Royal Hospital School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 / 51.9723; 1.1497
Information
Type	Public School Private boarding and day school Royal Foundation
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
Local authority	Suffolk
Department for Education URN	124889 Tables
Headmaster	Simon Lockyer
Chaplain	Rev. L Mumford
Staff	72
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	c. 620
Houses	11 Houses: Blake (Junior House) Anson (F) Collingwood (M) Hawke (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
Publication	"The Magazine"
Charitable Association	Greenwich Hospital
Website	http://www.royalhospitalschool.org

The Royal Hospital School (often called "RHS") is a special school in the UK. It's a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. It's also a private school, so families pay fees. Students can either live at the school (a boarding school) or attend during the day (a day school).

RHS has strong links to the navy. Students join from ages 11 to 18. The school is in Holbrook, near Ipswich, England. It has a large campus of 200 acres, overlooking the River Stour, Suffolk.

The school started in 1712 with a royal charter. It was first in Greenwich, London. In 1933, it moved to its current home in Suffolk.

RHS is the only independent boarding school in the UK to always have the Queen's Banner. It also flies its own special flag, the Royal Hospital School Blue Ensign. It's one of only two UK schools where students can wear Royal Navy uniforms. The other is Pangbourne College.

A former student, Bernard de Neumann, once said that the school helped shape the British Empire. He compared it to how Eton helped win the Battle of Waterloo.

What is the Royal Hospital School like?

Naval traditions are a big part of school life. All students get sailor suits, which are Royal Navy uniforms. They wear these for special events. The school is owned by Greenwich Hospital, a charity. This charity helps families with a seafaring background by offering financial aid.

The school also focuses on teaching students to be leaders. Popular activities include the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The CCF has sections for the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines.

RHS works with The College of William and Mary in Virginia, USA. This American college is one of the oldest in the country.

Students can choose different ways to board at RHS. They can board weekly, three nights a week, or just sometimes.

Who are the students at RHS?

There are over 750 students at the school. About 330 are day students, and 420 live at the school. It is one of the biggest boarding schools in East Anglia.

Around 100 international students come from about 30 different countries. The school has special teachers to help these students. They also offer English as an Additional Language support.

What subjects can you study?

The school follows the National Curriculum for different age groups. These are Key Stages 3 (Years 7–9), 4 (Years 10–11), and 5 (Years 12–13). Students have many subjects to choose from.

What are the extra activities?

Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

When students reach Year 9, they must join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). CCF helps students learn to be responsible and self-reliant. It also teaches them endurance and leadership. In Year 9, students learn basic leadership skills. In Year 10, they can choose a section: Army, Royal Navy (RN), Royal Air Force (RAF), or Royal Marines (RM).

In CCF, students can do many activities. These include first aid, navigation, shooting, and outdoor survival skills. They can also compete against other schools. There are chances for sailing, flying, rock-climbing, and power-boating. The school has its own shooting range for different types of rifles.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE)

All Year 9 students must also join the "Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme." This is part of their CCF sessions. Expeditions for Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards happen every year. Bronze expeditions are local. Silver ones are in the Peak District. Gold expeditions usually take place in Scotland.

How did the school start?

The school was first at Greenwich Hospital in London. This building is now the National Maritime Museum. The Hospital began in 1694, and the school in 1712. Both were started by a royal charter. The school's first goal was to help and teach orphans of sailors. These sailors were from the Royal and Merchant Navies. It used to be the biggest school for navigation in the country.

The school has been in Holbrook since 1933. The buildings were designed by Herbert Tudor Buckland. Most of the buildings are now listed as important historical sites.

In the past, only children or grandchildren of sailors could attend. Until the 1950s, boys also had to become sailors. So, the lessons focused a lot on sea-related topics. These rules are no longer in place. However, the school still keeps many naval traditions. This includes wearing naval uniforms and having formal parades.

In 1991, girls started attending the school. They first joined Hood house, then others. Girls' uniforms later changed to match the boys'. In 1992, the first female Head of School was chosen.

In 1994, the whole school went to Greenwich Hospital. They paraded for Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the Hospital's 300th year. In 2012, the school celebrated its own 300th birthday. They opened a Heritage Centre and published a book.

What is Greenwich Hospital?

Greenwich Pensioner, 1845

The school was started by a royal charter. It is supported by Greenwich Hospital. The hospital helps some students with their fees. The school also offers scholarships for academics, sports, music, and sailing. They also give discounts to children of seafarers from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, or Merchant Navy.

What are the school's traditions?

Boys of The Royal Hospital School, Greenwich c.1900

Many traditions at the Royal Hospital School are linked to the Royal Navy. For example, they celebrate important naval events. The school offers sailing, and has a special guard and marching band.

Naval uniforms

Students wear regular school uniform. But for special events like "Divisions," they wear Naval uniforms. Divisions are a ceremony where each house marches on the parade square. The marching band plays music. Students who are house petty officers (POs) wear a chevron on their arm. School chiefs, who are older students, wear chief petty officer ranks. The deputy heads of school are warrant officers (second class). The heads of school are warrant officers (first class).

