Durham School

Durham School is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls in the city
of Durham, North East England. Founded by the Bishop of Durham nearly six hundred years ago, it
educates boys and girls in the public school tradition and is a member of The Headmasters' and
Headmistresses' Conference. After nearly five centuries of educating boys, it began admitting girls during
the 1980s and is now fully coeducational.

Situated in the central Durham area, Durham School offers a broad ranging academic curriculum
supported by a varied programme of sport, music and extra-curricular activities and opportunities.
Durham School also operates a house system to provide pastoral support and a social centre for the
students.

History

The history of Durham School can be divided into three sections. Firstly there is the time from its founding
by Langley in 1414, then in 1541 Henry VIII refounded it and finally in 1844 the school moved from its site
on Palace Green to its current location. The school is often referred to in histories and the Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography as "Durham Grammar School".

To 1541
Durham School was founded by Thomas Langley[2] in 1414, which was the foundation date accepted by
the Clarendon Commission into public schools in 1861, making it the 18th oldest in Britain. It is possible,
however, that it may actually have origins in the Priory at Lindisfarne, being moved to Durham City to
escape marauding Viking invaders around the time that St. Cuthbert's body was brought to what is now
the site of Durham Cathedral. The school was in Langley's time situated on the east side of Palace
Green to the north of the cathedral.

1541 to 1844
At the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the Protestant Reformation in 1541, the school
was refounded by Henry VIII. It remained in the same location, indeed the Headmaster Henry Stafford
remained in post, during this period. The School had some interesting times - for example, in 1640 the
"old School Buildings were utterly destroyed by the Scots, and the Head Master [Richard Smelt] retired to
his Rectory of Easingwold where he took pupils"[4] and the School was "recognised and endowed by the
Parlamentary Commission 1652-3".[5] Homeless due to the burning down of its buildings, the school
continued in various houses in the city.

It was in 1661 that the school moved to the building currently occupied by the Durham University Music
School to the north west of Palace Green.

There was some zeal for education in Durham during the 18th century. Durham School, rebuilt in 1661,
on the Palace Green, soon became, instead of a local grammar school, a north-country public school of
repute and wide influence. We can trace from the Restoration onwards not only the familiar city names
such as Salvin, Wilkinson, Hutchinson, Blakiston, Fawcett, Bowes, Calverley, Cole. One of the chief
distinctions of the school is the succession of local historians and antiquaries who drew their inspiration
from the venerable association of the old school on the Green. Most famous of these is James
Mickleton (1638–93), without whom no history of mediaeval or 17th-century Durham would be possible.
Local history owes very much to Elias Smith, a notable head master (1640–66) who did his best to
preserve the cathedral library through the Protectorate troubles, and to Thomas Rudd, head master
(1691–9 and 1709–11), who indexed the Cathedral manuscripts. Later than these comes Thomas
Randall (head master 1761–8), who made a large collection of manuscript material for local history
books.
1844 to date
From its location on Palace Green outside Durham Cathedral, whilst Edward Elder was Headmaster the
school moved to its present site in 1844.

The School has been steadily expanded and updated since then. For example:

Henry Holden, Headmaster 1853 to 1882, instigated new classrooms, dormitories, kitchens,
sickroom then a sanatorium, bell tower and library.
William Fearon, Headmaster 1882 to 1884, introduced the three term system used today and
enlarged the playing fields and built an open air swimming pool. He was also responsible, in
1882, for the concrete path alongside the River Wear between Hatfield College Boat House and
Elvet Bridge.
Richard Budworth, Headmaster 1907 to 1932, oversaw great expansion in the School. In his
tenure were added fives courts, a new boarding house in the Grove (a building now used for
administration), Langley House, the Chapel (referred to below), new playing fields and
classrooms, Poole House, the indoor swimming pool the armoury and rifle range and the Kerr
Arch. This arch, Grade II listed, was erected as the front entrance to the School and is in memory
of G.C. Kerr, Cambridge Rowing Blue, Scottish rugby international and first civilian governor of
the Sudan.
John Brett, Headmaster 1958 to 1972, saw the building of the cricket pavillion, new kitchens and
laboratories and a new sanatorium. Michael Vallance, Headmaster 1972 to 1982, opened a
Junior House of boys age 11 to 13 named Ferens House (this closed in 2003), but the main
developments in his tenure were the Budworth sports centre and Luce Theatre.
The key development in Michael Lang's time, Headmaster 1982, was the introduction of girls to
the Sixth Form. There was also a new classroom block near the Budworth centre.
With Neil Kern as Headmaster, the principal developments included the introduction of girls
throughout the School, making it fully co-educational, followed later by the creation of MacLeod
House, and the all weather sports pitch near the Chapel.
Ths school has been co-educational since 1985 and became independent
from the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral in 1996.

