Lord Williams's School

Infobox UK school
name = Lord Williams's School


size = 200px
latitude = 51.746666
longitude = -0.991777
dms =
motto = "Sic itur ad astra" "(thus the way to the stars)"
motto_pl =
established = 1575
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Voluntary controlled Comprehensive school
religion =
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr David Wybron
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Sports College
specialist_pl =
street =
city = Thame
county = Oxfordshire
country = England flagicon|England
postcode =
phone =
fax =
LEA = Oxfordshire
ofsted = 123268
staff =
enrollment = 2,100 approx.
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = color box|Maroon Maroon
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk/
website_name = www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk

Lord Williams's School is a co-educational secondary school in Thame, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It is a comprehensive school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18. The school has approximately 2,100 pupils.

In September 2001 the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) designated the school as a specialist Sports College. [cite web
title=Specialist Schools Home
publisher=DfES
url=http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/
accessdate=2007-04-25]

David Wybron has been head of the school since September 2004 after taking over from Michael Spencer.

Recently the school, together with Thame leisure centre, opened a new astro-turf pitch. The official opening featured a team decathlon by the students, after which the ribbon was cut by the women's England hockey captain. The mayor of Thame was also present on the day.fact|date=May 2007

History

The school opened in 1575, having been founded at the bequest of John Williams, 1st Baron Williams de Thame, after his death in 1559. It became a comprehensive school in 1971 when it merged with Wenman School. For many years there were boarders at the school.

Boarding

Boys boarded at the school for over 400 years, firstly at the old school house in Thame then later moved around 1880 to Main House at the site of the current school. The boarders also used Greenacres and Highfield as houses for the older boys.

=we dont bord at our school

Legends

It was said that George Plummer, a house master in the early 19th century murdered the Matron and disposed of her body in the vast Main House attic. It is said that once a year her ghost rings the old assembly bell which is on top of Main House which is no longer in daily use.

Drama Studio Fire

On the 30th of June 2007 a fire broke out at the drama studio of the Lower School campus of Lord Williams School.The emergency services received a 999 call at 9.42pm although it is currently believed the fire had started at 8.30pm. [cite web
title= Thame School Fire Was Arson!
publisher=ThameNews.net
url=http://thamenews.net/readmore.asp?Content_ID=2460
accessdate=2007-07-02]

65 fire fighters from across the county were able to control the blaze and stop it from destroying a neighbouring building with fire fighters from Thame, Wheatley, Watlington and Slade Park, as well as teams from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue coming from Aylesbury, Brill, Princes Risborough and Waddesdon attending the blaze. [cite web
title= Police Investigate Fire At Thame School.
publisher=ThameNews.net
url=http://www.thamenews.net/readmore.asp?Content_ID=2457
accessdate=2007-07-03]

The flames were said to be 60 to convert|70|ft|m high.

Causes

Originally it was believed that arson was the cause but an electrical fire was not ruled out.However a 23 year old man was detained and the later bailed by police in connection with the fire.On the 3rd of July 2007 two further suspects (Two men aged 23 and 14) were questioned by police over the blaze. They remain on bail till the 13th of August 2007. [cite web
title= Two More Arrests In Thame School Arson Attack.
publisher=ThameNews.net
url=http://thamenews.net/readmore.asp?Content_ID=2475&Navigation_ID=38
accessdate=2007-07-04]

The Pheonix Project

In early 2008, a project began to raise up to £1m in order to replace the drama studio with a new, state of the art, drama and dance studio, including a box office and permanent seating for the popular Thame Youth Theatre, based at the studio.

Notable Old Tamensians

Former pupils of the school are called .

* William Basse, poet
* Jack Bevan, Drummer of Indie/Math Rock band Foals
* Simon Burnett, swimmer
* Johnnie Claes, musician and racing driver
* Thomas Ellwood, religious writer
* George Etherege, dramatist
* John Fell, clergyman
* Howard Goodall, musician and television presenter. Wrote the "Blackadder" theme tune
* Arthur Goodwin, politician
* John Hampden, politician
* Richard Ingoldsby soldier and regicide
* Henry King, poet and Bishop of Chichester
* William Lenthall, politician
* Shackerley Marmion, dramatist
* Simon Mayne, regicide
* Edward Pococke, Orientalist and biblical scholar
* Anthony Wood, antiquary

References

External links

* [http://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk School website]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=123268 Ofsted Reports]
* [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe1x1_05.pl?School=9314580&Mode=Z DfES Performance Tables]
* [http://www.oldtamensians.co.uk/ Old Tamensians Association]
* [http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentView.aspx?EstablishmentID=23247 EduBase]

News items

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/6268866.stm Two men arrested over fire in July 2007]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/6260078.stm School closed after fire in July 2007]