King James's School, Knaresborough

King James's School
Motto	Quid Retribuam Domino
Established	1616
Closed	closed for two years from 1901 to 1903
Type	Community school
Headteacher	Carl Sugden
Founder	Robert Chaloner
Location	King James Road Knaresborough North Yorkshire HG5 8EB England Coordinates: 54°00′18″N 1°27′39″W / 54.00510°N 1.46082°W / 54.00510; -1.46082
Local authority	North Yorkshire
DfE number	815/4202
DfE URN	121687 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	1726
Ages	11–18
Houses	Airedale, Nidderdale, Swaledale, and Wharfdale
Publication	The Chaloner
Website	KJS

King James's School is located on King James Road, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England. King James's is a large non-selective school with a large sixth form.

Admissions

King James's School is the only secondary school in Knaresborough and serves the town and the surrounding villages. The current Headmaster is Carl Sugden. The school is situated in the centre of the town on the main A59, next to the leisure pool. The population of Knaresborough (as well as the surrounding villages) means that it is an oversubscribed school.

History

Grammar school

The school was founded in 1616 as King James Grammar School with a charter from King James I. The school magazine The Chaloner is named after Dr Robert Chaloner who founded the school. It discusses school events and achievements for both school and its students and is published annually. It is created by the students and edited by the school's sixth form.

Comprehensive

It became a comprehensive in September 1971.

The school is newly refurbished. Major building work at the school has been completed, including a new art block with modern facilities. Annual non-compulsory school trips are available for the students.

Dr Arnold Kellett has written a book about the history of the school.^[1]

Traditions

Quid Retribuam Domino (What can I render to the Lord?) is the school motto.^[2]

Houses

King James's School has four school houses which have a colour each, Airedale - Blue, Nidderdale - Red, Swaledale - Yellow and Wharfdale - Green.

Academic performance

In 2013 the A* to B rate at A Level was 57%. 90% of students achieved 5 or more passes at GCSE; 75% including English and Maths.

Sex and Relationships Education Policy

In August 2013 the LGBT online Pink News stated that King James's School's Sex and Relationships Education Policy includes the words: "Ensure that homosexuality is not promoted as a pretended family relationship whilst not encouraging homophobia."^[3] Pink News links King James' to its reported comments by the Department for Education on the Department's own 'sex and relationship education guidance', and the British Humanist Association "concerns regarding 45 schools across the country." Pink News believes such policies, overt or vague, are a reflection of the repealed Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act.^[3]

Notable former pupils

King James's Grammar school

Robert Brook CBE — Chief Executive from 1977-86 of the National Bus Company
David John Bowes Brown CBE — engineer and Chairman from 1996–2004 of Multidrive
Sir Albert Costain — Conservative MP from 1959-83 for Folkestone and Hythe
Squadron Leader Ginger Lacey DFM — second highest scoring British RAF pilot (behind Eric Lock) in the Battle of Britain
James Turner, 1st Baron Netherthorpe — President from 1945-60 of the National Farmers Union
Timothy Wood — Conservative MP from 1983-97 for Stevenage