{{Short description|Independent school in Great Finborough, Suffolk, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox school | name = Finborough School | image = Finborough School Logo.jpg | motto = Ad Summa Nitimur (Strive for the Highest), previously "Be Of Good Courage" | coordinates = {{coord|52.1841|0.9464|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | established = 1978 | type = Independent day and boarding school | head_label = Headmaster | head = Steven T Clark | founder = John Sinclair | address = Finborough Hall | city = Great Finborough | county = Suffolk | country = England | postal_code = IP14 3EF | local_authority = | staff = | enrolment = c675<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/uploads/file/Finborough%20School%202012%20Crested%20Report.pdf |title=Finborough School 2012 Crested Report |publisher=CReSTeD |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163928/http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/uploads/file/Finborough%20School%202012%20Crested%20Report.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> pupils | gender = Coeducational | lower_age = 2 | upper_age = 18 | houses = 4 (Athelstan, Boudicca, Edmund, Raedwald) | colours = Red and navy and white {{color box|red}} {{color box|darkblue}} {{colour box|white}} | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | website = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/ }}
'''Finborough School''' is a co-educational independent school. It is situated in and around Finborough Hall, in the village of Great Finborough, near Stowmarket, Suffolk, England.
==History== thumb|left|The former school buildings in Wicklewood. Now housing.
The original school, named St. George's School, was founded in 1978 by John Sinclair and his family with Derek Slade as Headmaster in Wicklewood near Wymondham, Norfolk<ref name ="Finborough School history">{{cite web |url = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-10-our-history.html |title = History |website = Finborough School |access-date = 9 June 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016205136/http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-10-our-history.html |archive-date = 16 October 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> and was set up as a military boarding school for boys whose parents were in the armed forces. After failed efforts to purchase the facilities of the shore establishment {{HMS|Ganges|shore establishment|6}}, the school was moved to the current site at Great Finborough in 1980. The former Wicklewood school was retained for several years and operated as the St George's School for Girls until this too moved to Finborough and the original site was redeveloped into private apartments and homes.
John and Sue Sinclair, as owners, took over running of the school following Slade's departure, and it was renamed Finborough School.<ref name="Finborough School history" /> The school merged with Hillcroft Preparatory School in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/school_merger_plan_gets_go_ahead_1_77483|title = School merger plan gets go-ahead |publisher = EADT24|date = 10 October 2006|access-date= 9 June 2014 }}</ref> In 2003, John Sinclair was convicted of assaulting a walker after the man kicked his pet Labrador on the school grounds <ref name ="Headmaster Beat Man">{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1447620/Headmaster-beat-man-who-kicked-his-dog.html|title = History |access-date= 21 July 2015 }}</ref> In 2008, James Sinclair took over as Principal after his father retired.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/principal_follows_in_father_s_footsteps_1_87632|title = Principal follows in father's footsteps|publisher = EADT24|date = 29 November 2007|access-date= 9 June 2014 }}</ref>
On 15 May 2014 The High Court appointed Grant Thornton as Liquidators for one of the companies (Anglemoss limited) associated with the directors and owners of the school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2139364|title = ANGLEMOSS LIMITED | Appointment of Liquidators | the Gazette}}</ref>
==Finborough Hall== The school is based in Finborough Hall, a Grade II listed stucco-faced Tuscan-style country house, originally built in 1795 for Roger Pettiward<ref>{{cite web|title=St Georges School, Finborough|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-279888-st-georges-school-finborough-hall-great-|publisher=British Listed Buildings}}</ref> on land previously owned by William Wollaston MP. Finborough Hall, once owned by the Pettiward family, subsequently gave its name to Finborough Road in London, developed as part of the Pettiward Estate in north-west Chelsea, London SW10, still owned by the Pettiward family. This led to the name of Finborough Theatre. The Hall's original c1700 staircase was moved to Rougham Hall in 1878.
==Today== The school includes Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep School, Senior School and Sixth Form.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-5-organisation.html|title = Organisation|website = Finborough School|access-date = 9 June 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529003536/http://finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-5-organisation.html|archive-date = 29 May 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> This means that the school has pupils ranging from ages 2 to 18. The Nursery, Pre-Prep are based in the brand new pre-prep building with brand new facilities to offer and Prep School are all based in the old Finborough Hall building. The Senior School uses some parts of that building, but mainly uses a classroom block located nearby. Assemblies and prizegiving ceremonies are often held in the nearby Great Finborough church. The school offers a number leadership positions to older pupils, including Head of School, Deputy Head of School, School Council Chair, Prefects, House Captains and members of the school council.
Four school houses form the basis of many events throughout the academic year. Annual events include Sports Day and the Cross Country Run.
thumb|right|An U16 rugby match at Finborough School, the Finborough team is in red and blue.
===Sport=== The whole school uses extensive sports fields, tennis and netball courts a half and full sized hockey pitch for both sport and other events and they provide scholarships to those who excel at rugby. Girls play netball, hockey, athletics, tennis and rounders. Boys play football, rugby, athletics, cricket and tennis. Most age groups play matches against other local independent schools. House matches are played every year, house points are awarded to the winning house. Churchill house won in 2012.
Finborough School has made a number of notable links with local sports clubs. It has successful partnerships with Stowmarket Tennis Club and the Stowmarket Golf Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/news/finborough-golfers-take-the-title-60.html|title = Finborough golfers take the title|date = 8 July 2009|website = Finborough School|access-date = 9 June 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174744/http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/news/finborough-golfers-take-the-title-60.html|archive-date = 14 July 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> The school also sponsor Bury Rugby Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/BuryStEdmundsRUFC/Media/File/Minis/Minis%20Match%20Reports%202008-9/Minis%20match%20081109%20Shelford.doc |title=Last weekend Bury Minis, Sponsored by Finborough School, travelled to Shelford |format=Doc |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227001313/http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/BuryStEdmundsRUFC/Media/File/Minis/Minis%20Match%20Reports%202008-9/Minis%20match%20081109%20Shelford.doc |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rugby has long been an important and celebrated part of school sport since the 1980s.
