A Short History of Quintin Kynaston School (Page 12)
Sporting Times (1892-1912)
Springing from the muscular brand of Christianity practised by Quintin Hogg and his disciples, the Polytechnic Commercial and Industrial Schools naturally attached much importance to games. These were considered jolly pastimes designed to encourage clean living and good fellowship. Hardly competitive, no one thought of keeping accurate statistics.
After 1903 the two schools combined in Day School teams for football and cricket. Oddly, it was quite normal in those days for masters to play in school teams. For those not in a school team, there were form matches organised in three leagues: Upper School, Middle School and Lower School. They were run by Mr W C Lee, "a formidable referee" (who died in 1955 aged 97) and Mr W J Saunders.
The splendid Polytechnic swimming pool was used in summer but "In the winter the baths were emptied and filled with a lot of decrepit and derelict furniture and moth-eaten carpets and called a Reading Room. A most depressing place." It was not until 1929 that the swimming pool was open throughout the year.
In 1904 the Poly hired Ramsay Grammar School on the Isle of Man as a holiday location for its schoolboys. Fifty years later, Mr Culliford proudly recalled "I was captain of the school team that beat Ramsay Town at water polo and still have my medal".
The annual Swimming Gala included such items as "Horse Racing", a Lighted Candle Race and something called "Fox and Hounds". The Annual Sports Day was an occasion to celebrate...
In contemporary terms, form matches would be Tutor Groups competing in three leagues: Sixth Form, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 3.
The swimming pool has been converted into a student café in Westminster University but preserving the original decoration.