Royal Russell School

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Independent day and boarding school in Croydon, London, England

Royal Russell School

Address

Coombe Lane

Croydon

London

CR9 5BX

England

Coordinates| 51°21′27″N 0°03′58″W﻿ / ﻿51.3575°N 0.0662°W﻿ / 51.3575; -0.0662
Information
Type| Independent day and boarding school
Motto| Non sibi sed omnibus
(Not for oneself but for all)
Established| 1853; 171 years ago (1853)
Local authority| Croydon
Headmaster| Chris J. Hutchinson
Gender| Mixed
Age| 3 to 18
Enrolment| 900 (approx)
Houses| Senior school
Madden
Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
Keable
Hollenden
Buchanan
Reade
Queens
Latessa

Colour(s)| Maroon
Publication| ROGUE
Former pupils| Old Russellians
Patron| Elizabeth II
Website| www.royalrussell.co.uk

Royal Russell School (before 1962, the Royal Warehousemen Clerks and Drapers' Schools; before 1953, the Warehousemen Clerks and Drapers' Schools; before 1895, the Warehousemen and Clerks' Schools for Orphan and Necessitous Children) is an independent school in the Shirley area of Croydon, South London. It is a co-educational day and boarding school. The motto of the school is Non sibi sed omnibus meaning "Not for one's self but for all". The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The patron of the school was Queen Elizabeth II.

There are 900 pupils at the Royal Russell School, aged between three and 18. The school occupies a site of over 100 acres (0.40 km2) in gardens in a wooded estate two miles south-east of Croydon. The School moved the boys' part of the school from Russell Hill in Purley to the Ballards site in 1924, then moving the girls' section of the school completely to the Ballards site in 1961, and selling the original school site on Russell Hill in Purley in 1961. The Junior and Lower Junior schools are in separate buildings from the Senior School, but are on the same site.

## History

[edit]

Lord John Russell, the school's first president

In 1924 the school moved to its present site two miles (3 km) south-east of Croydon within the ancient (and ecclesiastical) parish of Addington,[1][2] taking over a 110-acre (0.45 km2) lightly wooded estate. The school is affiliated to the Church of England, but pupils of all faiths are admitted.

The school has had royal patronage from its early days and Queen Elizabeth II visited the school on four occasions. Her first visit was in 1950 as Princess Elizabeth; in 1963 she opened Cambridge House and the Practical Block: she joined the celebrations of 125 years in 1979 and the sesquicentenary in 2003.

The school is now independent of the Warehousemen, Clerks and Drapers livery companies and operates as a charity under the direction of its own board of governors. There is an IAPS Junior School and HMC Senior School on the one hundred acre estate.

In 2003 the school held celebrations to mark its sesquicentennial year, being commemorated by Queen Elizabeth II visiting the school to open the library and Sixth Form Centre.[3] In 2010 Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (now the Duke of Edinburgh) visited the school, officially opening the Performing Arts Centre.[3]

### Academic

[edit]

The most recent ISI report, carried out in 2016, assessed the school in ten specific areas on a three-point scale: unsatisfactory, satisfactory and good. In certain circumstances if the lead inspector decides that the standard exceeds those set nationally then an 'excellent' grading can be given. The inspection lasted from March 15 to March 18 (three days), and in all 10 categories tested Royal Russell School achieved an 'excellent' grading.[4]

Royal Russell's boarding provision was inspected as part of a three-year cycle by Ofsted in which inspectors spent three days reviewing the boarding provision. The school received a 'good' classification in each of the six categories inspected. The Ofsted report can be found on the Royal Russell School site or here.[5]

GCSE is taught from years 10 and 11, though it is possible to study maths a year early, starting in year 9 and completing the course in year 10. Required GCSE subjects include Triple Science (or Double Award Science), English Language, English Literature, Maths, and a language, (French, Spanish or English as a Foreign Language). GCSE choices include: French, Spanish, Geography, History, Business Studies, Drama, Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Philosophy and Ethics, Physical Education, and ICT. There are a choice of 19 subjects at GCSE including the compulsory subjects. Students undertake the required five subjects (if studying Triple Award Science this equates to six), plus four of their choice.[citation needed]

### School structure

[edit]

The school is based on a house system having two boarding houses for boys (Oxford and Cambridge), whilst there are two boarding houses for girls (Queens and Hollenden). There are three day-houses for boys (Keable, Madden and St Andrews), and two day-houses for girls (Buchanan and Reade).

Each year the school's boys' houses compete in sports competitions in the annual house football (outdoor and indoor), hockey, basketball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, cricket, sports day activities and the cross-country event. The girls' houses participate in many of the same activities with the odd exception in a few of the sports listed earlier as they participate in competitions in netball as well, amongst others. The house points are added up at the end of the year and are announced on Royal Russell Day, where the house shields and trophies are awarded.

Every week the senior school holds an assembly, which is split into one for the juniors and another for the seniors. All students attend a weekly chapel service which is split up depending on the student's house membership.

## School headmasters

[edit]

* 1854-1855 A F Gaultier
* 1855-1855 Mr Skaife[who?]

