Retford King Edward VI Grammar School
{{Short description|Defunct school in England}}{{Infobox school
| image = King Edward VI Grammar School - geograph.org.uk - 89528.jpg
| caption = The historic Edward VI Grammar School buildings in Retford, designed by Decimus Burton
| motto = Ex pulvere palma
| motto_translation = Out of the dust, the palm
| city = Retford
| country = England
| schooltype = Grammar School
| established = 1857
| closed = 2003
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
Retford King Edward VI Grammar School was a grammar school opened on London Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, in 1857, after being moved from an older site in Chapelgate.{{cite book |last1=Grounds |first1=Arthur Douglas |title=A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford |date=1970}} The school closed down in 2003.
The school motto Ex pulvere palma means (loosely): "out of the dust (of competition) (comes) the palm" (of victory)
History
The school, which was located on London Road site{{cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Andrew |title=Map of Retford c.1920 |url=http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/places/retford/retfordmap.htm |website=Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway |publisher=Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway |access-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302170643/http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/places/retford/retfordmap.htm |archive-date=2 March 2018 |url-status=live }} was opened in 1857 with buildings designed by builder Decimus Burton. Consisting of only one schoolroom originally, the school later built a library, head master's house later to house the school office, and head master's office.
In 1890, an adjoining gymnasium was added, with above it a large projection room. 1906 meant the erection of, along the Dominie Cross Road, several ‘temporary’ buildings, which included the so-called "Tin Tab".
In 1912, the school pupils, like those of many other schools of the day, donated monies to fund dogs for the 1912 Arctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott.
The Fives Court was gifted in 1924 in the memory of William Eyre{{cite web |last1=Eyre |first1=William |url=https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/WarMemorials/Details/647 |website=War Memorials |title=Fives Court |publisher=Nottinghamshire County Council}} a fallen World War 1 casualty. In 1926 a new block of classrooms was opened containing the first library. The iron guttering still bears that date in 2019.
File:1924 fives court in 2016 (GM).jpg|The fives court in 2016 before its redevelopment repaint
File:2016 12 New Block King Edwward VI School Retford (GM).jpg|The 1926 extension, a "New Block" in its time, photographed in 2016.
File:2003 KEGS G.Moss gym later dinning hall.jpg|King Edward VI Grammar School dining hall
Pre-War
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| Period | Masters | Links |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | Mr Watson, Mr Waterhouse, Mr Davies | Worksop Guardian, "Here we went" article |
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| Period | Pupils | Links |
|---|---|---|
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| 1906 | Dimock | Our Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Rangers. |
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| 1909 | White | Nottinghamshire County Council, [https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/People/Details/25180 Roll of Honour] |
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| 1928 | Pringle | [https://www.jacksdale.org.uk/war-memorial/second-world-war-fallen/pringle-alec-edward-dfc/ Flight Lieutenant 37299 115 Sqdn., Royal Air Force] |
War Time
Many ex-pupils of the school served in the armed forces during the 1st World War and details of some those can be found in the online Great War Forum.
During the 2nd World War, pupils from Great Yarmouth were relocated to Retford Grammar School{{cite journal |last1=Pegotty |title=Did Hitler visit you last night? |journal=Great Yarmouth Mercury |date=26 September 2013 |url=https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/did-hitler-visit-you-last-night-1-2815817 |access-date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006205426/https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/did-hitler-visit-you-last-night-1-2815817 |archive-date=6 October 2019 |url-status=live }}
Post War
The Headmaster from 1926 to 1950 was Charles William Pilkington-Rogers (MA BSc FCP), a Cambridge Mathematics graduate, whose teaching career began in 1903 as Science and Mathematics Master at Dunheved College in Launceston, Cornwall.
