Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls
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Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls is a fully selective girls' grammar school in England situated close to Stratford-upon-Avon, the 1568 birthplace of William Shakespeare.
The school has been consistently recognised as one of the top twenty state schools in England, and became a Specialist Language College in 2002. Entry is by examination at 11, although entry may be made at sixth form level, or in other years.
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[edit] History
The school opened in 1958. Before this time, academically able girls in Stratford had no hope of an education beyond comprehensive level, unless their parents could afford to send them to The King's High School for Girls in nearby Warwick. Thanks to the sustained efforts of several women, including the first Headmistress Miss E.B. Williams, Shottery (as the school is often known) was created. The first pupils were taken from the A stream of nearby Hugh Clopton School, known today as Stratford High School. Today, the school admits 75 new Year 7 pupils per year. Competition for places is high, with more than seven applicants per place.
The original school was centred around the historic Shottery Manor, parts of which date from the 1300s. The Manor still stands today, and is used as a sixth form centre. Three additional buildings were added before the school opened, in what were originally the Manor orchards and flower gardens.
[edit] The Manor
Features include:
- A priest hole (the attic). To find the priest hole, go up the stairs into the attic, and across to the opposite wall, just to the right of the staircase.
- The butler's pantry (just off the Lower Common Room)
- Alice in Wonderland tiles in the AV room, formerly a children's nursery (there are also bars on the windows).
- The Common Rooms:
- The Lower Common Room is actually used by Year 13 students (or the Upper Sixth). On the ground floor, it is a large room with wood panelling and an enormous (no longer functional) fireplace.
- The Upper Common Room. This room is actually four rooms, set in the roof, looking over the centre lawn. The staircase leading up to the common room is steep and narrow and most Year 12s spend the first few weeks of term falling up and down it. The first room is long and narrow. The second is rather smaller and contains two alcoves. The third and fourth rooms (a defunct toilet and a drama costume store) lead off the second room. There is also a hatch in the floor, used as the fire escape in case of emergency; a drop-down ladder leads down to the Careers Library on the floor below.
- The kitchen: Although not a common room, the kitchen is used by sixth formers, especially Year 13s. The kitchen is, frankly, a foul room with poor ventilation that gets very cold in the winter. In the good old days, people used to sit on the boiler for warmth (leading to exhortations from the then headmaster, Roger Stanbridge to "Get off that boiler!" but sadly the new headmistress had it removed for reasons of health and safety. There are cooking facilities of sorts, including a kettle and a microwave.
- Stained glass windows on the first floor, including in the room used, until recently, as a music room. This room also has a large fireplace - Rumor has it that a tunnel leads from behind this fireplace.
[edit] Legends
- That Shakespeare was betrothed in the chapel (the old music room). There is no official record of where Shakespeare's betrothal took place, although the chapel at Shottery Manor would certainly have been the closest chapel to the nearby home of his bride, Anne Hathaway.
[edit] Tunnels
Various tunnels and secret passages have been attributed to the Manor. These include:
- A secret passage from behind the Music Room fireplace, apparently leading to Sheep Street in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Although this seems very, very unlikely, it is true that a passage of some sort does exist. Each year, when the Manor is inspected and tested against various Health & Safety criteria, this tunnel is temporarily unblocked, checked for fire hazards and sealed again.
- Another passage, from an unspecified location, leading about five miles and coming out in the countryside. It is claimed that this passage was built at the same time as the priesthole, and for a related purpose. Again, although the length of the tunnel seems extremely unlikely, it is known that there are two tunnels which are checked annually by the fire brigade.
[edit] Ghosts
- Teachers and pupils present at the school in the 1980s told of a grey lady who walked the old part of the Manor's upper floor. This story was repeated by several members of staff including the late music teacher Barbara Chadwick, who recalled helping one female colleague lock up the Manor as she was too afraid to do it alone. The grey lady was said to move around the main staircase, wearing a long dress and a bonnet. She did not acknowledge other people or attempt to approach them. She has not been seen or heard since the mid-1990s.
- A ghostly flautist has sometimes been heard playing in the empty Practice Room.
- A woman in Victorian clothing has also been seen, although this is the most unsubstantiated of the rumours.
- A headless lady was seen playing the piano in the recording studio in the Manor.
[edit] Student Life
The school magazine is called 'Manners' and is run by the sixth form.
The latest addition to the school is the newly built Stratford Academy of Music, affectionately called 'SAM'. The building will house state of the art recording equipment along with soundproof rooms, enabling students to capture their creative flair for music. The facilities will also be available for use by the local community.
The current Head Girl team consists of Clare Kitteringham, with Charlotte Keane and Fiona McDonnell as Deputies.
