Whitgift School

Whitgift School was founded in 1596 by the Archbishop of Canterbury John Whitgift and opened in 1600{{Cite web |date=3 February 1997 |title=Whitgift Foundation: records |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/lists/GB-1119-Whitgift.htm |access-date=1 February 2016 |website=NationalArchives.gov.uk}} as part of the Whitgift Foundation which had the aim of building a hospital and school in Croydon for the "poor, needy and impotent people" from the parishes of Croydon and Lambeth.{{Cite web |title=The Whitgift Hospital almshouses; 2009 |url=http://www.museumoflondonprints.com/image/406483/john-chase-the-whitgift-hospital-almshouses-2009 |website=Museum of London Prints}} Originally located in North End, Croydon in 1931 it moved to its current site, Haling Park, which was once home to Lord Howard of Effingham, the Lord High Admiral of the Fleet sent against the Spanish Armada.{{Cite web |title=Whitgift School |url=http://www.whitgift.co.uk/about/history.html |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Whitgift School}}

Originally a day school, boarding was introduced in 1992, and a boarding house was opened for the 2013–14 school year.{{Cite news |date=3 November 2011 |title=Whitgift School one of the leaders of the pack thanks to big investment and top–level coaches |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/schoolsports/8868486/Whitgift-School-one-of-the-leaders-of-the-pack-thanks-to-big-investment-and-top-level-coaches.html |work=The Telegraph |location=London}} Between 1871 and 1946 the school was known as Whitgift Grammar School, after which it relinquished its direct grant and became a fully independent school known as 'Whitgift School'.{{Cite web |title=Whitgift Foundation |url=http://www.friendsofoldpalace.org/foundation4.htm |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Friends of The Old Palace}}

File:Whitgift School; view from main entrance April 2020.jpg

Whitgift is located in a {{convert|45|acre|adj=on}} parkland site. The ship (a model of Ark Royal, the flagship of Lord Howard of Effingham against the Spanish Armada) that features prominently on the top of the school hall is a reminder of the history of the site. Additions since the 400th anniversary of the school have been a maze in the founder's garden, an aviary, an enclosure for Prevost's squirrels, ponds and a sports complex.

The original buildings have been supplemented by many additions and improvements including a Music School and Concert Hall, an integrated facility for science, technology, art and design together with library and resource centres, a separate Lower School building, and a major new Sports and Conference Centre which was opened in February 2005. A new Art Department, Performing Arts Centre and a new Sixth Form Centre were completed in the middle of 2011.

Whitgift has a wide variety of animals, including peacocks on the grounds since the 1930s, and flamingos.{{Cite web |date=November 2007 |title=Whitgift School in Croydon |url=http://surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/whitgift-school-in-croydon-9818/ |access-date=13 August 2011 |website=Great British Life – Surrey Life}} In 2005 Sir David Attenborough visited the school to open the ponds, the enclosure of which also houses various waterfowl,{{Cite web |title=RHS Journals - The Garden - March 2006 |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/garden0306/newsgeneral.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221175401/https://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/garden0306/newsgeneral.htm |archive-date=21 February 2008 |website=Royal Horticultural Society}} including Hawaiian geese.

Since 2005, Whitgift has offered the International Baccalaureate{{Cite web |title=Whitgift School International Baccalaureate |url=http://www.ibo.org/school/002095/ |access-date=7 August 2011 |publisher=International Baccalaureate Organization}} Diploma Programme to the Sixth Form as an optional alternative to A-Levels.

Whitgift School offers co-curricular activities within the school. This is reflected in the sporting facilities as well as an array of musical activities.

Whitgift has a combined cadet force. The school has partnerships with two local state schools St. Andrews C of E High School and Thomas More School, allowing their students to take part in CCF activities.{{Cite web |title=Whitgift School – Co-Curricular – Combined Cadet Force |url=http://www.whitgift.co.uk/cocurricular.aspx?SubCatID=58 |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Whitgift School}}

The school fields teams in a range of sports and has a sports and conference centre which hosts competitions{{Cite magazine |year=2017 |title=Whitgift and the Community |url=http://www.whitgift.co.uk/docs/1392-WhitgiftamptheC.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172548/http://www.whitgift.co.uk/docs/1392-WhitgiftamptheC.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2019 |access-date=1 June 2018 |magazine=Whitgift and the Community |publisher=Whitgift School}} the Health & Fitness Centre, a 55 station gym and group exercise studio are open to students and their families. The Women's GB Handball team has trained on occasions at the School as has the England Korfball steam.

