The King's School, Tynemouth

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The King's School, Tynemouth
Motto Moribus Civilis
Established 1860
Type Public School
Headmaster Mr Philip Cantwell
Governing Board The Provost and Fellows of the Society of S S Mary and Aidan of York
Location Huntington Place
Tynemouth
Tyne and Wear
EnglandFlag of England
Students 900 (approx.)
Gender Mixed
Ages 4 to 18
School colours Red, Gold and Navy

              
Former pupils King's Tynemouth Alumni
Affiliation Woodard Schools
Website www.kings-tynemouth.org.uk


The King's School is a co-educational, independent day school in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, England with over 800 pupils aged between 4 and 18. The current headmaster is Mr Philip Cantwell. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school has a Christian foundation as the largest member of the Woodard Corporation, but accepts pupils of any religious background. The school was founded in 1860 and was originally situated solely in the old headmaster's house, now Tynemouth House, which continues to be used for conferences and teaching.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The school was founded in Jarrow in 1860, but by 1865 had moved to its present site in Tynemouth. The school originally provided private education for local boys as Tynemouth School: the school did not become known as The King's School until the 1960s. The school's name is in reference to the three ancient kings buried at Tynemouth Priory: Oswin, Osred and Malcolm III. Consequently, there are many student myths as to the position of the apostrophe in the name (King's, rather than Kings'). The school grew considerably in size during the second half of the twentieth century and began to admit girls to both the Kindergarten and the Sixth Form during that time. The school became fully coeducational in 1996, following the initial decision in 1992.

Postcard showing the headmaster's house, c. 1910
Postcard showing the headmaster's house, c. 1910

King's originally occupied a large house on Huntington Place and the adjoining terraces. This was later extended with the addition of the Nicholson Building (Nicholson's) in the 1920s, and the Ellison Block (Ellison's) in the 1960s. Further expansion occurred in 1991 with the addition of the design, technology and art block. This continued in 1999 with the addition of the Chapter Building, comprising many new classrooms, along with the lecture theatre and 700-seat King's Hall. In 2007, the school entered the next stage of its development, with the addition of the Oswin's Development. The development will open in 2008, housing a new sports hall, dance studio, drama workshop, indoor climbing centre, a music school with recording studio, a cafeteria and all-day coffee bar, new Sixth Form study centre and social space, a new library and classrooms for English learning support, French, Spanish and PE. The development will take the place of the former music school, gym, changing rooms and cafeteria. The first part of the development opened at the start of the Easter Term in April 2008.

[edit] Structure

The Senior School is organised into year groups, each under the day to day management of a Year Head and Assistant and a team of Tutors. There are four Houses, which form the framework for internal competitions in the school. Entry to the school occurs at all stages, though most commonly at ages 4, 11, 13 and 16. Scholarships are available for pupils entering first year, third year and the Lower Sixth. The maximum scolarship that a student can achieve is a 50% discount from the school fees. These are available for academic, artistic, all round and musical ability. Discounts on fees are also available to the children of clergy, and to third and subsequent siblings of current pupils.

[edit] Houses

King's has a long-standing House System. All pupils are assigned to a house upon entry to the senior school. Houses then denote form classes in each year (e.g. all members of provost in fourth year are members of 4P). This practice does not continue into the Sixth Form, where students are arranged into form classes of around ten or eleven, labelled numerically (e.g. L66, U66). Despite this, Sixth Form students do remain members of their original house.

House Abbr. House Colours
Barfleur B Gold
Dunelm D Red
Hotspur H Green
Provost P Blue

Traditionally, pupils were assigned to a house depending on their area of home residence, however this practice has become more flexible in recent years. Pupils who are relations of current or former pupils are normally assigned to the same house as their predecessors.

House colours appear on school ties for all members of the senior school. In place of the school colours (red, gold and navy), the gold stripe is replaced with the pupil's house colour (e.g. red, navy and light blue for members of Provost). This practice is not continued in the Sixth Form, where students wear either a navy blue tie emblazoned with the school crest (Sixth Form) or a red tie with gold and blue stripes, similarly emblazoned with the crest (Prefects).

The house names are purported to originate from the names of boats harboured on the shore at Tynemouth at the time the houses were created.

The House Challenge Trophy takes place each year, with pupils competing in sporting, musical and general knowledge events.

[edit] Spirituality

The school has an Anglican tradition as a member of the Woodard Corporation. Every year group attends a morning service in the school chapel each week. Communion is open to pupils, former pupils, staff and parents, and is held twice each term. The school chaplain is an ordained Minister of the Church of England. The current chaplain is the Reverend W. Miller.

[edit] Extra-Curricular Activities

The school has a wide provision for extra-curricular activities.

[edit] Music

The school has a very active music department. Music provision is available for all pupils at King's, with peripatetic teaching in many instruments. A wide range of bands and ensembles participate in a number of events throughout the year. The main vocal ensemble is the Capella Choir, open to all Senior School and Sixth Form students. The annual Capella music tour is a well-attended tradition at King's. The annual rock and pop charity concert began in 2000, and the event sees several students auditioning to perform, from each year of the senior school. The concerts are known as "K2000", with the name changing each year (i.e. K2006 in 2006). It has become a tradition for members of the Upper Sixth to act as compères on the night of the event, and for a group of upper sixth formers to perform a comedy music and dance routine.

[edit] Drama

There is a designated drama studio and this activity has received an enormous boost with the construction of the well-equipped King’s Hall. Each year there is senior play and musical and the Junior School and Kindergarten hold two productions each year. Students from all years are able to take individual speech and drama lessons and take the LAMDA examinations. King's has a long history of success in regional drama festivals.

[edit] Sport and Societies

Each year group in the Senior School has one afternoon of games per week. The school has a strong sporting tradition, with major sports including rugby, cricket, tennis, hockey, athletics and swimming. In recent years several pupils have represented their country. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, canoeing, gymnastics, trampolining and cross country running. The school's coastal location, together with its on-site facilities and access to nearby Prior's Park provide a wide range of opportunity for sport and recreation. In the cricket season, most school cricket games are played at Tynemouth Cricket Club.

Alongside provision for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, several other clubs and societies exist, including debating, chess and climbing. A number of activities take place at the school's Field Centre outpost at Alnham in the Northumberland National Park.

The school maintains strong business links and actively fosters a wide range of work experience placements and careers advice. This is supported by a popular community service scheme in the Sixth Form: students are encouraged provide voluntary assistance in local schools and community centres.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Uniform

The Senior School uniform comprises:

  • Blue blazer bearing the school crest
  • White shirt
  • Tie according school house (county honours/librarians' ties are optional).
  • Charcoal grey trousers or skirt
  • Black socks
  • Black shoes
  • Black leather belt (for boys only).

Sixth Formers are expected to wear a business suit and the appropriate tie. Prefects wear a silver badge showing the school crest and motto; senior prefects and the head and deputy heads of school wear a gold badge.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Independent Schools Information Service - The King's School, Tynemouth
  2. ^ Newcastle Falcons - Toby Flood
  3. ^ British Racing Drivers' Club Archive - Jason Plato
  4. ^ The Lindisfarne file - back in 73

[edit] External links

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