Nottingham High School

Nottingham High School
250
Standort
Nottingham , Nottinghamshire, Vereinigtes Königreich
Information
Typ	Public
Motto	Lauda Finem
Established	1513
Gründer	Dame Agnes Mellers, Sir Thomas Lovell & King Henry VIII
Headmaster	Kevin Fear
Number of students	850 (approx.)
Website	www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk

Nottingham High School is a leading UK independent fee-paying boys' school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House Infant School for infants, meaning that boys may be educated at Nottingham High School from the age of 4 years to 18. The school was founded in 1513 by Dame Agnes Mellers, after whom one of the four school houses is named. The other three houses are Cooper's, after Frederick Cooper, Maples', after Samuel Maples, and White's, after Sir Thomas White. The Houses compete to win the Wheeler Cup. The present Headmaster is Mr Kevin Fear, who succeeded Christopher Stuart Parker CBE BA FRSA in April 2007.

School History

Dame Agnes Mellers founded Nottingham High School in 1513, after the death of her husband, Richard, partly in his memory, but also as an act of atonement for his several wrongdoings against the people of Nottingham. In order to do this she enlisted the help of Sir Thomas Lovell, who was both the Governor of Nottingham Castle and Secretary to the Treasury. As a result of their combined efforts, King Henry VIII sealed the School’s foundation deed on the 22 November that year.

Since 1868 the School has been located high on Waverley Mount to the north of the city centre, looking down towards the site of its foundation in St. Mary’s Church and its continuance in Stoney Street. There has subsequently been a long programme of building and development, resulting in the modern site.

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War Memorial Enscription

In the Foundation Deed, Mellers provided that a Commemoration Service should be held in St Mary's Church "on the Feast of The Translation of St Richard of Chichester, namely 16 June" each year. With the exception of the Goose Fair, it is the most ancient ceremonial event still perpetuated in the City of Nottingham, and the oldest which is still largely in its original form (the Goose Fair is now a funfair rather than a livestock fair). The formal procession is an important part of Founder's Day and seeks to symbolise the ancient links the School has with the Crown, the City and the Church. The Foundation Deed also provides for the distribution (out of a total sum of 20 shillings) of certain moneys to the Lord Mayor, Vicar and others and for the purchase of bread, cheese and ale for consumption by the officials attending the Service. Any balance remaining is required to be given to the poorest scholar but now is given to a representative scholar of the School.

The annual Remembrance Day service on November 11 is attended by the whole School with the Headmaster, President of the Old Nottinghamians and the School Captain placing wreaths at the war memorial. The inscription on the statue is particularly poignant.

The Latin inscription on the School Arms is 'Lauda Finem', praise to the end. More recently, the School has also adopted the informal motto 'T.E.A.M.', Together Everyone Achieves More.

Masters of the School

• 1513-? John Smith
• ? Robert Calton
• ? George Somer
• 1563-1565 Henry Cockrame
• 1565-1575 Brian Garnett (Father of Henry Garnet who was convicted and executed for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot)
• 1575-1584 John Depup
• 1584-1587 Robert Ableson
• 1587-1592 Christopher Heylowe
• 1592-1607 John Lowe
• 1607-1616 Thomas Soresbie
• 1616-1628 Robert Theobald
• 1628-1657 Thomas Leake
• 1657-1664 Henry Pitts
• 1664 Henry Watkinson
• 1664-1672 Samuel Birch
• 1672-1688 Jeremiah Cudworth
• 1688-1691 Gowin Knight
• 1691-1707 Edward Griffith
• 1707-1720 Richard Johnson
• 1718-1719 William Smeaton
• 1719 William Saunders
• (Never assumed post) Thomas Miles
• 1720-1722 John Womack
• 1722-1731 John Swaile
• 1731 Edward Chappell
• 1731-1758 John Henson
• 1758-1793 Timothy Wylde
• 1793-1806 John Challand Forrest
• 1806-1819 John Toplis
• 1819-1833 Robert Wood
• 1833-1860 William Butler
• 1861-1868 Frederick Teeling Cusins
• 1868-1884 Dr Robert Dixon
• 1884-1901 Dr James Gow
• 1901-1925 Dr George Sherbrooke Turpin
• 1925-1953 Cedric Lawton Reynolds
• 1954-1970 Kenneth Robert Imeson
• 1970-1995 Dr Dennis Trevor Witcombe
• 1995-2007 Christopher Stuart Parker CBE BA FRSA
• 2007 - ? Kevin Fear