Squash courts were opened in 1957 and in 1958 a new gymnasium was constructed. In 1958, a new modern (CLASP) science block{{cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Andy |url=http://nottshistory.blogspot.com/2011/09/nottinghamshire-historian-autumnwinter.html |website=NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY BLOG |title=The Nottinghamshire Historian|publisher=The Nottinghamshire Historian |access-date=10 November 2019}} was added. At the same time, on the opposite side of the playing field, a new single storey art block was also constructed. In 1967 the school received its own astrological observatory, built by local enthusiasts and opened by the astronomer Patrick Moore.{{cite news |title=Opening of the new Observatory by Patrick Moore, King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford, 1967 |url=https://www.inspirepicturearchive.org.uk/image/13773/Opening_of_the_new_Observatory_by_Patrick_Moore_King_Edward_VI_Grammar_School_Retford_1967 |agency=Nottinghamshire County Council |publisher=Inspire |year=1967 |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404151900/https://www.inspirepicturearchive.org.uk/image/13773/Opening_of_the_new_Observatory_by_Patrick_Moore_King_Edward_VI_Grammar_School_Retford_1967 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live }}
In 1976 a new Sixth Form Block was added at the end of the Hall, and opposite the Cloisters (source Christopher Trend 1970-1977).
File:Sheffield Daily Telegraph 15 March 1927
2003 KEGS G.Moss science block.jpg|The new science block, built in 1958, pictured in 2003, before its demolition in about 2012
2003 KEGS G.Moss science lab.jpg|Inside one of the four new science laboratories
2003 Retford KEGS final open day gym.jpg|Gymnasium built in 1958, photographed 2003, and demolished c 2012.
2003 KEGS G.Moss sixth form block.jpg|The Sixth Form Block photographed in 2003.
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| Period | Masters | Links |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Bramma | [https://books.google.com/books?id=WSLUAwAAQBAJ&dq=%22king+edward+vi+school%22+retford+-eyemead+-oaks&pg=PA41 Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland] |
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| Period | Pupils | Links |
|---|---|---|
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| style="width:800px;"
| 1963 | Olson | [http://www.johnolsen.org.uk/tree/gallery/image94.htm Retford Grammar School 1963? Upper Science Six] |
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| 1976 | Watson | "a grammar school dropout" |
The (mainly) complete and original class listings 1954-1977 have now been recovered from the Nottingham Inspire archive, and, with the permission and appropriate publishing fees, shared at http://www.oldretfordians.org.uk
File:2003 KEGS G.Moss 1979 maths block.jpg
In 1979 several more new buildings were added. A new music block was added between the New Block, now becoming known as the Old Block, and the main school building. Also in the same year, a large new multidisciplinary block housing on the ground floor, wood and metal workshops, and upstairs a suite of domestic science kitchens and the Mathematics department.
''The Retfordian''
For many years, at least between 1913 and the 1950s, events and life at the school were chronicled in the school's own publication, The Retfordian.{{cite web |title=The Retfordian |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1506002046 |website=Imperial War Museum |publisher=Imperial War Museum |access-date=9 December 2019}}
A growing number of Retfordian magazines are now published, with the consent and assistance of the Nottinghamshire archives, at http://www.oldretfordians.org.uk
Final Grammar School days
In 1979, after the inclusion of King Edward VI Grammar School and the High School in parliamentary discussion,{{cite journal |title=Schools (Reorganisation) |journal=Hansard |date=2 July 1979 |volume=969 |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1979/jul/02/schools-reorganisation |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407144050/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1979/jul/02/schools-reorganisation |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }} Retford King Edward VI Grammar School, and Sir Frederick Milner's School were merged into King Edward VI Comprehensive School. At the point of the merger in 1979 with the Frederick Milner School, many of the school records were deposited with the National Archives.[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F220110]
In January 1998, Rosemary Salisbury became one of the final headteachers of what was now known simply as the King Edward VI School and the first woman to do so.{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Jack |title=Education: How on earth did I get here? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/education-how-on-earth-did-i-get-here-1195705.html |work=The Independent |date=3 September 1998 |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407145559/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/education-how-on-earth-did-i-get-here-1195705.html |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }}
Closure
In the 21st century, the school was scheduled for closure.[https://www.retfordtoday.co.uk/news/town-schools-163-75m-shake-up-1-848446] It closed in 2003. [https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/WarMemorials/Details/649]
2003 Retford King Edward VI Grammar School closure ceramic mug 2.jpg|One of the ceramic mugs made to commemorate the closure of Retford King Edward VI (Grammar) School in 2003
2003 Retford King Edward VI Grammar School closure ceramic mug.jpg|The front of the mug features the original building designed by Decimus Burton
File:2011 09 Retford Grammar School 28DaysLater courtesy of NGE 31 woodwork room.jpg
The school was formally replaced by the new Retford Oaks Academy opened in 2003.
The school stood empty for a number of years after closure, these pictures from Urbanography showing the last wall displays still in place from its final days.
