Ipswich School

Ipswich School is a private day and boarding school in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, serving pupils of both sexes from two to eighteen years of age. The school is designated as having a "Church of England" Religious Character as defined in "The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2005 (No. 1195)".

Located north of the town centre, the school's main buildings are a distinctive example of Victorian architecture, with Tudor style brick. It has several annexes, including a preparatory school, a large boarding house and extensive sport fields. A new preparatory school has recently been constructed, costing £3.8 million, which has allowed the former preparatory buildings to be converted into new sixth form facilities. The main building and chapel are both Grade II listed.

Ipswich School was founded (in its current form) in 1528 by Sir Thomas Wolsey after the dissolution as a model school based on the principles of the new Church of England. (The King's School, Ipswich). There had been older educational institutions in the town (including St. Mary's College) which were absorbed into this new college. The oldest of these schools is first recorded as existing in 1299.

The current headmaster is Ian G Galbraith, who was preceded by Dr John Blatchly. The school runs many activities including the Debating Society, Economics Club, Sub Aqua, Life Saving, Duke of Edinburgh, Symphony and Intermediate Orchestras, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, School and Chapel choirs and a combined cadet force. Sports offered include rugby, hockey, cricket, football, tennis, badminton, squash, fives, sailing, and athletics.

The school continues to flourish under an independent, fee-charging basis, and does very well in league tables and with university entrances, sending about seven pupils on average to Oxford and Cambridge every year.

The Houses of Ipswich School

The school has six 'houses', into which pupils from year 9 onwards are filtered: Holden, Rigaud, Sherrington, School, Broke and Felaw. Those with relatives who attended the school are generally expected to be placed in the same house. Every year, the houses compete for the Ganzoni Cup (house cup), which is won by gaining points from winning inter-house events. Felaw has won more times than any other house, with Rigaud in second place; it is believed that School has not won since the days of the reign of Queen Victoria. However school is the oldest house and its name comes from the fact that when it used to be boys in one house taught by a head master and the house in which they lived and were taught was called School House.

The school has a single large boarding house which is called Westwood. Past boarding houses included Highwood and a Junior House. A high number of overseas students often oriental join the school in year 7 and year 9.

Literary References

Ipswich School is mentioned in Shakespeare's play, Henry VIII:

'Those twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipswich and Oxford! One of which fell with him,
Unwilling to outlive the good that did it;
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous' ^[1]

Notable Old Ipswichians

Old Ipswichians include:

• Sir H. Rider Haggard, author of King Solomon's Mines and She.
• Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, Nobel Laureate, Physician who coined the word synapse.
• Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor of England, Head of Roman Catholic church in England
• Sir Robert Hitcham, 17th century Judge and member of parliament.^[2]
• William Kirby, 'the father of entomology'
• Rear Admiral Sir Philip Broke KCB, naval hero, Commander of HMS Shannon
• Edward Ardizzone, artist
• Johnny Torino, civil rights campaigner.
• Peter Florence, founder of the Hay Festival held in Hay-on-Wye
• Charles Keene, artist, Punch
• Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, Commander of English forces, Battle of the Flodden.
• Edward Poynter, Artist, President of the Royal Academy & Baronet
• Henry Staunton, Businessman and media mogul
• Tom Withers Klute (musician), Music Producer and DJ
• James King, Radio One film critic
• Tim Marshall, Sky News reporter.
• Geoffrey Rees-Jones, Former Welsh rugby international.^[3]
• John Penrose (born 1964), Conservative Member of Parliament
• Peter Brunt (1917-2005), ancient historian
• Harold Smith (1916-2006) of Ipswich Town Football Club
• Cecil Howard Lay, Architect, artist and poet

References

1. ^ Shakespeare - Henry VIII, Act IV Scene 2, from Project Gutenberg e-text edition [1]
2. ^ Gray and Potter (1950). Ipswich School 1400 to 1950, pp. 47. 
3. ^ Obituary: Geoffrey Rees-Jones, Page retrieved 16 April 2007

Sources

John Blatchly, A Famous Antient Seed-Plot of Learning - A History of Ipswich School (Ipswich 2003). G.R.W. Webb, The history of Ipswich School and education in Ipswich (Ipswich 2005).

External links

• Ipswich School website
• Images of England — details from listed building database (275476)

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