Senior Management Team

• Kevin Fear Headmaster
• Dr Paul Sibly Deputy Headmaster
• D. M. Williamson Deputy Headmaster (Academic)
• Les Wilkinson Senior Master
• Rob Dunmore Director of Finance and Estates
• Andrew Earnshaw Headmaster of Nottingham High Junior School (from September 2007)
• Colin Sedgewick Head of Sixth Form

Housemasters

• Paul Morris White's House (Senior Housemaster)
• Andrew Winter Cooper's House
• Richard Willan Maples' House
• Roger Kilby Mellers' House

School Hymn

Christe, quem fas est pueris precari,
pro schola grates agimus vetusta;
matre nos semper valeamus alma
vivere digne.

Agmen hic longum, duce te, quotannis
civium partes didcit viriles;
hinc et egressi meruere palmam,
praemia nisus.

Detur hanc nobis retere famam;
detur exemplum satis aemulari,
posteris detur minime minutum
tradere munus.

Sic et absentes tua nos potestas
per vias vitae comitetur omnes;
et scholae nostrae memores amemus
nobile nomen.

Translated:

O Christ whom from pupils praise is due
Our thanks receive for this our ancient School
May we have strength ever to shape our lives
Worthy of its tradition.

Here by Your teaching year by year a line
Of pupils learnt their duty to the state
And going forth proved worthy to put on
The laurel wreath of virtue.

Grant that we may maintain their great tradition
May we be guided by Your great example
May we hand over an untarnished standard
To those who follow.

And when we leave may Your strength still be with us
Through all the paths we'll follow in our lives
And may in remembering our School
Honour its noble name.

School Buildings

The original main school building consists of the tower and 3 wings: the west wing, middle corridor and the east wing. The west wing mainly houses classrooms for Mathematics, English, Geography and Modern Languages, as well as some administration offices. The first year form rooms are also located on the ground floor. The middle corridor houses the ICT centre, language laboratory and Religious Studies as well as two multipurpose lecture theatres, the upper and lower school libraries, and the senior management team and support staff offices. Also located in this section of the School is the learning support department, which particularly supports pupils with specific learning difficulties. The east wing comprises the sixth form centre, the old gymnasium, the Player Hall (where assemblies are usually held), and a number of classrooms for teaching Modern Languages, History and Latin. The front of the School is a Grade 1 listed building, and certain other interior features are also Grade 1 listed (the library arches, for example).

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The south side of the School showing the war memorial

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Player Hall

The school sports hall, built in 1990 on the site of the old fives court and CCF shooting range is located in the North East corner of the site. It contains an exercise hall, used for a wide range of sports, and fitness room, available for use by Years 10-13.

In the North West corner is the Harry Djanogly Design and Technology centre, built in the mid-1990s, replacing a large green shed which had been used for storing CCF equipment. This has recently been extended to include the school's new art block on the 1st floor. Previously, the art rooms had been situated on the top floor of the North block, until these classrooms were changed into normal lesson classrooms in 2003/2004. This building has now been renamed the Harry Djanogly Art, Design and Technology centre.

To the West, next to the Junior School, the dining hall, and a small two-classroom building named University House, lies the Founder Hall building, built in 1963 to commemorate the school's 450th anniversary, which includes the swimming pool (below ground level) and the Founder Hall itself, where school plays are performed and assemblies take place, when the Player Hall is being used for GCSE examinations.

To the South West there is the Simon Djanogly Science Building, where the laboratories for all three Sciences are based. There is also a sixth form science library in the complex and the CCF Shooting Range in the basement. It has about 15 science labs.

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War memorial at the south gates

Also situated to the South West (in front of the science block) is the purpose-built Music School, named after Harry Djanogly's wife Lady Carol, completed in 1997 (replacing the previous building, which had originally been the school dining hall), overlooking the front lawns. This complex houses a Recital Hall, music classroom, recording studio and numerous practice-rooms (which are used for individual instrumental lessons).

In the south east corner is the White House, where Economics and Politics are taught to sixth formers.

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Music Block

In the past the tower that overlooks the City was used as the Prefects' discipline room. Since then part of the tower has been restored and is used as a staff office. It is still used as an access point to the top of the tower from which the School Standard and Union flag is raised on special occasions, such as Founder's Day and the Queen's Birthday.

