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Coordinates: 53°57′59″N 1°05′34″W / 53.966418°N 1.092850°W / 53.966418; -1.092850
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The school has Barbershop Quartets, a Brass Group, Chamber Groups, a Choral Society, a Close Harmony Group, String Orchestras, String Quartets, Swing Band/Traditional Jazz, a Symphony Orchestra, Senior Wind Band, Woodwind, Quintets and Quartets.
The school has Barbershop Quartets, a Brass Group, Chamber Groups, a Choral Society, a Close Harmony Group, String Orchestras, String Quartets, Swing Band/Traditional Jazz, a Symphony Orchestra, Senior Wind Band, Woodwind, Quintets and Quartets.


After the closure of [[The Minster School, York]] in 2019, St Peter's 8–13 is now the choir school for the [[York Minster]] Choristers.
After the closure of [[The Minster School, York]] in 2019, St Peter's 8–13 is now the choir school for the [[York Minster]] Choristers, who sing at York Minster and at School Eucharists.


==Headmasters==
==Headmasters==

Revision as of 17:13, 1 June 2025

St Peter's School, York
Address
Map
St Peter's

Clifton
York
,
North Yorkshire
,
YO30 6AB

England
Coordinates53°57′59″N 1°05′34″W / 53.966418°N 1.092850°W / 53.966418; -1.092850
Information
TypePublic school
Private day and boarding
MottoSuper Antiquas Vias
("Over ancient ways")
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
EstablishedAD 627; 1398 years ago (627)
FounderSt Paulinus of York[citation needed]
Local authorityCity of York Council
Department for Education URN121724 Tables
HeadmasterJeremy Walker
GenderCo-educational
Age2 to 18
Enrolmentc. 1,000
Houses
  • Dronfield (girls' boarding)
  • The Rise (girls' boarding)
  • Linton (boys' boarding)
  • The Manor (boys' boarding)
  • Clifton (day house)
  • The Grove (day house)
  • Queen's (day house)
  • School House (day house)
  • Temple (day house)
  • Hope (day house)
Colour(s)Brown, Blue, White
   
AlumniOld Peterites
Websitehttps://www.stpetersyork.org.uk/

St Peter's School is a co-educational private boarding and day school (also referred to as a public school), in the English City of York, with extensive grounds on the banks of the River Ouse. Founded by St Paulinus of York in AD 627, it is considered to be the third-oldest school in the world, although some historians take a more sceptical view.[1] It is part of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and York Boarding Schools Group.[2]

The school accepts pupils aged two to eighteen.

History

Originally based at York Minster, the school was founded by St Paulinus of York in the year AD 627,[3] but has not existed continually since that time.[4] An early headmaster, Alcuin (Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus), went on to be Chancellor to the Emperor Charlemagne, and founded several of the earliest schools in mainland Europe. It is considered to be the third oldest school in the world.[5] The school existed near the present day site of the Minster until the seizure of St Mary’s Abbey prompted its reendowment and relocation to the Horsefair, outside of the city walls.[6] During this period three conspirators in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes, John Wright, and Christopher Wright attended the school.[7]

During the English Civil War, the school in the Horsefair was destroyed by the Siege of York. As a result, the school site was moved to the Bedern within the city walls before moving again, in 1730, to St Andrewgate and in 1840 to the Minster Yard. It was only in 1844 that the present site was purchased and the school relocated for the final time.

