Page "The King's School, Worcester" Paragraph 9

The monastery was dissolved in 1540 at the behest of Henry VIII, but most of its institutions were reincorporated into the new cathedral foundation, with most former monks becoming canons of the cathedral.

The last monastic Prior, Henry Holbeach, became the first Dean of Worcester.

Similarly, the cathedral foundation included provision for a choir school for ten cathedral choristers and tuition for forty King's Scholars.

The school was one of seven " King's Schools " established or re-endowed by Henry VIII following the dissolution.

On December 7, 1541, Henry VIII personally appointed the school's first headmaster, John Pether, by means of a letter to Richard Rich.

One early headmaster, Henry Bright is mentioned in Thomas Fuller ’ s Worthies of England, and is commemorated in Worcester Cathedral.