fbpx
Wikipedia

Ruthin School

March 29, 2023

Ruthin School is a private day and boarding school located on the outskirts of Ruthin, the county town of Denbighshire, North Wales. It is over seven hundred years old, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom. Originally a school for boys, it has been co-educational since 1990.

Ruthin School
Ruthin School's main building, opened in 1893
Address
Mold Road

Ruthin
,
Denbighshire
,
LL15 1EE

Wales
Coordinates53°07′02″N 3°17′59″W / 53.1171°N 3.2997°W / 53.1171; -3.2997Coordinates: 53°07′02″N 3°17′59″W / 53.1171°N 3.2997°W / 53.1171; -3.2997
Information
TypePrivate day & boarding
Establishedc. 1284; 739 years ago (1284)
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
VisitorHM Queen Elizabeth II
Websitehttp://www.ruthinschool.co.uk

Education

 
Inside the main building

In the 2013 A Level results, 60.23% of grades attained by students at the school were A* or A. This figure was increased in 2016 to 76%, as well as a pass rate of 100%.[1] 90% of 2017 university applications at the school were to Russell Group or top 20 universities.[2] In 2017 the school had the 27th best A-level results of British independent schools.[3]

The school won the 2016, 2017 and 2018 UKMT national mathematics competitions, resulting in their selection to represent the United Kingdom in Europe for three consecutive years. The school won the national Chemistry Analyst Competition in 2015, and has had gold award winning pupils in Olympiads for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry every year in recent times.[4][5][6][non-primary source needed]

According to the 2014 Estyn inspection report, English and mathematics at key stage four are well above Wales' average, and percentage of year 11 students achieving the level 2 threshold is also above the Welsh average. A* to C grades awarded for GCSE entries has improved and increased steadily for the past few years. Sixth Form students are at well above the Wales average at level 3, achieving good results in their A levels.[7]

History

Beginnings

Ruthin School was founded in the wake of Edward I's conquest of Wales. Whilst the precise date of the foundation is not certain, Keith Thompson argues in his history of the school that 1284 is the most likely date and Reginald de Grey the most likely founder. In any event, it is clear from the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of 1291 that a collegiate church and school existed at Ruthin by that date.

Evidence of Ruthin School in the subsequent centuries is sparse. Surviving documents such as a Confirmatio of 1314/1315 which recognised the existence, rights and liberties of "collegio de Ruthin fundato per Reginald de Grey" indicate the existence of the School but nothing more is known of the size of the establishment.

Following Owain Glyndŵr's attack on Ruthin in September 1400, it appears that the collegiate church, and presumably also the school, continued to function unscathed until the dissolution of the former in 1535. Evidence for the school's continuation over the following decades is sketchy, but it is known that in 1561 the tithes of the sinecure of Llanelidan were applied to the use of the school, which suggests that pupils at that time would have been from local homes.

Re-foundation

In 1574, Gabriel Goodman, the Dean of Westminster and an Old Ruthinian, built a two-storey, limestone building to house the school in the shadow of the Church. The school appears to have prospered, and in 1595 Dean Goodman successfully petitioned Queen Elizabeth I to grant the tithes of Llanelidan to the school in perpetuity.

Following its refoundation, the grammar school educated the sons of local gentry, including the Grosvenor, Kenyon and Trevor families. Former pupils included Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon and Sir John Trevor sometime Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Relocation and twentieth-century

In 1893 the school moved from the immediate vicinity of the church to a building designed by John Douglas on its site on the eastern outskirts of the town. In 1923 Lord Kenyon opened the Memorial Cricket Pavilion to honour those Old Ruthinians who had died during the First World War.

As the century progressed, the demand for places increased, and in 1949 Bishop Wynne House was inaugurated. Just over a decade later, a new school hall comprising a refectory, kitchens, classrooms, and a theatre were constructed.

