Old Swinford Hospital School

Old Swinford Hospital opened in the late summer of 1670. It was founded by Thomas Foley, an ironmaster whose estate was at Great Witley in Worcestershire, to educate 60 boys from "poor but honest" families nominated by parishes in Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

When Thomas Foley died in 1678 he left the manor of Pedmore and a considerable sum of money in trust for the maintenance of the School. The fifteen trustees of this bequest were called Feoffees and included amongst them Thomas' three sons, Thomas, Philip and Paul. Today there are still fifteen Feoffees who are the trustees of the original foundation. Three of the Feoffees are still direct male descendants of the Founder.

When Thomas Molineux attended in 1841, only one or two children from each covered parish were nominated for acceptance. The boys ranged in age from 8 to 13 years.

In 1950 the School ceased to be independent and became a Voluntary Aided school under an arrangement with Worcestershire County Council. Numbers in the School began to increase and a Sixth Form was started in the mid 1950s. New buildings, including a gymnasium and Lyttleton block were built to accommodate the enlarged School.

By the late 1970s day boys outnumbered boarders and an ambitious building programme commenced to enhance and extend the boarding provision. This included the construction of Foley House (1982), Witley House (1983), Dudley House (1984) and Baxter House (1990). Foley House has been refurbished (2005) and there are plans to upgrade other Boarding Houses in the near future. Classroom and sporting facilities have been further improved in the more recent years.

Due to Old Swinford Hospital being designated as a Business and Enterprise College in 2004, a Business Centre is in the process of being constructed to facilitate students with their business studies within the School.

In September 1989 Old Swinford Hospital became one of the first Grant Maintained Schools, independent of the Local Education Authority. With the ending of that status in 1998, the School reverted to being a Voluntary Aided school. The Governors and Headmaster retain considerable autonomy, however, and the Feoffees, as Foundation Trustees, continue to appoint a majority of the Governors.

Old Swinford Hospital is, by tradition, a school for boys. However, since September 2004 the Governors have been offering places to girls wishing to study in the Sixth Form as day students. The first contingent of 45 girls joined the Sixth Form in 2004. The School now offers a greater breadth of subjects and activities.