Redrice School
History
The school was founded by Adrian Stokes and Richard Arnold Jones in 1961 with patronage of The Bishop of Portsmouth. and with a Board of Governors chaired by Thomas Shaw, 3rd Baron Craigmyle. A later chairman was William O'Brien.
The school was dedicated to the 40 English Martyrs, whose names were given to the houses and dormitories. The school crest depicted the martyr's crown and palm leaves.
After the Second World War, there was an increased demand for Catholic education. In the private sector, the Catholic preparatory and public schools were often oversubscribed. When Redrice opened in 1961 it was the first entirely lay-run Catholic public school.
Originally, there was a planned limit of 200 boarders. A pupil could start after passing the Common Entrance examination, and end after taking 'A' levels. That five-year period, and through the use of streaming, gave an average class size of fewer than 15 pupils.
In 1969, the school began to admit girls.
The name changed in 1980 from 'Redrice School' to 'Redrice College' to assist in marketing the school abroad. The school closed in 1982, and the premises were taken over by Farleigh School.
The school's former pupils are named 'old martyrs'. Annual reunion dinners take place in London. In February 2013, there were over 140 ex-pupils connected in a Facebook group for ex-pupils and staff.
This Roman Catholic boarding school had the motto Alta Patens (English: 'Aiming High').
Building and grounds
Some trees were removed to create space for rugby and cricket fields. New buildings were built onto the existing building to accommodate classrooms and dormitories. Some attempts were made to convert an ornamental water garden into a swimming pool. A new house was built in the grounds as accommodation for one of the headmasters (Adrian Stokes) and his family.
Notable alumni
Notable staff
- Thomas Andrew Bull
- Alexander Ian McNaughton Davie
- Joseph O'Shea, poet
- John Eely Partridge
References
- ^ Schools, Volume 45; Volume 50; Volume 52. Published by Truman & Knightley Limited. 1975
- ^ Listing in The Catholic Directory, Ecclesiastical Register and Almanac 1968. page 382.
- ^ List of independent schools in England and Wales. Ministry of Education H.M.S.O., 1963 . page 44
- ^ An account of the opening of the School. The Ampleforth Journal, Volume 72. Page 255
- ^ "Revelation 2:10". King James Bible.
- ^ "Answers please on education policy". Catholic Herald.
- ^ "Another boys' school to admit girls". Catholic Herald.
- ^ "Girls at boys public schools". Catholic Herald.
- ^ From accounts given in the Redrice School annual magazines.
- ^ "Thomas Andrew Bull 1934 – 2009". Portugal News.
- ^ "Oratorian_issue38_autumn 2009" (PDF). Oratory School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2011.
- ^ "Davie, Alexander Ian McNaughton (1924–2000) poet and schoolteacher". Cambridge University.
- ^ Book: Siegfried Sassoon by Max Egremont. Page 503. ISBN 978-0330375276.
- ^ Book: Dedications. Publisher New Horizon, 1982.ISBN 978-0861164240
- ^ http://www.militarian.com/threads/bennetts-staff.1927/page-2 |Sqn.-Ldr. J. E. Partridge, D.S.O., D.F.C. (Instr.)