View source for Dover College

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{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox school 
| name         = Dover College
| logo         = Dover College Crest.svg
| motto        = {{langx|la|Non recuso laborem}}
| motto_translation = I cannot refuse the task
| established  = {{Start date|1871|09|15|df=y}}
| closed       = 
| type         = [[Public School (United Kingdom)|Public School]]<br>[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private]] [[Day school|day]] and [[Boarding school|boarding]]
| religion     = [[Church of England]]
| headmaster   = Phil Tattersall-King<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dovercollege.org.uk/about-us/headmasters-welcome/ |title=Introduction &#124; Dover College |access-date=8 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420172238/http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/about-us/introduction/ |archive-date=20 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| r_head_label = 
| r_head       = 
| chair_label  = Chairman of the Governors
| chair        = Michael Goodridge
| founder      = Edward Astley
| specialist   = 
| address      = Effingham Crescent
| city         = [[Dover]]
| county       = [[Kent]]
| country      = England
| postcode     = CT17 9RH
| local_authority          = 
| urn          = 118940
| ofsted       = 
| staff        = 50 (approx.)
| enrolment    = 323
| gender       = [[Co-education]]al
| lower_age    = 3
| upper_age    = 18
| houses       = 6
| colours      = Black and Green {{colorbox|black}} {{colorbox|green}}
| fees         = £2,575 - £5,350 (Day) <br> £7,000 - £10,500 (Boarding)
| publication  = 
| alumni       = [[#Notable alumni|Old Dovorians]]
| free_label_2 = 
| free_2       = 
| free_label_3 = 
| free_3       = 
| website      = http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/
}}

'''Dover College''' is an independent day and boarding school in the English [[Public School (United Kingdom)|public school]] tradition located in [[Dover]] in south east England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders from the UK and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/150-years-of-thinking-differently-our-History|title=150 years of thinking differently: our history – Dover College|website=www.dovercollege.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-04-04|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627230948/http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/150-years-of-thinking-differently-our-History|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The school occupies some of the medieval buildings of [[Dover Priory]], on a site just east of the [[Dover Priory railway station|eponymous railway station]].

== History ==

===Foundation===
{{See also|Dover Priory#Dover College}}
In 1869 Robert Chignell, who had a private school at Westmount, in Folkestone Road, leased part of the Dover Priory buildings for a private school. He passed on his interest, however, to a group of leading citizens and local businessmen in Dover, led by the Mayor of [[Dover]], Dr. Astley, who had formed the Dover College Company to promote the foundation of a public school for the town on what remained of the Priory site with the dual intention of providing a public school education for local boys and of using and thus preserving the Priory's remaining ancient buildings.

It is set in the grounds and ruins of the Priory of St. Martin, which was ransacked by [[King Henry VIII]] as part of his dissolution of the monasteries.  The priory gives its name to Dover's main railway station which was built on the western part of the priory site.  Some of the original medieval buildings remain.  The 12th century Strangers' Refectory is still used as an eating hall and for concerts (it is Grade II* listed).<ref name=refectory>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101343819-the-school-hall-dover-college-dover|title=The School Hall Dover College, Dover, Kent|first=Good|last=Stuff|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>  The college chapel was originally the priory guesthouse, it was built in the 12th century, it is Grade II* listed.<ref name=schoolchapel>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101343820-school-chapel-dover-college-dover|title=School Chapel Dover College, Dover, Kent|first=Good|last=Stuff|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>
The bell tower was added in the late 19th century. The gatehouse of the priory (also listed) <ref name=gatehouse>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england|title=Listed Buildings in England|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> is used as a music room. The central lawn of the school is still referred to as The Close.  The composer [[Thomas Tallis]] was organist to the priory in the 1530s, and is commemorated in the naming of the college's Tallis Music School.

The College was founded and opened as a boys' school on 15 September 1871. By the end of the first term there were 21 boys in the school, and by the end of the next summer another 32 had joined them.  It acquired the large hall, or guest-house, in 1879 and converted it into a school Chapel by enlarging the east end into an apse. In time, the [[Ecclesiastical Commissioners]] made over the whole property to the College Trustees. The refectory was restored, revealing an important but damaged fresco, as (in 1881, to mark a charitable act by Sir Richard Dickenson the then mayor of Dover) was the gatehouse. The Gatehouse was restored by the celebrated architect [[George Edmund Street]] and is currently used as the music room for the Junior Department.

===20th century===
In August 1917, part of the school was damaged during an air raid, and the decision was finally taken to evacuate the College from Dover to Leamington College in [[Leamington Spa]] in the Midlands; the school returned to Dover in 1919 with only 150 pupils. During [[World War I]], in common with many other schools, Old Dovorians became officers in the [[Military of the United Kingdom|British Armed Forces]] and as a result suffered high casualty rates. 177 former pupils died; 58 Dovorians were awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] and 89 the [[Military Cross|MC]] – of the foreign awards 8 were awarded [[Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] and 6 the Russian [[Order of Saint Stanislas]]. One Naval officer – [[Arthur Leyland Harrison]] – posthumously received the [[Victoria Cross]] for the [[Zeebrugge raid]]; another old boy, Gen Sir [[Reginald Dallas Brooks]], was also on that raid and won his DSO before going on to become [[Governor of Victoria]].

In 1921 the Jubilee of the School was celebrated, including the dedication of the War Memorial and the Bell Memorial in the Chapel. 1922 a trust set up by the [[alumni|old boys]] took ownership of the College and in 1923 it was reconstituted with a [[Royal Charter]], which defined its aims:

:''The object of the Corporation of Dover College shall be the conduct of a College for boys … in which they may receive a sound religious, [[classics|classical]], [[mathematics|mathematical]], [[science|scientific]] and general education and the doing of such things as are conducive to the attainment of this objective''.

During the [[Second World War]], Dover was on the [[front line]], with only the [[Straits of Dover]] separating the town from [[Nazism|Nazi]]-occupied France, and one of the most likely areas for a German invasion.  As a result, the school was again [[Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II|evacuated]], initially for a term to [[Blundell's School]] in Devon with which Dover College had a long-standing friendship, and thence to [[Poltimore House]], also in [[Devon]].  It returned to Dover in 1945 with 168 boys. During the war 102 former pupils died; Lt Col [[Terence Otway]] won a famous DSO for his action in capturing the [[Merville Battery]] on D-Day.

In 1957 was the first public school in the UK to formally create an International Department.<ref>[http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/International-admissions "International Admissions - Dover College"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416201242/http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/International-admissions |date=16 April 2018 }}, Retrieved on 16 April 2018.</ref> In 1974, Dover College was one of the first English [[Public school (United Kingdom)|public schools]] to become fully co-educational.

In 1990 the college was taken to court by its head of history who claimed unfair dismissal on the grounds of illness. The case is known as Hogg v Dover College.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hogg v Dover College|url=https://www.employmentlawfriend.co.uk/news/dismissal/hogg-v-dover-college|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Employment Law Friend|language=en}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
In September 2001 Dover College opened a junior department for pupils aged 4–11. In 2009, it opened a pre-reception class to welcome three-year-old children.

The college renovated its music facilities under Stephen Jones, Headmaster from 2004 to 2011 who went on to be Warden of [[St. Edward's School, Oxford]]. Under the leadership of Gerry Holden from 2011 to 2014, the college went through a period of change, which was re-directed upon the appointment of Gareth Doodes as headmaster from January 2015. In the intervening years the college now has the highest inspection judgements possible, an increase in the school roll, and a new curriculum based on creativity. In preparation for the college's 150th anniversary in 2021, the college launched a new development plan, Project 150, that will see the building of a new theatre, pavilion at Farthingloe, renovation of boarding houses and classrooms, and improved international outreach with membership of the [[Round Square|Round Square Organisation]].

== Coat of arms ==
The school coat of arms shows [[Martin of Tours|St. Martin]] [[Martin of Tours#Episode of the cloak|dividing his cloak]], which he shared with a beggar. Martin of Tours is [[patron saint]] of France, and therefore appropriate for the English school closer than any other to France.

== Notable alumni ==
{{See also|Category:People educated at Dover College}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Dr [[Reginald Koettlitz]] (1860–1916); Doctor and Polar Explorer
* [[Frederic Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham]] (1866–1958); Lord Chancellor
* [[Tyrone Power Sr.]] (1869–1931); Anglo-American actor
* [[O. B. Clarence]] (1870–1955); English actor
* [[Richard Reginald Goulden]] (1876-1932); portrait sculptor & creator of public memorials
* The Most Reverend [[Howard West Kilvinton Mowll]] [[D.D.]] (1890–1958); Archbishop of Sydney and Primate of Australia
* [[Richard Aldington]] (1892–1962); writer and poet
* General Sir [[Dallas Brooks]] (1896–1966); [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] – [[Zeebrugge Raid]]; [[Governor of Victoria]] – 1949–1963
* Air Marshal Sir [[Hugh Walmsley]] [[Order of the Bath|KCB]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]], [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Military Cross|MC]], [[DFC (UK)|DFC]] (1898–1985); [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)]]
* [[Cecil Madden]] (1902-1987); radio and television producer
* [[Sir Frederick Ashton]] [[Order of Merit|OM]], [[Companion of Honour|CH]], [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (1904–1988); choreographer of the [[Royal Ballet]]
* [[Edgar Christian]] (1908–1927); see ''Cold Burial'' published in 2002
* [[Athol Forbes|Group Captain Athol Forbes]] [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (1912–1981); Flight leader in [[No. 303 Squadron RAF|303 Squadron]] during the Battle of Britain, later commander of [[No. 66 Squadron RAF|66 Squadron]] 
* Squadron Leader [[Michael Casano]] [[Military Cross|MC]] (1913–2006); Commander of [[No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment|No 2 Armoured Car Company RAF]]
* Colonel [[Terence Otway]] [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] (1914–2006); CO of 9 Para on D-Day ([[Merville Battery]])
* [[J. Lee Thompson]] (1914–2002); film director
* Sir [[Donald Luddington]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire|KBE]], [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]], [[Royal Victorian Order|CVO]] (1920–2009); British colonial government official
* [[Geoffrey Thomas Barnes|Geoffrey Barnes]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (1932–2010); [[Secretary for Security|Secretary for Security for Hong Kong]], [[Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption|Commissioner of ICAC]]
* [[Michael Kuhn]] (b. 1949); film director
* [[Simon Cowell]] (b. 1959); TV personality <ref>Burrell, Ian. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/simon-cowell-idol-rich-1820378.html "Simon Cowell: Idol rich"], ''[[The Independent]]'', London, 14 November 2009.</ref>
* [[Sammy Moore]] (b. 1987); professional footballer
{{div col end}}

== Notable members of staff ==

* [[Vivian Jenkins]], Welsh Rugby Player and vice-captain of the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] 1938
* [[Jeffrey Archer]], taught at the school in the 1960s
* [[Ralph Townsend (headmaster)|Ralph Townsend]], taught at the school in the 1970s

=== Headmasters ===
The school has had fifteen headmasters since its foundation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=A New Headmaster At Dover College – Old Dovorians|url=https://www.olddovorians.com/a-new-headmaster-at-dover-college/|access-date=2022-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Incomplete list|date=February 2022}}
Canon William Bell, 1871–1892<ref>{{Cite web|title=History Of the OD Club – Old Dovorians|url=https://www.olddovorians.com/about-us/|access-date=2022-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-22|title=Spotlight on a School: Dover College|url=https://www.schoolmanagementplus.com/admissions-marketing/spotlight-on-a-school-dover-college/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Independent School Management Plus|language=en-US}}</ref>

Reverend William Cookorthy Compton, 1892-1910

F de W Lushington, 1910-1915

[[George Renwick (athlete)|George Renwick]] 1934–1954

[[Alec Peterson]] 1954–1957

Tim Cobb

David Cope,

Jack Ind, 1980s

Martin Wright, 1990s

Howard Blackett, 1997-2004

Stephen Jones, 2004–2011

Gerry Holden, 2011–2014

Gareth Doodes, 2015–2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome from the Headmaster – Gareth Doodes, Dover College|url=http://www.dovercollege.org.uk/Welcome-from-the-Headmaster|access-date=2018-04-04|website=www.dovercollege.org.uk|language=en}}</ref>

Simon Fisher 2020–present<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=Vsw7AAAAIAAJ&pg=PR15 Dover priory: a history of the Priory of St Mary the Virgin and St Martin of the New Work ] by Charles Reginald Haines (1930) – a comprehensive history of the priory

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Dover College}}
* [http://www.dovercollege.org.uk School Website]
* [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/kent/dover/dover-college Profile] on the [[Independent Schools Council|ISC]] website
* [http://www.olddovorians.com Old Dovorians Website]

{{Coord |51|7|38|N|1|18|24|E|type:edu_region:GB-KEN|display=title}} <!-- School House -->
{{Schools in Kent}}
{{Public schools in England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Private schools in Kent]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1871]]
[[Category:Schools in Dover, Kent|College]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Kent]]
[[Category:People educated at Dover College| ]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in England]]