Trent College

Image:Trent College from West Park.jpg

The foundation of Trent College was proposed in 1868 by Francis Wright at a meeting of the Midland branch of the Clerical and Lay Association. His vision was to open a boarding school for "boys of the middle class" as a more affordable alternative to the public schools, and to counter the Anglo-Catholic leaning of the schools set up by the Woodard Trust.{{cite book |last1=Christian |first1=Roy |title=Butterley Brick: 200 Years in the Making |date=1990 |publisher=Henry Melland |isbn=0907929192 |page=101}} The foundation stone was laid by William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire. Today, the school still retains its ties with the Cavendish family through the Duke's descendant, Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire, who is president of the board of governors.

The school opened in April 1868 with 53 boys on roll, and, within four months, the number had risen to 118. By 1870, 225 boys were registered as pupils. The school's initial success was hit by the outbreak of scarlet fever in 1873 and the death of its first Headmaster, Thomas Ford Fenn, in 1883. Francis Wright was actively involved with the school until his death in 1873. In 1875, a school chapel was opened in his memory.

In 1975, the school welcomed its first girls into Sixth Form following the trend set by many previously single-sex independent schools. It became fully coeducational in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2215/about-us/trent-past/|title=Trent Past|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}}

The Warner Library was built by pupils in 1929 and contained about 6500 books, fiction, non-fiction and reference materials. The Obolensky, a modern lunch hall/meeting place, was opened in February 2008 and is named after Russian Prince Alexander Obolensky, a former pupil of Trent College. A new library (a conversion of the former dining hall conserving original wood panelling) was opened in 2010 and is named 'The Duke of Devonshire Library' after the school's president.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2221/academic-success/the-duke-of-devonshire-library/|title=The Duke of Devonshire Library|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}} The former Warner Library was converted into a Computer Science lab in 2016.

File:Trent College Grounds - geograph.org.uk - 1204619.jpg|Trent College grounds

File:TCLibrary.jpg|The School Library (Opened in 2010)

{{unreferencedsection|date=June 2024}}

The foundation stone of the chapel was laid after the death of Francis Wright. The building, which cost £300 and was designed by a Mr Robinson of Derby in 1875,{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1087972?section=official-list-entry|title=CHAPEL AT TRENT COLLEGE, Non Civil Parish - 1087972 | Historic England|website=historicengland.org.uk}} has been re-modelled three times: first in 1949 by Sir Albert Richardson, president of the Royal Academy; the chancel was redesigned after a new organ was installed in 1976; and finally, in 2001, the pews and lighting were replaced. The west door curtain was a part of the interior of Westminster Abbey at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The wooden collection plates are carved from olive wood from the Garden of Gethsemane outside Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was arrested before his crucifixion. These were a bequest from the Broadhurst family.

As an Anglican school, pupils are required to attend chapel services throughout the week. In addition, boarders are required to attend Sunday services as well.

The Trent College House system incorporates all pupils, from Year 7 to Year 13. Each student is allocated into one of the 5 houses which can be identified either through the colour of House ties or badges. The houses are named after prominent figures in the history of Trent college.

{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2251/pupil-care/house-system/|title=HMC Independent Day and Boarding School for Boys and Girls|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}}

{{cite web|url=http://trentcollege.tumblr.com/|title=Trent College|access-date=14 June 2015}}

Normally pupils have the same tutor in their first two years (Year 7 and 8); a new tutor for their three years in Senior School and another tutor for their two years in Sixth Form.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2250/pupil-care/tutor-care/|title=Tutor Care|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}} In summer 2010, the pastoral care programme was rated as 'Excellent' for Pastoral Care and 'Excellent' for Pupils Personal Development by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Trent has been a boarding school since its foundation and welcomes pupils aged 11 and above. Each boarding house is run by a Head of House and assisted by prefects. The houses can accommodate between 30 and 54 students in single or double study bedrooms. Pupils are not required to board and most boarders generally return home for the weekend.

There are four boarding houses at Trent – two houses which have boarders from ages 11–18 (Shuker for boys & Bates for girls), one girls Sixth Form only (Martin) and one boys boarding house from years 11-13 (Blake). The houses are named after prominent figures in the history of Trent college.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2271/boarding/boarding-houses/|title=Boarding Houses|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}}

Every year the school hosts a number of concerts which feature its music groups. Many of its students are members of ensembles outside of school, such as The Nottingham Youth Orchestra and The National Children's Orchestra. The main musical event is the Spring Concert which is held at the Albert Hall annually.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2257/outside-the-classroom/music/|title=Music|work=trentcollege.net|access-date=14 June 2015}}

