THE first official history of an Oxford school which dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, has been published.

The History of Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, by Richard Lane and Michael Lee, is out now.

It looks back at the independent school's formation in the 16th century and picks out key moments over almost 500 years.

In 1546 Henry VIII made provision for a number of boy choristers and a schoolmaster.

The school grew from this royal beginning and took shape in the building of 3 Brewer Street under Dean Liddell, father of Alice Liddell who was immortalised in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland stories.

The detailed study was co-authored by Richard Lane, a former chorister and head boy at the school from 1947 to 1951, and Michael Lee, a master at the school from 1954 to 1956, who went on to become professor of politics at the University of Bristol.

Mr Lane said: "It was amazing to be able to look at the original statutes handed to the college on July 1, 1525 from Cardinal Wolsey.

"Over the years I have returned to reunions to see how the school is progressing and how much it has changed over the years, for the better.

"It was a much more austere place in my time, although we were pretty successful even in those days at getting scholarships to the senior schools."

Old boys, former and current staff, parents, and friends of the school attended a launch party for the book earlier this month in the Upper Library at Christ Church.

Mr Lane went to The King’s School, Canterbury, as a music scholar before returning to Oxford in 1956 to read music at Keble College.

The co-author’s one regret is that he did not consider writing the school’s history earlier.

He added: "I wish I had thought to ask the retired clergyman who used to take us out to tea about what the school was like.

"He was a chorister from 1876 to 1882, before the building in Brewer Street was built.

"But the idea of writing a book or even asking questions was far from my mind as a boy.”

Speaking at the launch, headmaster Richard Murray described the book as 'a fitting accompaniment to the School’s 500th anniversary in 2025'.

He added: “We hear a great deal about the importance of the history of major institutions but, in many ways, it is histories about more minor institutions that are the most important because they ensure that the history which is often so ephemeral is not lost.

"I am thrilled that the school’s first 500 years are now documented and hope that it will continue for another 500 years at least."

Christ Church Cathedral School is a pre-prep and preparatory school for boys aged four to 13, with a co-educational nursery for children aged two to four.

The book is published by Shire Publications and is available from the school for £12.99 by emailing schooloffice@cccs.org.uk for £12.99 or at cccs.org.uk/about/online-purchases-real for £15.30 including the cost of postage and packing.