Nower Hill High School
Encyclopedia
Nower Hill High School is a state Secondary School
with a Sixth Form
, in Pinner
in the London Borough of Harrow
. The school has specialist status as an Arts College
. The school currently has around 300 pupils in each year group including over 400 in the Sixth form, making over 1900 pupils in the school.
1993/94 saw the start of a £2.75 million development programme which has given a new 13 classroom block, a Business Studies and Information Technology Suite, a Design and Technology Suite, 5 new Science Laboratories with Preparation Rooms and the magnificent Gristwood Centre housing Music, Dance and Drama Studios and the Sports Hall. The new Library and Information Resources Centre were provided by the generosity of Parents and Friends and parental donations through the Covenanting Scheme. A new Dining Centre opened early in the Autumn Term of 1998, and with an increased Games Area on the site of the old canteen. On 1 September 1974, Nower Hill High School began its existence within a scheme of re-organisation of secondary education in the London Borough of Harrow.
It began as a 12 - 16 High School taking in each year some 240 pupils across a full ability range. Now, Nower Hill's 6th Form opened in September 2006, with no discrimination against those with little academic abilities. As well as the introduction of a 6th Form, A new '6th Form Block' has also been built with its top floor restricted to only 6th Form students, the top floor consists of a fairly large common room as well as a 'Silent Study' room. Currently the school has gained a new science block which has been built on the former lower playground and also a new English block which has been built in front of the Gristwood Centre.
These ideals lead to the school's involvement in the local community and charitable events such as "Children in Need
", "Red Nose Day", and fundraising for St Luke's Hospice
charity. The school has Mufti days mostly at the end of term when students bring £1 in for charity. The school holds a Christmas dinner every year for the elderly of the community. Separate dinners are also provided for pupils and staff.
Every year Nower Hill organises a school prom
and boat trip party
for Year 11 students, despite the fact that many pupils chose to remain at the school to study A levels.
Nower Hill takes part in many sports and is sportmarked by UK Sport
.
The school encourages students to be streetwise
and holds "Citizenship Days" for students to look at and discuss different aspects of life in the wider, adult world. There is a heavy influence on road safety.
- Lead singer of Duran Duran
His mother, Ann Brookes, also attended the school (1946-51)
Jane March - Actress & "Sinner From Pinner"
Sid Brown - Middlesex Cricketer, a member of the county's Championship Winning side in 1947, and a contemporary of the "Middlesex Twins" Bill Edrich and Denis Compton.
Justin Bovington - Businessman and entrepreneur, who was the recipient of BT Essence of an Entrepreneur 2008
Graham Bell - Blackheath, Wasps and England 'B' rugby player
Watford footballer Simon Patterson
attended this school as did Sam Heath, actor, who was the Frutella advert boy.
Footballer Marcus Bean. Currently at Brentford FC. Previously played for Queens Park Rangers FC.
Alex Lowe
- comedian, writer and performer. Also the man behind 'Barry from Watford'
Dancer James Collins. Won the livingtv dance program 'dirty dancing: the time of your life' winning him a year long contract with dance agency 'bloc'. Most recently danced on x-factor for Jedward.
Michael Rosen - Author and Play Wright
Model Andy Lothian attended this school until opting out of education to pursue a career in street fashion and music.
. Girls wear white blouse
s and a navy blue jumper with the Nower Hill badge on the left hand side. Students must wear black shoes, trainers are not allowed. Prefects wear silver ties. Students in Year 11 wear red ties. Sixth Formers have little restrictions on dress code, however leggings and shorts above the knee are prohibited, causing a large outcry from the female students in the warmer weather. Originally, the badge worn on blazers etc had a blue background, the one with the red background now worn generally was awarded to boys and girls who had done well representing the school at sport. It was referred to as "colours".
schools GCSE
is graded on scale of A*; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; with U as Unclassified (Failed) which is a sign not a grade. Nower Hill produces results above both local and national averages.
Although any grade from A*-G is officially a pass, many employers
accept only A*-C grades. The headline official school league table also measures only A*-C grades achieved. There is no fixed ratio between exam marks and the final grade awarded. The conversion process is complicated and varies according to subject, examination board, and year.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
with a Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
, in Pinner
Pinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
in the London Borough of Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
. The school has specialist status as an Arts College
Arts College
Arts Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, the performing, visual and/or media arts...
. The school currently has around 300 pupils in each year group including over 400 in the Sixth form, making over 1900 pupils in the school.
History
The school, then known as Headstone School, started life in 1929 when the red brick building in Pinner Road was built. Its "houses", commemorating famous former residents of Harrow and one historical building, were Byron, Becket, Shaftesbury and Manor. Colours, in the order of the houses given, were Green, Blue, Red and Orange. From the moment the school opened it started expanding into a series of outbuildings that proliferated on the site. In the late 1950s a new school was planned which opened in the early 1960s. Another new block was added in 1972 and further buildings were taken into use in 1978. Nine-tenths of the school buildings are in new premises and the grassed playing field was considerably extended in 1980.1993/94 saw the start of a £2.75 million development programme which has given a new 13 classroom block, a Business Studies and Information Technology Suite, a Design and Technology Suite, 5 new Science Laboratories with Preparation Rooms and the magnificent Gristwood Centre housing Music, Dance and Drama Studios and the Sports Hall. The new Library and Information Resources Centre were provided by the generosity of Parents and Friends and parental donations through the Covenanting Scheme. A new Dining Centre opened early in the Autumn Term of 1998, and with an increased Games Area on the site of the old canteen. On 1 September 1974, Nower Hill High School began its existence within a scheme of re-organisation of secondary education in the London Borough of Harrow.
