Katharine Lady Berkeley's School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Address
Wotton Road Wotton-under-Edge , Gloucestershire , GL12 8RB England
Coordinates	51°37′54″N 2°21′51″W / 51.63157°N 2.36415°W / 51.63157; -2.36415
Information
Type	State school (comprehensive) Academy
Motto	non palma sine pulvere (no reward without effort)
Religious affiliation(s)	Mixed
Established	1384; 641 years ago (1384)
Founder	Katharine, Lady Berkeley
Department for Education URN	137033 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Headteacher	Hannah Khan
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	1,470
Houses	Wellicome (Red), Berkeley (Green), Durand (Blue), Logan (Yellow)
Colour(s)	Maroon, Blue, Yellow
Publication	The Berkeleyan
Alumni	Old Berkeleyans (OBs)
Website	http://www.klbschool.org.uk

The Berkeleyan - Summer 1950 Edition

Katharine Lady Berkeley's School is a special type of school called an academy. It's located near Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, England. Students from 11 to 18 years old attend this school. It's known as one of the top non-private schools in the South-West of England.

The School's Long History

Katharine Lady Berkeley's School was started by Katherine, Lady Berkeley way back in 1384. She wanted to help six students get an education. This makes it one of the oldest schools still running in England.

Even though other schools might have been in the area, Lady Berkeley made this one official. She got a special permission from the King, and her school became an example for others. It was founded before famous schools like Eton and Harrow. The very first headteacher in 1384 was John Stone.

The original school buildings were in School Lane, Wotton-under-Edge. They were built in 1726, with more parts added later. In 1908, the school became open to both boys and girls. They bought a building called Church Mill to help with the growing number of students.

The original document that set up the school explained its purpose. It said that Lady Katherine wanted to help poor students learn grammar. Grammar was seen as the base for all other important subjects. She wanted to support the church and learning by providing a school. A master (teacher) would teach students without charging them any money.

The Seal of Katharine Lady Berkeley's School

The school's founding document had Lady Katharine's personal seal. This seal showed St. John holding a lamb. Around the edge, it said in Latin: "Sigilla domus scolaru de Woton sub egge." This means "the seal of the school house of Wotton-under-Edge." Today, this same seal is stamped on school prizes and badges for the Head Boy and Head Girl. You can also see it on the cover of the school magazine, The Berkeleyan. The Berkeley coat of arms is also part of the school's crest, which students wear on their blazers.

New Buildings and Growth

In January 1963, the school moved to a brand new building on Kingswood Road. This new school was designed for 350 students. More extensions were added starting in 1972. By the autumn of 1973, the school reopened as a larger comprehensive school for 830 students. This meant it welcomed students of all abilities.

In 1984, the school celebrated its 600th birthday! Princess Anne even visited for the special occasion. In 1989, the Duke of Gloucester opened the Renishaw Centre. This was a new room for computers and technology. The Renishaw Company later updated the equipment in this centre. The school has since added three more computer rooms.

In 1992, the school gained "grant-maintained" status. This allowed it to make its own decisions and improve its buildings. In 1996, it became a Language College. This meant the school could offer many different languages, including seven modern languages and Latin.

The school continued to grow. In 1994, more space was added to fit more students. The number of students went from 1,010 in 1984 to 1,340 by 1998. In 1997, six new classrooms were finished. A special Language Centre, costing £220,000, opened in 1996.

In 1999, even more new buildings were started. These included a two-story block with 11 classrooms, three ICT (Information and Communication Technology) suites, and a new library. An extension with three laboratories was also added to the Science Centre. In 2007, the school became a training school. This means it helps train new teachers.

The school now has about 1,500 students. In September 2011, it became an academy. Since then, 8 out of 11 rooms in the Science block have been completely redone. Several new classrooms have also been added. In 2021, the school won a bid for a big rebuilding project, with the plans finalized in early 2022.

Famous Former Students

Many interesting people have attended Katharine Lady Berkeley's School. Here are a few:

• William Tyndale, a famous scholar
• Edward Jenner, a doctor and scientist known for vaccines
• Mathew Blagden Hale, an Anglican bishop
• Adjoa Andoh, an actor
• Catherine Johnson, a playwright
• Simon Mason, an England hockey goalkeeper
• Sean Rigg, a professional footballer
• Ben Morgan, an England rugby union player
• Joyce Rimmer, a social worker and campaigner
• Ginette Harrison, a mountaineer

Head Teachers Through the Years

See Also

• List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom