Culford School

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Culford School is a coeducational public school, in Culford, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. Fees range from £13,830 to £21,720.

Contents 1 History of the School 2 The School Today 3 Academia 4 The Arts 5 Sport and Activities 6 The Combined Cadet Force 7 Headmasters of Culford School 8 Notable Old Culfordians 9 Governors of Culford School 10 Estote Fortes (The School Song) 11 The Fifth Dinner Club 12 Trivia 13 Further reading 14 References 15 External links

[edit] History of the School

The school was founded in 1881 as the East Anglian School for Boys, incorporating an institution founded in 1873 by Congregationalist minister, Dr J. H. L. Christien. It was one of a group of Methodist schools established in response to the growth of the middle class and the 1867 Taunton Commission, which fuelled an expansion of secondary education in general and of non-conformist boarding schools in particular. East Anglia was seen to need such a school and historic Bury St Edmunds was chosen. The original premises were in Northgate Street in Bury, but in 1916 the school moved to a site on Thingoe Hill (later occupied by the East Anglian School for Girls).

In 1935 the school moved 4 miles north of Bury to Culford Park, former home of the 7th Earl Cadogan, and thereafter became known as Culford School. It is at the centre of East Anglia, accessible today in c.90 minutes from London, and in c.30 minutes from Cambridge.

The School sits in 480 acres of classic English parkland laid out by Humphry Repton, consisting of grazing, formal gardens, lake crossed by an early cast iron bridge, and a palatial 18th Century Hall, which originally became dormitories and classrooms. Other original buildings included a laundry which became the sanatorium; a forge which housed art and woodwork classes (now expanded to become the Pringle Centre for Design Technology); and the stables which became the Junior Department (now the Preparatory School).

The first new building to be added was Cadogan House, for the junior boys, in 1938. The Leigh Memorial Swimming Pool, state of the art for its time, was built in the same year (it was replaced in the 1990s). The Skinner and Hastings classroom buildings were added in the 1960s, followed during the 1970s-1990s by an auditorium, pre-prep school, medical centre and biology laboratories. Purpose-built boarding houses and the Ashby Dining Hall were constructed in 1972.

1972 was the year in which Culford amalgamated with its sister school, the East Anglian School for Girls, becoming one of the first schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference to embrace co-education. New Houses were formed as follows:

Edwards House	Senior Boys
Cornwallis House	Senior Boys
Jocelyn House	Senior Girls
Storey House	Sixth Form Co-educational House - closed 2003 upon re-adoption of 13-18 boarding structure
Robson House	Senior Day Boys (formed 1993)
Fitzgerald House	Originally Junior Girls - Senior Day Girls since 2003
Cadogan House	Junior School - later Prep School - Boys; has also housed Prep School Girls since 1996

The boarding houses have been refurbished to offer modern single study rooms with high speed network access throughout.

[edit] The School Today

Culford is a selective school accepting pupils from a broad ability range from nursery to sixth form. Half of the senior pupils are boarders.

Three schools are housed within the Park:

• Pre-Prep (Fieldgate House) is for day boys and girls from the ages of 3 - 7. It was founded in 1984 and is set on the village side of Culford Park. The current headmistress is Mrs Sarah Preston.

• The Preparatory School is a boarding and day school for pupils aged 8 - 13. It occupies the northern corner of the Park, surrounded by its own games pitches, but also has use of many Senior School facilities. The present headmaster is Mr Tim Collins, formerly a housemaster at Repton School. Upper 3 (year 8) must pass entrance exams and common entrance to progress into the Senior School.

• The Senior School is also a mixed boarding and day school, for ages 14 - 18. The boarding houses overlook parkland and pitches towards the north of the Park, with academic pursuits being centred upon Culford Hall and the various newer buildings.

The Senior School accepts pupils from preparatory and maintained schools across the UK, as well as from Culford's Prep School. A sizeable number of overseas pupils are also welcomed as boarders. Academic, Sports, Art and Music scholarships, plus a range of bursaries and Forces allowances, are offered.

Culford's Library of some 10,000 volumes is located in a beautiful room overlooking the south front of Culford Hall. The Centenary Hall, containing a Studio Theatre opened in 2006 by HRH the Duke of Gloucester (25 years after his first visit for the School's centenary), is also located within the main building, part of a planned Performing Arts Centre.

In addition to the newer buildings listed above, the William R Miller Science Centre (built in 2002 following a £1m donation by an Old Culfordian) offers state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

The Culford Foundation, set up in 2000, assists the development of academic, cultural and sporting facilities, all of which help to maintain Culford's position as one of the region's leading independent boarding schools. The charity has raised funds to add a new nursery and dining hall to the Pre-Prep School; to construct an astro-turf; to build the William R Miller Science Centre; to add to the sports centre; and to restore Culford Hall. The Foundation and the Old Culfordians Association also help to maintain an active and close-knit alumni network.

