St. Edward's School, Oxford
- House Colour:
- House Letter: 'M'
- Housemistress: Joanna Wright (2003-)
Avenue House was opened in 2001. It was originally built in two phases with the second phase opening in 2004. It is situated on St. Edward's Avenue hence its name. It is a girls' house and is situated on the school playing fields. It is connected to Corfe. For a time, prior to the opening of the second phase, some girls were housed in the former school medical centre, Cooper Lodge. Cooper Lodge has, since the opening of the full house, been turned into the Junior Common Room (JCR) and staff accommodation.
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Sport
The school has an excellent reputation as one of the country's leading public schools at sport. The main school sports are athletics, cricket, hockey, netball, rowing, rugby and tennis. The school has over 90 acres of playing fields in the heart of North Oxford on land that is considered to be prime real estate.
The school only has two "real" inter house events, the School Steeplechase and School Sports Day. The Steeplechase is the school's annual cross country race, it is held once a year and the whole school is expected to take part. The Sixth Form race in the Senior Seeplechase which is a 4 mile race across Port Meadow the floodplain of the River Thames. The lower school compete in the junior race along the Oxford Canal path. School Sports Day is held in June.
The school has a regular fixture list against other major UK public schools. Some of the fixtures on the fixture list have been played on the same weekend each year for decades. In boys' sports the schools main rivals are Radley College and Marlborough College.
In rowing the school has won The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta as well as having had a number of rowers row for Great Britain at junior level before going on to compete in the annual Oxbridge boat race or at Ivy League Universities.
Recent successes in hockey have included making the National Finals in both boys' and girls' hockey.
St. Edward's is regarded as a very strong rugby school. The last 1st XV were only beaten in one game, becoming the first team to do so since 1998 and there are some 6 former or present pupils in their respective age group's England development squads/teams including James Forrester. The school has in recent years had an 82% success rate in Rugby Sevens. The school continues to produce extremely high standard rugby.
A book about sport at the school, "Come on Teddies" has been published recently.
- Facilities
Sports facilities include:
- Indoor Sports Hall
- 2 All Weather Astro Turf Pitches
- Golf Course
- Boat House located on the River Thames in the nearby village of Wolvercote
- Purpose Built Netball Courts
- Basketball Court
- Indoor Rifle Range
- Clay Pigeon Shooting area
- 15 Rugby Pitches
- 8 Cricket Pitches
- Swimming Pool (within Esporta/St. Edward's Sports Centre)
- Indoor Tennis Courts (within Esporta/St.Edward's Sports Centre)
- Squash Courts
- State of the art gym (within Esporta/St. Edward's Sports Centre)
The school is home to an Esporta Health Club. This was built on the site of the school's former sports centre (The Douglas Bader Sports Centre) and outdoor swimming pool in 1999 and opened in 2000. Within the club the school has its own sports hall, named the Douglas Bader Sports Hall. As part of the agreement between St. Edward's and Esporta, pupils have free access to the club's gym. The relationship between St. Edward's and Esporta has at some stages been very strained, especially just after the centre opened.
- Overseas Tours
The school also go on an overseas tour once a year. Tours have operated since 1996. Recent tours have included:
- 2006- South America- Rugby and Girls' Hockey
- 2005- Sri Lanka- Cricket
- 2004- South Africa- Boys' Hockey
- 2003- Australia- Rugby and Girls' Hockey
- 2002- Barbados- Cricket and Girls' Netball
- 2001- South Africa- Rugby
- 1999- Australia- Boys and Girls' Hockey
- 1998-
- 1997-
- 1996- South Africa- Rugby
Teddies also host touring schools. The most notable of these is The King's School, Sydney who come to St. Edward's to play rugby once every two years when on their UK tour.
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Military links
The school has very strong links with the armed forces, in particular The Royal Air Force. A large number of former pupils have gone on to serve in the forces, most notably Second World War heroes Arthur Banks, Douglas Bader, Guy Gibson and Adrian Warburton. In the Old Library the school has on display a stained glass window presented to them by the Royal Air Force to thank them for their role in the education of Second World War heroes. To this day the school maintain a strong Combined Cadet Force, which despite now being optional, is more popular than ever. The school also has a scholarship fund to assist those who are in the armed forces.
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Teddies jargon
- Ad Itinerarium
- Itinerarium as it is shortened to, is the final chapel service of each term. It is normally held just after 10am on the last Saturday morning of each term. In this service pupils sing the school anthem, Jerusalem as well as the school song. Pupils will normally pray for a happy vacation period and for all those OSE around the world. A collection happens at the end of the service for a charity or a good cause.
