History of the School

1545 - The School is founded by John Hales as a condition, set by King Henry VIII, to his purchase of former monastery lands around the city. Lessons are taught in the choir of the church of the Whitefriars’ Monastery.

1558 - The School moves to another of John Hales’ properties, the Hospital of St. John the Baptist, known today as ‘The Grammar School’ in Hales Street. It would remain on this site for over 300 years.

1565 - Queen Elizabeth I visits the School.

1602 - The third Headmaster, John Tovey, founds the School library.

1604 - Princess Elizabeth visits the School and makes a gift of money towards the cost of more books for the library.

1617 - Visit to the School by King James I.

1666 - The Great Fire of London.

1850 - Around this time John Fisher attends the School. He would later reform the Royal Navy, develop the Dreadnought battleship and prepare the fleet for the Great War.

1885 - The School moves to its current home in Warwick Road.

1918 - R.E.S. Wyatt joins the School. A promising cricketer, he would later captain both Warwickshire and England.

1930 - Philip Larkin joins the junior department and remains at the School for the next 10 years. He is now regarded as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.

1940 - Most of the School are evacuated to Alcester. The centre of Coventry is obliterated during a single night of German bombing in November.

1941 - Much of the School is destroyed during an air raid by German bombers.

1945 - The 400th anniversary of the School’s foundation is marked with the publication of the first School history.

1975 - The first girls are admitted to King Henry VIII.

1996 - The Sixth Form move across Warwick Road into the newly built Trevor Webb Centre. Trevor Webb was Chairman of Governors for many years.

1997 - King Henry VIII Junior School move into a new purpose built block.

2002 - The new Sports Hall is opened by David Moorcroft.

2002 - The School celebrate the quarter-centenary of the Library with a series of special events, including the opening of the ‘Philip Larkin Room’.

2004 - Roger Wilton, a retired member of staff, publishes a second volume to the School history – ‘From Blitz to Millennium’.

If you would like to know more about the history of King Henry VIII School the following publications are available from reception:-

	KING HENRY VIII SCHOOL 1545-1945 Price £5 + P&P
FROM BLITZ TO MILLENNIUM Price £5 + P&P