Culford's character is shaped by its Christian foundation in the Methodist tradition, and the Church supports the School as part of its Mission. Regular acts of worship are held within the individual schools and at St Mary's Church in the Park; exploration of Religious Studies is compulsory to GCSE; and the Methodist chaplaincy provides spiritual and pastoral leadership. Signs of Culford's foundation include its commitment to teaching a broad range of academic abilities (unusual amongst comparable schools^[1]), its emphasis on pastoral care and friendliness, and the active charity and community service groups run by the pupils.

Main School (Culford Hall) North Front

Winter shot of Main School (Culford Hall), south front, viewed from the lake

St Mary’s Church, viewed from the main drive

Culford Hall viewed across lake and cricket square from the Iron Bridge

[edit] Academia

The School is judged to perform well academically given the range of pupils’ abilities (corresponding to the top 65 per cent of the national range). The Good Schools Guide (2007) stated that "Results are very sound, considering the wide ability range, with 98 per cent achieving 5+ A-C grades at GCSE and 80 per cent A-C at A level... There are computers, laptops and interactive whiteboards everywhere... Classes are small and the day is packed." In 2007, nearly two-thirds of A-Level grades were at A or B; and nearly half of GCSE grades were at A or A*^[2]. Most pupils progress to good universities and generally c.10 per cent of the Upper Sixth gain places at Oxbridge. In terms of league tables, Culford has been amongst those independent schools commenting on their narrowness^[3], preferring to emphasise a broad education producing well-rounded young people; nevertheless it tends to be placed above or very near to rival schools^[4].

The School runs a Scholars Programme offering opportunities not just for scholarship pupils, but for all students, to study outside the curriculum and to attend lectures to enrich their thinking. Various Societies, including for English, History of Art, Medicine and Physics, add to these opportunities. Recent lecturers include Dr Colin White, an Old Culfordian and organiser of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations, speaking about the life of Admiral Lord Nelson. Pupils feature amongst the best in the country in competitions such as the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge.

The School also offers tuition for pupils with special educational needs for whom English is an additional language. Latin lessons are offered to pupils from local maintained schools.

[edit] The Arts

Artistic pursuits are co-ordinated by a Head of Art and Directors of Music and Drama, supported by departmental staff plus sometime Artists in Residence, Dramatists in Residence and regular peripatetic music staff (themselves supported by dedicated Heads of Strings, Wind and Brass).

The School has two orchestras, a Choral Society, a Chamber Choir and groups including a Wind Band, Jazz Band and Rock Society. Over half of pupils learn an instrument. Boys from the Prep School have the opportunity to become choristers at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Regular inter-house music competitions and termly concerts are held. Recent concerts include the staging of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and of Britten’s Noye's Fludde at the church in Orford where it was performed originally.

String and Wind Days are held when pupils from preparatory schools across the region join Culford pupils for tuition and performance. The IAPS National Symphony Orchestra takes up residence at Culford in the summer, ahead of its annual performance at Suffolk’s Snape Maltings. The Suffolk Youth Orchestra is also a regular visitor.

Two major dramatic productions are staged each year, usually one musical and one stage play. Smaller productions are staged more regularly, including during House drama competitions. The new Studio Theatre, the 400-seat Centenary Hall, and the newly-restored Regency Theatre Royal in Bury are all used as venues. Regular trips are made to watch plays at the Theatre Royal and in London.

[edit] Sport and Activities

Culford has long had a strong reputation for sport. The major competitive sports are Rugby, Cricket and particularly Hockey, supplemented by Netball, Tennis and Swimming. Regional honours are achieved regularly whilst England players and champions in Hockey, Karate and Polo are currently on the school roll. Pupils compete in events such as the National Schools Rugby Sevens at Rosslyn Park, and the Inter-Schools Hunter Trials. Teams tour at home and abroad.

In addition to the major sports, Culford offers a wide range of other sports and activities to suit all aptitudes and to utilise its 480 acres of parkland fully.

The Good Schools Guide (2007) stated that “Provision for sport is nothing short of spectacular.” In March 2008 it was announced that the School has been listed as a potential training venue for tennis and archery Olympians during the 2012 London Games^[5].

Existing facilities include:

*A Sports Centre (built in the 1990s) with 25m indoor swimming pool, sports hall, squash courts, fitness suite, aerobics and dance studio, and a new climbing wall

*Floodlit astroturf

*Six rugby and five grass hockey pitches

*A 4-court Indoor Tennis Centre, currently being built to support LTA performance coaching at the School

*Six grass, six hard and six astroturf tennis courts

*Three cricket pitches including Cricket Square with thatched pavilion and views over the Hall and Park

*A lake, used for canoeing and punting, forming the southern border to Repton's formal gardens and crossed by a Grade I listed early nineteenth century cast-iron bridge

A further lake, in nearby Lackford, is used for Sailing, and Golf is played at a course in the neighbouring village of Flempton. 1962 saw the School become one of the 16 founder members of The Public Schools Old Boys Golf Association, and it competes regularly in the Grafton Morrish Trophy (as it is now called).

The long school day includes time for a structured Activities Programme, offering numerous pursuits from badminton to basketball, climbing to clay pigeon shooting, chess to critical thinking, to debating, Portuguese, sub aqua, table tennis, trampolining and Young Enterprise. A Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Cub Scouts in the Prep School compliment Culford’s Combined Cadet Force. In addition, pupils benefit from external organisations' use of Culford's facilities:

• West Suffolk Swimming Team train daily
• Northampton Saints Rugby Academy train weekly, as part of their Elite Player Development scheme
• Suffolk County Cricket Youth Squad train regularly, run courses and play matches
• Centre Court Tennis is based at Culford and provides expert LTA training for all ages
• The School hosts events such as the European Karate Championships, International Horse Riding Championships, International Archery Championships, and Suffolk Schools County Cricket tournaments

[edit] The Combined Cadet Force

The CCF's Army section is associated with the Army Air Corps and the First Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. Training takes place on one afternoon of each week. Activities include shooting, expeditions, combat manoeuvres, ambush and continuity drills, signals training, orienteering, climbing, kayaking, line-laying, first aid and lifesaving, and motor mechanics.

An inspection of the Culford School CCF Contingent was carried out on 21 September 2007 by General John McColl, an Old Culfordian, Colonel of the Royal Anglians and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe ^[6].

[edit] Headmasters of Culford School

• H A Davidson 1881-1882
• S Leigh 1882-1915
• W C Newman 1915-1924
• Dr J W Skinner 1924-1951
• Dr C Storey 1951-1971
• D Robson 1971-1993
• J S Richardson 1993-2004 (currently Cheltenham College headmaster)
• Julian Johnson-Munday 2004- (formerly Mill Hill School deputy headmaster)

[edit] Notable Old Culfordians

See also Old Culfordians

• Paul Adams (Chief Executive of British American Tobacco^[7])
• Judy Aslett (correspondent for Channel 4 News)
• Rev Dr John C A Barrett (former Headmaster of sister school The Leys and current Chairman and President of the World Methodist Council)
• Rt Hon Bob Blizzard MP
• The Hon Ashley Rupert Brodrick (heir to Viscount Middleton)
• Sir Robert Crawford CBE (Director General of the Imperial War Museum)
• I Grenville Cross QC,SC (Director of Public Prosecutions, Hong Kong, China)
• Hugh Falkus (writer and film maker (d.1996))
• Jayne-Anne Gadhia (Chief Executive of Virgin Money^[8])
• Matthew Grinham (Welsh Hockey International)
• Ian Hendry (actor, most notably The Avengers (d.1984))
• Kate Jackson (lead singer, The Long Blondes)
• Peter Jenkins (political columnist and Associate Editor, The Independent (d.1992))
• Sarah Matthias (children’s author ^[9])
• General John McColl KCB CBE DSO (Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe)
• William McFee (Anglo-American novelist, especially of sea-tales, and essayist (d.1966))
• William R Miller (former Vice Chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb and benefactor to Culford and St Edmund Hall, Oxford ^[10])
• John Motson (sports commentator, BBC)
• Paul Hopfensperger (local celebrity]])
• Gary Newbon (Sky Sports presenter)
• Kate Peyton (Africa Producer, BBC (d.2005))
• Sir David Plastow (former Chairman & Chief Executive of Vickers and Chairman of Inchcape plc)
• Paula Pryke (noted floral artist for Liberty and Selfridges and author ^[11])
• Admiral Sir Derek Reffell (former Third Sea Lord and Governor of Gibraltar)
• Freddie Sore (longest-serving umpire at Wimbledon and designer of Concorde's dropped nose (d.2004))
• John Taylor (first Chief Justice of Lagos (d.1973))
• Dr Colin White (Director of the Royal Naval Museum)

[edit] Governors of Culford School

• I Angus Esq
• R J B Beaney Esq FRICS FAAV
• R J Black Esq
• Mrs R J Black
• Mrs M G Browning MBE MA Cantab
• The Rt Hon Earl Cadogan
• M J Freeman Esq FRICS
• C J Hilder Esq
• Mrs S E Kohl
• Dr R McLone MA PhD - Chairman (Director General of Assessment for OCR)
• G Russell Esq MA (Secretary, Board of Management for Methodist Residential Schools)
• Professor R Swanston DSc FRICS FIMgt
• S R K Taylor Esq MA
• The Revd G Thompson

[edit] Estote Fortes (The School Song)

The School Song is built around the motto (itself derived from 1 Corinthians, chapter 16, verse 13): Viriliter Agite, Estote Fortes – “Quit you like men, be strong.”

