Bedford School: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox school |
{{Infobox school |
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| name = Bedford School |
| name = Bedford School |
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| image = [[File:Beford school logo.svg|150px]] <br/> School badge <br/> [[File:Bedfordschoolmainbuilding.JPG|250px]] <Br/> A view of the north side of Bedford School's Main School Building |
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| image = Beford school logo.svg |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| motto = |
| motto = [[Latin]]: ''Floreat Schola Bedfordiensis'' <br /> (English:May Bedford School Flourish) |
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| established = {{start date and age|1552}} |
| established = {{start date and age|1552}} |
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| closed = |
| closed = |
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| type = [[Public school (United Kingdom)|Public School]]<br/>[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private]] day and boarding |
| type = 7–18 boys [[Public school (United Kingdom)|Public School]]<br/>[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private]] day and boarding |
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| religion = [[Church of England]] |
| religion = [[Church of England]] |
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| president = |
| president = |
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| head_label = Headmaster |
| head_label = Headmaster |
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| head = [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]] |
| head = [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]] |
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| r_head_label = |
| r_head_label = |
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| r_head = |
| r_head = |
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| chair_label = |
| chair_label = |
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| chair = |
| chair = |
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| founder = [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] |
| founder = [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] |
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| specialist = |
| specialist = |
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| address = De Parys Avenue |
| address = De Parys Avenue |
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| city = [[Bedford]] |
| city = [[Bedford]] |
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| county = [[Bedfordshire]] |
| county = [[Bedfordshire]] |
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| country = England |
| country = England |
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| postcode = |
| postcode = MK40 2TU |
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| local_authority = |
| local_authority = |
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| urn = 109718 |
| urn = 109718 |
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| ofsted = |
| ofsted = |
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| dfeno = 822/6002 |
| dfeno = 822/6002 |
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| staff = |
| staff = |
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| enrolment = |
| enrolment = |
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| gender = Boys |
| gender = Boys |
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| lower_age = 7 |
| lower_age = 7 |
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| upper_age = 18 |
| upper_age = 18 |
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| colours = {{Color box|navy|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}} Navy and white |
| colours = {{Color box|navy|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}} Navy and white |
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| publication = ''The Ousel'' |
| publication = ''The Ousel'' |
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| free_label_1 = Former pupils |
| free_label_1 = Former pupils |
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| free_1 = Old Bedfordians |
| free_1 = Old Bedfordians |
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| free_label_2 = Boat Club |
| free_label_2 = Boat Club |
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| free_2 = [[Bedford School Boat Club]] |
| free_2 = [[Bedford School Boat Club]] |
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| free_label_3 = |
| free_label_3 = |
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| free_3 = |
| free_3 = |
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| website = {{ |
| website = {{URL|www.bedfordschool.org.uk}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Bedford School''' is a [[ |
'''Bedford School''' is a 7–18 [[Single-sex education|boys]] [[Public school (United Kingdom)|public school]] in the [[county town]] of [[Bedford]] in England. Founded in 1552, it is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the [[Harpur Trust]]. Bedford School is one of the oldest boys' schools in the United Kingdom, and was the winner of the Independent Boys School of the Year Award at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Single Sex Education |url=https://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/about-us/single-sex-education/ |publisher=Bedford School |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> |
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Bedford School is composed of the Preparatory School (ages 7 to 13) and the Upper School (ages 13 to 18). There are around 1,100 pupils, of whom approximately one half are [[boarding school|boarders]]. In 2014, [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]] succeeded |
Bedford School is composed of the [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|Preparatory School]] (ages 7 to 13) and the Upper School (ages 13 to 18). There are around 1,100 pupils, of whom approximately one half are [[boarding school|boarders]]. In 2014, [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]] succeeded John Moule as headmaster after Moule moved on to [[Radley College]]. |
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The school has produced six [[Nobel Prize]] winners, {Sorry, but SIX Nobel prize winners surely is an error. I am aware that the prize for Chemistry in 1952 was awarded to an old Bedfordian. But if six were correct I believe it would be double the number of any other school in the UK. Please will someone who knows, list the five others I am apparently not aware of. Thank you.}. Four recipients of the [[Victoria Cross]], twenty-four [[Rugby union|rugby]] internationals, the winners of eight Olympic gold medals, and a former England cricket captain, [[Alastair Cook]]. |
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Bedford School was named Independent Boys’ School of the Year 2021 in the much-coveted annual Independent Schools of the Year Awards.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Paul |title=Winners 2021 | Independent Schools of the Year |url=http://www.independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk/winners-2021/ |website=Independent School of the year |access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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=== Background === |
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{{see also|Grammar school#History|Latin school|Neo-Latin#Latin in school education 1500-1700}} |
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{{Further|Education in Bedford}} |
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[[Image:Bedford School crest.png|left|thumb|150px|Bedford School's coat of arms]] |
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Although no large scale educational institution had existed in Bedford before the foundation of Bedford School, the [[Collegiate church|collegiate]] [[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul's Church]] had run systems to teach Bedford's youth [[Latin]] and [[church history]] since at least 1086. This was overseen by Bedford's [[archdeacon]], but this ceased when the church's monks became [[Canon regular|canons regular]], moving to [[Newnham Priory]]; until the priory's [[Dissolution of the monasteries|dissolution]] in 1540, education in Bedford continued elsewhere in the town. This medieval school, located on "Scolestreet", later Mill Lane, had ended by 1447.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=3}} |
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A school was established in Bedford as early as the thirteenth century, adjacent to [[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul's Church]].<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/beds/vol3/pp1-9 ''Victoria County History: Bedfordshire''], Vol. 3 (1912)</ref> The current Bedford School was established on 15 August 1552, when the Mayor, [[Bailiff]]s, [[Burgess (title)|Burgesses]] and Commonality of Bedford were, by [[letters patent]] issued by [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]], granted the right to establish a school which was to provide "education, institution and instruction of Boys and Youths in Grammar, Literature and Good Manners."<ref>De-la-Noy, p.223</ref> The driving force behind the establishment of the school was [[John Williams (MP for Bedford)|John Williams]], Mayor of Bedford three times between 1546 and 1552, and [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bedford]] between 1554 and 1555. Born in Bedford in ''c''1519, Williams had purchased several hundred pounds of former monastic property in 1544-45, following the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]. This included the old schoolhouse, and during Williams' first mayoralty, between 1546 and 1547, the Bedford church of St Peter Dunstable was demolished and the materials were utilised in carrying out repairs to the school.<ref>[http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/williams-john-1519-61-or-later WILLIAMS, alias SCOTT, John (by 1519–61 or later), of Bedford. | History of Parliament Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Shortly thereafter, [[William Harpur|William Harper]] (born in Bedford in ''c''1496)<ref name="autogenerated1973">Godber, Joyce (1973). The Harpur Trust 1552–1973. White Crescent Press Ltd. {{ISBN|0-9502917-0-6}}.</ref> and his wife, Alice, set out to provide funds for an educational endowment in perpetuity (later known as the [[Harpur Trust]]) for the "poore chylders ther to be nurryshed and informed". The endowment included buildings in Bedford and thirteen acres of land acquired by Harper in [[Holborn]]. And so, conveying this endowment to the corporation of Bedford on 22 April 1566, Harper provided Bedford School with new buildings at its second location, in [[Old Town Hall, Bedford|St Paul's Square]], and a house for the headmaster, Edmund Greene. Elected [[Lord Mayor of London]] in 1561 and knighted by [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] in 1562, William Harper's [[coat of arms]] and [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]] included the eagle which remains a symbol for Bedford School.<ref name="Godber, Joyce 1973">Godber, Joyce (1973). The Harpur Trust 1552–1973. White Crescent Press Ltd. {{ISBN|0-9502917-0-6}}</ref> |
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[[File:Statue of Sir William Harpur, old Town Hall, Bedford - geograph.org.uk - 1377987.jpg|thumb|right|The statue of William Harpur on the facade of the old school buildings of Bedford School in St Paul's Square]] |
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In the 1680s, as a consequence of London's rapid expansion in the late seventeenth century, the land in [[Holborn]], with which William Harper had endowed Bedford School in 1566, was built upon. The rental value of the thirteen acres of land and three [[Rood (unit)|roods]] of meadow, purchased by Harper in 1564 for just £180 13s, soared and the future of Bedford School was assured.<ref name="Godber, Joyce 1973"/> |
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Harper's surname was changed to 'Harpur' in 1764, nearly two centuries after his death. This was supposedly in the belief that the new spelling looked much better when used in a Latin inscription, still visible today, below the statue of Harper on the facade of the old school buildings in St Paul's Square.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.227</ref> Whatever the truth of this story, in that same year, 1764, the [[Harpur Trust]] was formally created by [[Act of Parliament]] to administer Bedford School's endowment.<ref name="Godber, Joyce 1973"/> |
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[[James Surtees Phillpotts]] was appointed as the twenty-second headmaster of Bedford School in 1874, at the age of thirty-five, and he remained in that position until his retirement in 1903. It was during his time as headmaster that, on 29 October 1891, a procession of [[Schoolmaster|masters]], pupils and [[Old Boys|old boys]] moved the school from its site in St Paul's Square to its third, current, and far more spacious location in buildings constructed on land to the north of St Peter's Green.<ref>De-la-Noy, pp.47–72</ref> |
