Skerton Community High School
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Skerton Community High School is a secondary school in Skerton, Lancaster, England.
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[edit] Foundation
Skerton Community High School was built by the Corporation of Lancaster in the early years of the 1930s, the Foundation stone being laid on the 21st September 1932 and the building itself completed by 1934, the year that the school opened. Originally, it was a provider of education to both boys and girls, whom were segregated; the boys being educated in the Northern wing, while the girls were educated in the Southern wing. The latter presided over by a headmistress and the former, by a headmaster.
[edit] Architecture
The school was built in an E-shape, the majority of the classrooms being on the one corridoor. The architectural style employed is typical of the Art Deco period, with clean-cut lines and architectural relief being provided through the geometric shapes so clearly cut into the masonry of the building. Upon closer inspection, it is to be noticed that some of the masonry is crooked, particularly on the corners of the building. This, however, in no way detracts from the fact that the school is indeed, a fine building.
The original facade of the building still exists, though with some notable exceptions; it appearing that alterations were later made to the original architectural design, (The Assembly Hall, for example, was originally planned as being in the central position, (Imagine this to have been the central stroke of the 'E-shape'), but it was later decided to build the Hall towards the rear).
A hand-drawn set of plans, beautifully finished with watercolours, resides in the Main entrance, just by the Reception. Upon close examination, it becomes clear to one, that the classrooms situated along the front of the building were once science classrooms. It also becomes clear that the cloak rooms, formerly used by pupils, now serve as departmental offices for various subjects.
What is now the main corridoor, was once an open verandah, with doors lining the inner walls of the classroom which could be opened out onto the verandah to release pupils from their lessons and let in fresh air during hot weather. The verandah has since disappeared, to be replaced by a closed corridoor which now runs the length of the building instead.
There were originally two quadrangles, the northern one being for the boys and the southern one for the girls. These have been encroached upon in subsequent years; the Northern quadrangle being halved in size by the construction of a new sports Hall back in the early 1990s. The Southern quadrangle has remained more or less intact.
[edit] Place in modern Lancaster
In 2007, Skerton was named as the highest-achieving, non-selective state school in Lancaster.
In June 2007, it was revealed that the school was to be closed, as part of a state modernisation programme. The proposal was to create an Academy out of three existing schools; they being Central Lancaster High School, Skerton Community High and Hornby.
For a long time, it seemed that the plan was to go ahead but towards the end of that year, the proposal collapsed and it was decided to keep Skerton High open.
[edit] Trivia
- The first Prom was held for Year 11 in May 2007.
- Despite adequate ranking in the league tables, the GCSE results for the school are exemplary.and its value-added performance, places the school within the top 5% of secondary schools nationally.
- Skerton is renowned the length and breadth of Lancaster for its annual Pantomime. There has been one held every year since the first one in December 1987.
- Further to above, every Pantomime has been produced by the same teachers, (Mr Christopher Trueman and Mrs F. O'Hare), since 1987.
- Pupils of Skerton are known as 'Skertonians'; and former pupils as 'Old Skertonians'.
- The band, Article 48, regularly performed at the end-of-term assemblies, its members being pupils of the school. (The band still exists).
- In 2007 Skerton became known as Lune Valley Federation School
- Since February 2008, Skertonians have commanded a majority in the Cabinet of the LMC Students' Union, under the benevolent and frequently bloody Presidency of the notorious Ian Bannon, Third President of the Union and the first Skertonian to occupy the office.
- In July 2008, Daniel Wilson became the second Skertonian to occupy the Presidency of the aforementioned LMC Students' Union, after his predecessor, Ian Bannon.
