St George's School, Windsor Castle is a coeducational independent preparatory school in Windsor, near London, England. Founded to provide choirboys for the Choir of St George's Chapel, it now educates over 400 boys and girls.
Video St George's School, Windsor Castle
History
The school was established to provide six choristers for the Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which sings in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which is the official country residence of the British Royal Family. St George's is one of the oldest schools in the country, and has provided an unbroken line of boy choristers to sing daily services in St George's Chapel since 1352.
As late as 1942 the school was reported by its headmaster as being "for the sons of Gentlemen only".
The school's choristers have sung at events such as the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, now the Countess of Wessex; the funeral of John Hunt, Baron Hunt; and also the Blessing of the Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Maps St George's School, Windsor Castle
Present day
The seventeen full choristers live at the school, with about seven 'probationers' who are mostly day pupils. The choristers attend lessons at the school with the other children and rehearse each day before and after school in the Song School by the Chapel, where they also sing seven services each week during term time. Their school fees are partly met by grants from the Dean and Canons of Windsor.
The school has a boarding community of thirty children, many of whom board on weekly or flexible arrangements. Most pupils have experienced some level of boarding before they leave at 13.
The school buildings are situated just below the north wall of Windsor Castle, with the school being divided into three distinct sections - the Pre-Prep (Nursery to Year 2) the Middle School (Years 3, 4 and 5) and the Senior School (Years 6, 7 and 8).
The school has strong reputations in music, the performing arts and in sport. Nearly all pupils over the age of 7 learn an instrument, the vast majority of girls take part in ballet, tap or jazz dancing and there is a wide range of school choirs covering all age-groups.
Although the school is a town centre school, spacious playing fields are situated next door to the school site, within the Queen's private grounds. Boys play football, rugby and cricket and the girls play netball, hockey, and rounders. Swimming in the school's indoor pool is an important activity - in recent years the school has featured prominently in a number of National Prep School sporting competitions.
Headmasters
- 1893-95: A. Bickerseth
- 1885-1904: H. F. W. Deane, MA
- 1904-34: G. S. Fowler, MA
- 1934-42: James William Webb-Jones
- 1942-45: P. H. C. Cavanaugh (Acting Headmaster)
- 1946-71: W. P. O. Cleave
- 1971-83: Richard Russell CVO
- 1983-92: George Hill LVO
- 1992-93: Bernard Biggs
- 1993: Anthony Brailsford (Acting Headmaster)
- 1993-95: Alan Mould
- 1995-99: Revd Roger Marsh
- 1999: Alan Mould (Interregnum; Autumn Term)
- 2000-11: Roger Jones LVO
- 2011-12: Andrew Salmond-Smith
- currently: Chris McDade
Notable pupils
- Sir Walford Davies (1869-1941), composer.
- Timothy Bavin (born 1935), Anglican bishop
- Michael Chance (born 1955), countertenor
- John Denison (1911-2006), music administrator
- David Fanshawe (1942-2010), classical composer
- John David Morley (born 1948), writer and novelist
- Francis Grier (born 1955), classical composer
- Miles Jupp (born 1979), comedian
- John Lubbock (born 1979), conductor
- Princess Eugenie of York (born 1990), daughter of The Duke of York and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II
- Lady Louise Windsor (born 2003), daughter of The Earl of Wessex and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II
- Viscount Severn (born 2007), son of The Earl of Wessex and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II (currently attending)
See also
- List of the oldest schools in the world
- St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
Notes
External links
- School website
- ISI Inspection Reports
- Ofsted boarding report 2007
- History of the Choristers at St George's Chapel
- Choir Schools Association
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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