Estote Fortes

When the task is dull and the days are long,

And the world is full of tears,

We shall hear from afar the tune of a song

Come rolling down the years.

Viriliter Agite Estote Fortes

Quit you like men. Be Strong

We shall hear the tramp of a thousand feet,

As the road goes sliding by,

And we'll feel again the throb of the beat

That keeps our Courage high.

Viriliter Agite Estote Fortes

Quit you like men. Be Strong

As we go forth to right what is wrong

And the work of the world to do,

The clarion call of the Old School Song,

Shall carry us bravely through

Viriliter Agite Estote Fortes,

Quit you like men. Be Strong

The song was recently remixed by Mr. Peter Jones, Head of History, for the Class of 2008's 6th Form Revue. Tuneage.

[edit] The Fifth Dinner Club

1926 saw the birth of a club, still to be found at Culford today. The name of the ‘Fifth Dinner Club’ (FDC) is derived from its foundation by five members of the Fifth Form - G G Hawes, R H Tuffs, Gaubert, Downs and Marley - to subvert the Prefects. However the Fifth Formers eventually became Prefects themselves and only Prefects have been admitted as members ever since. The club’s activities are shrouded in secrecy and membership is only open to boys who pass an initiation test and are deemed worthy of participation. The club is associated with the motto Diu Vivamus Pingues Moriamur, the abbreviation of which, D.V.P.M., appears around the School periodically following notorious pranks. It is also associated with Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub on London’s Fleet Street, where members first dined in the 1930s and visit to this day. The FDC celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2006, with over 100 old boys and current members enjoying a dinner in Newmarket with countless stories and plenty of wine. This event was also attended by the current Headmaster and some members of the Common Room.

Other societies have been established from time to time to rival the FDC, the most enduring being a girls’ version named ‘Viva,’ which has existed in periods since the 1980s.

[edit] Trivia

• During the 1940’s, Basil Brown, the amateur archaeologist most famous for his discovery of the Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon burial, worked as a stoker at the School. Enlisting the help of several Culford boys, he dug out two Roman pottery kilns at nearby West Stow, inspiring Stanley West to return two decades later to unearth what is now considered an important Anglo-Saxon settlement^[12].

• Recent construction of the indoor tennis centre unearthed the body of a Bronze Age child ^[13].

• Backdrops of Culford Park, and particularly the thatched cricket pavilion, were featured in the BBC's Lovejoy series.

• The London and North Eastern Railway named one of their Class B17s, no. 2815, “Culford Hall”.

• In 1940, a German Junkers 88A-1 aircraft was shot down by the RAF over the School's lake, resulting in numerous fragments of the plane disappearing into Cadogan House as souvenirs ^[14].

• In 1999 The Sun ran the headline 'Pot Pupils Kicked Out at Toff School' after five pupils were caught smoking cannabis.

• The School is featured in a 2005 Victorian crime novel by Ethard Wendel Van Stee as having turned out one James Lott, notorious swindler and one of the chief protagonists of the tale. Van Stee imagines Lott's father having "packed him off to join the first class at the East Anglian School for Boys, later the Culford School, in Bury St Edmunds, ostensibly to provide him with a good Christian education." Having "expected the school, in its mysterious way, to turn the son of a publican into a young gentleman," he would not be disappointed; "However, like ice cream, the products of the East Anglian School for Boys were turned out in distinctive flavours..."^[15]

[edit] Further reading

• Watson, F E (1980). History of Culford School, The First Hundred Years, 1881-1981. The Governors of Culford School. ISBN 978-0950718507. 
• Roebuck, Stuart (1995). The Happiest Days: Culford Hall And School Through The Years. A Diamond Jubilee Publication To Celebrate The School's 60th Year In The Park. The Governors of Culford School. ISBN 978-0950718514. 
• Paine, Clive (1993). The Culford Estate 1780- 1935. The Lavenham Press. 
• Storey, Gertrude (1973). "Culford Hall" in People and Places : An East Anglian Miscellany. Terence Dalton. 

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Culford School Website
• Old Culfordians Website
• Methodist Education Website

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Coordinates: 52°18′3.94″N, 0°41′7.61″E