Giving a detailed blow by blow history of is close to impossible as many of its early records were destroyed when the archives of University College London were bombed in the Second World War, and because many documents were destroyed or left to rot by a headmaster, H.P. Walton who believed, according to the legendary H.J.K. Usher, "that tradition began with him".
The School was originally founded in 1830 by what was then the University Of London , and now University College London . The University of London had been founded by Jeremy Bentham and others to provide opportunities for higher education to Catholics , Jews , Protestant dissenters &c. - as only members of the Established Church could study at Cambridge and Oxford (the only other two universities in England at the time). University College found that the quality of the school education of its applicants was disappointing, due to the fact that the good English Secondary School s were largely of Church of England foundation and, like Oxbridge, barred to non-members of the Church of England. The decision was therefore taken to establish its own school on the premise.
The first headmaster was The Reverend Henry Browne . The School opened at 16 Gower Street (from where the sobriquet ' derives) on November 1 1830 . By February 1831 it had outgrown its quarters, and in 1832 it was brought within the walls of the College, with a joint headmastership of Thomas Hewitt Key and Henry Malden .
The School was remarkably original - it was never a Boarding School , it was one of the first schools to teach Modern Language s (the first school in England to teach German) and Science s, and one of the first to abolish Corporal Punishment . It has also been noted that had a gymnasium before the school that is generally credited with having the first gym. Originally, there were no compulsory subjects and no rigid form system. Most boys learnt Latin and French , and many learnt German . Mathematics , Chemistry , Greek and English were also taught. There was no religious teaching. Under the University College London (Transfer) Act 1905 , University College London became part of the federal University of London, and its School was created as a separate corporation.
moved away to new purpose built buildings in Frognal in Hampstead in 1907 , which were opened by King Edward VII with the Archbishop Of Canterbury in attendance on July 27. Kikuchi Dairoku was invited to the first annual prizegiving at Frognal where he represented those who had received their prizes at Gower Street.
The Sixth Form Centre, which also houses the Theatre, was opened by the Duke Of Kent in 1974.
In 1980 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the School to celebrate its 150th Anniversary and to inaugurate the rebuilt hall which had been destroyed by fire in 1978.
In 1993 a new Library, Music School, Lecture Theatre, Computer Laboratory, Sports Hall, Geography School, Mathematics School and further classrooms were added to the Senior School site. The Junior Branch buildings were also completely refurbished, with the addition of an attractive Art & Technology Centre.
In 2005 announced a four year £12 million development programme.
In addition the school made a concerted effort to track down Old Gowers; as a result the eminent Old Gowers list may increase dramatically soon. The school is also currently making efforts to become co-educational, with the first steps being introduced in 2008.
is a member of the Eton Group of 12 leading public schools.
The Council consists of 20 members.
The Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London have representatives on the Council, as has University College London, the Worshipful Company of Grocers and the London Borough of Camden.
The Main school site (i.e. that of the Senior School) is located on Frognal, in Hampstead - a suburb of London . The main school premise is a noted example of Edwardian Architecture (as pictured at top), in addition to this, the main school hall is another splendid and well-preserved piece of Edwardian architecture. Inside the hall is the magnificent Organ, often used for school concerts and other festivities relating to the school. Currently the school is undergoing development work to provide new sports and teaching facilities, some of which may be open to the public on completion (expected in 2008).
The Junior Branch has its own Library, Science Laboratory, Music, Computer and Drama rooms, whilst Junior Branch pupils use the Sports Hall and Swimming Pool at Frognal for Physical Education.
Outdoor sports including Rugby, Football, Cricket, Athletics and Hockey take place at UCS's gamesfield on Ranulf Road in nearby West Hampstead. Tennis and Fives take place at the school facilities on the Frognal premise.
The Junior branch and the Phoenix school are located on two different campuses in Hampstead .
consists of three main entities:
- "The Phoenix School", co-educational for ages 3 to 7. This was recently acquired by UCS.
- "The Junior Branch", boys-only for ages 7 to 11 ( Primary ). This is also known as "Holly Hill", or "The JB".
- "The Senior School", boys-only for ages 11-18 ( Secondary ). This is commonly just referred to as UCS.
The Senior School site is divided into seven builings:
- The main building, housing English, Modern Languages, History, Classics and Philosophy classrooms, and also the Geography department in the crypt.
