The Perse School

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{{Infobox school

| name = The Perse School

| native_name =

| logo = Perse_school_crest.svg

| logo_size = 120px

| image = Approach to the Perse Boys' School - geograph.org.uk - 766188.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| alt =

| caption = The school's coat of arms and road entrance

| motto = {{langx|la|Qui facit per alium facit per se}}
(He who does things for others does them for himself)

| established = {{start date and age|1615}}

| closed =

| type = Public school
Private day school

| religion = Nondenominational Christian

| president =

| head_label = Head

| head = Edward Elliott

| r_head_label =

| r_head =

| chair_label = Chairman of the Governing Body

| chair = Jonathan W Scott

| founder = Stephen Perse

| medium =

| address = Hills Road

| location =

| city = Cambridge

| district =

| postcode = CB2 8QF

| county = Cambridgeshire

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52|10|51|N|00|08|19|E|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|display=inline,title}}

| local_authority =

| dfeno = 873/6010

| urn = 110923

| ofsted =

| staff = 138 teaching, 117 support staff, 26 peripatetics{{cite web|title=Teaching|url=http://www.perse.co.uk/about-us/staff/upper/teaching/|website=www.perse.co.uk|publisher=The Perse School|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305043713/http://www.perse.co.uk/about-us/staff/upper/teaching/|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}}

| capacity =

| enrolment = 1,564 (2016) {{cite web|title=Independent Schools Inspectorate The Perse School|url=https://www.isi.net/school/the-perse-school-7162|website=www.isi.net|publisher=ISI|access-date=2 February 2019}}

| gender = Co-educational

| lower_age = 3

| upper_age = 18

| houses = 8{{cite web | url=https://www.perse.co.uk/upper/school-life/the-house-system/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217150125/https://www.perse.co.uk/upper/school-life/the-house-system/ | archive-date=17 December 2021 | title=The House System | the Perse School Cambridge }}

| colours = {{color box|Purple}}{{colour box|Black}}
Purple and black

| publication = OP News Magazine

| free_label_1 = Alumni

| free_1 = Old Perseans

| free_label_3 =

| free_3 =

| website = http://www.perse.co.uk/

}}

The Perse School is a private school (English fee-charging day and, in the case of the Perse, a former boarding school) in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1615 by Stephen Perse, its motto is Qui facit per alium facit per se, taken to mean 'He who does things for others does them for himself'. The Perse School took girls for Sixth form only from 1994, began accepting girls at 11 and 13+ in September 2010 and was fully co-educational by September 2012. 'Perse' is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an association of UK independent schools.

The organisation now comprises three schools, which together provide for children aged 3 through to 18. The Pelican is the Perse's nursery and pre-preparatory school, and accommodates pupils from 3–7. It is situated on Glebe Road, close to the main school site. Preparatory education for students aged 7 to 11 years old is provided by the Perse Prep, which is located close to the Upper School, just north of the junction of Long Road and Trumpington Road. In Year 7 pupils usually progress to the Upper School, where they sit GCSE examinations and A-Levels.

History

The school was founded in 1615 at its original site in Free School Lane, Cambridge. Its former buildings now house the Whipple Museum of the History of Science.[http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple/aboutthemuseum/history/ The original Perse School (now the Whipple Museum)] In 1890 it moved to a site on the corner of Gonville Place and Hills Road, in 1960 moving to the site it now occupies as its 'Upper' school on Hills Road.{{cite book |title=A History of the Perse School, 1615-1976| author=S. John D. Mitchell| year=1976|ISBN=9780902675711}} There have been multiple phases of expansion, particularly in the 21st century. Among notable developments is the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre, a 400-seat theatre, exhibition and rehearsal space designed by architects Haworth Tompkins,{{Cite web|url=http://www.haworthtompkins.com/work/peter-hall-performing-arts-centre|title=Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre|last=Tompkins|first=Haworth|date=2018-03-13|website=Haworth Tompkins|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} which opened in 2018.

