King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford)
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King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford, roughly in the middle of the county of Essex. It takes boys from the ages of 11 ("Year 7") to 18 ("Year 13"), although it becomes mixed in the sixth form ("Year 12" and "Year 13").
It was one of many grammar schools founded by King Edward VI, and its origin resulted from a royal warrant dated March 24, 1551[1] (http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/index.php?cat_num=4&subcat_num=1&id_num=0). The school was moved to its present site in Broomfield Road in 1892[2] (http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/index.php?cat_num=4&subcat_num=1&id_num=0).
Anthony Tuckwell, headmaster of KEGS from 1984 to 1999, is the author of a history of the school, entitled, 'That honourable and gentlemanlike House', a history of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001.
The are four "Houses" of pupils, Holland, Mildmay, Strutt, and Tindal, dividing the school alphabetically. The four Houses, each with a staff housemaster/mistress and a sixth-form house-captain, compete throughout the year in sporting, musical, dramatical, and other events to gain points towards the house championship. Each House has a colour: Holland- blue; Mildmay- yellow; Tindal- red; Strutt- green.
The present headmaster is Dr. Michael Walker, who succeeded Mr. Tuckwell in 1999, having taught history at the school since 1989.
The school has been relatively successful over recent years, tending to be in the top 10 schools in the country. KEGS is a Foundation and Leading Edge school, and has recently became a Science specialist school.
The school maintains an Army contingent of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). The contingent's band, a Corps of Drums playing drums, bugles and fifes, wears the full dress scarlet tunics of The Essex Regiment, incorporating the purple facings which gave the Essex Regiment its nickname 'The Pompadours'. It carries the drums of the 4/5th Battalion (Territorial Army) emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.
The school has a Junior Orchestra and Senior Orchestra, which both include members from other schools, though the majority are from KEGS and Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CHS or CCHS). There are also various other ensembles which are normally comprised only of KEGS pupils, including the Chamber Ensemble, KEGS Strings (the junior string ensemble), and the Wind Band.
In 2001 the school was named as the Sunday Times School of the Year.
Noted alumni
- Lord Fowler, British Conservative politician; former Cabinet minister
- Mike Smith, British touring car driver and television presenter
- Nicholas Sommerlad, British journalist and husband of Sinéad O'Connor
- Grayson Perry, 2003 Turner Prize winner
- Tom Jenkinson, prominent electronic and jazz musician
External links
- The official KEGS website (http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/)
- KEGS Moodle (http://www.kegsnet.org.uk)