Sheffield High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sheffield High School (SHS) is a girls' school in Sheffield, United Kingdom, part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). The school is on two sites, the Junior department being based on Melbourne Avenue, and the Senior School being located just across the road on Rutland Park. Both schools share facilities such as the Sports Hall, on the Senior site and the cantine on the Junior site.
The school had around eight hundred pupils aged four to eighteen. The school has examination pass rates of over 99% at A-level, AS level and GCSE. However, the school only admits the top 75% of pupils. Each girl must pass an entrance exam before they can attend the school. Almost all the girls proceed to higher education, the vast majority obtaining a place at the university of their choice, with approximately 10% securing places at Oxbridge.
Although not officially connected, the High School is known for its partnership with Birkdale, an independent boys school.
Contents |
[edit] History
In February 1878 a meeting was held at the Cutlers’ Hall seeking support for a proposal to set up a girls’ school in Sheffield and by March the school was ready to accept pupils in its town-centre premises, the old Surrey Street Music Hall.
[edit] 125th Birthday Celebrations
The school had a giant birthday party in 2003 to celebrate the school's 125th Birthday. A calendar was made with a different photo for each month. For the front cover, Shaun Bloodworth (a parent of one of the pupils) set up a camera on the top of the science block with an image painted onto the lens. Prefects were sent onto the field below with bags of pegs and string and were shouted instructions from the rooftop until the numbers 1, 2 and 5 were laid out.
Each pupil was given a bone china mug with a cartoon (called 'Girls Through The Ages') of different uniforms worn in the high school, drawn by art teacher, Miss Hanlon.
A ceremony was held at the Octagon Centre, Sheffield on 11th March 2003.
[edit] Buildings
- Ash Grove (Music)
- Canteen
- Main Building (Maths, English, History, Languages)
- Moor Lodge (Year 11 base, Geography, ICT, RE, Business, Art)
- School House (Drama)
- Sixth Form Centre
- Sports Hall
[edit] Headmistresses
- Margaret Houston (1988 - 2002)
- Valerie Dunsford (2003 to present)
[edit] Houses
The Senior school is split into four houses named after the four founder members of the school Maria Grey, Mary Gurney, Emily Sherriff and Lady Stanley of Alderley. Paintings of these are displayed on the stairs by the reception.
The Junior Department reflects this system Grey is known as 'Amethyst', Gurney is called 'Emeralds', Sherriff is known as 'Sapphires' and Stanley is called 'Rubies'.
Numerous competitions and events are organised each year including sporting events such as netball, rounders and athletics, art competitions, Year 7 Mathematics Day and House Charities Week
[edit] Awards
- Winner of the Daily Telegraph/Norwich Union Award for Best Independent School for Sport 2005
[edit] Magazines
Each year girls from the school help to write and publish the magazine, High Times. This is edited by Mr Nichols and features articles, photos and art work from the pupils.
[edit] Awards Ceremony
An annual awards ceremony is held at the Octagon Centre to celebrate the school's achievements.
Tradition has it that every year sixth formers place bets as to how long the Headmistress' speech will last. Entry is one pound and a prize is given to the most accurate guess.
[edit] Interesting Facts
- Due to the perspective on the 125 birthday photo there are many more girls in the top edges of the numbers compared to the front.
- The mugs from the school's 125 birthday were delivered much later than expected so a team of staff had to box all 1,250 mugs at top speed.
- The school is notable for its old brown uniform. The current uniform is Jade and Navy.
- Headmistress Valerie Dunsford formally worked as a Tour Guide in Italy.
