The Top 10 Oldest Schools in the UK (Based on Founded Year)

This list excludes universities and higher education establishments, it is all about schooling for those under the age of 16. They are all still in use and have been in continuous operation since founded. And some of them were founded a very long time ago…


 

St Albans School, England
St Albans School, England

10 – St Albans School, England (Founded Year: 948)

Wiki Info: St Albans School is an independent school in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, in the South East of England. Entry before Sixth Form is for boys only, but the Sixth Form has been co-educational since 1991. Founded in 948 by Wulsin, St Albans School is not only the oldest school in Hertfordshire but also one of the oldest in the world.

Warwick School, England
Warwick School, England

9 – Warwick School, England (Founded Year: 914)

Wiki Info: Warwick School is an independent school with boarding facilities (also known as Public school) for boys in Warwick, England. It is the fifth-oldest surviving school in England after King’s School, Canterbury, King’s School, Rochester, St Peter’s School, York and Wells Cathedral School.

Wells Cathedral School, England
Wells Cathedral School, England

8 – Wells Cathedral School, England (Founded Year: 909)

Wiki Info: Wells Cathedral School is a co-educational independent school located in Wells, Somerset, England. The school is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in the United Kingdom, along with Chetham’s School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School and St. Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh. The principal, Elizabeth Cairncross, is a member of the Headmasters’ Conference.

Beverley Grammar School, England
Beverley Grammar School, England

7 – Beverley Grammar School, England (Founded Year: 700)

Wiki Info: The school is a specialist Engineering College and shares a mixed Sixth form with Beverley High School. The school has received an ‘Outstanding’ in Ofsted inspections in 2006, 2008] and in 2010. However, it was unable to sustain such a high-level record when deemed ‘requires improvement’ in 2013.

[adinserter block=”7″]

Royal Grammar School Worcester, England
Royal Grammar School Worcester, England

6 – Royal Grammar School Worcester, England (Founded Year: 685)

Wiki Info: The Royal Grammar School Worcester (also known as RGS Worcester or RGSW) is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, England. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent day schools.

Hereford Cathedral School, England
Hereford Cathedral School, England

5 – Hereford Cathedral School, England (Founded Year: 676)

Wiki Info: Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school for pupils of ages 3 to 18 years, from Nursery to Sixth Form. Its headmaster is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. The school’s premises are next to Hereford Cathedral in Hereford.

Thetford Grammar School, Thetford, England
Thetford Grammar School, Thetford, England

4 – Thetford Grammar School, Thetford, England (Founded Year: 631)

Wiki Info: Thetford Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Thetford, Norfolk, England. The school might date back to the 7th century, which would make it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom.

St Peter's School, York, England
St Peter’s School, York, England

3 – St Peter’s School, York, England (Founded Year: 627)

Wiki Info: St Peter’s School is a co-educational independent 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 the third oldest school in the UK and the fourth oldest in the world. It is part of the York Boarding Schools Group.

[adinserter block=”8″]

The King's School, Rochester, England
The King’s School, Rochester, England

2 – The King’s School, Rochester, England (Founded Year: 604)

Wiki Info: The King’s School, Rochester is an English independent school in Rochester, Kent. It is a cathedral school and, being part of the foundation of Rochester Cathedral, the Dean of Rochester serves as chair of the school’s governing body. The school claims to be the second oldest continuously operating school in the world, having been founded in 604 AD.

The King's School, Canterbury, England
The King’s School, Canterbury, England

1 – The King’s School, Canterbury, England (Founded Year: 597)

Wiki Info: The King’s School is a selective British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the English city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference and the Eton Group. It is held to be the oldest continuously operating school in the world, having been founded in 597 AD.

Author: Gus Barge

Leave a Reply