Sir William Romney's School, Tetbury

Sir William Romney's School
Location
Map
Tetbury
,
Gloucestershire
,
GL8 8AE
Coordinates51°38′48″N 2°09′37″W / 51.6466°N 2.1604°W / 51.6466; -2.1604
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1610 (1610) (as Tetbury Grammar School)
Department for Education URN136985 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadteacherWill Ruscoe
Age11 to 16
Enrolment484
HousesPegasus, Orion, Andromeda, Hydra
Websiteswr.gloucs.sch.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Sir William Romney's School is an 11–16 secondary school with academy status in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. Pupils come from the Tetbury, Leighterton, Stroud, Cirencester, Nailsworth and Avening areas. In 2016 the school achieved a 'Good' rating from Ofsted.[1]

History

Sir William Romney (d. 1611), a native of Tetbury, was one of the founders of the East India Company. He set aside some money in his will for a school to help children read and write.[2]

In 1837 a National School was built off the Charlton road.[3] In 1921 a grammar school called Sir Willam Romney's School was opened in Long Street. In 1952 it had become a comprehensive school, and in 1969 it moved to the current site at the end of Lowfield Road. The school was awarded Performing Arts status in 2005.[4]

Despite a fight to keep the school's sixth form from closing, Sir William Romney's 16 to 18 provision ended in 2007.[5]

The school's 400th anniversary was celebrated in 2010.[6] In 2020 Sir William Romney's School joined The Athelstan Trust, a multi-academy trust consisting of secondary schools in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Headteachers

  • 1995–2008: Eric Dawson
  • 2008–2016: Steven Mackay
  • 2016–2022: Jon Bell
  • 2023: Rob Skipp (acting head)
  • Since 2023: Will Ruscoe

Pipe organ

In 2017 a 19th-century pipe organ, built by William Sweetland of Bath, was relocated to the school from Claremont Methodist Chapel, Bath.[7] The two-manual organ is in the main hall and has 13 speaking stops. The cost of relocating the organ was met by parents and friends of the school. The organ relocation was carried out by head of music, Peter Dillon, assisted by a retired organ builder.

The organ has the following departments and stops:[8]

  • Pedal: Bourdon 16'
  • Great: Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Clarabella 8', Principal 4', Flute 4', Fifteenth 2'
  • Swell (fully enclosed): Open Diapason 8', Lieblich Gedact 8', Salicional 8', Vox Celeste 8', Principal 4', Oboe 8'

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Sir William Romney's School". Gloucestershire Live. 20 June 2019. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. ^ Shepherd, Charlotte (9 November 2010). "400 years at Tetbury school". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. ^ Baggs, A. P.; Jurica, A. R. J.; Sheils, W. J. (1976). "Tetbury: Education". In Herbert, N. M.; Pugh, R. B. (eds.). A History of the County of Gloucestershire, Volume 11. Victoria County History. University of London. pp. 281–282. Retrieved 6 December 2022 – via British History Online.
  4. ^ "Sir William Romney's School". TES. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Reprieved sixth form set to close". BBC. 8 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. ^ Shepherd, Charlotte (26 September 2010). "400 year anniversary marked in style at Tetbury school". Wilts and Glos Standard. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Nexus Methodist Church". Nexus Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  8. ^ "NPOR [K00677]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies.


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