It began as a 12 - 16 High School taking in each year some 240 pupils across a full ability range. Now, Nower Hill's 6th Form opened in September 2006, with no discrimination against those with little academic abilities. As well as the introduction of a 6th Form, A new '6th Form Block' has also been built with its top floor restricted to only 6th Form students, the top floor consists of a fairly large common room as well as a 'Silent Study' room. Currently the school has gained a new science block which has been built on the former lower playground and also a new English block which has been built in front of the Gristwood Centre.
Motto and ethos
Nower Hill's motto is Service not Self and the school's official ethos is Challenge, support, trust, integrity, respect, equality of opportunity, collaboration, celebration, a ‘can do' attitude, and service not self.These ideals lead to the school's involvement in the local community and charitable events such as "Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
", "Red Nose Day", and fundraising for St Luke's Hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
charity. The school has Mufti days mostly at the end of term when students bring £1 in for charity. The school holds a Christmas dinner every year for the elderly of the community. Separate dinners are also provided for pupils and staff.
Every year Nower Hill organises a school prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
and boat trip party
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
for Year 11 students, despite the fact that many pupils chose to remain at the school to study A levels.
Nower Hill takes part in many sports and is sportmarked by UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
.
The school encourages students to be streetwise
Streetwise
Streetwise may refer to:*Rover Streetwise, a small hatchback made by the MG Rover Group*Possessing knowledge of youth culture, also called "street"...
and holds "Citizenship Days" for students to look at and discuss different aspects of life in the wider, adult world. There is a heavy influence on road safety.
Famous Pupils
Simon Le BonSimon Le Bon
Simon John Charles Le Bon is an English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia.-Early life:...
- Lead singer of Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
His mother, Ann Brookes, also attended the school (1946-51)
Jane March - Actress & "Sinner From Pinner"
Sid Brown - Middlesex Cricketer, a member of the county's Championship Winning side in 1947, and a contemporary of the "Middlesex Twins" Bill Edrich and Denis Compton.
Justin Bovington - Businessman and entrepreneur, who was the recipient of BT Essence of an Entrepreneur 2008
Graham Bell - Blackheath, Wasps and England 'B' rugby player
Watford footballer Simon Patterson
Simon Patterson (footballer)
Simon Patterson was an English footballer. He was born in Harrow, London, and signed for Watford on leaving Nower Hill High School in 1999....
attended this school as did Sam Heath, actor, who was the Frutella advert boy.
Footballer Marcus Bean. Currently at Brentford FC. Previously played for Queens Park Rangers FC.
Alex Lowe
Alex Lowe (actor)
Alex Lowe is an English actor and comedian, who is best known as the creator and voice behind the character 'Barry from Watford' on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show and Absolute Radio's Iain Lee Show-Barry from Watford:...
- comedian, writer and performer. Also the man behind 'Barry from Watford'
Dancer James Collins. Won the livingtv dance program 'dirty dancing: the time of your life' winning him a year long contract with dance agency 'bloc'. Most recently danced on x-factor for Jedward.
Michael Rosen - Author and Play Wright
Model Andy Lothian attended this school until opting out of education to pursue a career in street fashion and music.
Uniform
The uniform for years 7, 8, 9 and 10, boys wear white shirts, blue tie with a navy blue blazerBlazer
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...
. Girls wear white blouse
Blouse
A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body. Today, the word most commonly refers to a woman's shirt but can also refer to a man's shirt if...
s and a navy blue jumper with the Nower Hill badge on the left hand side. Students must wear black shoes, trainers are not allowed. Prefects wear silver ties. Students in Year 11 wear red ties. Sixth Formers have little restrictions on dress code, however leggings and shorts above the knee are prohibited, causing a large outcry from the female students in the warmer weather. Originally, the badge worn on blazers etc had a blue background, the one with the red background now worn generally was awarded to boys and girls who had done well representing the school at sport. It was referred to as "colours".
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
At Nower Hill and other LondonLondon
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...
schools GCSE
General 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...
is graded on scale of A*; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; with U as Unclassified (Failed) which is a sign not a grade. Nower Hill produces results above both local and national averages.
Although any grade from A*-G is officially a pass, many employers
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
accept only A*-C grades. The headline official school league table also measures only A*-C grades achieved. There is no fixed ratio between exam marks and the final grade awarded. The conversion process is complicated and varies according to subject, examination board, and year.
GCSE Examination Performance
| School | A*-C Pass Rate 2008 | A*-C Pass Rate 2009 | A*-C Pass Rate 2010 | English Baccalaureate Pass Rate 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nower Hill High School | 68% | 57% | 29% | 27% |
| Average for London Borough of Harrow | 57.7% | 60.8% | 60.7% | 22.6% |
| Average for England | 47.6% | 50.7% | 60.7% | 15.1% |
- The table on shows the percentage of students gaining five A* to C grades, including English and Maths
- The rightmost column shows the percentage of students gaining five A* to C grades, in five core subjects - maths; English; two science qualifications; a foreign language and either history or geography.
- Source: Department for EducationDepartment for EducationThe Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
- Full GCSE results for the London Borough of HarrowLondon Borough of HarrowThe London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...