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This list of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom contains extant
school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes co ...
s in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
established prior to 1700 and a few former schools established prior to the
Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
. The dates refer to the foundation or the earliest documented contemporary reference to the school. In many cases the date of the original foundation is uncertain. For conciseness schools whose date is cited on their own page in Wikipedia are not cited again here. Though not technically in the United Kingdom, one school ( Elizabeth College) in
Guernsey Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...
– which forms part of the British Isles – is included in this list.


England


Sixth century

* The King's School, Canterbury (abbey founded in 597, apparently related to a school of royal charter 1541)


Seventh century

* The King’s School, Rochester (founded 604, refounded 1541) *
The Minster School, York The Minster School was an independent preparatory school for children aged 3–13 in York, England. It was founded to educate choristers at York Minster and continued to do so, although no longer exclusively, until in June 2020 it was announced ...
(song school founded 627, refounded 1903, closed 2020) *
St Peter's School, York St Peter's School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school (also referred to as a public school), in the English City of York, with extensive grounds on the banks of the River Ouse. Founded by St Paulinus of York in AD 627, ...
(627, Royal charter 1550s) * Thetford Grammar School (631, mentioned 1114, refounded 1566) * Hereford Cathedral School (676, mentioned 1384) * Royal Grammar School Worcester (685, first conclusive evidence 1291, Royal charter 1561) * Carlisle Grammar School (priory school founded 685) *
Beverley Grammar School Beverley Grammar School a boys’ day school secondary academy school in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. A school may have been founded here about 700 AD and on that basis the school is claimed to be the country's oldest grammar sc ...
(c.700)


Eighth century

*
Sherborne School (God and My Right) , established = 705 by Aldhelm, re-founded by King Edward VI 1550 , closed = , type = Public school Independent, boarding school , religion = Church of England , president = , chair_label = Chairman of the governor ...
(705, royal charter 1550) * The Pilgrims' School, Winchester (c.900)


Tenth century

*
Warwick School Warwick School is a selective, independent day and boarding school in Warwick, England in the public school tradition. Known until about 1900 as King's School, Warwick, it is believed to have been founded by Æthelflæd of Mercia in 914 AD ...
(914, royal charter 1545) *
Wells Cathedral School Wells Cathedral School is a co-educational independent school located in Wells, Somerset, England. The school is one of the five specialist musical schools for school-age children in the United Kingdom, along with Chetham's School of Music, th ...
(909) * St Albans School (c.948, refounded 1549) * The Minster School, Southwell (minster founded 956, first mention 1313, refounded 1547) *
The King's School, Ely King's Ely (renamed from "The King's School" in March 2012),The School's Terms and Conditions and the Companies House registration would suggest that the School's legal name remains "The King's School, Ely" is a co-educational public school ...
(970)


Eleventh century

*
Bedford School :''Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Girls' School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Old Bedford School in Bedford, Texas or Bedford Academy in Bedford, Nova Scotia.'' Bedford School is a public school (English ind ...
(1086, refounded 1552) * Salisbury Cathedral School (1091) *
Norwich School Norwich School (formally King Edward VI Grammar School, Norwich) is a selective English independent day school in the close of Norwich Cathedral, Norwich. Among the oldest schools in the United Kingdom, it has a traceable history to 1096 as a ...
(1096, refounded 1547 as "King Edward VI Grammar School") *
Abingdon School Abingdon School is a day and boarding independent school for boys in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. The twentieth oldest independent British school, it celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. The school was described as "highly ...
(possibly as old as 1100, endowed 1256, refounded 1563)


Twelfth century

* St Paul's Cathedral School (founded 1123) * Colchester Royal Grammar School (1128, Royal Charters 1539, re-founded 1584) * Reading School (1125 as the school of Reading Abbey, refounded 1486, Royal charter 1541) * The King's School, Pontefract (1139, refounded 1548) * Bristol Cathedral School (abbey founded 1140, refounded 1542) *
Derby School Derby School was a school in Derby in the English Midlands from 1160 to 1989. It had an almost continuous history of education of over eight centuries. For most of that time it was a grammar school for boys. The school became co-educational a ...
(1160, refounded 1554) * Exeter Cathedral School (founded 1179)


