King Ted's: A biography of King Edward VII School Sheffield

1905-2005

By John Cornwell

The full book in pdf format can be viewed or downloaded here.

The School has published a History of KES for the celebration of its Centenary on Saturday, 8th October 2005. Price: paperback £12, p&p £5 (UK); there are about 400 pages and 100 photos. [Hard-backs sold-out]

John Cornwell is a former Chair of Governors. The early chapters cover the history of the King James Grammar School (later the Sheffield Royal Grammar School) from 1604 up to 1905, as well as sections on Wesley College and the Collegiate School, which were both founded in the 1830's, and Crosspool School, whose buildings became the Lower School in 1969.

The great majority of the book deals with the history of KES since 1905 and the chapters roughly follow the periods of the seven Headmasters up to the present day. There are sections dealing with the Old Edwardians' part in the two World Wars, as well as the O.T.C., the Scouts, sport, music, drama and other activities.

The history is a fairly robust survey of the school's history, considering the achievements and criticisms of the school as it evolved from an elite LEA secondary school (that became a public school between 1922-27), to a grammar school to a comprehensive school over the course of the last 100 years. As an important part of the narrative, the History traces the often stormy symbiotic relationship between Sheffield City Council and the school, including the decision of the Conservative Government in the 1980's to leave Hallam Constituency schools, including KES, out of the Sheffield Tertiary Education Plan. If that had not happened, KES would have ceased to exist in 1988 and would now be part of Sheffield College.