King Edward VI College has a proud historical background dating back to 1552 when it was first established.
King Edward VI Grammar School came into being on 11 May 1552 as a grammar school, following the grant of a royal charter by King Edward VI. The school was originally a fee paying school, although the county council provided some scholarships, and became non-fee paying as a result of the education act of 1944. The voluntary aided school had around 400 boys in the 1960s. In 1974 the grammar school closed and was re-established as King Edward VI College. The oldest surviving school building located in the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church dates from 1595, was rebuilt in 1696 and was used as a school until 1880. In 1880 the Grammar school was relocated to the current site on King Edward Road, the other side of the church yard. The new building was built in a Tudor style by the architect C.C. Rolfe. The old Grammar school was badly damaged in the second world war, the single storey part having to be rebuilt. During these works two roof beams were found from the older 1596 building. These are now displayed in the hallway of the building. The college was frequently extended during the 20th century to accommodate growing numbers of students. The Arnold Building, a new building opposite the main college site, was completed in 1994. In 2006 another small building was constructed next to the Arnold Building to hold the history department.
Future college expansion to deal with an increasing student population is difficult as the original building is listed and the surrounding area is extremely close to Nuneaton's town centre. A plan for a 'new college' which amalgamates King Edward VI College and North Warwickshire and Hinckley College under a joint campus was announced in late 2007. The initial plan was for a new campus located in the town centre replacing several existing developments. A public consultation on the plans held in early 2008 found 47% of those taking part against them and 46% in favour. Ultimately the plan was rejected by Warwickshire County Council in May 2008. The colleges were considering expanding on the Hinckley Road site of the North Warwickshire and Hinckley College however this did not go ahead.
Timeline:
• 1552 - the school was established near St Nicolas Church, following the grant of a royal charter by King Edward V1.
• 1799- the first boarders were taken at the school.
• 1870s – cricket, football and athletics was introduced.
• 1880 - the new Grammar School was relocated to the other side of the church yard, to the current site on King Edward Road. The new Tudor style building was designed by architect Clapton Rolfe. Fees were introduced
• 1892 – there were 60 students and 4 members of staff.
• 1921 – there was a move from football to rugby
• 1923 - there were 254 boys and 11 staff
• 1925 – a House system was introduced. 4 Houses: Nuneaton (white), Coton (blue), Stockingford (yellow), County (green).
• 1929 – the House system based on geography was replaced with names of the 4 House Masters: Day’s (white), Sheffield’s (blue), Hill’s (yellow), Gale’s (green),
• 1930 – a red and white striped uniform was introduced.
• 1935 - New House names Grene’s, Ellyot’s, Walton’s, and Sadler’s, the names of the first four recorded Masters of the Grammar School in the 16th Century
• 1941 – the school was bombed resulting in extensive damage to buildings. Junior students were re-housed in the head masters house and senior students at the Girls High School.
• 1944 – the school became non-fee paying.
• 1963 – the re-building work was completed.
• 1974 - the grammar school was closed and was then re-established as King Edward VI College. This is when the first girl students arrived.
• The oldest surviving building dating from 1695 is still in use today as the parish office.
Notable Alumni
• 1575: William Burton, author of Description of Leicestershire
• 1577: Robert Burton, author of Anatomy of Melancholy
• 1882: Geoffrey de Havilland, Aviation Pioneer
• 1890: Professor Vincent Illing, Petroleum Geologist
1924: Sir Ewen Broadbent, KCB Senior Civil Servant
• 1925: Lord Plumb, President of the National Farmers Union, President of the European Parliament
• 1926: Professor Sir Philip Randle, Biochemist: researcher into diabetes
• 1936: Ken Loach, TV and Film Director.
• 1938: Bill Hays Stage and T.V. director
• 1948: Professor Chris Husbands, Director of the Institute of Education
• 1973: Jonathan Swain, News Reporter
• 1974: Marcus Jones, Conservative MP
• Jim Lee, Radio 4 Announcer
• Richard Hodges, Lawyer and disability campaigner
There is an excellent book on the history of the School called "Leeke's Legacy: A History of King Edward VI School, Nuneaton" by David Paterson, published 2011. This is the fullest history yet (and the first for nearly 60 years) of King Edward's Nuneaton from its earliest times to the end of the Grammar School in 1974.
