Christ's Hospital

[EduCativ]

Christ’s Hospital (CH) is one of the famous Royal Hospitals of London, whose foundation marked the beginning of the social services in Tudor England. Inspired by a sermon by Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, the young King Edward VI instructed the Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Dobbs, to appoint a committee of leading citizens to consider remedies and relief for the City’s homeless poor. Their work, and subsequently their philanthropy, led to the founding of the five great Hospitals all supporting different needs. CH, established in the monastery of the Grey Friars in Newgate Street, embraced the task of educating and nourishing the destitute children of the City and took children of all social backgrounds and ages.

Our mission has been to pioneer social mobility and challenged social inequality to provide an unrivaled start in life for disadvantaged children for nearly five centuries. As economic and social inequality continue to grow in the UK, Christ’s Hospital’s mission is ever more relevant.

By providing first-class, free or supported education to talented young people from disadvantaged and modest backgrounds, our mission helps Christ’s Hospital pupils to reach their full potential and transforms lives in a way that no other educational establishment in the UK can match.

It is and shall be our mission to:

• To offer to boys and girls of suitable age education of such breadth and excellence as will fit them pre-eminently for work and service in society in their generation and in particular to enable them to compete competently with their peers for opportunities in further education and careers. In doing so
• To develop first the skills, learning habits, independence of mind, and spiritual awareness that will enable and motivate them to continue to educate themselves throughout their lives and second, a high sense of responsibility towards themselves, their families, their associates, and to society at large, such as to form a permanent foundation of their training and character
• In the choice of pupils, to have regard especially to children of families in social, financial or other specific need
• To provide our pupils with opportunities to explore, reflect upon, and grow in their understanding of, the Christian faith and
• To maintain and further the close connection with the City of London so successfully nurtured since 1552.

The principal object of the charity is the advancement of education of children, principally for the benefit of those whose families are in social, financial, or other specific need.

The assets and endowments of Christ’s Hospital are managed to ensure that this prime purpose is maintained for the benefit of both present and future generations.

Christ’s Hospital is privileged to enjoy the patronage of Her Majesty The Queen.

The generosity of our benefactors has built up a valuable Endowment over the centuries. However, Christ’s Hospital’s commitment to providing more bursary support than any other independent boarding school in the country exceeds the annual income from its endowment assets. Philanthropy, therefore, remains central for Christ’s Hospital to continue to transform lives for future generations.

In November 1552, CH opened its doors to 380 pupils and, within a year, the number had increased to over 500. Many children, including 100 of the first 380, were infants who were sent away to CH Hertford to be looked after. When they reached 10 they returned to CH London. Find out more about our unique history and quirky traditions by visiting our timeline page.

Christ’s Hospital is an independent co-educational boarding and day school of 900 pupils with an equal mix of boys and girls aged 11-18. The School is located in West Sussex in the southeast of England. It is situated in stunning countryside between London and Brighton, 20 miles south of London Gatwick and 38 miles from London Heathrow. The School is fortunate in having its mainline railway station with regular trains to London, Gatwick Airport, and the South Coast.

Christ’s Hospital is unique for a UK independent boarding school in that it offers more bursary places than other schools. This stems from our founding charter as a charitable school. School fees are paid on a means-tested basis, with substantial subsidies paid by the School, so that pupils from all corners of society can have a high-quality, independent boarding school education that would otherwise be beyond their means.

“Whilst other school fee assistance schemes have come and gone, Christ’s Hospital has stuck to its charitable aims since it was founded in 1552: educating the financially, socially and otherwise needy for free, or at a reduced rate, in a caring boarding environment. Today these pupils sit happily alongside the full fee payers and the School’s pupil profile is one of which its royal founder, Edward VI, would have been proud.” Kate, former parent

Christ’s Hospital is committed to providing a first-class education to talented boys and girls from a broad social and financial background by offering eligible parents/guardians means-tested financial support with the payment of school fees. Such support is known as a bursary and may be awarded in the form of a discount of up to 100% on fees payable.

• 13% of pupils receive a fully supported place
• 73% of pupils receive some level of bursary support
• 24% pay full fees
• The total annual bursary (fee assisted) support given by Christ’s Hospital is over £18.2 m

Christ’s Hospital’s name derives from being founded in the parish of Christchurch, London. During the Middle Ages, hospitals served different functions from modern institutions. Medieval hospitals were almshouses for the poor, hostels for pilgrims, or hospital schools. The word “hospital” derives from the Latin noun hospitium and came to signify hospitality.

Celebrating the signing of the Royal Charter by Edward VI in 1553 One hundred years after the founding of Christ’s Hospital and the signing of the Royal Charter by Edward VI in 1553, a painting was commissioned to celebrate this historic event.

With a history as long and rich as ours, it is not surprising that there are many famous alumni (known as Old Blues). From the 19th and early 20th Centuries, writers and poets including Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Edmund Blunden. From the world of music, conductors Sir William Glock, Sir Colin Davis, and Charles Hazlewood. From academia, we are proud to have educated recent principals of Oxbridge colleges – Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith (St Hilda’s), Ruth Deech (St Anne’s), and Alan Ryan (Warden of New College, Oxford).

Journalists Bernard Levin and Con Coughlin trade unionist John Edmonds aviation engineer Barnes Wallis senior members of the military including General Sir Garry Johnson and from the world of politics Michael Stewart (former Foreign Secretary).

Several Old Blues have gone on to make a career in sport, most notably former Sussex and England bowler John Snow and of course the current England rugby player Joe Launchbury and more recently cricketer Stuart Whittingham. Theatrical Old Blues include Olivier Award winners Howard Davies (stage director), Roger Allam (actor), and Michael Wilding (actor). Film actors and directors such as Jason Flemyng, Susannah Fielding, and Peter Hewitt, screenwriters for television including Clive Exton, and comedians who include Mark Thomas and Holly Walsh have all benefitted from a Christ’s Hospital education.

Christ’s Hospital is widely known in the UK for its outstanding education principle and its diverse breadth of pupils. It is the mission of Christ’s Hospital to continue to enable those from all corners of society to come together and thrive regardless of their background.

A Christ’s Hospital pupil’s experience centers on building and strengthening attributes based on resilience, perseverance, compassion, willing service, and empathy. These attributes form the pillar-strength principles of the Christ’s Hospital curriculum.

Pupils will feel what it is like to be challenged and, having been challenged, will themselves challenge intelligently, and that spirit is quickly realized from the moment the pupils first enter Christ’s Hospital. ‘To challenge’ is understood to be part of a creative, productive, and transformative process, which helps equip pupils to shape positively the societies they belong to long after they have left.

The journey our pupils make from the time they arrive to when they leave is often profoundly rewarding, and along the way, we support their growing resilience and success as they move on to university and beyond. We delight in their achievements and welcome them back to inspire and encourage current pupils.

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