Thirteenth century

*
Lancaster Royal Grammar School Lancaster Royal Grammar School (LRGS) is a selective grammar school (day and boarding) for boys aged 11–18 in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. Old students belong to The Old Lancastrians. The school's sixth form opened to girls in 2019. LRGS i ...
(mention of master 1235, endowed 1472) * Louth Grammar School (earliest reference 1276, refounded 1551 as King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth) * Stratford Grammar School (1295, refounded 1553 as King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon)


Fourteenth century

*
Stamford School Stamford School is an independent school for boys in Stamford, Lincolnshire in the English public school tradition. Founded in 1532, it has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920. With the girls-only S ...
(1309, re-endowed 1532) *
Northallerton School Northallerton School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England. The school is located over two sites on Brompton Road and Grammar School Lane. History The school was founded in 1322 ...
(1323) * Hanley Castle High School (chantry school 1326, charter 1544) * The King's School, Grantham (1329, refounded 1528) *
Bourne Grammar School Bourne Grammar School (BGS) is a co-educational grammar school with academy status on South Road ( A15), in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England. The school was founded in 1330. It previously held Arts College Status, and was awarded Academy status i ...
(earliest record of existence 1330, endowed 1636) *
The King's School, Ottery St Mary The King's School is a secondary school and sixth form located in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. It was established as a choir school by the bishop John Grandisson in 1335, but was replaced by a grammar school by Henry VIII in 1545. It beca ...
(1335, refounded 1545) * Bablake School (1344) * Doncaster Grammar School now Hall Cross School, (first record of existence 1350) * Beauchamp College (first record of existence 1359) *
Westminster School (God Gives the Increase) , established = Earliest records date from the 14th century, refounded in 1560 , type = Public school Independent day and boarding school , religion = Church of England , head_label = Hea ...
(first record of existence 1371, Royal charter 1541 and 1560) * Prince Henry's High School (c. 1376, refounded 1605) *
New College School New College School (officially St Mary's College School) is an independent preparatory school for boys aged 4 to 13 in Oxford. It was founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham to provide for the education of 16 choristers for the chapel of New ...
(1379) * Wisbech Grammar School (1379, Royal charter 1549) *
Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of ...
(1382) *
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School Katharine Lady Berkeley's School is an academy school near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England, for ages 11 to 18. History The school was founded by Katherine, Lady Berkeley for the use of six scholars in 1384 which makes it one of th ...
(Royal licence in 1384) * Penistone Grammar School (1392) * Ipswich School (1399, Royal Charter 1566)