The pictures at urban exploration site 28 Days Later include a rare 2011 picture of the entrance to the new music rooms internally linking the original school and New Block opened in 1978, and later demolished during redevelopment.
Redevelopment
The old school buildings were eventually sold for redevelopment circa 2011.
[https://www.retfordtoday.co.uk/news/education/retford-school-to-be-sold-for-development-1-3332120]
During the demolition of the newer building to the rear of the school in 2012, problems were encountered with the disposal of asbestos contained in them.{{cite web |title=Retford Property Developer Fined £55k for Asbestos Failures |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/94150-retford-property-developer-fined-55k-asbestos-failures |access-date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006212232/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/94150-retford-property-developer-fined-55k-asbestos-failures |archive-date=6 October 2019 |url-status=live }}
2016 12 Front King Edwward VI School Retford (GM) front.jpg|Retford King Edward VI Grammar School under redevelopment in 2016.
2016 12 King Edwward VI School Retford (GM) 2.jpg|Retford King Edward VI Grammar School under redevelopment in 2016.
2012 12 Main building King Edwward VI School Retford (GM) where the science block was.jpg|Retford King Edward VI Grammar School without the 1958 science block.
The architects for the redevelopment were Rayner Davies.{{cite web |title=Rayner Davies Architects school frontage restored |url=https://www.rd-architects.co.uk/portfolio/2089.html |website=Rayner Davies Architects |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404154751/https://www.rd-architects.co.uk/portfolio/2089.html |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live }}
2018 King Edward VI School under redevelopment P.Snowden.jpg|Retford King Edward VI School under redevelopment in 2018. Photograph by Philip Snowden.
2018 King Edward VI School under redevelopment P.Snowden Old Block.jpg|Retford King Edward VI School under redevelopment in 2018. Photograph by Philip Snowden.
2018 King Edward VI School under redevelopment P.Snowden Tuck Shop.jpg|Retford King Edward VI School under redevelopment in 2018. Photograph by Philip Snowden.
2018 03 03 site tour bungalow courtyard.jpg|New flats completed on the site of the old King Edward VI Grammar School tennis courts in March 2018 at the back of the main school.
King Edward VI Grammar School Trust
The proceeds of the sale of the school site were entrusted to a legal trust, the King Edward VI Grammar School Trust, which endows young people with grants towards their ongoing education.{{cite web |title=King Edward VI Grammar School Trust |url=https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=528254&subid=0 |website=Charity Commission}}
[https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/528254 link to King Edward VI Grammar School Trust]
Old Retfordians
Former pupils may join the "Old Retfordians Association".{{Cite web |url=http://life-publications.com/retford-life/community-news/2017/07/16/king-edward-vi-grammar-school-kegs-re-union/ |title=King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) re-union |date=16 July 2017 |website=Retford Life |access-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402212742/http://life-publications.com/retford-life/community-news/2017/07/16/king-edward-vi-grammar-school-kegs-re-union/ |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}
File:1992 ORA header.jpg|ORA letterhead.
File:1992 ORA AGM agenda.jpg|ORA 1992 AGM details. The Old Retfordians met annually to renew old friendships.
File:1992 ORA annual dinner.jpg|The ORA Annual Dinner invitation notes the 44th reunion, from 1948 to 1992.
File:Retford KEGS pupils from 1955 reunited in 2019.jpg|Pupils from the 1950s in 2019.
File:2018 03 03 site tour fives court 1860+ -reduced.jpg|Pupils from the 1970s reunited in 2018, in the 1924 Fives Court commemorating William Eyre.
External links
- The [http://www.bassetlawmuseum.org.uk Bassetlaw Museum], Amcott House, at 40 Grove Street, Retford has a collection of school artefacts and some early photographs of the school on its own [http://www.bassetlawmuseum.org.uk website].
- [http://www.eyemead.com/open.htm www.eyemead.com/open.htm] is a private archive of King Edward VI Grammar School material collected by a former pupil.
- The [http://www.oldretfordians.org.uk Old Retfordians Association] still maintains contacts with those ex pupils who chose to do so.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Education in Nottinghamshire}}
Category:Defunct grammar schools in England
Category:Boys' schools in Nottinghamshire
Category:Defunct schools in Nottinghamshire
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2003
Category:1857 establishments in England