For most of its history, the school was a boys' school, but welcomed girls into the sixth form from 1976 before becoming fully coeducational in 1987.[8]

Pupils of St Peter’s School, York celebrating St Peter’s Day in 1911

Campus

The school grounds are located near the centre of York and stretch to the banks of the River Ouse. The main front of the school faces along Bootham; this is the oldest part of the site.[citation needed]

Boarding Houses Wentworth and Rise border the main campus, while Linton, Dronfield and The Manor are located across the road from the main school front accessible by footbridge. In the 2000s the school expanded its site under Headmaster Andrew Trotman to include the new lower campus, formerly the site of Queen Anne's, a state school that had been recently closed. The move was not without its challenges, including the distance between the old and new sites and the dissection of a public footpath.[citation needed]

St Peter's 2–8

Main article: St Peter's 2-8

St Peter's 2–8 (formerly Clifton Pre-preparatory School) is the pre-prep school to St Peter's School, York. St Peter's 2–8 is located on the Upper Campus of the school, next door to the senior school which runs along the main road of Bootham in the centre of York. The current Head of St Peter's 2–8 is Antonia Clarke.

In February 2018, Clifton School and Nursery was named as the best pre-prep/prep school in the annual TES Independent School Awards.[9]

In summer 2020 Clifton Pre-Preparatory School and Nursery was renamed St Peter's 2–8 and, in April 2021, St Peter's 2–8 was named the best pre-prep school and independent school of the year in the annual TES Independent School Awards.[10]

St Peter's 8–13

St Peter's 8–13 (formerly St Olave's School) is the junior school to St Peter's, with grounds on the banks of the River Ouse. The current Head of St Peter's 8–13 is Phil Hardy.

St Olave's was founded by Reverend Henry Andrew Wilson in 1876 and named after its original site of St Olave’s House in Marygate. The school was acquired by St Peter's School in 1901[11] and St Olave's was renamed St Peter's 8–13 in 2020.[12][better source needed]

In September 2001, St Olave's moved from the White House (the Chilman Building), and its half of the Queen's Building, to the newly acquired Queen Anne site. The pre-prep, St Peter's 2–8 (formerly Clifton Prep) moved from its original 19th-century building on The Avenue to occupy the buildings previously used by St Olave's.

St Peter's 8–13 is now located on the Lower Campus of the St Peter's School, which is also home to the senior school Biology and Art Departments.

Academic

The school has a history of high academic achievement across all age ranges.[13][14]

Latin is compulsory for the first three years of study[15][failed verification] and also offered at GCSE and A Level.[16] Religious Studies is a compulsory GCSE subject.[17]

In the 2017 ISI report, the school academic and other achievements is 'excellent', and the quality of pupils' personal development is 'excellent'.

Extra-curricular activities

Sport

A wide range of activities are available at the school: these include rugby, football, hockey, netball, tennis, cricket, rowing, athletics, basketball, badminton, cross-country, climbing, squash, swimming, weight training, trampolining, water polo and aerobics. The school has sporting fields, gymnasiums, an indoor swimming pool, two multi-sport indoor centres, tennis courts, multi-use astroturf pitches, a rifle range, and a boathouse.

For 27 years, cricket was coached by Keith Mohan. In 2024, the school won the national schools' T20 Cricket competition after defeating Millfield School at Lord's.

In 2002 the school's U15 rugby team won the national Daily Mail Cup competition and the U18 team were narrowly beaten in 2005 in the final against Exeter College, Exeter.[18] In 2011 the U16 team won the UCLAN Northern Schools Floodlit Competition and in 2019 the U16 sevens team won the national Rosslyn park competition.[19][20] Since World War II, the school has had four unbeaten seasons in rugby.[21]

St Peter's School Boat Club was founded in the 1850s and is one of the oldest school rowing clubs in the world. It has had success at international level with over 28 GB 'vests' earned by Peterites since 1998. The school 1st VIII first competed at Henley Royal Regatta in 1968 and has competed in both the Princess Elizabeth and the Fawley.[22] The school has won nine medals at The National Schools' Regatta,[23] 12 medals at The National Championships and had 25 appearances at Henley (both Men's and Women's), all since 1991.

The school's Combined Cadet Force developed from the OTC established at the school in 1913.[24] The school's shooting contingent placed in the top three teams of the Marling Challenge Cup at Bisley Imperial meeting five times during the 1960s alone, winning twice, while the highest placing in the Ashburton was third in 1971.