Fifteenth century

*
Oswestry School Oswestry School is an ancient public school (English independent day and boarding school), located in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. It was founded in 1407 as a 'free' school, being independent of the church. This gives it the distinction of b ...
(1407) * Durham School (1414, refounded 1541) * Chorister School (1416) * Royal Latin School (first mention 1423, Royal charter 1548) *
Sponne School Sponne School in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, is the oldest secondary school in Northamptonshire, and one of the oldest in the country. Part of the school was originally Towcester Grammar School, until Grammar schools were abolished i ...
(chantry founded 1430) * Sevenoaks School (1432) *
Chipping Campden School Chipping Campden School is a non-selective secondary school and sixth form with academy status located in Chipping Campden, in the English county of Gloucestershire. Founded in c.1440 the school celebrated its 575th birthday in 2015. The schoo ...
(c1440) *
Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...
(1440) *
King's College School, Cambridge King's College School is a coeducational independent preparatory school for children aged 4 to 13 in Cambridge, England, situated on West Road off Grange Road, west of the city centre. It was founded to educate the choristers in the King's ...
(1441) *
City of London School , established = , closed = , type = Public school Boys' independent day school , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Alan Bird , chair_label = Chair of Governors , chair = Ian Seaton , founder = John Carpenter , special ...
(1442) * St Dunstan's College (earlier than 1446) * Hartismere School (founded 1451) * St. Bartholomew's School, Newbury (1466) * Bromsgrove School (record of a chantry school 1476, re-founded 1553) * Magdalen College School, Oxford (1480) * Thomas Rotherham College (1483) *
Stockport Grammar School Stockport Grammar School is a co-educational independent day school in Stockport, England. Founded in 1487 by former Lord Mayor of London Sir Edmund Shaa, it is the second oldest in the North of England, after Lancaster Royal Grammar School, ...
(1487) * Pott Shrigley (1492) * Ermysted's Grammar School (record of a chantry school 1492, re-founded 1548) *
Lichfield Grammar School Lichfield () is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated roughly south-east of the county town of Stafford, south-east of Rugeley, north-east of Walsall, north-west of Tamworth and south-wes ...
(1495, refounded as King Edward VI School, Lichfield ) * Loughborough Grammar School (1495) * The Prebendal School (1497) *
Queen Elizabeth's School, Wimborne Minster Queen Elizabeth's School (also known as QE) is a co-educational secondary school in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. Introduction QE is an upper school, taking students between the ages of 13 and 18. In November 2014 there were 1,482 pupils, ...
(1497) * *
Giggleswick School Giggleswick School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school) in Giggleswick, near Settle, North Yorkshire, England. Early school In 1499, Giggleswick School was founded on half an acre of land leased by the Prior an ...
(1499, Royal charter 1553)


Sixteenth century


Seventeenth century


Wales


Thirteenth century

* Ruthin School (c.1284, refounded 1574)


Sixteenth century

*
Christ College, Brecon Christ College, Brecon, is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the cathedral and market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It currently caters for pupils aged 7–18 years. History Christ College was founded by Roya ...
(1541) *
King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny (Previously: ''Ut Prosim'' Latin: That I might be of service) , established = , closed = , type = State school , religious_affiliation = , president = , head_label = Head Teacher , head = Elspeth Lewis , ...
(1542) * Friars School, Bangor (1557) *
John Beddoes School John Beddoes School was a secondary or comprehensive school for boys and girls. The school was based on one site in the town of Presteigne. It had a largely rural catchment area in east Radnorshire including the towns and villages of Presteigne ...
(1565)


Seventeenth century

* Ysgol David Hughes Ynys Môn (1603) *
Hawarden High School Hawarden High School () is an English language medium secondary school in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales. It is part of the Flintshire LEA. The school traces its history back to 1606 when a single-classroom grammar school was established with £30 ...
(1606) * Monmouth School (1614) * Botwnnog School (1616) * The
Bishop Gore School The Bishop Gore School ( cy, Ysgol Esgob Gore) is a secondary school in Swansea in Wales, founded on 14 September 1682 by Hugh Gore (1613–1691), Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. It is situated in Sketty, close to Singleton Park and Swans ...
, Swansea (1682) * Llanrwst Grammar School (1610)


Scotland


Twelfth century

* High School of Glasgow (pre-1124) * Royal High School,
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
(1128) * Stirling High School (High School of Stirling) (1129) *
Lanark Grammar School Lanark Grammar School is a secondary school in Lanark, Scotland. It was founded in 1183, and celebrated its octocentenary in 1983, including a visit by The Princess Anne. The school draws its pupils from the town of Lanark and many villages in t ...
(1183) * Kirkwall Grammar School (1200)


Thirteenth century

* Ayr Academy (1233) * High School of Dundee (1239) * Aberdeen Grammar School (possibly c. 1257, earliest mention 1418)


Fourteenth century

* Knox Academy (Haddington Grammar School) (1379)


