| Motto | Misericordias Domini In Aeternum Cantabo ("I will sing of the Lord's mercy forever") |
|---|---|
| Established | 1100 (possible foundation), 1256 (earliest reference and endowment), 1563 (re-endowment), 1870 (move to current premises) |
| Type | Independent school |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Head | Miss Felicity Lusk |
| Founders | Benedictine monks |
| Location | Abingdon Oxfordshire United Kingdom |
| Gender | Boys |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | 9 |
| Colours |
Cerise and White |
| Former pupils | Old Abingdonians |
| Sports | Rowing, Fencing, Rugby and Cricket |
| Boat House | Abingdon School Boat House |
| Website | www.abingdon.org.uk |
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated on Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire next to Albert Park. (formerly in Berkshire), 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 twentieth oldest independent British school (possibly the sixth) and celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. Its fees were, in 2009/2010, £9,505 (full boarding), £8,195 (weekly boarding) and £4,635 (day) per term.[1]
The Good Schools Guide called it 'An impressive school which does what it sets out to do well,' also noting that it was 'Likely to increase in popularity because of its location and increasingly sparkly achievements',[2] while The Times described it as 'an elite boys’ boarding school'.[3]
Contents |
The precise date of Abingdon's foundation is unclear. Some believe the school to have been founded prior to 12th century by the Benedictine monks of Abingdon Abbey, with a legal document of 1100 listing Richard the Pedagogue as the first headmaster. From its early years, the school used a room in St Nicholas' Church,[4] which itself was built between 1121 and 1184.[5]
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.[6] 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,[7] 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 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. Despite being penalised during and after the English Civil War for its royalist and Anglican tendencies the school survived and achieved somewhat of a revival under headmaster Robert Jennings (1657–1683). 1671 saw the expulsion of ten boys after they refused to attend Anglican services at St Helen's church.
The school experienced a period of success during the 18th century under headmaster Thomas Woods (1716–1753), known as 'Flogging Tom'. The school became popular amongst the local aristocracy and many OAs went onto to successful careers in various areas. In 1743 The Old Abingdonian Club was inaugurated, it is consequently one of the oldest such organisations in the country.
At the turn of the century the school went into decline under the leadership of the 'incompetent'[5] headmaster Dr. John Lempriere. As a consequence Pembroke College, Oxford used the University Reform Act of 1854 as an excuse to cut its links with 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 Quartercentenary 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).
On 4 October 2008, the newly completed Sports Centre [8] was opened by MP Kate Hoey, with assistance from footballer Martin Keown, swimmer Robin Brew and pentathlete Kate Allenby. This multi-million pound project took 5 years to complete and has increased the floorspace of the school by 40% [9] Plans for the complex were formally launched by HRH Princess Anne in 2006.
In September 2010 Felicity Lusk, formerly headmistress of Oxford High School for Girls, a GDST school, replaced Mark Turner as head of Abingdon. She has become the first female head of, not only Abingdon, but any boys' boarding public school.[10] David Lillycrop, Abingdon's chair of governors, said the move would 'help the boys to think in new ways but without losing the things that have given the school such an attractive character in the past', while Felicity Lusk herself remarked that 'There aren’t many women doing what I’m going to be doing, I think they [Abingdon] have been quite brave ... [a] last bastion of education has been broken through'.[3] One of Felicity Lusk's first actions as head was to abolish Saturday morning school and restructure Abingdon's school day around 55, instead of 35, minute lessons.[11]
The school currently has 860 pupils aged 11–18, of whom 111 are boarders. The school is split into 9 houses, 3 of which are for boarders and dayboys, 6 for day boys only. These are:
Day boys from 11-13 belong to the Lower School which has 118 boys.[12]
The day houses (with the exception of Lower School, School House, and Crescent House) 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. O'Doherty'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 Phelps' (now Davies') (which holds the record of the most public speaking titles held at one time, 3 of 5), Boyd's 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.
Abingdon is notable in the region for its dedication to extracurricular activities, dubbed the "Other Half" (of the syllabus).[13] As is the tradition at English public schools Wednesday afternoon is given over to extracurricular activities.
