The school c. 1880The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe was founded in the middle of the 16th century out of the medieval Hospital of St John - a semi monastic house “founded for the relief and comfort of poor people.” The Hospital was dissolved in 1548, and its building was used to house a schoolmaster and his pupils. A royal charter was granted on 21st July 1562. Meanwhile some of the Hospital endowment was used to provide almshouses four poor persons close to the school. Over the centuries the school struggled rather than flourished — its classical curriculum was not appreciated locally, and its masters barely had enough to live on. In 1700 the master had £20 a year, though many of the masters combined the post with curacies at nearby churches.

RGS in 1910A revival in the school’s fortunes started with a bequest of by Mary Bowden in 1794. The interest was to provide education for 30 boys at the School, the rest of the income going to poor of Wycombe. In 1838 the Wycombe Charity Trustees were set up, the Master’s salary was raised to £50, the school building was repaired and in 1852 a new head, Rev. James Poulter, curate of High Wycombe was appointed.  He was master until 1879 and devoted himself to developing the school and teaching his pupils. He organized cricket matches, instituted external examinations of boys’ progress, and an efficient school started to emerge.
Under his successor, G. J. Peachell, a new school building was built behind the old school — which was largely demolished. Only the twelfth century arches and pillars, and RGS circa 1930a section of later medieval wall survive. The new building had accommodation for 100 boys, though when Mr. Peachell died in 1905, the numbers had dwindled to 46 day boys and 10 boarders.

G.W. Arnison was Headmaster from 1905 — 1937 and, with financial help since 1902 from the County Council, he was able to expand the numbers of pupils and the scope of the curriculum. A new school was built 1914 — 1915 a mile outside the town centre for 200 pupils.   By 1933 there were 330 and by 1963 1000 boys.

Mr ArnisonUnder E.R. Tucker the school acquired a large Sixth Form and great success in university entrance examinations. His successors since 1964 have fostered scholarship, excellence in the arts and in games as well as a vast array of extra curricular activities. New buildings have accommodated ever increasing numbers of staff and pupils Boarding is no longer in the headmaster’s house, but in a new building named after the school’s two V.C.s : F. Youens and I.E. Fraser.  Other notable Old Boys are Richard Hickox, Roger Scruton, Matthew Dawson and Luke Donald.

John Mitchell

Various photos from around the school in the 1950 - 1980

Staff under Mr ArnisonMr Tucker: Headmaster 1938-1964

 Malcolm Smith, Headmaster 1965-1974 Rowland Brown: Headmaster 1975 - 1993David Levin, Headmaster 1993-1999

Tim Dingle, Headmaster 1999-2006