St George's School, Harpenden

Aim higher entrance with clock tower above. Old Library and the chapel on the right. Girls boarding house to the left of clock tower

The school was founded in 1907 by Reverend Cecil Grant, having relocated his school southwards from Keswick, Cumbria in the Lake District.[2] However, the site was originally constructed, containing only the now Keswick boarder house, Grant block and chapel, by Rev. Wix for his boys school in 1893. Rev. Wix's school was disbanded in 1900 before Rev. Cecil Grant brought his school to Harpenden. It was originally a public school and then a voluntary aided school, receiving support from the Church of England.[3] On 1 July 2012 St George's became an academy, funded by the new St George's School Harpenden Academy Trust. It continues to be supported by the Cecil Grant Founder's Trust, a charity set up after Grant's death in 1946.

St George's was one of the first independent schools in Britain to provide mixed-sex boarding education.[4] The St. George's motto Levavi Oculos (Aim Higher) appears on the uniform badges.[5] It derives from their School Hymn,[6] Assurgit, which is sung in Latin. Levavi Oculos means "I have lifted up mine eyes" and alludes to Psalm 121, beginning "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; my help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made Heaven and Earth." In the sense of "I have raised my sights" this is equivalent to the English motto Aim Higher, which appears over one archway at the front entrance of Keswick House. In 1917 a Montessori unit was opened.[7]

Admission to the school for day students is based mainly on location of students' homes, with students coming from many of the surrounding towns and villages. Regular attendance at a local church is required; however, the school itself is non-denominational and does not receive funding from any religious group or church.[8]

The school is split into four houses: Watts (yellow) Grant (green), Monk (blue) and Goddard (red) named after Rev. Arthur Watts, a former headmaster, Rev. Cecil Grant, the founder of the school and Bertram Monk and Lister Goddard, two young men who died in the Great War.[9]

St George's is ranked third in examination results in the country for state schools and rivals some of the private schools. Its academic Sixth Form has the third highest progress score in the county, beating almost all local Independent Schools [10] (Including St Alban’s School and Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School).

The school music department (via on-site tuition company Musicale) offer peripatetic instrumental tuition for all woodwind, string and brass instruments as well as classical and jazz piano, guitar, drums and voice. Regular concerts take place in the chapel and the old library.[11] During the autumn term each year, the Music Department collaborate with the Drama and Performing Arts Department to produce a whole school production. The Drama Department also host an 'Inter-House Drama Festival', which is adjudicated by a professional actor, and a lower-school drama production.[12]

In 1939 St George's School won the first National Schools Sevens tournament and has continued this Rugby success producing Rugby Sevens and Rugby Union internationals. The Rugby teams continue this legacy today producing many England Under-18 and Under-16 Rugby Players. [13]

The school is notable for having first fielded Owen Farrell the English national player, alongside three other members of England's rugby union team (as of 2019).[14]

Until September 2019, house points cumulated via means of various events would form an overall tally and the winning house be awarded the Chapman Cup.

The Chapman Cup has since been re-named.

Aim Higher entrance on Carlton Road leading to girls boarding house

Keswick and Crosthwaite House provide boarding accommodation for girl and boy boarders respectively.[15]

St George's was one of the first schools in Britain to provide mixed-sex boarding education.[16]

Distinguished members of the schools alumni, known as 'Old Georgians' include;

• Storrie, Paddy (2004). Here I Am: Send Me. Harpenden, Hertfordshire: St. George's School.

• St George's School website