A History of Raffles Institution

With the Institution Anthem

When Stamford Raffles held the torch, That cast Promethean Flame…On the 5th of June 1823, a visionary named Sir Stamford Raffles, who had recently colonized the island of Singapore for the British Crown, laid the foundation stone for what was known back then as the Singapore Free Institution. The first school in Singapore and the second English-medium institution set up in British South East Asia (After the Penang Free School, founded 1817), the Singapore Free Institution was well-received by sons of village chiefs and the employees of the East India Company, as much as it proved to be instrumental in the economic boom for both the East India Company and the Crown by raising students to work for the various companies.

Above: The Jackson Plan of Singapore Town. The area labelled ‘Open Square’ was the designated siteFor the building of the Institution.

Below: Illustration of the building of the Singapore Institution.

We faced the challenge of the day, to give our school a name…The Singapore Free Institution, although founded in 1823, was unable to function until 1837, staying dormant for 14 years due to opposition from John Crawfurd and a cut in funding by the British administration, which did not agree with Raffles’ views on education. Hence, the Institution’s actual functioning was halted for over a decade. This caused tension between Raffles and Crawfurd, straining the relationship between Raffles and his close friend, Munshi Abdullah, who also knew Crawfurd. The Institution had already met with a bad start and many relations were strained due to its formation. However, the Institution soon rose from the ashes to start a 190-year legacy that would be the Raffles Institution.

Above: John Crawfurd (Left), and Munshi Abdullah (Right)Below: The earliest known picture of Raffles Institution

The eagle eye and gryphon strength, they led us to the fore… After its prolonged functioning, the Institution, which changed its name to Raffles Institution in the 1860s to honour its founder, started to spread the name of Raffles Institution via its students’ achievements and its headmasters’ guidance, the prime example being Headmaster Bayley, who, through his intuitive guidance, managed to bring RI back on the right track. Soon enough, Raffles Institution started producing the top Queen’s Scholars in the colonies of Britain. This made Raffles’ name known throughout the world. Eventually, the school managed to exceed its own expectations of itself for the future. It was the first time in the history of the world that ‘Raffles’ became a household name in Singapore, Malaya and even as far as Britain.

Above: The first batch of Singaporean Queen’s Scholars from Raffles Institution (Left)Richmond Wlliam Hullett, longest-serving principal of RI (Right)

To reign supreme in ev'ry sphere, the sons of Singapore…

When thinking of the school’s co-curricular activities, a lot can be said. In the 1870s, the very first co-curricular activity, the RI Cricket Club was formed, following a huge demand for proficient players to bat and bowl for England which, at that time, was very popular. Eventually, the Raffles Debate Club was formed, and was the first debating club in Singapore when it opened to few members. Soon enough, many CCAs started to appear, all focused on building students’ interests and allowing them to find what they were good at. Today, RI offers a plethora of CCAs to choose from, each CCA representing different ideologies so as to mould each and every student uniquely to become leaders in their own right, and to be the sons of Singapore.

Above: RINCC Cadets initiating a march-past in front of a guest-of-honour.Below: RI Rugby Competitors performing the ‘Haka’ during the annual Kiwi Cup.

Come heed the call Rafflesians all, and let our hearts be stirring…School spirit was something that always knitted the Rafflesian community together in harmony, regardless of differences. Indian or Chinese, rich or poor, anybody who displayed exemplary intellect was admitted into the school. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew recalls how RI was a melting pot of culture and tradition when he studied there. Rafflesians stayed with one another through thick and thin, and this was especially paramount in their survival as a school. RI’s very existence was threatened by the lack of staff after World War I. Still, as one Raffles, they pulled through. Then came WWII when Singapore came under direct attack from the Japanese and Raffles Institution was renamed ‘Beach Road Boys’ School’. Still, Rafflesians stood together as one and overcame their challenges.

Above: The two post-war campuses of RI, namely SJI and Monk’s Hill.Below: RI is a melting pot of several cultures.

We'll do our best whate’er the test, and keep our colours flying…RI is considered to be the pinnacle of academic standard in Singapore. It takes in the best, and nurtures them to be even better. Although RI’s methods and syllabus have been widely criticized (One major criticism was not having soccer as a CCA because it was considered to be too ‘rowdy’), many people praise it for its approach towards education, and its stance on education. Not only have Old Boys of RI grown up to be leaders in their fields of specialty, the teachers and even headmasters have achieved great things in life. Mrs Lim Lai Cheng, RI’s first female principal, was awarded by the French government for her contributions to education. RI also boasts a wide network of alliances, being the founding member of the GALES initiative, a member of the Winchester Network and the G20 Top Schools Alliance. It has received several accolades on its path to ultimate glory.

Above: Raffles Institution plays host to the TiltShift Conference of top schools (Left).The Raffles Institution A-Division Softball team (Right).Below: The President’s Scholars of 2013, of which two, namely Stephanie Siow and I-Naishad Kai Ren, were Rafflesians.

Let comradeship and fervent hope, with one voice make us pray…The Rafflesian Spirit is the spirit that is imbued unto each and every Rafflesian. It is the spirit that binds us as one, that binds us not only in ideologies, but in heart, mind and spirit. It is the spirit that Raffles envisaged the school would embody, and follow on till the end. It is the spirit that serves the school as a guiding torch, grasped by the claws of the Gryphon as he leads us to the fore. It is the spirit envisaged by the eagle as it soared over the skies of the British Colony of Singapore, and, lastly, the Rafflesian Spirit is Raffles’ dream that the Institution would serve Singapore, Asia, and the world as a beacon of hope for Singapore. The hope that binds us together is the Rafflesian Spirit, and the spirit that connects us as one Raffles is that of hope, of auspice, and of betterment. Although RI is secular, we pray to a single entity: Hope. That is what brings us together in the hopes of making Singapore and the world better.

The Five Houses:BayleyBuckleyHullettMoorMorrison

Auspicium Melioris Aevi.With God to guide the way.Raffles died on the 5th of July, 1826, leaving behind an institution of great glory.

“Would that I could infuse into the Institution a portion of that spirit and soul by which I would have it animated, as easily as I endow it with lands.”

When he laid the foundation stone, Raffles had wanted the Institution to serve as a beacon of hope for the newly-borne colony of Singapore, and had wanted it to educate generations of sons to become Thinkers, Leaders, and Pioneers. Although Raffles did not live to see the institution bloom, his dreams had come true. The Raffles Institution had indeed become the Hope of A Better Age. Raffles Institution will definitely serve as a cradle of Thinkers, Leaders and Pioneers, of Dreamers, of Humanitarians and of the Sons of Singapore. The gryphon will definitely rise up to the challenge of the day, to give our school a name.

We’ve come a long way.

Above: The famous Chantrey Bust of Raffles.Below: RI through the ages.

The End