The first recorded inter-school Squash match was held between Haileybury and St Peter's in the run up to the first Drysdale Cup. The school won the public schools' squash (then the Drysdale Cup) twice and came second three times.

St Peter’s School Boathouse on the River Ouse

Music

The School Choir averages over 150 members a year,[25] but there is also a more selective Chapel Choir as well as an elite Chamber Choir. Highlights of the choral calendar include the Carol Service at York Minster, as well as Evensongs at the Minster and elsewhere including regular Evensongs at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

The school has Barbershop Quartets, a Brass Group, Chamber Groups, a Choral Society, a Close Harmony Group, String Orchestras, String Quartets, Swing Band/Traditional Jazz, a Symphony Orchestra, Senior Wind Band, Woodwind, Quintets and Quartets.

After the closure of The Minster School, York in 2019, St Peter's 8–13 is now the choir school for the York Minster Choristers, who sing at York Minster and at School Eucharists.

Headmasters

Headmasters
  • Paulinus 627
  • James, The Deacon 630–660
  • Wilfrid I 668
  • Bosa 691
  • John of Beverley 705
  • Wilfrid II 718
  • Egbert 732
  • Albert 766
  • Alcuin 778–782
  • Laurentius Sirius 1094
  • Robert 1120
  • Murdach 1130
  • Gwydo 1140
  • Walter de Nessam 1266
  • Alexander of York 1350
  • John of York 1368
  • Walter Heriez 1397
  • John de Rishton 1400
  • John Brockholes 1410
  • John Saxton 1426
  • John Marshall 1426
  • W. Marshall 1426
  • Gilbert Pinchbeck 1426
  • Master Gilbert 1453
  • Roger Lewsay 1457
  • John Hamundson 1465
  • John Gylliott 1484
  • James Sheffield 1486
  • Christopher Holdsworth 1531
  • Master Amler 1535 (Royal Charter)
  • Rev. John Fletcher 1565
  • Rev. William James 1575
  • Rev. John Pulleyn 1576
  • Rev. John Bayles 1590
  • Rev. Canon William Thomas 1595
  • Rev. John Johnson 1614
  • Rev. Christopher Wallis 1638
  • Rev. William Langley 1660
  • William Thomlinson 1679
  • Rev. W. Herbert 1711
  • Rev. Zachariah Blake 1726
  • Rev. John Blake 1757
  • Rev. John Robinson 1784
  • Rev. Isaac Grayson 1793
  • Rev. Stephen Creyke 1827
  • Rev. William Hewson 1838
  • Rev. Archdeacon William Hey 1844
  • Rev. Richard Elwyn 1864
  • Rev. Henry M. Stephenson 1872
  • Rev. George T. Handford 1887
  • Rev. Edward C. Owen 1900
  • Stanley M. Toyne 1913
  • Aubrey J. Price 1936
  • John Dronfield 1937
  • Peter D. R. Gardiner 1967
  • Peter Hughes 1980
  • David Cummin 1984
  • Robin Pittman 1985
  • Andrew Trotman 1995
  • Richard Smyth 2004
  • Leo Winkley 2010
  • Jeremy Walker 2019

[26][better source needed]

Notable teachers

Notable teachers

Houses

The school has ten day and boarding houses, and each house has its own colour. Dronfield (pink) and Rise (white) are girls' boarding houses; Linton (baby blue) and The Manor (gold) are boys' boarding houses. The rest are day houses: Clifton (yellow), The Grove (red), Queens (purple), Temple (green), School (maroon), and Hope (orange). The house system is a long-standing tradition throughout the school's history. The houses are physical, located in various buildings and parts of buildings throughout the school campus.[27]

Religion

The school has a Chapel with compulsory services three mornings a week. Eucharist is also held once a term and there are special services to mark Festivals in the Christian calendar.[28] A service is held on Remembrance Sunday during which all pupils place poppies on the book of remembrance in the Ante-chapel (which contains names of alumni killed in conflict). The school's Christmas Carol Service is held in York Minster.[28]

Religious education is compulsory at the school until Sixth Form,[citation needed] and is taught by both academic staff and the school's two Church of England clergy.