King Edward VI Grammar School came into being on 11 May 1552 as a grammar school, following the grant of a royal charter by King Edward VI. The school was originally a fee paying school, although the county council provided some scholarships, and became non-fee paying as a result of the education act of 1944. The voluntary aided school had around 400 boys in the 1960s. In 1974 the grammar school closed and was re-established as King Edward VI College. The oldest surviving school building located in the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church dates from 1595, was rebuilt in 1696 and was used as a school until 1880. In 1880 the Grammar school was relocated to the current site on King Edward Road, the other side of the church yard. The new building was built in a Tudor style by the architect C.C. Rolfe. The old Grammar school was badly damaged in the second world war, the single storey part having to be rebuilt. During these works two roof beams were found from the older 1596 building. These are now displayed in the hallway of the building. The college was frequently extended during the 20th century to accommodate growing numbers of students. The Arnold Building, a new building opposite the main college site, was completed in 1994. In 2006 another small building was constructed next to the Arnold Building to hold the history department.
Future college expansion to deal with an increasing student population is difficult as the original building is listed and the surrounding area is extremely close to Nuneaton's town centre. A plan for a 'new college' which amalgamates King Edward VI College and North Warwickshire and Hinckley College under a joint campus was announced in late 2007. The initial plan was for a new campus located in the town centre replacing several existing developments. A public consultation on the plans held in early 2008 found 47% of those taking part against them and 46% in favour. Ultimately the plan was rejected by Warwickshire County Council in May 2008. The colleges were considering expanding on the Hinckley Road site of the North Warwickshire and Hinckley College however this did not go ahead.
Timeline:
• 1552 - the school was established near St Nicolas Church, following the grant of a royal charter by King Edward V1.
• 1799- the first boarders were taken at the school.
• 1870s – cricket, football and athletics was introduced.
• 1880 - the new Grammar School was relocated to the other side of the church yard, to the current site on King Edward Road. The new Tudor style building was designed by architect Clapton Rolfe. Fees were introduced
• 1892 – there were 60 students and 4 members of staff.
• 1921 – there was a move from football to rugby
• 1923 - there were 254 boys and 11 staff
• 1925 – a House system was introduced. 4 Houses: Nuneaton (white), Coton (blue), Stockingford (yellow), County (green).
• 1929 – the House system based on geography was replaced with names of the 4 House Masters: Day’s (white), Sheffield’s (blue), Hill’s (yellow), Gale’s (green),
• 1930 – a red and white striped uniform was introduced.
• 1935 - New House names Grene’s, Ellyot’s, Walton’s, and Sadler’s, the names of the first four recorded Masters of the Grammar School in the 16th Century
• 1941 – the school was bombed resulting in extensive damage to buildings. Junior students were re-housed in the head masters house and senior students at the Girls High School.
• 1944 – the school became non-fee paying.
• 1963 – the re-building work was completed.
• 1974 - the grammar school was closed and was then re-established as King Edward VI College. This is when the first girl students arrived.
• The oldest surviving building dating from 1695 is still in use today as the parish office.
Notable Alumni
• 1575: William Burton, author of Description of Leicestershire
• 1577: Robert Burton, author of Anatomy of Melancholy
• 1882: Geoffrey de Havilland, Aviation Pioneer
• 1890: Professor Vincent Illing, Petroleum Geologist
1924: Sir Ewen Broadbent, KCB Senior Civil Servant
• 1925: Lord Plumb, President of the National Farmers Union, President of the European Parliament
• 1926: Professor Sir Philip Randle, Biochemist: researcher into diabetes
• 1936: Ken Loach, TV and Film Director.
• 1938: Bill Hays Stage and T.V. director
• 1948: Professor Chris Husbands, Director of the Institute of Education
• 1973: Jonathan Swain, News Reporter
• 1974: Marcus Jones, Conservative MP
• Jim Lee, Radio 4 Announcer
• Richard Hodges, Lawyer and disability campaigner
There is an excellent book on the history of the School called "Leeke's Legacy: A History of King Edward VI School, Nuneaton" by David Paterson, published 2011. This is the fullest history yet (and the first for nearly 60 years) of King Edward's Nuneaton from its earliest times to the end of the Grammar School in 1974.
Pictures marked * (c) Colin Paterson, for which grateful acknowledgement is given
