Ecclesfield School
Encyclopedia
Ecclesfield School is a secondary school situated on Chapeltown Road (A6135) between Chapeltown
and Ecclesfield
, South Yorkshire
in the East Ecclesfield
district of Sheffield. It is in the Sheffield
LEA
, and is for ages 11–16. It has around 1,750 pupils.
. In 1967, it became the Ecclesfield Comprehensive School after amalgamating with Hunshelf Secondary Modern School
. Also Ecclesfield is said to be haunted by The Lady Mabel Ghost, many rumors have been spread about this, however it is unsure whether it was Lady Mabel they saw.
, the school performs averagely for Sheffield LEA, but is higher than most schools in Sheffield
.
The school opened its doors to pupils as Ecclesfield Grammar School in September 1931, as a result of the efforts of Lady Mabel Smith, a Labour councilor at the West Riding County Council (WRCC). Lady Mabel was Chairman of the School Governors from that date until her death in 1951, and Thomas Tomlinson was the first Vice-Chairman of the Governors. The School served a wide area, including Ecclesfield, Chapeltown, Hoyland, Elsecar, High Green, Bradfield, Stannington, Grenoside, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side, on the southern boundary of the West Riding between Sheffield and Barnsley.
Major extensions were built during the 1950s including the Lady Mabel Hall, associated kitchens and classrooms, and separate Science and Craft blocks. Even more extensive building was undertaken during the 1960s, while I was at school, which involved a large number of classes being temporarily housed in a disused primary school in Ecclesfield village. A large sports hall and changing rooms were added, and a multi-story classroom block was built to link the Science and Craft blocks. The gymnasium in the old building was converted into a library. Also, about this time, a new and separate Hunshelf School was built on part of the playing fields.
The school became Ecclesfield Comprehensive in September 1967. It initially remained separate from the newly built Hunshelf School, but the two were eventually integrated to form the enlarged Ecclesfield Comprehensive. Since 1967, the school has been taken over by Sheffield City Council, and provides comprehensive education for the 11-16 year bracket.
In 1931, the Ecclesfield Grammar School provided for three streams of 30 pupils. In 1954 this was increased to five streams, with an annual intake of 150, and a total number on roll of 800. By this time, some 2,500 pupils had been admitted. Following integration with Hunshelf, the annual intake increased considerably. The current annual intake is 350, with a total number on roll of 1800. There would have been a total of something like 4,450 pupils during the 36 years it operated as a Grammar School, and about 10,000 pupils since it became a Comprehensive.
During the 1960s, new entrants were allocated into one of Forms 1F, 1I, 1R, 1S, or 1T, according to surname alphabetical order. Everyone was allocated to a "house" for the purposes of a weekly assembly and competitive sports. They were Strafford whose colours were blue, and the other three were Bronte (red), Fairfax (yellow), and Priestley (green).
In 2010, The re-introduction of head boy and head girl was seen, as well as the return of Senior prefects which are all year 11's.
All have a responsibility of a year 7 form, as well as monitoring the school grounds and canteen during lunch and break time, as well as being as being responsible for an academic subject and go to review meetings.
This has since been carried on into 2011 and in the next school year, will be active around the school.
The play 'Wooden frock' will be performed by the year 10's on July 4th and July 5th in the Lady Mabel hall.
In 2009, Textiles was removed from the school option list.
In 2009-2010 the school was given a new deputy, a woman who tried to change the school uniform and encourage the girls to wear far less make up, she also attempted to re-arrange forms which would be set over academic achievement and not just randomly set, this action was most unpopular with the pupils and a strike followed, which caused most unrest and disruption from the school. Pupils truanted, and riots were fierce and many, the school had a 'lock out' of which all students were made to standout side the school to prevent vandalism and corridor running, this failed and doors were forced open and staff were barged past, an emergency meeting was called for staff and year 10's the agreement was made that the form re-arrangement would not go ahead after all. The deputy then left.
As of 31 October 2010, Michael Nolan was no longer headmaster of Ecclesfield school. He simply gave in his notice before saying farewell to staff or students. Bad Ofsted
results were apparently to blame as the results were far poorer than expected. He is sadly missed, he was a legend and famous for his seagull speech, of which he first used when he came to Ecclesfield school. He is now in retirement.
