Established 1441 Headmaster Nicholas Robinson Address Cambridge CB3 9DN, UK Total enrollment 402 (2010) Founded 1441 Gender Mixed-sex education | Religion Church of England Chair of Governors Prof Robert Foley Phone +44 1223 365814 Founder Henry VI of England Chairperson Robert Foley | |
Type Independent preparatory day and boarding
Choral foundation school Location West Road
Cambridge
CB3 9DN
England | ||
King's College School is a coeducational independent preparatory school in Cambridge, England, situated on West Road off Grange Road, west of the city centre. It was founded to educate the choristers in the King's College Choir during the 15th century. Although no longer located on College grounds, it remains an integral part of the Chapel's musical tradition and is still governed by and receives some funding from the College. The most recent full integrated Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection awarded the grade ‘excellent’ in all 9 categories.
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History
King's College was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI. By 1447 the full complement of 16 choristers had been recruited to sing in the chapel. They were likely educated by a fellow until the appoint of the first Informator Chorustarum (Master over the Choristers) in 1456, Robert Brantham. The existence of a dedicated school building was recorded during the Counter-Reformation when a visitation of the University in 1557 inspected the "chorusters chamber and schole" and took away a number of books deemed to be unsuitable.
The school has moved location several times since it's inception. By 1693 it was located in a building to the south-east of the chapel, next to King's Parade. In this year that building was demolished and replaced with a brick building which continued to house the school through most of the eighteenth century. In 1828 the Wilkins building on the south side of the court opposite the chapel was opened and the school was housed in rooms within it.
In order to widen the field from which selection of choristers could take place, and in response to improving musical standards in other English choirs, it was decided to open a boarding house to accommodate choristers from outside Cambridge. This was opened on the current site in 1878. From 1976 girls were admitted, and as the school expanded, it opened a pre-preparatory department.
Boarding
The boarding programme is open only to boys. Choristers are full boarders while other boys return home for the weekend.
Alumni
Heads
The following headmasters have served since 1878 when the school relocated to its present site in West Road: