Roundhay School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roundhay School
“Courtesy, co-operation and commitment”
Location
Gledhow Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 1ND
GBR
Information
Students 1,520
Faculty 120
Type High School
Established 1907
Information 0113 393 1200
Sixth form 280
Email secretary@roundhay.leeds.sch.uk
Fax 0113 393 1201
Head Master Mr. Neil Clephan
Homepage

Roundhay School (also know as Roundhay School, Technology College) is a specialist Technology College in Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK. It has about 1520 pupils and there are about 280 pupils in the sixth form. The current headmaster is Mr. Neil Clephan. The school grounds are based across 22 acres, and are directly opposite Roundhay Park.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early History

Roundhay School was established in 1907 as an all boys grammar school.

During World War I and World War II many of the Roundhay pupils above the age of 16 served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

In 1972, along with many other grammar schools in the country, Roundhay Grammar School and Roundhay High School for Girls merged to form a mixed comprehensive secondary school under the Circular 10/70 introduced by Margaret Thatcher. Roundhay, like all other high schools in the city, changed from an 11-18 to a 13-18 school with the creation of the tier of Middle Schools - which were themselves abolished later when Roundhay became an 11-18 school again.

[edit] Construction Work

In the period 2000-2004 much of the old school was torn down and rebuilt under a £7 million Private Finance Initiative. The frontage of the building was left largely untouched, though the central section was replaced in favour of an upper-floor staff room that looks over the fields at the front of the school. This, along with the omission of air conditioning in the new building, have been subject to some criticism, but the new building has been welcomed by the majority.

Comparison of the school frontage before and after the new build
Comparison of the school frontage before and after the new build

[edit] Specialist Status

Along with the new build Roundhay School became a specialist school of technology. All of the classrooms in the building now contain interactive whiteboards.

[edit] Extra-Curricular

Roundhay School runs various extracurricular activities for pupils to engage in during the lunch period and after school. Sport is an important part of extracurricular life at Roundhay, and the school enjoys large playing fields and indoor sports halls to facilitate this. Main sports include football, rugby union, netball, cricket and hockey. The school also partakes in the occasional tennis, athletics or swimming competition. There is also a large trampoline.

All pupils at Roundhay School are offered free instrumental lessons. More experienced musicians have the opportunity to play in the Roundhay Band. The school also runs a popular 'Battle of the Bands' competition on an annual basis.

Drama is another popular activity. Each year there is a school production in which pupils of any age can take part. In 2006 the Roundhay pupils did a successful production of "Sister Act".

[edit] School Trips

Roundhay School runs a number of trips abroad on annual and 2 year cycles. These include art trips to New York, Germany, and Barcelona. The school also runs a popular skiing trip to Canada. History trips take place every year to Skipton Castle, the Imperial War Museum and World War I battlefields. There are plans for a future art trip to China.

[edit] Success

Roundhay School receives consistently successful Ofsted reports, and external examination results are above the national average.[1]

Standards in GCSE/GNVQ examinations at the end of Year 11 in 2003[1]
heading School results National results
Percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more A*-C grades 59.0 52.0
Percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more A*-G grades 92.0 91.0
Percentage of pupils gaining 1 or more A*-G grades 96.0 96.0
Average point score per pupil (best eightsubjects) 37.5 34.7

[edit] Alumni: Old Roundhegians

  • Arthur Louis Aaron, English recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Mike Baxter, European & Commonwealth Games athlete
  • Geoffrey Richmond, Bradford City Football Club
  • Arnold Ziff, Businessman and philanthropist
  • Professor Geoff Raisman, "The Miracle Worker"
  • John Michael Briggs Prolific session singer on television, radio and the stage — and the voice of the puppet piglet Perky
  • Tony Cunnane, Pilot and Author
  • Louis Samuels, Graphologist

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Roundhay School Ofsted Report 2004.