Roskilde Cathedral School

Public gymnasium school in Roskilde, Denmark

55°38′03″N 12°03′30″E / 55.6341°N 12.0582°E / 55.6341; 12.0582InformationTypepublic gymnasiumFoundedc. 1020; 1004 years ago (1020)PrincipalClaus Niller NielsenFaculty150Number of students1,500Websitewww.roskildekatedralskole.dk

Roskilde Cathedral School (Danish: Roskilde Katedralskole, Roskilde Domskole) is a historic high school in Roskilde, Denmark. It was established around 1020 with close connections to Roskilde Cathedral.^[1] The school has since 1969 been located on Holbækvej in the western part of the city while its old main building next to the cathedral now houses Roskilde Gymnasium, another high school.

History

The school was probably established in the early 11th century (c. 1020) in connection with the cathedral. It was initially designed for the education of priests who could serve the cathedral. There are references to pupils at the school from 1074. Around 1080, a building was constructed to the north of the first travertine cathedral known as Kloster for Brødrene (Friars' Cloister) which was no doubt used as a school house. When the brick cathedral was built in the 13th century, a new school building was constructed immediately west of the cathedral.^[2]

After the Reformation in 1536, the school was struck by a period of poverty, forcing the pupils to beg in the neighbourhood for food and clothing. The curriculum did not change until the 18th century when it was adapted to include both theology and law, attracting more pupils.^[3]

A new building for the school was completed on the cathedral square in 1842 to a design by Jørgen Hansen Koch. With its six classrooms, it was able to accommodate all 70 pupils. Girls were first admitted to the school in 1903 but were initially kept away from the boys.^[4] Despite several extensions, by 1969 the building had again become too small. The school moved to its current premises on Holbækvej designed by Preben Hansen.^[3]^[5]

Today

As of September 2014, the school has 1,352 pupils and a staff of 150, of whom 129 are teachers.^[6] The school provides a high level of secondary-school education thanks to its competent staff and a pleasant teaching environment designed to motivate pupils on an individual basis.^[7]

Notable alumni

Absalon (ca. 1128-1201), archbishop, statesman
Saxo Grammaticus (ca. 1150-1208), historian
Christian Friis til Borreby (1556–1616), Chancellor of Denmark
Andreas Brünniche (1704–1769), painter
Andreas Christian Hviid (1749–1788), linguist and theologian
Gottsche Hans Olsen (1760–1829), writer, diplomat and theatre director
Johan Ernst Hartmann (1770–1844), composer
Severin Claudius Wilken Bindesbøll (1798–1871), bishop and politician
Jacob Kornerup (1825–1913), archaeologist and painter
Carl von Nutzhorn (1828–1899), politician and minister of justice
Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912), prime minister
Vilhelm Topsøe (1840–1881), writer and journalist
Morten Pedersen Porsild (1872–1956), botanist
Vilhelm Lassen (1861–1908), politician and finance minister
Asger Ostenfeld (1866–1931), engineer
Eduard Reventlow (1883–1963), diplomat
Poul Sørensen (1904–1969), politician
Aksel Schiøtz (1906–1975), singer
Ada Bruhn Hoffmeyer (1910-1991) weapons expert
Elias Bredsdorff (1912–2002), writer and resistance fighter
Lise Nørgaard (born 1917), writer
Jytte Hilden (born 1942), politician
Ib Michael (born 1945), novelist, poet
Thure Lindhardt (born 1974), actor

References

^ "Om Roskildge Katedralskole" (in Danish). Roskildenser-Samfundet. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
^ "Domskolen" (in Danish). Roskilde Historie. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Skolens historie" (in Danish). Roskilde Katedralskole. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^ Anders Bohn. "Skolens historie" (in Danish). Roskildenser-Samfundet. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^ "Preben Hansen". Den Store Danske (in Danish). Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^ "Skolen i tal" (in Danish). Roskilde Katedralskole. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^ "Strategi og vision" (in Danish). Roskilde Kadedralskole. Retrieved 7 January 2015.