Royal Russell School

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


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, taking over a 110 acre 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. In 2010 Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (now the Duke of Edinburgh) visited the school, officially opening the Performing Arts Centre.

Academic
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.

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.

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.

School structure
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

 * 1854-1855 A F Gaultier
 * 1855-1855 Mr Skaife

New Cross

 * 1855-1857 E H Roberts
 * 1857-1858 Mr Sansbury
 * 1858-1866 F Gruzelier

Russell Hill, Purley

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

Ballards Estate

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

Royal Russell School, Ballards Estate (Co-educational)

 * 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
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
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
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.

Royal Russell Combined Cadet Force
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
Notable Old Russellians include:
 * Ali M. Ansari - Professor in Modern History at the University of St. Andrews
 * Martin Clunes - Actor
 * Elly Jackson - Vocalist of the musical duo La Roux
 * Naoko Mori - Actor
 * Neville Keighley - Singer/songwriter who uses the stage name Belouis Some
 * Mims Davies - Conservative Politician
 * Mya-Lecia Naylor - Actress
 * Rhys Norrington-Davies - Footballer