Grantham Grammar School
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Grantham Grammar School, also known as The King's School, is an English educational institution in Grantham, Lincolnshire with an unbroken history on the same site since the date of its endowment as one of the last acts of Bishop Richard Fox, in 1528. Fox was a local boy who rose owing to his position as secretary to Henry, Earl of Richmond, while he was in exile in Brittany, prior to the famous events of the Battle of Bosworth which led to Henry's capturing the throne as Henry VII. Ultimately, Bishop Fox also founded Taunton Grammar School.
The heyday for King's probably came in the 17th century, with alumni including the 'Cambridge Platonist', Henry More, Poet Laureate Colley Cibber, and the outstanding, Sir Isaac Newton, not to mention successful 18th Century mathematician, John Newcome. Previously the most notable old boy had been William Cecil, Lord Burghley, whose family seat survives in the grand Burghley House in Cambridgeshire, near Stamford in Lincolnshire. Burghley became Principal Secretary to Queen Elizabeth I. In the 17th Century, Newton, as was customary in his time, carved his signature on the wall of what is today's school library. Visitors from around the world have come and viewed this landmark evidence of Newton's education.
A small school of perhaps a few dozen scholars at this period, it remained fewer than one hundred strong until the 20th century, and its reputation did not grow as that of other similar schools grew, as they outpaced it. The most notable of recent pupils would probably be J.W. Wand, Bishop of London from 1945 to 1956.
Now a school of over 800, it unusually remains a selective boys' state grammar school, as it has been since the 1944 Education Act was implemented, and despite modern development on the town centre site, retains many buildings dating from Newton's time and before.
The School's students are each allocated to one of six houses: Burghley, Curteis, Foxe, More, Newton, or School. Five of them are dedicated to important former benefactors or students of the school. School House was originally for boys residing in the boarding house.
The School has recently been awarded 'Business and enterprise college' status in partnership with another local school, The Grantham Church High School, which promises to benefit the students of both institutions.
External links
- The King's School, Grantham (http://www.kings.lincs.sch.uk/)