Kingsland Grange - Kingsland Grange School for Boys is a day school shrewsbury shropshire England Boys day schoolboy schools shrewsbury private schools shrewsbury prep schools shrewsbury boys prep schools shrewsbury PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHREWSBURY PREP SCHOOLS SHREWSBURY BOYS PREP

School History

The school was established in 1899 by W.B.C. Drew and W. Deeds at the Limes in Belle Vue. In 1910 Mr. Drew moved the school to the impressive Kingsland Grange house and grounds as more space was needed for the increasing numbers. The house was built by the Treasure family of Ludlow in 1884 and was their home. It was typical of the late Victorian era and is now a Grade II listed building.

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During the 1914-18 war there were many shortages such as sugar, chocolate, tobacco and sweets. The numbers were stable but most boys boarded at the school. The Drew family owned the school through to 1928. Latin and Greek were highly favoured subjects in those days and other subjects took second place and the discipline was strict. The boys entertainment consisted of table tennis, draughts and card games. Conkers were dipped in secret liquids to make them unbreakable. Stamps and cigarette cards were collected and swapped.

1928 saw the arrival of the Rev. Percy West as Headmaster. He is remembered as a kind, considerate and much loved man with a formidable wife! Fees for full boarding were £32 per term plus extras. The staff consisted mainly of young men who spent a considerable amount of time entertaining the boys in their hobbies as well as their lessons. The dormitories were called Oriel and St. Botoloph's at this time. The Rev. West introduced the Kingsland Grange Chronicle - a booklet of news, events and work of the boys.

D. P. Biggs took over the reins from Rev. West from 1935 - 46. He claimed to be able to teach a boy Latin in three weeks. By this time it was a school of only 20 boarders and 30 day boys. There were significant shortages of food stuffs and good teaching staff as able bodied men were seconded to the war effort. The boarders lay on the floor of the Masters common room listening to news of the war in Italy, landings in France and Allied advances across Europe on the radio. To the boys it was an exciting time. Alas Mr. Biggs suffered from ill health and his place was taken by joint Headmasters A. M. Slater and D. E. McNab.

A.T.G. Groves D. McNab

The school was in a sorry state in 1946 with only 33 boys. Thanks to the McNab and Slater partnership over the next 14 years the school recovered ground, numbers and prominence. Andrew Slater was a great sportsman in his youth.

He played hockey and rugby. David McNab (also known as the Mac the Knife!) had played cricket and golf. He was a military man having risen to the rank of Lt. Colonel before his retirement. He introduced the house or "service" names that are still in use today. They are the Army. Navy, Marines and RAF. These were hard times for the staff, boys and their parents.

The first post-war years were times of austerity. The boys mostly remember McNab as a formidable character who deserved respect and a wide berth. Tales of woe such as quinine dished out for all ailments by the frightening matron, Miss Ruth, are balanced by the fun memories of midnight feasts, nipping off site and the playing of tricks on unsuspecting masters.

In 1952 A.T.G. Groves joined Slater and NcNab as partner. In 1960 Andrew Slater died prematurely. In their time together McNab, Slater and Groves had improved the school facilities and increased numbers substantially.

In 1961 R.E. Groves joined his brother and D. McNab and at this time the new Rocks, Pre-Prep. Department was established on Hereford Road for boys aged 4 to 7. McNab's sister, Mrs. Bird became its first Head. By 1964 Mr. McNab had retired leaving the Groves brothers in sole charge. Their careful stewardship led to the school reaching its maximum size by the mid-1980's.

Many changes were implemented to the structure and facilities of the school. The scholarship success of the boys increased dramatically. The calibre of the sports performance was raised to an all-time high level. They cemented the ties with Shrewsbury School (and other local Public schools) as large numbers of boys moved on there as day boys and boarders.

The school changed to weekly boarding in 1981 and throughout the 1980's maintained high standards of academic, music and sporting excellence. M. C. James had become Deputy to R.F. Groves in 1986 as A.T.G. Groves retired. In 1989 Mr. James took over as Headmaster. The final 10 years of the school centenary has seen the introduction of new subjects of Technology, the use of Art and Drama into prominence and alas the demise of boarding as the school enters its second century as a fully day school.

The Rocks Pre-Prep. has moved to a new facility on the Old Roman Road site and the boarding house has been converted into extra music rooms, drama costume storage, Special Needs room and a brand new ICT networked suite.

In 1999 the school celebrated its Centenary Year in style with gatherings of Old Boys, a Centenary Ball, sponsored events, Old Boys soccer and cricket matches, a Golf day and the production of a special school magazine. Old Boys from across the generations returned to rekindle their memories

Martin James