Rossall School (FY7 8JW)

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Rossall School,
Fleetwood, Lancashire, England, FY7 8JW.
Telephone: 01253 774201
To update school contact details click here
Rossall School
Motto Mens Agitat Molem ("Mind moves matter")
Established 1844
Headmaster Mr. Timothy J. Wilbur
Deputy Headmaster Mr. Fergus Q. Livingstone
Location Fleetwood, Lancashire, England
Enrollment 660 students
Faculty Circa 80 full-time
Founder Revd. St. Vincent Beechey
Colours Red, Blue and White
Homepage www.rossall.co.uk

Rossall School is a co-educational, independent, day and boarding school inbetween Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. It was founded in 1844 by The Rev. St Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year. Its establishment was "with the object of giving to the sons of clergymen and others an education similar to that of the great public schools, but without the great cost of Eton or Harrow, and embracing also a more general course of instruction in modern literature and science.") Set in an 160 acre estate next to Rossall Beach, Rossall is also a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and was granted a royal charter on October 21st 1890.

Contents

[edit] Rossall Today

The daily timetable consists of 5 one hour schools (periods) a day: with a break between schools 2 & 3 and lunch after school 3. With optional activites after school. Tea is also offered to boarders. Lessons are from Monday to Friday and Saturday morning. It offers both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma to its Sixth form students.

[edit] Monitors

The school offers various levels of responsibilty to the sixth form students. The monitors may be chosen for various reasons, with some becoming monitors by default. For example House Captains automatically become school monitors, as does the captain of rugby.

Role Appointed By Duties
House Monitor Housemaster Usually have to take certain rolls, ensure house duties and punishments are enforced for missing chapel or roll and maintain the status quo in the house.
School Monitor Housemaster & Headmaster The running of the school chapel services and the running of the dining hall at meal-times
House Captain Housemaster Ensuring that house monitors do their job properly, creating rotas for their House Monitors, helping with social problems within the house and organising house teams for inter-house competitions.
School Captain Headmaster Organising all of the School Monitors as well attending other functions on behalf of the school

[edit] School Uniform

The school uniform consists of a blue blazer, white shirt, tie, grey/black trousers and black shoes. Members of the sixth form may wear a dark suit, whilst the school captains may wear a distinctive striped blazer. Each house has its own set of ties based on the house colours. There are also a variety of colours and half-colours ties given as a reward for those who have achieved things for their house or for the school. House Captains automatically qualify for full house colours and School Captains automatically qualify for full school colours. There are also ties for School Monitors, who may also where a coloured shirt.

[edit] School Activities

There are 64 clubs and societies currently in operation at Rossall. Amongst them are the more traditional such as Rugby, Football, Fives and Hockey but there are also many other more unique clubs such as the Croquet Club, Literary Society and Astronomy Club, the latter making use of the school's telescope and planetarium.

[edit] The School Choirs

Rossall has numerous school choirs including the Beecham Singers, a choir principally for those in the local community to join. The Beecham Singers give regular recitals throughout the year, often for charity. The school's chapel choir has gained an excellent reputation in recent years. The choir is performing at increasingly important and impressive venues, most notably over the past few years at York Minster. The choir's most high profile recital will come this summer when they will be going on tour of Paris culminating in a performance at Notre Dame Cathedral

[edit] The CCF

Rossall is also noted for being the first school in the United Kingdom to form a Combined Cadet Force (CCF), being founded in February 1860 with the threat of a French/Irish Catholic invasion at its height. Other schools such as Eton College drew up their corps a few months later. The institution is still present in the school today with around 100 cadets currently enlisted. In recent years the shooting team has excelled with notable victories in the Home Guard Cup and Loyal’s Regimental Cup.

