The Coleridge family’s links with the school date to 1760 when the Rev. John Coleridge took up the posts of School Master, Chaplain Priest and Vicar. He came from South Molton’s ‘Latin School’. John Coleridge was a man of considerable learning, the author of two Latin grammars and many other literary works. He had eight sons including the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

In 1781 John was succeeded by John Warren but the family, through John’s son, The Rev. George Coleridge, led the school from 1794 until 1808. During these years, the school rose steadily and became esteemed throughout the south-west. The school became the starting point, if not always the finish, of the education of the son’s of Devon’s best families. Archers, Cornishes, Kennaways, Northcotes, Simcoes and Younge’s are all recorded as pupils, as well as eight of the next generation of Coleridge’s. So began the family’s connection with the school which continued well into this century.

When you join Coleridge House you become part of a family, we all look out for one another and we are proud of the strong relationships built between tutors and students. We encourage students to become the best version of themselves that they can, by striving to be….

• Courageous - Trying new things, stepping out of your comfort zone and overcoming obstacles.
• Outstanding - Applying maximum effort to everything you do and not settling for second best.
• Leaders - Being good role models to others, taking responsibility and becoming independent.
• Enthusiastic - Having a go, engaging in all aspects of school life and keeping a smile on your face.
• Respectful - Treating others as you would expect to be treated yourself.
• Industrious - Working hard, being organized and contributing to the School and the House.
• Determined - Never giving up, showing resilience and spirit when the going gets tough.
• Generous - Willing to help others, freely giving our time and energy to support those that may need it.
• Excellent!

The first reference to the Kennaway family in GEJ Holme’s, History of The King’s School, comes during the times when the Rev. George Coleridge was Headmaster at the turn of the nineteenth century. There is a quote from a letter written by the pupil Edward Coleridge during Dr John Warren’s leadership of afight he had with Charles Kennaway ..... “a great bully” ……. “I drubbed him properly….”

However, the Kennaway family through Sir John Kennaway was responsible for ridding the school of the Headteacher, The Rev. George Smith, who from 1863 to 1881 allowed the school to decline quite disastrously. By 1881 only three boys were in attendance and the school was finally closed. Sir John Kennaway, along with three other men, saw that the only way forward was to hasten the demise in the hope that some revival of its past glory might be made possible in the future, as indeed it was! In December 1892, Sir John Kennaway wrote to the County Council asking whether it was possible to do something about starting the school again. However, money was a problem, even then! Eventually in 1895, the School re-opened in The Priory, opposite the Church in Ottery St. Mary. Sir John Kennaway was governor of the new school.

When the school eventually moved to its present site, Sir John Kennaway was Chairman of the Governors and laid the foundation stone on 21^st April 1911, when a Service of Dedication was held. He continued to serve as Chairman until his death in 1919. The younger Sir John (the former's son) was Vice-Chair from 1919 to 1948.

Kennaway is like the world’s best cake- practically perfect in every way. To be part of this truly amazing team, simply follow the recipe for success:

First, you need to don your fun to ensure you’re suitably dressed for the challenge. Next you need to set your expectations high because we always strive to be the best we can be.

Once you are set for the challenge, you need to think creatively. Team Kennaway is creative in our own way, ensuring the end product is of the highest standard.

Sometimes things don’t go to plan and recipes can be hard to follow, so we make sure we always support each other by working together as a team. This is what makes us an amazing family, who enjoy the cake together.

Before you finish the task in hand, reflect upon your work. Take a moment to celebrate success, because in Kennaway we are always positive.

Finally, the icing on the cake: Kennaway is decorated with all the amazing individuals who are proud to be in the house.

One of the most distinguished Headteachers of the school was Dr. Cornish Headteacher 1824 1863. His most famous pupil was probably John Coleridge Patteson who entered the school in 1835 at the age of eight. “Coley” as he was called by his friends was the son of Sir John Patteson of Feniton Court. He passed on to Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. In a biography it is said that he never achieved the success expected of him because he was interested in too many things. Before he was twenty-five he mastered Hebrew and Arabic as well as Greek, Latin, French, German and Italian. In 1854 Coley was made a deacon, returned to Devon and took up his role as curate at Alfington. In 1855 he became a missionary and left England forever to work amongst the Maoris. He was consecrated as the first Bishop of Melanesia in 1861, but was killed ten years later by an inhabitant of Nukapu.

Our House embodies the values associated with John Coleridge Patteson who was an explorer and clergyman dedicated to improving lives of people he met around the world. In Patteson students are expected to step up and have a go, making the most of a huge range of opportunities offered to them and being adventurous and charitable of their time and effort. 

We are rightly proud of our track record in house competitions. Patteson House has a rich and successful history, with many headline achievements such as winning the House Competition and House Dance in 2022, however it is in the everyday successes where Patteson students really shine; the moment in a lesson where a young person overcomes a challenge, holding a door open for a member of staff, volunteering to help with any number of different extracurricular activities.  Patteson students work hard academically and make the most of every opportunity available to them and they do it with a smile on their faces.

If you visit King's you will know of the existence and success of Patteson House!

Although there is nothing inherently improbable in the suggestion that Sir Walter Raleigh attended the school, there is no proof that he did so. However, the fame of this son of East Devon, born in East Budleigh, and his possession of a house in Ottery near the mill, were presumably thought worthy enough grounds to name one of the school houses after him.

Our House embodies the values associated with Sir Walter Raleigh. We expect all Raleigh students, staff and parents to see these values as self evidently worthwhile. A Raleigh person has