An old prospectus lists the fees as £3 per term in 1890.{{cite web|title=Old prospectus from 1890 for the Perse School in Cambridge found in loft|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Old-prospectus-1890-Perse-School-Cambridge-loft/story-26262610-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404014446/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Old-prospectus-1890-Perse-School-Cambridge-loft/story-26262610-detail/story.html|archive-date=4 April 2015|date=1 April 2015|url-status=live}}

From 1945 to 1976 it was a direct grant grammar school, offering free places to 40% of pupils.{{Cite web|url = http://www.perse.co.uk/about-us/history/|title = History {{!}} The Perse School Cambridge|website = www.perse.co.uk|access-date = 2016-03-07}} Following the abolition of the Assisted Places Scheme, The Perse no longer received any state funding and became independent.

The school was ranked 13th in the Sunday Times Parent Power league table in 2019{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table|title=Parent Power 2019: Best UK Schools Guide|last=Times|first=The Sunday|newspaper=The Times |access-date=2019-02-02|language=en|issn=0140-0460}} and 6th in the Daily Telegraph national table{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/0/best-independent-schools-2018-full-league-table-a-level-results/|title=Best independent schools in the UK: Compare league table results for A-levels|last=Kirk|first=Ashley|date=2018-08-25|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-02-02|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} of A Level, Pre-U and IB results with 83% A* and A grades from 175 candidates. In 2021, The Sunday Times also named The Perse School as the top independent secondary school in East Anglia, as the school had the best performance in the GCE A Level Examinations in the region.{{Cite web|last=Haygarth|first=Dan|date=2021-12-03|title=The Cambs schools ranked among region's best in Sunday Times guide|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/sunday-times-schools-guide-2022-22352185|access-date=2022-02-17|website=CambridgeshireLive|language=en}}

In 2015, two boys from the school were convicted of stealing items found at Auschwitz while on a school trip. https://www.thejc.com/news/british-teenagers-fined-and-given-suspended-sentences-for-stealing-artefacts-from-auschwitz-t52pmspe

Motto

The school motto is Qui facit per alium facit per se, usually taken to mean "He who does things for others does them for himself". This is an example of a rebus motto, the Latin sentence ending in a word play on the founder's name "per se" and his benefaction. A blue plaque dedicated to the school's founder, Dr Stephen Perse, was installed in Free School Lane, Cambridge.{{cite web|title=Stephen Perse blue plaque in Cambridge|url=http://openplaques.org/plaques/1343|website=openplaques.org|publisher=Open Plaques|access-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223121850/http://openplaques.org/plaques/1343|archive-date=23 February 2015|url-status=live}}

Competitions, Olympiads and scholarships

Pupils have competed and scored highly in academic competitions and Olympiads, in addition to winning awards including Arkwright Engineering Scholarships{{cite web|title=Webtec awards first Roy Cuthbert Arkwright Engineering Scholarship to Theo Ashcroft, from the Perse School, Cambridge - Webtec Products Limited - Webtec Products Limited|url=http://www.webtechydraulicvalveflowmetertester.co.uk/webtec-awards-first-roy-cuthbert-arkwright-engineering-scholarship-to-theo-ashcroft-from-the-perse-school-cambridge-3/|website=www.webtechydraulicvalveflowmetertester.co.uk|publisher=Webtec Products Limited|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405023715/http://www.webtechydraulicvalveflowmetertester.co.uk/webtec-awards-first-roy-cuthbert-arkwright-engineering-scholarship-to-theo-ashcroft-from-the-perse-school-cambridge-3/|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=November 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=School takes the technological pole position|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/School-takes-technological-pole-position/story-22478017-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405023957/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/School-takes-technological-pole-position/story-22478017-detail/story.html|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=24 November 2003|url-status=live}} and Nuffield Research Placements (previously Nuffield Science Bursaries).{{cite web|title=Scientists of the future: sixth formers showcase summer science projects at the Babraham R... - Cambridge Network|url=http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/scientists-of-the-future-sixth-formers-showcase-summer/|website=www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge Network|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405024302/http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/scientists-of-the-future-sixth-formers-showcase-summer/|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=27 October 2009|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author1=Margarita Kolchagova|title=Hamza Wahid presented his DNAdigest research project - DNAdigest.org|url=http://dnadigest.org/hamza-wahid-presented-dnadigest-research-project/|website=dnadigest.org|publisher=DNA digest|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405024631/http://dnadigest.org/hamza-wahid-presented-dnadigest-research-project/|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=3 December 2014|url-status=live}} Students have won scholarships for summer placements at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel{{cite web|author1=Julian L. Huppert|title=Julian L. Huppert CV|url=https://jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk/~jlh29/CV.doc|website=jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk|publisher=Jesus College Student Union|access-date=5 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=Weizmann Institute of Science Scholarships|url=http://www.perse.co.uk/2012/07/weizmann-institute-of-science-scholarships/|website=www.perse.co.uk|publisher=The Perse School Cambridge|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405032327/http://www.perse.co.uk/2012/07/weizmann-institute-of-science-scholarships/|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=July 2012|url-status=live}} and research institutes in Heidelberg, Germany.{{cite web|title=International Summer Science School Heidelberg: Research Institutes|url=http://ish.diplixhost3.de/index.php?id=42|website=ish.diplixhost3.de|publisher=Heidelberg|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405033155/http://ish.diplixhost3.de/index.php?id=42|archive-date=5 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=288-Newsletter-4-July-2014-Final.pdf|url=http://www.perse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/288-Newsletter-4-July-2014-Final.pdf|website=www.perse.co.uk|publisher=The Perse School Cambridge|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405033349/http://www.perse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/288-Newsletter-4-July-2014-Final.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=4 July 2014|url-status=live}}