York Minster

York Minster has a long connection with St Peter's, as the school's founder was an Archbishop of York. This relationship is also evident in the school's name, which mirrors the formal title of the Minster, The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter. At its foundation, the school was probably housed next to the earliest cathedral building.[29]

At the end of each academic year a Commemoration and Prizegiving service is held in the Minster and a Carol Service is also held there at Christmas. The school choir often sings in the Minster and in the 2006/2007 year they participated in Verdi's Requiem, which brought together the wider York community.[clarification needed]

St Peter’s School is the home of York Minster’s Choristers, following the closure of the Minster School in 2020.

Traditions

  • Morning Prayers – all members of the school attend chapel on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
  • Eucharist – a whole school Eucharist service takes place each term and at other significant Christian festivals.[28]
  • Uniform – the school has a brown uniform featuring the "cross keys" of St Peter for all pupils (except members of the Sixth Form). The old woollen blazer was later replaced with a more modern cotton jacket. Other changes to the uniform have also taken place, including the removal of ties for female pupils, who now wear an open blouse. In Sixth Form, dark suits must be worn.
  • Gowns – the school has a tradition of gowns which reflect pupils' authority or commitments. These are worn during public events such as services at York Minster and during school events (including Chapel and Assembly). The Head Boy and Head Girl wear brown, followed by the Head Master's Prefects who wear navy. These are issued during the 'gowning' at First Assembly each academic year. Members of the Chapel Committee and choirs wear red gowns, which are fuller depending upon level (Chamber Choir; Chapel Choir; School Choir). School masters also wear collegiate gowns for services and public events.
  • Capping – is the practice of reward for exceptional sporting achievement and is awarded at the end of the relevant sports season.
  • 5 November – on Guy Fawkes Night, the school does not partake in the common tradition of burning a 'Guy' on the bonfire, as Guy Fawkes was an Old Peterite (alumnus).[30] There is, however, a long tradition of putting on a firework display for the Boarders.[31]
  • Fagging – the tradition of younger pupils serving older pupils was abolished in 1977.

Controversies

Footpath closure (2006): In 2006, St Peter's School closed a public footpath running through the school grounds using The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This was disputed by local people.[32]

Initiation Rituals: In 2018 a former pupil reported in The Times that boys were subjected to humiliating and painful initiation rituals such as being shot with BB guns, hit in their genitalia with pool cues, and locked in closed spaces for hours at a time. The same pupil also reported being waterboarded with Listerine. Alistair Dunn, the school's acting headmaster, said in response that "St Peter's is a caring and nurturing school and initiation rites are unacceptable."[33]

Residential Development: In 2022, St Peter's submitted an application to develop land in the green belt of York, behind the school. The plan would turn green fields on the flood plan into artificial sports fields and a large car and coach park. Over 100 local residents submitted complaints to the council concerning this development. York Central MP Rachael Maskell and local councillors expressed alarm over the impending removal of green belt protection.[34][35][36] The plans have since been withdrawn.

Sexual Abuse Thomas Marriott, who taught History and Rowing at St Peter’s for four years, was found guilty in 2023 of three counts of sexual abuse relating to a teenage student at the school. In mitigation, his barrister noted that he had never received a day of teacher training or any safeguarding training from the school, nor did the school’s safeguarding records show any actions taken with regards to his behaviour. The prosecution barrister quoted a member of staff who stated that they had seen Marriott and the student together in circumstances which should not have occurred but had not seen anything ‘untoward.’ The barrister also noted that the student had looked into getting birth control so that they could have a ‘dirty weekend’ together, and that another member of staff had warned Marriott about his conduct towards the student.[37]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:People educated at St Peter's School, York

The school has educated at least 19 Members of Parliament (including a Chancellor and Secretary of Defence), 9 Bishops, and numerous academics, authors, composers, cricketers, and actors. Below is an abridged list; a more complete listing can be found at the category link above.