- APT (Academic Priority Time)
- APT is a time set aside in the day, typically 5.45-6.30pm, when pupils can gain extra help on class work. Some members of staff use APT to explain something to pupils who had been disruptive in an earlier class. In the lower school APT is generally seen as a punishment, where as in the upper school it is seen as a useful tool for revision.
- Chambers (Upper and Lower)
- Upper and Lower Chambers are classrooms located next door to the school chapel.
- Chit
- A note from a housemaster or house tutor. Chits are given by a housemaster for a number of reasons. Pupils can receive: a late work chit to give to their teacher, a chit to allow them to visit Oxford, a chit for purchasing something from the school shop, school outfitters or local shops in Summertown which is added to the cost of the school fees.
- Cloisters
- The Cloisters are a part of the quad located between the Chapel and the Old Library. Traditionally this is where pupils would leave their books prior to attending lunch. The Cloisters are also home to the school noticeboards. There are notice boards for Games, Community Service, Music as well as announcements from the Warden and Sub Warden.
- Day Room
- The day room is the room within the boarding house where Shells must undertake prep. The day room is supervised by a House Prefect. In the fourth form pupils work at the studies in their rooms.
- Exeat
- Is what the school calls half term. Half term normally begins on a Saturday afternoon at 1pm and finishes the following Sunday at 9pm. It is the Latin for "he may go out".
- Fisher Field
- The school's first all weather astro turf pitch. It was named after Warden Fisher.
- Forum
- Upper school forum is a weekly hour long speech by an external visitor on something of interest. Past speakers have included Sir Richard Branson as well former politicians, current MPs and world leading scientists.
- Full School Uniform ("7.20")
- A full school uniform is given as a punishment to pupils who arrive late to lessons or who are not dressed correctly. Amongst pupils it is often known as a "7.20". A "7.20" involves reporting to the sub warden at 7.20pm in the evening prior to prep in full school uniform.
- Gaudy
- Gaudy is the school's annual prize giving ceremony. It was traditionally held on the first Saturday of the Summer Term Exeat but in 2002 was moved to the last day of the Summer Term. Gaudy is one of the only occasions on which pupils may walk on the quadrangle grass. Gaudy begins with a chapel service, this is followed by the prize giving ceremony in a marquee on the quad. Pupils then lunch with their parents prior to visiting various displays of work in classrooms. In the afternoon the school's 1st XI cricket team play the Martyrs (Old Boys).
- Grey Book
- The Grey Book is a list of all pupils and staff. Pupils are listed in year group order, house order and form order. It is only issued to staff.
- Horsebox
- A horsebox is the name given to a desk in the dayroom used by Shells. It has a lockable cupboard as well as shelves for storing books.
- House Gated (or Gated)
- A term used when a pupil has been caught breaking the school rules and their punishment is to be house gated. Typically a house gating lasts 48 hours and means that the pupil must be in house at all times, except during lessons, chapel and meal times.
- "In House"
- Has two meanings. Pupils are required to be "in house" during times such as prep or during study periods. Pupils also say on a Friday if they are "in house" or "out" for Sunday. If "in house" they are not going home to visit their parents and thus are the responsibility of the school.
- JCR
- The Junior Common Room is the common room for the Sixth Form. It use to have an alcoholic license that allowed pupils, under supervision, to purchase alcohol on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.
- Martyrs
- Old boys and girls who play sport together.
- North Wall
- The North Wall is the name given to the buildings that border South Parade.
- OSE
- OSE are old boys and girls of the school.
- Piggeries ("Pigs")
- Pigs is the school name for the playing fields known as Piggeries One and Piggeries Two. The fields were originally used by pigs.
- Prep
- Prep is the time set aside in the day for what is more commonly known as homework. Prep runs from 7.30pm-9.00pm during which time all pupils must be in their study "in house" working. Pupils are allowed to the library during this time but they must be signed out. Second Prep runs from 9.15pm-10.00pm. Second Prep is a lot more relaxed with pupils only required to be "in house"
- Senior Academic Tutor
- The Senior Academic Tutor is the most senior member of staff concerned primarily with pupils' academic performance.
- Shell
- A Shell is a first year. Shells are 13-14 years old.
- Shell Circus
- Activities undertaken by the Shells. Shell Circus takes place on a Wednesday afternoon and introduces the new pupils to all the activities on offer at the school.
- Special Gaudy
- Special Gaudy is held during the Winter Term. Old boys and girls from specific cohorts are invited back to the school. The day normally starts with a chapel service, followed by lunch and a speech by the Warden. Former pupils are then invitied to watch the afternoon's inter-school rugby match.
- Sub Warden
- The Sub Warden is the deputy headmaster
- Super House Gating
- Super House Gating is issued by the Sub Warden. It is a form of punishment and the duration of the super house gating will be dependent on what the pupil has done. Super House Gating involves getting a card signed every 45 minutes by a member of staff; the pupil must also be in house at all times and traditionally wasn't allowed into the house TV or games rooms. The pupil would be expected to attend all school meals including afternoon tea (which is optional when not super house gated).
