Magnus Church of England Academy

The original school was "founded by Thomas Magnus in 1531."[1]

"The original endowment of land and property was provided by Thomas Magnus, Archdeacon of the East Riding in the Metropolitan Church of York circa 1530."[2]

"One of Newark's most important benefactors, Thomas Magnus, built between 1529 and 1531 the Magnus School, containing schools for teaching grammar and music, and established and funded trusts for their staffing and maintenance, as well as for other charitable purposes in the town. This was by no means the first school in Newark, but it is certainly the only such institution still surviving from that time, albeit in somewhat newer premises (1909) than the original - the original building is now a part of Newark Museum."[3]

Over the school entrance in Newark it reads "this grammar school was founded by the reverend Thomas Magnus, 1529."[4]

"The Free Grammar school was founded in 1530, by Dr. Thomas Magnus, Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire, and a native of Newark, who, by will in 1550, bequeathed lands for the support of a "school of grammar and a school of song." The income, amounting to nearly £2400, is thus appropriated: to the grammar school, £270; to the song school, £105; to ten singing boys, £37. 16.; to national schools, £150; to a dispensary, £150; to the commissioners for lighting, paving, and improving the town, £290; and to the churchwardens for the repair of the church, clerk's and sexton's salaries, &c., £750; besides incidental disbursements. There are two exhibitions of £80 per annum each, connected with the school, which are continued for three years to those who are elected to them."[5]

The school on Earp Avenue was built in 1909. In the 1950s, the school had around 450 boys, and had the same by the 1970s, with 100 in the sixth form. The girls' grammar school was called the Lilley & Stone Girls' High School, which was on London Road. The current Grove School was a secondary modern school.

In 1977, a voluntary controlled comprehensive school, opened on the grounds of the Magnus Boys' Grammar School also known as the Thomas Magnus School on Earp Avenue. It was a co-educational 8-form entry school for ages 14–18, with 600 boys and girls, and 130 in the sixth form. It was originally planned to go comprehensive in 1976, and was planned to be known as the Magnus Upper School. The headmaster was Mr Potter. The Lilley and Stone School eventually the Newark High School, having become a co-educational comprehensive for ages 14–18. Newark High School closed in 2008 and the site is now used as a sixth form campus for The Newark Academy.

By the 1980s it was known as the Thomas Magnus (Controlled) Upper School. Mr Potter retired in 1980. Also in Newark was the Magdalene High School, a lower school (ages 11–14), on Barnby Road. The Grove School was twice the size of the Magnus School.

The Magdalene High School combined with the Thomas Magnus School in 1997 to form the current school, but essentially the Magdalene High School was closed. The school went into special measures in May 2008.

The school converted to academy status on 1 February 2014 and was renamed Magnus Church of England Academy. The school is now sponsored by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, but continues to coordinate with Nottinghamshire County Council for admissions.

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• John Dudderidge, canoer who founded the British Canoe Union
• Professor Vaughan Grylls, artist, photographer, and author; director of the Kent Institute of Art & Design and co-founder of the University for the Creative Arts
• Sir Mark Grundy, headteacher
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• Sir Donald Wolfit CBE, actor

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