British competition results include:

First place in the Pi Wars robot competition
First place in the Schools' Challenge general knowledge competition
First place (winning the Trinity College prize) in the National Cipher Challenge{{cite web|title=Leader Board|url=https://www.maths.soton.ac.uk/cipher2013/leader-board|website=www.maths.soton.ac.uk|publisher=University of Southampton|access-date=13 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215030223/http://www.maths.soton.ac.uk/cipher2013/leader-board|archive-date=15 December 2014|url-status=live}}
First place in the Bank of England Target Two Point Zero interest rate challenge{{cite web|author1=Philip Aldrick|title=Perse School triumphs with 'daring' rate rise|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/target2/article4388791.ece|website=The Times|access-date=31 July 2015|date=21 March 2015}}
Invitation to the British Physics Olympiad presentation afternoon (top 4 in the country in the AS Challenge){{cite web|author1=Terry Chambers|title=Photo Gallery|url=http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Presentation_Photos_2010.htm|website=www.physics.ox.ac.uk|publisher=British Physics Olympiad|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405002923/http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Presentation_Photos_2010.htm|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=29 April 2010|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=British Physics Olympiad Awards|url=http://www.thomas-hardye.net/pages/news/news_2010/05_10/olympiad_awards.php|website=www.thomas-hardye.net|publisher=The Thomas Hardye School|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405004640/http://www.thomas-hardye.net/pages/news/news_2010/05_10/olympiad_awards.php|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=May 2010|url-status=live}}
Qualifying for the UKMT Team Maths Challenge final (winning the poster competition){{cite web|title=Newsletter 43.pdf|url=http://www.ukmt.org.uk/pdfs/Newsletter%2043.pdf|website=www.ukmt.org.uk|publisher=UKMT|access-date=5 April 2015|date=September 2013}}
Qualifying for the British Informatics Olympiad final (top 15 in the country){{cite web|title=Cambridge pupil Thomas Read makes it to final of British Informatics Olympiad at Trinity College|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-pupil-Thomas-Read-makes-final-British/story-26147893-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404235227/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-pupil-Thomas-Read-makes-final-British/story-26147893-detail/story.html|archive-date=4 April 2015|date=11 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=The 2004 British Informatics Olympiad 2004-09-18|url=http://www.olympiad.org.uk/publicity/r2004-1.html|website=www.olympiad.org.uk|publisher=British Informatics Olympiad|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404235449/http://www.olympiad.org.uk/publicity/r2004-1.html|archive-date=4 April 2015|date=18 September 2004|url-status=live}}
Qualifying for Round 2 (top 20 to 25 in the country) of the UK Chemistry Olympiad{{cite web|title=ROUND 2 PARTICIPANTS|url=http://www.rsc.org/images/round%202%20participants_tcm18-200454.pdf|website=www.rsc.org|publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405035055/http://www.rsc.org/images/round%202%20participants_tcm18-200454.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Microsoft Word - Document3 - Round 2 Participants_tcm18-216372.pdf|url=http://www.rsc.org/images/Round%202%20Participants_tcm18-216372.pdf|website=www.rsc.org|publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404235842/http://www.rsc.org/images/Round%202%20Participants_tcm18-216372.pdf|archive-date=4 April 2015|date=2012|url-status=live}}
Scoring Gold in Round 1 of United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad{{cite web|title=The Perse School on Twitter: "Congratulations to students for Linguistics Olympiad success: 7 Bronze, 2 Silver & our 1st ever Gold medal @PerseMFL"|url=https://twitter.com/theperseschool/status/570283128025161728|website=twitter.com|publisher=Twitter|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405001613/https://twitter.com/theperseschool/status/570283128025161728|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=24 February 2015|url-status=live}}

