BT93

Collection

Britain has a number of 'bluecoat schools', the name deriving from the costume formerly worn by the pupils. They date back to Tudor times and the long blue coat, which gave the schools their name, was the ordinary attire of schoolboys and apprentices of that time. The uniform was first adopted at Christ's Hospital in the 16th century in the City of London and many subsequent charitable foundations imitated this style of uniform, becoming known as bluecoat schools. The Hereford Blue Coat School was founded in 1710 as a charity foundation for the education of Hereford’s poor children. In 1903 the schools (boys and girls) became the responsibility of the local education authority. In 1921 the boys were transferred to St. Owen’s School and the Blue Coat School became a girls’ only school. By 1944 the Blue Coat School had become a Secondary School. The Blue Coat High School for Girls transferred to new premises on Aylestone Hill in 1958. In 1972 the Blue Coat School merged with the Bishop’s School to become the Bishop of Hereford’s Blue Coat C of E School for both boys and girls. Further records for the Bluecoat School will be found under EDUCATION in the subject index. These additional records include AP44/53-54 Governors’ minutes, 1953-1973; photograph dated 1913, Y59; photograph dated 1939, AJ37/1; pupils examination report 1910, F68/5; BJ71/178 documents and correspondence; and certificates 1890, 1891, BJ45/3-4. BT93 contains limited information concerning pupils with only one admission register for the Boys’ School dated 1909 –1921, and Girls’ admission cards for 1969. Although there are no further admission details, there are student reports for 1949-1950 and c. 1972-1973, plus extensive form photographs for 1979 and fifth year photographs for 1982 – 1984, 1986, and 1988 – 1990. For details of other records that may still be held by the school, please contact: The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School Hampton Dene Road Tupsley Hereford HR1 1UU Tel:01432 347500 Email: info@bhbs.Hereford.sch.uk