Down High School
Encyclopedia
'Down High School, also called DHS and Down High Grammar School, is a controlled co-educational Grammar School
located in Downpatrick
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
. The school encompasses students from the ages of eleven to eighteen in the senior school—of which there are, approximately, 950 pupils—and also features a Preparatory Department of 130 students (Reception to Primary 7). There are roughly 250 pupils engaged in A-level study in the Sixth Form. KS1, KS2, 11+, KS3, GCSE and A-level results frequently place Down High School in the top 10000 schools in the UK.
There were tunnels beneath the school and grounds (that now are sealed off) which were used to transport prisoners to and from the court house on English Street. Convicts sentenced to death would often be hanged in the main gateway in front of the school. The large granite gatehouse is a prominent feature of the Mount Crescent area, and lies unused. A lot of the classes are taught in temporary classrooms.
, is a reminder of another link with the past, dating back to the 12th Century. The design itself is based upon the supposed badge of John De Courcy, the Norman soldier who captured Downpatrick in 1177 and established himself as the ruler of the North East of Ireland. The colours of the crest are taken from the arms of the Anglo-Irish aristocrat, Lady Elizabeth Cromwell (1674-1709), the daughter of the 4th Earl of Ardglass, and owner of the Downpatrick estate. Lady Elizabeth was wife of the Rt Hon Edward Southwell, MP for Kinsale, and Principal Secretary of State
for Ireland in the reigns of King William III
and Queen Anne
. Southwell was a well known benefactor of the town.
The school's motto 'Floreat Dunum, Absque Labore Nihil' means 'May Down Flourish, nothing is achieved without effort'. 'Floreat Dunum' appears on the blazer badge of the school. Previous pupils are known as "Old Dunumians".
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
located in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The school encompasses students from the ages of eleven to eighteen in the senior school—of which there are, approximately, 950 pupils—and also features a Preparatory Department of 130 students (Reception to Primary 7). There are roughly 250 pupils engaged in A-level study in the Sixth Form. KS1, KS2, 11+, KS3, GCSE and A-level results frequently place Down High School in the top 10000 schools in the UK.
History
The Gate House and stone walls surrounding the school were originally part of the County Gaol. The stone walls were lowered to tha deck when the school was established. It was argued that removing the walls completely would allow fog from the nearby Quoile River to rise into school grounds.There were tunnels beneath the school and grounds (that now are sealed off) which were used to transport prisoners to and from the court house on English Street. Convicts sentenced to death would often be hanged in the main gateway in front of the school. The large granite gatehouse is a prominent feature of the Mount Crescent area, and lies unused. A lot of the classes are taught in temporary classrooms.
School Crest
The school's crest, designed by the late RWH Blackhood of Loughinisland near DownpatrickDownpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, is a reminder of another link with the past, dating back to the 12th Century. The design itself is based upon the supposed badge of John De Courcy, the Norman soldier who captured Downpatrick in 1177 and established himself as the ruler of the North East of Ireland. The colours of the crest are taken from the arms of the Anglo-Irish aristocrat, Lady Elizabeth Cromwell (1674-1709), the daughter of the 4th Earl of Ardglass, and owner of the Downpatrick estate. Lady Elizabeth was wife of the Rt Hon Edward Southwell, MP for Kinsale, and Principal Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
for Ireland in the reigns of King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and Queen Anne
Anne
Anne, alternatively spelled Ane or Ann is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah or Hanani, meaning 'He [= God] has favoured me', the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel. Anne is a common name in France.It is sometimes used as a male...
. Southwell was a well known benefactor of the town.
The school's motto 'Floreat Dunum, Absque Labore Nihil' means 'May Down Flourish, nothing is achieved without effort'. 'Floreat Dunum' appears on the blazer badge of the school. Previous pupils are known as "Old Dunumians".
School Houses
Students, upon entry into the secondary school, are placed in a specific house. They can be placed in either:- 'Down' (House colour: Purple.)
- 'Lecale' (House colour: Blue.)
- 'Rathkeltair' (House colour: Red.)
- 'Mourne' (House colour: Green.)
- 'Strangford.' (House colour: White.)
Notable alumni
- The members of the band AshAsh (band)Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
. - The 28th Lord de RosPeter Maxwell, 28th Baron de RosPeter Trevor Maxwell, 28th Baron de Ros of Helmsley is the Premier Baron of England, by virtue of his holding the oldest baronial title created in the Peerage of England....
, Northern Irish aristocrat, who attended Down High School prior to boarding school in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. - David Montgomery, former editor of the News of the WorldNews of the WorldThe News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
, former Chief Executive of Mirror Group and current Chief Executive of Mecom GroupMecom GroupMecom Group plc is a newspaper publishing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom.It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index until 22 December 2008, when it became one of three media companies to fall out of the index.-History:The company was...
. - Alister McGrathAlister McGrathAlister Edgar McGrath is an Anglican priest, theologian, and Christian apologist, currently Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at Kings College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture...
, ProfessorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Historical TheologyHistorical theologyHistorical theology is a branch of theological studies that investigates the socio-historical and cultural mechanisms that give rise to theological ideas, systems, and statements. Research and method in this field focus on the relationship between theology and context as well as the major...
at the University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and co-author of The Dawkins Delusion?The Dawkins Delusion?The Dawkins Delusion?, subtitled Atheist fundamentalism and the denial of the divine, is a book by Christian theologian Alister McGrath and psychologist Joanna Collicutt McGrath. It is written from a Christian perspective as a response to arguments put forth in The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins...
. - Writer Gareth RussellGareth Russell (author)Gareth Russell is a British author, best known for writing the novel Popular. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he attended Down High Grammar School from the age of eleven to eighteen. He later studied Modern History at the University of Oxford, attending St. Peter's College from 2005 to 2008...
- Rugby player, Tommy Seymour