Founded in 1615 The Perse School stands proudly on Hills Road. It’s Cambridge’s oldest surviving secondary school. Dr Stephen Perse a fellow of Gonville and Caius College established it. He left a considerable sum to create a free grammar school. His aim was to help talented boys escape poverty.
Initially the school offered places to 100 free scholars. Many went on to study at Caius College. Sadly during the 18th century the school declined. Caius College the school’s governors neglected to raise teacher salaries. This led to a lack of talented staff and pupils. Teaching posts became sinecures for junior fellows of Caius. The surplus endowment was kept by senior fellows. This was common corruption at the time. Harrow and Rugby schools nearly closed due to similar issues.
Local protests forced the governors to keep the school open. A court case in 1837 reformed the College’s abuse of Stephen Perse’s Trust. This put the school back on a firm footing. In 1881 The Perse School for Girls opened. It was funded by the town the University and the Perse endowment.
The experimental teaching methods of Headmaster W H D Rouse 1902-28 attracted attention. His Direct Method of teaching foreign languages was innovative. The Perse gained an international reputation. Rouse also established a prep school and boarding houses including Hillel House a Jewish boarding house. He secured land on Hills Road for a new school.
The Upper School finally moved to Hills Road in 1960 under Headmaster Stanley Stubbs 1945-69. The Perse received government grants for its experimental language teaching. From 1945-1976 it was a Direct Grant school. Around 40% of pupils received free places. The Perse became independent after the government withdrew its grant in 1976.
The Sixth Form welcomed girls in 1995. The school became fully co-educational in 2012. The Perse School for Girls became a separate entity. It evolved into The Stephen Perse Foundation. The Perse School celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2015-16. A remarkable history for a remarkable school. The Perse continues its legacy of providing excellent education. It remains a vibrant part of Cambridge’s cultural landscape.