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=== Establishment and early years === |
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The new Main School Building, in [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style, included a great hall with galleries opening to classrooms on the second and third floors. The ground floor included the headmaster's study, the Bell Room, common rooms for masters and, later, for [[School prefect|monitors]], as well as more classrooms. Access to the upper floors was by narrow staircases situated at each end of the building.<ref>De-la-Noy, pp.63–64</ref> |
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On 15 August 1552, Edward VI issued [[Letters patent (United Kingdom)|letters patent]] in [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] allowing the "[[Mayor]]s, [[Bailiff]]s, [[Burgess (title)|Burgesses]] and Commonality of Bedford" to establish a [[grammar school]] in the town. The letters instructed boys to be taught by a Master and [[Usher (occupation)|Usher]] chosen by [[Warden of New College|the Warden]] and [[Fellow]]s of [[New College, Oxford]];{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=1}} Bedford's first headmaster was Edmund Greene, a Fellow of the college who had been teaching in Bedford for four years before the establishment of the school – Greene's relationship to the college was the reason for its appointment to choose the school's leadership.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=3}} |
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In the same year, [[William Harpur]], likely an alumnus of the early school on Mill Lane, donated [[Old Town Hall, Bedford|a building]] to the school, and in 1566 [[Deed of gift|deeded]] several parcels of meadow around Bedford and [[Holborn]] to the school to insure it an income.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=5}} After a decline in school size following widespread misuse of [[corporal punishment]] – a student almost died after being attacked by the school's usher – Bedford began [[Boarding school|boarding]] in 1656 under the headmastership of George Butler, expanding the school, although boarding ended by 1660.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=|pp=8-9}} However, the school grew little over the next century and a half{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|pp=10-11}} due to incompetent headmasters and a lack of funding; it also grew little in social standing as compared to schools such as [[Winchester College|Winchester]], [[Westminster School|Westminster]], or [[Eton College|Eton]], this may also be partially attributed to its location in Bedford and lack of architecturally attractive estate.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|pp=10-11}} |
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Bedford School's Main School Building remained in this form until a disastrous fire on 3 March 1979 destroyed all but the west end where the Bell Room and the headmaster's study were located. All that remained of the rest of the building was the brick shell which was incorporated in the restored building. The restored Main School Building was opened on 10 September 1981. In the interim the school functioned in twenty-two temporary huts and by using the Howard and Craig buildings on the school estate.<ref>M.E. Barlen, M.P. Stambach and D.P.C. Stileman (1984). Bedford School and the Great Fire. Quiller Press. {{ISBN|0-907621-37-6}}</ref> |
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In 1764, the [[Harpur Trust]] was formally created by an [[act of Parliament]], the [[Harpur Trust Act 1764]] ([[4 Geo. 3]]. c. ''72''), to administer Bedford School's endowment.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=15}} After the [[Great Fire of London]], much of Harpur's land in London was built on, and so by 1900, the Harpur Trust was receiving payments from these of around £14,000 ({{Inflation|index=UK|value=14000|start_year=1900|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}) per year.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=6}} Following its foundation, Bedford School expanded greatly, increasing its head count and restoring its buildings.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=15}} The "Writing School", now [[Bedford Modern School]], also split to form a separate grammar school.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Robin |url=http://archive.org/details/grammarschool0000robi |title=The Grammar School |date= |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |others= |year=1967 |page=34 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> |
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In 2005, Bedford School was one of fifty of the country's leading independent schools which were accused of running a price-fixing cartel which had allowed them to push up school fees.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article588559.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees | date=10 November 2005 | access-date=2010-04-26 | first=Tony | last=Halpin}}</ref> Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000 and all agreed to make ex-gratia payments totalling £3 million into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools during the period in respect of which fee information was shared.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06 |title=The Office of Fair Trading: OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement |publisher=Oft.gov.uk |access-date=2012-08-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610055129/http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06 |archive-date=10 June 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref> |
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=== Late modern period === |
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The school estate has seen many developments over the past century, most recently the erection of two new buildings: the new Library in 2004, and the new Music School in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=500 |title=www.bedfordschool.org |publisher=www.bedfordschool.org |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=2012-08-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122104646/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=500 |archive-date=22 January 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> Work on the construction of a new school theatre is currently proceeding apace.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-25118785 |title=BBC News – Brian Saville leaves Bedford School £6m in will |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=28 November 2013 |access-date=2014-02-03}}</ref> |
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Around 1810, headmaster John Brereton restarted boarding at Bedford, although the school still primarily taught day students. By 1820, Bedford had 84 students, of which half were boarders.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=19}} During Brereton's tenure, Bedford took on many characteristics of Victorian public schools, including [[fagging]], and compulsory Christianity. The school's curriculum was broadened, and the school was modernised.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=21}} |
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==Buildings and grounds== |
==Buildings and grounds== |
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[[File:Bedfordschool night.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Bedford School's Main School Building at night, viewed from the Sports Field]] |
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{{Overly detailed|section|date=December 2022}}{{Advert section|date=December 2022}} |
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The Main School Building, originally built in 1891, is a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] Grade II [[Listed building (United Kingdom)|listed building]].<ref name="Barlen, M E 1984 p.86">Barlen, M E: Bedford School and the Great Fire (London: Quiller Press, 1984) p.86</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1137959 |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> On the night of 3–4 March 1979, much of the building was gutted by fire as a result of arson. The internal structure of the building was destroyed and thirty classrooms were lost. Almost all pupil records were saved but books, furniture and the large collection of portraits of former headmasters were lost. However, the school was in full operation on Monday 5 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1098&news=254 |title=www.bedfordschool.org.uk ''25th Anniversary of Bedford School's Great Fire'', March 2004 |publisher=Bedfordschool.org.uk |access-date=2012-08-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218053149/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1098 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?news=1172 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719180129/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?news=1172 |url-status = dead|archive-date=2012-07-19 |title=www.bedfordschool.org.uk ''An interview with Mr Simms, who celebrated 50 years with Bedford School this week'', November 2009 |publisher=Bedfordschool.org.uk |access-date=2012-08-15 }}</ref> |
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===Main School Building=== |
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[[Image:Bedfordschoolmainbuilding.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A view of the north side of Bedford School's Main School Building]] |
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The '''Main School Building''', originally built in 1891, is a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] Grade II [[Listed building (United Kingdom)|listed building]].<ref name="Barlen, M E 1984 p.86">Barlen, M E: Bedford School and the Great Fire (London: Quiller Press, 1984) p.86</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1137959 |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> On the night of 3–4 March 1979, much of the building was gutted by fire as a result of arson. The internal structure of the building was destroyed and thirty classrooms were lost. Almost all pupil records were saved but books, furniture and the large collection of portraits of former headmasters were lost. Nevertheless, the school was in full operation on Monday 5 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1098&news=254 |title=www.bedfordschool.org.uk ''25th Anniversary of Bedford School's Great Fire'', March 2004 |publisher=Bedfordschool.org.uk |access-date=2012-08-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218053149/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1098 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?news=1172 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719180129/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?news=1172 |url-status = dead|archive-date=2012-07-19 |title=www.bedfordschool.org.uk ''An interview with Mr Simms, who celebrated 50 years with Bedford School this week'', November 2009 |publisher=Bedfordschool.org.uk |access-date=2012-08-15 }}</ref> |
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Bedford School Chapel was completed in 1908 and is a Grade II* [[Listed building (United Kingdom)|listed building]]. It is significant as the last architectural accomplishment of [[George Frederick Bodley]], a prominent [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] architect who worked in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style. Other notable buildings by Bodley include the chapels of [[Marlborough College]] and [[Queens' College, Cambridge]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1321037 |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> In 2005, various refurbishment projects took place within the chapel. Most significantly, the ceiling was restored to its former Bodlian [[Watercolor painting|watercolour]] design, the original having been painted over in the 1960s due to deterioration. At the same time, the interior walls were redecorated and the stonework cleaned. The chapel is home to Bedford School's chapel choir and houses a fine two-manual [[William Hill & Son & Norman & Beard Ltd.|Hill, Norman & Beard]] [[pipe organ|organ]]. The specification of this instrument can be found in the [[British Institute of Organ Studies#National Pipe Organ Register|National Pipe Organ Register]]. |
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The integral structure of the walls was not affected by the fire, and under the indefatigable leadership of the headmaster, [[Charles Jones (sportsman)|Ian Jones]], and two Chairmen of the [[Harpur Trust]], [[John Howard (civil engineer)|John Howard]] and [[Anthony Abrahams]], the building was [[Building restoration|restored]] within two years. The architect, [[Philip Dowson]], made a number of alterations to the building during the restoration process: the most important was the raising of the central Great Hall to first floor level in order to provide more classroom and administrative space on the ground floor below.<ref name="Barlen, M E 1984 p.86"/> |
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The [[Charles Piazzi Smyth]] [[Observatory]] and the [[Wolfson Foundation|Wolfson]] [[Planetarium]] were opened in May 2002 by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]. Situated on the Bedford School estate, the facility is operated by the school's [[astronomer]] in conjunction with members of the Bedford Astronomical Society.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.221</ref> The [[observatory]] was named after an Old Bedfordian who went on to become the [[Astronomer Royal for Scotland]]. It has a custom-designed [[Fiberglass|GRP]] dome and a computer-controlled twelve-inch (305mm) [[telescope]]. The telescope has a [[H-alpha|hydrogen alpha]] filter, which enables the observer to view the magnetic plasma flow around the sun. The adjacent Planetarium was named after the [[Wolfson Foundation]]. |
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===Chapel=== |
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[[Image:Bedfordschoolchapel.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Bedford School Chapel (with the new Music School seen to the right)]] |
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Bedford School Chapel was completed in 1908 and is a Grade II* [[Listed building (United Kingdom)|listed building]]. It is significant as the last architectural accomplishment of [[George Frederick Bodley]], a prominent [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] architect who worked in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style. Other notable buildings by Bodley include the chapels of [[Marlborough College]] and [[Queens' College, Cambridge]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1321037 |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> |
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==School structure== |
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In 2005, various refurbishment projects took place within the chapel. Most significantly, the ceiling was restored to its former Bodlian [[Watercolor painting|watercolour]] design, the original having been painted over in the 1960s due to deterioration. At the same time, the interior walls were redecorated and the stonework cleaned. |
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===Admissions=== |
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Bedford School aims to maintain the [[Christian]] ethos which was embedded into its foundation principles when established, but commits to admitting boys of all faiths, or boys with no faith.<ref name=Inspection2016>{{cite web |title=Educational Quality Inspection Bedford School November 2016 |url=https://twk-media-offload.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bedfordschool.org.uk/wp-uploads/2017/02/18184035/Bedford-School-ISI-EQI-2016.pdf |publisher=Independent Schools Inspectorate |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> |
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The chapel is home to Bedford School's chapel choir and houses a fine two-manual [[William Hill & Son & Norman & Beard Ltd.|Hill, Norman & Beard]] [[pipe organ|organ]]. The specification of this instrument can be found in the [[British Institute of Organ Studies#National Pipe Organ Register|National Pipe Organ Register]]. |
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===Observatory and planetarium=== |
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The '''[[Charles Piazzi Smyth]] [[Observatory]]''' and the '''[[Wolfson Foundation|Wolfson]] [[Planetarium]]''' were opened in May 2002 by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]. Situated on the Bedford School estate, the facility is operated by the school's [[astronomer]] in conjunction with members of the Bedford Astronomical Society.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.221</ref> |
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The [[observatory]] was named after an Old Bedfordian who went on to become the [[Astronomer Royal for Scotland]]. It boasts a custom-designed [[Fiberglass|GRP]] dome and a computer-controlled twelve-inch (305mm) [[telescope]]. The telescope has a [[H-alpha|hydrogen alpha]] filter, which enables the observer to view the magnetic plasma flow around the sun. The adjacent Planetarium was named after the [[Wolfson Foundation]]. |
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===Music school=== |
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Bedford School Music Department is housed in the new purpose-built Music School, designed by [[Eric Parry]], and completed in November 2005. The building houses a large [[recital]] hall with recording facilities, a recording studio, individual specialised teaching and practice rooms, and a rock music studio. The building was officially opened by [[Peter Maxwell Davies]], [[Master of the Queen's Music]], in March 2006, and the recording facilities were officially opened by [[David Arnold]] on 20 May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1584 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120727232041/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=1584 |url-status = dead|archive-date=27 July 2012 |title=An introduction to Bedford School Music School |publisher=Bedford School |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=2012-08-15 }}</ref> |
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===Cricket ground=== |
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The first recorded match on the Bedford School cricket ground was played in 1876, between [[Bedfordshire County Cricket Club|Bedfordshire]] and [[Huntingdonshire County Cricket Club|Huntingdonshire]].<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_misc.html |title=Other matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> [[Bedfordshire County Cricket Club|Bedfordshire]] played its first [[Minor Counties Cricket Championship|Minor Counties Championship]] match on the ground in 1895, against [[Hertfordshire County Cricket Club|Hertfordshire]]. Since 1895, the ground has been host to 181 [[Minor Counties Cricket Championship|Minor Counties Championship]] matches.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_minc.html |title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> In addition, the ground has been host to five [[MCCA Knockout Trophy]] matches for [[Bedfordshire County Cricket Club|Bedfordshire]], the first played in 1993 between [[Bedfordshire County Cricket Club|Bedfordshire]] and [[Cambridgeshire County Cricket Club|Cambridgeshire]].<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_mint.html |title=Minor Counties Trophy Matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> |
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The ground has been host to two [[List A cricket|List-A]] matches for [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club|Northamptonshire]]: the first was played in the 1971 [[Pro40|John Player League]], between [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club|Northamptonshire]] and [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]]; and the second was played in 1982, in the same competition and between the same two sides.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_a.html |title=List-A Matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> It has also been host to twenty-five Second XI fixtures for the [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club|Northamptonshire Second XI]] in the [[Second XI Championship]] for the Second XI Trophy.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_sec.html |title=Second XI Championship Matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310_set.html |title=Second XI Trophy Matches played on Bedford School Ground |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> |
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==={{Anchor|Prep school}}Prep school=== |
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Bedford Preparatory School is located within the estate of Bedford School. It caters for 450 boys aged 7 to 13, is situated on the same campus as the Upper School and, while sharing a number of whole school facilities, is a self-contained unit, maintaining its own identity and character.<ref>[http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=453 Preparatory School Page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123111756/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/default.asp?page=453 |date=23 November 2010 }}</ref> |
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====Years 3 + 4==== |
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For the first two years the class teacher takes the major responsibility for subject teaching and then, as the boys move up the school, greater specialisation is introduced. In Year 3 and 4, it is normal for the class teacher to teach the three core subjects to their class along with at least two or three other subjects. The majority of the teaching takes place in the Nash's building and in Tisdall's. Boys will use the specialist facilities for French, art, ICT, music and design technology. These subjects are normally delivered by subject specialists. In addition, all boys will have physical education and swimming lessons alongside two double Games lessons. Boys are also encouraged to take a full part in the wide-ranging extracurricular programme. |
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On joining the school, boys are allocated to one of the four houses; Bunyan, Harpur, Howard or Whitbread, each comprising a housemaster, approximately 110 boys across the age range and eight members of staff. The well-established house system is central to school life; each is a community in its own right and has its own individual character. |
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Lunches are organised by house, with boys and staff eating together each day. A weekly assembly takes place on a house basis, as do regular outings and trips. Inter-house competitions are organised across the age range and in as many fields as possible and all boys are given the opportunity to represent their house. |
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====Years 5 + 6==== |
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In Years 5 and 6 the academic and pastoral organisation changes. Setting is introduced in Year 5 for Mathematics. Boys will be assessed through the year by means of end of unit tests in the majority of subjects and end of year exams will be sat in the Summer Term.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} |
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====Years 7 + 8==== |
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Years 7 and 8 are based in the Wells Building and pastorally are organised by house. Each house has three tutor groups composed of Year 7 and Year 8 boys. Each tutor group has a room in the Wells Building as a base. Boys will be taught in one of the five teaching groups for each year, with setting taking place in a range of subjects. |
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The breadth of the curriculum is maintained with the main development being the introduction of additional languages in Year 7. In addition to French, boys will study a module of German, Latin and Spanish during Year 7 and will be able to express a preference for one of the languages to study alongside French in Year 8. |
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The system of unit testing continues and in Year 8 boys sit two sets of exams in preparation for the transfer to the Upper School. |
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As well as the development in academic expectations it is also envisaged that boys will take on positions of responsibility in their house and in the school in general. |
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====Moving into the upper school==== |
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In the Preparatory School, the foundations for future education have been laid. They move on to the Upper School. All have to sit a Transfer Examination and for certain boys the Academic Scholarship Examination may be an option. Boys who show a particular ability in Music or Sport will also have an opportunity to sit for a specific Scholarship (Art, Design Technology, Drama, ICT are no longer sittable for scholarships). |
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==Year groups== |
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The first year at Bedford School (for 13- to 14-year-olds) is called the Fourth Form and is equivalent to Year 9 in the state system. After that come the Remove and the Fifth Form. The next two years are the Lower Sixth and the Upper Sixth. Bedford School also caters for the lower years (from Year 3 to Year 8) in Bedford Preparatory School. This is located on the Bedford School estate and many facilities are shared. |
The first year at Bedford School (for 13- to 14-year-olds) is called the Fourth Form and is equivalent to Year 9 in the state system. After that come the Remove and the Fifth Form. The next two years are the Lower Sixth and the Upper Sixth. Bedford School also caters for the lower years (from Year 3 to Year 8) in Bedford Preparatory School. This is located on the Bedford School estate and many facilities are shared. |
