Dame Alice Harpur School
Encyclopedia
Dame Alice Harpur School (also known as DAHS) is an independent girls school in Bedford
, United Kingdom
, for girls aged 11-18. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Bedford High School. From September 2011 to September 2012 the senior schools are also merging, the new school is known as Bedford Girls' School
.
Dame Alice Harpur School is named after the wife of Sir William Harpur who originally endowed the foundation with land in Bedford
and Holborn
, London
.
The school has a Christian ethos but, while upholding traditional values and standards, is fundamentally ecumenical. Girls are divided into one of four houses representing famous figures from historic Bedford
, these are Bunyan (Green), Harpur (Yellow), Howard (Blue) and Russell (Red).
The senior school has modern buildings, plus agreeable gardens and playing fields, on a riverside site. It is well equipped for sport with a floodlit all-weather pitch, tennis courts, netball courts, hockey fields, indoor swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, sporting pavilion and boathouse on the River Great Ouse
. There are also facilities for design technology, textiles, art and drama; two listed Georgian houses have been adapted to provide a sixth-form centre, Chequers cafe and music centre. A new Sixth Form centre opened in 2006 and was opened by old girl and Olympic silver medalist Gail Emms
.
, debating, Youth Theatre, chess, field courses and a wide range of outdoor activities and visits.
Current school uniform for senior school girls from ages 11–16 consists of a pleated skirt in navy blue, a navy blue v-neck jumper with a blue eagle representative of the Harpur Trust
embroidered on the chest, a pale blue shirt and navy blue blazer
with an embroidered school shield containing a cornflower
, an eagle and a book. For the winter, it is optional for the girls to wear the school's formal long length winter coat in place of the school blazer, but it must be worn to the Christmas carol service.
The uniform in years 12 and 13 consists of a navy blue skirt, white blouse, plain V-neck navy blue jumper combined with black pumps or low heels.
The Dame Alice Harpur school was recently quoted by the Independent newspaper to be within the top ten independent schools in England and has won numerous awards for both academic and extra-curricular achievement.
Jill Berry, the head of Dame Alice Harpur School, was the President of the Girls' Schools Association
in 2009.
The current head girl is Megan McMellon
announced its intention to merge Dame Alice Harpur School with Bedford High School. The decision was made as both schools had seen a drop in pupil numbers over the years: In 1990 more than 2,000 girls were on the rolls of both schools, whilst in 2009 there were only 1,500. In November 2009, it was announced that the new merged school would be called Bedford Girls' School
, and would be located on the current site of Dame Alice Harpur School. The junior department of the new school opened in September 2010, when the junior schools of Bedford High and Dame Alice Harpur merged on the Cardington Road site. The senior department of Dame Alice Harpur School started to transfer to the new school administration in September 2011, with the full merger, including the sixth form department due to be completed in September 2012.
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, for girls aged 11-18. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Bedford High School. From September 2011 to September 2012 the senior schools are also merging, the new school is known as Bedford Girls' School
Bedford Girls' School
Bedford Girls' School is an independent school for girls which opened in September 2010 in Bedford, England. The school is a result of a merger of Bedford High School and Dame Alice Harpur School, and is operated by the Harpur Trust...
.
History
It is part of the Harpur Trust group of independent schools in Bedford which also include Bedford School, Bedford High School for Girls, Bedford Modern School and Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School. Established in 1882 as “Bedford Girls’ Modern School”, it first shared its premises with Bedford High School. In 1892 it moved to St Paul’s Square into the William Cowper building left vacant by the Grammar School. In 1938 it moved to its present site on the southern bank of the River Great Ouse on Cardington Road, Bedford. It changed its name to Dame Alice Harpur School in 1946.Dame Alice Harpur School is named after the wife of Sir William Harpur who originally endowed the foundation with land in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
and Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The school has a Christian ethos but, while upholding traditional values and standards, is fundamentally ecumenical. Girls are divided into one of four houses representing famous figures from historic Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, these are Bunyan (Green), Harpur (Yellow), Howard (Blue) and Russell (Red).
The senior school has modern buildings, plus agreeable gardens and playing fields, on a riverside site. It is well equipped for sport with a floodlit all-weather pitch, tennis courts, netball courts, hockey fields, indoor swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, sporting pavilion and boathouse on the River Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
. There are also facilities for design technology, textiles, art and drama; two listed Georgian houses have been adapted to provide a sixth-form centre, Chequers cafe and music centre. A new Sixth Form centre opened in 2006 and was opened by old girl and Olympic silver medalist Gail Emms
Gail Emms
Gail Elizabeth Emms MBE is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in doubles tournaments....