- The science block, housing Chemistry, Physics and Biology laboratories.
- The "North Block", housing the 'Enav Library' and lower school classrooms.
- The "Giles Slaughter Wing" ('GS Block'), housing Mathematics, Computing, Music and the Lecture Theatre.
- The Art and D&T block
- The "Kent Sixth Form Centre", housing the 'Lund Theatre', the Economics and Politics department, and of course, the Sixth Form Centre.
- The sports hall. This is being rebuilt, the new building will be named in honour of Sir Roger Bannister OG.
There are also tennis courts, a swimming pool and a temporary sports centre on site.
The Senior School is divided into three schools by age, and each year has a unique name:
Students in the Middle School and Upper School are arranged into Demes, each named after a former prominent member of staff. This is similar to a school House . In the Middle School, there is one form (class) per year in each Deme, and in the Upper School there are two forms per year in each Deme. There are regular inter-Deme competitions in sports throughout the year. In the Middle School the distinctive school blazer carries a coloured school logo on the breast pocket depicting the pupil's Deme. There are currently five Demes:
- Baxters --- Blue
- Black Hawkins --- Yellow
- Evans --- Pink (Black is used in sports)
- Flooks --- Green
- Underwoods --- Purple
The school motto is "Paulatim sed firmiter", roughly translated as "Gradually but surely". The school song is called ''Paulatim''.
The school's colours are maroon and black. On blazers these are vertical stripes.
There have been numerous songs written about .
The annual Speech Day event, at which boys are awarded various prizes, has been hosted by many famous speakers, including Rory Bremner , Gary Lineker , Henry Olonga and in 2006 Stephen Fry .
publishes a termly newsletter called ''The Frognal'' and a yearly magazine called ''The Gower''; both publications are sent to current and past students for free. The latest edition of ''The Frognal'' is also available on the school website. The website also allows people to sign up for a monthly ''E-zine'' newsletter.
There are 4 main points of entry for prospective pupils:
- Junior Branch, at ages 7 or 8, judged by combination of internal exam and interview.
- Lower School, at age 11, judged by combination of internal exam and interview.
- Middle School, at age 13, judged by combination of internal exam and interview.
- Upper School, at age 16, judged by subject-specific exams and interviews, conditional upon GCSE results. This is only available for a handful of boys.
Since the acquisition of the Phoenix School, a pupil transfer between the school and the Junior Branch is in place at age 7 for those "displaying academic potential".
Prominent former pupils include (this is not a definitive list):
- Rory Bremner ?(other sources contradict this), Impressionist (Star of Bremner, Bird & Fortune etc.)
- Hugh Dennis , Actor (My Hero, Have I got News for You, Mock the Week)
- Jonathan Djanogly , MP (2001-present) Shadow Solicitor General and Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry (2005-)
- Jonny Blue , (Somerset Cricket - injured knee and never got to play for England)
- Matthew Taylor (politician) , MP (1987-present), Shadow Chancellor (1999-2003), Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party (2003-2005)
- Sir Alan Greengross
- Ben Schott , author of Schott's Miscellanies
- Dr Tristram Hunt , TV historian
- Thomas Ades , composer
- Joe Craig , Novelist
- Alex Garland , Novelist, writer of "The Beach"
- Arthur Edwin Kennelly , American electrical engineer
- Dairoku Kikuchi , Japanese mathematician and Minister of Education
- David Katz , Music Journalist
- David McCallum , Actor
- Dick Rubenstein , Major
- Dirk Bogarde , Actor (Junior Branch only)
- G.W. Knox (OG 1856-59), President of the Institute Of Chartered Accountants In England & Wales
- Frank Holl , English painter
- Frederic George Stephens , 'Nonartistic' member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood & Art critic.
- Hayashi Tadasu , Japanese Foreign Minister, and Ambassador to the Court of St James.
