Magdalen College School, Brackley

Magdalen College School, Brackley

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Motto	Sicut Lilium (As Lilies)
Established	1548
Type	Voluntary controlled Comprehensive
Religion	Secular
Master	Mr. Ian Colling
Founder	William of Waynflete
Specialisms	Mathematics and Computing, Training school
Location	Waynflete Avenue Brackley Northamptonshire NN13 6FB England
Local authority	Northamptonshire
DfE URN	122094
Ofsted	Reports
Staff	100
Students	1503
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–19
Houses	Waynflete      Barnard      Lovell      De Quincy      Beaumont      Godwin.
Colours	Navy Blue and White
Website	magdalen.northants.sch.uk

Coordinates: 52°01′48″N 1°09′04″W / 52.030°N 1.151°W / 52.030; -1.151

Magdalen College School, Brackley is one of three "ancient" Magdalen College Schools, the others being its sister colleges in Oxford and Wainfleet, Lincolnshire. Located in Brackley, South Northamptonshire, the school is on two sites (see history section): the former Secondary Modern site accommodates secondary schooling to Year Eleven, after which students transfer to the St John's site (the old MCS) for most of their lessons during the Sixth Form. Today the school has approximately 1,500 students, and averages 59% A*–C at GCSE.

The school is "voluntary controlled" by the governing body and has a specialism in mathematics and computing. The St John's site is still owned by Magdalen College, and they are represented on the governing body.

History

The site now occupied by the school was originally the Hospital of St. James and St. John, founded around 1150 by Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester. In 1484 it was given to Magdalen College, Oxford. By 1548 there was a school at the site.

The school's initial purpose was to allow pupils of the college in Oxford to escape the plague affecting Oxford at the time.

In September 1973 MCS merged with the Girls Grammar School (Brackley High) and Brackley Secondary Modern School to form a new comprehensive school on two sites, while the girls' school was converted into the new Southfield Primary school. This school has approximately 1500 students

Chapel

Formerly a chapel for the hospital of St. James and St. John, the earliest datable parts are late-12th Century, although many parts are 13th century. The chapel underwent a major restoration between 1869-1870 by Buckeridge.

It is constructed of stone rubble and is one of the largest school chapels, and the oldest school chapel still in use in England. It remains in regular use by the school, Church of England and local community.

Head teachers

• 1548-1552 - Thomas Godwin
• 1552-1558 - Thomas Bede
• 1952-1973 - Eric Forrester
• 1973-1993 - Keith Marsh
• 1993-2006 - Elaine Wotherspoon
• 2006-present - Ian Colling

Notable alumni

Notable former pupils include:

• Dr Samuel James Richardson, General Secretary of the United Nations (second to Ban Ki Moon)
• Robert Addie, Actor
• Sir John Coles, British Ambassador to Jordan, 1984-1988; British High Commissioner to Australia, 1988-1991; Head of the British Diplomatic Service (Permanent Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office) 1994-7.
• Denis Judd, Historian of the British Empire, London Metropolitan University.
• Professor Robin Dunbar, Evolutionary Psychologist.
• Allan Leighton, Former Chief Executive Officer, Asda Group, and former Chairman, Royal Mail Group.
• Taylor Parkes, Journalist.
• Anna Reynolds, Playwright.

External links

• School official Site
• Old Brackleians Society
• Chapel history and photographs