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Boys attending Bedford School typically come from a variety of various professional families in Bedford, elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as well as overseas. In 2016, the school had 139 boys as English as an Additional Language (EAL), and 57 boys who received additional support in learning for special educational needs, such as dyslexia, and physical disabilities.<ref name=Inspection2016/> |
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==Houses== |
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Bedford School has six [[House system|houses]]. Each house is composed of a day house and an associated [[boarding house]]. The day houses are areas for students to relax during breaks from teaching whilst the boarding houses are for students to reside in. The house names, dating from the mid-nineteenth century, refer to areas of [[Bedford]]; boys were originally allocated a house based on the area of town in which they lived. Whilst these are the official house names, it is common for boarders to refer to their house by the name of their boarding house.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.123</ref> The houses are: |
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===Academic attainment=== |
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'''Ashburnham''' – The day house occupies a large building adjacent to the [[Design and Technology]] Building. The boarding house, ''Sandersons'', known informally to students as ('Sandies'), is situated within a ten-minute walk of the school in Rothsay Gardens, adjacent to Redburn. The house colours are dark red and brown. |
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Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspected Bedford School in November 2016, and found quality of personal development provided for boys attending the school to be "excellent". Boys attending Bedford School during the inspection were praised for having "respect for others", having a good "understanding of right and wrong", showing "kindness and sensitivity" and demonstrating "responsibility for others".<ref name=Inspection2016/> Academic attainment across the school was strong, with boys making "rapid" progress in all curriculum areas whilst developing a wide range of learning skills, including independence of thought and the ability to clearly communicate.<ref name=Inspection2016/> |
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'''Bromham''' – The day house is situated on Burnaby Road at the main entrance to the school, next to the Rice Building. The school's sixth form boarding house, ''Burnaby'', is situated on Burnaby Road. The house colours are light blue and navy blue. |
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Boys attending the Preparatory School at Bedford School achieve high standards, and in the Senior School, boys academic performance at [[GCSE]] level is above the national average. Results in GCSE examinations in the Sixth Form were also strong and found to be above the national average. Boys of all ages across the school, from Preparatory to Sixth Form, were found to be achieving strongly in key areas such as Language and Communication, as well as Numeracy and Mathematics. Following the inspection in November 2016, it was concluded that boys attending Bedford School had well–developed mathematical skills.<ref name=Inspection2016/> |
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'''Crescent''' – The day house is situated in a two-storey building towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, ''Pemberley'', is situated on Pemberley Avenue. The house colours are black and white. The name Crescent derives from The Crescent, a road to the north-east of Bedford town centre running between Bromham Road and Tavistock Street. |
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=== House system === |
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'''Paulo Pontine''' – The day house occupies a single storey ground floor area beneath the Art Department towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, ''Redburn'', is situated within a ten-minute walk of the school. The house colours are gold, brown and light blue. The house takes its name from the area around St Paul's Church ('Paulo') and the area south of the river, over the Town Bridge ('Pontine'). |
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Bedford School has six [[House system|houses]]. Each house is composed of a day house and an associated [[boarding house]]. The day houses are areas for students to relax during breaks from teaching whilst the boarding houses are for students to reside in. The house names, dating from the mid-nineteenth century, refer to areas of [[Bedford]]; boys were originally allocated a house based on the area of town in which they lived. Whilst these are the official house names, it is common for boarders to refer to their house by the name of their boarding house.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.123</ref> The houses are: |
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''' |
'''Ashburnham''' – The day house is next to the [[Design and Technology]] Building. The boarding house, ''Sandersons'', is within a ten-minute walk of the school in Rothsay Gardens, next to Redburn. |
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''' |
'''Bromham''' – The day house is on Burnaby Road at the main entrance to the school, next to the Rice Building. The school's sixth form boarding house, ''Burnaby'', is on Burnaby Road. |
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'''Crescent''' – The day house is in a two-storey building towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, ''Pemberley'', is on Pemberley Avenue. The name Crescent derives from The Crescent, a road to the north-east of Bedford town centre running between Bromham Road and Tavistock Street. |
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==School officials== |
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Bedford School [[School prefect|monitors]] are selected from amongst the boys of the Upper Sixth. They are entitled to wear coloured waistcoats and brown shoes as well as brass buttons on their blazers.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.56</ref> The [[Head girl and head boy|head of school]] and the deputy head are selected from amongst the monitors.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} |
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'''Paulo Pontine''' – The day house occupies a single storey ground floor area beneath the Art Department towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, ''Redburn'', is within a ten-minute walk of the school. The house takes its name from the area around St Paul's Church ('Paulo') and the area south of the river, over the Town Bridge ('Pontine'). |
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==Colours== |
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{{Overly detailed|section|date=January 2022}} |
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Bedford School recognises individual achievement in various fields by the awarding of 'colours', at the discretion of the appropriate [[Schoolmaster|master]], to boys in the Fifth Form and above. The various colours entitle the bearer to wear a particular variant of his uniform, appropriate to that award, on given days. There are five types of colours: Academic, Arts, Headmaster's, House, and Sports (Major and Minor).<ref>[http://www.bedfordschoolshop.co.uk/awards--achievements-2-c.asp Awards & Achievements<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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'''St Cuthbert's''' – The day house is located next door to the [[Clinic|Medical Centre]] on Burnaby Road. The boarding house, ''Phillpotts'', is in the north-east corner of the school estate. |
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'''Academic colours''' – Awarded to Upper Sixth boys for outstanding academic achievement or for significant contributions to extracurricular academic activities supported by the school. Academic colours consist of a golden eagle to be worn on the blazer.<ref>[http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/academic-colours-2011/ Academic Colours – Bedford School<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044153/http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/academic-colours-2011/ |date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> |
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'''St Peter's''' – The day house occupies a purpose-built building next to its boarding house, ''Talbots'', on Burnaby Road. |
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'''Arts colours''' – Awarded for excellence in art, music or drama. Arts colours consist of a white eagle on a purple patch. |
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=== Prep school Houses === |
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'''Headmaster's colours''' – Awarded by the headmaster to a boy who has made a significant contribution to the school. Headmaster's colours are the highest form of colours to be awarded at Bedford School and are typically awarded only to one or two boys each year. Headmaster's colours consist of just a woollen scarf: navy blue with three vertical gold stripes and the school shield embroidered at either end. The scarf may be worn on a daily basis. |
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The prep school operates with a different house system to the upper school, with there being 4 houses, each linked to a famous person from Bedford. The houses are as follows: |
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==== Bunyan ==== |
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'''House colours''' – Awarded by a [[housemaster]] for contributions made to a boy's house, for example through success in an inter-house competition. House colours consist of a house tie with pronounced double stripes (thicker than on the standard house tie) and a knitted house scarf with multiple horizontal stripes, both in the house colours. House colours may be worn on a daily basis. |
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This house has yellow ties. It is named after [[John Bunyan]]. They Currently hold the house cup (2024) |
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==== Harpur ==== |
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'''Major sports colours''' – Awarded for success when representing the school in one of the four major sports ([[cricket]], [[Field hockey|hockey]], [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] or [[Rugby union|rugby]]) by the master in charge of that sport and with the headmaster's approval. Major sports colours consist of a club tie (dull blue with thick double white stripes), plain cable-knit cricket jumper, blazer and other accessories. The tie and jumper are common to all sports whilst the blazer and other accessories vary between them. The tie, jumper and scarf may be worn on a daily basis whilst blazers and other accessories are reserved for High Days, Saturdays and match days. The variants for each of the major sports are as follows: |
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This house has red ties. It is named after [[William Harpur|Sir William Harpur]], the school's founder. |
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==== Howard ==== |
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''[[Cricket]]:'' royal blue and white vertically striped blazer with a breast pocket white eagle; royal blue and white striped cricket cap; no scarf. |
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This house has blues. It is named after [[John Howard (prison reformer)|John Howard]] They last won the house cup in 2022 |
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<br />''[[Field hockey|Hockey]]:'' navy blue woollen blazer with a breast pocket white eagle within a red shield; dull blue woollen scarf with three sky blue vertical stripes. |
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<br />''[[Rowing (sport)|Rowing]]:'' navy blue woollen blazer with white piping and a breast pocket white eagle; dull blue woollen scarf with white vertical stripes; white trousers. |
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<br />''[[Rugby union|Rugby]]:'' navy blue woollen blazer with a breast pocket navy blue eagle within a red shield; dull blue woollen scarf with three red vertical stripes. |
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==== Whitbread ==== |
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'''Minor sports colours''' – Awarded for success when representing the school in a minor sport (i.e. any sport other than one of the four major sports) by the master in charge of that sport. Minor sports colours may also be awarded to successful second team players of major sports. Minor sports colours consist of a royal blue club tie with single white stripes, a woollen navy blue blazer with a white eagle on the breast pocket and a navy blue woollen scarf with three vertical stripes (royal blue on the edges, white in the centre). The tie and scarf may be worn on a daily basis; the blazer is reserved for High Days, Saturdays and match days. |
