Sunderland High School

Sunderland High School
Motto Timor Domini Principium Sapientiae
(Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom)
Established 1883
1992 (current school)
Closed c. 2016
Type Independent school
Religion Mixed
Head Dr Angela Slater (Senior School) Clive Bulmer (Junior School)
Location Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR2 8HY
England
DfE number 394/6008
DfE URN 108874 Tables
Students 287
Gender Mixed
Ages 2–18
Houses Swift (Blue), Tiger (Red), Panther (Yellow), Drake (Green)
Affiliation United Church Schools Trust
Website www.sunderlandhigh.co.uk

Sunderland High School was a mixed independent day school located in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. Founded in 1883 as the oldest girls' senior school in Sunderland, it merged with a local boys' school to become the current coeducational school. A junior school was later added and is located on a separate site nearby. It is owned by the United Church Schools Trust. The school closed at the end of the 2016 Summer term.

History

The original Sunderland High School was founded in 1883 by the Rector of Bishopwearmouth, Robert Long. Prior to going coeducational, it was the oldest girls' school in the city. After gaining support from local townsfolk as well as the mayor, the school opened in April 1884 with just 16 full-time pupils at 10-11 Park Terrace, now Toward Road. After World War II, the school continued to grow and expand. In 1987, the school celebrated its 100 year heritage by opening the Centenary Building which housed the school's ICT suites.

The sixth form became coeducational and boys were first admitted into the school in 1988. In 1992, it merged with Tonstall School, a long-established boys' day school to become a fully coeducational independent day school. A major programme began at Hendon Hill to build Tonstall House in order to provide a new Junior School and sports hall for the whole school. It was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.[1]

The school was praised in the 2005 Independent Schools Inspectorate report, notably for its pastoral care and the quality of its extracurricular provision.[2] The Senior School, Junior School and Nursery all gained national quality awards. In March 2006 it was - according to the national awarding body, BECTA - "one of the first schools in the country to achieve the BECTA ICT Mark".[3] The Junior School was the first school in the country to be awarded the Investors in People Leadership and Management Award.[4]

On 18 January 2016 it was announced that the whole school would be closing at the end of the current academic year due to dropping enrolment and six figure losses.[5]

Academics

In 2009 the school's A Level results were the best in the city with 63% of all entries at A or B grade.[6]

Buildings

The senior school comprised five main buildings including Main School (the original building), Centenary Building, Clifton Hall, Carlton House and Langham Tower. The purpose-built junior school was close by. Pupils from all parts of the school shared the sports facilities which included a sports hall and all-weather pitch.

Notable former pupils

References

  1. History
  2. "Inspection Report on Sunderland High School". Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  3. "Becta Schools - Accredited Schools". BECTA. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  4. "Measure your improvements: Investors in People in schools and colleges" (PDF). DFES. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  5. "Sunderland High School to close due to lack of pupils". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. "Education League Tables 2006". BBC News. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  7. "Robert Thompson". Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  8. Summerskill, Ben (14 October 2001). "The Observer Profile: Kate Adie". London: The Observer. Retrieved 8 August 2009.

Coordinates: 54°53.85′N 1°22.8′W / 54.89750°N 1.3800°W / 54.89750; -1.3800

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