Rivington and Blackrod High School
Encyclopedia
Rivington and Blackrod High School is a Church of England
, voluntary aided
comprehensive
and sixth form
school in the North West
region of England
. The school is located at two sites, with the upper school situated on Rivington Lane in Rivington
, Lancashire
, and the lower school situated on Albert Street in Horwich
, Greater Manchester
.
Technology College
which focuses on design and technology
, mathematics
and science
. It has been awarded the status of a Training school
to train the next generation of teacher
s. Year Seven
students, the lower school, occupy the former Horwich County Secondary School site. The upper school, high school, eight
to eleven
and Sixth form
college students occupy the Rivington site.
In 2008 Rivington & Blackrod High School was one of 11 schools across the country to receive a Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s (SSAT) 2008 Futures Vision Tour Award and gave impressive A level results at 98%. The School ranked 7th in 2009 of 19 schools in the Bolton LEA with scores for GCSE % 50 Level 2 CVA
994.9 A/AS average points 611.1 and Level 3 CVA 990.7 in 2009.
, although arrangements were not completed for the endowment until 1574. It was founded for the children of ordinary locals. The original building at Rivington was rebuilt in 1714.
The original school is sited on land endowed on a thousand year lease granted from 21 March 1581 by George Pilkington, the Bishop's brother.
Most of the property owned by the school was in the diocese of Durham provided by the bishop. The properties were in Lindake, Wolsingham, Wickham, Heighington, Stanhope, Stockton, Auckland, Silksworth, and Hetton-Le-Hole and brought an income of £30 per year from rents. By an Act of Parliament the land in Durham was exchanged for Higher Knowles, Lower Knowles and Grut Farms in Rivington, and a house known as Jolly's in Heath Charnock which brought in annual rents. Further lands were also donated to or bought by the school.
The first schoolmaster was appointed on the 10th July 1572. The first governors, including George Pilkington, one of the first appointed, appear to have begun their duties in August 1574. A month later Bishop James Pilkington confirmed the endowments to them and their successors. The list of first scholars, a total of 114 pupils is dated 1575. The school commenced teaching nine years after the founding charter.
The old Rivington Grammar School building is now occupied by Rivington Primary School.
Grammar School
was founded by John Holmes, a London weaver, in whose will of 1568 money was left to pay a schoolmaster in Blackrod. It is not known where the school originally started, possibly within St Katharines Church but premises were later provided near thhe church.
Rivington and Blackrod High School was built on the current site in 1882 with provision for about fifty boarders and perhaps an equal number of day boys.
A stained glass
east window was installed in 1912 commemorating James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham and donors to the chapel. The side lights illustrate events in the career of the Bishop, his Mastership of St John's College, Cambridge
, fleeing to Europe, teaching children in Zurick, and revising the Book of Common Prayer
with Matthew Parker
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
.
The west window is a memorial to those killed in the First World War, unveilled on 8 March 1922 by R. T. Johnson, headmaster between 1894 and 1904 and dedicated by Dr. Henn
, Bishop of Burnley
. The window's three lights show, a laurel crowned figure representing victory, a knight in full armour, depicting faith, and three Marys kneeling before the angel at the tomb of the risen Christ.
In the 18th century Richard Pilkington, a leading figure in Horwich and Rivington was for many years a school governor, his sons formed the Pilkington Glass Company. William Hesketh Lever
, founder of Lever Brothers
was a school governor between 1901 and 1905 and made a contribution to the chapel windows installed in 1912.
The inscription in Latin
translates to 'They Sought Glory of Liberty; they see the Glory of God'. The names of School's 24 war dead are also inscribed. (Over 150 fought in WW1)
The east and west windows were produced by John. Hardman and Company. Two windows were installed in the chapel in 2004, one in memory of a former head master, Mr. Jenner and the second to celebrate the centenary of the Association of Old Rivingtonians in 2004 They were designed and installed by Andrew Seddon who restored and cleaned the other windows
Roll of Honour to those who laid down their lives in the war, 1939-1945
giving it responsibility for secondary education. Under Sir Henry Flemming Hibbert, Chairman of the Lancashire Education Authority, the school became a day school. The new school was formally inaugurated by Lord Stanley and the new building opened by Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby
. The assembly hall was inaugurated by Lord Stanley, in 1905, the year girls were first admitted. There were 200 places for equal numbers of boys and girls. Around this time the curriculum added modern studies.
. The badge is a Pilkington cross with a crescent. The design of the coat of arms was introduced in 1907 by Rev. W. Ritson, Vicar of Rivington. It is based on an altar piece at Rivington Church, the Pilkington picture. To the left of the Pilkington arms are the arms of the see of Durham. To its right are the arms of James Pilkington, bishop and founder. The crescent denotes a second son, at the top is a man and scythe, crest of the Pilkington family.
Ernest Ashton, Mayor of Chorley
, who had been governor for many years. The extension was to accommodate 300 pupils and required a long corridor to be built between the buildings. The extension added new science rooms, general classrooms. A visitor in 1931 was the Earl of Derby, Edward George Villiers Stanley (1865–1948). More extensions were needed and in 1958 the headmaster's house was converted into classrooms.