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This house has green ties. It is named after Samuel Whitbread. Their mascot is [[Grogu|Baby Yoda]]. |
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=== School officials === |
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==Extracurricular activities== |
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Bedford School [[School prefect|monitors]] are selected from amongst the boys of the Upper Sixth. They are entitled to wear coloured waistcoats and brown shoes as well as brass buttons on their blazers.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.56</ref> The [[Head girl and head boy|head of school]] and the deputy head are selected from amongst the monitors.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} |
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[[Image:Bedfordschool night.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Bedford School's Main School Building at night, viewed from the Sports Field]] |
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=== Colour system === |
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Bedford School recognises individual achievement in various fields by the awarding of 'colours', at the discretion of the appropriate [[Schoolmaster|master]], to boys in the Fifth Form and above. The various colours entitle the bearer to wear a particular variant of his uniform, appropriate to that award, on given days. There are five types of colours: Academic, Arts, Headmaster's, House, and Sports (Major and Minor).<ref>[http://www.bedfordschoolshop.co.uk/awards--achievements-2-c.asp Awards & Achievements<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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==Extracurricular activities== |
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===Chapel Choir=== |
===Chapel Choir=== |
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The choir has made several recordings in recent years. In 2007, the BBC recorded the school's [[Nine Lessons and Carols|Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols]] for transmission on Christmas Day of that year on [[BBC Radio]] under the direction of [[Andrew Morris (conductor)|Andrew Morris]], Director of Music at Bedford School between 1979 and 2011.They also recorded A CD entitled "A Bedford Christmas" in 2018.<ref name="De-la-Noy, p.218">De-la-Noy, p.218</ref> |
The choir has made several recordings in recent years. In 2007, the BBC recorded the school's [[Nine Lessons and Carols|Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols]] for transmission on Christmas Day of that year on [[BBC Radio]] under the direction of [[Andrew Morris (conductor)|Andrew Morris]], Director of Music at Bedford School between 1979 and 2011.They also recorded A CD entitled "A Bedford Christmas" in 2018.<ref name="De-la-Noy, p.218">De-la-Noy, p.218</ref> |
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===Combined Cadet Force=== |
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[[File:Int corps badge 6cm.jpg|thumb|Intelligence Corps Badge]] |
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One of the extracurricular activities at Bedford School is membership of the [[Combined Cadet Force]]. Bedford School CCF differs from other corps as it draws its members from two schools (Bedford School and [[Bedford Girls' School]]) and since membership is voluntary. The Bedford School Combined Cadet Force is one of the largest CCF contingents of any British school.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} The Head of Corps for the academic year of 2015/16 was Benno Schulz.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.213</ref> For the year 2016/2017 Head of Corps was Oliver Horsfall. For the academic year of 2017/2018, the Head of Corps was Harriet Knights of Bedford Girls School. For the academic year of 2018/2019, the Head of Corps was Izzy Horsfall of Bedford Girls School. During the academic year 2019-20, the Head of Corps was James Brazil. For the year 2020-21, Harilaos Karavaggelis was Head of Corps.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets 2020-21 {{!}} Central Bedfordshire Council|url=https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/34/hm_lord-lieutenant_of_bedfordshire_helen_nellis/257/lord-lieutenants_cadets_2020-21|access-date=2021-04-14|website=www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk}}</ref> In 2021, Velvet Few-Wiegratz <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cadets get back to training 2021 |url=https://www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk/news/2021-10-08/cadets-get-back-to-training |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk}}</ref> became Head of Corps, followed by James Barney in 2022. <ref>{{Cite web |last=School |first=Bedford |date=2023-02-24 |title=CCF Cadets win Intelligence Corps Trophy- Bedford School |url=https://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/ccf-cadets-win-intelligence-corps-trophy/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Bedford School |language=en-GB}}</ref>The school's CCF was affiliated with the Corps of Royal Engineers until 2018 when the role was taken over by the Intelligence Corps. |
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===Music=== |
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Bedford School stages an annual concert programme, culminating in a series of summer concerts at the end of the academic year. There are a number of senior music groups, including the Bedford School First Orchestra, the Concert Band, the Choral Society, the Chapel Choir, and a large number of chamber groups. In addition, there is the Second Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra and the Jazz Orchestra (formerly known as the Dance Band), as well as a number of jazz and rock bands.<ref name="De-la-Noy, p.218"/> There is a musician in residence at the school. |
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===School magazines=== |
===School magazines=== |
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Bedford School produces several magazines, of which the most prominent is ''The Ousel'', published regularly since 1876.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.52</ref> It is largely written by boys and managed directly by the school. It is published at the end of each Summer term and contains pupil and staff reviews of the school year. The school's Mosaic Society runs the ''Mosaic'' magazine which contains a range of essays and articles written by boys on subjects ranging from current affairs and politics to sport and science.<ref>De-la-Noy, pp.116–117</ref> In 2011, the Classical Society |
Bedford School produces several magazines, of which the most prominent is ''The Ousel'', published regularly since 1876.<ref>De-la-Noy, p.52</ref> It is largely written by boys and managed directly by the school. It is published at the end of each Summer term and contains pupil and staff reviews of the school year. The school's Mosaic Society runs the ''Mosaic'' magazine which contains a range of essays and articles written by boys on subjects ranging from current affairs and politics to sport and science.<ref>De-la-Noy, pp.116–117</ref> In 2011, the Classical Society started a publication, ''VIM Magazine''. |
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===Sport=== |
===Sport=== |
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Bedford School has a different major sport for each term. The Christmas term is [[rugby union]] orientated, the Easter term is devoted to [[Field hockey|hockey]], and Summer is the [[cricket]] season. [[rowing (sport)|Rowing]] with the [[Bedford School Boat Club]] takes place on the [[River Great Ouse|River Ouse]] throughout the year. Other popular Bedford School sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cross-country running, fencing, fives, football, golf, rifle shooting, sailing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo and weight training. |
Bedford School has a different major sport for each term. The Christmas term is [[rugby union]] orientated, the Easter term is devoted to [[Field hockey|hockey]], and Summer is the [[cricket]] season. [[rowing (sport)|Rowing]] with the [[Bedford School Boat Club]] takes place on the [[River Great Ouse|River Ouse]] throughout the year. Other popular Bedford School sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cross-country running, fencing, fives, football, golf, rifle shooting, sailing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo and weight training.{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|pp=197-198}} |
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The school produced [[cricket]]er [[Alastair Cook]],<ref name="cook">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/2297499/Alastair-Cook-reprises-his-original-hits.html|title=Alastair Cook reprises his original hits|last=Randall|first=Charles|date=16 April 2008|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2009-03-03 | location=London}}</ref> who went on to captain the [[England cricket team]], and whose coach at Bedford School was sports master and former [[England cricket team|England]] batsman [[Derek Randall]]. Other Bedford School sportsmen include [[England national rugby union team|England]] [[Rugby union|rugby]] internationals [[Martin Bayfield]] and [[Andy Gomarsall]]; the [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] [[Jack Beresford]], winner of five Olympic medals; and 1924 Olympic [[100 metres|100-metre sprint]] gold medallist [[Harold Abrahams]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} |
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On the [[Rugby union|rugby]] field, Bedford School competes regularly against [[Dulwich College]], [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College|Haileybury]], [[Harrow School]], [[Oakham School]], [[Oundle School]], [[Radley College]], [[Rugby School]], [[St Edward's School, Oxford]], [[Stowe School]], [[Uppingham School]], [[Warwick School]] and [[Wellington College, Berkshire|Wellington College]]. Bedford School has also fielded [[Rugby union|rugby]] teams against [[Marlborough College]], [[Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood|Merchant Taylors' School]], [[Mill Hill School]], [[Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe|RGS High Wycombe]] and [[St Paul's School, London|St Paul's School]], amongst other schools. |
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==Headmasters== |
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The school has produced many internationally famous sportsmen, including [[cricket]]er [[Alastair Cook]],<ref name=cook>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/2297499/Alastair-Cook-reprises-his-original-hits.html|title=Alastair Cook reprises his original hits|last=Randall|first=Charles|date=16 April 2008|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2009-03-03 | location=London}}</ref> who went on to captain the [[England cricket team]], and whose coach at Bedford School was sports master and former [[England cricket team|England]] batsman [[Derek Randall]]. Other famous Bedford School sportsmen include [[England national rugby union team|England]] [[Rugby union|rugby]] internationals [[Martin Bayfield]] and [[Andy Gomarsall]]; the [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] [[Jack Beresford]], winner of five Olympic medals; and 1924 Olympic [[100 metres|100-metre sprint]] gold medalist [[Harold Abrahams]]. |
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Edmund Greene was appointed as headmaster of Bedford School prior to Bedford School's foundation in 1552. From then on the Wardens and Fellows of [[New College, Oxford]] were given the right to appoint the master (headmaster) and usher (deputy headmaster).<ref>F.A.M. Webster, Our Great Public Schools, 1937.</ref> This came to an end in 1903, with the appointment of John Edward King to headship. The schools headmasters have been:{{Sfn|De-la-Noy|1999|p=225}} |
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{{columns list| |
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==Headmasters== |
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* 1548 Edmund Greene |
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* 2014–present [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]] ([[Wellington College, Berkshire|Wellington College]]; [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]]; [[Durham University]]) |
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* 1573 William Smyth |
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* 2008–2014 [[John Moule]] ([[Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford]]; [[Head teacher|Warden]] of [[Radley College]]) |
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* 1577 [[Francis White (bishop)|Francis White]] |
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* 1990–2008 [[Philip Evans (headmaster)|Philip Evans]] ([[Churchill College, Cambridge]]; [[Imperial College London]]) |
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* 1587 Master Chambers |