In hockey Whitgift won the National Indoor Hockey Championships at Under 15 and Under 18 levels in 2011.{{Cite web |title=Whitgift School – Sports |url=http://www.whitgift.co.uk/sports.aspx |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Whitgift School}} The school also become national Under 18 golf champions for the first time in 2014 at Carnoustie. The first recorded cricket match held on the school ground occurred in 1898 when the school played University College School.{{Cite web |title=Other matches played on Whitgift School |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/444_misc.html |access-date=7 August 2011 |publisher=Cricket Archive}} {{subscription required}} From 2003 to 2011 the school ground hosted 12 List-A matches{{Cite web |title=List A cricket matches played at Whitgift School |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/444_a.html |access-date=7 August 2011 |publisher=Cricket Archive}} {{subscription required}} for county club Surrey.

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• 1600–1601 Ambrose Brygges{{Cite book |last=Garrow |first=David William |title=The History & Antiquities of Croydon, with a Variety of Other Interesting Matter |publisher=W. Annan |year=1818 |location=London |pages=130 |language=en |oclc=644444369}}
• 1601–1606 John Ireland
• 1606–1616 Robert Davies
• 1616–1629 William Nicolson
• 1629–1648 John Webb
• 1648–1651 Noris Wood
• 1651–1662 Thomas Day
• 1662–1668 John Philips
• 1668–1675 William Crowe
• 1675–1681 John Shepheard
• 1681–1712 John Caesar
• 1712–1742 Henry Mills{{Cite book |last=Garrow |first=David William |title=The History & Antiquities of Croydon, with a Variety of Other Interesting Matter |publisher=W. Annan |year=1818 |location=London |pages=131 |language=en |oclc=644444369}}
• 1742–1751 Samuel Staveley{{Cite book |last=Garrow |first=David William |title=The History & Antiquities of Croydon, with a Variety of Other Interesting Matter |publisher=W. Annan |year=1818 |location=London |pages=132 |language=en |oclc=644444369}}
• 1751–1774 John Taylor Lamb
• 1774–1801 James Hodgson{{Cite book |last=Garrow |first=David William |title=The History & Antiquities of Croydon, with a Variety of Other Interesting Matter |publisher=W. Annan |year=1818 |location=London |pages=133 |language=en |oclc=644444369}}
• 1801–1812 John Rose
• 1812–1843 John Collinson Bisset
• 1843–1865 George Coles{{Cite web |title=CalmView: Overview |url=http://archives.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=V/B/1/16/167-a3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505183242/http://archives.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=V/B/1/16/167-a3 |archive-date=5 May 2013}}
• 1865–1871 William Ingrams
• 1871–1902 Robert Brodie
• 1903–1927 Samuel Ogden Andrew
• 1928–1939 Stanley Gurner{{Cite web |title=Ronald Gurner M.C. M.A. (1890–1939), Headmaster |url=http://oldedwardians.org.uk/nlc/staff/gurner.html |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Old Edwardians Association}}
• 1939–1946 Gerald Ellis
• 1946–1961 Edward Marlar
• 1961–1970 Michael Hugill
• 1970–1991 David Raeburn
• 1991–2017 Christopher Barnett{{Cite web |date=1 February 1953 |title=Dr Christopher Barnett Authorised Biography | Debrett's People of Today |url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/b/25872/Christopher%20Andrew+BARNETT.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615235038/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/b/25872/Christopher%20Andrew+BARNETT.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=1 February 2016 |publisher=Debrett's}}
• 2017–2024 Christopher Ramsey

}}

{{main|List of people educated at Whitgift School}}

Former pupils of Whitgift are known as "Old Whitgiftians".

• Anthony Seldon, Head of Politics at Whitgift in the 1980s, head of Brighton, Wellington and Epsom Colleges, biographer of contemporary British political figures.
• David Ward, cricket coach who, having retired from playing for Surrey, produced a stream of cricketers for the England team.
• Sir Dick White, Assistant Master in the 1930s, former Director General of MI5 and Head of MI6.

The Southern Railway V Class was known as the Schools Class because all 40 locomotives were named after public schools. "Whitgift", SR no. 916 and BR no. 30916, was built in 1934 and withdrawn in 1962. The Whitgift nameplate that was formerly mounted on the front driving wheel-splasher of the locomotive is now on display in the Raeburn Library in the school. Hornby Models created an OO gauge replica of the 916 Whitgift Schools Class locomotive. Whitgift has one on display in the Raeburn Library underneath the Whitgift nameplate from the 4–4–0 train.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.owa.org/ Old Whitgiftian Association]
• {{mmukscaled|TQ323640|10|Map sources}}

{{Surrey CCC}}

{{Schools in Croydon}}

{{Croydon B&S}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1596 establishments in England

Category:Boarding schools in London

Category:Church of England private schools in the Diocese of Southwark

Category:Cricket grounds in London

Category:Educational institutions established in the 1590s

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

Category:Private schools in the London Borough of Croydon

Category:International Baccalaureate schools in England

Category:Private boys' schools in London

Category:Surrey County Cricket Club grounds

Category:Sports venues completed in 1898