Christ's Hospital facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Christ's Hospital


Location
Horsham , West Sussex , RH13 0YP England
Coordinates	51°02′39″N 0°21′47″W / 51.044167°N 0.363056°W / 51.044167; -0.363056
Information
Type	Public school Private boarding school
Motto	Honour All Men, Love the Brotherhood, Fear God, Honour the King
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	1552; 473 years ago (1552)
Founder	King Edward VI
Department for Education URN	126107 Tables
President	The Duke of Gloucester
Chairman of the Council	Christopher Steane
Head Teacher	Simon Reid
Deputy Heads	Ruth Brading and Luke Walters
Gender	Co-educational
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	900 (2017)
Houses	Peele, Thornton, Middleton, Coleridge, Lamb, Barnes, Maine, Leigh Hunt
Colour(s)	Blue & Yellow
Publication	Housey! The Blue The Broadie
Patron	Queen Elizabeth II
Former pupils	Old Blues
School Song	Votum The Foundation Hymn The Hertford Grace
Website	http://www.christs-hospital.org.uk/

Christ's Hospital is a special kind of private boarding school in England. It's located near Horsham in West Sussex. The school was started way back in 1552 by King Edward VI.

What makes Christ's Hospital unique is that it's a charity school. This means its main goal is to help children from families who might not have a lot of money. It gives them a chance to get a great education they might not otherwise afford.

How Does Christ's Hospital Help Students?

Christ's Hospital is different from many other private schools. Most students here get financial help, called bursaries. This is because it was founded as a charity.

School fees are based on what families can afford. The school or its supporters pay a big part of the costs. This way, students from all backgrounds can get a private education.

In 2007, Christ's Hospital became two separate charities. One is the Christ's Hospital Foundation, and the other is Christ's Hospital School.

A Look Back: The School's History

King Edward VI, who helped start Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital was created to help poor and homeless children in London. King Edward VI was inspired by a sermon about helping the needy. He worked with the Lord Mayor of London to make it happen.

The school first opened its doors in 1552 in Newgate, London. The King officially granted its special charter in 1553. This charter made it a royal school.

Challenges and Changes Over Time

The school faced tough times, like the Great Plague of London in 1665. Sadly, 32 children died. The next year, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the school. Luckily, no children were hurt.

After the fire, some students moved to Hertford. The school buildings in London were rebuilt with help from famous architects like Christopher Wren.

Christ's Hospital's buildings in London in 1770

In 1673, King Charles II gave the school another special charter. This created the Royal Mathematical School. Its purpose was to train students in math and navigation. These skills were important for becoming naval officers or sailors. Famous scientists like Isaac Newton helped plan the courses.

The girls' part of the school moved to Hertford in 1707. By 1778, all the girls were in Hertford. Some younger boys also moved there.

Moving to Horsham

In the late 1800s, there was a plan to move the school to a new, bigger location. Some people were worried about such a big change. But the idea went ahead.

About 1200 acres of land were bought outside Horsham in Sussex. King Edward VII laid the foundation stone in 1897. The new school was designed by architect Aston Webb.

Engraving from 1808 showing the Great Hall in London. Students give speeches in Latin and English.

The boys moved from London and Hertford to the new Horsham site in 1902. Hertford then became a school just for girls. Later, in 1985, the girls' school also moved to Horsham, bringing all students together.

Christ's Hospital has always had royal support. Queen Elizabeth II became its patron in 1953.

School Buildings and Design

The buildings at Christ's Hospital in Horsham are very special. They are listed as Grade II* historic buildings. The campus has a tall water tower, a dining hall, and a school chapel.

The red brick walkways, called colonnades, connect to the dining hall. They have stone archways that were moved from the old school in London. These arches were designed in 1836 and rebuilt here in 1902.

The main building, called Big School, has large windows and a clock tower. A special entrance, called a portico, designed by Christopher Wren, is also from the old London school.

Inside the Dining Hall

The dining hall is huge! It features a giant painting by Antonio Verrio. This painting is 86-foot (26 m) long and shows King Charles II starting the Royal Mathematical School in 1673. It has over 100 figures, including kings and important people. This painting hung in the London school for over 320 years.

The School Chapel

The school chapel was designed by Aston Webb. It has beautiful stone carvings at the east end. These show Christ in Glory and Christ receiving the children.