Expansion continued, and in 1971 a preparatory department was established in the former Archbishop Williams' house. The quatercentenary of the School's re-foundation was commemorated by the launch of plans for the construction of a new wing consisting of dormitories, a music room, classrooms, locker rooms and other facilities, plans which culminated in 1980.

The School's septcentenary was commemorated by a visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the School's Visitor, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on 16 March 1984 when a clock in the central tower was unveiled.

Twenty-first century

On the hundredth anniversary of the school's relocation, the Hall was further extended and in 2006 the Hewer Hall, a sports facility, was opened by The Princess Royal.

Pupil safeguarding and headmaster grooming controversy

The Principal, Toby Belfield, caused controversy in May 2015 when he questioned the merits of a bilingual education in a letter to the Denbighshire Free Press, acknowledging that "tradition and heritage are important – but much more important is to ensure that we do not reduce the opportunities available for Welsh children." His claims that bilingual education was educationally "weaker" than in England and abroad received widespread attention nationally, splitting opinion.[citation needed] The school attracted national attention again in February 2017, after leaked emails from the Principal (addressed to the students and parents) concerning a crackdown on behaviour caused controversy.[8] The principal stated that he wished to expel students who engaged in romantic relationships and/or give them inferior references for university admissions, stating that he would "always" "definitely" give a worse reference; and that he would "not hesitate" to expel students who engaged in sexual activity.[9] After the e-mails were released, Belfield released a contradictory statement that if the student was making high marks, he would not reduce the quality of his or her recommendations even if he or she was dating.[8]

In an ironic twist, it was discovered Belfield was trying to engage in relationships with several students after hundreds of sexualised text messages that he had sent to the school's female pupils emerged. He complimented his students 'breasts' and asked about their 'virginities', as well as boasting about how he used to meet students abroad.[10] The girls ages ranged from 15 to 18. The extent of Belfield's grooming is still unknown, yet it is understood he sought to remain in contact with several female students after they had left school. Belfield was placed on leave at the end of 2019; he had already been suspended following an earlier investigation two years prior, but allowed to return to work.[10]

In January 2020, following an unannounced inspection, Care Inspectorate Wales, which oversees the welfare and safeguarding of children, published a damning report on "inadequate" policies and procedures that are in breach of discrimination and human rights laws, stating "serious shortfalls" meant pupils are "not appropriately safeguarded" and "at risk of harm".[11][12][13]

Traditions

Church services

The school traditionally travels to the Collegiate and Parochial Church of St Peter three times annually: once to mark Remembrance Day, once for a Christmas Carol Service, and once for Founder's Day.[14]

Hill fort run

In the summer term there is an annual race from school to the summit of Moel Fenlli and back down again – a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) cross-country race in which school students and staff compete.[15] The prize for the winner is a pot of marmalade, with trophies for the first boy and girl finishing in each age group.[16]

Sovereign's visitatorial rights

The monarch is the visitor of Ruthin School, whose rights have traditionally been exercised by the Lord Lieutenant.

Old Ruthinian Association

The Old Ruthinian Association consists of former pupils of Ruthin School. The Association was founded after the First World War and gathers for its annual meeting on the Saturday of Remembrance Weekend at Ruthin Castle.

