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King Edward VI School, Southampton

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Coordinates: 50°55′22″N 1°25′01″W / 50.92278°N 1.41694°W / 50.92278; -1.41694
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King Edward VI School
Location
Map
Southampton
,
Hampshire
,
SO15 5UQ

England
Coordinates50°55′22″N 1°25′01″W / 50.92278°N 1.41694°W / 50.92278; -1.41694
Information
TypePrivate day school
MottoDieu et mon droit
(God and my right)
Established1553; 471 years ago (1553)
FounderWilliam Capon
Department for Education URN116580 Tables
Head teacherNeal Parker (Senior) Rebecca Smith (Prep)
Staffapprox. 130
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment960
HousesLake, Capon, Watts, Sylvester, Reynolds and Lawrence
Former pupilsOld Edwardians
Websitehttps://kes.school

King Edward VI School (also known as King Edward's, or KES) is a selective co-educational private day school founded in Southampton, England, in 1553. The Senior and Sixth Form site is on Hill Lane, Southampton whilst the Preparatory School is located in Romsey.

The school was founded at the request of William Capon, who bequeathed money in his will for a grammar school for the poor. King Edward VI signed the necessary Royal Charter in 1553 and the school opened in 1554. King Edward's became an independent school in 1978 and accepted girls into the sixth form in 1983. It became a fully co-educational school in 1994. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and is a registered charity.[1] The school roll is approximately 950 pupils.

The current building was designed by the English architect Ernest Berry Webber in the early 1930s.

History

[edit]
The old school building in the 19th century

King Edward's was founded in 1553 when King Edward VI signed the necessary Royal Charter for a school to be built out of the proceeds of the will of William Capon, who had died in 1550 and bequeathed money for a grammar school for the poor. The school opened in 1554; it became an independent school in 1978, and accepted girls into the sixth form in 1983. It became a fully co-educational school in 1994. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

The current building was designed by the English architect Ernest Berry Webber in the early 1930s. Webber was a prolific designer of public buildings, including the civic centres at Southampton, Dagenham, and Hammersmith.[2]

Traditions and day-to-day life

[edit]
The main School building, designed by Ernest Berry Webber

The school motto is Dieu et mon droict (French for God and my right, referring to the monarch's divine right to govern) and is generally used as the motto of the British monarch. Originally it was spelled Dieut et mon droict, the Early Modern French spelling, but later the 't' in "Dieut" was dropped in accordance with present French orthography. In the 1970s the motto was 'Pax Huic Domui', 'Peace to this House' (traditionally the words a priest says when visiting a sick person). The school hymn is Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, written by a famous former pupil, Isaac Watts. The clock tower at the Civic Centre, Southampton plays the same tune at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock, after it has chimed the hour.

In 2011, 100% of pupils achieved 5+ A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and maths, with 85% achieving all English Baccalaureate subjects. The average fifth year student was entered for 11.2 qualifications.[3]

An online bulletin is also sent to parents using the e-portal on a regular basis through each term to ensure that events are publicised. The website also publishes news about achievements and events and is updated weekly. The school publishes one formal reports.'Sotoniensis is an annual publication of the school's main social, charitable and arts events. Published in October, it aims to provide a record of all that has taken place in the previous year, and has articles covering trips, expeditions, sports results, theatre productions, etc. The Edwardian is a biannual publication for and about alumni of King Edward's (known as Edwardians, or OEs).

As well as a main playing field, and an area of artificial turf large enough to accommodate 12 tennis courts, King Edward's owns 33 acres (130,000 m2) of sports grounds called Wellington on the edge of Southampton, where there is a water based astro pitch, along with netball courts, tennis courts, and a large number of grass pitches.

Old Edwardians

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See also: Category:People educated at King Edward VI School, Southampton

House Founders

Other Notable Alumni

  • Edward Penley Abraham, biochemist
  • General Sir Gordon Messenger, military, former Vice-Chief of Defence Staff
  • Ian Hewitt MBE – past Chair of The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and The Championships, Wimbledon
  • Rob Moore (field hockey player)
  • Natalie Black CBE – first female Head of School, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific from September 2018 to September 2023
  • Justin Young, musician
  • Hannah Snelgrove – Olympic Sailing
  • Ken Hedges – army medic and polar explorer
  • Kenzie Benali – Broadcaster
  • Joe Weatherley – current Hampshire Cricketer
  • Hugh Mitchell, actor
  • Hugh Ferris (presenter) – English television, radio, podcast and events presenter specialising in sports broadcasting, and author.
  • David Hodson OBE KC – international family lawyer
  • Ian Dunt, journalist
  • Hugh Whitemore, playwright/screenwriter
  • Justin Edwards, actor
  • Darren Nash - palaeontologist

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "King Edward VI School, Southampton, registered charity no. 1088030". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  2. ^ "Well known architect: New resident in Eastbourne", The Eastbourne Gazette, 28 December 1938, p. 17.
  3. ^ "King Edward VI School – GOV.UK".
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