The Crypt School, Gloucester

The Crypt School
Established	1539
Type	foundation grammar
Religion	None (Founded at St Mary de Crypt Church)
Headteacher	Mr J Standen
Founders	John and Joan Cooke
Specialism	Science, Language
Location	The Crypt School Podsmead, Gloucester Gloucestershire GL2 5AE  England
LEA	Gloucestershire County Council
Ofsted number	115755
Students	714
Gender	Male (Mixed in Sixth Form)
Ages	11 to 18
Colours	Maroon, (Gold)
Website	www.cryptschool.org
Coordinates: 51°50′22″N 2°15′07″W / 51.8394°N 2.252°W / 51.8394; -2.252

The Crypt School is a grammar school for boys with a mixed Sixth Form, located in the city of Gloucester, England, founded in 1539 by John and Joan Cooke. The original school was part of St Mary de Crypt church in Southgate Street and the schoolroom can still be seen there. Later, in 1889, the school moved to Greyfriars, known better as Friar's Orchard, and in 1943, to its present site at Podsmead. The site on which the modern school is situated is land given to the school by John and Joan Cooke in 1539. Despite attempts to change the school, notably in the 1960s with the move to comprehensive schools, the Crypt remains a selective boys grammar school.

Academic

The Crypt School has been awarded an 'Artsmark' Award by the Arts Council of England for the quality of provision in creative and performing arts (i.e. music, drama and art itself).^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, the school was granted Specialist Status in Science.^{[citation needed]} It remains the only school in Gloucester with this distinction.^{[citation needed]} This award was, in part, awarded in recognition of the quality of science provision at the school - it remains one of a very select group of schools which teaches all of the sciences in depth as separate subjects.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, The Crypt School was further designated as a Specialist Language College, this status will become active as of the 2009/2010 academic year.^{[citation needed]}

At the end of every academic year, usually on the second Thursday of July, pupils, staff and former Cryptians gather at Gloucester Cathedral for Founders Day, a day when the school remembers its past and how the school was founded. The Headmaster of the school pays the Rector of St Mary De Crypt Church a quit rent of one red rose.^{[citation needed]}

There are four school houses; Moore, Brown, Whitfield and Henley, named after notable former students.

In the 1950s and 1960s,the Crypt gained a reputation for the quality of its Shakespearean productions.^{[citation needed]} The plays were directed by Charles Lepper, English teacher at the Crypt, and former RSC actor. Lepper's last production at the Crypt was "Much Ado About Nothing" in 1966.

Miscellaneous

School song - Carmen Cryptiense

Pio cantu celebremus
Scholam, pie memoremus
Conditores, quis debemus
Tot Musarum munera.
Laus Ioanni tribuenda,
Laus Ioannae concinenda.
Vivat schola Cryptiensis,
Vivat in perpetuum!

Stat per annos domus crescens
Fortiorque fit senescens,
Laeta prole revirescens
Dum labuntur saecula.
Viget prisca fide plena,
Viget nova spe serena.
Vivat schola Cryptiensis,
Vivat in perpetuum!

Noted alumni

• Roland Austin, Professor of Latin at the University of Liverpool from 1954-68
• Prof Ernest Baldwin, Professor of Biochemistry at University College London from 1950-69
• Thomas James Badger, Comedian, Actor, Writer and Singer. From 2004-09
• Peter Bayley, Berry Professor of English at the University of St Andrews from 1978-85, and the first Principal of Collingwood College, Durham in 1972
• Prof Frank Bell, Professor of Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University from 1950-66
• Capel Bond, organist
• Prof Derek Brewer, Professor of English at the University of Cambridge from 1983-90, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1977-90, and President of the English Association from 1982-3 and 1987-90
• Thomas Edward Brown (1830-1897) - poet and scholar, former head-master
• Sir James Bruton, Conservative MP for Gloucester from 1918-23
• Andrew Clements, Music critic of The Guardian since 1993 and of the Financial Times from 1979-93, and Editor of The Musical Times from 1987-8
• Harold Collison, Baron Collison CBE, General Secretary of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers from 1953-69
• Robin Day (1923-2000) - journalist, broadcaster and political commentator
• Dr David Fletcher CBE, Chief Executive of British Waterways from 1996-2002
• Group Captain Dickie Haine DFC
• Andrew Henderson, Ambassador to Algeria since 2007
• William Henley (1849-1903) - poet and editor
• Geoffrey Herridge CMG, Chairman of Iraq Petroleum Company from 1965-70 and Managing Director from 1957-63
• Rt Rev Michael Wrenford Hooper, Bishop of Ludlow from 2002-9
• Michael John Hurd, composer
• Michael Jones, Political Editor of The Sunday Times from 1984-95
• Prof H. D. F. Kitto - classicist and Professor of Greek at the University of Bristol from 1944-62
• Air Vice-Marshal John Lawrence CB, Station Commander of RAF Wittering from 1964-6
• John Moore (1730-1805) - Archbishop of Canterbury
• Grahame Parker, cricketer
• Terence Price, Secretary-General of the Uranium Institute (now called the World Nuclear Association) from 1974-86
• Robert Raikes (1736-1811) - publisher and founder of Sunday School Movement
• Wayne Thomas - professional footballer (Southampton)
• George Whitfield (1714-1770) - a leader of the Methodist movement
• James Frederick Wood, Archbishop of Philadelphia between 1860-83

External links

• School Website
• Old Cryptians Club for former pupils and teachers.
• The London Old Cryptians Club