Ackworth School

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Ackworth School
Non Sibi Sed Omnibus
Location
Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

WF7 7LT
United Kingdom
Information
Principal Peter Simpson
Enrollment

587
Type Independent
Established 1779
Age Range 2 to 18
Homepage www.ackworthschool.com

Ackworth School is an independent school located in the village of High Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of eight Quaker Schools in England. The school (or more accurately its headmaster) is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and SHMIS ([1]). The headmaster is Peter Simpson, who succeeded Martin Dickinson in 2004. The deputy heads are Lorna Anthony and Jeffery Swales.

The school has a nursery that takes children aged 2 to 4, a Junior Department that takes children age 5 to 11, and the Senior School for students aged 11 to 18. The boarding facilities cater for Senior School pupils only.

Originally a boarding school for Quaker children, today most of Ackworth's 587 pupils are day pupils. About half of the boarding pupils are from overseas, and are predominantly (Hong Kong) Chinese or Japanes although there are increasing numbers of boarders from other countries, including Germany, Morocco and other parts of Africa.

Most of the current pupils are not Quakers, but the school retains a Quaker ethos and is able to offer means-tested Bursary awards to children from Quaker families. There is a very short Quaker-style silence at assembly and before meals.

Contents

[edit] History

Ackworth School was founded by John Fothergill in 1779 as a boarding school for Quaker boys and girls. Prior to the school's foundation, the building was a foundling hospital created by Captain Thomas Coram[citation needed].

Coordinates: 53°39′N, 01°20′W

[edit] Coat of Arms

On December 15, 1959, Ackworth School was granted a coat of arms by the Kings of Arms. The school's coat of arms is made of the white rose of Yorkshire ("barbed and seeded"), acorns ("slipped" - which means "with a bit of stalk"), and the lamb, which is a device shown on the arms of the Foundling Hospital. It also features the school motto - "Non Sibi Sed Omnibus" ("Not for one but for all").

[edit] School life

[edit] Sports Houses

The school has four sports houses: Woolman, Gurney, Penn and Fothergill. Penn, Gurney and Woolman were all famous Quakers, and John Fothergill, also a Quaker, was the founder of the School. Every pupil is assigned to one of the four houses for inter-house events, which include sport, music and drama. The event trophies are hung in the school dining hall. Currently, Penn have the most trophies, with eight. Woolman have the least: only one.

Students are also divided for meals according to their houses. Each year two houses are assigned to each of the two dining halls, named Boys Dining Room and Girls Dining Room for historical reasons. (the exception is breakfast, where boys and girls are still segregated).


[edit] Music

Ackworth has a strong musical tradition, with every first year student being given free tuition on three instruments. In 1995 a purpose-built music facility was built on the site of one of the old boarding houses, comprising a recital hall with seating for 180, 14 practice rooms, 2 classrooms, a music library and a recording studio[1]. Summer schools are sometimes held here during school holidays.

[edit] Boarding

Boarders live in separate Boys' and Girls' boarding houses. Sixth form boarders are allocated shared studies as well as their bedrooms. Until 1997 the school timetable included Saturday morning lessons, leaving Wednesday afternoons free, providing a more balanced week for boarders. The changing demographic of the school has led to this being phased out.

[edit] Uniform

The school uniform consists of grey trousers, light blue shirt, navy school tie, and navy blue jumper for boys, and navy skirt, blue and white striped blouse, and navy jumper for girls. The sixth form uniform is different: The sixth form boys wear a white shirt and grey trousers with a burgundy jumper or black jacket, while sixth form girls wear a white blouse and black skirt with a burgundy jumper. There is also a games jumper which features the school logo.

[edit] Alumni

Ackworth School's former pupils are called Ackworth Old Scholars. There is an active Old Scholars association([2]), with an annual Easter gathering in the school. Notable old scholars include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Music
  2. ^ William Howitt in the Dictionary of National Biography now in the public domain

Further reading:

  • Ackworth School Annual reports.
  • Ackworth School, Then and now: Ackworth School bicentenary exhibition catalogue. (Pub. 1979).
  • Alphabetical list of scholars 1779-1979. Prepared by Arthur G. Olver, typescript.
  • The Cupola: the Ackworth School magazine, West Yorkshire Archives, Wakefield.
  • Foulds, V.E. Ackworth School. (Pub. 1991).
  • Foulds, V.E. So numerous a family: 200 years of Quaker education at Ackworth. (Pub. 1979).
  • Thompson, H. A history of Ackworth School. (Pub. 1879).
  • Vipont, Elfrida Ackworth School: from its Foundation in 1779 to the Introduction of Co-Education in 1946 London: Lutterworth Press (Pub. 1959).

See also:

External links: