Recent from talks
Archbishop Tenison's School
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Archbishop Tenison's School
Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School, also known as Archbishop Tenison's School or Tenison's, was established as a library and grammar school for 30 poor boys in the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1685. The school moved location several times and adapted its status, provision and partnerships over the years in response to a changing educational landscape: as a library and grammar school, then a grammar school only, then a comprehensive, voluntary aided, grant aided and finally as an academy.
Most recently 2019-2023 Tenison's was run as an academy and was based in Lambeth directly opposite The Oval cricket ground, home of Surrey County Cricket Club. The school catered for around 530 girls and boys aged 11–16 and was managed by the Southwark Diocese Board of Education Multi Academy Trust.
Thomas Tenison, an educational evangelist and later Archbishop of Canterbury, founded several schools in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The boys' grammar school was founded in 1685 in Castle Street (now the site of the National Portrait Gallery) and relocated in 1871 to Leicester Square (to a site previously occupied by the Sabloniere Hotel). The school moved to The Oval in 1928, with the new building being opened by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).
Dr Thomas Tenison set a charity school when he became Rector of St Martin in the Fields, and another nearby when he was also minister of St James’ Piccadilly - these later combined onto a new site. The previous school had been a room in the church, but Tenison saw the need for and established a purpose built school and library to provide free education for poor local boys so they could prepare for trades, employment and university. In 1684 Tenison asked Christopher Wren to design a new school building as well as a library in Castle Street near St Martin’s Lane. The library eventually closed and the books sold in order to continue to pay the school's running costs, and Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School remained in that location until 1871.
Archbishop Tenison’s Library and Grammar School formed the centre section of the large parish Workhouse buildings facing Castle Street. The school inhabited a spacious room at street level, where boys could learn to read and write and learn skills to equip them for future vocational training, employment or further academic study. The buildings were eventually demolished to make way for the new National Gallery, and the school moved to new premises in Leicester Square in 1871, merging with the King Street school.
By the end of the 19th century the inspectors noted that classrooms were cramped, and the playground was a small courtyard surrounded by high buildings. The trustees were again struggling to manage the school site. By 1918 education was now compulsory up to the age of 14, which helped the school continue to be full although attainment was generally low. The school was admitting children as young as 7 and teaching mixed ability, mixed age classes was challenging.
In 1922 there were 220 pupils between ages 7–17; 67% did not live in Westminster but travelled in from Lambeth and elsewhere. “The increase of numbers and difficulty of organising so small a school under modern conditions have made another building necessary.” Trustees considered various options to try to accommodate the changing needs of the local population and steer the school to find its place in the local education system. Suitable land was identified in Kennington, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, and terms were agreed. There was a delay of several years before the school moved from the West End to the Oval.
The school was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in July 1928. Most pupils had to pay fees (payable in advance and included all books and stationery, and parents committed to keeping the boy at school until he was 16) although the school continued to offer some free places.
Hub AI
Archbishop Tenison's School AI simulator
(@Archbishop Tenison's School_simulator)
Archbishop Tenison's School
Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School, also known as Archbishop Tenison's School or Tenison's, was established as a library and grammar school for 30 poor boys in the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1685. The school moved location several times and adapted its status, provision and partnerships over the years in response to a changing educational landscape: as a library and grammar school, then a grammar school only, then a comprehensive, voluntary aided, grant aided and finally as an academy.
Most recently 2019-2023 Tenison's was run as an academy and was based in Lambeth directly opposite The Oval cricket ground, home of Surrey County Cricket Club. The school catered for around 530 girls and boys aged 11–16 and was managed by the Southwark Diocese Board of Education Multi Academy Trust.
Thomas Tenison, an educational evangelist and later Archbishop of Canterbury, founded several schools in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The boys' grammar school was founded in 1685 in Castle Street (now the site of the National Portrait Gallery) and relocated in 1871 to Leicester Square (to a site previously occupied by the Sabloniere Hotel). The school moved to The Oval in 1928, with the new building being opened by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).
Dr Thomas Tenison set a charity school when he became Rector of St Martin in the Fields, and another nearby when he was also minister of St James’ Piccadilly - these later combined onto a new site. The previous school had been a room in the church, but Tenison saw the need for and established a purpose built school and library to provide free education for poor local boys so they could prepare for trades, employment and university. In 1684 Tenison asked Christopher Wren to design a new school building as well as a library in Castle Street near St Martin’s Lane. The library eventually closed and the books sold in order to continue to pay the school's running costs, and Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School remained in that location until 1871.
Archbishop Tenison’s Library and Grammar School formed the centre section of the large parish Workhouse buildings facing Castle Street. The school inhabited a spacious room at street level, where boys could learn to read and write and learn skills to equip them for future vocational training, employment or further academic study. The buildings were eventually demolished to make way for the new National Gallery, and the school moved to new premises in Leicester Square in 1871, merging with the King Street school.
By the end of the 19th century the inspectors noted that classrooms were cramped, and the playground was a small courtyard surrounded by high buildings. The trustees were again struggling to manage the school site. By 1918 education was now compulsory up to the age of 14, which helped the school continue to be full although attainment was generally low. The school was admitting children as young as 7 and teaching mixed ability, mixed age classes was challenging.
In 1922 there were 220 pupils between ages 7–17; 67% did not live in Westminster but travelled in from Lambeth and elsewhere. “The increase of numbers and difficulty of organising so small a school under modern conditions have made another building necessary.” Trustees considered various options to try to accommodate the changing needs of the local population and steer the school to find its place in the local education system. Suitable land was identified in Kennington, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, and terms were agreed. There was a delay of several years before the school moved from the West End to the Oval.
The school was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in July 1928. Most pupils had to pay fees (payable in advance and included all books and stationery, and parents committed to keeping the boy at school until he was 16) although the school continued to offer some free places.