^ This is taken from their school website
www.eccoschool.com/History.
Chapeltown, South Yorkshire
Chapeltown is in northern Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Ecclesfield civil parish. There is a wide variety of shops, pubs and restaurants as well as a supermarket...
and Ecclesfield
Ecclesfield
Ecclesfield is a suburb and civil parish in the City of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, about north of Sheffield City Centre. At the 2001 census the civil parish— which also includes the Sheffield suburbs of Chapeltown, Grenoside, High Green, and formerly Thorpe Hesley —had a population...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
in the East Ecclesfield
East Ecclesfield
East Ecclesfield ward—which includes the districts of Chapeltown and Ecclesfield—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the northern part of the city and covers an area of in the eastern part of Ecclesfield Parish. The population of this ward...
district of Sheffield. It is in the Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
LEA
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
, and is for ages 11–16. It has around 1,750 pupils.
History
It used to be known as Ecclesfield Grammar School, and opened in 1931. Its formation was mostly due to Lady Mabel Smith, a Labour county councillor, and daughter of Earl FitzwilliamWilliam Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam
William Charles de Meuron Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam was a British aristocrat. He was born in Pointe de Meuron, Canada and died at the family's seat...
. In 1967, it became the Ecclesfield Comprehensive School after amalgamating with Hunshelf Secondary Modern School
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
. Also Ecclesfield is said to be haunted by The Lady Mabel Ghost, many rumors have been spread about this, however it is unsure whether it was Lady Mabel they saw.
Academic performance
At GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
, the school performs averagely for Sheffield LEA, but is higher than most schools in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
The school opened its doors to pupils as Ecclesfield Grammar School in September 1931, as a result of the efforts of Lady Mabel Smith, a Labour councilor at the West Riding County Council (WRCC). Lady Mabel was Chairman of the School Governors from that date until her death in 1951, and Thomas Tomlinson was the first Vice-Chairman of the Governors. The School served a wide area, including Ecclesfield, Chapeltown, Hoyland, Elsecar, High Green, Bradfield, Stannington, Grenoside, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side, on the southern boundary of the West Riding between Sheffield and Barnsley.
Major extensions were built during the 1950s including the Lady Mabel Hall, associated kitchens and classrooms, and separate Science and Craft blocks. Even more extensive building was undertaken during the 1960s, while I was at school, which involved a large number of classes being temporarily housed in a disused primary school in Ecclesfield village. A large sports hall and changing rooms were added, and a multi-story classroom block was built to link the Science and Craft blocks. The gymnasium in the old building was converted into a library. Also, about this time, a new and separate Hunshelf School was built on part of the playing fields.
The school became Ecclesfield Comprehensive in September 1967. It initially remained separate from the newly built Hunshelf School, but the two were eventually integrated to form the enlarged Ecclesfield Comprehensive. Since 1967, the school has been taken over by Sheffield City Council, and provides comprehensive education for the 11-16 year bracket.
In 1931, the Ecclesfield Grammar School provided for three streams of 30 pupils. In 1954 this was increased to five streams, with an annual intake of 150, and a total number on roll of 800. By this time, some 2,500 pupils had been admitted. Following integration with Hunshelf, the annual intake increased considerably. The current annual intake is 350, with a total number on roll of 1800. There would have been a total of something like 4,450 pupils during the 36 years it operated as a Grammar School, and about 10,000 pupils since it became a Comprehensive.
During the 1960s, new entrants were allocated into one of Forms 1F, 1I, 1R, 1S, or 1T, according to surname alphabetical order. Everyone was allocated to a "house" for the purposes of a weekly assembly and competitive sports. They were Strafford whose colours were blue, and the other three were Bronte (red), Fairfax (yellow), and Priestley (green).
In 2010, The re-introduction of head boy and head girl was seen, as well as the return of Senior prefects which are all year 11's.
All have a responsibility of a year 7 form, as well as monitoring the school grounds and canteen during lunch and break time, as well as being as being responsible for an academic subject and go to review meetings.
This has since been carried on into 2011 and in the next school year, will be active around the school.