- Ingram Bywater (OG 1853-56), Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University
- Joseph Chamberlain (OG 1850-52), Colonial Secretary, leader of the Imperialist Liberals and father of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
- Judge Jules , Dance music DJ
- Julian Lloyd Webber , Cellist
- Richard Morrison , Arts Editor of " The Times ",1990-99
- Max Minghella (OG 1999-2004), Actor
- Nicolas Bentley , illustrator
- Richard Holt Hutton (OG 1835-41), Editor of " The Spectator "
- Ronald Neame , British screenwriter and director
- Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess Of Reading (OG 1873-74), Lord Chief Justice and Viceroy of India
- Stephen Spender , Poet
- Thom Gunn , Poet
- Tom Hood , Humourist
- Will Self , Writer
- Walter Sickert A.R.A. (OG 1870-71), Artist and critic
- 1st Viscount Samuel , Herbert Samuel (OG 1884-88), Leader of the Liberal Party, Home Secretary and High Commissioner for Palestine
- His Excellency Viscount Hayashi (OG 1867-68), Japanese Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
- Professor Karl Pearson F.R.S. (OG 1866-73), Founder of Department of Applied Statistics of University College London which was the first statistics department in the world. He was a major contributor to the development of statistics. Contemporary and close friend of Kikuchi Dairoku .
- Professor William Edward Ayrton , F.R.S., (OG 1859-64), Physicist
- Sir Alfred Yarrow , Bart. , F.R.S.(OG 1855-58), Ship building industrialist and philanthropist
- Sir Angus Prevost , Bart., (OG 1847-52), Governor of the Bank Of England
- Sir Chris Bonington (OG 1944-52), Mountaineer
- Sir Claude Phillips (OG 1856-58), Keeper of the Wallace Collection
- Sir Daniel Cooper , Bart., G.C.M.G (OG 1835-39), Speaker of Assembly, New South Wales
- Sir Francis Seymour Haden , English etcher, writer and surgeon
- Sir Frank Crisp (OG 1857-59), Eminent Company Lawyer
- Sir George Faudel-Phillips , Bart. (OG 1853-55), Lord Mayor Of London 1896-97
- Sir Henry Greenway Howse M.S., F.R.C.S. (OG 1856-58), President of the Royal College Of Surgeons
- Sir Hamo Thornycroft R.A., (OG 1863-68), Artist and sculptor
- Sir John Ambrose Fleming , Electrical engineer
- Sir Josiah Rees , (OG 1835-38), Chief Justice of Bermuda
- Sir Julius Vogel K.C.M.G, Two-time Prime Minister Of New Zealand
- Sir Michael Foster K.C.B., F.R.S., M.P. (OG 1849-52), Psychologist, Professor and MP
- Sir Nathaniel Nathan (OG 1851-58), Chief Justice of Trinidad And Tobago , 1901-1903
- Sir Philip Magnus , Bart., (OG 1854-58), English educationalist and MP
- Sir Roger Bannister (OG 1944-46), Runner and Neurologist
- The Rev. Canon Ainger, Alfred Ainger (OG 1847-49), Master of the Temple
- The Rev. Joseph Estlin Carpenter (OG 1854-60), Principal of Harris Manchester College, Oxford of Oxford University .
- The Rt. Hon. Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton (OG 1839-43), Artist and President of the Royal Academy
- The Rt. Hon. Nathaniel Lindley, 1st Baron Lindley , P.C., (OG 1837-45), Master of the Rolls, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
- The Rt. Hon. William Court Gully, 1st Viscount Selby , P.C., Q.C., (OG 1848-49), Speaker of the House of Commons
- The Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Braddon K.C.M.G., (OG 1843-44), Premier Of Tasmania
- The Rt. Hon. John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley Of Blackburn , P.C., O.M., [ (OG 1853-54), Secretary of State for India
- The Most Rev. Arthur Sweatman (OG 1848-50), Archbishop of Toronto and Primate of all Canada
- The Most Rev. E.G. Bagshawe (OG 1836-38), Archbishop of Selucia
- The Rt. Rev. Edward Steere (OG 1842-44), Bishop of Central Africa.
- The Very Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler (OG 1852-54), Chief Rabbi of UK
- Sir Julius Vogel K.C.M.G, Julius Vogel , (Chairman of Old Boys Dining Society 1877), two time Premier of New Zealand
- Sir Barrow Ellis K.C.S.I,(OG 1883-37), Member of Governor-General's Council and of the Council Of India
- J.G. Greenwood , (OG1835-37) Principal of Owens College, Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University (UK) and possibly founded it
- Sir John Heathcote-Amory , Bart (of Tiverton)(OG 1843-45), Textile Baron, builder of Knightshayes Court
- The Rt. Hon. Lord Romilly , (OG 1843-50), There seems to be some confusion in Internet sources. He may have had something to do with the 1867 Reform Act.
