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 Act of Parliament in 1845[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'.

Reed's School
Address
Map
Sandy Lane

, ,
KT11 2ES

Coordinates51°20′18″N 0°22′34″W / 51.338253°N 0.375981°W / 51.338253; -0.375981
Information
TypeIndependent school
Senior school
Boarding and day school
MottoFide (have faith)
Religious affiliation(s)Church 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(s)  Navy
PublicationReedonian
School feesAnnual fees 2022/23 up to: £34,920 (boarders); £26,985 (day pupils)[1]
AlumniOld Reedonians
Websitewww.reeds.surrey.sch.uk

History

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Founding

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Andrew Reed, founder of Reed's School
 
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington – one of the first benefactors

A notable early sponsor was the Duke of Wellington,[citation needed] a future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

London Orphan Asylum, London (1813–1871)

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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]

There were 206 pupils in 1826 and 453 in the 1860s.[citation needed] During the asylum's time in East London, it was famous for having had some 2000 hymns written for it by the English architect James Edmeston,[citation needed] a strong supporter of and frequent visitor to the London Orphan Asylum.

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)

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Former school buildings in Watford, now a residential development

[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 & Towcester (1939–1945)

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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)

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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

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The school has had many royal patrons.[17]

 
Stained glass commemorating James Capel in the Dining Hall, Watford

Sports

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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] The foundation stone for the 25 metre, five lane indoor swimming pool was laid by Duncan Goodhew on 15 November 1990.[citation needed]

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

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Notable staff and associated people

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Notable Old Reedonians

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Royalty

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Business

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Literature

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Sport

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Arts/entertainment

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Politics

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References

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  1. ^ "Fees 2022/2023". Reed's School. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Regulatory Compliance inspection Report for Schools with Residential Provision Reed's School October 2017". Independent Schools Inspectorate. October 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ^ "London Orphan Asylum". Exploring Surrey's Past. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to visit Reed's School today". Surrey Comet. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b "London Orphan Asylum". Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009. Exploring Surrey's Past
  6. ^ T.F.T. Baker, ed. (1995). "Hackney: Clapton". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney. Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (1774–1850)". www.historyhome.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Portico History". Clapton Girls' Academy. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  9. ^ "London Orphan Asylum, follies and folly towers at follytowers.com". Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009. London Orphan Asylum follies
  10. ^ "RIBA Find an Architect". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Clapton Portico". Brady Mallalieu. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Bertrand Edward, Viscount Dawson of Penn Dawson | RCP Museum". history.rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b "London Orphan Asylum, East London / Watford, Hertfordshire". www.childrenshomes.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Originsto1890" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  15. ^ "The school that lives on through a residential estate". Watford Observer. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Sir Terence Rattigan (1911–1977)". Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  17. ^ "The History of Reed's School". Reed's School. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Charities and Patronages". The Royal Family. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ Spiller, Richard (29 March 2015). "Andy Murray congratulates young tennis stars on Doha success". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  21. ^ "David Jarrett". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report For Schools with Residential Provision Reed's School October 2017". reports.isi.net. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  23. ^ Parker, Garrett (4 August 2016). "20 Things You Didn't Know about Tom Hardy". Money Inc. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  24. ^ Eccleshare, Charlie (23 September 2018). "Britain's rising star Jack Draper: 'I'm happy with top 1,000 but I have got to push on and be hungry for more'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  25. ^ Parker, Garrett (4 August 2016). "20 Things You Didn't Know about Tom Hardy". Money Inc. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
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