Academia

Cyril Northcote Parkinson, Historian famous for Parkinson's Law

Arts and media

John Barry OBE, Multiple Oscar-winning Film Composer
Laurence Eusden, Poet Laureate

Historical figures

Guy Fawkes and John and Christopher Wright, Gunpowder Plotters

Military

Politics, Law, and Business

Sir Frank Swettenham, Governor of British Malaya
John Healey, Defence Secretary

Religion

Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham

Sport

Norman Yardley, England Cricket Captain
Jonny Bairstow, England Cricketer

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Toy, Paul (2016). A History of St Peter's School circa 1557–1644 at the Union Terrace Site (PDF) (Report). York: York Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  2. ^ "List of Schools". York Boarding Schools Group (YBSG). Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. ^ "About the School". St Peter's School. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  4. ^ Moran, Joann H. (1979). Education and Learning in the City of York 1300–1560. Borthwick Papers. Vol. 55. York: University of York. p. 5. ISSN 0524-0913.
  5. ^ Mortimore, M. J. A. (1999). Bridlington School: A History. Hutton Cranswick, East Riding of Yorkshire: Alan Twiddle Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 1-902508-03-3.
  6. ^ Raine, Angelo (1926). History of St Peter's School, York. G. Bell and sons. p. 66.
  7. ^ Holland, Nick (2017). The Real Guy Fawkes. Barnsley: Pen and Sword History. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1526705082.
  8. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  9. ^ "The winner of pre-prep/ prep school of the year is: Clifton School and Nursery". TES. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Winner of the independent school of the year award 2021". TES. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  11. ^ "History of St Olave's". St Peter's School. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Andy Falconer – Archaeology, The University of York". www.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  13. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  14. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  15. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  16. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  17. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  18. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (1 May 2021). "Glorious nearly men of St Peter's will keep trying". Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Competition Microsite – UCLAN Northern Schools U16 Floodlit Competition". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  20. ^ "RUGBY SEVENS: St Peter's U16s make history at prestigious tournament". York Press. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  21. ^ "St Peter's School rugby players are fourth best in the land". York Press. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  22. ^ The Peterite 1968, https://issuu.com/stpetersyorkalumni/docs/60-379_oct_1968
  23. ^ "Results can be seen here". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  24. ^ Raine, History of St Peter's School York p.185
  25. ^ "Music". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  26. ^ "List of Head Masters" (PDF). www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  27. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  28. ^ a b c "Chapel". St Peter's School. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  29. ^ "St Peter's association with York Minster". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  30. ^ "St Peter's School, York". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  31. ^ ""We don't burn effigies of old boys"". BBC North Yorkshire. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  32. ^ "footpath closure". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  33. ^ "Public school bullying: 'pool cue to the groin' at St Peter's". The Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  34. ^ "York councillor 'alarmed' as St Peter's land removed from green belt". 17 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  35. ^ "St Peter's School plans for road blasted by local residents". 12 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  36. ^ "York: Neighbours oppose plans for school car park". BBC News. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Thomas Marriott sexually abused girl at St Peter's School". York Press. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  38. ^ Nicholls, Mark (2004). "Fawkes, Guy (bap. 1570, d. 1606)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9230. Retrieved 17 January 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)(subscription required)
  39. ^ "Shadow Housing Secretary returns to St Peter's". www.stpetersyork.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Death of Canon Pope". Knaresborough Post. 11 November 1905. p. 5 col.6. Retrieved 8 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ^ Woodhouse, Tony (1992). A Who's Who of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 137–139. ISBN 1873626010.
Secondary sources
  • Hamilton, D. M., ed. (1977). A history of St Peter's school published in the year of the school's 1350th anniversary.
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