Royal Hospital School

The Royal Hospital School, Holbrook
The Royal Hospital School, Holbrook
Location
	Holbrook, Suffolk, IP9 2RX; England
Coordinates	51°58′20″N 1°08′59″E / 51.9723°N 1.1497°E
Information
School type	Public School ; Independent boarding and day ; Royal Foundation ; Royal Navy Heritage
Mottoes	'Celebrating Britain's seafaring heritage through educating for the future' ; "The Cradle of the Navy" ; "Fear God and Honour the King"; "Otia Tuta" - motto of Greenwich Hospital; (Latin: Ease after Toil)
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Established	1694 royal charter; 1712 Greenwich; 1933 Holbrook
Founders	William III and Mary II
Sister school	College of William and Mary
Local authority	Suffolk
Trust	Greenwich Hospital
Department for Education URN	124889 Tables
Chair	Chair of Governors ; Mr. Trevor Rowell
Director	Director of Greenwich Hospital ; Mrs. Deirdre Mills
Headmaster	Mr. Irfan Latif
Chaplain	Rev. L Mumford
Staff	72
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	c. 760
Campus type	Rural
Houses	9 Houses: Blake (Junior House); Collingwood (M); Hood (F); Howe (F); St. Vincent (M); Raleigh (Day House); Cornwallis (Day House); Drake (Day House); Nelson (Upper Sixth);
Colour(s)	School Scarf
Slogan	Navigating success ;
Song	"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" - Royal Navy Hymn
Sports	Athletics, Cricket, Hockey, Rugby, Netball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Fitness, Golf, Football, Horse Riding, Kickboxing, Sailing, Swimming, Tennis.
Publication	"The Magazine" ; "The Gidge" - Alumni Magazine
Feeder to	Historically: Royal Navy ; British Army ; Royal Air Force ; Royal Military Academy Sandhurst ; Britannia Royal Naval College ;
Affiliation	HMC (The Heads' Conference)
Alumni	Royal Hospital School Association
Charitable Association	Greenwich Hospital
Website	http://www.royalhospitalschool.org

The Royal Hospital School (commonly abbreviated as "RHS" and historically nicknamed "The Cradle of the Navy"^[1]) is a British co-educational fee-charging international boarding and day school with naval traditions. The school admits pupils aged 11 to 18 (years 7 to 13) through Common Entrance or its own examination. The school is regulated by an Act of Parliament.^[2]

The school is located in the village of Holbrook, near Ipswich, Suffolk, England.^[3] The school's campus is in the Queen Anne style and set on 200 acres (0.81 km²) of countryside. It overlooks the River Stour, Suffolk on the Shotley Peninsula in an area known as Constable Country.^[4]

The Royal Hospital School was established by a royal charter in 1712.^[5] It was originally located at Greenwich Hospital, but then moved in 1933 to East Anglia.^[6]

During World War One, 1,000 former RHS pupils served on Royal Navy ships at the Battle of Jutland (31 May – 1 June 1916). At least 101 former RHS pupils died in that battle.^[7]

The school is the only United Kingdom independent boarding school to be continuously granted the Queen's Banner. It also flies its own Admiralty-approved Royal Hospital School Blue Ensign. It is one of only two UK schools whose students have the privilege of wearing Royal Navy uniforms, the other being Pangbourne College in Berkshire.^{[citation needed]}

The school is affiliated to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).^[8]

Overview

Seafaring traditions are important and integral elements of school life, and Royal Navy uniforms (sailor suits) are issued to all pupils and used for ceremonial and formal events. The school is owned by the Crown naval charity, Greenwich Hospital, providing a number of means-tested bursaries for families with a seafaring background.^[9]

The school also emphasizes leadership development. The Combined Cadet Force along with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme are the most popular co-curricular activities at the Royal Hospital School.^{[citation needed]} The Combined Cadet Force also includes a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Section.^[10] HMS Illustrious is affiliated with the Royal Navy CCF.^[11] The Army Section is affiliated with the Army Air Corps.^[12]

The front of the main building, overlooking the sports pitches

The Royal Hospital School has a partnership with The College of William and Mary in Virginia.^[13]

The Royal Hospital School is a boarding and day school with weekly boarding, three-night boarding, and 'flexi' or ad hoc boarding options.^[14]

Pupils

As of June 2024, between 620 and 690 pupils were enrolled at the school.^[15]^[16]^[17] Approximately 450 students board on a full-time, weekly or 3-night basis.^[16] It is one of the largest boarding schools in East Anglia.^{[citation needed]}

There are around 100 international students^{[citation needed]} from 28 countries.^[18] The school has specialist staff for international students and provides English as an Additional Language.^[19]

Academics

The school uses the National Curriculum Key Stages 3 (Years 7–9), 4 (Years 10–11), and 5 (Years 12–13), and provides a large choice of subjects for study.^[20]

Subjects Offered ^[21]
Subject Name	Years taken	Qualification Type
Compass	Y7 - Y9	N/A
PSHE	Y10 - Y13	N/A
English Language	Y7 - Y11 (Compulsory) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
English Literature	Y7 - Y11 (Compulsory) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Mathematics	Y7 - Y11 (Compulsory) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Further Mathematics	Y12 - Y13	A-level
French	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory OR Spanish) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Spanish	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory OR French) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Science (Combined)	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory) Y10 - 11 (Combined Science)	GCSE
Geography	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
History	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Design Technology	Y7 - Y8 (Compulsory) Y9 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Art	Y7 - Y8 (Compulsory) Y9 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Music	Y7 - Y8 (Compulsory) Y9 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Drama	Y7 - Y8 (Compulsory) Y9 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Computing	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Religious Studies	Y7 - Y9 (Compulsory) Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Latin	Y7 - Y8 (Compulsory) Y9 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Biology	Y10 - Y11 (Separate Science) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Chemistry	Y10 - Y11 (Separate Science) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Physics	Y10 - Y11 (Separate Science) Y12 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship	Y12 - Y13	BTEC
Business Studies	Y10 - Y13	GCSE, A-level
Media Studies	Y10 - Y13	GCSE, BTEC
Physical Studies	Y10 - Y13	GCSE, BTEC
Psychology	Y12 - Y13	A-level
Politics	Y12 - Y13	A-level

Co-Curricular

CCF

When a student reaches year 9, they are required to participate in Combined Cadet Force (CCF). CCF aims to enhance the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, endurance and perseverance and to develop leadership and resourcefulness. In year 9, students are taught the basics of leadership and fieldcraft; when students reach year 10, they are able to pick a 'section' in which to go into. These are: Royal Navy (RN), Royal Marines (RM), Army and Royal Air Force (RAF).^[22]

As part of CCF, pupils can participate in a wide range of activities including: first aid, navigation, shooting, field craft, and self-reliance; with opportunities for students to participate in section competitions against other schools/cadets. There are also opportunities for sailing, flying, rock-climbing, coasteering, power-boating and many other outdoor pursuits. Alongside air-rifle, small bore and Cadet GP Rifle shooting in the school's own shooting range.^[23]

DofE

Similarly to CCF, all year 9 pupils are required to sign up the "Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme" as part of their Co-Curricular/CCF sessions. Expeditions for Bronze, Silver and Gold take place annually; with Bronze taking place locally, Silver taking place in the Peak District and with Gold taking place in Scotland (usually Rannoch Moor).^[24]

History

The school was originally located at Greenwich Hospital, in what is now the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. The Hospital was founded in 1694, and the school in 1712, both by royal charter.^[25]^[26] In the 1820s, the Royal Naval Asylum school was incorporated into the school.^[27] The original purpose of the school was to provide assistance and education to the orphans of seafarers in the Royal and Merchant Navies, and it was once the largest school for navigation and seamanship in the country.^[28]