The chapel walls are decorated with 16 large murals. These were painted by Frank Brangwyn between 1912 and 1923. They show scenes from the early Christian Church, like St Alban and St Paul.

School Traditions

The composer Constant Lambert as a student, wearing the traditional uniform

Christ's Hospital keeps many old traditions. It has strong ties with the City of London and the Lord Mayor of London. Every year, the school's band marches in the Lord Mayor's Show.

One famous tradition is marching into lunch with the school band. This happens almost every day, weather permitting.

Another special event is the annual speech-day parade. The Lord Mayor of London watches the school march past. They also attend a service in the chapel and have lunch with the oldest students.

The Unique Uniform

The school uniform is very old, dating back to 1553! It includes a long blue coat, knee-breeches, and yellow socks. This is why the school is sometimes called the "Blue-coat School."

Students call the school "Housey" and the long coat a "Housey coat." Older students, called Monitors, get special coats with bigger buttons and velvet cuffs.

Younger students wear a simple leather belt. When they reach Year 9, they get a special silver-coated buckle called a broadie. Students often wear buckles from their parents or siblings who also attended the school.

When girls joined the school in 1985, a similar uniform was created for them. It includes a pleated skirt, a summer jacket, and the long coat in winter.

Students love their unique uniform. In 2011, over 95% of students voted to keep it. They feel it gives the school a special identity.

Joining Christ's Hospital

Christ's Hospital looks for students with good academic potential. For Year 7 entry (age 11), students should be doing well in Math and English.

If you need a bursary (financial help), there's a two-step assessment process. It includes an initial test and then a residential assessment.

For Year 9 entry (age 13), Christ's Hospital has its own assessment. For Year 12, students need to be aiming for good grades in their GCSEs (like A or B grades).

The school also asks for reports from a student's current head teacher.

Special Ways to Apply

Christ's Hospital has some historic ways for students to get bursaries:

Wests' Gift: For children from Newbury, Reading, Twickenham, and the City of London.
RAF Foundationers Trust: For children of people who have served in the Royal Air Force. This fund was started by Barnes Wallis, a former student.
Royal Navy/Royal Mathematical School: For children of those who have served in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, or Royal Naval Reserve. This links back to the school's history of training navigators.
City Livery Companies: Some old London businesses and churches have a right to "present" a child to the school.

Academic Success

Christ's Hospital students achieve great results:

GCSE Results (2023): 59% of grades were 9-7 (which are like A* or A).
A Level Results (2023): 41% of grades were A*/A, and 67% were A*-B.
Average IB Point Score (2023): Students scored an impressive average of 37 points in the International Baccalaureate.

School Activities

Music at Christ's Hospital

The Christ's Hospital Band marching in the Lord Mayor's Show in 2008

The Christ's Hospital Band playing at Lord's Cricket Ground in 2013

Christ's Hospital has a very strong music program. It's one of the biggest in the country! Many famous musicians, like conductor Sir Colin Davis, went to school here.

The school has four organs, including a huge one in the chapel. The Chapel Choir is well-known and has made many recordings. Students often go on to study music at top universities.

The school has a symphony orchestra, choirs, and other music groups. They even put on a big concert in London every February.

The most famous music group is the Christ's Hospital Band. They play for the daily parade and perform at big events. They've played at the Lord Mayor's Show, Lord's Cricket Ground, and even for the Queen's 80th birthday parade!

Drama and Arts

The school has a special Arts Centre that opened in 1974. It includes a theatre, music rooms, and classrooms.

The Arts Centre hosts many performances that are open to the public. Many former students have become actors and filmmakers, like Jason Flemyng and Roger Allam.

Student Houses

Most students at Christ's Hospital live at the school as boarders. The school has different houses where students live. These houses are named after famous former students, often writers.

Each house has two sides, "A" and "B," with about 45 students. The houses are:

Peele (boys)
Thornton (girls)
Middleton (boys)
Coleridge (girls)
Lamb (boys)
Barnes (girls)
Maine (boys)
Leigh-Hunt (girls)

These houses were built as four H-shaped blocks. Over time, the dorms have been updated. Now, younger students might share rooms, while older students have their own rooms.

Grecian Houses

Students in their final year (Year 13), called Grecians, move to special houses. These houses help them get ready for university or life after school. They have their own study bedrooms and shared common rooms.