Chatham House Grammar School
Coordinates: 51°20′11.61″N 1°24′58.21″E / 51.3365583°N 1.4161694°E
 Pelican in Her Piety | |
| Motto |
Floreat Domus Chathamensis (Latin: May Chatham House Flourish) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1797 |
| Type |
Grammar school Academy |
| Founder | Dr William Humble |
| Location |
Chatham Street Ramsgate Kent CT11 7PS England |
| Local authority | Kent |
| DfE URN | 136382 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Gender | Boys; Coeducational (sixth form) |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Former pupils | Old Ruymians |
| New name | Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School |
| Merged | 2011 |
| Website |
www |
Chatham House Grammar School was an all boys grammar school in Ramsgate, Kent, England, that was merged in September 2013 with its sister school Clarendon House Grammar School to become the Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School.
It had a coeducational sixth form and shared teaching facilities and various A Level courses with Clarendon House Grammar School. The two schools worked together to provide subjects, bands, and outings. Both schools were co-ed from the sixth form (Year 12 and 13).
History
Chatham House was founded in 1797 by Dr William Humble along Chatham Street, although there is evidence that the school had existed prior to its formal establishment. The school underwent major changes during the 1800s. The buildings were renovated and expanded and rugby and hockey were introduced into the sporting programme.[1]
World War II
When Ramsgate was bombed during World War II, a bomb hit the school library (where a skylight now stands) but did not detonate. Prior to that, the library had been the school chapel, as evidenced by the amount of stained glass.
The school had numerous entrances to private shelters used in the second world war to shelter from air raids. Most of these entrances were covered up (now underneath the playing fields) but the last ones are still visible on the lower playground and have been used recently by the local fire authorities for training purposes. There is also a slabbed-over entrance in a carpark of the school to the actual ramsgate tunnels arp network which ran for around 3.5 miles which are not connected to the school shelters.
The main building of the school as well as the railings were grade II listed.[2]
Admissions
The school had approximately 813 students including the 262 students in the sixth form, accepting only boys in years 7-11, and a limited number of girls in the sixth form, mostly drawn from the Isle of Thanet that encompasses Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate, but some from as far away as Herne Bay and the Whitstable area. Chatham House is situated just south of the junction of the A255 and the A254.
On 4 March 2008, the school had an Ofsted inspection which rated the school as outstanding - the highest grade achievable.[3] All areas that were inspected were found to be Grade 1 (outstanding) or Grade 2 (good) and the school was praised for its work.
The school had the highest rate of GCSE and A level passes in Kent, 73% of students taking their GCSEs last year got A* to C.
Uniform
The school maintained a strict system of uniform throughout all years, including the sixth form. The uniform consisted of a dark green blazer, dark trousers, white shirt and a green tie striped with the correct form the pupil is placed into.
In the senior school (years 9-13), ties were also green and striped as previously mentioned.
Some pupils also become eligible to wear ties in recognition of other achievement. House 'colours' were similar to the house tie but with a white stripe running along each side of the coloured stripe.
School 'colours' were a single white school crest on a dark green tie with a white stripe. There were also 'colours' for sport and music, which consist of a repeating pattern of white stripes and the school crest and were earned by representing the school's first team in 75% of the matches in a season.
House system
The school had a house system with the junior school consisting of years 7 and 8. From year 9, the pupils join the senior houses. In total there are 8 houses, 4 junior school houses and 4 senior school houses. In the senior houses pupils wear a tie indicative of their house. In year 12 (or lower sixth) the form groups are split into two. The nomenclature for representing a pupil's house is: 7MS, 11RP, 12TS(ii)
All ties for both senior and junior site consist of a green tie striped with the appropriate colours named below:
- Knight-Heaths = blue striped tie
- Manns-Sommerville = yellow/gold striped tie
- Rothchild-Pearce = white/silver striped tie
- Thomas-Sharman = red striped tie
Previous Senior Houses
- Coleman's - sky blue stripes
- Pearce's - green stripes
- Searle's - red stripes
- Thomas' - pink stripes
- Mann's - orange stripes
- Heath's - white stripes
The house system was used for sporting events - house fixtures results accumulate over the academic year - and for various other competitions, including acting and design contests. The results from all of these fixtures were tallied at the end of each year to determine the winner of the Cock House Trophy.
Competition cups
Throughout the school year, the houses took part in competition cups, which contribute points toward the Cock House Cup. These included the Taylor Acting Cup, Larkin Music Cup, Chapman Design Cup and the Curzon Picture debating competition. Also, sports day events and general achievement contribute towards house points totals.
Merger
In 2009, Chatham House and the nearby girls-only Clarendon House formed the Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School Federation. The Federation became a new Converter Academy in January 2011, bringing greater control over admissions, site & buildings, curriculum development and much-needed additional income.