The school relocated to Holbrook in 1933.^[6] The Holbrook campus was designed by the Birmingham-based arts and crafts architect Herbert Tudor Buckland and built by J. Gerrard & Sons Ltd of Swinton. Most of the buildings are now Grade II listed, with the main range and chapel also being Grade II*.^{[citation needed]}

Historically, the Royal Hospital School exclusively admitted children or grandchildren of seafarers. This policy was in place until the mid-20th century. During this period, up until the 1950s, it was also mandatory for boys attending the school to pursue careers in the Royal or Merchant Navies. Consequently, the curriculum was heavily centered around maritime subjects. Although these requirements have been discontinued for several decades, the school continues to uphold certain naval traditions. These include wearing naval uniforms, conducting divisions (formal parades and march-pasts typical in the armed forces), and incorporating marching as part of the school's activities.^{[citation needed]}

In 1991 the school became coeducational, with the girls first being introduced into Hood house, followed by Cornwallis, Howe and Blake (now co-educational) and Anson. Girls initially had a different naval uniform from boys, but this was changed to match the boys' uniform, and subsequently followed the changes in dress as seen in the Royal Navy. The first female Head of School was appointed in 1992 to work alongside the male Head of School.^{[citation needed]}

In 1994 the entire school was bussed to Greenwich Hospital to parade in front of Queen Elizabeth II, in celebration of the tercentenary of the Hospital. The parade took place on the parade ground in front of the Queen's House. In 2012 the school marked three hundred years since its foundation with the opening of a Heritage Centre, publication of a commemorative book and a formal dinner in the Painted Hall at Greenwich.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005 RHS was one of 50 of the country's leading independent schools which were found guilty of running an illegal price-fixing cartel which had allowed them to drive up fees for thousands of parents.^[29] Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000, and all agreed to make ex-gratia payments totaling £3 million into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools during the period in which fee information was shared.^[30]

Greenwich Hospital

Greenwich Pensioner, 1845

The school was founded by royal charter and is maintained by Greenwich Hospital.^[31] The hospital provides bursaries to a number of pupils. The school also awards academic, sports, music and sailing scholarships, as well as bursaries and discounts to the children of seafarers in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Merchant Navy.^[32]

Traditions

Boys of The Royal Hospital School, Greenwich c.1900

Many of the modern-day Royal Hospital School traditions are associated with the Royal Navy or seafaring. For example, key naval events are celebrated, as the school has provision for sailing, and has a ceremonial guard and marching band.^{[citation needed]}

Naval uniforms

As well as standard school uniform, both boys and girls wear Naval uniforms for ceremonial occasions such as "Divisions." This is a ceremony in which each house forms two squads, Junior and Senior, and performs a march on the parade square, with music played by the marching band and the Guard of Honour holds a key role. All house petty officers (POs) wear a chevron on their left arm. The school's chiefs, approximately 20 Upper 6th Formers, wear chief petty officer ranks and uniform, including canes. The deputy heads of school (two boy and two girl prefects) carry the rank of warrant officer (second class). The heads of school (one boy and one girl prefect) carry the rank of warrant officer (first class).^{[citation needed]}

The Royal Hospital School
The Royal Hospital School	Head of school						Deputy head of school		School Chief		House Petty officer

Music

The Royal Hospital School has a distinctive musical tradition, with all pupils required to attend weekly congregation practice. The £3.6 million Reade Music School opened in 2008.^[33]

The Royal Hospital School marching band is a perennial part of school life. The band is managed by a former member of the Royal Marines Band Service, and the band's style is modelled on the Royal Marines. When the school forms up in divisions on the parade square, the band forms a separate division, larger than the others. It has travelled abroad for tours including to Sri Lanka and the USA. Some of the marches played include Heart of Oak, A Life on the Ocean Wave, "Holbrook March" and Royal Salute.^{[citation needed]}

Band members were part of the orchestra for the premier performance of Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde on 18 June 1958 in Orford Church, Suffolk, as part of the Aldeburgh Festival, with the English Opera Group and a local cast.^[34]

The grand organ, a four-manual instrument, by William Hill & Son & Norman & Beard Ltd. was installed in the chapel in 1933.^[35]

