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Wyverley College[1] is a girls' boarding school in the North of Ancelstierre. Sabriel's mother Elinor briefly worked as a teacher's assistant there, and it is where both Sabriel and her daughter Ellimere received their education, and was the scene of the climactic battle of Sabriel. It is named after the near-by village of Wyverley. Because of its proximity to the Wall, Wyverley College is the only Ancelstierran school where Charter magic is on the curriculum.

Wyverley college by joshwongart

Wyverley College, by John Wong.

We are told in Sabriel that Abhorsen chooses the college because it was "Established in 1652 for Young Ladies of Quality"; is forty miles south of the Wall, has a good all-round reputation, and teaches magic with special parental permission. In addition, Terciel & Elinor reveals that Elinor Hallett, Sabriel's mother, worked there as a drama teacher and choreographer.

Layout[]

Main building[]

Staff quarters[]

Staff are housed behind the main building. When Elinor worked there, she shared one of the houses with two other teachers' assistants.

Obelisk[]

There is an obelisk on the grounds commemorating everyone who fell defending against Kerrigor at the end of Sabriel. Among those listed are Magistrix Greenwood, students Ellimere and Jacinth, and Colonel Horyse.

Administrators, Instructors, etc.[]

  • In Elinor's day
    • Prof. Kinrosh, Headmistress
    • Mrs. Harmer, school secretary
    • Magistrix Nestor, retired prior to Elinor's arrival
    • Abigail Tallowe, reluctant Magistrix and distant relative of Elinor Hallett
    • Mme. Lancier, Drama Instructor directing student production of Charlotte Breakespear's The Court of the Sad Prince
    • Miss Sargraya, Fighting Arts Instructor assisting in student production of Charlotte Breakspear's The Court of the Sad Prince; also called Sarge
    • Elinor Hallett, Teacher's Assistant to Mme. Lancier for student production of Charlotte Breakespear's The Court of the Sad Prince
    • Keren Albert, Charter Mage and Crossing Point Scout working undercover as a gardener
    • Edric Porrock, Charter Mage and Crossing Point Scout working undercover
  • In Sabriel's day
    • Mrs. Umbrade, Headmistress
    • Magistrix Greenwood, teacher of Charter Magic (possibly a descendant of the Clayr; she briefly Saw Sabriel crossing into the Old Kingdom in a reflection while still at Wyverley and had some familiarity with Free Magic creatures and Abhorsens)
    • Mrs. Pearch, Mathematics Professor
    • Mrs. Swann
    • Mr. Arkler (possibly Fighting Arts Instructor; was requested to retrieve swords from gymnasium)
  • In Ellimere's day
    • Magistrix Coelle, teacher of Charter Magic

Students[]

  • In Elinor's day
    • Wilhelmina Congrove, Fifth Former and occasional hall monitor
    • Tegan, Fifth Former and stage manager of school production of The Court of the Sad Prince
    • Secret Student Charter Mage group
      • Corinna, performing in school production of The Court of the Sad Prince
      • Hazra Callot, member of backstage crew in school production of The Court of the Sad Prince; unofficially cares for the school's message-hawks in place of Mrs. Tallowe
      • Angharad Tramonte,
      • Kierce Waller, talented batter on school cricket team
  • In Sabriel's day
    • Sabriel, Sixth Former and prefect; daughter of Abhorsen Terciel
    • Sulyn, Prefect and Charter Mage
    • Ellimere, Prefect and Charter Mage; namesake of Sabriel and Touchstone's daughter
    • Jacinth, younger student and Charter Mage
    • Olwyn, younger student
    • Sussen, younger student
    • Rebece, younger student
    • Ila, younger student
  • In Ellimere's day
    • Felicity, pilot with solo rating and involved in school security
    • Pippa
    • Zettie

Subjects and Courses Edit[]

English[]

Music[]

Mathematics[]

Science[]

Fighting Arts[]

Wyverley appears to take the Fighting Arts seriously. Instructor Sargraya (called Sarge) was an experienced fighter who Elinor thought may have spent time in the Old Kingdom, and her daughter Sabriel's later education in the subject appeared to leave her well-prepared for her eventual return to the Old Kingdom. Sabriel's daughter Ellimere also felt confident enough in her skill to ride out with the royal guards; while Ellimere was also likely trained in the Old Kingdom growing up, the students' confidence with weapons when Sabriel and Touchstone arrived in Abhorsen strongly suggests that she received a solid education while at school as well.

Etiquette[]

  • Etiquite I-IV

Magic[]

Charter Magic is an unofficial class at Wyverley for students with Charter marks and special permission from their parents. The school Magistrix has received a stipend from the Old Kingdom's government since well before Elinor's time at Wyverley as a teacher's assistant during the Interregnum, and was taken by both Sabriel and Ellimere during their education there. Known Magistrixes include Magistrix Nestor (who retired before Elinor arrived at Wyverley), Mrs. Tallowe (who immediately succeeded her), Magistrix Greenwood, and Magistrix Coelle.

With the exception of Mrs. Tallowe, known Magistrixes seem to be fairly strong and well-taught Charter Mages who take their role seriously. While they seem to generally be Ancelsterrians, there are indications that some are descended from the Clayr: Mrs. Tallowe in Elinor's day was a distant cousin through Elinor's grandmother, Myrien Clayr, and Sabriel's teacher Magistrix Greenwood Saw Sabriel crossing the Wall in a reflection and had some familiarity with both necromancy and Free Magic creatures.

The school's Charter Mages played a key role in Sabriel's defeat of Kerrigor by providing the necessary power to open his coffin and defending the school against his army; those who died in the battle are honored on an obelisk in front of the school. They also provided a safe house for Sabriel and Touchstone in Abhorsen and flew them across the Wall to get to a vital meeting point. They appear to provide other ongoing support to the Old Kingdom by passing messages between the two countries using Ancelesterrien telegrams and Old Kingdom messenger-hawks.

Student Forms and Ranks[]

First Form[]

5-10

Second Form[]

11-12

Third Form[]

~13

Fourth Form[]

~14

Fifth Form[]

~15

Sixth Form[]

~16-18

Prefect []

Events[]

In Sabriel (Book), Sabriel and Touchstone bring Kerrigor's body there to defend against the attack.

Trivia[]

  • Sabriel and Touchstone name their first daughter "Ellimere" to honor her school friend's memory.
  • Abhorsen astral-projects himself to visit Sabriel monthly at Wyverley. As he comes late at night, until she's reached the Sixth Form, Sabriel has to sneak into the library to see him. In her last year, she has a private study of her own. It's her father's absence during one of these planned visits that kicks off the action of Sabriel.

References[]


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