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Shrewsbury School

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A school boathouse situated along the River Severn in Shrewsbury, showcasing a typical riverside structure used for storing rowing boats.

Shrewsbury School is an independent school in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, for students aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1552 by Edward VI, it replaced older educational foundations that were closed down during that time. It is one of the famous "public schools" in the UK, meaning it is a private school that has special rules and history.

Originally, Shrewsbury School was only for boys, but it began accepting girls in its sixth form in 2008 and became fully co-educational in 2015. As of 2023, the school had around 842 students, with more boys than girls. Students who graduate from Shrewsbury are called Old Salopians.

The school is well-known because one of its students was Charles Darwin, the famous scientist who developed ideas about how plants and animals change over time. Today, the school is located on the south bank of the River Severn, a place where students can enjoy both learning and nature.

History

Circumstances of the foundation

Since Saxon times, the Collegiate Churches of St Chad, St Mary, and St Alkmund provided education in Shrewsbury, along with Shrewsbury Abbey, founded in the 11th century. These were disrupted during the Reformation, leading to local dissatisfaction. By 1542, townspeople began asking King Henry VIII for a new school, hoping to use funds from the dissolved Shrewsbury Abbey. Their efforts were not immediately successful.

King Edward VI, the founder of Shrewsbury School, by the circle of William Scrots

Foundation and early years

Shrewsbury School was officially founded in 1552 by a charter from King Edward VI. It started in a house bought from John Proude in 1551, along with three rented buildings, including Riggs Hall from 1450. Early teaching followed Continental Calvinism, attracting many Protestant students. Pupils initially stayed with local families.

1600s

Matthew Parker granted a special license to send Shrewsbury's foundational headmaster Thomas Ashton to the town; later Elizabeth I would direct Ashton to write the ordinances.

In 1608, a dispute arose over appointing a new teacher, leading to a standoff involving townspeople and school staff. A house was built in Grinshill in 1617 for use during plague outbreaks. Stone buildings with classrooms and a library were completed by 1630. During the Civil War, the school was used by King Charles I, and some books were damaged.

Restoration and 1700s

Records from 1664 to 1798 are missing, but notable students from this time include Richard Hill, Baron Digby, and poet Arthur Maynwaring. Visitor Celia Fiennes described the school in 1698, and Daniel Defoe visited in the early 1700s. A new wing was added during the Georgian period but was later demolished.

Fulke Greville was an early pupil of the school.

1800s

The school had only three headmasters in the 1800s. Samuel Butler led from 1798, followed by Benjamin Hall Kennedy in 1836, and Henry Whitehead Moss in 1866. The school moved to a new 150-acre site in 1882, designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Original buildings became a public library.

1900s

Shrewsbury School was augmented by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571.

A major fire damaged the main building in 1905. Cyril Alington became headmaster in 1908 and added new buildings, including Alington Hall. During World War I, 321 former students served, and a memorial was erected in 1923. The current library was added in 1916. Mountaineer Andrew Irvine attended during World War I.

After World War II, John Wolfenden led the school until 1950. Michael Heseltine and Michael Palin attended in the mid-20th century. Donald Wright served as headmaster from 1963 to 1975, and Sir Eric Anderson from 1975 to 1980.

2000s

Girls were first admitted in 2008, and the school became fully coeducational in 2015. New buildings include a music school opened by King Charles III in 2001, a statue of Charles Darwin, and a new theatre in 2022. A boarding house named for Queen Elizabeth II opened in 2023.

Sports

The main sport changes with each school term. In the Michaelmas term (autumn), the main sport is football. In the Lent term, students play fives and rugby, and in the summer term, they play cricket. Rowing happens in all three terms. The sports team kits often feature a special cross from the school’s coat of arms, a tradition that has lasted for over 150 years.

Since 2015, when girls joined the school, new sports like hockey and netball have been added, and students also play cricket and tennis in the summer term.

The school has special fields and pitches for these sports, including nine grass football fields, two hockey fields with artificial surfaces, and a special football pitch finished in 2023. Most boys play football in the Michaelmas term, while girls play football in the Lent term.

Football

Football has a long history at Shrewsbury School, helping shape the modern game. Students from the school were important in forming early football teams at Cambridge University. The school has old copies of early football rules and has produced many skilled players over the years.

The school has won many football competitions, including the Arthur Dunn Challenge Cup 11 times and was named the English Schools Football Association National Champions in 2024.

Rowing

The school’s rowing club is one of the oldest in the world, starting as a fun activity before becoming official in 1866. The club has taken part in important rowing races and has won many times at Henley Royal Regatta.

The school also hosts special rowing races between its different houses, similar to races at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Running

The school has one of the oldest cross-country running clubs in the world, with records dating back to the 1800s. Students follow a trail marked with paper and race to the finish line. Every October, the whole school takes part in a special 3.5-mile run called “The Tucks.”

Cricket

Cricket has been played at Shrewsbury since the 1840s. The school’s first XI team competes for the Silk Trophy each summer. The school has also success in other cricket competitions and has produced players who have gone on to play for county teams.

