Lucton School
 | |
| Motto | Floreat Luctona |
|---|---|
| Established | 1708 |
| Type | Independent day and boarding |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Headteacher | Mrs G. R. Thorne, MA |
| Chairman of the Board of Governors | D. Llewellin |
| Founder | John Pierrepont |
| Location |
Lucton Herefordshire HR6 9PN Coordinates: 52°16′33″N 2°49′31″W / 52.2759°N 2.8254°W |
| DfE number | 884/6007 |
| Staff | c.50 |
| Students | c.350 |
| Gender | mixed |
| Ages | 6 mths–18 yrs |
| Houses | Collingwood, Drake, Nelson, Rodney |
| Colours | Red, white and black |
| Publication | The Luctonian |
| DCSF Number | 884/6007 |
| Registered charity Number | 518076 |
| ISI number | 6662 |
| Website |
www |
Lucton School, is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school in Lucton near Leominster, Herefordshire, England. It was founded in 1708 as a boys' school, and began admitting girls in the 1970s. It currently has approximately c.350 pupils on roll, aged from six months to 18 years.[1] The School operates as a registered charity and is a member of the Independent Schools Association, the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools, the Independent Schools Council Information Service and the Boarding Schools Association.[1]
Location and history
The School is housed in a listed Queen Anne building, and a range of Victorian and modern buildings set in about 20 acres (81,000 m2) of remote and beautiful Herefordshire countryside.[2] The School was founded by John Pierrepont, a London Vintner, and was closed in 1984 to re-open in 1989 having been acquired by the Lucton Pierrepont Educational Trust. It now comprises a nursery with about 70 infants aged 6 months to 4 years, a Preparatory School with 58 pupils aged 5 to 10 years, a Middle School with 72 pupils aged 10-13 years, a senior school of 92 pupils aged 13-16 years, and a Sixth Form of 54 pupils aged 16-19 years.
Curriculum
Class sizes are small with an average of 12 pupils per class, and the syllabus broadly follows the National Curriculum.[3] In addition to the core curriculum (English language and literature, maths, biology, chemistry and physics) subjects taught include art, business studies, dance, design technology (DT), drama, environmental science, economics, EFL/EAL, ethics, French, geography, German, history, information and communication technology (ICT), Latin, Mandarin, music, psychology, philosophy, Spanish, textiles and theatre studies. All pupils pursue a course of Religious Studies to Year 9 and a course in Philosophy and Ethics to GCSE, with the option to continue that course to 'A' level. Pupils also study Personal And Social Education (PSE) up to Year 11, with COPE available to pupils in the Sixth Form.[2]
Pupils are prepared for qualifications at GCSE, IGCSE and GCE 'A' levels, as well as for LAMDA qualifications in "Speech and Drama",[4] and music qualifications through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music[5]
Extra Curricular Activities
The school has extensive sporting facilities, including an indoor swimming pool (opened by British Paralympian swimmers Sascha Kindred and Nyree Lewis, and formally named The Wessex Pool by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex as part of the School's Tercentenary Celebrations in 2008) and a large playing field, named "The Holland" after its donor. The conversion of the former covered playground known as "The Acky" into an up-to-date, weather-proofed sports hall was completed in the summer of 2013. The main boys' sports are Rugby football in the autumn term, Association football in the spring term and cricket in the summer term; the main girls' sports are netball in the autumn and spring terms, and rounders in the summer. Other sports offered include athletics, cross country running, field hockey, basketball, badminton, swimming, tennis and the recently introduced lacrosse. The School has promoted "aquathlon" - a triathlon event without the cycling component - specifically in an open event attended by local primary schools. Primary Schools from across the County come together each year to compete for the Lucton School Tercentenary Shield, a cross-country competition for children aged between 7 and 11.
The School recently developed a new Equestrian Centre with stabling and manege. Riding lessons are offered for all age groups and for those outside the School on both the pupils' own mounts and on a community of resident ponies.
The School operates an extensive "Enrichment Activities" programme,where activities on offer include art club, astronomy, board games, bridge club, chess club, conversational English, cookery, debating society, DT club, film club, ICT, knitting and handicrafts, poetry circle, science club and stable management, as well as a range of sporting hobbies. A significant part of these activities is the tutoring and encouragement of younger pupils by their older peers.
Drama is a key part of the enrichment programme, with each section of the School offering a major production each term. Recently, the Senior School has produced "Daisy Pulls It Off", "Teechers", "A Christmas Carol" and "Hi-de-Hi!"; the Middle School has offered "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "Toad of Toad Hall", "The Phantom Tollbooth" and "Wyrd Sisters"; Prep School productions have included "Cinderella and Rockerfella" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", whilst the Nursery produces a traditional Nativity each year.
The school has a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which was first formed by Headmaster Vernon Pitt in 1917 and is attached to The Rifles Regiment. In 2009, the School purchased a nearby riding stables and established the Lucton School Equestrian Centre. Prep School pupils have the benefit of Forest Schools, conducted within the School's extensive grounds.
The operation of the school is supported by an active group of parents, staff and other supporters (The Friends of Lucton) and by a growing alumni society, The Old Luctonians' Association.
The School produces an annual magazine ("The Luctonian") as well as a full-colour, weekly newsletter.
Notable Alumni
- Thane Bettany (b.1929), Actor and former dancer; father of actor Paul Bettany
- Sir Charles Irving (1924-1995), Conservative MP
- Eustace Jotham (1883–1915), Soldier, awarded the VC.
- Jan Pieńkowski (b. 1936), Illustrator, writer and designer.
References
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