Established 1666 Ofsted Pre-academy reports Founder Sir Thomas Rich | Headteacher Mr M.S.R. Morgan Phone +44 1452 338400* Founded 1666 | |
Motto Garde Ta Foy (Keep The Faith) Type Grammar school;
Academy Location Oakleaze
Longlevens, Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL2 0LF
England Address Oakleaze, Gloucester GL2 0LF, UK Profiles | ||
Sir Thomas Rich's School is a grammar school with academy status for boys (aged 11–18) and girls (aged 16–18, in the sixth form) in Longlevens, Gloucester, England, locally known as "Tommies". It was founded in 1666 by Sir Thomas Rich, 1st Baronet Rich of Sonning. In key stage 3 and 4, the school can hold up to 120 pupils each year, with 30 pupils for each class.
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The Will
In Sir Thomas Rich's will of 1666 he left his Gloucester house, in Eastgate and £6,000 (a considerable sum for the time) for a school to be established for twenty poor boys in Gloucester. The money was mainly invested in farm land, with the rent paying for the running of the school. The school was opened in 1667, a year after Sir Thomas Rich's death. Sir Thomas Rich decreed that the pupils should wear "blue coats and caps according to the laudable usage of Christ Church Hospital in London." The blue drugget gown and yellow stockings were replaced in 1882 by the modern equivalent, the blue blazer. The uniform now consists of shirt, blazer (two varieties), tie (four varieties), black trousers, black socks and black or dark brown shoes.
Modern history
The school moved from the centre of Gloucester in May 1964. Changes included a new quadrangle of classrooms completed in 1994. The school has increased in size since 1990, with the addition of new buildings, such as a second quadrangle, sports hall, swimming pool, language block, music block, food technology block, and a newly built sixth form centre. During 2013, the older sections underwent modernisation.
Swimming pool
The school added a swimming pool in 1966 as part of the Tercentenary celebrations. It was closed in the early 1990s, after being disused since the mid-1980s, but re-opened in 1995. The pool is used by neighbouring junior schools and local community organisations.
Bowling green
The school has its own bowling green, available for use by senior pupils and by the Sir Thomas Rich's Bowls Club, and rented out to other organisations.
The "Old Gym"
The old gym is used for sports such as table tennis, basketball, and gymnastics; it is also used as a venue for exams. It was recently refurbished in time for the 2016-17 academic year.
Sports hall
Opened in 1999, the sports hall is part of the STRS Sports Centre complex which provides sports facilities for the school and Longlevens. The school also has a fitness suite that students are able to join for an annual fee. The hall is also rented out to other associations.
The W J Veale Language Block
Built in 2002, and named after former headmaster W. J. Veale, it originally had with five classrooms and one computer room for modern language tuition in connection with the school's recently received Language College status. In 2007, an extension provided another modern language room and three geography classrooms.
School Rugby
Sir Thomas Rich’s School has a Rugby Football Club
Learning Resource and Sixth Form Centre
In 2015 a new learning resource and sixth form centre was opened. The building replaced the outdated sixth form common rooms and the library.
Pavilion
In 2016 the school a new pavilion was built to overlook ongoing rugby games.