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

Music

Music is very important at the Royal Hospital School. All students must attend a weekly singing practice. The school opened a new music building in 2008.

The Royal Hospital School marching band is a big part of school life. A former member of the Royal Marines Band Service manages the band. The band's style is like the Royal Marines. When the school parades, the band forms its own large group. The band has traveled to places like Sri Lanka and the USA. They play marches like Heart of Oak and A Life on the Ocean Wave.

The school's chapel has a large, four-manual organ. It was put in place in 1933.

School songs

• "Go Forth With God" by Martin Shaw
• "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"
• "Holbrook" composed by Benjamin Britten
• "Holbrook March" composed by Lt Col Sir Vivian Dunn
• "Jerusalem"

Events

• Burns Night
• House Shout (singing competition)
• School Plays and Musicals
• Music Recitals and Concerts
• Christmas Dinner
• Alumni Reunion (for former students)
• Trafalgar Dinner
• Speech Day
• Remembrance Sunday
• Leavers Ball

School Slang

RHS has its own special words and phrases. Many come from naval terms, but some are unique to the school.

• "Divis" or "Divvies" means Divisions (the parades).
• "DH" means Dining Hall.
• "Civvies" means civilian clothing (not uniform).
• "Chiefs" means school prefects.
• "Congo" means congregational practice (singing practice).
• "Mess" is naval slang for a meal.

The Chapel

The chapel is a key part of RHS life. Students must attend a short service every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Singing practice is also held in the chapel every Saturday morning. Most Sundays, there is a service for boarding students. Often, a music student plays a piece during the service. The chapel is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's historically important.

Royal connections

The Royal Hospital School has strong links with the British royal family. These links include the royal charter, the School Visitor, and the King's & Queen's Banners. The school also honors Robert Blake, a famous republican hero.

Many members of the royal family have helped the school grow. Queen Mary II was especially dedicated to the Royal Hospital School.

• William III and Mary II were the first helpers.
• Queen Anne gave money from Captain Kidd's seized property.
• George II gave money from the Earl of Derwentwater's seized property.
• George VI laid the first stone at Holbrook in 1928.
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother presented the Royal Banner to the school.

Houses at RHS

All 11 Houses at the Royal Hospital School are named after famous sailors.

• Blake – for Year 7 students (boarding and day, boys and girls)
• St Vincent – for boys in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Hawke – for boys in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Collingwood – for boys in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Drake – for students in Years 8–12 (day, boys and girls)
• Howe – for girls in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Anson – for girls in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Hood – for girls in Years 8–12 (boarding)
• Raleigh – for students in Years 8–12 (day, boys and girls)
• Cornwallis – for students in Years 8–12 (day, boys and girls)
• Nelson – for Year 13 students (boarding and day, boys and girls)

Sports at RHS

The school has sports events between houses. Students can also join competitions against other schools. Some former students have become professional athletes.

Here are the main sports played during the school year:

• Michaelmas Term (Autumn): Boys – rugby union and sailing, Girls – hockey and sailing
• Lent Term (Spring): 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. It also has an all-weather pitch, tennis and netball courts, and squash courts. There's a sports hall, fitness room, and climbing wall. Students can use an indoor pool and a golf course. Sailing is a big part of the school. It's available all year at Alton Water, next to the school. RHS is known as one of the best sailing schools in the country. Many students represent their countries in world sailing events. Every two years, there's a sailing trip abroad. Recent trips were to Australia and Greece.

Royal Hospital School Association

The Royal Hospital School Association (RHSA) is a group for former students and staff. It started in 1925 for former male students. In 1992, it changed its name to include both men and women. The association sends out a newsletter called Otia Tuta. This keeps members updated on school news and events.

The association holds a reunion at the school every June.

Famous former students

• Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter (1848–1927) – A governor in Africa and the Caribbean.
• Malcolm Cooper (1947–2001) – An Olympic gold medalist in shooting.
• Professor Bernard de Neumann (1943–2018) – A mathematician.
• John Deane (1800–1884) and Charles Deane – Inventors of the diving helmet. They found the Mary Rose shipwreck.
• Ernest Joyce, AM (1875–1940) – An Antarctic explorer.
• Admiral Arthur Phillip (1738–1814) – Founder of Sydney, Australia.
• Peter Richards (1978–) – A rugby player for England.
• Duncan Scott-Ford (1921–1942) – The youngest person executed under the Treachery Act 1940.
• Don Topley (1964–) – A cricketer and coach.
• Reece Topley (1994–) – An England cricketer.
• Hannah Stodel (1985–) – A Paralympian.

Images for kids

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  The front of the main building, overlooking the sports pitches

See also

In Spanish: Royal Hospital School para niños

• Christ's Hospital
• Pangbourne College
• Welbeck College
• Eton College