1571
• Thomas Orpwood, 1571-1573
• Anthony Lancaster, 1573-1574
• John Chamberlen, 1574-1577
• Richard Williams, 1577-1578
• Lewes, 1578-1583
• Cerey, 1584-?
• Richard Humfrey ?-1597
• Anthony Appletree, 1597-1599
• John Birde, 1600-1605
• Degorie Wheare, 1605-1606. Afterwards first Camden Professor of Ancient History at Oxford University and Principal of Gloucester Hall
• Edward Groome, 1606-1608
• Thomas Godwyn, DD, 1608-1625
• Anthony Huish, 1625-1654
• Edmund Slye, 1654
• Robert Payne, 1654-1655. Tesdale Usher-in-Charge
• John Kerridge, 1655-57
• Robert Jennings, 1657-1683
• Richard Playdell, 1684-1716. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1676-1684)
• Thomas Woods, 1716-1753. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1711-1716)
• John Abbot, 1753-1758
• Henry Bright, 1758-1774. Afterwards headmaster of New College School, Oxford
• Andrew Portal, 1774-1775
• William Kennedy, 1775-1792
• John Lemprière, 1792-1809. Afterwards headmaster of Exeter School
• Edward Nicholson, 1810-1827
• Joseph Thomas James Hewlett, 1827-39
• William Alder Strange, DD, 1840-1868
• Edmund Tristram Horatio Harper, 1868-70. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1855-68)
• Edgar Summers, 1870-1883
  • (b. 1834, d. 1907) Formerly second master at King's School, Ely and King Edward's Grammar School, Bury St Edmund's, and a master at Brighton College. After retirement from teaching, Summers became vicar of Brading, Isle of Wight, (1884-1906) and rural dean of East Wight. He died at Radley House, Winchester. There is a memorial window to him at Brading church.
• William Herbert Cam, 1883-1893
• Thomas Layng, 1893-1913
• William Mitchell Grundy, 1913-1947
• Sir James Cobban, CBE, 1947-1970
• Sir (William) Eric (Kinloch) Anderson, KT, 1970-1975. Afterwards headmaster of Shrewsbury School, Eton College, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford and Provost of Eton
• Michael St. John Parker, 1975-2001
• Mark Turner, 2002-Present day

[edit] Tesdale Ushers

• Nicholas Giles, 1610-?
• Christopher Capper, 1619-20
• John Stone, 1628-1643
• Robert Payne, 1645-76
• Richard Playdell, 1676-1684. Afterwards headmaster
• James Barefoote, 1686-1692
• Walter Harte, 1692-1709
• William Templer, 1709
• John Rock, 1709-1710
• Thomas Woods, 1711-1716. Afterwards headmaster
• Daniell Darrell, 1716-1718
• John Ingles, 1718-20
• Josiah Bennett, 1720-1750
• Joseph Bennett, 1750-1751
• Andrew Portal, 1751-1758. Later headmaster
• James Smith, 1758-59
• Thomas Till, 1759-62
• John Stevenson, 1762-83
• Matthew Armstrong, 1783-92. Deputy Usher, George Anderson, 1784-85
• William Smith, 1793-1844
• Thomas Pantin, 1845
• Henry Jackson Rhodes, 1846-1851. Afterwards, editorial secretary, SPCK.
• Henry Day, 1851-1855. Afterwards headmaster, Burton-on-Trent Grammar School
• Edmund Tristram Horatio Harper, 1855-1871. Afterwards, vicar, Luddington, Lincolnshire (1871-1923)
• John Whitmore Black (second master 1868-70). Afterwards, vicar, Launcells, Cornwall (1873-1914)

[edit] Notable Old Abingdonians including former Masters

Main article: List of notable Old Abingdonians

Prominent Conservative politician Francis Maude attended the school in the 1960s.

The members of rock band Radiohead attended Abingdon in the 1980s, and formed the band (originally called 'On a Friday' as this is when they could practice) while at the school. ^[10] Their song 'Bishop's Robes' reputedly refers to a former headmaster of Abingdon, Michael St John Parker ('the beak'), who was known for wearing academic gowns.^{[citation needed]} Related to this is the Japanese rock band Abingdon Boys School which takes its name from the school since their lead singer is a Radiohead fan.^[11]

David Mitchell, most famously known for being one half of the double comedy act 'Mitchell and Webb', also attended Abingdon School.

Musician Thomas Dolby (then known as Thomas Robertson) was at Abingdon in 1975-76, completing his A levels while in attendance.^[12]

Another notable OA is the Oxford cox, Nicholas Brodie, who has gone on to cox both the Isis boat and the Blues, leading Oxford to victory as the OUBC President in the 2008 Boat Race.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• St Nicholas Abingdon and Other Papers, Arthur E Preston (1929 and 1971)
• Abingdon School 1870-1970 (1970)
• A History of Rowing at Abingdon School 1840-1990, R G Mortimer (1990)
• The Martlet and the Griffen, Thomas Hinde and Michael St John Parker (1997)
• A Record of Tesdale Ushers & Bennett Scholars 1609-1870, Nigel Hammond (2004)

[edit] External links

• School website
• Abingdon Touring Theatre
• St Nicholas Church