[edit] Some Rossallian Jargon

  • Big School - The Main Assembly Hall
  • Bully - A term from Ross Hockey. A bully is the scrum-like element of the game that requires 8 people from both teams.
  • Brew Room - The small kitchens in each house in which the students may prepare food for themselves.
  • Chagger - The nickname for the houses changing rooms.
  • Chit - A small note that is filled out to purchase clothes or stationery from Rosshop.
  • Common Room - The name of the Teachers Lounge. Teachers are known as members of Common Room.
  • The Cop - The dyke that runs around Rossall - most noticeable around the playing fields.
  • The Gazebo - The small structure with the flagpole that sits atop the mound next to Mitre Fleur-de-Lys (See picture above)
  • Gating - Pupils are gated as the worst form of punishment before expulsion or suspension. Students who are gated are only allowed to wear their school uniform and must stay within the school grounds, usually in the house. There are also usually extra punishments involved such as litter-picking or essay writing. This is most often given for smoking, drinking or skipping lessons.
  • Moni's Lawn - The elevated area of grass next to the dining hall on which only school monitors can walk
  • Nagger - The nickname for the Matron's office where laundry is cleaned etc.
  • Rossall Fives - Rossall's unique version of fives - an amalgamation of Rugby, Winchester and Eton Fives - though it resembles Rugby Fives more than the other two codes.
  • Rossall Hockey (Ross Hockey) - A relatively famous game unique to Rossall - a cross between Rugby and Hockey played on the beach in the harshest winter months.
  • Rosshop - Rossall's own shop which sells the school's uniform, sports equipment etc.
  • Shore - A Ross Hockey pitch
  • Zephyr - A rugby top

[edit] The Carmen

The Rossall School song, The Carmen was composed by Dr. C.H.Lloyd, later organist at Gloucester Cathedral and Christ Church College and then Director of Music at Eton. It is sung at major school events including Old Rossallian dinners and end of term assemblies. Tradition has it that when singing it one must stand up on a bench/chair and belt it out with appropriate gusto. Usually only the first verse is sung, however there are 3 full verses. The full lyrics:

Concinamus admirantes
Propter fluctus aestuantes
Stantem te, Rossallia!
Alma mater, te bibamus,
Tui calices poscamus!
Hanc sententium decamus,
Floreat Rossallia!


Adsint chroro gratulanti,
Adsint choro Di pricanti!
Te juvent, Rossallia!
Auferamus post labores
E honores!
Tui manent hinc amores
Latius, Rossallia!


Ornet inconcussa virtus,
Rara Fides, honor certus;
Te colant, Rossallia!
Hinc per saecla saeculorum
Fama crescat; vox tuorum
Una surgat filiorum,
Floreat Rossallia!

[edit] Houses

Like many independent schools Rossall adopted a house system early on, with each pupil belonging to a house. It forms an integral part of life at the school and there are frequent inter-house events in sports as well as the arts. The current houses are:

House Name Student's Gender Part of: Houseparent Colours Founded House Type
Anchor Boys + Girls Middle School Mr. & Mrs. C. Parsons Red and Blue 2004 Boarding
Dolphin (merged with Dragon Cresent) Girls Senior School Mrs. A. Jurczak Black and Yellow 1980 Day
Dragon Boys + Girls Middle School Mr. K. Sullivan Green and Gold 2006 Day
Falcon Boys + Girls Middle School Mrs L. Furniss Gold and Blue 2006 Day
Lugard Boys Boys ISC Mr. I. Moore Red and Black 1985 Boarding
Lugard Girls Girls ISC Miss J. Mercer Red and Black 1985 Boarding
Maltese Cross Boys Senior School Mr. S. Hoffman Sky Blue and Grey 1886 Boarding + Day
Mitre Fleur-de-Lys Boys Senior School Mr. S. Corrie Magenta, Yellow and Black 1875 Boarding + Day
Pelican Boys Senior School Mr. J. Riding Salmon and Black 1888 Boarding + Day
Rose Girls Senior School Mrs. K. Griffiths Green and Black 1884 Boarding
Spread Eagle Boys Senior School Mr. I. McCleary Black and White/Silver 1868 Boarding + Day
Stag's Head Boys + Girls Middle School Mrs J. Cross Gold and Red 2006 Day

[edit] History

[edit] Brief History of the School

Having been founded in 1844, on land that had historically belonged to the Allen Family, Rossall nearly shut down within a few years due to huge outbreaks of Scarlet Fever - not unusual for boarding schools of the time. In the 1860s a new school chapel had to be built to cope the increasing number of students, the old chapel serving, as it does today, as the school library. The school underwent futher development from 1880s to 1900 to accomodate more students and to create further facilities such as the gym which still stands. By the end of Queen Victoria's reign Rossall was widely considered to be in top 30 public schools in the UK also earning itself a place in the Public Schools Yearbook and the Public School News section of the Cambridge Review.