Students have also competed in international competitions including the International Mathematical Olympiad,{{cite web|title=16th International Mathematical Olympiad, German Democratic Republic, 1974, Report by David Monk (UK Deputy Leader) (Science Teacher volume 18 number 1 pages 4, 5 and 9)|url=http://www.imo-register.org.uk/1974-report-st.html|website=www.imo-register.org.uk|publisher=UK IMO Register|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405003656/http://www.imo-register.org.uk/1974-report-st.html|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=14 February 2015|url-status=live}} the Balkan Mathematical Olympiad,{{cite web|title=BMOS/BMOC: Past News and Events|url=http://www.bmoc.maths.org/home/news.shtml|website=www.bmoc.maths.org|publisher=UKMT|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230114556/https://bmos.ukmt.org.uk/home/news.shtml|archive-date=30 December 2022|url-status=live}} the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad, the Romanian Master of Mathematics competition, the International Biology Olympiad,{{cite web|title=ranking final de IBO.xls - results-2006.pdf|url=http://www.ibo-info.org/results/results-2006.pdf|website=www.ibo-info.org|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405001503/http://www.ibo-info.org/results/results-2006.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=2006|url-status=live}} the International Olympiad in Informatics,{{cite web|title=UK call-up to international informatics olympiad for Perse student|date=29 April 2022 |url=https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2022/04/perse-historic-uk-call-international-informatics-olympiad/|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230115815/https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2022/04/perse-historic-uk-call-international-informatics-olympiad/|archive-date=30 December 2022|url-status=live}} the International Linguistics Olympiad,{{cite web|title=Silver lining for Perse student at International Linguistics Olympiad|date=19 August 2022 |url=https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2022/08/silver-lining-perse-international-linguistics-olympiad/|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230124849/https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2022/08/silver-lining-perse-international-linguistics-olympiad/|archive-date=30 December 2022|url-status=live}} the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics,{{cite web|title=Gold for Perse student at international astronomy and astrophysics olympiad|date=29 November 2021 |url=https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2021/11/gold-perse-international-astronomy-astrophysics-olympiad/|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230125158/https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2021/11/gold-perse-international-astronomy-astrophysics-olympiad/|archive-date=30 December 2022|url-status=live}} the International Rocketry Challenge,{{cite web|title=PERSE SCHOOL WINNERS OF UK NATIONAL ROCKETRY CHALLENGE BLAST OFF TO NASA|url=https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/articles/29753|website=www.adsgroup.org.uk|publisher=ADS|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012207/https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/articles/29753|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=17 May 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author1=Freddo|title=Rocket boys off to NASA|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Rocket-boys-NASA/story-22357400-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012250/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Rocket-boys-NASA/story-22357400-detail/story.html|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=2 June 2012|url-status=live}} the European Union Contest for Young Scientists{{cite web|title=The National Science and Engineering Competition 2012 Winners|url=https://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/View/?con_id=2533|website=www.thebigbangfair.co.uk|publisher=The Big Bang Fair|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405011946/https://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/View/?con_id=2533|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=2012|url-status=live}} and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.{{cite web|title=Nuffield Research Placement student Kirtana Vallabhaneni named Young Scientist of the Year|url=http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/nuffield-research-placement-student-kirtana-vallabhaneni-named-young-scientist-year|website=www.nuffieldfoundation.org|publisher=Nuffield Foundation|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405011734/http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/nuffield-research-placement-student-kirtana-vallabhaneni-named-young-scientist-year|archive-date=5 April 2015|date=19 March 2012|url-status=live}}

