Reed's School

Independent school in Cobham, Surrey, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reed's School is an independent secondary day and boarding school for boys with a co-educational sixth form located in Cobham, Surrey, England. There are currently around 700 day pupils (620 boys, 80 girls) and 100 full-time boarders (80 boys, 20 girls). The school was founded in 1813,[2] by Andrew Reed and incorporated by an act of Parliament, the London Orphan Asylum Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c. vii),[3] under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Wellington and the Marquess of Salisbury.[citation needed] From 1951 until her death in 2022 Queen Elizabeth II acted as the school's 15th patron and visited the school twice, in 1997 and in 2014,[4] as the reigning monarch. Alumni of the school are known as 'Old Reedonians'.

Coordinates51.338253°N 0.375981°W / 51.338253; -0.375981
TypeIndependent school
Senior school
Boarding and day school
MottoFide (have faith)
Religious affiliationChurch of England
Quick facts Location, Coordinates ...
Reed's School
Location
Sandy Lane

, ,
KT11 2ES

Coordinates51.338253°N 0.375981°W / 51.338253; -0.375981
Information
TypeIndependent school
Senior school
Boarding and day school
MottoFide (have faith)
Religious affiliationChurch of England
Established1813
FounderAndrew Reed
Local authoritySurrey County Council
Department for Education URN125321 Tables
Chair of governorsMike Wheeler
HeadmasterMark Hoskins
GenderBoys, with a co-educational sixth form
Age11 to 18
Enrolment700 (620 boys, 80 girls)
HousesBlathwayt, Bristowe, Capel & Mullens
Colour  Navy
PublicationReedonian
School feesAnnual fees 2022/23 up to: £34,920 (boarders); £26,985 (day pupils)[1]
AlumniOld Reedonians
Websitewww.reeds.surrey.sch.uk
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History

Founding

Andrew Reed, founder of Reed's School

London Orphan Asylum, London (1813–1871)

The foundation was established to provide relief to destitute orphans, including children whose fathers had died and whose mothers were unable to provide for them. Initially the Asylum used two houses; one at Hackney Road, Shoreditch for the boys and one in Bethnal Green for the girls.[5] The asylum's first unified site was at Lower Clapton Road, Clapton, where Newcome's School had stood.[6][7]

Following the school's 1871 move to Watford, the East London buildings were used by the Salvation Army.[8] Only the facade of the classical-style building remains,[9] and forms part of the Clapton Girls' Academy[10][11]

London Orphan Asylum/School, Watford (1871–1939)

Former school buildings in Watford, now a residential development

A site in Watford was selected[12] for the new school.[13] The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, and his wife the Princess of Wales and future Queen Alexandra, laid down the foundational stones on 15 July 1869 and the school formally opened in 1871.

The school was renamed to the "London Orphan School" in 1915, following a merge with the recently closed Royal British Orphan School in Slough it was again renamed the "London Orphan School and Royal British Orphan School", before finally being named "Reed's School" in 1939, in honour of the late founder.[13]

In the early 1880s the London Orphan Asylum lost two football matches against the then named Watford Rovers, now known as Watford F.C.[14]

Headmasters at the Watford site included Oliver Carter Cockrem and H.W. Russell.[citation needed]

In the 1980s the buildings were converted into residential accommodation.[15]

Reed's School, Totnes and Towcester (1939–1945)

During World War II the school was evacuated from Watford. The site was used as an Army hospital and then by the Ministry of Labour.[5]

Reed's School, Cobham (1945–present)

The Sandy Lane site had been purpose-built for the Sandyroyd School in around 1905 by architects Treadwell and Martin, who were also responsible for the design of Scott's restaurant (now part of the Trocadero Centre) and other notable structures. The new site provided facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, and two squash courts.[16]

A new headmaster, Robert Drayson, was appointed in 1955 and remained until 1964, when he migrated to Stowe.[citation needed]

In 1950, Reed's School began to take fee-paying pupils[citation needed], while retaining its charitable element.

Royal Patrons since 1815

The school has had many royal patrons.[17]

Stained glass commemorating James Capel in the Dining Hall, Watford

Sports

The major sports at Reed's School are rugby, hockey and cricket with academies in tennis, skiing and golf. The senior pupils (13+) play rugby, hockey and cricket in the autumn, spring and summer terms respectively. Pupils in the junior school (11–13) play hockey, rugby and then cricket. The indoor tennis centre was opened by alumnus and former British number one, Tim Henman on 18 November 2014.[19]

Reed's has won the International School Sport Federation's world schools' tennis championship more than any other team (in 2009, 2011 and 2015).[20]

Headmasters

  • David Jarrett (1997–2014) – the first person to win a cricket blue for both Oxford and Cambridge[21]
  • Mark Hoskins (2014–present)[22]

Notable staff and associated people

Notable Old Reedonians

Royalty

Business

Literature

Sport

Arts/entertainment

Politics

Law

References

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