During the world wars large numbers of Old Rossallians lost their lives in combat - the majority of whom are now comemmorated in the extension memorial chapel. During the Second World War Rossall also accomodated Alleyn's School who had to be evacuated from London as a result of the risk of bombing as well as numeroud governmental departments. Rossall itself got moved up to Naworth Castle in Cumbria for the duration of the war but moved back to its original premises following the cessation of fighting. The school continued to succeed and in the 1970s, in a bid to ensure the highest standards, during a period of declining boarding, girls were allowed to enroll.

Throughout the 1980s the school continued to prosper, though going through great financial difficulty at the turn of the millenium. Rossall has since had a large amount of investment, with the boarding houses currently undergoing refurbishment and large restructuring throughout the years. The middle school now runs from years 7 to 9, one year longer than traditionally. As a part of the modernising of the school the IB was introduced as an alternative to A-Levels towards the end of the 1990s, being only the 3rd school in the UK to do so, and there is now also a large international boarding contingent.

Rossall is still comitted to relatively affordable private education in relation to the rest of the UK - 80% of those who attend the school are the first in their family to attend and independent school and a large number of scholarships and bursaries are available. 2007 sees the return of the Rossall Summer School - developed to give children from outside of the UK the opportunity to develop their English speaking skills as well as being a chance for those thinking of going to a boarding school to prepare for the change in daily lifestyle.

[edit] Trivia

  • In 1911 the Rossall Bursar, Major Anstead (A very peculiar chap who was always seen riding a horse in full military uniform.), was found to be attempting to enlist in London for military service in South Africa. The Rossallian who spotted him informed the police. Simultaneously Rossall was nearly forced to file for bankruptcy. After investigation it turned out that Major Anstead had been tampering with the books and had embezzled over £70,000, equivalent to more than £1million today. He had used the money to finance his extravagant lifestyle, uniforms and an expensive mistress in London.
  • The original school dining hall burnt down in the 1920s. The replacement, the current dining hall, was built the wrong way around. Not only was it built the wrong way around, it was constructed from bricks encased in a weatherable coating that would dissolve away to leave it looking in the same condition as the rest of the square. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the north Lancashire climate and the Irish Sea, the bricks have yet to fully weather, or in most cases weather in any way at all. Hence its peculiar colour compared with the rest of the Rossall buildings.
  • In the early 20th century one particularly unpopular school chaplain, Revd. Sleap, was subject to an assassination attempt from the students. Arsenic in the sugar was the means chosen by the students to rid the school of the hated priest. However, the plot was outed before any of the affected sugar was consumed.
  • Stone from Rossall can be found in the cloisters of Canberra Grammar School along with stones from Eton, Westminster, St Paul's, Charterhouse, Uppingham, Clifton, Tonbridge, Shrewsbury, Sherborne, Wellington, Cheltenham, Repton and Radley.
  • Rossall is one of nine schools to have won the Halford Hewitt Public Schools Golf Tournament more than twice. The schools are (in order of victories): Charterhouse (16), Harrow (11), Eton (10), Tonbridge (6), Rugby (5), Watson's (4), Rossall (3), Shrewsbury (3), Merchiston (3). Rossall is also positioned 8th overall in the Anderson Sclae of past performances in the competition.