School songs

"Go Forth With God" by Martin Shaw to the tune of Toc H.
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save"
"Holbrook" composed for the school by lifelong supporter Benjamin Britten
”Holbrook March” composed for the school by former Principal Director of Music Royal Marines, Lt Col Sir Vivian Dunn KCVO OBE FRSA Royal Marines
"Jerusalem"

Events

Burns Night
House Shout
School Plays and Musicals
Music Recitals and Concerts
Christmas Dinner
Alumni Reunion including Sporting Events
Trafalgar Dinner
Speech Day
Remembrance Sunday
Leavers Ball

School slang

RHS has developed a number of small traditions and practices over its 300 years of existence, with many still in use today. Many of these slang phrases have roots in the navy, but many are also unique to RHS and its traditions ^[36]

"Divis" or "Divvies" short for Divisions
"DH" short for Dining Hall
"Civvies" slang for civilian clothing
"Chiefs" slang for school prefects
"Congo" short for congregational practice
"Mess" naval slang for a meal

Chapel

The chapel is central to RHS life. It is compulsory for pupils to attend a short service every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Congregational practice is also held within the chapel every Saturday morning. A service is held most Sundays, compulsory for any boarders on site. As part of the chapel service, it is common for a musician (usually a music scholar) to play a small piece as part of the service during the week. The mosaics in the apse are by Eric Newton, later to become art critic to The Guardian. The chapel is a Grade II* listed building.^[37]

Royal Foundation

The Royal Hospital School has connections with the British royal family. These connections are principally The royal charter, School Visitor, and King's & Queen's Banners. The school's political breadth is shown by both its acknowledgement of its royal connections and its honouring the great republican hero, Robert Blake (admiral), after whom a House is named.^{[citation needed]}

Many members of the royal family have involved themselves with the development of the school. Mary II's involvement with the Royal Hospital School is noted as "the darling object of her life".^[25]

William III and Mary II – First Benefactors.
Queen Anne – Donated confiscated properties of Captain Kidd.
George II – presented assets from confiscated properties of the Earl of Derwentwater.
George VI – Laid the foundation stone at Holbrook on 26 October 1928 (as the Duke of York).
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother – presented the Royal Banner to the Royal Hospital School.

Houses

All 11 Houses at the Royal Hospital School are named in honour of a famous seafarer.

Blake – co-educational boarding and day Year 7
St Vincent – boys' boarding Years 8–12
Hawke – boys' boarding Years 8–12
Collingwood – boys' boarding Years 8–12
Drake – co-educational day Year 8–12
Howe – girls' boarding Years 8–12
Anson – girls' boarding Years 8–12
Hood – girls' boarding Years 8–12
Raleigh – co-educational day Years 8–12
Cornwallis – co-educational day Years 8–12
Nelson – co-educational boarding and day Year 13

Sports

The school has inter-house sporting events and there are opportunities to enter inter-school competitions. Some school alumni have also gone on to be professional athletes.^{[citation needed]}

The main sports at the school are as follows:

Michaelmas Term: Boys – rugby union and sailing, Girls – hockey and sailing
Lent Term: Boys – hockey, cross country, rugby 7s and sailing, Girls – netball, cross country and sailing
Summer Term: Boys – cricket, athletics, tennis and sailing, Girls – cricket, tennis, athletics and sailing

The school has 96 acres of sports fields, an all-weather pitch, tennis and netball courts, squash courts, a sports hall, fitness suite, strength and conditioning room, martial arts studio, climbing wall, indoor pool, golf course, nearby equestrian facilities (Bylam Livery Stables) and the majority of the sailing programme is delivered at Alton Water that neighbours the school.^{[citation needed]}

Sailing is available to students all year round and the school takes pride in its rank as one of the best sailing schools in the country,^[38] with many students representing their nations at world sailing events. As well as the possibility to sail in school, a biennial sailing trip is offered to the school's sailors – the most recent trip having been Australia in 2017 and Greece in 2015.^{[citation needed]}