Dr Challoner's Grammar School

In his will, Robert Chaloner left money to establish a grammar school in Amersham.[2]

"… the like sume of twenty pounds yearly out of the said lands at Wavendon I give unto my wellbeloved friend Mr. William Tothill Esquire and Mr William Pennyman Esquire to erect a free gramar schoole in Amersam in the County of Bucks to be established by Deede of Feofment or otherwise as their wisdome can devise The towne and p^ish allotinge the Churche house for the schoole house or my successor a tenem^t in the occupation of Enoch Wyar now or of late for the dwellinge house of the schoole maister whome I will to be chosen by my exequitrix my successor and Mr. Tothill afterwards by my successor and sixe of the eldest Feoffees and cheefest This I leave as a testimony of my loce to them and theire children. Orders for the school—I desire my successor to p^cure from the best ordered schooles"

The original school building

The school was situated in Old Amersham for almost three centuries before moving, with the support of Buckinghamshire County Council, to its present position in Amersham-on-the Hill in 1905. At this time, the school embraced the principle of co-education for the first time which, according to the school’s first prospectus in 1906, was "practically universal in America". Each year the boys at Challoner's celebrate Founder's Day where they attend St Mary's Church in Old Amersham where Robert Chaloner was rector.

By 1937, Challoner's was incorporated into the state system of education and by the early 1950s, the school had about 350 boys and girls on roll. However, plans for expansion to 550 pupils were overtaken by rapid population growth in the area and the decision was made to establish a separate school for girls in Little Chalfont: Dr. Challoner's High School, which opened in 1962. The two schools continue to maintain relatively close links, collaborating especially in music and drama productions, whilst Dr Challoner's Debating Society has staged numerous collaborative events. Girls were admitted to the boys’ school sixth form in 2016.

The continued expansion of the grammar school to its present size of over 1,350 students saw major building projects in the 1950s, 1980s, and 1990s, followed by the construction of a large astroturf pitch and improvements to the sports fields. Another floor has been added on top of the old library and the new library was reopened in early 2013.

In 2002, Challoner's became one of the first Science Colleges in the United Kingdom. The school started a second special focus as a Language College in April 2007. In 2005, the school celebrated the 100th anniversary of the move to the current site on Chesham Road, also building the Centenary Sports Pitch. The school was commended by the 2007 Ofsted inspection team and rated outstanding in all 51 criteria.[3]

On 1 September 2008, the school officially changed its status from a Voluntary Controlled school to a Foundation school, on the basis that "the additional autonomy which foundation status offers will enabled the school to provide an even better standard of education in the future".[4] In January 2011 the school became an Academy.[5]

The house system was re-established in 2004. An earlier house system with four houses named for those listed in the original school song as "Buckinghamshire's four mighty men"—Challoner  , Hampden  , Milton   and Penn  —was abandoned in 1976. The chorus of that song appears below.

England of shires has a good two score
Each of them brags of her mighty men
Bucks she can boast of her famous four
Challoner, Hampden, Milton and Penn

There are currently six houses, each named after a previous headmaster:

Dr Challoner's students did well in two subjects nationally in 2003.[12] It was one of two schools named by the Department of Education (the other being Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe) as the best performing schools nationwide in the 2003 GCSEs[13] and named the country's best grammar school in 2011.[14] In the 2011 GCSEs, boys achieved a 100% pass rate with 50 of the 183 candidates earning all A*-A grades.[15]

Notable former students include:

• Peter Atkins – physical chemist and textbook author
• Tom Blomfield – Founder, Monzo Bank Ltd
• Chris Cleave – author
• Dame Sandra Dawson – Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University[16]
• Tim Dunn - TV presenter and railway expert
• Graham Fitch – concert pianist
• Roger Hammond – professional cyclist[17]
• Greg Hands – Conservative MP for Chelsea & Fulham and former Minister of State for International Trade[18]
• Elizabeth Laverick – engineer[19]
• Dave Legeno – actor (Fenrir Greyback in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
• Margaret Mee – botanical artist[20]
• Roger Moore – actor[21]
• John Mousinho – footballer[22]
• Kenneth Page Oakley – anthropologist[23][24]
• Alexis Petridis – music critic[25]
• Steve Pretty - founder, Hackney Colliery Band[26][27]
• Dominic Raab – Conservative MP for Esher & Walton,[28] and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Arthur Reynolds – missionary and author
• Justin Robertson – DJ and remixer
• Steve Chandra Savale – guitarist with Asian Dub Foundation
• John Shepherd – scientist
• David Wands – academic and educator
• Rick Warden – actor
• Matt Watson – cricketer[29]
• Mark Watson-Gandy – barrister
• Sam Westaway – cricketer[30]

• Mr Edward Rayner 1624–1640
• Dr Angell 1640–1650
• Mr Humphrey Gardiner 1650–1676
• Mr John Hughes 1676–1697
• Mr Crowfoot 1697–1702 (Dudley Penard officiated – 1698)
• Rev Benjamin Robertshaw, MA 1702–1706
• Not Known 1706–1790
• Rev Richard Thorne, BA 1790–1822
• Rev Henry Foyster 1822–1826
• Rev Matthew Stalker, BA 1826–1849
• Rev W.S. Newman, BA 1849–1850
• Rev Edmund J Luce, BA 1850–1862
• Rev W. H. Williams, BA 1862–1880
• Rev Frederick Weller, MA 1881–1883
• Rev W.J. Foxell 1883–1886
• Rev Colin J. Creed 1886–1888
• Rev Lewis H. Pearson, BA 1888–1889
• Rev E.P. Cooper, BA 1889–1897
• Mr E.H. Wainwright, BA 1897–1908
• Mr R.E. Yates, BA 1908–1935
• Mr J.E. Simpson, BSc 1935–1937
• Mr T.P. Oakley, BSc (Acting) 1937–1938
• Mr Neville Harrow, MA 1938–1956
• Mr R. Simm, BA (Acting) 1941–1945
• Mr W.C. Porter, BSc 1956–1964
• Mr D Holman, MA 1965–1972
• Mr J.A. Loarridge, RD, BA, OBE 1972–1992
• Mr G.C. Hill, MA 1993–2001
• Dr Mark A. Fenton, MA, MSc, 2001–16[31]
• Mr David Atkinson 2016–[32]

• List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)

• F. R. Treadgold, B.A. (1973). Dr Challoner and his school. Amersham.
• F. R. Treadgold, B.A. (1974). "Challoner's" 1624–1974: The story of Dr. Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham. Luton: The Leagrave Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85236-051-7.

• Department for Education Performance Tables 2011