- The Rt. Hon. Lord Burnham, Baron Burnham (OG 1847-50), Principal proprietor of The Daily Telegraph
- The Rt. Hon. J.W. Mellor K.C., M.P. (OG 1844-51), Chairman of Committees, House of Commons
- Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence , Bart. (OG 1847-52), Professor at University College London . There is to this day a Durning-Lawrence Professor of the History of Art at UCL, and the main hall at is officially known as the Durning-Lawrence Hall.
- The Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Charles ,P.C., (OG 1848-54), Judge of the High Court
- William Frend De Morgan (OG 1849-55), may or may not be William De Morgan , possibly not because his entry in the register says he was a novelist.
- Edwin Waterhouse (OG 1855-57), President of the Institute Of Chartered Accountants In England & Wales and very probably the Waterhouse in PricewaterhouseCoopers , the largest professional services firm in the world
- The Rt. Hon. Lord Wandsworth Sidney James Stern, 1st Baron Wandsworth , (OG 1857-58), Reason for Peerage unknown, but later founded the Public School Lord Wandsworth College
- Sir G.C.T. Bartley (OG 1852-59), M.P.
- Sir Edward Henry Busk , M.A., LL.B (OG 1852-59), Vice-Chancellor of the University Of London
- Augustus Pulszky LL.D (OG 1858-60), Professor of Law, University of Buda-Pesth
- Numa E. Hartog (OG 1857-61), First Jewish Senior Wrangler , prominent figure in the movement to remove Jewish disabilities. His evidence before a committee of the House of Lords helped considerably to secure the passing of the Universities Tests Act in 1871.
- Sir Boverton Redwood , 1st Baronet Boverton (OG 1857-61), Prominent chemist and petroleum expert, co-founded the B & R Redwood consulting practice. He also co-founded, and became the first President of, the Institution of Petroleum Technologists, now known as the Institute of Petroleum, in 1913. He was instrumental in persuading the Royal Navy to change from coal fired ships to oil fired ones.
- Gottfried Kinkel (OG 1859-62), Professor of Greek, University of Zurich. May be a relation of Gottfried Kinkel
- Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott , Bart., K.C.B. (OG 1865-66), Often regarded in the Royal Navy as "the father of modern gunnery". Scott was also instrumental in developing other equipment for the fleet such as the masthead flashing lamp (and possibly the masthead semaphore) and the shutter "for the emission of signs" to put on the searchlights so they could be used to send Morse Code. He was Military Commandant of Durban when martial law was declared during the Boer War. In a controversial letter to The Times he foresaw the vulnerability of battleships to new technology such as submarines. He was made Head of the anti-submarine department of the Admiralty months into the First World War. He is one of three Naval officers who (working independently) are credited with the development of depth charges. [http://www.ijnhonline.org/volume1_number1_Apr02/article_johnson_angloamerican_inventors.doc.htm , [http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/admiralty_and_the_submarine_serv.htm]
- Professor E.A. Sonnenschein , Litt.D. (OG 1867-68), Philologist, Professor of Classics and Dean of the Faculty of Arts in the University of Birmingham
- Sir D. Brynmor Jones , P.C., Q.C., M.P. (OG 1862-69), writer of parliamentary reports
- Sir C.A. Russell Q.C., (OG 1862-71), was probably Charles Russell Q.C. who defended at least one of the three social campaigners in the famous case of Eliza Armstrong (1885): social campaigners proved the existence of under age prostitution by "buying a girl", they were then prosecuted
- Alexander Hill M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S. (OG 1870-72), Master of Downing College, Cambridge
- Lt.-General Sir Robert I. Scallon K.C.B., K.C.I.E., D.S.O. (OG 1869-73)
- Sir Wilfred Collett K.C.M.G. (OG 1870-73), Governor of British Guiana 1914-1918
- Justin H. McCarthy M.P. (OG 1871-73), Member of Parliament and author and possibly son of Justin McCarthy
- Lucas Barrett , English Geologist and naturalist - Can someone confirm this??