Eton Fives

Eton Fives is a popular sport at the school, with 14 special courts for the game. At the end of the Lent Term, students compete in national championships.

Minor sports

Other sports played at the school include shooting, fencing, basketball, golf, equestrian activities, badminton, swimming, hockey, rugby, and squash.

Performing arts

Heritage

Early flowerings of English drama in the Tudor period

Before big changes happened in religion, the school's location at Kingsland was a place for special performances and shows.

By the time of old kings and queens, this tradition grew so much that several outdoor stages were built around the area.

Under Thomas Ashton, acting became very important. He made a rule that older students had to perform a funny play every school day before they could go home, and the school often performed plays for special holidays and big stories from the Bible and history. In 1565, for example, they performed Julian the Apostle and another play that many people loved. Queen Elizabeth I planned to visit Shrewsbury to watch one of these plays, but she arrived too late and had to go back to London. The Quarry park in town was a favorite spot for these performances, and they even made a special curved bank there like a theater.

The school also put on shows for important visitors. In 1581, when a high-ranking leader, Sir Henry Sidney, was leaving town by boat, students dressed up as forest spirits with willow branches on their heads and recited poems for him. He was very moved.

Originating ballet and pantomime

John Weaver, who helped start English ballet and pantomime, was a teacher at the school in the 1600s. He helped write down the dances that kings and queens used to do. In 2023, the school held its first “John Weaver Festival of Dance,” with dance competitions and an exhibition showing his old papers and items from Soulton Hall.

Contemporary Offer

Orchestras, ensembles and choirs

The school has many music groups, including:

  • The Symphony Orchestra
  • The Wind Orchestra
  • Big Band
  • Concert Band
  • Brass Ensemble
  • String Ensemble
  • The Chamber Choir
  • The Chapel Choir
  • The Community Choir (with local people who are not students)
  • Jazz Band
  • String quartets
  • Junior and Senior string ensembles
  • Clarinet and sax groups
  • Tuba and horn quartets

Musicals

Every two years (and sometimes more often), Shrewsbury performs its own musical shows, which are taken to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Some of these shows have included:

  • Rebecca the Drowned Bride
  • What You Will
  • Bubble
  • Jekyll!
  • Gatsby: A New Musical
  • The Traitor's Wife

Performances

Famous musicians and performers also visit the school. Some of these guests have included:

Culture

The school has special carvings on its buildings. These carvings show two figures who love learning. One figure is called Philomathes, meaning “he who loves learning,” and the other is Polymathes, meaning “he who has much learning.” These carvings date back to 1630 and have a message that says, “If you are studious, you will become learned.”

The school has many houses where students live, each with its own colors and teams. There are competitions between the houses in sports like football. The school also has its own song, called “Carmen Salopiense,” written in 1916. To celebrate the school’s 400th anniversary in 1952, a special performance was held that told the school’s history and values.

Grants and prizes

Shrewsbury School gives out many prizes, and some have been awarded for a long time. One important prize is The Sidney Gold Medal, first given in 1838. It used to be given to the best student in classics who would go to Oxbridge. The medal was stopped for a while but started again in 1899. Later, it was opened to all subjects, and many winners have been great at science.

Another long-running prize is The Arand Haggar Prize, which began in 1890. It is for math, and the contest has happened almost every year since then. There is also The Bentley Elocution Prize, started in 1867, where students recite a long poem. Famous winner Sir Michael Palin once won this prize.

Other prizes include the Richard Hillary Essay Prize, begun in 2013, and The Miles Clark Travel Award, started in 1994, for students who have done amazing travels around the world.

Coat of arms and flag

The school's coat of arms and flag belong to King Edward VI. It shows the three lions from England's coat of arms combined with the fleur-de-lys from France's coat of arms. This design is used as the school's flag as well.

Royal visits

Many important members of the royal family have visited Shrewsbury School over the years.

Some notable visits include:

Praepostors

The school’s prefects are called præpostors. This word comes from old Latin and means “placed before.” It was used because older boys were chosen to help lead and guide the younger students.

Being a præpostor comes with special privileges, like wearing a tie with the school’s emblem and being allowed to ride a bike to classes. In 1821, Dr. Butler described a præpostor as one of the top eight students who help the teachers keep things running smoothly and make sure everyone behaves well.

Main article: prefects
Main articles: prior, Latin, Middle Ages

Awards

Students at Shrewsbury School receive special ties and scarves for doing well in activities outside of regular lessons. These awards show their success in different hobbies and sports.

Scholarships, exhibitions and bursary support

Shrewsbury School helps students with financial needs by offering different types of scholarships and bursaries. These can reduce school fees by up to 30%, and some include extra benefits like free music lessons.

The school gives out scholarships for academic success, art, music, and all-around talent. There are also special awards for drama, sports, and design and technology, as well as support for older students in their final years.

Ancient library

Shrewsbury School has a very old library with many important and historic books and items.

The library's collection includes special items such as Charles Darwin's school atlas, books, manuscripts, and letters. It also has Newton's Principia, which was bought when it was first published in 1687. There are around forty medieval manuscripts, including a beautiful twelfth-century Gradual from Haughmond Abbey near Shrewsbury and the Lichfield Processional, which has unique English plays from around 1430 and polyphonic music. The library also holds a death mask of Oliver Cromwell, a first edition of the King James Bible, a 1534 Tyndale Bible, and a French Geneva Bible.

Art collection

The Moser Gallery, located in the library buildings, showcases part of the school's art collection. It features paintings, including works by famous artists like J. M. W Turner and important watercolours from the nineteenth century. The gallery also displays art created by one of the school’s former students, Kyffin Williams.

Co-curricular and extension

Shrewsbury School invites many interesting people to speak to students. Some past speakers have included well-known writers, leaders, and thinkers.

Students also join many different groups, called societies, to learn about topics they enjoy. These groups let students discuss ideas, listen to talks, and sometimes meet guest speakers. Some of these societies focus on art, science, languages, sports, and more. There is even a group where older students help younger children improve their reading skills. Students can also join a group that teaches them about leadership and teamwork.

Headmasters

The Shrewsbury School has had many leaders over the years. Some of the recent headmasters include Leo Winkley, who has been in charge since 2018, and Mark Turner, who led from 2010 to 2018. Other past headmasters include Sir Eric Anderson, John Wolfenden, Baron Wolfenden, and Dr Samuel Butler, who later became the Bishop of Lichfield. The school’s leadership has changed many times since it began.

Notable masters

Shrewsbury School has had many notable teachers over the years. Some of these teachers later became leaders at other schools. Others became well-known in different fields like writing or religious work. These teachers helped shape the school and its traditions.

Affiliate schools

Shrewsbury School has several schools connected to it around the world.

These include schools in Bangkok near the Chao Phraya River, Hong Kong, and Phnom Penh, as well as Packwood Haugh School in Shropshire, which joined Shrewsbury in 2019.

Fees and admission

Students join Shrewsbury School at age 13 after taking a special test. For about ten percent of the students, English is not their first language. In the 2023/24 school year, the school costs up to £15,194 each term for students from the UK who stay at the school, and up to £16,004 each term for students from other countries, with three terms in each school year.

Notable alumni

See also: List of Old Salopians

Former pupils are called Old Salopians, from the old name for Shropshire.

Contemporary Old Salopians

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

  • Issy Wong (born 2002), Warwickshire, Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix, Mumbai Indians and England cricketer

Victoria Cross holders

Harold Ackroyd and Thomas Tannatt Pryce, two former members of the school awarded the Victoria Cross

Two Old Salopians received the Victoria Cross, both in the First World War, 1914–18.

Old Salopian activities

The "Old Salopian Club", now known as the Salopian Club, was founded in 1886. A number of reunions, clubs and activities are arranged by the club. The post nominals OS are used to denote Old Salopians.

Sports

Former members of the school have various sporting clubs:

  • Rowing is arranged by the "Sabrina Club", which fields crews, including for Henley Royal Regatta as well as supporting the school crews at various events
  • Cricket is arranged by the "Saracens"
  • Old Salopian golf, yachting, fives cross country, tennis, football, squash and basketball are also provided for.

Careers, arts and activities

Arrangements for cultural engagement of former members if the school, for instance concerts and plays and art exhibitions are also put on, and there is a programme around careers.

Social action

Shrewsbury School has been involved in many community activities. In 1903, it started a youth and community center in Everton, Liverpool, called "Shrewsbury House" or "the Shrewsy." This center is linked to St Peter's Church Everton and helps local people.

The school also supports a charity called Medic Malawi. This charity runs a hospital, two orphanages, and an eye clinic, and the school community helps it regularly. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the school donated over 1,600 pieces of protective equipment, like face shields, to the NHS. The school also offered rooms in its boarding houses for NHS staff to use.

Steam locomotive

One of the Southern Railway steam trains, called "Shrewsbury", was built in 1934. It was used on railways until 1962. A name plate from this train is kept at the school's Admissions Offices.

Farm house

The school has a farmhouse in Talargerwyn in Snowdonia. It is used for outdoor activities and research trips.

Controversy

In September 2005, Shrewsbury School was one of fifty schools that worked together to set the same school fees, which broke the rules. All these schools had to stop this practice, pay a small fine of £10,000 each, and put three million pounds into a special fund to help students who went to the schools during the time they shared fee information.

Images

Portrait of Sir Rowland Hill, a historical figure from the 16th century.
A historic courtyard view of St John's College at Cambridge University.
Portrait of King Charles I painted by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, showcasing 17th-century royal attire and artistry.
A formal portrait of Reverend Richard Hill, an important historical figure from the early 1700s.
Names of students carved into the wooden window sills of Castle Gates Library in Shrewsbury.
Statue of Charles Darwin at Shrewsbury School
Portrait of Reginald Corbet, a prominent English judge from the mid-Tudor period.
Portrait of Richard Baxter, a historical figure from the 1600s.

Related articles

Charles Darwin
River Severn
Henry VIII

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