Outside the school walls, the school also occupies an old garage that is accessible from behind the Art & Design Block. It is used as storage for Duke of Edinburgh and adventurous training and also as a workshop for the maintenance staff.

In late 2006 the school did a major upgrade of site security. All entrances now have electronic gates opened by a key card or by the newly employed security guard. CCTV covers a majority of the site.

The school recently announced some more significant improvement works which will include the building of a new dining hall and sixth form centre. These plans are currently under review by the local council but the project is expected to be completed in late 2008.

The school's games field is not on the main site but instead at Valley Road, approximately 3 miles to the north. The Valley Road sports field features a number of rugby pitches and posts during winter, which are converted for athletics in the spring, with a running track and shot put, javelin, discus, pole vault, hurdles and high jump areas. During the summer the ground is used for cricket, with nets and squares created for the season. The pavilion features a number of changing rooms on the ground and first floors, and a refreshment area for staff and guests.

The school recently acquired the Waverly House School to the West of the main site. This will be refurbished and renamed the Lovell House Infant School which will be open to boys from ages of 4 to 7 from Spetember 2008.

Prefects

"The Prefects are charged to do their utmost to maintain a proper standard of behaviour on the part of all boys of the School and may punish any offence likely to bring discredit on the School." Introduction to the Second Volume of the Prefects' Minute Book.

The Prefects' Minute Book further reads,

2. The Prefects may punish boys in any of the three following ways: (i)by reprimand (ii) by lines (iii) by caning

3. No corporal punishment shall be administered by Prefects except (a) after due and proper deliberation, and (b) with the unanimous agreement of all Prefects.

4. When announcing the decision of the Prefects to the offending boy, the Head Prefect is bound to offer him an option to appeal to the Headmaster.

5. Corporal punishment may be administered only in those cases which in the joint opinion of all the Prefects render such punishment absolutely necessary, and only after a full opportunity to appeal to the Headmaster; for this purpose an interval of at least 24 hours must elapse between announcing the decision of the Prefects to the offending boy and the execution of that decision. No instrument of punishment is to be used except that which is sanctioned by the Headmaster, and the number of strokes must not exceed three, without the express permission from the Headmaster.

6. Every Prefect on taking Office must sign a declaration in the Prefects' Minute Book that he has read these rules and will strictly observe them.

The Prefect body form an important and ancient institution within the School. Prefects are the School's principal representatives of its values. The School looks to the Prefect body to set an example both to other Sixth Formers and to other members of the School as a whole. A Prefect is required to perform a number of duties during the School week, this might include supervision of the Dining Hall for example. All Prefects are required to assist on days of importance to the School including: Founder's Day; Speech Day; Open Day and with entrance examinations. Historically the Tower was the exclusive domain of the Prefects. Within its walls solemn meetings were held and the daily round of canings distributed, to be performed in the presence of the School Captain. Presently the Prefects have the sanction of awarding a blue disciplinary ticket to boys in Years 7 to 11. This ticket carries the same consideration as a ticket issued by a member of staff. In an era turning away from old, strict and inflexible ways the Prefects voted to remove their right to cane. So moved was headmaster Ken Imeson that he not only changed the rules regarding them, but also resolved never to use corporal punishment again himself. The School Captain is responsible for the conduct of the Prefect body to the Senior Master with regard to matters concerning duties, to the Deputy Headmaster with regard to discipline, and, ultimately to the Headmaster in all matters.

"V The number of strokes administered must not exceed three." The Prefects' Rules, 1907.

Assistant Prefects are appointed from the Lower Sixth in the Autumn Term and are allocated duties which usually commence in the Spring Term. The performance of individual Prefects is reviewed, and normally without exception Assistant Prefects are appointed Prefects in the Summer Term. At this time, Prefects who have served the School with particular distinction are appointed to Offices within the School, most notably the Captain of the School, the Vice-Captains of the School and the Captains of Houses. At this time Prefects are presented with the silver Prefects' tie and the Officers with the Officers' tie. The ceremonial inauguration of the incoming Prefect body and Officers occurs in June on Founder's Day when the incoming School Captain and Vice-Captains present an offering on the altar of St Mary's Church. Most recently, students in the Lower Sixth are asked to volunteer to be prefects and are then assessed on their duties in the spring term.

