This morning, the children enjoyed Mr Oldroyd’s assembly with some very special guests. Mrs Pauline McBrown in her role as Beadle led the procession into the Chapel carrying the Bridewell Mace, accompanied by Mrs Justine Voisin, Treasurer, and Mrs Joanna Wright, Head of King Edward’s Witley and Principal of Bridewell Royal Hospital.
The Bridewell Choir started the assembly by signing the anthem ‘Call of Wisdom’ by Will Todd, conducted by Mr Frazer accompanied by Graduate Organist, Miss Nishizono-Miller.
The assembly then followed a ‘curious’ theme, from our Barrow Hills pupil profile, to address our curiosity about what being a ‘Bridewell School’ really means for the children at Barrow Hills.
Mr Oldroyd started by looking back on education in the UK, which has changed a great deal over the centuries. In ancient times, teaching was mainly carried out by priests and prophets who generally only taught the children of rich people. They would show them how to become leaders and businessmen, to take over this role when their turn came. Eventually, the Roman Catholic Church took charge of teaching the children of nobles and some of their centers of learning still exist today, such as Cambridge University whose first college was St. Peters that was established in 1284.
However, before this, in Saxon times religious institutions had set up schools for children that were not of noble birth, although it was mainly a matter of choice who attended them. It was not until 1880 that education became compulsory for 5 to 10 year olds, and then gradually the leaving age was raised until it reached 18 in 2015.
During the Middle Ages, schools were established to teach Latin grammar to the sons of the aristocracy destined for priesthood or monastic work with the ministry of government or the law. Two universities were established in affiliation with the church: the University of Oxford, followed by the University of Cambridge, to assist in the further training of the Catholic Christian clergy.
Independent schools have a long history in England; some were set up before the tenth century. The oldest is King’s School, Canterbury, which was founded in 597. Many were charity schools. A group of these schools, much later, invoked the name “public school” to indicate that they were open to the public regardless of religious beliefs.
In Tudor England, Edward VI reorganised grammar schools and instituted new ones so that there was a national system of “free grammar schools.” In theory these were open to all, offering free tuition to those who could not afford to pay fees. The vast majority of poor children did not attend these schools since their labour was economically critical to their families[
That brought Mr Oldroyd to speak about King Edward’s Witley, our partner school. It was founded by Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, In 1553 Ridley persuaded the boy King, King Edward VI, to hand over Bridewell Palace to house, care and educate the under-privileged and destitute – ‘a place to lodge Christ in’. The establishment was known as The Bridewell Royal Hospital. Financial support came from the services industry; the corporation’s structure included the Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common Council, the Freemen and Livery companies of the City. The investment in Bridewell enabled its boys and girls to receive a basic classroom education and develop a trade, such as ironmongery, gardening, sewing, and working as a Matron.
In May 1860, with some closures of the Bridewell buildings the Governors decided to rename The Bridewell Royal Hospital to King Edward’s School, honouring King Edward’s Charter and reflecting more closely its purpose as an education institution. In 1867 the School moved to its current 100-acre site in Witley. The easy access via the London and South Western Railway’s station at Witley would facilitate continued strong links with the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation. The fresh country air was deemed healthier for the children, and the extensive grounds afforded space for more classrooms and bigger, better and more varied workshops.
Most recently, the Governing Bodies of Barrow Hills School and King Edward’s Witley were delighted to announce a merger of the two Witley Schools’ foundations with effect from March 2015. Barrow Hills is now part of the Bridewell Royal Hospital Foundation. The decision to merge made formal a close relationship that has been forged between the schools over many years and opens the way for closer ties in the future.
Tradition is greatly valued at and close links with the City remain through the Court of Governors. The Lord Mayor attends our annual Service of Thanksgiving at St. Bride’s Church and Admissions Day, while pupils participate in a range of events and activities associated with the City of London, perpetuating the links of our historical roots.
The children observed that Mrs McBrown was dressed quite differently today, with a gown, white gloves and had the special job of carrying the Bridewell Mace in her role as ‘Beadle’ of Bridewell Royal Hospital. The children were asked for suggestions of what the Mace signified. They gave various suggestions that Mrs McBrown may be going to war, could use the Mace to knight people or even to appoint royalty. The children finally learned that the Beadle has a Mace to keep order and to protect the Treasurer.
Mrs Justine Voisin, formerly Chair of Governors of Barrow Hills School prior to the merger and now Treasurer of the Governors which covers both schools, explained her role to the children, and gave them a good understanding of what the Governors do to support the wonderful teachers at Barrow Hills. Mrs Joanna Wright, Principal of Bridewell Royal Hospital, thanked the Bridewell Choir for their beautiful singing and all the children for welcoming her so warmly to Barrow Hills today.
The assembly concluded with a rousing rendition of ‘Ad Majora Paramor’, our school song. Many children crowded around Mrs McBrown after assembly to get a closer look at her precious Mace!