Abingdon has a strong sporting tradition, especially in rowing,[14] rugby and cricket. Sports currently offered include: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Cross-Country, Fencing, Golf, Hockey, Karate, Kayaking, Real Tennis, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Water Polo. In recent years the school has reached the later stages of the Daily Mail U18 rugby cup whilst also gaining places in the last four of the HMC national 20/20 cricket competition. Sport is compulsory at Abingdon School and each student must do at least two sessions per week.[15]
Rowing at Abingdon is particularly strong. The boat club has a long and prestigious history with documentary evidence indicating rowing was a school activity in 1830.[16] 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 until 2008. 2006's J14's A and B squads, coached by Mr. Athol Hundermark (now senior 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. In 2009 the 1st VIII reached the final of the Henley Royal Regatta unfortunately losing out to a "triple" winning Eton College crew. In 2011 the 1st VIII achieved victory again at the Schools Head of the River.[17] They backed this up by winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, on the way setting a new record of 6.19 for the course in the semi final against Radley College, beating the long standing record set by Pangbourne College in 1992 of 6.22.
The Debating Society is the school's oldest non-sporting society, founded in 1904. It debates a variety of motions in its weekly meetings, from the humorous to the serious, with many being political in nature. Upon the arrival of new head, Felicity Lusk, the society debated the motion 'This House believes women make better leaders than men', with the results being 9 In Favour, 16 Against and 25 Abstentions.[18] Abingdon takes part in a variety of national debating, public speaking and model United Nations competitions, often achieving notable success, as in 2009 when a group of Abingdon boys were national champions of the 2009 European Youth Parliament competition. The society also holds black-tie dinner debates with girls' schools, including the School of St Helen and St Katharine, Wycombe Abbey and Westonbirt School. David Mitchell and Colin Greenwood were chairmen of the society while at Abingdon.[19]
The School's Edmund and Roysse Societies hold talks for boys several times a term, inviting eminent speakers to lecture on a wide variety of subjects. Notable speakers include former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd.[20]
Community and charity service has a strong tradition at Abingdon, with many boys choosing to visit the elderly or help in Primary Schools. Once a term the school holds a tea party for the elderly, with entertainment being provided by school musicians and other boys.[21]
Abingdon's Combined Cadet Force, which consists of RAF and Army sections, is nationally acclaimed. Although membership of the CCF is voluntary at Abingdon it remains a large and popular activity. Cadets are expected to parade weekly in uniform. The CCF has achieved several successes with 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.[22]
The 'Other Half' also has bridge, chess, classics, cookery, modern languages, history film and literary clubs.[23][24]
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. In 2010 Abingdon achieved a 99.7% pass rate at GCSE level and 100% pass rate at A level, with 70.4% gaining A or A* grades.[1]
Subjects taught to GCSE and A-Level include English, History, Design Technology, Geography, French, 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, Chinese and Cooking.
Subjects taught for A-Level only are Russian, 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 classroom is notably strong and was determined the best in the country by a leading national newspaper, and indeed by Cym, King of Wales.
The school holds a number of events, dinners and balls throughout the year. The 'Foundation Dinner', to honour the school's founders and benefactors, is held once a year towards the end of Lent term. It is normally attended by Abingdon Town Councilors, supporters of the school, governors, famous OAs, School prefects and upper sixth scholars. Perhaps the most notable school event is the 'Griffin Ball' held at the end of the school year. It is often attended by members of the upper sixth who are leaving the school as well as other students and many parents and teachers.[25] The ball itself is often preceded earlier in the day by the school's annual prize giving ceremony.
The list is as published on a display in the school's main entrance hall.
Prominent Conservative politician, member of parliament for Horsham, former Chairman of the Conservative Party and current Paymaster General Francis Maude attended the school in the 1960s.
The members of Radiohead attended Abingdon in the 1980s. Their song 'Bishop's Robes' reputedly refers to a former headmaster of Abingdon, Michael St John Parker, who was known for wearing academic gowns.[26]
David Mitchell, most famously known for being one half of the double comedy act 'Mitchell and Webb', attended Abingdon School from 1987-1992. In his final year he was chairman of the school's debating society. On his appearance on Desert Island Discs he chose "Creep" by Radiohead and suggested that it should be the Abingdon anthem.
Musician Thomas Dolby (then known as Thomas Robertson) was at Abingdon in 1975-76, completing his A levels while in attendance.[27]
Robin Bourne-Taylor, a two-time Olympic rower, three-time Boat Race winner (2002, 2003 and 2005) and the president of the Oxford University Boat Club (2004 to 2005), went to Abingdon School.
Another notable Old Abingdonian was the Oxford cox, Nicholas Brodie, who went on to cox both the Isis boat and the Blues, leading Oxford to victory as the OUBC President in the 2008 Boat Race. This was the first time since the 1970s that a cox had been President of either club.
Actors Toby Jones, best known for his award-winning role in Infamous, and Tom Hollander, of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End fame, were in the same year at Abingdon in the early 1980s.
Two members of the band Foals were at Abingdon School.
Musician Nigel Powell who plays drums for Frank Turner attended the school from 1985 to 1989.
