Reed's School is an independent secondary day and boarding school for boys with a co-educational sixth form located in Cobham, Surrey, England. There are currently around 700 day pupils (620 boys, 80 girls) and 100 full-time boarders (80 boys, 20 girls). The school was founded in 1813, by Andrew Reed and incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1845 under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Wellington and the Marquess of Salisbury. From 1951 until her death in 2022 Queen Elizabeth II acted as the school's 15th patron and visited the school twice, in 1997 and in 2014, as the reigning monarch. Alumni of the school are known as 'Old Reedonians'.

History

Founding

A notable early sponsor was the Duke of Wellington, a future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

London Orphan Asylum, London (1813–1871)

The foundation was established to provide relief to destitute orphans, including children whose fathers had died and whose mothers were unable to provide for them. Initially the Asylum used two houses; one at Hackney Road, Shoreditch for the boys and one in Bethnal Green for the girls. The asylum's first unified site was at Lower Clapton Road, Clapton, where Newcome's School had stood. There were 206 pupils in 1826 and 453 in the 1860s. During the asylum's time in East London, it was famous for having had some 2000 hymns written for it by the English architect James Edmeston, a strong supporter of and frequent visitor to the London Orphan Asylum. Following the school's 1871 move to Watford, the East London buildings were used by the Salvation Army. Only the facade of the classical-style building remains, and forms part of the Clapton Girls' Academy

London Orphan Asylum/School, Watford (1871–1939)

) for the new school. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, and his wife the Princess of Wales and future Queen Alexandra, laid down the foundational stones on 15 July 1869 and the school formally opened in 1871. The school was renamed to the "London Orphan School" in 1915, following a merge with the recently closed Royal British Orphan School in Slough it was again renamed the "London Orphan School and Royal British Orphan School", before finally being named "Reed's School" in 1939, in honour of the late founder. In the early 1880s the London Orphan Asylum lost two football matches against the then named Watford Rovers, now known as Watford F.C. Headmasters at the Watford site included Oliver Carter Cockrem and H.W. Russell. In the 1980s the buildings were converted into residential accommodation.

Reed's School, Totnes & Towcester (1939–1945)

During World War II the school was evacuated from Watford. The site was used as an Army hospital and then by the Ministry of Labour.

Reed's School, Cobham (1945–present)

The Sandy Lane site had been purpose-built for the Sandyroyd School in around 1905 by architects Treadwell and Martin, who were also responsible for the design of Scott's restaurant (now part of the Trocadero Centre) and other notable structures. The new site provided facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, and two squash courts. A new headmaster, Robert Drayson, was appointed in 1955 and remained until 1964, when he migrated to Stowe. , while retaining its charitable element.

Royal Patrons since 1815

The school has had many royal patrons.

Sports

The major sports at Reed's School are rugby, hockey and cricket with academies in tennis, skiing and golf. The senior pupils (13+) play rugby, hockey and cricket in the autumn, spring and summer terms respectively. Pupils in the junior school (11–13) play hockey, rugby and then cricket. The indoor tennis centre was opened by alumnus and former British number one, Tim Henman on 18 November 2014. The foundation stone for the 25 metre, five lane indoor swimming pool was laid by Duncan Goodhew on 15 November 1990. Reed's has won the International School Sport Federation's world schools' tennis championship more than any other team (in 2009, 2011 and 2015).

Headmasters

Notable staff and associated people

Notable Old Reedonians

Royalty

Business

Literature

Sport

Arts/entertainment

Politics

Law