.
Present day
The school offers a broad general education and examination results are extremely good, with a 100% GCSE pass rate in 2003. Drama is very strong and the music department is especially flourishing (with choirs, orchestras, string quartets, a string orchestra, wind band, and other ensembles). A wide range of sports and games is provided; many teams compete at county and regional level, and some regularly at national level. Extra-curricular activities include the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Combined Cadet ForceCombined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
, debating, Youth Theatre, chess, field courses and a wide range of outdoor activities and visits.
Current school uniform for senior school girls from ages 11–16 consists of a pleated skirt in navy blue, a navy blue v-neck jumper with a blue eagle representative of the Harpur Trust
Harpur Trust
The Bedford Charity is a charity in Bedford, England which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust....
embroidered on the chest, a pale blue shirt and navy blue blazer
Blazer
A blazer is a type of jacket. The term blazer occasionally is synonymous with boating jacket and sports jacket, two different garments. A blazer resembles a suit coat cut more casually — sometimes with flap-less patch pockets and metal buttons. A blazer's cloth is usually durable , because it is an...
with an embroidered school shield containing a cornflower
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus is a small annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. "Cornflower" is also erroneously used for chicory, and more correctly for a few other Centaurea species; to distinguish C...
, an eagle and a book. For the winter, it is optional for the girls to wear the school's formal long length winter coat in place of the school blazer, but it must be worn to the Christmas carol service.
The uniform in years 12 and 13 consists of a navy blue skirt, white blouse, plain V-neck navy blue jumper combined with black pumps or low heels.
The Dame Alice Harpur school was recently quoted by the Independent newspaper to be within the top ten independent schools in England and has won numerous awards for both academic and extra-curricular achievement.
Jill Berry, the head of Dame Alice Harpur School, was the President of the Girls' Schools Association
Girls' Schools Association
The Girls' Schools Association is the professional association of the heads of independent girls' schools in the UK and overseas and is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council .-History:...
in 2009.
The current head girl is Megan McMellon
Merger
In July 2009, the Harpur TrustHarpur Trust
The Bedford Charity is a charity in Bedford, England which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust....
announced its intention to merge Dame Alice Harpur School with Bedford High School. The decision was made as both schools had seen a drop in pupil numbers over the years: In 1990 more than 2,000 girls were on the rolls of both schools, whilst in 2009 there were only 1,500. In November 2009, it was announced that the new merged school would be called Bedford Girls' School
Bedford Girls' School
Bedford Girls' School is an independent school for girls which opened in September 2010 in Bedford, England. The school is a result of a merger of Bedford High School and Dame Alice Harpur School, and is operated by the Harpur Trust...
, and would be located on the current site of Dame Alice Harpur School. The junior department of the new school opened in September 2010, when the junior schools of Bedford High and Dame Alice Harpur merged on the Cardington Road site. The senior department of Dame Alice Harpur School started to transfer to the new school administration in September 2011, with the full merger, including the sixth form department due to be completed in September 2012.
Head Mistresses
- 1882 - 1897 Miss Mary Eliza Porter (d. 1905)
- 1897 Miss Dolby
- 1925 - 1939 Miss Beatrice Alice Tonkin MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(Cantab.University of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
) (b. 1884, d. 1953) - 1946 - 1955 Miss Irene Forster BSc
- 1955 - 1970 Miss Hilda Lawson-Brown
- 1970 - 1990 Miss Suzanne Morse
- 1990 - 2000 Mrs Rosanne Randle
- 2000 - 2010 Mrs Jill Berry BA MEd
- 2010 - 2011 Miss Jo Mackenzie
Notable former pupils
- Jean MuirJean MuirJean Elizabeth Muir, CBE, FCSD was an English fashion designer .-History and early career:...
CBE FCSD, fashion designer - Gail EmmsGail EmmsGail Elizabeth Emms MBE is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in doubles tournaments....
, Olympic badminton silver medalist - Loo BrealeyLoo BrealeyLouise Brealey , also credited as Loo Brealey, is an English actress and journalist.-Early life and education:Born in Bozeat, Northamptonshire, England...
, actress - Sue BeardsmoreSue BeardsmoreSusan Beardsmore is a former BBC television presenter who fronted the regional news programme BBC Midlands Today for twenty years....
, BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television presenter
Bursars
- 1991-2005, Mr Stewart Frater
- 2005 - Present Day, Mr Jean-Marc Hodgkin, BSc, FCA, FSI, ACIS, DChA