King Edward's School, Witley

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King Edward's School, Witley (commonly known as KESW or KES) was originally named Bridewell Palace or Bridewell Royal Hospital. It was founded by Edward VI and Bishop Nicholas Ridley in 1553 under the same charter and circumstances[link] as Christ's Hospital. It is now a co-educational boarding and day school in Surrey with approximately 450 pupils, many of whom have bursaries which are funded by the City of London. The school celebrated its 450th anniversary in 2003. A few years earlier, a previous teacher, Bertie Mawer published Bridewell to Witley, King Edward's School 1553-2000 (ISBN 0-7110-2776-5).

The school is currently building an Astroturf due to be completed September 2006.

Contents

1 History of the School
2 Boarding Houses
3 Co-Curricular Activity Program
4 School Publications
5 Notable Pupils
6 KESPA
7 External links

History of the School

Edward VI of England, the school's founder.

In 1867 the school moved from its original site in London to the village of Wormley in Surrey. After the move, it changed its name from Bridewell Royal Hospital to King Edward's School, Witley, although the school is still referred to in some circumstances as the Bridewell Royal Hospital, to distinguish from other schools named after the eight King Edwards of England. The girls' section of the school remained in Southwark until 1952 when the school became co-educational again. It was commandeered by the Royal Navy during the Second World War to test and develop the use of radar. The school still remembers this with a plaque in the central area, a junction of corridors known as 'Piccadilly'. The school holds its annual Speech Day at the end of the Summer term.

The President of Bridewell Royal Hospital (the title was kept after the move of location) is now The Duchess of Gloucester, appointed from 1st January 2006. The President of Bridewell previous to this was The Queen Mother who held the title from 1953 to 2002.

Boarding Houses

The boarding houses at the school are paired, and, in the case of the senior pupils, conjoined in the centre of the buildings. This central area (known as the 'Accy Area', from activity area) allows the boys and girls from the paired houses to meet in the evenings and during spare time, often to chat, watch television or a DVD, or play pool or table football. The right-hand half of the iconic front building of the school is used as Copeland house, while Queen Mary House was formerly a care home for the mentally ill, and then the school sanatorium until later becoming the junior boys boarding house. The senior houses were built in the 1960s, and the plans can be seen in the School Museum, housed in the History Department.

Senior Boys' Houses

Ridley
Wakefield
Edward - Holders of the Cock House Cup
Grafton

Senior Girls' Houses

St. Bridget's
Elizabeth
Tudor
Queens

Junior Boys' House

Queen Mary House (QMH)

Junior Girls' House

Copeland

The school has a very competitive atmosphere between all of the houses. They compete in different competitions and challenges such as House Drama, House Music, Sports Day and other various sporting and academic events. These all allow the winning houses to accumulate points for the Cock House Cup, which is awarded to the house with the most points at the end of the School Year.

Co-Curricular Activity Program

The school carries on its original traditions by continuing to teach children skills and trades. Nowedays pupils are not taught tradition skills but a variety of modern and traditional skills, these activities include: Art, Astronomy, Ceramics, Chess, Climbing, Computing, Creative writing, Cross-stitch, Dance, Digital Video, Drama Club, Golf, Karate, Life Saving, Riding, Sailing, Canoeing and School Magazine

These all take place in the afternoon for 1 hour after afternoon lessons have finished. On Wednesday activites take place for 2 hours.

There are also team practices on top of the standard activities offered by the school

School Publications

The school has its own magazine, 'The Edwardian', which it publishes yearly. There is a short school newsletter, ‘KEStrel’ that is published bi-annually, and incorporates recent school events and news.

Notable Pupils

Pupils who have left King Edward's are known as ‘Old Witleians’, sometimes abbreviated to ‘Old Wits’.

KESPA

The King Edward's School Parent's Association organise school social evenings and events through out the year. They are often called upon to supply or supplement the catering and entertainment at events susch as sports day.

External links

[King Edward's School, Witley]
[Kesology] - The School's new Science magazine

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