Caterham School

Caterham School is an independent coeducational day and boarding school in Caterham, Surrey and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

History

Caterham Boys' School was founded in 1811 in Lewisham, by the Reverend John Townsend to provide a boarding education for the sons of Congregationalist ministers. By 1884, the School had outgrown its premises, and the 114 boys with their teaching staff moved to the present site in the North Downs in Surrey. In 1890, Caterham opened its doors to the sons of laymen and to day boys. In 1995, after 184 years as a boys' day and boarding school, it merged with Eothen School for girls (founded by the Misses Pye in 1892) to become a coeducational school. Girls have been coming to Caterham for Sixth Form education since 1981, but the merger integrated the schools and enabled co-education to be offered to pupils aged 3 years and upward

Awards

The schools fees are comparable with other leading Independent Schools in the area. If the applicant performs well on the entrance exam tests, the school sometimes gives out scholarships. The scholarships can either be academic, art, music, sport or all-rounder. The scholarships are up to 50% off the school fees. The school also has a bursaries scheme for families in the armed forces or those with a low income.

Academics

Academic results have improved steadily over the years and A Level results have now established the school in the Top 100 of UK Independent Schools. All of the GCSE results are 99.7% of A* grades to C grades. The majority of the sixth form go on to top tier universities. The biology department has gained the best results in Britain for male A-level candidates in the past 5 consecutive years.

Music Department

The music department boasts over 15 music groups, with regular music lessons for students throughout the week. The music and drama department often combines to put on a school production. Many students are at Grade 8 standard with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, some even gaining a diploma as low an age as 14.

General information

The 80 acre campus provides many facilities for extra curricular activity including 17 different sports, 15 music groups and over 30 clubs and societies. A new science block was completed in 2006. It contains thirteen new science laboratories and a new dining room. The current project is the replacement of the North Wing to create new facilities for the 6th Form. This is due for completion in Summer 2008. The school also have a Combined Cadet Force (ccf) and also participate Duke of Edinburugh award scheme.

The Preparatory School now has 272 pupils and the senior school (11 years to 18 years) has 752 pupils of which circa 150 board.

Caterham School also has a school council called Caterham School Council. Each year elects one boy and one girl representative along with four deputy representatives.

The current Headmaster is Julian Thomas (known as JT or Tintin to friends), appointed in 2007.

The school has a strong exchange-based relationship with Western Reserve Academy, an American prep school.

The school has also recently opened a joint partnership with a primary school in Lerangwa, Tanzania, for which it raises large amounts of money every year. Each year 6th form students travel to Tanzania to aid in the development of the school. The project is in its second year, and will continue for another four.

Notable Old Caterhamians

*David Oliver (1863–1947), legal scholar
*John Morgan (1876–1955), barrister and Professor of Constitutional Law, University College London, 1915–1941
*Vernon Mottram (1882–1976), physiologist and [76 [nutrition] ist
*Sir Paul Dukes (1889–1967), journalist and World War I MI6 officer
*John Whale (1896–1997), United Reformed Church minister and theologian
*Philip Henman (1899–1986), Chairman, General Lighterage Company, 1939–1969
*Sir Alan Moncrieff (1901–1971), first Nuffield Professor of Child Health, University of London, 1946–1964
*Denis Mitchell (1911–1990), television and radio producer
*Harold Marks (1914–2005), educationist
*Edward Jones, footballer
*Sir Arthur James (1916–1976), Judge of the Court of Appeal
*Geraint Jones (1917–1998), organist, harpsichordist and conductor
*Sir John Butterfill (born 1941), politician
*General Sir Alex Harley, Master Gunner, St. James's Park, 2001–
*Angus Deayton (born 1956), actor, television presenter
*Alistair Brown (born 1970), cricketer
*David Sales (born 1977), cricketer
*James Benning (born 1983), cricketer
*John Villers author of "Sky Above Land Below"

External links

* [http://www.caterhamschool.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.oldcaterhamians.com/ Old Caterhamians' Association]