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* 1988–1990 Michael Barlen ([[Hertford College, Oxford]]; [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1597 Richard Butcher |
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* 1986–1988 [[Sidney Miller (headmaster)|Sidney Miller]] ([[Clifton College]]; [[Jesus College, Cambridge]]; [[Harvard University]]; headmaster of [[Kingston Grammar School]]) |
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* ''c''1599 Henry Whitaker |
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* 1975–1986 [[Charles Jones (sportsman)|Ian Jones]] ([[Bishop's Stortford College]]; [[St John's College, Cambridge]]) |
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* 1601 Robert Barker |
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* 1955–1975 [[William Brown (headmaster)|William Brown]] (Bedford School; [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]; headmaster of [[the King's School, Ely|King's Ely]]) |
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* 1610 Daniel Gardener |
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* 1951–1955 [[Clarence Seaman]] ([[Christ's Hospital]]; [[St John's College, Oxford]]; [[Head teacher|rector]] of the [[Edinburgh Academy]]; headmaster of [[Christ's Hospital]]) |
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* 1636 William Varney |
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* 1928–1951 [[Humfrey Grose-Hodge]] ([[Marlborough College]]; [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]) |
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* 1656 George Butler |
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* 1910–1928 [[Reginald Carter (headmaster)|Reginald Carter]] ([[Clifton College]]; [[Balliol College, Oxford]]; [[Fellow]] and tutor of [[Lincoln College, Oxford]]; [[Head teacher|Rector]] of the [[Edinburgh Academy]]) |
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* 1660 William Varney |
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* 1903–1910 [[John Edward King]] ([[Clifton College]]; [[Fellow]] and tutor of [[Lincoln College, Oxford]]; [[Head teacher|high master]] of [[Manchester Grammar School]]; headmaster of [[Clifton College]]) |
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* 1663 John Allanson |
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* 1874–1903 [[James Surtees Phillpotts]] ([[Winchester College]]; [[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1665 John Butler |
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* 1855–1874 Frederick Fanshawe ([[Winchester College]]; [[Balliol College, Oxford]]; [[Fellow]] and tutor of [[Exeter College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1672 John Longworth |
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* 1811–1855 John Brereton ([[Winchester College]]; [[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1681 William Willis |
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* 1810–1811 William Stratford ([[Christ Church, Oxford]]; headmaster of [[Lord Williams's School|Thame Grammar School]]) |
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* 1683 Nicholas Aspinall |
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* 1773–1810 John Hooke ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]; headmaster of [[Lord Williams's School|Thame Grammar School]]) |
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* 1718 Matthew Priaulx |
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* 1739–1773 George Bridle ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1739 George Bridle |
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* 1718–1739 Matthew Priaulx ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1773 John Hooke |
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* 1683–1718 Nicholas Aspinall ([[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]) |
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* 1810 William Stratford |
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* 1681–1683 William Willis ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1811 John Brereton |
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* 1672–1681 John Longworth ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1855 Frederick Fanshawe |
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* 1665–1672 John Butler ([[Winchester College]]; [[University College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1874 [[James Surtees Phillpotts]] |
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* 1663–1665 John Allanson (Chaplain of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1903 [[John Edward King]] |
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* 1660–1663 William Varney (reinstated as Master at the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration of the Monarchy]]) |
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* 1910 [[Reginald Carter (headmaster)|Reginald Carter]] |
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* 1656–1660 George Butler ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1928 [[Humfrey Grose-Hodge]] |
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* 1636–1656 William Varney (deprived of the Mastership during the [[The Protectorate|Protectorate]] due to his Royalist sympathies) |
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* 1951 [[Clarence Seaman]] |
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* 1610–1636 Daniel Gardener ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1955 [[William Brown (headmaster)|William Brown]] |
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* 1601–1610 Robert Barker ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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* 1975 [[Charles Jones (sportsman)|Ian Jones]] |
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* ''c''1599–1601 Henry Whitaker |
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* 1986 Sidney Miller |
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* 1597-''c''1599 Richard Butcher |
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* 1988 Michael Barlen |
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* 1587–1597 Master Chambers |
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* 1990 [[Philip Evans (headmaster)|Philip Evans]] |
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* 1577–1587 [[Francis White (bishop)|Francis White]] ([[Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge]]; [[Bishop of Carlisle]]; [[Bishop of Norwich]]; [[Bishop of Ely]]) |
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* 2008 John Moule<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moule, John Stuart, (born 29 May 1971), Warden, Radley College, since 2014 |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-257808 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u257808}}</ref> |
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* 1573–1577 William Smyth ([[Canon (priest)|Canon]] of [[Lincoln Cathedral]]) |
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* 2014 [[James Hodgson (cricketer, born 1969)|James Hodgson]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-25 |title=Bedford School: Winners of Independent Boys' School of the Year 2021 |language=en-GB |work=Independent School Parent |url=https://independentschoolparent.telegraph.co.uk/school/meet-the-head-bedford-school/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> |
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* 1548–1573 Edmund Greene ([[Fellow]] of [[New College, Oxford]]) |
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}} |
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Edmund Greene was appointed as headmaster of Bedford School by the Mayor, [[Bailiff]]s, [[Burgess (title)|Burgesses]] and Commonality of [[Bedford]] following the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] of [[Newnham Priory]] in 1540. His appointment was made prior to Bedford School's refoundation in 1552. From then on the Wardens and Fellows of [[New College, Oxford]] were given the right to appoint the master (headmaster) and usher (deputy headmaster).<ref>F.A.M. Webster, Our Great Public Schools, 1937.</ref> The tradition of New College and [[Winchester College|Wykehamist]] appointees came to an end in 1903 with the appointment of [[John Edward King]] as headmaster. |
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==Notable staff== |
==Notable staff== |
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| Line 273: | Line 216: | ||
*[[Gary Steer]] (born 1970) [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club]] |
*[[Gary Steer]] (born 1970) [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club]] |
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==Alumni== |
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==Notable former pupils== |
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{{Main|List of people educated at Bedford School}} |
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For details of notable alumni see [[List of people educated at Bedford School]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)]] |
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*[[List of high schools producing multiple Olympic gold medalists]] |
*[[List of high schools producing multiple Olympic gold medalists]] |
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*[[List of |
*[[List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom]] |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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| Line 285: | Line 228: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
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*{{cite book |author1=Barlen |
*{{cite book |author1=Barlen |first=M. E. |author2=Stambach |first2=M.P. |author3=Stileman |first3=D.P.C. |title=Bedford School and the Great Fire |publisher=Quiller Press |year=1984 |isbn=0-907621-37-6}} |
||
*{{cite book | |
*{{cite book |author=De-la-Noy |first=Michael |author-link=Michael De-la-Noy |title=Bedford School: A History |publisher=Bedford School |year=1999 |isbn=0-9536685-0-9}} |
||
*{{cite book | |
*{{cite book |author=Godber |first=Joyce |title=The Harpur Trust 1552–1973 |publisher=White Crescent Press Ltd. |year=1973 |isbn=0-9502917-0-6}} |
||
*{{cite book | |
*{{cite book |author=Sargeaunt |first=John |author-link=John Sargeaunt |author2=Hockliffe |first2=Ernest |name-list-style=amp |title=A History of Bedford School |publisher=[[T. Fisher Unwin]] |year=1925 |isbn=}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.bedfordschool.org.uk Bedford School official website] |
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* [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/bedfordshire/bedford/bedford-school Bedford School profile] on the [[Independent Schools Council|ISC]] website |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101223210159/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/bedford-school.html Bedford School profile] on ''[[The Good Schools Guide]]'' website |
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* [http://education.guardian.co.uk/publicschools/story/0,,1638934,00.html OFT price fixing article] in ''[[The Guardian]]'' |
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* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/310.html Bedford School Cricket Ground] at CricketArchive |
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* [http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57502.html Bedford School Cricket Ground] at [[ESPNcricinfo]] |
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{{Public schools in England}} |
{{Public schools in England}} |
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{{Schools in Bedfordshire}} |
{{Schools in Bedfordshire}} |
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Latest revision as of 17:07, 12 November 2024
| Bedford School | |
|---|---|
 School badge  A view of the north side of Bedford School's Main School Building | |
| Address | |
 | |
De Parys Avenue , , MK40 2TU England | |
| Information | |
| Type | 7–18 boys Public School Private day and boarding |
| Motto | Latin: Floreat Schola Bedfordiensis (English:May Bedford School Flourish) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1552 |
| Founder | Edward VI |
| Department for Education URN | 109718 Tables |
| Headmaster | James Hodgson |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 7 to 18 |
| Colour(s) | Navy and white |
| Publication | The Ousel |
| Former pupils | Old Bedfordians |
| Boat Club | Bedford School Boat Club |
| Website | www |
Bedford School is a 7–18 boys public school in the county town of Bedford in England. Founded in 1552, it is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the Harpur Trust. Bedford School is one of the oldest boys' schools in the United Kingdom, and was the winner of the Independent Boys School of the Year Award at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards in 2021.[1]
Bedford School is composed of the Preparatory School (ages 7 to 13) and the Upper School (ages 13 to 18). There are around 1,100 pupils, of whom approximately one half are boarders. In 2014, James Hodgson succeeded John Moule as headmaster after Moule moved on to Radley College.
History
[edit]Background
[edit]Although no large scale educational institution had existed in Bedford before the foundation of Bedford School, the collegiate St Paul's Church had run systems to teach Bedford's youth Latin and church history since at least 1086. This was overseen by Bedford's archdeacon, but this ceased when the church's monks became canons regular, moving to Newnham Priory; until the priory's dissolution in 1540, education in Bedford continued elsewhere in the town. This medieval school, located on "Scolestreet", later Mill Lane, had ended by 1447.[2]
Establishment and early years
[edit]On 15 August 1552, Edward VI issued letters patent in Ely allowing the "Mayors, Bailiffs, Burgesses and Commonality of Bedford" to establish a grammar school in the town. The letters instructed boys to be taught by a Master and Usher chosen by the Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford;[3] Bedford's first headmaster was Edmund Greene, a Fellow of the college who had been teaching in Bedford for four years before the establishment of the school – Greene's relationship to the college was the reason for its appointment to choose the school's leadership.[2]
In the same year, William Harpur, likely an alumnus of the early school on Mill Lane, donated a building to the school, and in 1566 deeded several parcels of meadow around Bedford and Holborn to the school to insure it an income.[4] After a decline in school size following widespread misuse of corporal punishment – a student almost died after being attacked by the school's usher – Bedford began boarding in 1656 under the headmastership of George Butler, expanding the school, although boarding ended by 1660.[5] However, the school grew little over the next century and a half[6] due to incompetent headmasters and a lack of funding; it also grew little in social standing as compared to schools such as Winchester, Westminster, or Eton, this may also be partially attributed to its location in Bedford and lack of architecturally attractive estate.[6]
In 1764, the Harpur Trust was formally created by an act of Parliament, the Harpur Trust Act 1764 (4 Geo. 3. c. 72), to administer Bedford School's endowment.[7] After the Great Fire of London, much of Harpur's land in London was built on, and so by 1900, the Harpur Trust was receiving payments from these of around £14,000 (equivalent to £1,913,333 in 2023) per year.[8] Following its foundation, Bedford School expanded greatly, increasing its head count and restoring its buildings.[7] The "Writing School", now Bedford Modern School, also split to form a separate grammar school.[9]
Late modern period
[edit]Around 1810, headmaster John Brereton restarted boarding at Bedford, although the school still primarily taught day students. By 1820, Bedford had 84 students, of which half were boarders.[10] During Brereton's tenure, Bedford took on many characteristics of Victorian public schools, including fagging, and compulsory Christianity. The school's curriculum was broadened, and the school was modernised.[11]
Buildings and grounds
[edit]
The Main School Building, originally built in 1891, is a Gothic Revival Grade II listed building.[12][13] On the night of 3–4 March 1979, much of the building was gutted by fire as a result of arson. The internal structure of the building was destroyed and thirty classrooms were lost. Almost all pupil records were saved but books, furniture and the large collection of portraits of former headmasters were lost. However, the school was in full operation on Monday 5 March.[14][15]
Bedford School Chapel was completed in 1908 and is a Grade II* listed building. It is significant as the last architectural accomplishment of George Frederick Bodley, a prominent Victorian architect who worked in the Gothic Revival style. Other notable buildings by Bodley include the chapels of Marlborough College and Queens' College, Cambridge.[16] In 2005, various refurbishment projects took place within the chapel. Most significantly, the ceiling was restored to its former Bodlian watercolour design, the original having been painted over in the 1960s due to deterioration. At the same time, the interior walls were redecorated and the stonework cleaned. The chapel is home to Bedford School's chapel choir and houses a fine two-manual Hill, Norman & Beard organ. The specification of this instrument can be found in the National Pipe Organ Register.
The Charles Piazzi Smyth Observatory and the Wolfson Planetarium were opened in May 2002 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Situated on the Bedford School estate, the facility is operated by the school's astronomer in conjunction with members of the Bedford Astronomical Society.[17] The observatory was named after an Old Bedfordian who went on to become the Astronomer Royal for Scotland. It has a custom-designed GRP dome and a computer-controlled twelve-inch (305mm) telescope. The telescope has a hydrogen alpha filter, which enables the observer to view the magnetic plasma flow around the sun. The adjacent Planetarium was named after the Wolfson Foundation.
School structure
[edit]Admissions
[edit]Bedford School aims to maintain the Christian ethos which was embedded into its foundation principles when established, but commits to admitting boys of all faiths, or boys with no faith.[18]
The first year at Bedford School (for 13- to 14-year-olds) is called the Fourth Form and is equivalent to Year 9 in the state system. After that come the Remove and the Fifth Form. The next two years are the Lower Sixth and the Upper Sixth. Bedford School also caters for the lower years (from Year 3 to Year 8) in Bedford Preparatory School. This is located on the Bedford School estate and many facilities are shared.
| Year Group | State school equivalent | IB | A-Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Form | Year 9 | - | - |
| Remove | Year 10 | - | - |
| Fifth Form | Year 11 | - | - |
| Lower Sixth | Year 12 | IB1 | AS |
| Upper Sixth | Year 13 | IB2 | A2 |
Boys attending Bedford School typically come from a variety of various professional families in Bedford, elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as well as overseas. In 2016, the school had 139 boys as English as an Additional Language (EAL), and 57 boys who received additional support in learning for special educational needs, such as dyslexia, and physical disabilities.[18]
Academic attainment
[edit]Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspected Bedford School in November 2016, and found quality of personal development provided for boys attending the school to be "excellent". Boys attending Bedford School during the inspection were praised for having "respect for others", having a good "understanding of right and wrong", showing "kindness and sensitivity" and demonstrating "responsibility for others".[18] Academic attainment across the school was strong, with boys making "rapid" progress in all curriculum areas whilst developing a wide range of learning skills, including independence of thought and the ability to clearly communicate.[18]
Boys attending the Preparatory School at Bedford School achieve high standards, and in the Senior School, boys academic performance at GCSE level is above the national average. Results in GCSE examinations in the Sixth Form were also strong and found to be above the national average. Boys of all ages across the school, from Preparatory to Sixth Form, were found to be achieving strongly in key areas such as Language and Communication, as well as Numeracy and Mathematics. Following the inspection in November 2016, it was concluded that boys attending Bedford School had well–developed mathematical skills.[18]
House system
[edit]Bedford School has six houses. Each house is composed of a day house and an associated boarding house. The day houses are areas for students to relax during breaks from teaching whilst the boarding houses are for students to reside in. The house names, dating from the mid-nineteenth century, refer to areas of Bedford; boys were originally allocated a house based on the area of town in which they lived. Whilst these are the official house names, it is common for boarders to refer to their house by the name of their boarding house.[19] The houses are:
Ashburnham – The day house is next to the Design and Technology Building. The boarding house, Sandersons, is within a ten-minute walk of the school in Rothsay Gardens, next to Redburn.
Bromham – The day house is on Burnaby Road at the main entrance to the school, next to the Rice Building. The school's sixth form boarding house, Burnaby, is on Burnaby Road.
Crescent – The day house is in a two-storey building towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, Pemberley, is on Pemberley Avenue. The name Crescent derives from The Crescent, a road to the north-east of Bedford town centre running between Bromham Road and Tavistock Street.
Paulo Pontine – The day house occupies a single storey ground floor area beneath the Art Department towards the south of the school estate. The boarding house, Redburn, is within a ten-minute walk of the school. The house takes its name from the area around St Paul's Church ('Paulo') and the area south of the river, over the Town Bridge ('Pontine').
St Cuthbert's – The day house is located next door to the Medical Centre on Burnaby Road. The boarding house, Phillpotts, is in the north-east corner of the school estate.
St Peter's – The day house occupies a purpose-built building next to its boarding house, Talbots, on Burnaby Road.
Prep school Houses
[edit]The prep school operates with a different house system to the upper school, with there being 4 houses, each linked to a famous person from Bedford. The houses are as follows:
Bunyan
[edit]This house has yellow ties. It is named after John Bunyan. They Currently hold the house cup (2024)
Harpur
[edit]This house has red ties. It is named after Sir William Harpur, the school's founder.
Howard
[edit]This house has blues. It is named after John Howard They last won the house cup in 2022
Whitbread
[edit]This house has green ties. It is named after Samuel Whitbread. Their mascot is Baby Yoda.
School officials
[edit]Bedford School monitors are selected from amongst the boys of the Upper Sixth. They are entitled to wear coloured waistcoats and brown shoes as well as brass buttons on their blazers.[20] The head of school and the deputy head are selected from amongst the monitors.[citation needed]
Colour system
[edit]Bedford School recognises individual achievement in various fields by the awarding of 'colours', at the discretion of the appropriate master, to boys in the Fifth Form and above. The various colours entitle the bearer to wear a particular variant of his uniform, appropriate to that award, on given days. There are five types of colours: Academic, Arts, Headmaster's, House, and Sports (Major and Minor).[21]
Extracurricular activities
[edit]Chapel Choir
[edit]The Chapel Choir sings the weekly and special services in Bedford School Chapel.[22] The choir consists of eighteen choristers from the Preparatory School and twenty-four choral scholars from the Upper School, many of whom are former cathedral choristers.
The Chapel Choir regularly sings services and performs concerts in English cathedrals, including St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. The choir also tours abroad in alternate years. Previous destinations have included: Prague (1998); Oslo (2000); Paris (2002), where the choir sang mass in Notre Dame Cathedral; Rome (2004), where the choir sang mass in St. Peter's Basilica; Ireland (2006); Madrid (2008), and Belgium (2019) .[22]
The choir has made several recordings in recent years. In 2007, the BBC recorded the school's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for transmission on Christmas Day of that year on BBC Radio under the direction of Andrew Morris, Director of Music at Bedford School between 1979 and 2011.They also recorded A CD entitled "A Bedford Christmas" in 2018.[23]
School magazines
[edit]Bedford School produces several magazines, of which the most prominent is The Ousel, published regularly since 1876.[24] It is largely written by boys and managed directly by the school. It is published at the end of each Summer term and contains pupil and staff reviews of the school year. The school's Mosaic Society runs the Mosaic magazine which contains a range of essays and articles written by boys on subjects ranging from current affairs and politics to sport and science.[25] In 2011, the Classical Society started a publication, VIM Magazine.
Sport
[edit]Bedford School has a different major sport for each term. The Christmas term is rugby union orientated, the Easter term is devoted to hockey, and Summer is the cricket season. Rowing with the Bedford School Boat Club takes place on the River Ouse throughout the year. Other popular Bedford School sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cross-country running, fencing, fives, football, golf, rifle shooting, sailing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo and weight training.[26]
The school produced cricketer Alastair Cook,[27] who went on to captain the England cricket team, and whose coach at Bedford School was sports master and former England batsman Derek Randall. Other Bedford School sportsmen include England rugby internationals Martin Bayfield and Andy Gomarsall; the rower Jack Beresford, winner of five Olympic medals; and 1924 Olympic 100-metre sprint gold medallist Harold Abrahams.[citation needed]
Headmasters
[edit]Edmund Greene was appointed as headmaster of Bedford School prior to Bedford School's foundation in 1552. From then on the Wardens and Fellows of New College, Oxford were given the right to appoint the master (headmaster) and usher (deputy headmaster).[28] This came to an end in 1903, with the appointment of John Edward King to headship. The schools headmasters have been:[29]
- 1548 Edmund Greene
- 1573 William Smyth
- 1577 Francis White
- 1587 Master Chambers
- 1597 Richard Butcher
- c1599 Henry Whitaker
- 1601 Robert Barker
- 1610 Daniel Gardener
- 1636 William Varney
- 1656 George Butler
- 1660 William Varney
- 1663 John Allanson
- 1665 John Butler
- 1672 John Longworth
- 1681 William Willis
- 1683 Nicholas Aspinall
- 1718 Matthew Priaulx
- 1739 George Bridle
- 1773 John Hooke
- 1810 William Stratford
- 1811 John Brereton
- 1855 Frederick Fanshawe
- 1874 James Surtees Phillpotts
- 1903 John Edward King
- 1910 Reginald Carter
- 1928 Humfrey Grose-Hodge
- 1951 Clarence Seaman
- 1955 William Brown
- 1975 Ian Jones
- 1986 Sidney Miller
- 1988 Michael Barlen
- 1990 Philip Evans
- 2008 John Moule[30]
- 2014 James Hodgson[31]
Notable staff
[edit]- Charles Abbot (1761–1817), Fellow of New College, Oxford, botanist and entomologist, Usher at Bedford School, 1787–1817[32]
- Robert Steele (1860–1944), Medievalist
- W. H. D. Rouse (1863–1950), Fellow in Classics at Christ's College, Cambridge[33]
- Stanley Toyne (1881–1962), Historian, Hampshire and MCC cricketer
- Jack Hobbs (1882–1963), Surrey and England cricketer
- Rex Alston (1901–1994), a master at Bedford School, 1924–1941, before becoming a BBC sports commentator[34]
- Evelyn King (1907–1994), Labour MP, 1945–1950, Conservative MP, 1964–1979
- John Durnford-Slater (1909–1972), raised the first Commando unit in 1940, Estate Bursar and Commanding Officer of the CCF at Bedford School
- William Ronald Dalzell (1910–2004), book illustrator, author, and lecturer on the arts; art master, 1947-70[35]
- Godfrey Brown (1915–1995), History master, Olympic gold medal winner, 1936
- Mary Midgley (1919–2018), moral philosopher
- Jack Bailey (1930–2018), Essex and MCC cricketer, Secretary of the MCC, 1974–1987
- Bernie Cotton (born 1948), Olympic hockey player, 1972, manager of the Great Britain Olympic hockey team, 1992
- Andrew Morris (born 1948), conductor and organist, Director of Music at Bedford School, 1979–2011
- Derek Randall (born 1951), Nottinghamshire and England cricketer
- Gary Steer (born 1970) Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Alumni
[edit]See also
[edit]- List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)
- List of high schools producing multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Single Sex Education". Bedford School. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ a b De-la-Noy 1999, p. 3.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 1.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 5.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, pp. 8–9.
- ^ a b De-la-Noy 1999, pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b De-la-Noy 1999, p. 15.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 6.
- ^ Davis, Robin (1967). The Grammar School. Penguin Books. p. 34 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 19.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 21.
- ^ Barlen, M E: Bedford School and the Great Fire (London: Quiller Press, 1984) p.86
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1137959)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ "www.bedfordschool.org.uk 25th Anniversary of Bedford School's Great Fire, March 2004". Bedfordschool.org.uk. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ "www.bedfordschool.org.uk An interview with Mr Simms, who celebrated 50 years with Bedford School this week, November 2009". Bedfordschool.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1321037)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ De-la-Noy, p.221
- ^ a b c d e "Educational Quality Inspection Bedford School November 2016" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ De-la-Noy, p.123
- ^ De-la-Noy, p.56
- ^ Awards & Achievements
- ^ a b "Bedford School". Bedford School. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ De-la-Noy, p.218
- ^ De-la-Noy, p.52
- ^ De-la-Noy, pp.116–117
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, pp. 197–198.
- ^ Randall, Charles (16 April 2008). "Alastair Cook reprises his original hits". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ F.A.M. Webster, Our Great Public Schools, 1937.
- ^ De-la-Noy 1999, p. 225.
- ^ "Moule, John Stuart, (born 29 May 1971), Warden, Radley College, since 2014". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u257808. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Bedford School: Winners of Independent Boys' School of the Year 2021". Independent School Parent. 25 February 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Slatter, Enid (2010) [2004]. "Abbot, Charles". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Who's Who
- ^ Baxter, Peter (2 June 2003). "BBC SPORT | Cricket | Test Match Special | Legends | Rex Alston". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ^ Cover notes. The Shell guide to the history of London. Book Club Associates, London, 1981.
References
[edit]- Barlen, M. E.; Stambach, M.P.; Stileman, D.P.C. (1984). Bedford School and the Great Fire. Quiller Press. ISBN 0-907621-37-6.
- De-la-Noy, Michael (1999). Bedford School: A History. Bedford School. ISBN 0-9536685-0-9.
- Godber, Joyce (1973). The Harpur Trust 1552–1973. White Crescent Press Ltd. ISBN 0-9502917-0-6.
- Sargeaunt, John & Hockliffe, Ernest (1925). A History of Bedford School. T. Fisher Unwin.
| International | |
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| Geographic | |
Categories:
- Bedford School
- International Baccalaureate schools in England
- Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
- Educational institutions established in the 1550s
- 1552 establishments in England
- Boys' schools in Bedfordshire
- Boarding schools in Bedfordshire
- Private schools in the Borough of Bedford
- Sports venues completed in 1876
- Cricket grounds in Bedfordshire
- Schools in Bedford