KING'S SCHOOL WORCESTER

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K I N G ' S S C H O O L , W O R C E S T E R

STAFF 1968/69

Headmaster

Second Master

L M. Bailey, B.A., T.D. J. M. Cash, M.C., M.A. F. R. Logan, B.Sc. P. G. L. Curie, M.A. K. P. Barnett, M.A. F. S. Sutcliffe, M.A. A. H. Aldridge, M.A., T. L. Vivian, A.T.D. D. Anderton, M.A. A. L. Stacey, M.A. D. R. Leonard, Cert. Ed. J. R. Turner, B.Sc. (Careers) M. J. Points, M.A. M. G. East, M.A., A.Inst. P. T. D. R. Hickson, B.A. M. S. Fagg, M.A. A. L. Cubberiey, M.A. J. L. K. Bridges, B.Sc.

D.F.C. (Art)

D. M. Annett, M.A. R. D. Knight, M.A.

Revd. C. E. Beswick, B.A. P. D. T. Cattermole, B.Sc. K. R. Burnett, M.A. D. E. Hargreaves, M.A., M.Sc. I. G. L. St. John, Dip. P.E. C. J. K. Cunningham, M.A. L. B. Day, M.A. R. C. Gabriel, M.A. Revd. J. M. F . Sanderson, M.A.

(Chaplain) P. K. Valentine, Cert. Ed. B. Walton, B.Sc. I. Brown. Dip. P.E. A. N. Brownridge, B.A. G. H. J. Dore. B.A. N. Hillyard, B.A. R. A. Hockey, M.A. G. N. Leah, M.A.

R. H. West

Music H. W. Bramma, M.A., F.R.C.O.

Mrs. S. A. Robinson, B.A.

PREPARATORY

Master-in-charge

A. E. Tibbs, B.D. Mrs. W. Thomas, N.F.F.

DEPARTMENT

W. Thomas, M.A., T.D. Mrs. V. E. M. Bailey, Cert. Ed,

Bursar - Group Capt. T. A. F. Elsdon, O.B.E., D.F.C. Medical Officer Dr. J. M. Duncan, M.B.. Ch.B.

Caterer Mrs. N. Robson

Headmaster's Secretaries - Miss J. Yeates, Miss M. E. Baldwin Accountant Miss A. Turvey

KING'S SCHOOL, WORCESTER

H I S T O R Y

A LTHOUGH there is reason to think that a Cathedral School existed at Worcester in the 7tb century, the continuous existence of the present school dates from its foundation by King

Henry VIII in 1541, when the Cathedral Priory was suppressed. The Refectory of the Priory— now known as College Hall—has, except for brief interruptions, been occupied by the School ever since. In 1884 the School was reorganised as a Public School, and in 1944 the Cathedral Choir School was amalgamated with the King's School.

The School is on the Direct Grant List of the Ministry of Education. This enables it to take its part in the national system of education without losing its independence, and also to offer the amenities of a Public School education at a very moderate cost to parents. The Governing Body is composed of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, together with represen­tatives of the City Council, the County Council and Oxford University. The School is repre­sented on the Headmasters' Conference and the Governing Bodies' Association.

B U I L D I N G S A N D S I T U A T I O N

The School still occupies its original site under the shadow of the Cathedral, and forms a compact and secluded precinct between the river Severn and the busy streets of the city. The buildings are grouped round College Green and the School Gardens and quadrangles, and range in date from the 14th-century College Hall and Edgar Tower (which contains some Vl-form rooms), through the 17th- and 18th-century Boarding Houses surrounding College Green, to the Winslow Science Block (1958) and a large building containing class-rooms and day-boys' accommodation opened in 1964. Further additions are planned and will be put in hand as soon as funds permit.

O R G A N I Z A T I O N

The Preparatory Department accepts both boarders and day-boys at the age of 8-9; it is housed in a separate building (St. Alban's), standing in its own grounds adjacent to the Main School. The Department is under the supervision of the Master-in-charge and his wife, with a resident staff; it numbers about 80 boys, of whom 25 are boarders.

Day-boys may enter the Main School at 11, and there are a few vacancies for boarders at this age. Boarders between the ages of 11 and 13 work with the Main School, but remain members of St. Alban's until 13, when they enter one of the four Senior Boarding Houses, together with boys coming from Preparatory Schools at the same age. Day-boys are organised in separate houses, with their own Housemasters. Day-boys are in every respect as full members of the School as boarders; they share the same privileges and amenities, and are expected to conform to the same rules. There are about 530 boys in the Main School, of whom about 220 are boarders.

R E L I G I O N

The School has a historic connection with the Cathedral, and religious instruction is given in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of England, but boys of other denominations are accepted. Prayers are held in College Hall on weekday mornings, and boarders attend Mattins in the Cathedral on Sundays. The Bishop of Worcester holds a special Confirmation Service for the School in the Cathedral each March, for which boys are prepared by the School Chaplain. The Junior School has its own chapel at St. Alban's in which daily prayers and Sunday Services are held. The Holy Communion is celebrated here several times a term by the Chaplain; on other Sundays boys can attend the Cathedral services.

H E A L T H A N D D I E T

Each Boarding House has its own sick-rooms and resident Matron. The School Medical Officer, whose surgery is close to the School, sees "out-patients" there every morning, and

visits them in the Houses as necessary. All boarders are placed on his list under the National Health Scheme, unless parents specially stipulate that their boys are to be treated as private patients. Parents are strongly advised to arrange dental inspection and treatment with the family dentist during the holidays.

All boys have their main meals in the School Dining Hail, the kitchens of which have recently been completely modernised and re-equipped. In addition to the three cooked meals —breakfast at 8.0, luncheon at 1.0, and high tea at 6.0—milk is available in the mid-morning break, and a light supper is served in the boarding houses at 9.0 p.m. The catering is in the hands of an experienced Caterer, under the general supervision of the Headmaster's wife.

C U R R I C U L U M

In the Junior School all boys take English, Arithmetic, Divinity, History, Geography, Nature Study, Art, Music, and Physical Education. French is started in the Second Form.

In the Middle School (11-13) all boys follow the same basic course, with the addition of Latin and Elementary Science, for two years; after that a system of options is introduced.

In the Upper School the curriculum is designed to give all boys a general education, to avoid premature specialisation and an irrevocable commitment to Arts or Sciences, and to break down the rigid division between the Ordinary and Advanced courses of the General Certificate of Education. For at least two years all boys take Divinity, English, Mathematics, French, P.E., General Art and Music, and at least one Science subject, together with various combinations of other subjects. The Ordinary level examination of the G.C.E. can be taken after two or three years, according to the boy's progress in individual subjects, enabling him to move on to Advanced work in some subjects, while still completing the 'O' level course in others. In the VI Forms three main subjects are usually taken at Advanced level; these may be a selection from Classics, English, Modern Languages, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Besides their specialist subjects all boys take English, Religion and Philosophy, and a complementary course in General Studies. (The Modern Languages taught are French, German and Russian).

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S P O R T

All boys are expected to take part in school games unless excused for medical reasons. The main school games are Rugby Football in the Autumn Term, Hockey, Rowing, and Cross­country running in the Easter Term, and Cricket, Rowing, Tennis, Swimming and Athletics in the Summer Term. There are also opportunities for boys to play Fives, Squash, and Golf.

The main playing fields lie immediately across the river from the school, adjoining the County Cricket Ground, and there is another field at Battenhall, about a mile away. A new Boathouse was built in 1959, the playing fields extended in 1961, a 25-metre open-air swimming pool completed in 1963, and four tennis courts provided in 1963-4.

O T H E R A C T I V I T I E S

At the age of 14 boys join either the Combined Cadet Force (which has Army, Navy, and R.A.F. Sections) or the Scouts. C.C.F. cadets, after taking their Proficiency Test, go on to advanced training, which includes such activities as signalling, vehicle maintenance, rock-climbing, and 24-hour "arduous training" exercises. Alternative activities for boys in the VI Form include courses given by the Red Cross and the Fire Service, a Civics course, and Welfare and Public Works groups.

There is a school choir and orchestra, and a new Music School was opened in 1964. The Art and Craft Rooms provide facilities for painting, pottery and sculpture. A school play is produced every year, in addition to other minor dramatic activities. There is a large number of school societies and clubs catering for a wide range of interests. Carpentry and dancing can be taken as "extras".

A D M I S S I O N

There are various methods of entry to the School for boys of different ages, viz :—

1. junior School Admission Examination. Admission to the Junior School for boarders and day­boys is by means of examinations held at the School each June, for entry in September. They are competitive, and appropriate papers are set for all ages between 8 and 11. The recommended age of entry is 8-9, for there are very few vacancies for boys aged 10-11. Entry must be made by March 31st preceding the examination; no specimen papers are available.

2. Worcester City and County Secondary Schools Entrance Examinations. These examinations —better known as the " 1 1 + "—are conducted by the Local Education Authorities, and on the results a certain number of boys of 10 and 11 are awarded " free places" at the King's School. Their parents must be resident in the City or County of Worcester, and entry is made through the Primary or Preparatory School.

3. Common Entrance Examination. By means of this examination boys may enter the School either as boarders or day-boys between the ages of 13 and 14. The examination is held at Preparatory Schools in February, June and November, and boys who reach the qualifying mark, and have already been offered a place at the King's School, enter the Senior School the following term. It should be noted that the majority of vacancies occur in September; there are few in January and May. Applications for 13-year-old places should be made to the Headmaster as early as possible, as the lists may be closed several years before the date of entry. The King's School takes no part in arranging this examination, and entries for it must be made by the Preparatory School.

Winners of King's Scholarships and Choristers' Scholarships are entitled to a place in the School without further examination. Details of these are given in a later section.

Admission to the Junior School does not guarantee admission later to the Senior School, though it is expected that a boy who has passed the Junior School Entrance Test will have little difficulty in reaching the standard of entry to the Senior School. Boys who have not reached this standard by the age of 12 cannot be retained in the Junior School.

