'King Edward VI Grammar School', or 'KEGS', is a
British grammar school located in the
town of
Chelmsford. It takes pupils from the ages of 11 to 18 . From Year 7 to year 11 it is a boys-only school, although it becomes mixed in the
sixth form (Year 12 and Year 13).
The present headmaster is Dr. Mike Walker, who succeeded Anthony Tuckwell in
1999, having previously taught history at the school as senior deputy headmaster.
History of the school
KEGS was one of many
grammar schools founded by
King Edward VI. Its current form resulted from a
royal warrant dated
March 24,
1551, although evidence of this school exists from as far back as the 13th Century, possibly earlier. Indeed, the school of 1551 was merely a "rebranding" of the Chelmsford Chantry School, a Roman Catholic institution which had been abolished along with the monasteries during the
English Reformation. The school was moved to its present site on Broomfield Road in
1892[1]. Once a
boarding school, it was one of many grammar schools to fully join the state sector and abolish the nominal fees. The last boarders left in the
1970s.
The school has been very successful academically over recent years, ranking in the top 20 schools in the country in national examination league tables. KEGS is a Foundation and Leading Edge school, and has also recently become a
Specialist Science College. Despite this, the school continues to perform strongly in other fields.
In
1981 it was named by ''
The Sunday Times'' as the most successful state school as measured by
Oxbridge open awards. In
1998, it was rated by the
Financial Times as the most successful state school at GCE advanced level in the period 1993-1998. In
2001 the school was named ''Sunday Times'' School of the Year. In
2003 the ''
Daily Mail'' called the school "one of England's most ancient and traditional grammar schools". The 2006
Good Schools Guide names KEGS as the top school (
independent or
maintained) in England for
A-level Chemistry, and the top selective state school for boys in
English Literature at
A-level. In November 2006, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.
[2]
House system
In 1907, with the school growing larger than it ever had been before,
headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of
"Houses"[3] — Holland, named for
Philemon Holland; Mildmay, for
Sir Walter Mildmay; Strutt, for
Joseph Strutt; and Tindal, for
Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, dividing the school into four forms in each year. The four houses, each with a staff head of house and a team of house officials drawn from the Upper Sixth, including a House Captain and deputies, compete throughout the year in sporting, musical and theatrical events, among others, to gain points towards the house championship. Each House is represented by a colour:
| Holland | Mildmay | Strutt | Tindal |
House events
The House System has adapted into a competition in which each house competes in various inter-house competitions in order to win points, which are added to a continually updated scoreboard.
'Standards:' In June, every member of the house is encouraged to partake in athletic events over three evenings, with each event awarding the participant a maximum of three points depending on how well the task was completed. A single point is awarded simply for turning up, encouraging mass participation.
'House Music:' Each house is designated 25 minutes to present five musical acts, which are judged by an external judge well-renowned in music.
'House Drama:' Each house must perform five acts that fall into different categories (e.g.
Monologue,
Duologue) which are each then marked out of 100.
'House Film:' Students are allowed to enter any number of two minute productions of any genre, following a given theme. These are divided into junior and senior films, with the top two films in each category, as well as two overall top films, being awarded individual and house prizes.
'House Sporting Events:' Particularly in the lower school, emphasis is placed on sporting events, with annual
rugby,
football,
cross-country and other events being held for each year group. 'Sports Morning', in the winter, and 'Sports Day' in the summer are also held with a larger amount of pupils taking part.
Student Voice
A group of students who are explicitly involved in the school's decision making processes, including a role in selecting new teachers. In addition to this, there are specialist groups formed to discuss new changes.
The student council
A cross-section of pupils from each form attend the school council twice a term. The council discusses matters of concern to pupils, and has its own annual budget of £2000 with which it may improve the school. It is run by three sixth-formers, elected by the council, known as the 'core team'.
Extracurricular activities
Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums
The school maintains an Army contingent of the
Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which is also open to students of
Chelmsford County High School for Girls. Military music is provided within the contingent by a Corps of Drums playing drums, flutes and bugles. The Corps wears the full dress scarlet tunics of The
Essex Regiment, incorporating the purple facings which gave the Essex Regiment its nickname 'The Pompadours'. It carries the drums of the 4/5th Battalion (Territorial Army) emblazoned with the Regiment's
battle honours.The current drum major is Samuel Booth (Yr. 12).
KEGS music
The school has a many ensembles, of which the orchestras include members from other schools, though the majority are from KEGS and
Chelmsford County High School for Girls. The other ensembles are exclusive to those who attend KEGS.
★ Junior Orchestra
★ Senior Orchestra
★ KEGS Strings
★ Chamber Ensemble
★ Choir
★ Wind Band
★ Jazz Ensemble
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
KEGS has a number of pupils currently preparing for
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
World Challenge
Whilst in the sixth form, each student has the chance to embark on a biannual World Challenge organised by the Senior Management team. Each team of about ten students, goes to developing countries in order to complete a two-part challenge:
★ 'Community Involvement', namely helping the community by completing tasks such as building a church or constructing a well
★ 'Personal Challenge' whereby each individual must complete a greulling physical task, such as a trek through the
Himilayas
The Fleur De Lys Society
The Fleur de Lys Society (FDL) is a sixth-form debating society that is now also a charity fundraising society. The FDL is believed to have been started by Frank Rogers, an influential Headmaster.
[3] As well as holding debates on a variety of topical subjects, it is also an important charitable organisation within the school. From
1980 to
2006 the FDL has been holding its annual charity week, usually the final week of Spring Term. FDL Week involves events for the entire school, where huge sums of money are raised for chosen charities - in 2005, £5,000 was raised and divided among J's Hospice, The Teenage Cancer Trust and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In
2007 the charity week was reduced to three days.
Notable alumni
Of the Chelmsford Chantry School (before the Royal Charter of 1551)
★
John Dee, noted mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, occultist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I; responsible for the English translation of
Euclid's work.
Pre 1900
★
Philemon Holland, celebrated classical scholar
★
Thomas Plume,
Archdeacon of
Rochester and educational benefactor, founded the chair of
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the
University of Cambridge
★
Joseph Strutt, author of "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England"
★ The Rt. Hon. Sir
Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, Lord Chief Justice of The Court of Common Pleas
Post 1900
★
Guthrie Govan , guitar virtuoso
★
Lord Fowler, Conservative politician; former Cabinet minister
★
Simon Heffer, journalist and
Daily Telegraph columnist
★
Mike Smith, touring car driver and television presenter
★
John Tipler, international motoring journalist
★
Grayson Perry, 2003 Turner Prize winner
★
Thomas Jenkinson, prominent electronic and jazz musician aka Squarepusher
★
Anthony Marwood, internationally renowned concert violinist
★
Mervyn Day, former professional footballer, now assistant manager of
West Ham United Football Club
★
Neil Cole comedian, television presenter and radio broadcaster
★
Jonathan Lewis, former
Essex and
Durham cricketer
★
Andrew McGarry, former
Essex cricketer
Notes
1. A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001 — Antony Tuckwell
2. http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/assets/files/Recruitment%20Pack/General%20Information.pdf
3. http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/index.php?id=20
4. http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/index.php?id=20
External links
★
The official KEGS website
★
The School's most recent Ofsted inspection report
★
The Old Chelmsfordians: The school's old boys' association
★
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex which conducts admissions testing for the school.
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