In Spring 2011, it was announced that the schools will work together as one school. Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils would be based at Chatham House and year 10 and 11 pupils would be based at the former Clarendon House.
Beginning September 2011, the new school Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School introduced a combined house system resulting from the amalgamation of old Chatham and Clarendon houses.
Notable alumni
Alumni of Chatham House are known as Old Ruymians.[4] Chatham House has the sixth highest number of Who's Who entries for state schools.[5]
Well known Old Ruymians include:
- Iain Aitch - author and journalist
- Doc Atherton - broadcaster formerly on Invicta FM (now known as Heart Kent) then KMFM Thanet and can now be heard on Academy FM
- Allan Butler, Ambassador to Mongolia from 1984-7
- Rear-Adm Timothy Chittenden, submariner and Director from 2000-3 of the Warship Support Agency
- Keva Coombes, Leader (Labour) of Liverpool City Council from 1987–90, and Labour candidate for Hyndburn in 1987
- Matt Corker - professional rugby union player for the London Wasps
- Maj-Gen Patrick Crawford GM, Commandant from 1989-93 of the Royal Army Medical College
- Jamie Davies - racing driver
- Paul Daley - Musician (Leftfield)
- Marc Gascoigne - fantasy writer
- Prof Peter Gregory,[6] Director since 2005 of the Scottish Crop Research Institute at Invergowrie near Dundee, and Professor of Soil Science from 1994-2005 at the University of Reading
- Geoffrey Colin Guy CMG CVO OBE, Governor of Saint Helena from 1976–81, and Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 1958-9 and 1959–65
- Sir Edward Heath - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974[7]
- Peter Hermitage, Director from 1996-98 of National Police Training, and Chairman from 2004-6 of the Security Industry Authority
- Stewart Jackson - Conservative MP for Peterborough
- Sean Kerly - Olympic field hockey player
- Prof Andrew Lawrence, Regius Professor of Astronomy since 1994 at the University of Edinburgh and Head of Physics from 2003-8
- Lieutenant Marc Lawrence,[8] Sea King observer of 849 Naval Air Squadron, killed on 21 March 2003 in a crash in Kuwait
- Ali Marchant, radio DJ
- John Marek Labour MP for Wrexham 1983 to 2001
- Desmond Misselbrook CBE,[9] Chairman from 1972-8 of Livingston Development Corporation
- Frank Muir - humourist[10]
- Rev Dr Edward Norman, gave the BBC Reith Lecture in 1978
- John Ovenden, Labour MP for Gravesend 1974 to 1979, and Leader of Kent County Council from 1994-7
- Geoff Parsons - Olympic high jumper
- Charles Robson (1859–1943), Middlesex and Hampshire wicket-keeper, and secretary (manager) of Southampton Football Club[11]
- Sir John Tavaré CBE, Chairman from 1986-2000 of Luxonic Lighting, and of Whitecroft Lighting from 1976–85
- Prof Robert Tavernor, Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the London School of Economics (LSE)
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Terry, Station Commander from 1968-70 of RAF El Adem (in Libya), Governor of Gibraltar from 1985-9, and targeted by the IRA on 18 September 1990 which severely injured him
- Air Vice-Marshal Henry Thornton CBE
- Hugh Tunnell, Ambassador to Bahrain from 1992-5
- Nik Turner - founder of the spacerock band Hawkwind
- Most Rev Gregory James Venables, Bishop of Argentina since 2002
- Geoffrey Wales, wood engraver
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Bill Wratten CBE CB - Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Strike Command during the first Gulf War, Station Commander from 1980-2 of RAF Coningsby
- Prabhat Mathema - Medical Director of Wales Rugby national team, former Head Physio of London Wasps Rugby team and QPR Football Club
- Matt Dunn (author)
See also
References
- ↑ History - Chatham House
- ↑ http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=171720&resourceID=5
- ↑ Ofsted Inspection - 28 March 2008
- ↑ "Grammar School Old Boys: Introduction". Chathamhouse.kent.sch.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ↑ Point 4 - Pews and pupils (2005-07-19). "Coast: Point 4 - Pews and pupils". BBC Article. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ↑ "Senior Management Team | Scottish Crop Research Institute". SCRI. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ↑ Heath, Edward. The Course of My Life. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1998, p111
- ↑ "849 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON - Marc Lawrence". Naval849.co.uk. 2003-06-23. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ↑ "Desmond Misselbrook - Obituaries, News". London: The Independent. 2005-03-23. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ↑ Muir, F. (2000) A Kentish Lad.Transworld Publishers ASIN:B000JFDP0S
- ↑ "Chales Robson profile". Cricketarchive.com. 1943-09-27. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
External links
- Chatham Clarendon Grammar School Federation Home Page
- Chatham House (previous website)
- OFSTED report
- EduBase