The play 'Wooden frock' will be performed by the year 10's on July 4th and July 5th in the Lady Mabel hall.
In 2009, Textiles was removed from the school option list.
In 2009-2010 the school was given a new deputy, a woman who tried to change the school uniform and encourage the girls to wear far less make up, she also attempted to re-arrange forms which would be set over academic achievement and not just randomly set, this action was most unpopular with the pupils and a strike followed, which caused most unrest and disruption from the school. Pupils truanted, and riots were fierce and many, the school had a 'lock out' of which all students were made to standout side the school to prevent vandalism and corridor running, this failed and doors were forced open and staff were barged past, an emergency meeting was called for staff and year 10's the agreement was made that the form re-arrangement would not go ahead after all. The deputy then left.
As of 31 October 2010, Michael Nolan was no longer headmaster of Ecclesfield school. He simply gave in his notice before saying farewell to staff or students. Bad Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
results were apparently to blame as the results were far poorer than expected. He is sadly missed, he was a legend and famous for his seagull speech, of which he first used when he came to Ecclesfield school. He is now in retirement.
Films made by the Students
- Deaducation - 2010
- Ecclesfield Zoo - N/A
- The Thirst '2011' 9A6 BTEC
Alumni
- James LomasJames LomasJames Jacob-Lomas is a British Olivier Award-winning actor best known for his role as Billy Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical....
, Actor - Jordan Ramos, gymnast
- Billy SharpBilly SharpWilliam Louis "Billy" Sharp is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Doncaster Rovers. He is now widely known for playing in a game for Doncaster Rovers against Middlesbrough two days after his two-day-old son's death...
, professional football player - Jamie CookJamie CookJamie Robert Cook is the lead guitarist for the British indie rock band Arctic Monkeys.He is the most outspoken member, going on record as saying he "fucking hates the [print] news" and defending the band's numerous successive records by saying, "I couldn’t see us being like Coldplay, it’d just be...
, Rhythm guitarist for the popular band Arctic MonkeysArctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
Ecclesfield Grammar School
- Dr Jack Birks CBE, Chairman of British Maritime Technology Ltd (now called BMT Group) from 1985–95 and President of the Society for Underwater Technology from 1974-5 and of the Institute of PetroleumInstitute of PetroleumThe Institute of Petroleum was a UK-based professional organisation that merged with the Institute of Energy in 2003 to form the Energy Institute....
from 1984-6, and helped to establish BPBPBP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
's Forties oilfieldForties oilfieldThe Forties Oil Field is the largest oil field in the North Sea, 110 miles east of Aberdeen. It was discovered in 1970 and first produced oil in 1975 under ownership of BP.-History:... - Rod ClarkeRod Clarke- Biography :Clarke is a retired professional engineer who was born in Hoyland Common, Yorkshire into a coalmining family and attended Ecclesfield Grammar School, Sheffield and Sowerby Bridge Grammar School. He graduated in Instrument and Control Engineering at City University, London, England. He...
, Chief Engineer, Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station, Ontario Hydro; industrial and technological history author. - Chris BainesChris BainesProfessor Chris Baines is one of the UK's leading independent environmentalists. He is a gardener, naturalist, television presenter and author.Baines grew up in Sheffield...
, Environmentalist, writer and broadcaster 1958-65 - Barry HinesBarry HinesMelvin Barry Hines, FRSL is a British author who has written several popular novels and television scripts.-Early life:Born in the mining village of Hoyland Common near Barnsley, England, he attended Ecclesfield Grammar School and played football for the England Grammar Schools team...
, author - David Merry CMG, High Commissioner to BotswanaBotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
from 2001-5 - Prof Alan Pickering, Director of Centre for Ecology and HydrologyCentre for Ecology and HydrologyThe Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is the United Kingdom's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in hydrology, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere...
Windermere from 1995–2001 - Donald PleasenceDonald PleasenceSir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
, actor - Reginald Thompson, Chairman of the National Dock Labour BoardNational Dock Labour BoardThe National Dock Labour Board , which administered the National Dock Labour Scheme, was an administrative board for the operation of British docks.-Creation of National Dock Labour Board:...
from 1983–91
^ This is taken from their school website
www.eccoschool.com/History.