The King's School, Rochester
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|
| Motto |
Disce aut discede ("Learn or leave") |
|---|---|
| Established | 604 AD |
| Type |
Independent day and boarding school Cathedral school |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Principal | Jeremy Walker |
| Chairman of the Governors | Dean of Rochester |
| Founder | (refounded) Henry VIII |
| Location |
Boley Hill Rochester Kent ME1 1TE England Coordinates: 51°23′15″N 0°30′06″E / 51.3874°N 0.5016°E |
| DfE number | 887/6000 |
| Students | 700 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 3–18 |
| Houses | 5 |
| Colours | Blue, black and white |
| Former pupils | Old Roffensians |
| School Song | "Carmen Roffense" |
| Website | kings-rochester |
The King's School, Rochester is an English independent school in Rochester, Kent. It is a cathedral school and, being part of the foundation of Rochester Cathedral, the Dean of Rochester serves as chair of the school's governing body. The school claims to be the second oldest continuously operating school in the world, having been founded in 604 AD.
The cathedral school in Rochester was founded in 604 AD, at the same time as the cathedral. It was refounded by Henry VIII in 1541 during the English Reformation when the monastery in Rochester was dissolved. It is the second oldest school in the United Kingdom after The King's School Canterbury. The current principal is Jeremy Walker, who also acts as the senior school headmaster. Roger Overend is the preparatory school headmaster and Catherine Openshaw is the headmistress of the nursery and Pre-Preparatory school.
The school is housed in a variety of buildings around Historic Rochester (the school also uses Rochester Cathedral for school services);
A 16th century town house rebuilt as an 18th century Georgian house, it was taken over by the School in 1950 and purchased outright in 1968. It had originally been built for Richard Watts who had entertained Queen Elizabeth there in 1753: asked for her verdict on her stay, the Queen had answered, ‘satis’, hence the name of the house. Above the entrance portico is a 1578 bust of Watts who represented Rochester in Parliament between 1563 and 1571. At Satis House are the office of The Principal of King’s Rochester, administrative offices and the Senior School Library.
Main School
The oldest building in use which was specifically built for the school. It was completed in 1742, the tower and additional classrooms were added in 1880 and the building extended with porches either end in 1913. During WW2 the building was commandeered for ARP purposes. The wooden roof which had served as the school’s assembly hall was removed in 1976. In 1985, it became the Design and Technology Centre. At the entrance are the Parker Memorial Gates (after Reverend William Parker, Headmaster 1913-35) which were dedicated in 1955.
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Wikipedia