Distinguished Old Ruthinians

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Level and AS Level Results 2016". Ruthin School. 20 August 2016.
  2. ^ "School Information". Ruthin School.
  3. ^ "Top 100 Independent Schools by A Levels and Pre U". Best Schools.
  4. ^ "Perfect score wins national maths challenge for second year". Independent Education Today. 18 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Mathematics – UK National Champions – AGAIN!!!". Ruthin School. 7 February 2018.
  6. ^ @UKMathsTrust (7 February 2017). "Congratulations to Ruthin School, the winners of the Senior Team Maths Challenge 2017!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Estyn Inspection Report; accessed 11/06/2014
  8. ^ a b Ritschel, Chelsea (2 January 2018). "Public school headmaster backtracks threats of expulsion for pupils found in relationships". The Independent. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ Turner, Camilla (2 January 2018). "Headteacher of leading public school says he will expel pupils who have a boyfriend or girlfriend". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Strict head sent flirtatious messages to 'naughty' girls". The Times. 2 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Damning report finds 'serious shortfalls' at Ruthin boarding school with pupils 'at risk of harm'". ITV News. 2 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Ruthin School pupils 'at risk of harm' says damning care watchdog report". North Wales Live. 2 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Top Ruthin school slammed in care report". Denbighshire Free Press. 2 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Categories". Ruthin School.
  15. ^ "Hill-fort Run 2009". Ruthin School. 23 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Hill Fort Run". Ruthin School.
  17. ^ Cholerton, Moira. "Elias Owen (son of Elias)". Owen children. Retrieved 3 December 2011.

Further reading

  • Thompson, Keith M. (1974). Ruthin School: the first seven centuries. Ruthin: Ruthin School Quatercentenary Committee. ISBN 0950387304.

