Derby Grammar School

Derby Grammar School

Motto	Vita sine litteris mors (Life without learning [is] death)
Established	1995
Type	Independent
Headmaster	Roger D Waller BSc (1994-2008) Richard Paine (2009-)
Chairman of Governors	David Walker
Founder	John Blackton
Location	Littleover, Derby Derbyshire DE23 4BX England
Staff	45 (approx.)
Students	300 (approx.)
Gender	Boys'in Years 3 to 11 Co-educational Sixth Form
Ages	7 years of age for boys, 16 for girls–18 for both boys and girls
Houses	Derby, Blackton, Bemrose, Atkinson
Patron	Sir Nigel Rudd [1]
Affiliation	Independent Schools' Association
Former pupils	Old Derbeians
Website	www.derbygrammar.co.uk

Derby Grammar School is an independent and selective grammar school at Littleover near the city of Derby, England. Founded as a school for boys in 1995, it takes boys from the age of seven and currently has around three hundred pupils. The Sixth Form has been co-educational since September 2007.

The school is academically selective, admitting those within the top twenty-five percent of the ability range.

The Headmaster is Richard Paine who is the second headmaster after the first head, Roger Waller BSc retired in December 2008.

Premises

The school occupies Rykneld Hall, a Grade II listed 18th century country house at Littleover, previously Pastures Hospital, which was built circa 1780 for Josias Cockshutt, enlarged in 1803, 1826 and 1881-1883.

A new arts, music and assembly hall, linking with the old quadrangle, were designed by the architects Rothera Goodwin.

The woodland, mature trees, grassland and water areas in the school's grounds are designated as Wildlife Site 38 and safeguarded in the City of Derby's Local Plan, Policy E4 (Nature Conservation). Such sites are "considered irreplaceable".^{[citation needed]}

New school playing fields were officially opened in September 2006 by the England and British and Irish Lions rugby player Sir Clive Woodward.^[1]

Curriculum

The curriculum is built around teaching for GCSE and A-level with some subjects being studied through the IB course. Subjects taught include Classics, English, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, History, English Literature, Geography. Religious Studies, Art, Design Technology and Economics (the last subject at A-level only).

Extra-curricular

Activities include school drama productions, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, public speaking, World Challenge, GapForce, debating, a School choir and orchestra, adventure training and the prestigious Arts Award. There are music and drama workshops, some being joint events with Derby High School for girls and HotHouse youth music group.

The School regularly supports the Children in Need Appeal, and in 2010 raised £8,000.

Sport

The main sports offered at the school are cricket, hockey, and rugby union, plus rowing, cross-country, swimming, and badminton.

The 2007 Under-15 rugby team were county champions, beating Chellaston School in the final. The Under-15s have won the county cup twice, and the under 16s once. The 2007 under-16s were the first DGS team to win all their games, although the under-15s later did the same. In 2007, the under-16s reached the fourth round of the Daily Mail Cup, and over half of the team members also played for the First XV. The school's First XV [season '10/'11] were the first ever undefeated first team, with eight recorded victories throughout the season.

The school's rowing team also participate in the ball cup and the 2008 team ( D.Grant, O. Foulds, A Hughes & R Newbould + R.Proctor) came first in the mens coxed four^[2]. Christopher Williams currently with the Burton Rowing Club successfully competing at Henley on Thames regatta amongst other venues.

Fees

The school's fees (2010-2011) range from £7,779 to £10,515 a year.

School motto and badge

The school aims to fill the gap left by the demise of the original Derby School. The school motto, Vita Sine Litteris Mors (Life without learning is death), is taken from the motto of the former school and is from Seneca's Epistulae morales ad Lucilium.

Mosaic of Badge at the Entrance to (former) Derby School

Old Derbeians

The term Old Derbeians once meant only former pupils of Derby School, but the Old Derbeians Society is now open also to ex-pupils of the new school, who are called both New and Old Derbeians.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Old Derbeians Newsletter for September 2007 online at oldderbeians.org (accessed 28 February 2008)
2. ^ Rowing reward for Foulds' five - Sport - Burton Mail
3. ^ Main page of the Old Derbeian Society web site, accessed 27 February 2008

• Derby Grammar School at BBC Education League Tables
• Derby Grammar School at ISBI
• Derby Grammar School at dfes.gov.uk
• Independent Schools Inspectorate report of Derby Grammar School 2005 inspection
• Derby Grammar School buildings by Rothera Goodwin, website no longer active
• City of Derby Local Plan

External links

• Derby Grammar School - official site
• Web site of the Old Derbeians Society

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Coordinates: 52°53′42″N 1°31′39″W / 52.895°N 1.5275°W / 52.895; -1.5275