.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, voluntary aided
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
and 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,...
school in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
region 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...
. The school is located at two sites, with the upper school situated on Rivington Lane in Rivington
Rivington
Rivington is a small village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England, occupying . It is about southeast of Chorley and about northwest of Bolton. Rivington is situated on the fringe of the West Pennine Moors, at the foot of Rivington Pike...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and the lower school situated on Albert Street in Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
.
Present day
The school is a SpecialistSpecialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
which focuses on design and technology
Design Technology
Design and Technology is a school subject offered at all levels of primary and secondary school. In some countries such as England it is a part of the National Curriculum. It is offered in many countries around the world such as Brunei, Bermuda, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Jordan...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. It has been awarded the status of a Training school
Training school
For a juvenile correctional facility, see youth detention center-----A training school is an official designation, awarded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, to schools in England that provide exceptional facilities for in-service and work experience training of teachers...
to train the next generation of teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s. Year Seven
Year Seven
Year Seven is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the seventh year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between eleven and thirteen.-Australia:...
students, the lower school, occupy the former Horwich County Secondary School site. The upper school, high school, eight
Year Eight
Year Eight is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the eighth year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between twelve and thirteen.-Australia:...
to eleven
Year Eleven
Year Eleven is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the eleventh year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between fifteen and seventeen....
and 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,...
college students occupy the Rivington site.
In 2008 Rivington & Blackrod High School was one of 11 schools across the country to receive a Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s (SSAT) 2008 Futures Vision Tour Award and gave impressive A level results at 98%. The School ranked 7th in 2009 of 19 schools in the Bolton LEA with scores for GCSE % 50 Level 2 CVA
Contextual value added
Contextual value added is a statistic used by the government of the United Kingdom to assess the performance of schools.The statistic is intended to show the progress children have made whilst attending a particular school...
994.9 A/AS average points 611.1 and Level 3 CVA 990.7 in 2009.
Rivington Grammar School
Rivington Grammar School was founded by James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham in 1566 when he obtained a charter from Queen Elizabeth IElizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, although arrangements were not completed for the endowment until 1574. It was founded for the children of ordinary locals. The original building at Rivington was rebuilt in 1714.
The original school is sited on land endowed on a thousand year lease granted from 21 March 1581 by George Pilkington, the Bishop's brother.
Most of the property owned by the school was in the diocese of Durham provided by the bishop. The properties were in Lindake, Wolsingham, Wickham, Heighington, Stanhope, Stockton, Auckland, Silksworth, and Hetton-Le-Hole and brought an income of £30 per year from rents. By an Act of Parliament the land in Durham was exchanged for Higher Knowles, Lower Knowles and Grut Farms in Rivington, and a house known as Jolly's in Heath Charnock which brought in annual rents. Further lands were also donated to or bought by the school.
The first schoolmaster was appointed on the 10th July 1572. The first governors, including George Pilkington, one of the first appointed, appear to have begun their duties in August 1574. A month later Bishop James Pilkington confirmed the endowments to them and their successors. The list of first scholars, a total of 114 pupils is dated 1575. The school commenced teaching nine years after the founding charter.
The old Rivington Grammar School building is now occupied by Rivington Primary School.
Blackrod Grammar School
BlackrodBlackrod
Blackrod is a settlement and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is north-northeast of Wigan and west of Bolton and, according to the United Kingdom Census 2001, has a population of 5,300....
Grammar School
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...
was founded by John Holmes, a London weaver, in whose will of 1568 money was left to pay a schoolmaster in Blackrod. It is not known where the school originally started, possibly within St Katharines Church but premises were later provided near thhe church.
Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School
Rivington and Blackrod Grammar Schools were amalgamated in 1875 Its charter was approved by Queen Victoria A new building for Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School was constructed seven years later on Rivington Lane, Horwich on land connected to Rivington Grammar school's endowment.Rivington and Blackrod High School was built on the current site in 1882 with provision for about fifty boarders and perhaps an equal number of day boys.
Chapel
The school chapel was built in 1892 with a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Marshall, in memory of their son Frederick. The chapel was designed by Mr. R. K Freeman. It is panelled in Dantzic oak and has 100 sittings. The Anglican chapel had regular morning worship.A stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
east window was installed in 1912 commemorating James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham and donors to the chapel. The side lights illustrate events in the career of the Bishop, his Mastership of St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, fleeing to Europe, teaching children in Zurick, and revising the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
with Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
The west window is a memorial to those killed in the First World War, unveilled on 8 March 1922 by R. T. Johnson, headmaster between 1894 and 1904 and dedicated by Dr. Henn
Henry Henn
Henry Henn was a Church of England clergyman who served as the third Bishop of Burnley from 1909 to 1931.Born in Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland on 8 October 1858, he was educated at Sherborne School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Ordained in 1886, his first post was a curacy at Preston Parish...
, Bishop of Burnley
Bishop of Burnley
The Bishop of Burnley is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn, in the Province of York, England.The title takes its name after the town of Burnley in Lancashire...
. The window's three lights show, a laurel crowned figure representing victory, a knight in full armour, depicting faith, and three Marys kneeling before the angel at the tomb of the risen Christ.
In the 18th century Richard Pilkington, a leading figure in Horwich and Rivington was for many years a school governor, his sons formed the Pilkington Glass Company. William Hesketh Lever
William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme
William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme was an English industrialist, philanthropist, and politician....
, founder of Lever Brothers
Lever Brothers
Lever Brothers was a British manufacturer founded in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James Darcy Lever . The brothers had invested in and promoted a new soap making process invented by chemist William Hough Watson, it was a huge success...
was a school governor between 1901 and 1905 and made a contribution to the chapel windows installed in 1912.
The inscription in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translates to 'They Sought Glory of Liberty; they see the Glory of God'. The names of School's 24 war dead are also inscribed. (Over 150 fought in WW1)
- W. Leonard Billington
- Geoffrey R. Johnson
- Harold Briggs
- H. Norman Joseph
- Frederick H. Brown
- Richard Miller
- Joseph O. Carter
- Norman Myres
- Ernest Cotton
- Richard Nelson
- Arthur Chippendale
- Barry Pulford
- John Entwistle
- J. Alec Ross
- Leonard W. Gastall
- Frank Savage
- John S. Griffiths
- Richard D.Scholfield
- Charles Grundy
- Barry Tatlow
- John Harvery
- Denham Walker
- Ralph Hough
- Percy Wilkinson
The east and west windows were produced by John. Hardman and Company. Two windows were installed in the chapel in 2004, one in memory of a former head master, Mr. Jenner and the second to celebrate the centenary of the Association of Old Rivingtonians in 2004 They were designed and installed by Andrew Seddon who restored and cleaned the other windows
Roll of Honour
After the end of the Second World War, old pupils placed a memorial book in the chapel bearing the names of those who lost their lives, this reads as follows:Roll of Honour to those who laid down their lives in the war, 1939-1945
- Richard Cecil Butterworth
- Frederick Arthur Easthope
- John Lawrence Ellison
- Ted Atherton
- Tony Atherton
- Derek Booth
- John P. Dickinson
- Maurice Donkersley
- Eric Harper
- Fred James
- Ian Lamb
- Arthur Lee
- Norman Owen
- Edward Rawlinson
- Arthur Settle
- Fred Taylor
- Owen Worrall
- William Wallace Ryder
- Charles Philip Singleton
Mixed Grammar School
After a decline in the numbers of scholars between 1904 and 1905, a meeting handed control of the school to the Local Authority under the powers of the Education Act 1902Education Act 1902
The Education Act 1902 , also known as Balfour's Act, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom affecting education in England and Wales. At the time of passage of the Act, the Conservative Party was in power...
giving it responsibility for secondary education. Under Sir Henry Flemming Hibbert, Chairman of the Lancashire Education Authority, the school became a day school. The new school was formally inaugurated by Lord Stanley and the new building opened by Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby
Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby
Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, PC , known as Frederick Stanley until 1886 and as Lord Stanley of Preston between 1886 and 1893, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as Colonial Secretary from 1885 to 1886 and the sixth Governor General...
. The assembly hall was inaugurated by Lord Stanley, in 1905, the year girls were first admitted. There were 200 places for equal numbers of boys and girls. Around this time the curriculum added modern studies.
Sport
The level pitch in front of the school was created between 1883 and 1884, at a cost of £210, the funds raised by a bazaar. The cricket pitch was laid and drained in 1907, by a bequest of £100 in memory of T. Heaton made by his grandson, William of Lostock. Rev. W. Ritson, Vicar of Rivington met much of the additional cost. Traditionally the school bell was not rung whilst a good game of cricket was being played. The grounds were in the past maintained by the scholars.Coat of Arms
The Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School badge featured the Pilkington Coat of ArmsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The badge is a Pilkington cross with a crescent. The design of the coat of arms was introduced in 1907 by Rev. W. Ritson, Vicar of Rivington. It is based on an altar piece at Rivington Church, the Pilkington picture. To the left of the Pilkington arms are the arms of the see of Durham. To its right are the arms of James Pilkington, bishop and founder. The crescent denotes a second son, at the top is a man and scythe, crest of the Pilkington family.
Extension
In 1924 a school inspection showed a need to expand the building. Work started in April 1929 the extension foundation stone was laid 10 July 1929 by AldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
Ernest Ashton, Mayor of Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
, who had been governor for many years. The extension was to accommodate 300 pupils and required a long corridor to be built between the buildings. The extension added new science rooms, general classrooms. A visitor in 1931 was the Earl of Derby, Edward George Villiers Stanley (1865–1948). More extensions were needed and in 1958 the headmaster's house was converted into classrooms.
Rivington and Blackrod High School
In 1973, Rivington and Blackrod High School was established by an amalgamation of Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School and Horwich County Secondary School. In 2004, the Brook Learning Partnership was formed - a collaborative partnership with Ladybridge High School, BoltonBolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
.