External links

March 29, 2023
ruthin, school, private, boarding, school, located, outskirts, ruthin, county, town, denbighshire, north, wales, over, seven, hundred, years, making, oldest, schools, united, kingdom, originally, school, boys, been, educational, since, 1990, main, building, op. Ruthin School is a private day and boarding school located on the outskirts of Ruthin the county town of Denbighshire North Wales It is over seven hundred years old making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom Originally a school for boys it has been co educational since 1990 Ruthin SchoolRuthin School s main building opened in 1893AddressMold RoadRuthin Denbighshire LL15 1EEWalesCoordinates53 07 02 N 3 17 59 W 53 1171 N 3 2997 W 53 1171 3 2997 Coordinates 53 07 02 N 3 17 59 W 53 1171 N 3 2997 W 53 1171 3 2997InformationTypePrivate day amp boardingEstablishedc 1284 739 years ago 1284 GenderCoeducationalAge11 to 18VisitorHM Queen Elizabeth IIWebsitehttp www ruthinschool co uk Contents 1 Education 2 History 2 1 Beginnings 2 2 Re foundation 2 3 Relocation and twentieth century 2 4 Twenty first century 3 Pupil safeguarding and headmaster grooming controversy 4 Traditions 4 1 Church services 4 2 Hill fort run 5 Sovereign s visitatorial rights 6 Old Ruthinian Association 7 Distinguished Old Ruthinians 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External linksEducation Edit Inside the main building In the 2013 A Level results 60 23 of grades attained by students at the school were A or A This figure was increased in 2016 to 76 as well as a pass rate of 100 1 90 of 2017 university applications at the school were to Russell Group or top 20 universities 2 In 2017 the school had the 27th best A level results of British independent schools 3 The school won the 2016 2017 and 2018 UKMT national mathematics competitions resulting in their selection to represent the United Kingdom in Europe for three consecutive years The school won the national Chemistry Analyst Competition in 2015 and has had gold award winning pupils in Olympiads for Mathematics Physics and Chemistry every year in recent times 4 5 6 non primary source needed According to the 2014 Estyn inspection report English and mathematics at key stage four are well above Wales average and percentage of year 11 students achieving the level 2 threshold is also above the Welsh average A to C grades awarded for GCSE entries has improved and increased steadily for the past few years Sixth Form students are at well above the Wales average at level 3 achieving good results in their A levels 7 History EditBeginnings Edit Ruthin School was founded in the wake of Edward I s conquest of Wales Whilst the precise date of the foundation is not certain Keith Thompson argues in his history of the school that 1284 is the most likely date and Reginald de Grey the most likely founder In any event it is clear from the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of 1291 that a collegiate church and school existed at Ruthin by that date Evidence of Ruthin School in the subsequent centuries is sparse Surviving documents such as a Confirmatio of 1314 1315 which recognised the existence rights and liberties of collegio de Ruthin fundato per Reginald de Grey indicate the existence of the School but nothing more is known of the size of the establishment Following Owain Glyndŵr s attack on Ruthin in September 1400 it appears that the collegiate church and presumably also the school continued to function unscathed until the dissolution of the former in 1535 Evidence for the school s continuation over the following decades is sketchy but it is known that in 1561 the tithes of the sinecure of Llanelidan were applied to the use of the school which suggests that pupils at that time would have been from local homes Re foundation Edit In 1574 Gabriel Goodman the Dean of Westminster and an Old Ruthinian built a two storey limestone building to house the school in the shadow of the Church The school appears to have prospered and in 1595 Dean Goodman successfully petitioned Queen Elizabeth I to grant the tithes of Llanelidan to the school in perpetuity Following its refoundation the grammar school educated the sons of local gentry including the Grosvenor Kenyon and Trevor families Former pupils included Lloyd Kenyon 1st Baron Kenyon and Sir John Trevor sometime Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the Speaker of the House of Commons Relocation and twentieth century Edit In 1893 the school moved from the immediate vicinity of the church to a building designed by John Douglas on its site on the eastern outskirts of the town In 1923 Lord Kenyon opened the Memorial Cricket Pavilion to honour those Old Ruthinians who had died during the First World War As the century progressed the demand for places increased and in 1949 Bishop Wynne House was inaugurated Just over a decade later a new school hall comprising a refectory kitchens classrooms and a theatre were constructed Expansion continued and in 1971 a preparatory department was established in the former Archbishop Williams house The quatercentenary of the School s re foundation was commemorated by the launch of plans for the construction of a new wing consisting of dormitories a music room classrooms locker rooms and other facilities plans which culminated in 1980 The School s septcentenary was commemorated by a visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the School s Visitor and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on 16 March 1984 when a clock in the central tower was unveiled Twenty first century Edit On the hundredth anniversary of the school s relocation the Hall was further extended and in 2006 the Hewer Hall a sports facility was opened by The Princess Royal Pupil safeguarding and headmaster grooming controversy EditThe Principal Toby Belfield caused controversy in May 2015 when he questioned the merits of a bilingual education in a letter to the Denbighshire Free Press acknowledging that tradition and heritage are important but much more important is to ensure that we do not reduce the opportunities available for Welsh children His claims that bilingual education was educationally weaker than in England and abroad