Richard Hale School
Encyclopedia
Richard Hale School is a boys' school located in Hertford
, Hertfordshire
, in the south east of England
. In the 2007 – 2008 academic year the school had over 1,000 pupils, including students attending the optional sixth form
, which is also open to girls.
of the school. The remaining four were named after the school benefactors Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper KG
and Richard Benyon Croft; and former pupils Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Page, DSO
and bar, and the evolutionary biologist Alfred Russel Wallace
. These five houses remained for several decades until a sixth house called "Kinman" was added to the growing school, named after the headteacher Major George Kinman
who organised the school's move in 1930. This house was for the boys who were previously in an overflow form, and not grouped together with their other housemates. House competition is an integral part of school life at Richard Hale, with competitions taking place not only on the sports fields, but on the stage in both music and drama.
for boys and more recently girls. The school has also been successful in other sports including cricket, basketball, athletics and tennis. In recent years, football has become a part of the extra curricular programme and the 1st XI won the Under 18 County Cup for the first time ever beating Dame Alice Owen's School
from Potters Bar in March 2011.
They received planning permission for a new sports hall to further its sporting activities. Unfortunately the Sports Hall has become unaffordable and so the school has decided on building a new Sixth Form Centre which should be finished by Summer 2011.
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, in the south east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In the 2007 – 2008 academic year the school had over 1,000 pupils, including students attending the optional 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,...
, which is also open to girls.
History
The school was founded on April 16, 1617 by the affluent merchant Richard Hale, eldest son of Thomas Hales of Codicote (a likely descendant of the Kentish Hales) who wished to "erect a grammar school for the instruction of children in the Latin tongue and other literature in the town of Hertford". The original school building was in use for 313 years from 1617 to 1930, and still stands near to All Saints Church. It was known as the "Hertford Grammar School" until the mid 1970s, when it became comprehensive.Comprehensive
It became comprehensive in 1975. New buildings, including the gym, were built in 1982. It became a science college in 2003.Traditions
Hale gave his name to one of the five original housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
of the school. The remaining four were named after the school benefactors Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper KG
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
and Richard Benyon Croft; and former pupils Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Page, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and bar, and the evolutionary biologist Alfred Russel Wallace
Alfred Russel Wallace
Alfred Russel Wallace, OM, FRS was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist and biologist...
. These five houses remained for several decades until a sixth house called "Kinman" was added to the growing school, named after the headteacher Major George Kinman
George William Kinman
George William Kinman was Headmaster of Hertford Grammar School from 1905 until his death in 1927. He also headmaster at Dolgelley Grammar School, Chairman of the Ware Education Committee, and a Major in the British Army....
who organised the school's move in 1930. This house was for the boys who were previously in an overflow form, and not grouped together with their other housemates. House competition is an integral part of school life at Richard Hale, with competitions taking place not only on the sports fields, but on the stage in both music and drama.
Sport
The school has a long tradition of rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
for boys and more recently girls. The school has also been successful in other sports including cricket, basketball, athletics and tennis. In recent years, football has become a part of the extra curricular programme and the 1st XI won the Under 18 County Cup for the first time ever beating Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Borough of Islington.-Admissions:...
from Potters Bar in March 2011.
They received planning permission for a new sports hall to further its sporting activities. Unfortunately the Sports Hall has become unaffordable and so the school has decided on building a new Sixth Form Centre which should be finished by Summer 2011.
Admissions
The school's current headteacher is Stephen M. Neate, who had previously been temporary headteacher since 2005 following the retirement of the previous incumbent, Michael James.Notable alumni
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Hertford Grammar School
Alfred Wallace is Hertford Grammar School's most famous former pupil, but the school has produced other notable alumni including:- Sir Roy Anderson, Rector of Imperial College LondonImperial College LondonImperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
and a notable epidemiologist - Sir Ernest Woodford BirchErnest Woodford BirchSir Ernest Woodford Birch, ICS, KCMG was the eighth British resident of Perak. Sir Ernest was the eldest son of James Wheeler Woodford Birch.-Family:...
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