FEES

Details of the fees and other charges are given on a separate sheet in the pocket at the back of this prospectus. In addition to the provision of full tuition and the normal games facilities, the school fees cover the use of text-books, stationery and apparatus, and basic entry fees for the General Certificate Examinations. It will be appreciated that these fees would be considerably higher but for the Direct Grant.

The Tuition Fee is remitted in the case of boys, whether boarders or day-boys, holding " free places " awarded by the Worcestershire and Worcester City Education Authorities. The parents of other day-boys can claim remission of part or the whole of the Tuition Fee on the basis of an income scale. (Details of this can be obtained from the Bursar.) In certain cases a grant towards the Boarding Fee may be made by a Local Authority; for information parents should apply to the Chief Education Officer of their own Local Education Authority. None of these remissions apply to boys in the Junior School.

The Governors reserve the right to increase the fees, if necessary, after giving one term's notice of their intention to do so.

Accounts must be paid in advance, before the first day of term.

A full term's notice must be given in writing before the removal of a boy. In default of such notice, the full fees for the ensuing term must be paid.

Fees cannot be remitted in the event of absence, but parents can insure against this risk; particulars of this scheme can be obtained from the Bursar.

C A T H E D R A L C H O R I S T E R S

Since the absorption of the Cathedral Choir School in 1944 the Cathedral Choristers have been members of the King's School. Entry to the Choif is by means of Voice and Educational Tests which are held annually, usually in February. A high musical standard is naturally required, and boys must also be of good intellectual ability to ensure that they will hold their place in the school. Boys should be 8-9 years old at the time of entry. Information about Entrance Tests and Choristers' Scholarships can be obtained from the Precentor, 2 College Green, Worcester.

E N T R A N C E S C H O L A R S H I P S

In addition to the City and County " free places " mentioned above, there are 20 King's Scholarships on the Foundation, of which 3-5 fall vacant each year. They are of a maximum value of £125 p.a. A few Exhibitions of a minimum value of £25 p.a. are also available, for which preference is given to the sons of clergy. The scholarship examination is normally held in May, and candidates must be under 14 on September 1st. The Old Vigornian Club has established a fund from which bursaries can be granted to sons of O.Vs. who might otherwise be unable to come to the King's School. Assistance is also available from certain Educational Trusts in cases of financial hardship : full particulars can be obtained from the Headmaster.

L E A V I N G S C H O L A R S H I P S

Boys educated at the King's School are eligible for—

(1) 4 Meeke Scholarships tenable at Hertford College, Oxford. (2) Dean Peel, Catley, Stratford and Hughes Scholarships, tenable at Oxford or Cambridge. (3) 4 Worfield Scholarships, open only to boys born in the City of Worcester.

In addition to these Closed Awards, during the past ten years boys from the School have won 17 Open Scholarships and Exhibitions at Oxford and Cambridge, and 13 State Scholarships.

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G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N

Parents are asked to keep in touch with their son's Housemaster on all routine matters affecting his health and education. The Careers Master will give information and advice about careers, and boys can also avail themselves of the services of the Public Schools' Appointments Bureau. The Headmaster is always glad to see parents and to discuss their boy's progress and his future; appointments should be made through his Secretary (Tel. 23016).

No boy may be absent from School for any reason save illness without previous permis­sion from the Headmaster.

School regulation dress as published in the Clothes List must be worn on all School occasions during term-time. In addition to the items of clothing listed, all boys must be provided with the following :—

* Bible (British & Foreign Bible Society Centenary Edition preferred) J Prayer Book

t* Worcester Psalter English Dictionary I—boarders only. *—can be purchased at school.

The School Shop, which is situated in the Edgar Tower, is open on several days before the beginning of the Autumn Term for the convenience of parents of new boys. It is also open at regular times during the term, when boys may make purchases.

A form of application is enclosed. If you wish to enter your son's name for a place in the School, will you please complete and return this to the Headmaster's Secretary as soon as con­venient, together with the Registration Fee of £2-2-0 (which is not returnable). Please notify the Headmaster of any change of address or change of school between the time of registration and your son's entry to the King's School.

July, 1964.

KING'S SCHOOL, WORCESTER

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Surname of Boy (in capitals)

Full Christian Names

Date of Birth

Name of Parent or Guardian

Address

Telephone No.

Occupation of Boy's Father

Religion

Term and Year for which Entry is desired

Age at entry Boarder/Day Boy (Delete as necessary)

House preference (if any)

Name and Address of present School

Name of present Headmaster

I desire the admission of the above-named boy, and if he is admitted, I agree

(!) to pay all monies due from the parent/guardian before the first day of the ensuing term

(ii) to give a full term's notice in writing e*-te-T«y-^rftrlr~TermJ8--lees before removing him

(Hi) to accept the conditions printed overleaf, and to conform to the regulations of the School as printed in the Prospectus and School Rules and as amended from time to time.

Date Signature

P.T.O