The prefect selection system is to change however. From the school year of 2007/2008, Lower Sixth students will be asked to volunteer to be prefects. They will then go through the normal probation period and selection to full prefects.

An Executive Committee of the School, consisting of the School Officers and House Captains meets at least once a term with the Deputy Headmasters, the Senior Master and Head of Sixth Form. The principal functions of the Committee are to respond to disciplinary problems perceived by the Prefects in carrying out their duties, to respond to the needs of staff in the way that duties and the Prefects' disciplinary role is carried out and to act as a forum for debate on future projects or needs of the School.

Current School Officers

• TBA - Captain of the School
• TBA - Vice Captain of the School
• TBA - Vice Captain of the School
• TBA - Captain of Cooper's House
• TBA - Vice Captain of Cooper's House
• TBA - Captain of Maples' House
• TBA - Vice Captain of Maples' House
• TBA - Captain of Mellers' House
• TBA - Vice Captain of Mellers' House
• TBA - Captain of White's House
• TBA - Vice Captain of White's House

Wheeler Cup

The Wheeler Cup is the most prestigious competition in the School, and is the ultimate prize based on the cumulative performance in House competitions throughout the school year. Presently the Wheeler Cup is contested through; chess, hockey, cross country, rugby, bridge, swimming standards, shooting, swimming gala, cricket, general knowledge, bridge cup (individual verse speaking, verse speaking choirs, singing choirs and individual music), athletics standards and sports day. The Wheeler Cup is the final presentation on Speech Day and is presented to the former House Captain and House Vice-Captain. The brackets indicate the successful Captain and Vice-Captain.

• 1995/1996 - White's
• 1996/1997 - Cooper's & Maples'
• 1997/1998 - Cooper's
• 1998/1999 - Cooper's (Alex Hudson & Jordon Speed)
• 1999/2000 - Cooper's
• 2000/2001 - Cooper's (Richard Wild & Robert Steel)
• 2001/2002 - Cooper's (Paul Webster & Charles Hogg)
• 2002/2003 - Cooper's (Josh Hudson & James Kinman)
• 2003/2004 - Maples' (Chris Wright & John Cartman)
• 2004/2005 - Cooper's (Annand Desai & Daniel Sedgewick)
• 2005/2006 - Cooper's (Matt O'Grady & Greg Bramhall)
• 2006/2007 - White's (Patrick Holden & Andrew Bath)

School uniform

In Years 7 to 11 the uniform consists of a black blazer bearing the school crest, black or charcoal grey trousers, white or grey shirt, black shoes, house tie, and black, grey or navy blue socks. It is also possible to wear a jumper under the blazer. This is usually grey with white and black around the neck, or if the pupil has represented the school in sport, it may be black and bear the school crest.

In the sixth form students wear a Black, Grey or Navy Blue suit with any colour shirt, except black.

Ties

Ties are an important feature of the School and are used to award particularly meritorious contributions to the School and to distinguish a pupil's status within the School. Pupils in the Junior School wear a tie with alternating black and white stripes. They may also wear the Junior School centenary tie which is black with yellow stripes. Pupils in years 7 to 11 wear a black tie with narrow white stripes and an additional narrow stripe of colour denoting their respective house: Cooper's is blue, Maples', green, Mellers', purple and White's, red. Sixth formers wear a white tie with narrow double black stripes.

Other ties include:

• Foundation - A black tie bearing the red squirrel holding a ducal coronet found on the school crest. Presented to a representative scholar (usually from Year 7) on Founder's Day. It is also presented to any pupil who has attained high performance in public examinations (at least ten grade As at GCSE or three As at A-Level), and to teachers upon completion of ten years' service. Commonly referred to as the 'Squirrel Ties' or the 'Tufty tie', the latter a reference to Tufty, the safety-conscious red squirrel from a long-running series of public service adverts broadcast on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

• Lovell Order - Black, bearing the arms of Sir Thomas Lovell, a founder and benefactor of the school, and sometime Speaker of the House of Commons. Awarded to those who have performed some meritorious service to the school, such as librarians, the choir, orchestra and band secretaries, society officials and the stage staff; also to teachers who have completed twenty years' service.

• Sports Colours - White with narrow diagonal black and yellow stripes. Awarded for high sporting achievement, typically representing the school at first team level (usually for sports, although members of the chess, bridge and shooting teams have been awarded them on occasions).