Fifteenth century

*
Brechin High School Brechin High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Brechin, Angus, Scotland Admissions It has approximately 660 students, and real listically 4 staff. The school has a relationship with the town's cathedral stretching back to the ea ...
(1429) * Dunfermline High School first founded in 1120 refounded (1468) Dumbarton Academy dates back to 15th century (1486) The Mary Erskine School (1694)


Sixteenth century

*
Montrose Academy Montrose Academy is a coeducational secondary school in Montrose Angus. The School now teaches people from ages 11–18. It became a comprehensive school in the mid-fifties and was one of a pair of Scottish schools which formed a country-wide tr ...
(c. 1534, earliest evidence of schooling 1329) * Leith Academy (1560) *
Paisley Grammar School Paisley Grammar School is a secondary school in Paisley, the largest town in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The school was founded in 1576 by royal charter of King James VI and is situated on Glasgow Road. The school is recognised as one of Scotland ...
(1576) *
Kirkcudbright Academy Kirkcudbright Academy is a state funded, six-year secondary school in Kirkcudbright, Scotland with about 400 pupils and 87 staff including teaching, support and administration. Notable alumni * Jennie Adamson was a Labour Party politician in ...
(earliest record of existence 1582)


Seventeenth century

*
Musselburgh Grammar School Musselburgh Grammar School a state-funded secondary school in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. It serves as the main secondary school for Musselburgh and the surrounding areas of Wallyford and Whitecraig. The school dates back to the sixte ...
(1626) * George Heriot's School (1628) * Hutchesons' Grammar School (1641) * Dunoon Grammar School (1641) * Campbeltown Grammar School (1686) * The Mary Erskine School (1694) *
Perth Academy Perth Academy is a state comprehensive secondary school in Perth, Scotland. It was founded in 1696. The institution is a non-denominational one. The school occupies ground on the side of a hill in the Viewlands area of Perth, and is within the P ...
(1696) wodensfied primary school


Northern Ireland


Seventeenth century

* The Royal School, Armagh (1608) *
Royal School Dungannon The Royal School is a mixed boarding school located in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was one of a number of 'free schools' created by James I (otherwise known as James VI of Scotland) in 1608 to provide an education to the son ...
(1614) *
Foyle College Foyle College is a co-educational non-denominational voluntary grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. The school's legal name is Foyle and Londonderry College. In 1976, two local schools, Foyle College and Londonderry High School, merged unde ...
(1617) *
Portora Royal School Portora Royal School located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was one of the public schools founded by the royal charter in 1608, by James I, making it one of the oldest schools in Ireland at the time of its closure. Origi ...
(1618)


Channel Islands


Sixteenth century

* Elizabeth College (1563)


See also

*
List of founders of English schools and colleges This is a list of the founders of English schools, colleges, and universities. Oxford Colleges Colleges of the University of Oxford were founded by: Cambridge Colleges Colleges of the University of Cambridge were founded by: English scho ...
* List of the oldest schools in the world *
Education in England Education in England is overseen by the United Kingdom's Department for Education. Local government in England, Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and State-funded schools (England), state ...
*
Education in Scotland Education in Scotland is overseen by the Scottish Government and its executive agency Education Scotland. Education in Scotland has a history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly diffe ...
* Education in Wales *
Education in Northern Ireland Education in Northern Ireland differs from education systems elsewhere in the United Kingdom (although it is relatively similar to Wales), but is similar to the Republic of Ireland in sharing in the development of the ''national school'' syste ...
*
Armorial of UK schools The official and historical coat of arms or 'full heraldic achievement' for UK schools, as granted by the College of Arms or Lyon Court, are presented herewith. Schools in England ''See Armorial of schools in England'' Schools in Norther ...


References for schools not having their own page

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oldest Schools In The United Kingdom Lists of schools in the United Kingdom List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom United Kingdom, schools Schools, oldest Lists of education-related superlatives
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...