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Ruthin School is a private day school and boarding school located on the outskirts of Ruthin, the county town of Denbighshire, North Wales. It is over seven hundred years old, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom. Originally a school for boys, it has been co-educational since 1990.
The school won the 2016, 2017 and 2018 UKMT national mathematics competitions, resulting in their selection to represent the United Kingdom in Europe for three consecutive years. The school won the national Chemistry Analyst Competition in 2015, and has had gold award winning pupils in Olympiads for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry every year in recent times.
According to the 2014 Estyn inspection report, English and mathematics at key stage four are well above Wales' average, and percentage of year 11 students achieving the level 2 threshold is also above the Welsh average. A* to C grades awarded for GCSE entries has improved and increased steadily for the past few years. Sixth Form students are at well above the Wales average at level 3, achieving good results in their A levels. Estyn Inspection Report; accessed 11/06/2014
Evidence of Ruthin School in the subsequent centuries is sparse. Surviving documents such as a Confirmatio of 1314/1315 which recognised the existence, rights and liberties of " collegio de Ruthin fundato per Reginald de Grey" indicate the existence of the School but nothing more is known of the size of the establishment.
Following Owain Glyndŵr's attack on Ruthin in September 1400, it appears that the collegiate church, and presumably also the school, continued to function unscathed until the dissolution of the former in 1535. Evidence for the school's continuation over the following decades is sketchy, but it is known that in 1561 the tithes of the sinecure of Llanelidan were applied to the use of the school, which suggests that pupils at that time would have been from local homes.
Following its refoundation, the grammar school educated the sons of local gentry, including the Grosvenor, Baron Kenyon and Trevor families. Former pupils included Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon and Sir John Trevor sometime Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
As the century progressed, the demand for places increased, and in 1949 Bishop Wynne House was inaugurated. Just over a decade later, a new school hall comprising a refectory, kitchens, classrooms, and a theatre were constructed.
Expansion continued, and in 1971 a preparatory department was established in the former Archbishop Williams' house. The quatercentenary of the School's re-foundation was commemorated by the launch of plans for the construction of a new wing consisting of dormitories, a music room, classrooms, locker rooms and other facilities, plans which culminated in 1980.
The School's septcentenary was commemorated by a visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the School's Visitor, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on 16 March 1984 when a clock in the central tower was unveiled.
The school attracted national attention in February 2017, after leaked emails from the Principal (addressed to the students and parents) concerning a crackdown on behaviour caused controversy. The principal stated that he wished to expel students who engaged in romantic relationships and/or give them inferior references for university admissions, stating that he would "always" "definitely" give a worse reference; and that he would "not hesitate" to expel students who engaged in sexual activity. After the e-mails were released, Belfield released a contradictory statement that if the student was making high marks, he would not reduce the quality of his or her recommendations even if he or she was dating.
In an ironic twist, it was discovered Belfield was trying to engage in relationships with several students after hundreds of sexualised text messages that he had sent to the school's female pupils emerged. He complimented his students 'breasts' and asked about their 'virginities', as well as boasting about how he used to meet students abroad. The girls ages ranged from 15 to 18. The extent of Belfield's grooming is still unknown, yet it is understood he sought to remain in contact with several female students after they had left school. Belfield was placed on leave at the end of 2019; he had already been suspended following an earlier investigation two years prior, but allowed to return to work.
In January 2020, following an unannounced inspection, Care Inspectorate Wales, which oversees the welfare and safeguarding of children, published a damning report on "inadequate" policies and procedures that are in breach of discrimination and human rights laws, stating "serious shortfalls" meant pupils are "not appropriately safeguarded".
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Traditions
Church services
The school traditionally travels to the Collegiate and Parochial Church of St Peter three times annually: once to mark Remembrance Day, once for a Christmas Carol Service, and once for Founder's Day.
Hill fort run
In the summer term there is an annual race from school to the summit of Moel Fenlli and back down again – a cross-country race in which school students and staff compete. The prize for the winner is a pot of marmalade, with trophies for the first boy and girl finishing in each age group.
Notable alumni
See also
Further reading
Keith M. Thompson (1974). 9780950387307, Ruthin School Quatercentenary Committee. ISBN 9780950387307
External links
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