Innovation

In 2018, The Perse School partnered with a Cambridge-based education technology entrepreneur, Rob Percival, to support the creation of an online artificial intelligence maths teaching platform. Blutick in association with The Perse School, exhibited at the BETT Show in London, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.bettshow.com/bett-suppliers-videos/blutick-line-by-line-intelligent-feedback-system-ziiv|title=Blutick Line-By-Line Intelligent Feedback System|website=Bett Show 2019|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-02-02}} to launch a free beta version.

Developments

Since 2020, The Perse School Cambridge International (TPSCI) has liaised with partners to open up The Perse international schools outside of England. Currently, one international school has been set up in Singapore, namely The Perse School Singapore (officially opened in January 2025). https://www.perse.co.uk/international-schools/

Headmaster's blog

On his blog the headmaster, Ed Elliott, described his 'ten second challenge' in which he would give students who "commit occasional minor misdemeanours (such as forgetting a book) the opportunity to talk their way out of a punishment".{{cite web|author1=Ed Elliott|title=The ten second challenge goes viral|url=https://theperseschool.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/the-ten-second-challenge-goes-viral/|website=theperseschool.wordpress.com|publisher=The Perse School|access-date=23 June 2015|date=20 November 2012}} The story was quickly picked up by the mainstream media{{cite web|author1=John-Paul Ford Rojas|title=Silver-tongued pupils given ten seconds to talk their way out of trouble|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9681610/Silver-tongued-pupils-given-ten-seconds-to-talk-their-way-out-of-trouble.html|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=23 June 2015|date=16 November 2012}} who reported that pupils were "let off punishment for clever excuses".{{cite web|title=Perse School pupils let off punishment for clever excuses|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-20397480|website=www.bbc.com|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 June 2015|date=19 November 2012}}

Notable Perseans

=Academia=

Maurice Bloch, anthropologist
Harold James, professor of history and international relations
W. E. Johnson, logician{{Cite ODNB|url=http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/DNB/Johnson.html|title=Johnson, William Ernest (1858–1931), logician {{!}} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year=2004|language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/34206|access-date=2019-06-21}}
F. R. Leavis, literary critic{{cite web |title=F R Leavis |url=https://www.perse.co.uk/team/f-r-leavis/ |website=www.perse.co.uk |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704005851/https://www.perse.co.uk/team/f-r-leavis/ |archive-date=Jul 4, 2023 |language=en |url-status=live}}
Michael Loewe, sinologist
Edward Henry Palmer, orientalist
G. L. S. Shackle, economist
E. H. Warmington, classicist

=Art=

Thomas P. Campbell, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

=Business=

David Tang, Hong Kong-based entrepreneur

=Engineering=

Arthur Marshall, aviation engineer
Anthony Michell, hydraulic engineer

=Film and theatre=

Ranjit Bolt, translator and playwright
Marius Goring, actor{{cite web |title=Goring, Marius (1912-1998) Biography |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/458331/index.html}}
Peter Hall, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Humphrey Jennings, film director
Colin McFarlane, actor
Jeremy Silberston, film director

=Law=

Mark Potter, Appeal Court judge and President of the Family Division

=Media=

Simon Akam, author, writing on military history and the British Army since 9/11
Mel Calman, cartoonist
Rodney Dale, writer and publisher
John Gross, critic and editor
Tom Harwood, journalist for Guido Fawkes, The Daily Telegraph and GB News
Tom Rosenthal (publisher) (1935–2014), publisher and art critic
Mark Saggers, BBC sports broadcaster

=Military=

Group Captain William Neil McKechnie, George Cross recipient
Ralph Lilley Turner MC, 2nd/3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles

=Music=

Pete Atkin, singer/songwriter
David Gilmour, singer/songwriter and guitarist of Pink Floyd
Spike Hughes, jazz musician and journalist
Jack Monck, bassist, session player for Syd Barrett, Lowell Fulson, Otis Spann and Champion Jack Dupree
Ronnie Ross, jazz musician
John Woolford, first boyfriend of Benjamin Britten

