History Timeline

Following the dissolution of Peterborough Abbey in 1539, King Henry VIII established Peterborough Cathedral on the same site. Alongside it, he founded a school, now known as The King’s School. For much of its history, it was referred to as The Peterborough Cathedral Grammar School.

Among the pupils was John Fletcher, son of the Dean, who later became a renowned playwright and a close collaborator of William Shakespeare. A commemorative plaque in his honour can be found at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

During the English Civil War, Cromwell’s troops sacked the Cathedral, resulting in the loss of most school records. The few surviving documents are now housed in the Cambridge University Library.

The earliest known use of the name “The King’s School” appears in records from this year.

The 1840s saw the introduction of formal school terms and holidays. By the 1850s, external examinations had also been established.

In 1871, the school remained small, with just four staff members and 77 pupils.

In 1879, the Headmaster earned £150 per year, while the Deputy received £100. The curriculum and daily schedule were markedly different from today.

In 1881, a tragic accident occurred when Marion Dunn, a local mother, was struck and killed by a train at the Thorpe Road level crossing (now Crescent Bridge). Concerned for student safety, the Governors exchanged the Thorpe Road site for a new location on Park Road, developed by the Peterborough Land Company.

The new King’s School opened in October 1885. The site included the Headmaster’s House on the corner of Granville Street, classrooms with dormitories above for boarders, and the Assembly Hall - known as "Big School" - which now serves as the Library.

The school magazine ‘The Petriburgian’ was first published in 1885.

The Victorian era school song ‘Schola Regia Carmen’ was composed by music teacher, Mr. Armstrong, with uplifting Victorian words by teacher, Mr. Cooke.

The school front and Park Road looked very different.

This photo from 1898 clearly shows today’s Tower Entrance.

By 1905, enrolment had grown to 113 pupils. In 1910, the school introduced its first Houses: St Oswald’s, St Chad’s (named after local saints), and School House (for boarders). St Peter’s, named after the Cathedral’s patron saint, was added in 1933. Tudor’s and Thompson’s followed in 1946 but were phased out in the 1970s.

During the First World War, 31 pupils and one teacher lost their lives. Their names are honoured on memorial boards in the Library, and their stories are featured in the school’s online history section. A plaque in St George’s Church in Ypres, Belgium, commemorates six of them, including Gerald Sweeting, the Headmaster’s son.

The school’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF), affiliated with the Northamptonshire Regiment, provided a Guard of Honour for the Prince of Wales at The Showground. The Prince later became King Edward VIII, though he abdicated in 1936 before his coronation.

At the onset of the Second World War, Headmaster Mr Hornsby led the school’s response. Trenches were dug along Huntly Grove for air-raid shelters, and the school participated in the “Dig for Victory” campaign, cultivating land near today’s Peterborough Regional College to help feed boarders.

1939 – 1945
Second World War

The Junkers 88 aircraft had been shot down over Yorkshire, and was taken round the country, where the population could pay a shilling to inspect it. The money was raised for Weapons Week in 1942. This photo was taken on The King’s School field, with a modern-day site comparison.

The Boarding House, originally located above the 1885 building (now the English corridor), later moved to Madeley House. Built by Canon Charles Ball, the first Vicar of All Saints’ Church, it had previously sheltered Belgian refugees in 1914. In 1947, the Junior School closed, and King’s became a secondary school.

A new Assembly Hall, Science Block, classrooms, and Dining Room/Kitchen were opened by the Duchess of Gloucester.

The school transitioned from a boys’ grammar school to a co-educational comprehensive. New facilities were added, including dedicated blocks for Art, Food, Drama, and Music.

The school celebrated its 450th anniversary. Highlights included a visit from Diana, Princess of Wales, and a concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring performers from all King Henry VIII’s King’s Schools, attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The Technology Centre opened in 1993, followed by the Maths Block in 1996 and the Sports Hall in 2004. Between 2006 and 2009, a major development project added the Humanities Block, Sixth Form Centre, and Languages Block, alongside a restoration of the original Victorian building. In 2011, the Junior Department was re-established to educate all Cathedral choristers.

Today, The King’s School is home to over 1,200 students and 140 staff. Together, they form the vibrant and inclusive “King’s School Family,” educating pupils from Year 3 to Year 13. Proud of its rich heritage, the school continues to honour its traditions while embracing a dynamic and forward-looking future