- The Rt. Rev. J.E. Hine D.D., M.D. (OG 1870-74), Bishop of Zanzibar, Archdeacon of Lincoln
- Professor F.C. Montague M.A. (OG 1871-74), Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, Historian
- H. Clarence Bourne C.M.G. (OG 1872-75), Colonial Secretary of Jamaica
- Sir William J Collins K.C.V.O, M.D., M.S., F.R.C.S., M.P. (OG 1869-76), Member of Parliament and Chairman of L.C.C
- Sir A.G. Bourne K.C.I.E., F.R.S. (OG 1872-76), Director of the Indian Institute of Science
- Marion H. Spielmann (OG 1872-66), Historian of "Punch"
- Maurice Greiffenhagen R.A. (OG 1872-76), Artist
- Professor S.J. Hickson F.R.S. (OG 1873-76), Victoria University
- Professor D.S. MacColl (OG 1873-76), Keeper of the Wallace Collection
- Sir W.S. Meyer G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I. (OG 1873-76), Member of the Governor-General's Council, First High Commissioner for India
- Leonard Huxley LL.D. (OG 1872-77), Editor of "The Cornhill Magazine"
- Professor W.D. Halliburton M.D., F.R.S. (OG1872-77), Professor of Physiology, King's College London
- Sir Theodore Morison K.C.S.I, K.C.I.E., C.B.E. (OG 1874-77), Member of the Council of India, Principal of Armstrong College
- Sir E.W. Moir Bart. (OG 1875-77), Engineer
- André Chevrillon (OG 1876-77), member of the French Academy
- Sir Edward Manville M.Inst.E.E., (OG 1874-78), Chairman of the Imperial Council of Commerce
- Robert Anning Bell R.A. (OG 1876-78), Important painter and illustrator
- Percy Flemming M.D., F.R.C.S. (OG 1872-79), Professor of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital
- Sir A. E. Shipley F.R.S. (OG 1877-79), Master of Christ's College, Cambridge
- Arthur Berry (OG 1877-79), Vice-Provost of King's College, Cambridge
- Sir Walter Raleigh (OG 1877-79), Professor of English Literature, University Of Oxford
- Sir Philip J Hartog K.B.E., C.I.E. (OG 1874-80), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dacca
- Sir John Rose Bradford Bart., K.C.M.G., M.D., D.Sc., F.R.S. (OG 1875-80), President of the Royal College Of Physicians
- Sir W. Phené Neal (OG 1876-80), Lord Mayor Of London 1930-31
- Walter Ashburner D.C.L. (OG 1877-80), Professor of Jurisprudence, University Of Oxford
- H. W. Halton (OG 1877-80), Vice-President Court of Appeal, President Mixed Tribunal, Cairo
- Sir Joseph Duveen, Bart, later Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen Of Millbank (OG 1877-80), One of the most influential art dealers of all time and a philanthropist
- Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Hill, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.V.O., F.R.C.S., (OG 1871-81), Director-General of the Admiralty Medical Department, Hon. Surgeon to H.M. the King
- Sir Harry Haward (OG 1877-81), Controller of the L.C.C., Electricity Commissioner
- Maj.-Gen Sir T. Fraser K.C.B., C.S.I., C.M.G. (OG 1876-82)
- Professor O. K. Willaimson M.A., M.B. (OG 1876-82), University of Witwatersrand
- Maj.-Gen. Sir E. D. Swinton K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. (OG 1878-83), Chichele Professor of Military History, University Of Oxford
Former staff include:
- ''An angel without wings: The history of University College School 1830-1980'' by H. J. K. Usher, C. D. Black-Hawkins and G. J. Carrick, edited by G. G. H. Page (University College School, 1981).
- ''University College School Register for 1860-1931 : with a short history of the school'' by Leathes, Stanley with an introduction from S.N. Carvalho (Published 1931)
- ''From Gower Street to Frognal: a short history of University College School from 1830 to 1907'' by Felkin, F.W. (Published Arnold Fairbairns 1909)
- ''University College School Register, 1901-63'' compiled by N.Holland (Published 1964)
- ''University College School Register for 1831-1891'' edited by Orme, Temple Augustus (published H.W. Lawrence {Link without Title} )
- ''University College School Roll of Honour and War List 1914-18'' compiled by Cockman, Charles Roadnight and Thomas, Cyril Leonard Ross (published St. Albans Campfield Press 1922)
|