[edit] Old Rossallians

Many notable people have studied at Rossall over the years.Among them are:

  • Bill Ashton - Founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
  • Sir Thomas Beecham - Conductor and founder of numerous orchestras including the London Philharmonic.
  • Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham - Private Secretary to Queen Victoria and King George V
  • David Brown - Aston Martin and Lagonda owner.
  • Father Thomas R.D. Byles - Catholic priest who refused to leave the Titanic so he could help fellow passengers. He perished as it sank.
  • Leslie Charteris - author and creator of The Saint
  • Michael Dickinson - World Record Holding National Hunt trainer
  • J.G. Farrell - novelist and winner of the Booker Prize
  • Wilfred Fletcher C.B.E - Designer of the first Severn Bridge and the Tamar Bridge
  • F. W. Harvey - Poet
  • Lord Frederick Lugard - Govenor of Nigeria and Hong Kong, also founder of the University of Hong Kong
  • Charles Kay Ogden - Linguist, psychologist, philosopher and inventor of Basic English
  • Brian Redman - Successful racing car driver - 3 times Formula 5000 champion amongst other notable victories
  • Walter Clopton Wingfield - The Inventor of Lawn Tennis
  • Peter Winterbottom - Former England Rugby Union Captain. He also played for the Lions.

The school alumni society is called the Rossallian Club. The Rossallian Club has numerous gatherings every year all over the UK and, with the advent of a large international boarding contingent in recent years, all over the world - the first ever OR meal in Germany took place in 2006. The school also has its own masonic lodge, founded in 1928, that meets three times a year at the Freemasons's Hall in London. It is part of the Public School Lodges Council and is open to any Old Rossallian who wishes to join.

[edit] Headmasters of Rossall

First year of headmatership Last year of headmatership Name of Headmaster
1844 1849 Dr John Woolley
1849 1869 Rev. William Alexander Osborne
1870 1875 Rev. Robert Henniker
1875 1886 Dr. Herbert Armitage James
1886 1896 Rev. C. C. Tancock
1896 1908 Rev. Dr. John Pearce Way
1908 1932 Rev. Canon Edward John Walford Houghton
1932 1937 Harold George Michael Clarke
1937 1944 Charles Edgar Young
1944  ?  ?
 ? 1967 Geoffrey Sale
1967 1972 Roger Wykeham Ellis
1972  ?  ?
 ? 2002 Richard David Whalton Rhodes
2002 Present Timothy Wilbur

[edit] Lawrence House Astronomy & Space Science Centre

Rossall is also home to the Lawrence House Astronomy & Space Science Centre - the only centre dedicated solely to the teaching of Astronomy. The project consists of the 9 foot Victorian Telescope in Rossall's Assheton Observatory as well as a building of its own containing a lecture theatre, classrooms and a portable planetarium.

The project has been funded by the Lawrence House Trust and predominantly run by Dr. Nick Lister, originally the head of D.T. at the school and now Astronomer in Residence. When initial assessments were being made for the feasability of restoring the observatory, both the telescope and observatory were in a poor condition, having notably been victim to an attempt to burn it down by some local children. However, the telescope is made predominantly from brass and thus suffered minimal corrosion. Similarly the lens of the telescope, despite 30 years of neglect, survived unscathed allowing for restoration. This was carried out at first by several dedicated parents and governors of the school, amongst them Syd Little.

Soon after the basic restoration ideas were raised for a larger project allowing the teaching of astronomy on a larger scale. After getting clearance from the original owners of the telescope to go ahead with the project, Rossall was given funds from the Lawrence House Trust, an educational charity, to go forward with their plans.

The centre had an official opening on Tuesday 26th September 2006 with Old Rossallian and former Astronomer Royal Sir Francis Graham Smith in attendence. The centre's motto is 'Astronomy For All' meaning that it offers courses to Rossall Students but also at a small cost to the general public. Courses also range from beginner to advanced to ensure that anybody who wishes to study Astronomy can do so.

[edit] Fees (Per Term)

Senior School

  • Day - £2,855.00
  • Extended Day - £3,565.00
  • IB Day - £3,185.00
  • Boarding - £7,270.00
  • IB Boarding - £7,995.00

Middle School

  • Day - £2,600.00
  • Extended Day - £3,565.00
  • Boarding - £4,995.00

[edit] References

[edit] External and other links

Retrieved from "http://independentschools.org.uk/wiki/Rossall_School_%28FY7_8JW%29"
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