The Maelor School
Encyclopedia
The Maelor School, Penley
(Welsh: Ysgol Maelor) is a British mixed comprehensive school
situated in the village of Penley
, north-east Wales
. As of February, 2008, the school had a total of 794 pupils aged 11-18 of whom 138 students are in the sixth form
.
area in the village of Penley
(Welsh: Llanerch Banna) to serve the needs of the rural communities surrounding it
Prior to the school being built, there were originally proposals to build an open prison on the land. However, this was met by a lot of opposition from the surrounding communities and eventually the proposals were overruled and the decision was made to build a school instead. The school cost £93,000 to build and originally accommodated 240 pupils. The school consisted of six classrooms, stores, a handicraft room, a science laboratory, a kitchen, a general practical room, a library, a gymnasium, changing rooms, cloakrooms, offices, staff rooms, and an assembly hall complete with a stage. The school sat in nine acres of grounds, complete with three tennis courts, a large concrete drill area, and provision for two soccer pitches, two hockey pitches and two cricket pitches. The school was officially opened on 6th November, 1957 by Dowager Lady Kenyon.
coat of arms, symbolizes the school's historical link with the county, going back to the thirteenth century. The sheaf of wheat symbolizes the Maelor's agricultural background. The two blue lions, those of Hanmer, represent the Maelor's historic families as well as Sir Edward Hanmer's interest in the school. The red chevron represents the Maelor's separation from the rest of the county and the black crosses symbolize the Maelor's contributory parishes and townships.
Most recently, in 2009, 99% of the school’s year eleven students achieved five or more GCSEs with 84% of students passing the equivalent of five or more GCSEs (A*-C grade) and 98% achieving eight or more passes. The school’s sixth form students achieved an average of three hundred and five points in their AS/A-Level exams, five points over the school’s target of three hundred points (the equivalent of three B grades).
In 2006 the school was named the "most improved secondary school in North Wales" from the Curriculum Authority for Wales in 2006.
- Swimming pool – located to the west of the main building within school grounds, the pool is used to host swimming galas and other swimming competitions as well as being used for swimming lessons both during and after school hours.
- Tennis Courts- the school has three tennis courts situated next to the swimming pool and the school field.
- Conference Room- a recent addition to the school, this room can be used by staff and students to communicate via video and microphone using new technology.
- Computing Facilities – the school also has an extensive up to date computer network. All computers run on Windows XP. Every pupil is able to set up their own account with which they can access the internet and create and save their own documents.
In 2009 a new sports hall was under construction within the school grounds.
Such extra curricular activities include:
- Sport- Students can participate in a number of different sports including athletics, football, tennis, rounders, netball, basketball and swimming.
- Music- Students at the school have the opportunity to get involved with the music department. Individual artists, ensembles and the school’s wind band, orchestra and choir frequently perform both in school and further afield. Highlights include performances in a nationwide broadcast on the BBC's Music Live festival in June 2000 and performing at the Royal Albert Hall
. The school's string orchestra took part in the final of the national Music for Youth
competition at the Royal Festival Hall
in July 2003 and in 2006 they competed in the same competition at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, England. A number of soloists also competed in the finals of the Urdd Eisteddfod competition with one going on to win the competition in her class.
- Drama- Over the years, the school has put on several productions including ‘Aladdin: A Wok ‘n’ Roll Tale’, ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.
- Peer Education- In recent years, the school has participated in Wrexham County Borough Council’s Peer Education scheme where pupils attend a training course enabling them to teach their peers about issues such as drugs, smoking and alcohol. Educators then run sessions in the school’s annual ‘Health Days’ and those who show dedication can go on to attain an OCN level three in related subjects, the highest qualification below a degree.
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the school encourages students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and students have to opportunity to complete their Bronze, Silver and Gold awards during their time at the school.
- Young Enterprise The school is also a supporter of the Young Enterprise
scheme.
- School Council- the Maelor School Student Council has representatives from all year groups who discuss a wide range of issues and concerns, ideas from which are put to the headmaster for consideration.
Most activities take place during lunchtime but other pursuits, such as band rehearsals and sporting events take place after school and during the weekends.
Students can also take part in trips abroad offered by the humanities, physics and physical education departments. Past destinations have included, Geneva, France and Spain. Longer term expeditions are also becoming common, with past destinations including Peru, Zambia and Botswana.
The school's current headmaster, appointed in 2006, is Mr. Eiddwyn Hall.
Penley
Penley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
(Welsh: Ysgol Maelor) is a British mixed comprehensive school
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...
situated in the village of Penley
Penley
Penley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
, north-east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. As of February, 2008, the school had a total of 794 pupils aged 11-18 of whom 138 students are in the 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,...
.
History
The school was established in 1957 at the heart of the MaelorMaelor
Maelor is a border area of north-east Wales. It originated as a Cantref of the Kingdom of Powys, focused on Bangor-on-Dee.-History:The Maelor was first divided from the rest of Wales by the construction of Offa's Dyke in the eighth century, but was reclaimed for Wales during the reign of Stephen...
area in the village of Penley
Penley
Penley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
(Welsh: Llanerch Banna) to serve the needs of the rural communities surrounding it
Prior to the school being built, there were originally proposals to build an open prison on the land. However, this was met by a lot of opposition from the surrounding communities and eventually the proposals were overruled and the decision was made to build a school instead. The school cost £93,000 to build and originally accommodated 240 pupils. The school consisted of six classrooms, stores, a handicraft room, a science laboratory, a kitchen, a general practical room, a library, a gymnasium, changing rooms, cloakrooms, offices, staff rooms, and an assembly hall complete with a stage. The school sat in nine acres of grounds, complete with three tennis courts, a large concrete drill area, and provision for two soccer pitches, two hockey pitches and two cricket pitches. The school was officially opened on 6th November, 1957 by Dowager Lady Kenyon.
The Badge
The school's badge was designed by two of the school's original staff. The bird, a chough from the FlintshireFlintshire (historic)
Flintshire , also known as the County of Flint, is one of thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county, which mostly lies on the north east coast of Wales....
coat of arms, symbolizes the school's historical link with the county, going back to the thirteenth century. The sheaf of wheat symbolizes the Maelor's agricultural background. The two blue lions, those of Hanmer, represent the Maelor's historic families as well as Sir Edward Hanmer's interest in the school. The red chevron represents the Maelor's separation from the rest of the county and the black crosses symbolize the Maelor's contributory parishes and townships.
Academia
The school follows the standard curriculum of GCSEs and A-Levels.Most recently, in 2009, 99% of the school’s year eleven students achieved five or more GCSEs with 84% of students passing the equivalent of five or more GCSEs (A*-C grade) and 98% achieving eight or more passes. The school’s sixth form students achieved an average of three hundred and five points in their AS/A-Level exams, five points over the school’s target of three hundred points (the equivalent of three B grades).
In 2006 the school was named the "most improved secondary school in North Wales" from the Curriculum Authority for Wales in 2006.
Facilities and development
- Library - the school's library recently underwent a refurbishment in order to update existing facilities. It is now used for individual/group study, whole class use, individual/group research, word-processing , internet access, and recreational reading. Resources found in the library include computers all with internet access and word processing capabilities, and a listening station.- Swimming pool – located to the west of the main building within school grounds, the pool is used to host swimming galas and other swimming competitions as well as being used for swimming lessons both during and after school hours.
- Tennis Courts- the school has three tennis courts situated next to the swimming pool and the school field.
- Conference Room- a recent addition to the school, this room can be used by staff and students to communicate via video and microphone using new technology.
- Computing Facilities – the school also has an extensive up to date computer network. All computers run on Windows XP. Every pupil is able to set up their own account with which they can access the internet and create and save their own documents.
In 2009 a new sports hall was under construction within the school grounds.
Extra-curricular activities
The school's pupils engage in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music and drama, as well as educational trips abroad and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. The school has several clubs and societies which aim to widen and develop the interests of pupils.Such extra curricular activities include:
- Sport- Students can participate in a number of different sports including athletics, football, tennis, rounders, netball, basketball and swimming.
- Music- Students at the school have the opportunity to get involved with the music department. Individual artists, ensembles and the school’s wind band, orchestra and choir frequently perform both in school and further afield. Highlights include performances in a nationwide broadcast on the BBC's Music Live festival in June 2000 and performing at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. The school's string orchestra took part in the final of the national Music for Youth
Music for Youth
Music for Youth is a British charity which provides free access to educational and performance opportunities for groups of young musicians and audiences through a series of festivals and concerts throughout the UK. 2 million children have taken part in Music for Youth events since 1971...
competition at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in July 2003 and in 2006 they competed in the same competition at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, England. A number of soloists also competed in the finals of the Urdd Eisteddfod competition with one going on to win the competition in her class.
- Drama- Over the years, the school has put on several productions including ‘Aladdin: A Wok ‘n’ Roll Tale’, ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.
- Peer Education- In recent years, the school has participated in Wrexham County Borough Council’s Peer Education scheme where pupils attend a training course enabling them to teach their peers about issues such as drugs, smoking and alcohol. Educators then run sessions in the school’s annual ‘Health Days’ and those who show dedication can go on to attain an OCN level three in related subjects, the highest qualification below a degree.
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the school encourages students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and students have to opportunity to complete their Bronze, Silver and Gold awards during their time at the school.
- Young Enterprise The school is also a supporter of the Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise is a not-for-profit business and enterprise education charity in the United Kingdom. It is made up of 12 regional organisations, each operating individually under a license agreement...
scheme.
- School Council- the Maelor School Student Council has representatives from all year groups who discuss a wide range of issues and concerns, ideas from which are put to the headmaster for consideration.
Most activities take place during lunchtime but other pursuits, such as band rehearsals and sporting events take place after school and during the weekends.
Students can also take part in trips abroad offered by the humanities, physics and physical education departments. Past destinations have included, Geneva, France and Spain. Longer term expeditions are also becoming common, with past destinations including Peru, Zambia and Botswana.
The school's current headmaster, appointed in 2006, is Mr. Eiddwyn Hall.