===Music and drama=== The school has a choir and various ensembles, with regular performance nights being held in the drama studio. The school choir perform regularly at festivals and community gatherings in St Andrew's Church, Great Finborough. The school regularly participates in the Sudbury Festival<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/news/sudbury-festival-44.html|title = Sudbury Festival|date = 2 April 2009|website = Finborough School|access-date = 9 June 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183734/http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/news/sudbury-festival-44.html|archive-date = 14 July 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> and the Suffolk Festival of Music, Dance and Speech. Drama is available as a GCSE option.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-139-senior-school-curriculum.html|title = Senior School Curriculum|website = Finborough School|access-date = 9 June 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202508/http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/suffolk-boarding-school-139-senior-school-curriculum.html|archive-date = 14 July 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> In February 2013, Finborough performing arts club performed their version of the popular musical ''Rent'' at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/local/latest-news/schools-news-1-4780629|title = Pupils of Finborough School put on Jonathan Larson's musical Rent at Bury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal.|date = 17 February 2013 |website = Bury Free Press |access-date= 9 June 2014 }}</ref>
==Houses== There are three school houses: Churchill, Marlborough and Nelson, named after Winston Churchill, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Horatio Nelson respectively. The different houses compete in various different activities, relating to sport as well as performing arts, throughout the year in order to win house points.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! House ! House colours |- | '''Churchill''' | White |- | '''Marlborough''' | Maroon |- | '''Nelson''' | Navy blue |}
Originally, the school was primarily for boarders and a large percentage of pupils came from military families, hence the names of the houses. The original plan for the houses was to put children of army families into Marlborough house, children of air force families into Churchill house and children from naval families into Nelson house. However, so few children came from naval or air force backgrounds that many of the army children filled in the spaces in the other houses. This plan is no longer used today; pupils are assigned a random house as soon as they join the school.
[[Image:Finboroughschoolbuildingback.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|right|The back of Finborough Hall, the school building (July 2008).]]
==Achievements== After an inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2005, the school was described as 'a Gem of a school'.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://reports.isi.net/HistoricalReports/1015_05_r.htm|title =Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection report on Finborough School |date = October 2005 |website = ISI |access-date= 9 June 2014 }}</ref>
==Controversies==
Headmaster Derek Slade's use of corporal punishment came under close scrutiny after a BBC Radio 4 Checkpoint investigation in 1982<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/suffolk-he-s-here-he-s-there-he-s-everywhere-it-s-simon-warr-1-887892 |title=Suffolk: He's here, he's there, he's everywhere. It's Simon Warr |date=9 May 2011 |access-date=22 February 2020 |newspaper=East Anglian Daily Times |location=Ipswich |first=Steven |last=Russell |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222151645/https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/suffolk-he-s-here-he-s-there-he-s-everywhere-it-s-simon-warr-1-887892 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and, although he escaped charges at the time, Slade left the school in 1983. The case resurfaced in 2010 and Slade was convicted of over 50 offences relating to physical and sexual abuse, sexual assault and child pornography, and sentenced to 21 years in jail. Slade died in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-35715907 |title= Jailed sex abuse headmaster Derek Slade dies |work=BBC News |date=3 March 2016 |access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>
Teacher Simon Warr was charged with indecent assault on two former St George's School pupils, and one other child, historically, and appeared in court in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29618161 |title=Simon Warr sex abuse trial: BBC broadcaster and teacher 'touched boy in shower' |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=22 February 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Warr was found not guilty on all charges<ref name="bbc-acquittal">{{cite news |title= Simon Warr cleared of sexual abuse at Suffolk boarding schools |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29712967 |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2014 |access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="bbc-public-interest">{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29723778 |title=Simon Warr sex abuse investigation in 'public interest' |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=22 February 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49072066 |title=Were police too quick to believe historical sex abuse claims? |work=BBC News |date=26 July 2019 |access-date=22 February 2020 |first=Jim |last=Reed}}</ref> after the jury deliberated for less than 40 minutes.<ref name="bbc-acquittal"/> Warr subsequently wrote a book about his ordeal.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-51591478 |title=Simon Warr: BBC broadcaster and former teacher dies aged 65 |date=22 February 2020 |access-date=22 February 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Presumed Guilty: A Teacher's Solitary Battle to Clear His Name by Simon Warr |url= https://www.thetimes.com/article/presumed-guilty-a-teachers-solitary-battle-to-clear-his-name-by-simon-warr-cbjv6fjgx |last=Aaronovitch |first= David|newspaper=The Times |location= London |author-link=David Aaronovitch |date=18 March 2017 |access-date=22 February 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Warr told the BBC he believed the allegations were made "on the shirt tail of Derek Slade".<ref name="bbc-public-interest"/>
==See also== * Hillcroft Preparatory School * Great Finborough * Wicklewood * Pettiward Estate
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *http://www.finboroughschool.co.uk/ *http://www.isuffolk.co.uk/profile/388705/Stowmarket/Finborough-School/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829121353/http://www.isuffolk.co.uk/profile/388705/Stowmarket/Finborough-School/ |date=29 August 2008 }}
{{Schools in Suffolk}}
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Category:Private schools in Suffolk Category:Great Finborough Category:1978 establishments in England Category:Educational institutions established in 1978