### New Cross

[edit]

* 1855-1857 E H Roberts
* 1857-1858 Mr Sansbury[who?]
* 1858-1866 F Gruzelier

### Russell Hill, Purley

[edit]

* 1856-1866 F Gruzelier
* 1866-1870 J Combs
* 1870-1871 J Putnam
* 1871-1877 J Garnett
* 1877-1878 (acting) Mr Jones[who?]
* 1878-1896 A G Ayles
* 1896-1905 C Collis
* 1905-1914 C B Gutteridge
* 1914-1937 G A Roberts

### Ballards Estate

[edit]

* 1921-1924 F J Turner
* 1924-1937 G A Roberts

### Royal Russell School, Ballards Estate (Co-educational)

[edit]

* 1937-1967 F A V Madden
* 1967-1974 N Bradshaw
* 1974-1980 S Hopewell
* Sept - Dec 1980 A H Foot (acting)
* Jan 1981-1996 R D Balaam
* 1996-2011 J R Jennings
* 2011–present, C J Hutchinson

## Visits and open areas

[edit]

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In 2003 Tim Henman opened the school's new sports hall, including two gymnasiums. The author Michael Morpurgo opened the Junior School library. In 2014 the athlete David Weir opened the all-weather sports pitches. Other notable visitors include the newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald, the poet Brian Moses and the writer Jeremy Strong.

## Extra-curricular activities

[edit]

The school teaches music, drama and art. The Drama department have their own drama studios and a purpose-built theatre. It regularly holds school plays. The music department have facilities including a recording studio and practice rooms. There are facilities for sports and games, including a large sports hall, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and floodlit pitches. Other facilities include a prep library, senior library and sixth form study centre and sixth form cafe.

### Royal Russell School Model United Nations

[edit]

The school is involved in the Model United Nations (MUN) encouraging students from year 9 onwards to join. The School's MUN holds regular meetings and debates at least once a week on global issues. The school holds an annual four-day international MUN conference in October; it first held a Model United Nations conference in 1981.[6][better source needed]

### Royal Russell Combined Cadet Force

[edit]

The school has a contingent of the Combined Cadet Force with an Army section (affiliated to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and an RAF section. The CCF teaches leadership to cadets, and other skills and qualifications. Formal qualifications include the BTEC Diploma in Public Services run via the Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation (CVQO).

## Alumni

[edit]

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See also: Category:People educated at Royal Russell School

Notable Old Russellians include:

* Ali M. Ansari \- Professor in Modern History at the University of St. Andrews[7]
* Martin Clunes \- Actor[8][9]
* Elly Jackson \- Vocalist of the musical duo La Roux[10]
* Naoko Mori \- Actor[11]
* Neville Keighley - Singer/songwriter who uses the stage name Belouis Some[12]
* Mims Davies \- Conservative Politician[13]
* Mya-Lecia Naylor \- Actress[citation needed]
* Rhys Norrington-Davies \- Footballer[14][15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Historic Units and Statistics, visionofbritain.co.uk, The University of Portsmouth and others
2. ^ Church of England parishes information
3. ^ a b "Royal Patronage". royalrussell.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
4. ^ "Independent Schools Inspectorate - Integrated Inspection - Royal Russell School" (PDF). resources.finalsite.net. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
5. ^ "Royal Russell School - Inspection report for boarding school" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
6. ^ "Royal Russell School Model United Nations |". Mun.royalrussell.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
7. ^ "Our Board of Governors". Royal Russell School. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
8. ^ Kelly, Suzanne (24 December 2017). "11 very famous people you might not realise went to school in Croydon". Croydon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
9. ^ D'Emilio, Isabella (24 June 2021). "Martin Clunes' life away from TV from living on a 130-acre working farm to his famous relative who played Sherlock Holmes". MyLondon. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
10. ^ Shield, James (1 April 2022). "Sheffield United: Rhys Norrington-Davies on Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Gareth Bale and Wales - but not in that order". The Star. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
11. ^ Ferguson, Donna (19 August 2018). "Naoko Mori: Shares are far scarier than the Cybermen". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
12. ^ "Belouis Some - Names, Dates, Places…". Belouis Some. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
13. ^ Shipton, Martin (27 July 2018). "Anger over new Wales minister". Western Mail (Wales). Retrieved 11 July 2021.
14. ^ Cook, William (9 September 2018). "The league of gentlemen". The Spectator. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
15. ^ Sutcliffe, Richard (20 February 2021). "Rhys Norrington-Davies on his Euros ambitions and battling loanee loneliness". The Athletic. Retrieved 11 July 2021.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Hopewell, S., Royal Russell School (London: Hutchinson Benham, 1978)

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Profile on the ISC website
* Profile on the HMC website

* v
* t
* e

Schools and colleges in Croydon

Primary|

* Oasis Academy Shirley Park
* West Thornton Primary School
* Whitehorse Manor Junior School
* Winterbourne Boys' Academy

Secondary|

* Archbishop Lanfranc Academy
* Archbishop Tenison's School
* BRIT School
* Coloma Convent Girls' School
* Harris Academy Beulah Hill
* Harris Academy Purley
* Harris Academy South Norwood
* Harris City Academy Crystal Palace
* Harris Invictus Academy Croydon
* The John Fisher School
* Meridian High School
* Norbury High School for Girls
* Oasis Academy Arena
* Oasis Academy Coulsdon
* Oasis Academy Shirley Park
* Orchard Park High School
* The Quest Academy
* Riddlesdown Collegiate
* St Joseph's College
* St Mary's RC High School
* Shirley High School
* Thomas More RC School
* Woodcote High School

Special|

* Rutherford School
* St Giles School

Independent|

* Al-Khair School
* Cambridge Tutors College
* The Cedars School
* Croydon High School
* Elmhurst School
* Laleham Lea School
* The Laurels School
* Old Palace School
* Royal Russell School
* Trinity School of John Whitgift
* Whitgift School

Further education|

* Croydon College
* Coulsdon Sixth Form College
* John Ruskin College

Defunct|

* Commonweal Lodge
* Croham Hurst School
* Falconbury School
* Purley High School for Boys
* St Andrew's CE High School
* Selhurst High School

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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