received widespread attention nationally splitting opinion citation needed The school attracted national attention again in February 2017 after leaked emails from the Principal addressed to the students and parents concerning a crackdown on behaviour caused controversy 8 The principal stated that he wished to expel students who engaged in romantic relationships and or give them inferior references for university admissions stating that he would always definitely give a worse reference and that he would not hesitate to expel students who engaged in sexual activity 9 After the e mails were released Belfield released a contradictory statement that if the student was making high marks he would not reduce the quality of his or her recommendations even if he or she was dating 8 In an ironic twist it was discovered Belfield was trying to engage in relationships with several students after hundreds of sexualised text messages that he had sent to the school s female pupils emerged He complimented his students breasts and asked about their virginities as well as boasting about how he used to meet students abroad 10 The girls ages ranged from 15 to 18 The extent of Belfield s grooming is still unknown yet it is understood he sought to remain in contact with several female students after they had left school Belfield was placed on leave at the end of 2019 he had already been suspended following an earlier investigation two years prior but allowed to return to work 10 In January 2020 following an unannounced inspection Care Inspectorate Wales which oversees the welfare and safeguarding of children published a damning report on inadequate policies and procedures that are in breach of discrimination and human rights laws stating serious shortfalls meant pupils are not appropriately safeguarded and at risk of harm 11 12 13 Traditions EditChurch services Edit The school traditionally travels to the Collegiate and Parochial Church of St Peter three times annually once to mark Remembrance Day once for a Christmas Carol Service and once for Founder s Day 14 Hill fort run Edit In the summer term there is an annual race from school to the summit of Moel Fenlli and back down again a 7 5 mile 12 1 km cross country race in which school students and staff compete 15 The prize for the winner is a pot of marmalade with trophies for the first boy and girl finishing in each age group 16 Sovereign s visitatorial rights EditThe monarch is the visitor of Ruthin School whose rights have traditionally been exercised by the Lord Lieutenant Old Ruthinian Association EditThe Old Ruthinian Association consists of former pupils of Ruthin School The Association was founded after the First World War and gathers for its annual meeting on the Saturday of Remembrance Weekend at Ruthin Castle Distinguished Old Ruthinians Edit 1568 Richard Parry Bishop of St Asaph translator of the Welsh Bible 1589 Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Gloucester 1590 John Williams Dean of Westminster Bishop of Lincoln Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Archbishop of York 1640 William Lloyd Bishop of Llandaff Bishop of Peterborough Bishop of Norwich 1645 Sir John Trevor Master of the Rolls Speaker of the House of Commons knight 1650 Thomas Lloyd Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania 1675 John Wynne Bishop of St Asaph Bishop of Bath amp Wells c 1709 Sir Watkin Williams Wynn 3rd Baronet and Prince of Wales 1693 1749 in Peter DG Thomas Politics in Eighteenth Century Wales 1998 1722 Josiah Tucker Dean of Gloucester 1733 Richard Perryn Baron of the Exchequer 1744 Lloyd Kenyon 1st Baron Kenyon Master of the Rolls Lord Chief Justice of England 1851 Rowland Ellis Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney 1860 Elias Owen Welsh international footballer 17 1886 Sir Lewis Casson M C actor and producer knight 1935 Sir Ian Richmond LL D F S A F B A Professor of Archaeology University of Oxford Fellow of All Souls knight 1951 Neil Vernon Roberts Kenyan sports shooter 1954 Bob Barber M A M B A Test cricketer captain of Lancashire and Warwickshire County Cricket Clubs 1964 Mike Roberts Welsh international rugby union player 1980 Julian Lennon Musician photographer and philanthropistSee also EditList of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom List of non ecclesiastical and non residential works by John DouglasReferences Edit A Level and AS Level Results 2016 Ruthin School 20 August 2016 School Information Ruthin School Top 100 Independent Schools by A Levels and Pre U Best Schools Perfect score wins national maths challenge for second year Independent Education Today 18 February 2016 Mathematics UK National Champions AGAIN Ruthin School 7 February 2018 UKMathsTrust 7 February 2017 Congratulations to Ruthin School the winners of the Senior Team Maths Challenge 2017 Tweet via Twitter Estyn Inspection Report accessed 11 06 2014 a b Ritschel Chelsea 2 January 2018 Public school headmaster backtracks threats of expulsion for pupils found in relationships The Independent Retrieved 24 January 2018 Turner Camilla 2 January 2018 Headteacher of leading public school says he will expel pupils who have a boyfriend or girlfriend The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 24 January 2018 a b Strict head sent flirtatious messages to naughty girls The Times 2 January 2020 Damning report finds serious shortfalls at Ruthin boarding school with pupils at risk of harm ITV News 2 January 2020 Ruthin School pupils at risk of harm says damning care watchdog report North Wales Live 2 January 2020 Top Ruthin school slammed in care report Denbighshire Free Press 2 January 2020 Categories Ruthin School Hill fort Run 2009 Ruthin School 23 June 2009 Hill Fort Run Ruthin School Cholerton Moira Elias Owen son of Elias Owen children Retrieved 3 December 2011 Further reading EditThompson Keith M 1974 Ruthin School the first seven centuries Ruthin Ruthin School Quatercentenary Committee ISBN 0950387304 External links EditSchool website Old Ruthinian Association website Profile on the Independent Schools Council website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruthin School amp oldid 1144397037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.