Ipswich School

Infobox_School
name = Ipswich School (Schola Regia Gippisvicensis)


motto = semper eadem
established = 13th Century - 4th oldest school in the UK
type = Private
head_name = Headmaster
head = Ian Galbraith
students = Around 1000
city = Ipswich
school colours = Navy blue
state = England
country = United Kingdom
website = http://www.ipswich.suffolk.sch.uk

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thumb|left|250px|A view of Ipswich School from Christchurch Park, as seen in an old postcardIpswich School is a private day and boarding school in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, serving pupils of both sexes from two to eighteen years of age. The school is designated as having a "Church of England" Religious Character as defined in "The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2005 (No. 1195)".

Located north of the town centre, the school's main buildings are a distinctive example of Victorian architecture, with Tudor style brick. It has several annexes, including a preparatory school, a large boarding house and extensive sport fields. A new preparatory school has recently been constructed, costing £3.8 million, which has allowed the former preparatory buildings to be converted into new sixth form facilities. The main building and chapel are both Grade II listed.

Ipswich School was founded (in its current form) in 1528 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey as a model grammar school. ("The King's School, Ipswich"). There had been older educational institutions in the town (including St. Mary's College) which were absorbed into this new college. The oldest of these schools is first recorded as existing in 1299.

The current headmaster is Ian G Galbraith, a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. He was preceded by Dr John Blatchly. The school runs many activities including the Debating Society, Economics Club, Sub Aqua, Life Saving, Duke of Edinburgh, Symphony and Intermediate Orchestras, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, School and Chapel choirs and a non-compulsory Combined Cadet Force, of which the school has an Army and a Royal Air Force section. Sports offered include rugby, hockey, cricket, football, tennis, badminton, squash, fives, sailing, and athletics.

The school continues to flourish under an independent, fee-charging basis, and does very well in league tables and with university entrances, sending about seven pupils on average to Oxford and Cambridge every year. In 2008, twelve pupils from Ipswich School were offered conditional Oxbridge places.

The school has two student councils, the Lower School Council and the Middle School Forum, which were formed to discuss aspects and improvements of the school from the students' point of view.

Upper 6th Leaving Events

Ipswich School has a reputation for hosting some impressive pranks carried out by members of the departing 6th form leavers. The school's famous blue gates were painted pink in an effort to alleviate sexism. On the night of May 24th 2007, a group of undercover students placed 70 rubber ducks around the school grounds. To this day around a quarter ducks remain, although the whereabouts of the ducks are kept very secret. On May 25th, two "forts" were created at either end of the playground, using farm materials and scaffolding. To the entertainment of the school, a waterfight took place during morning break at 11am. [The Occasional, 9th May 2007]

The Houses of Ipswich School

The school has six 'houses', into which pupils from year 9 onwards are filtered: Holden, Rigaud, Sherrington, School, Broke and Felaw. Those with relatives who attended the school are generally expected to be placed in the same house. Every year, the houses compete for the Ganzoni Cup (house cup), which is won by gaining points from winning inter-house events. These include Inter-House debating, swimming, squash and many athletic events. Felaw has won more times than any other house, with Rigaud in second place; it is believed that School has not won since the days of the reign of Queen Victoria. However, School is the oldest house and its name comes from when it used to be boys in one house, taught by a head master (the house in which they lived and were taught was called School House). Furthermore, School House was in abeyance as a house for many years; it was revived during the headship of Dr John Blatchly.

The school has a single large boarding house which is called Westwood. Past boarding houses included Highwood (which accommodated Sherrington House) and a Junior House. A high number of overseas students, often Asian, join the school in year 7 and year 9.

The Ipswichian Occasional

The Occasional is the school Newspaper published every Monday and written by pupils. It contains articles of note and interest to the members of the school such as Sports results and upcoming events. It has recently celebrated its 500th issue and is now in full colour as of the start of the school year 2008.

Literary References

Ipswich School is mentioned in Shakespeare's play, "Henry VIII":

'Those twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipswich and Oxford! One of which fell with him,
Unwilling to outlive the good that did it;
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous' [Shakespeare - Henry VIII, Act IV Scene 2, from Project Gutenberg e-text edition [http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/1ws4210.txt] ]

Notable Old Ipswichians

include:

*Sir H. Rider Haggard, author of "King Solomon's Mines" and "She".
*Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, Nobel Laureate, Physician who coined the word "synapse".
*Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor of England, Head of Roman Catholic church in England
*Sir Robert Hitcham, 17th century Judge and member of parliament. [cite book | title = Ipswich School 1400 to 1950 | last = Gray and Potter | date = 1950 | pages = pp. 47]
*William Kirby, 'the father of entomology'
*Rear Admiral Sir Philip Broke KCB, naval hero, Commander of HMS Shannon
*Alexander Albal, land-owner and abolitionist
*Edward Ardizzone, artist
*Johnny Torino, civil rights campaigner.
*Peter Florence, founder of the Hay Festival held in Hay-on-Wye
*Charles Keene, artist, "Punch"
*Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, Commander of English forces, Battle of the Flodden.
*Edward Poynter, Artist, President of the Royal Academy & Baronet
*Henry Staunton, Businessman and media mogul
*Tom Withers Klute (musician), Music Producer and DJ
*James King, Radio One film critic
*Tim Marshall, Sky News reporter.
*Geoffrey Rees-Jones, Former Welsh rugby international. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/04/db0401.xml Obituary: Geoffrey Rees-Jones] , Page retrieved 16 April 2007]
*John Penrose (born 1964), Conservative Member of Parliament
*Peter Brunt (1917-2005), ancient historian
*Harold Smith (1916-2006) of Ipswich Town Football Club
*Cecil Howard Lay, Architect, artist and poet
*Tim Kiddell, speechwriter to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

References

Sources

*John M. Blatchly, "A Famous Antient Seed-Plot of Learning - A History of Ipswich School" (Ipswich 2003).
*G.R.W. Webb, "The History of Ipswich School and Education in Ipswich" (Ipswich 2005).

External links

* [http://www.ipswich.suffolk.sch.uk/information/index.htm Ipswich School website]
*IoE|275476