=Politics=

Anthony Browne, Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire
Rajani Palme Dutt, leading figure in the Communist Party of Great Britain
Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge 2010-2015
Roz Savage, Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds 2024-
David Steiner, New York State Commissioner of Education
Donald Tebbit, diplomat, British High Commissioner to Australia{{cite web|title=Sir Donald Tebbit - Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8054050/Sir-Donald-Tebbit.html|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307020114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8054050/Sir-Donald-Tebbit.html|archive-date=7 March 2015|date=10 October 2010|url-status=live}}
Quentin Thomas, civil servant, head of the British Board of Film Classification

=Religion=

John Polkinghorne, physicist and theologian
Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor

=Science=

Gustav Victor Rudolf Born, pharmacologist
Associate Professor Anthony Peter Lowe, mathematical physicist and actuary
Brian G. Marsden, astronomer
Ronald G. W. Norrish, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1967
Jane Northcote, physicist, daughter of Cambridge biologist Don Northcote FRS, and first wife of Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1976, later working together at Plessey in DorsetCambridge Daily News Monday 19 July 1976, page 10[https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17493961.sir-tim-berners-lee-not-entirely-happy-way-internet-going/ Bournemouth Echo]
George Paget Thomson, Nobel Prize in Physics in 1937

=Sport=

Zaman Akhter, cricketer
Charles Clayton, cricketer
Owen Giles, Northampton Saints rugby union player{{cite web|title=Class of his Owen|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Class-Owen/story-22433030-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307003534/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Class-Owen/story-22433030-detail/story.html|archive-date=7 March 2015|date=2 May 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Owen Giles Photos - Northampton Saints Photocall - Zimbio|url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Owen+Giles/Northampton+Saints+Photocall/JOW1R_iMhp3|website=www.zimbio.com|publisher=Zimbio|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307003908/http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Owen+Giles/Northampton+Saints+Photocall/JOW1R_iMhp3|archive-date=7 March 2015|date=7 August 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Northampton Saints : Squad 1st XV 2008-09|url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/4986_4994.php?player=77796&includeref=dynamic|website=www.northamptonsaints.co.uk|publisher=Northampton Saints|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026050731/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/4986_4994.php?player=77796&includeref=dynamic|archive-date=26 October 2008|url-status=dead}}
Alex Coles, Northamption Saints rugby union player{{Cite web |date=2017-08-11 |title=Alex Coles earns England under-18s call |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport/alex-coles-earns-england-under-18s-call-9050950/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Cambridge Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=World |first=Rugby |date=2020-11-04 |title=Hotshot: Northampton lock Alex Coles |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/hotshot-northampton-lock-alex-coles-115799 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US}}
Imogen Grant, Olympic Gold Medal Rower {{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cm525enmz20o |title=Craig & Grant cruise to gold after men win silver |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2 August 2024}}

Horace Gray, cricketer
Richard Hesketh, cricketer
Tess Howard, field hockey player
Reimell Ragnauth, cricketer

