Retford King Edward VI Grammar School

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Retford King Edward VI Grammar School was a grammar school opened on London Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, in 1857, after being moved from an older site in Chapelgate. [1] The school closed down in 2003.

Contents

The school motto Ex pulvere palma means (loosely): "out of the dust (of competition) (comes) the palm" (of victory)

History

The historic Edward VI Grammar School buildings in Retford, designed by Decimus Burton King Edward VI Grammar School - geograph.org.uk - 89528.jpg
The historic Edward VI Grammar School buildings in Retford, designed by Decimus Burton

The school, which was located on London Road site [2] was opened in 1857 with buildings designed by builder Decimus Burton. Consisting of only one schoolroom originally, the school later built a library, head master's house later to house the school office, and head master's office.

In 1890, an adjoining gymnasium was added, with above it a large projection room. 1906 meant the erection of, along the Dominie Cross Road, several ‘temporary’ buildings, which included the so-called "Tin Tab".

In 1912, the school pupils, like those of many other schools of the day, donated monies to fund dogs for the 1912 Arctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott.

The Fives Court was gifted in 1924 in the memory of William Eyre [3] a fallen World War 1 casualty. In 1926 a new block of classrooms was opened containing the first library. The iron guttering still bears that date in 2019.

In 1937, a new Assembly hall was added. [4]

Pre-War

PeriodMastersLinks
1910Mr Watson, Mr Waterhouse, Mr DaviesWorksop Guardian, "Here we went" article
PeriodPupils                Links
1906DimockOur Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Rangers.
1909WhiteNottinghamshire County Council, Roll of Honour
1928Pringle Flight Lieutenant 37299 115 Sqdn., Royal Air Force

War Time

Many ex-pupils of the school served in the armed forces during the 1st World War and details of some those can be found in the online Great War Forum.

During the 2nd World War, pupils from Great Yarmouth were relocated to Retford Grammar School [5]

Post War

The Headmaster from 1926 to 1950 was Charles William Pilkington-Rogers (MA BSc FCP), a Cambridge Mathematics graduate, whose teaching career began in 1903 as Science and Mathematics Master at Dunheved College in Launceston, Cornwall.

Squash courts were opened in 1957 and in 1958 a new gymnasium was constructed. In 1958, a new modern (CLASP) science block [6] was added. At the same time, on the opposite side of the playing field, a new single storey art block was also constructed. In 1967 the school received its own astrological observatory, built by local enthusiasts and opened by the astronomer Patrick Moore. [7]

In 1976 a new Sixth Form Block was added at the end of the Hall, and opposite the Cloisters (source Christopher Trend 1970-1977). It featured a spacious common room and kitchen on the ground floor, as well as even a record player!

PeriodMastersLinks
1963Bramma       Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland
PeriodPupilsLinks
1963Olson            Retford Grammar School 1963? Upper Science Six
1976Watson           "a grammar school dropout"

The (mainly) complete and original class listings 1954-1977 have now been recovered from the Nottingham Inspire archive, and, with the permission and appropriate publishing fees, shared at http://www.oldretfordians.org.uk

The new maths and craft block opened in 1979 and later demolished in about 2012 to make way for the residential development 2003 KEGS G.Moss 1979 maths block.jpg
The new maths and craft block opened in 1979 and later demolished in about 2012 to make way for the residential development

In 1979 several more new buildings were added. A new music block was added between the New Block, now becoming known as the Old Block, and the main school building. Also in the same year, a large new multidisciplinary block housing on the ground floor, wood and metal workshops, and upstairs a suite of domestic science kitchens and the Mathematics department.

The Retfordian

For many years, at least between 1913 and the 1950s, events and life at the school were chronicled in the school's own publication, The Retfordian. [8]

A growing number of Retfordian magazines are now published, with the consent and assistance of the Nottinghamshire archives, at http://www.oldretfordians.org.uk

Final Grammar School days

In 1979, after the inclusion of King Edward VI Grammar School and the High School in parliamentary discussion, [9] Retford King Edward VI Grammar School, and Sir Frederick Milner's School were merged into King Edward VI Comprehensive School. At the point of the merger in 1979 with the Frederick Milner School, many of the school records were deposited with the National Archives.

In January 1998, Rosemary Salisbury became one of the final headteachers of what was now known simply as the King Edward VI School and the first woman to do so. [10]

Closure

In the 21st century, the school was scheduled for closure. It closed in 2003.

1950 art block and 1970s craft block in 2011 before their demolition 2011 09 Retford Grammar School 28DaysLater courtesy of NGE 31 woodwork room.jpg
1950 art block and 1970s craft block in 2011 before their demolition

The school was formally replaced by the new Retford Oaks Academy opened in 2003.
The school stood empty for a number of years after closure, these pictures from Urbanography showing the last wall displays still in place from its final days.

The pictures at urban exploration site 28 Days Later include a rare 2011 picture of the entrance to the new music rooms internally linking the original school and New Block opened in 1978, and later demolished during redevelopment.

Redevelopment

The old school buildings were eventually sold for redevelopment circa 2011.

During the demolition of the newer building to the rear of the school in 2012, problems were encountered with the disposal of asbestos contained in them. [11]

The architects for the redevelopment were Rayner Davies. [12]

King Edward VI Grammar School Trust

The proceeds of the sale of the school site were entrusted to a legal trust, the King Edward VI Grammar School Trust, which endows young people with grants towards their ongoing education. [13]
link to King Edward VI Grammar School Trust

Old Retfordians

Former pupils may join the "Old Retfordians Association". [14]

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References

  1. ↑ Grounds, Arthur Douglas (1970). A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford.
  2. ↑ Nicholson, Andrew. "Map of Retford c.1920". Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway. Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Eyre, William. "Fives Court". War Memorials. Nottinghamshire County Council.
  4. ↑ "King Edward VI Grammar School, East Retford, Nottinghamshire". Historic England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Pegotty (26 September 2013). "Did Hitler visit you last night?". Great Yarmouth Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. ↑ Nicholson, Andy. "The Nottinghamshire Historian". NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY BLOG. The Nottinghamshire Historian. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Opening of the new Observatory by Patrick Moore, King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford, 1967". Inspire. Nottinghamshire County Council. 1967. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "The Retfordian". Imperial War Museum. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "Schools (Reorganisation)". Hansard. 969. 2 July 1979. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  10. ↑ O'Sullivan, Jack (3 September 1998). "Education: How on earth did I get here?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Retford Property Developer Fined £55k for Asbestos Failures". Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Rayner Davies Architects school frontage restored". Rayner Davies Architects. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "King Edward VI Grammar School Trust". Charity Commission.
  14. ↑ "King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) re-union". Retford Life. 16 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
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