Wales High School
 | |
| Motto | Humble et Loyal |
|---|---|
| Established | 1970 |
| Headteacher | Giuseppe Di'Iasio |
| Chair of Governors | Jacqueline Holcombe |
| Location |
Storth Lane Kiveton Park Rotherham South Yorkshire S26 5QQ England Coordinates: 53°20′37″N 1°16′25″W / 53.343519°N 1.273749°W |
| Local authority | Rotherham |
| DfE URN | 136331 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Students | 1,600, 350 of whom in 6th form (2011) |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11–19 |
| Houses | Busli, Mortain, Rollo and Warenne |
| Colours | Blue, Gold and Silver |
| Parents' Association | 'Friends of Wales High School' |
| Adopted Charities | Bluebell Wood Hospice |
| Website |
www |
Wales High School is an academy school for 11–19 year olds, in Kiveton, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.
Opened in 1970, the school provides education for nearby villages, including Kiveton Park, Harthill, Todwick, Wales, Thurcroft and South Anston. The school is situated in Kiveton Park, not in the small neighbouring village of Wales less than a mile away. Despite being within the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham and having a Worksop telephone code, the school is sometimes wrongly classed as being in Sheffield.
The school was previously a specialist school in Business and Enterprise however, upon receiving academy status, it relinquished its specialism because of regulations stating that academies cannot have an additional specialist status.
Ofsted inspections
In mid-2006 the school received its Ofsted inspection and was judged Grade 1 (outstanding) overall, but with some improvements needed. Following this the school was asked to become an academy under new government policy. The school kept the name 'Wales High School' in keeping with the wish of the previous headmaster John Day. The 2012 Ofsted inspection, shortly after the arrival of a new headmaster, judged the school as "in need of improvement."
| Date of inspection | Outcome | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Outstanding | |
| 7–8 November 2012 | Requires improvement | Report |
| 8–9 April 2014 | Good | Report |
Headteachers
Since the school opened in 1970 there have been four headteachers: Phillip Timothy, Lawrence Morton, John Day and Giuseppe Di'Iasio.
In 2007, Lawrence Morton stepped down as headteacher to take the role as the schools Chief Executive. Following this John Day became Headteacher. Day announced that the 2011-12 academic year was to be his last as Headmaster. A new headmaster, Giuseppe Di'Iasio, joined the school in September 2012; he was previously Deputy Headteacher at King Ecgbert School.
- Mr Phillip Timothy, September 1970–December 1989
- Mr Lawrence Morton, January 1990–December 2007
- Mr John Day, January 2008–August 2012
- Mr Giuseppe Di'Iasio, September 2012–present
Traditions
Wales High is a school with traditional values, with procedures which take place each year:
- Sponsored walk: every four years the school holds a sponsored walk with the intention of raising money for the school. Previous walks have financed refurbishment of the school's dilapidated areas.
- Full school formal assemblies: known as the 'Full School Squash' by pupils and staff, take place four times a year, at Easter, and Christmas, and at the beginning and end of the school year at which the school bell is rung by the youngest pupil/s. Every member of the school is expected to attend. At assemblies special guests are invited, news is given, certificates and awards are presented, and musical items often performed.
- The Plough: a model plough, held in a glass case, is presented to the Year 7 tutor group with the highest diligence score.
- Houses and the Dragon: Busli (Blue), Mortain (Black), Rollo (White) and Warenne (Yellow). Busli is named after Roger de Busli and Warenne after William de Warenne, two of William the Conqueror's knights, Mortain after his half-brother, and Rollo was one of his ancestors. Each pupil is assigned a house when joining the school. Pupils are provided with sports kit in their specific house colours, to be worn in P.E. lessons and house sporting events. Houses compete in events such as football, rugby, tennis, cross country and netball, and non-sporting activities such as chess, drama and art. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the 'Dragon', a golden dragon statue in a glass case. The dragon is engraved with the year and winning house.
- The Headmaster's Challenge: each year on an afternoon during the 2nd term the sixth form compete in the annual Headmaster's Challenge, a rugby match where Lower Sixth play Upper Sixth.
- Sixth Form Committee: every year pupils in the final weeks of Year 12 apply for positions of responsibility in the school's student committee. The committee consists of about 25 pupils and is made up of the Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Prefects and Senior Prefects. Pupils interested in becoming part of the committee formally apply through an application form and are invited to make presentations to a panel of senior members of staff and the lower school council. Once shortlisted, successful applicants are automatically appointed as Senior Prefects, however, students wanting to be considered for the roles of Deputy Head Prefects and Head Boy and Girl must make a further presentation to the Headteacher and Directors of Sixth Form. Pupils begin their terms of office in the September of Year 13 and remain in office until July of the following year. The committee holds discussions on school changes and is part of the school's pupil voice. In the 2011-12 academic year the committee was involved in the appointment of the school's new Headteacher, Giuseppe Di'Iasio, who succeeded John Day in September 2012. At the opening Full School Assembly in September, badges of office, in the style of the school logo, are presented to the Senior Prefects, Deputy Head Prefects and Head Boy and Girl.
Buildings
The school has undergone recent renovation work. In about 2003 the thirteen science department laboratories were refurbished. At this time a new white-stone facade covering previous grey stone walls was added to the tower block.
In 2006 Food Studies department rooms and kitchens were modernised with new appliances and units.
Facilities for disabled students include wheelchair access to almost all parts of the school, particularly with an elevator in the P.E. department.
The Sixth Form common room has been extended, and a study room adjacent to the library has been renovated to include partitioned workspaces. In 2012 the Sixth Form Committee was granted its request to have Wi-Fi installed in the Sixth Form common room, study room, school library, and staff room.
Notable alumni
- Darren Bennett – dancer on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing who partnered Lynda Bellingham.
- Edward Hogg – actor, including in Bunny & the Bull, White Lightning and Imagine
- Ryan Sampson – TV actor in a 2008 Doctor Who two part story, and ITV's Roman comedy Plebs
- James Toseland – motorcycle racer, winning the Superbike World championship title in both 2004 and 2007