House system
Although lessons are co-educational and sport takes place generally in year groups, for pastoral and
sporting competition purposes, the school is divided into five different single sex houses. Each student is
assigned to a house at the start of his or her time in the school and will, usually, remain in that house for
the whole of their school career. The houses are separate buildings each with its own character in which
the students are able to use the facilities and do private study. Currently the houses comprise:

House Occupants Founded House colour

The Caffinites boys, day 1847[13]

MacLeod girls, day 2005[27]

Pimlico girls, boarding and day 1985[28]

Poole boys, boarding and day 1924[29]

The School House boys, boarding and day 1844[30]

School House boys are often nicknamed Bungites after the Headmaster Henry Holden who was also their
Housemaster and himself nicknamed 'Bung' due to his ability to tell tall tales.

Caffinites was called The Second Masters House until it was renamed in 1924.

Sport
With facilities that encompass playing fields, swimming pool, all weather pitch and boathouse, Durham
School has a wide ranging sports programme that includes athletics, badminton, cricket, cross
country,fencing, football, gym, hockey, netball, rounders, rowing, rugby, squash, swimming, tennis golf' an
d water polo.

Cricket
Along with rowing, cricket is the major boys sport for the summer term. The school considers cricket to be
one of its high profile sports with the 1st XI competing against a number of high profile teams such as
the MCC. The cricket pavilion was built in 1960.

Hockey
The main sport for girls in winter is hockey. Each year a number of girls represent the county. Hockey is
also played by the boys, predominately in the Easter term.

Rowing
Rowing has been a major sport at Durham School since at least 1838, and today it continues to flourish.
The Club aims to provide rowing opportunities to any who wish to be involved - "All year groups at the
school have the opportunity to row at the appropriate level for their physiological and physical
development" - and also wins at regattas and head races at home and abroad. In addition, the Club offers
rowing to students, parents, friends and other local schools.

Rugby
The School has a number of playing fields, used predominately for Rugby. The largest of these, Top
Ground, was acquired in 1918. This has required work on its drainage over the years, 1921 and 1925 and
again in 2009.

Durham School is the fourth or fifth oldest football club of any kind in the world and has produced many
international rugby union players as well as introducing the game to Scotland. Durham School Football
Club was founded in 1850 and was from 1890-1930 one of the rugby nurseries in England - this was first
recognised by the Barbarians who honoured the school by playing a full side against the Old Dunelmians
in 1897 (Barbarians won 18-5). Just before the First World War the school supplied four England players
as well as a number of England trialists. Between 1920 and 1930 the school produced seven full
internationals as well as several trialists (England, Scotland and British Lions). The headmaster during
this great period was Richard Thomas Dutton Budworth who was himself a former England international
and Barbarian. The history of the sport is celebrated in the annual Veterrimi IV Rugby Tournament hosted
by Durham School and consisting of Rugby School, Cheltenham College andSherborne School. In the
inaugural event, October 2010, Rugby School won the final, beating Durham School 10-7.

Newcastle Falcons (originally Gosforth) rugby union club were founded as the old boys side and played in
the school's colours until recently (green and white hoops).