Birmingham Blue Coat School

The Blue Coat School
Motto Grow In Grace
Established 1722
Type Independent School
Headmaster A D J Browning
Location Birmingham
West Midlands
EnglandEngland Coordinates: 52°27′38″N 1°56′24″W / 52.460435°N 1.94013°W
DfE number 330/6070
DfE URN 103580 Tables
Students c.550
Gender Co-educational
Ages 2–11
Website The Blue Coat School Website

The Blue Coat School is a preparatory school in Birmingham, England for children aged two to 11. The school was founded in 1722.[1] In 1930,[2] it moved from the northeast corner of St. Philip's Square to its current location on Somerset Road, on the border between Edgbaston and Harborne. It has 15 acres of gardens and playing fields. There are three sections to the school - Buttons, Pre-Prep and Main School.

History

Blue plaque on the site of the original Blue Coat School

The school was founded as a charity school under the guidance of Reverend William Higgs, Rector of St Philip's Church, now Birmingham Cathedral.[3] At its outset, it provided food, clothing and education to 32 boys and 20 girls from poor families, aged between nine and 14.[4] The school was originally located at 5 St Philips Place (formerly the Prudential Assurance building). The old school site is now commemorated by a blue plaque.[5]

Teachers

During the 1880s, the older boys were instructed in phonology by Marie Bethell Beauclerc, a pioneer in the teaching of shorthand.

Further reading

John D Myhill. Blue Coat: A History of the Blue Coat School, Birmingham, 1722-1990. Meridian Books, 1991.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thebluecoatschool.com/
  2. ↑ http://www.thebluecoatschool.com/resources/Inspection-Reports/ISI-Inspection-Report-2007.pdf Inspection report
  3. ↑ http://www.thebluecoatschool.com/aboutus/a-short-history.html Blue Coat School History
  4. ↑ http://billdargue.jimdo.com/downloads/ Dargue's History of Birmingham, p. 294
  5. ↑ Open Plaques website