Staff

= Headmasters =

George Griffith, MA - died 1686
Frederick Heppenstall, MA - 1864 to 1874
Dr W. H. D. Rouse, MA, LittD (Cantab) - 1902 to 1928. Formerly a fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge
H. A. Wootton - 1928 to 1945
Stanley Stubbs, MA - 1945 to 1969. Formerly a housemaster at Gresham's School
Anthony E. Melville - 1969 to 1987. He was the last of the Perse Headmasters to cane students.
Dr Martin Stephen - 1987 to 1994. Subsequently, High Master of Manchester Grammar School from 1994 to 2004 and then St Paul's School from 2004 to 2011. Director of Education for GEMS Education UK.{{cite web|title=Martin Stephen|url=http://www.gemsedsolutions.com/martin-stephen|website=www.gemsedsolutions.com|publisher=GEMS Education Solutions|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305215852/http://www.gemsedsolutions.com/martin-stephen|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Martin Stephen – Telegraph Blogs|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/author/drmartinstephen/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201031958/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/author/drmartinstephen/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 December 2011|website=blogs.telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=5 March 2015}} Non-Executive Chairman of the Clarendon Academies Group{{cite web|title=The Gold Standard Charitable Trust Website|url=http://www.goldstandardcharitabletrust.co.uk/trustees|website=www.goldstandardcharitabletrust.co.uk|publisher=The Gold Standard Charitable Trust|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305220654/http://www.goldstandardcharitabletrust.co.uk/trustees|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author1=David Marley|title=Financiers want to run 2,000 state schools - with bonuses - News - TES|url=https://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6194114|website=www.tes.co.uk|publisher=TES|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305221016/https://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6194114|archive-date=5 March 2015|date=16 March 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Martin-Stephen.pdf|url=http://www.schoolproprietors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Martin-Stephen.pdf|website=www.schoolproprietors.co.uk|publisher=School Proprietors' Association|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305221347/http://www.schoolproprietors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Martin-Stephen.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}}
Dr Nigel P. V. Richardson - 1994 to 2008. Headmaster of The Dragon School from 1989 to 1992. Chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference in 2007. Governor of Magdalen College School{{cite web|title=Governing Body|url=http://www.mcsoxford.org/current-parents/governing-body|website=mcsoxford.org|publisher=Magdalen College School|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225040329/http://www.mcsoxford.org/current-parents/governing-body|archive-date=25 February 2015|url-status=live}} and Haileybury.{{cite web|title=Governors & Council|url=http://www.haileybury.com/about-the-school/governors-and-council|website=haileybury.com|publisher=Haileybury|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225030559/http://www.haileybury.com/about-the-school/governors-and-council|archive-date=25 February 2015|url-status=live}} AGBIS board member.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.agbis.org.uk/about-us/agbis-staff-and-board/|website=www.agbis.org.uk|publisher=AGBIS|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305195124/http://www.agbis.org.uk/about-us/agbis-staff-and-board/|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}} Author of the biography Thring of Uppingham: Victorian Educator{{cite web|title=Thring of Uppingham: Victorian Educator|url=http://www.uppingham.co.uk/Thring-of-Uppingham-Victorian-Educator|website=www.uppingham.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2015|date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223134136/http://www.uppingham.co.uk/Thring-of-Uppingham-Victorian-Educator|archive-date=23 February 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Thring of Uppingham: Victorian Educator|url=https://ubpl.buckingham.ac.uk/?wpsc-product=thring-of-uppingham-victorian-educator|website=ubpl.buckingham.ac.uk|publisher=The University of Buckingham Press|access-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223133816/https://ubpl.buckingham.ac.uk/?wpsc-product=thring-of-uppingham-victorian-educator|archive-date=23 February 2015|url-status=live}}
Mr Edward C. Elliott, MA - 2008 onwards. Joined the school in 1997 as head of sixth form and was senior deputy head before being appointed headmaster{{cite web|title=Deputy to take head role at Perse School|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Deputy-head-role-Perse-School/story-22460193-detail/story.html|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|publisher=Cambridge News|access-date=6 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306020226/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Deputy-head-role-Perse-School/story-22460193-detail/story.html|archive-date=6 March 2015|date=8 June 2007|url-status=live}}

= Notable staff =

Henry Caldwell Cook, (1886–1939) educationalist
Frederick Crossfield Happold DSO (Cantab.)
Lilly Frazer (1854/5 – 1941) French teacher and writer{{Cite ODNB |title=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |date=2004-09-23 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/66458 |pages=ref:odnb/66458 |editor-last=Matthew |editor-first=H. C. G. |place=Oxford |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/66458 |access-date=2022-12-28 |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=B.}}
Glenn Kirkham, captain of the England national field hockey team and Perse's Director of Sport from September 2017 to June 2023.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
Helen Richardson Walsh, hockey gold medalist{{Cite news|url=https://www.perse.co.uk/news/2017/09/olympians-kirkham-richardson-walsh/|title=Olympians Glenn Kirkham and Helen Richardson-Walsh join Perse sport staff {{!}} The Perse School Cambridge|date=2017-09-08|work=The Perse School Cambridge|access-date=2017-09-10|language=en}}

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.perse.co.uk/}}
[http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/CambridgePerseSchool.html School Roll of Honour for the World Wars]

Category:1615 establishments in England

Category:Educational institutions established in the 1610s

Category:Private schools in Cambridgeshire

Category:Schools in Cambridge

Category:Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference