St. Nicholas Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
St. Nicholas Catholic High School is in Hartford
, near Northwich
, in Cheshire
, England. It also has a Sixth Form
. Both the main school and the Sixth Form perform very well in Ofsted
reports: the Sixth Form was described as "good" in the last report. The current head teacher is Kieran Kelly.
on 6 September 1965, with Michael O'Connor as its first head teacher, and Father R.Velarde, Parish Priest of St. Wilfrid's, Northwich as the first Chairman of Governors. It was the first Catholic secondary school in mid-Cheshire. The initial building programme cost £160,000, 71.2% of which came from the local Catholic communities, with the remainder being provided by the LEA
.
In 1972, the school became a comprehensive
, and changed its name to St Nicholas High School. At the same time, a new science and languages block was built to the side of the original building. In 1979, a new sixth form block was opened by Mark Carlisle, the Secretary of State for education. Remodelled science laboratories followed in 1989, and a music suite and additional science laboratories in 1992.
In 1995, O'Connor retired after 30 years as headmaster, and was replaced by Gerard Boyle. In 2003, the school was awarded Business and Enterprise status. The school also holds the eco-schools green flag, Healthy Schools status and the Inclusion Quality Mark.
St Nicholas has extended and refurbished the originally standing sports hall with science and language rooms at the rear at a total cost of ₤11.5 million as well as a refurbished Sixth Form Centre and new Geography rooms.
Gerard Boyle retired at the end of the 2009 term; his replacement is Kieran Kelly.
and Knutsford
. It also includes Barnton
, Davenham
, Middlewich
, Weaverham
and Winsford
. The Sixth Form catchment area also includes the area of St. Thomas More Catholic High School
in Crewe
, which does not have its own Sixth Form. Buses run from all the mentioned towns and villages to and from St Nicholas, but due to recent cuts the bus service has come under threat. A protest was held, 'Drive your child to school day', however the effect was limited and bus prices will continue to rise.
Year 12 pupils also attend retreats. In 2001 teachers were finding it difficult to find a place for a record number of year 12 pupils to go in January 2002. They managed to find one place in Abbots Hall in Cumbria. The first set of pupils to go liked Abbots Hall and the surroundings, however, did not enjoy the retreat organised by 'Youth 2000', with many citing problems with the radical Zionist groups occupying the area. Consequently, year 12 pupils still visit Abbots Hall but do not attend a retreat organised by Youth 2000.
Hartford, Cheshire
Hartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than south west of the town of Northwich...
, near Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
, in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. It also has 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,...
. Both the main school and the Sixth Form perform very well in 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 ....
reports: the Sixth Form was described as "good" in the last report. The current head teacher is Kieran Kelly.
History
St Nicholas Catholic High School opened as the a secondary modernSecondary 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...
on 6 September 1965, with Michael O'Connor as its first head teacher, and Father R.Velarde, Parish Priest of St. Wilfrid's, Northwich as the first Chairman of Governors. It was the first Catholic secondary school in mid-Cheshire. The initial building programme cost £160,000, 71.2% of which came from the local Catholic communities, with the remainder being provided by the LEA
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
.
In 1972, the school became a 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 changed its name to St Nicholas High School. At the same time, a new science and languages block was built to the side of the original building. In 1979, a new sixth form block was opened by Mark Carlisle, the Secretary of State for education. Remodelled science laboratories followed in 1989, and a music suite and additional science laboratories in 1992.
In 1995, O'Connor retired after 30 years as headmaster, and was replaced by Gerard Boyle. In 2003, the school was awarded Business and Enterprise status. The school also holds the eco-schools green flag, Healthy Schools status and the Inclusion Quality Mark.
St Nicholas has extended and refurbished the originally standing sports hall with science and language rooms at the rear at a total cost of ₤11.5 million as well as a refurbished Sixth Form Centre and new Geography rooms.
Gerard Boyle retired at the end of the 2009 term; his replacement is Kieran Kelly.
Catchment area
As there are few Catholic high schools in Cheshire St Nicholas' catchment area extends as far away as HelsbyHelsby
Helsby is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, Helsby had a population of 4,701.-Geography:...
and Knutsford
Knutsford
Knutsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in North West England...
. It also includes Barnton
Barnton
Barnton is a civil parish and village in the north-west of England, just outside the town of Northwich, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire...
, Davenham
Davenham
Davenham is a rural village and civil parish approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 5,655. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and...
, Middlewich
Middlewich
Middlewich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is east of the city of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach....
, Weaverham
Weaverham
right|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Weaverham within former borough of Vale RoyalWeaverham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. Just off the A49, it is just to the west of Northwich and south of the River...
and Winsford
Winsford
Winsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...
. The Sixth Form catchment area also includes the area of St. Thomas More Catholic High School
St. Thomas More School (Crewe)
St Thomas More Catholic High is a voluntary aided comprehensive school for 11 to 16 year olds, situated close to the centre of Crewe, in Cheshire. There are nearly 700 pupils on the roll at the current time....
in Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, which does not have its own Sixth Form. Buses run from all the mentioned towns and villages to and from St Nicholas, but due to recent cuts the bus service has come under threat. A protest was held, 'Drive your child to school day', however the effect was limited and bus prices will continue to rise.
Residentials and retreats
Residentials and retreats are normally organised during the month of January. Year 7 pupils usually stay at Conwy centre in Anglesey for five days. Year 9 pupils usually stay and do mock SATS in residential week. Year 10 pupils have attended retreats to Savio House in Bollington for a number of years, more recently some have attended retreats at Brettargh Holt in Cumbria and Middleton Grange in North Yorkshire.Year 12 pupils also attend retreats. In 2001 teachers were finding it difficult to find a place for a record number of year 12 pupils to go in January 2002. They managed to find one place in Abbots Hall in Cumbria. The first set of pupils to go liked Abbots Hall and the surroundings, however, did not enjoy the retreat organised by 'Youth 2000', with many citing problems with the radical Zionist groups occupying the area. Consequently, year 12 pupils still visit Abbots Hall but do not attend a retreat organised by Youth 2000.
Former pupils
- Nicky MaynardNicky MaynardNicholas David "Nicky" Maynard is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bristol City.-Crewe Alexandra:...
, footballer
- David MannixDavid MannixDavid Christopher Mannix is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for Vauxhall Motors.-International career:Mannix was a youth England international at under 15/16, 17 and 20 levels and gained 15 caps in total...
, footballer
- Lucy Meggit, singer (Fast Food RockersFast Food RockersThe Fast Food Rockers were a British pop group known for their novelty music. The band claim to have met at a fast-food convention in Folkestone.-Career:...
)