Trent has a strong sporting tradition, and its athletes often compete at county and national level.{{cite news|title=School's double hockey triumph|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/School-s-double-hockey-triumph/article-1920229-detail/article.html|publisher=Nottingham Post|date=18 March 2010}}{{cite news|title=Trent College pair get England calls|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Trent-College-pair-England-calls/story-15175676-detail/story.html|publisher=Nottingham Post|date=9 February 2012}}{{cite news|title=Trent girls win Plate final|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Trent-girls-step-Plate/story-12212043-detail/story.html|publisher=Nottingham Post|date=14 July 2009}} The school has produced a number of successful athletes who have represented England at international level.{{cite news|title=Former England skipper leads college masterclass|url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/England-skipper-leads-college-masterclass/story-11628432-detail/story.html|publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=16 December 2010}} At the core of Trent College's sports philosophy are the '3 Ps'—Participation, Progression, and Performance.{{cite web |title=Explore Trent College: Reviews, Rankings, Fees, And More |url=https://britannia-study.co.uk/boarding-schools/trent-college-review/ |website=Britannia UK|date=27 March 2024 }}

On 29 March 2014, the Rugby 1st XV won the Natwest Cup Vase, beating Queen Elizabeth's Hospital Bristol in the Semi-Final and Exeter College in the Final.{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/090314_nsc_trent_qeh_u18_vase |title=Trent College run out winners in NatWest Schools U18 Vase semi-final |access-date=2014-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811101230/http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/090314_nsc_trent_qeh_u18_vase |archive-date=2014-08-11 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/290314_nscu18vase_final |title=Triumph for Trent College in NatWest Schools Cup Under 18 Vase |access-date=2014-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811101233/http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/290314_nscu18vase_final |archive-date=2014-08-11 }}

Former pupils are known as "Old Tridents" and are entitled membership of the Old Tridents' Society.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trentcollege.net/2302/old-tridents'-society/|title=Welcome to the Old Tridents' Society|website=www.trentcollege.net}}

{{See also|Category:People educated at Trent College}}

• Reginald Philip Abigail, District Commissioner of Arakan during the fall of Burma in 1942{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PKIWAQAAIAAJ&q=abigail+bedford+modern|title=Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes|work=google.co.uk|year=1969|access-date=14 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oCUbAQAAIAAJ&q=abigail+bedford+modern|title=The India Office and Burma Office List|work=google.co.uk|year=1947|access-date=14 June 2015 |last1=India Office |first1=Great Britain }}
• Rex Alston, Cricket commentator
• Albert Ball VC MC, English World War I fighter pilot and flying ace{{cite news|title=The boy wonder of the skies who became a legend to rival the Red Baron during the First World War|url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/boy-wonder-skies-legend-rival-Red-Baron-World-War/story-11579716-detail/story.html|publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=10 November 2008}}
• John Birch, former Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral
• Sir Howard Colvin, architectural historian
• Harry Daft (1866 – 1945), England footballer
• Thomas Fitton, cricketer and Royal Air Force officer
• Harry Gilby, actor
• David Gillmore, Baron Gillmore of Thamesfield
• Elizabeth Godwin, first female officer of The Life Guards
• Georgia Groome, actress
• Simon Hopkinson, cook and author
• Reverend Kenneth Hunt, England footballer and Olympic gold medallist
• Holly Kenyon, actress
• Clopton Lloyd-Jones, scorer of only goal of 1880 FA Cup Final
• Vivian MacKerrell, actor
• Alexander Obolensky, Russian prince and rugby international{{cite news|title=Russian prince and England rugby star to be honoured by his former Derbyshire school|url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Russian-prince-England-rugby-star-honoured-Derbyshire-school/story-11644645-detail/story.html|publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=27 February 2009}}
• Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Parsons, Army marksman
• Kukrit Pramoj, thirteenth Prime Minister of Thailand{{cite news|title=College old boy has historic icon status|url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/College-old-boy-historic-icon-status/story-11574003-detail/story.html|publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=4 December 2009}}
• Seni Pramoj, three times Prime Minister of Thailand
• Geoffrey Whitehead, actor

• Simon Hodgkinson, former England international rugby player
• Abraham Shuker, cricketer and founder of the Trent Association (now called the Old Tridents' Association){{Cite web|url=https://trentassociation.net|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606121553/http://www.trentassociation.net/OT_Society_index.htm|url-status=dead|title=Trent Association Home - Trent Association Web Site - TRENTASSOCIATION.NET|archivedate=6 June 2009|website=trentassociation.net}}

• Listed buildings in Long Eaton

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.trentcollege.net/ Trent College]
• [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/nottinghamshire/nottingham/trent-college Profile] on the ISC website
• ISI Inspection Reports - [http://www.isi.net/schools/7433/ The Elms School (Junior section)] & [http://www.isi.net/schools/7191/ Senior School]

{{Derbyshire Schools}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Private schools in Derbyshire

Category:Boarding schools in Derbyshire

Category:Long Eaton

Category:Co-educational boarding schools

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

Category:Educational institutions established in 1868

Category:1868 establishments in England