• Music Colours - Essentially the same style as sports colours. First awarded in 2007, in recognition of outstanding contributions to school music. Afforded the same value as sporting colours.

• Third XV - Black with orange stripes. Awarded to members of the school rugby third XV.

• Prefects - Silver (actually very fine silver and black checked). Awarded to School (full) prefects, but not to House (assistant) Prefects.

• Officers - Black with red stripes, bordered by white bands with the school coat of arms at top. Presented, since 2005, to Officers of the School (School Captain, School Vice-Captains and House Captains) to distinguish their seniority.

School expeditions

Expeditions abroad have taken pupils to:

• New Zealand rugby tour (2008)
• South Africa rugby tour
• Ecuador & Galapagos
• Marokko
• Malawi
• Indonesien
• Indien
• Belize
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Kroatien
• Irland
• Vietnam
• Norwegen
• Tansania
• Frankreich
• Deutschland
• Indien

Filming

The front steps of Nottingham High School were used as a location for the 2002 film Anita and Me and are shown for a short time within the film.

Parts of a 1990 episode of the television series Boon, starring Michael Elphick, were filmed at the school, and featured a number of pupils as extras. The story in question was titled Bully Boys, the sixth episode of the fifth series, and was broadcast on 1990-10-30. The main playground, the Bridge Library (now the library reception) and the Valley Road playing fields, in particular, were shown.

Old Nottinghamians

Old Nottinghamian (postnominal ON)

Arts and Broadcasting

• Kenneth Adam, Controller of the BBC
• Malcolm Balen, author and broadcaster
• Michael Bywater, writer and broadcaster
• Jonathan Charles, BBC Foreign Correspondent
• Leslie Crowther, comedian and quiz show host
• Trevor Dann, broadcaster and producer of the 1985 Live Aid concert
• Mick Eaton, film-maker
• D. H. Lawrence, writer
• Geoffrey Trease, author
• Garry Martin, author

Academia

• The Very Reverend Dr Eric Abbott K.C.V.O., Warden of Keble College, Oxford, Dean of Westminster
• Professor Christopher Calladine FRS
• Professor Raymond Freeman FRS
• Professor Frank Nabarro FRS, solid-state physicist

The Armed Forces

• Albert Ball, the first Royal Flying Corps winner of the Victoria Cross
• Theodore Hardy, (former master) non-combatant chaplain during the Great War, awarded the Victoria Cross

Sports

• Andy Turner, Olympic sprinter
• Henry Nwume
• Tom Groves Professional Footballer at Southampton and former England under 19 football captain. Forced to leave the school by 'rugby first' policy. (Verified by former pupils and staff)
• Lee Jackson Iron Man Coach
• Anthony Douglas Great Britain Short Track Speed Skating Team.
• Richard Garner Professional Footballer at Derby County
• Daniel Coates Notts County Trainee 1993-1995
• Peter Johnson, professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire and Cambridge University
• Ashley Holmes, Professional Footballer at West Brom

Politics

• Ed Balls, Labour Member of Parliament, current Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, former Economic Secretary to the Treasury.
• Kenneth Clarke Q.C., former Chancellor of the Exchequer and perennial Conservative Party leadership candidate
• Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, current Liberal Democrat Chief of Staff.
• Geoff Hoon, Current Chief Whip and former Minister of State for Europe,Secretary of State for Defence and Leader of the House of Commons
• Piers Merchant former Conservative Member of Parliament, resigned in disgrace in 1997

Civil and Diplomatic Service

• Sir Peter Gregson K.C.B., former Permanent Secretary of the Department for Trade and Industry
• Sir Richard Lloyd-Jones K.C.B., former Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Office
• Lord Richardson of Duntisborne K.G., sometime Governor of the Bank of England
• C. J. Train, former Director General of the Prison Service
• Sir Douglas Wass G.C.B., sometime Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and Head of the Home Civil Service
• G. O. Whittaker O.B.E., Governor of Anguilla

Commerce

• Jesse Boot later Lord Trent, founder of the chemist's Boots (now the Boots Group)
• Frank Bowden engineer and businessman, founder of Raleigh Bicycle Company, inventor of the Bowden Cable
• John Player, tobacconist (John Player & Sons)

Science and Technology

• J. P. Knight, inventor of the traffic light
• John Wheeler, secretary of the British Acupuncture Association

See also

• Nottingham High School for Girls

External links

• Official school website
• Old Nottinghamians