- Theme
- Theme is held on a Sunday morning for pupils who wish not to attend chapel. It lasts for an hour and is conducted by a member of staff on a topical issue.
- "To The Warden"
- This term is normally written on outstanding pieces of work by a teacher. The pupil is then expected to go to the Warden's office at 8.15am on either a Tuesday or Thursday to show him the work. The Warden will congratulate the pupil and write a letter home to their parents.
- Upper One
- The school's most important pitch. It is where the 1st XV rugby team train and play. It is the only playing field that can be viewed from the Woodstock Road. Upper Two, located next to it, is the 1st XI cricket pitch.
- Warden
- The Warden is the headmaster.
- Work Block
- The Work Block is the main academic building in the school. It was originally home to the English, History, Geography, Politics and Economics departments. In 2004 the Work Block was reorganised and the Classics department moved in to take the place of the English department.
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OSE
Former pupils of St. Edward's are known as OSE. The St. Edward's Society (OSE) exists to maintain traditions and to promote the interests of the School, and to encourage mutual help between those who are and those who have been its members. It consists of past and present Wardens and members of the Masters' Common Room and all former pupils.
The society is run by Kay Bennett with David Wippell (a former housemaster and former head chaplain) as the Hon. Secretary of the society. Each year a new OSE President is elected. The OSE Society organise Special Gaudies for former pupils. Special Gaudies are held twice a year and are used as a means for former pupils to visit the school and see what has changed. The OSE Society also runs the very successful "OSE Undergraduate Evenings"; these evenings take place in notable university cities throughout the year, hosted by the Hon. Secretary.
All members of the society may wear the society tie which is blue, with a gold cup and dagger on it. Former pupils are entitled to wear the Rhubarb Tie.
Notable OSE include:
- Group Captain Douglas Bader, WWII fighter pilot
- Arthur Banks, WWII pilot awarded GC
- Pippa Bennett-Warner, actress
- John Berger, art critic, novelist, painter, and author
- Nicholas Budgen, Conservative MP
- Peter Carter-Ruck, lawyer
- Brian Cleeve, author and broadcaster
- John Davies, businessman and cabinet minister
- Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, DSO, OBE and CBE, founder of de Havilland Aircraft Company.
- George Fenton, Oscar nominated film composer
- James Forrester, England rugby union international
- Guy Gibson VC, Dambusters hero,
- Kenneth Grahame, author
- Teddy Kempner, actor
- David Lewis, Lord Mayor of the City of London.
- Norman Miscampbell, Conservative MP
- Georgia Moffett, actress
- Simon Nicholls, BBC comedy producer
- Lord Laurence Olivier, Oscar winning Actor, Director and Producer.
- Hugh Padgham, record producer
- Nicholas Pumfrey, judge
- Georgina Rylance, actress
- Louis Strange, WW1 pilot[4]
- Jon Snow, Channel 4 newscaster
- Stephen Tumin, judge
- William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire
- Adrian Warburton, DSO and Bar, DFC and Two Bars, highly decorated World War II British pilot
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International links
The school has built up links with a number of schools around the world, these include:
- The Gilman School Baltimore, USA.
- Gilman and St. Edward's operate a scholarship known as the Hardie Scholarship. One Lower Sixth boy from St. Edward's studies at Gilman during March/April and a Junior from Gilman studies at St. Edward's during June. The scholarship was created by Thomas G Hardie II and his wife Dee Hardie in the 1970's. Mr Hardie died on June 7th 2007. Gilman and St. Edward's have confirmed the scholarship will continue. The ties between Gilman and Teddies were further strengthened in 2003 when the Gilman School choir sung at Teddies as part of their UK tour and again in 2007 when the Teddies choir sung at Gilman as part of their US Tour. St. Edward's will hold a joint concert with Gilman in March 2008 to celebrate the life of Mr Hardie.
- Roland Park Country School, Baltimore, USA.
- In 2004 St. Edward's established an exchange programme with Roland Park. The programme runs at the same time as the Harry Hardie Scholarship, with one lower sixth girl from St. Edward's studying at Roland Park and a Junior girl from Roland Park studying at St. Edward's.
- The Doon School, India.
- An exchange programme was set up in 2002 which saw a lower sixth boy study at Doon School and a lower sixth boy from Doon study at Teddies.
- The King's School, Sydney
- King's traditionally play Teddies once every two years during their UK Rugby tour. 2003 was the first time Teddies played King's in Sydney.
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References
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External links
- St Edward's School website
- The North Wall Arts Centre
- St. Edward's School Esporta Health and Racquets Club
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