Motto |
Respice et Prospice 'Remember the Past and Look to the Future' |
---|---|
Established | pre-1291 2007 (merger) |
Type | Independent day school |
Chairman of Governors | Mrs Rosemary F Ham |
Founder | Francis Wright |
Location |
Upper Tything Worcester Worcestershire WR1 1HP England |
DfE number | 885/6028 |
Students | Circa 1350 (2015) |
Gender | Coeducational |
Ages | 2–18 |
Houses | Whiteladies, Elgar, Wylde, Ottley |
Colours |
Green, blue white |
Former pupils | Old Elizabethans/AOOEs |
Website | www.rgsw.org.uk |
Green, blue white
The Royal Grammar School Worcester (also known as RGS Worcester or RGSW) is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, England. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent day schools.
In September 2007, it merged with the neighbouring Alice Ottley School and was briefly known as RGS Worcester and the Alice Ottley School before reverting to its original name, although the School began accepting girls in 2003 prior to the merger. The school now consists of the main senior school and two preparatory campuses known as RGS Springfield (previously of Alice Ottley School) and RGS The Grange (opened 1996).
Until 1992 it accepted boarders who resided in Whiteladies House, a building that is rumoured to contain hidden treasure from Charles I from when he sought refuge there during the Civil War. It is now a day school.
The current Head Boy and Head Girl are Ben Thomson and Ella McCoshan.
Tracing its origins back to the 7th century, the school is the sixth oldest school in the world.
The school was founded as a secular monastic school in Worcester in around 685 by Bishop Bosel. This makes it the 6th oldest school in the world. It was located outside the monastic precincts (as with the King's School, Canterbury) and catered for the relatives of monks and children intending to go into the monastery. The first written reference to the school appears in 1265 when the Bishop of Worcester, Walter de Cantilupe, sent four chaplains into the city to teach.
Conclusive evidence appears in 1291 when an argument was settled by Bishop Godfrey Giffard regarding who owned the wax from the candles used at the feast of St Swithun. It was decided that the scholars of the Worcester School owned it, and the Rector of Saint Nicholas Church had to rely on the generosity of the scholars in order to get candle wax. The headmaster is mentioned as Stephen of London. The letter dated December 1291 is in the County Records Office in Worcester.