Adcote
Encyclopedia
Adcote School is an independent
non-selective day and boarding school
for girls, located in the village of Little Ness, five miles (8 km) northwest of Shrewsbury
, Shropshire
, England
. The school was founded in 1907, and is set in a Grade I listed country house built in 1879 for Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby I (1807–52) and a great niece of Abraham Darby
. The Darbys were the iron-master family who built Ironbridge
. The school has a nursery that takes children aged 2 to 5, a Junior Department that takes girls aged 5 to 11, and the Senior School for girls aged 11 to 18.
The school is a registered charity. The school is a member of the Independent Schools Association, the Boarding School Association and the Independent Schools Council.
The school was founded on 18 January 1907 by Mrs Amy Gough, with two day pupils and five boarders in Glenmore House in the village of Doseley near Wellington
. The school grew quickly and the roll was thirty-one after two years. In 1915 the school moved into the larger Innage House in Shifnal
. The numbers of boarders doubled and two years later a second boarding house was needed.
In 1919 the school moved again to a Georgian
mansion in Shifnal
called Haughton Hall, with room for 45 boarders and staff.
In 1926 the Old Girls Association was established. In 1927 a private company was formed for the purchase of Adcote in Little Ness. The school was filled to capacity with 72 boarders. During the depression
the school maintained its numbers with never fewer than 50 boarders.
By 1937 the numbers had risen again and the following year plans were drawn up to convert the stables and other outbuildings into classrooms, music rooms and laboratories. The Second World War halted the plans but another building, "The Mount", was taken up in Baschurch
to accommodate another 16 children. By 1947 both schools were filled to capacity and waiting lists were in place until 1951. In 1954 the junior school moved to Aston Hall near Oswestry
, which then returned to Adcote in 1968. The school continued to grow and the Adcote Educational Trust was established in 1964. Since then the school has been administered by a board of governors
.
In 2007 the school celebrated its centenary, and it continues to flourish to the present day. Recent developments include the increased provision of ICT facilities, the refurbishment of the boarding accommodation and a new multi-fuel heating system for the school.
The medieval 'vill' or settlement of Addecote has had a written history since Saxon times. The original name is probably 'Addancot', the cottage of 'Adda'. At the time of the Norman Conquest, the 'vill' formed part of the manor of Little Ness, which was given by William the Conquerer to his kinsman, Roger de Montgomery. In 1603 King James I
, by letter patent, granted the manor of Little Ness, including Adcote, to the protestant branch of the Howard family, Thomas, Earl of Suffolk
, who in turn sold it to the Cravens. Adcote was divided up during the early part of the eighteenth century and was reunited by the Shropshire hero - Clive of India. From Clive's will we learn that he had purchased the lands stretching from Baschurch to Little Ness. In 1850 Robert Clive's great grandson, sold his land to Henry Dickenson, of Coalbrookdale
, who was married to Deborah Darby. In 1868 the property was conveyed to Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby.
The house was designed by the famous architect Norman Shaw RA to a Tudor
design and stands in 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) of landscaped gardens. Some local sources of inspiration for Adcote are thought to be Benthall Hall
in Broseley
and Madeley Court, the former home of the Darby family. It is thought that "Shaw himself regarded Adcote as his best house" It is also considered that the house is "perhaps the best example of the country houses built (by Shaw) between 1870 and 1880". Adcote House "has become famous mainly due to Shaw's autograph drawing A masterpiece of Archetectonic drawing, it now adorns the Diploma Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, London
." Shaw designed Adcote in Tudor style and used the local building traditions to give the house a sense of continuity with the past The house is built of local sandstone
with tall chimneys, pointed gables
and mullioned and transomed windows. Its features include a Great Hall
with a Minstrels' gallery
, William De Morgan
tiled fireplaces and stained glass windows by Morris & Co.
, after cartoons by Walter Crane
. The use was built for Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby I (1807–52). Mrs Darby lived in the house until her death in 1909. Mrs Darby enjoyed entertaining guests and Queen Mary
was known to be a regular visitor.
Alfred Darby II inherited the house from his mother. Alfred (1850–1925) was the final family link to Coalbrookdale: he was chairman of the company from 1886 until his death, and thus the Darby's long and illustrious history in the regional and national industrial revolution ended. Upon his death the house was sold to the Adcote School Trust. The Darby family - as Quaker educationalists, were pleased to see the house converted into a school;otherwise it could well have been demolished - as happened to some of Shaw's other mansions. Adcote was converted to a boarding school in 1927. Now the spacious upstairs bedrooms are dormitories for boarders, with views of the gardens and surrounding countryside. The original stable and coach houses have been converted into classrooms, science laboratories and the Junior School.
, Oaks (American and evergreen), Atlas Cedar
s and Wellingtonia
. The grounds include a walled garden and borders filled with rhododendrons and azaleas. As part of the National Gardens Scheme
, the school and its grounds are regularly open to the public.
The Junior School
is for Girls aged 5 to 11. In Key Stage 1
and Key Stage 2
the girls follow Years 1 to 6 of the National Curriculum. English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Religious Education, Music, Art, PE, Design Technology (which includes Textiles and Food Technology), French, Information & Communications Technology (ICT). SATs
tests are taken in Year 6.
The Senior School is for Girls aged 11 to 18. Years 7 to 9 follow Key Stage 3
of the National Curriculum for girls aged 11–14 years. English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities
, RE, Languages, ICT
, Art, Music, Food Technology
, Textiles, PE
, PSHCE and Careers. For girls whose first language is not English a full programme of English as an Acquired Language (EAL) is available. SATs
tests are taken in Year 9 when girls receive help and advice before choosing their GCSE options.
Years 10 and 11 follow Key Stage 4
of the National Curriculum for girls aged 14–16 years. The core curriculum comprises English, English Literature, Mathematics (including Statistics) and Science. All three Sciences can be studied individually, leading to Dual Award Science at GCSE. Provision is also made for students wishing to take the sciences as three separate subjects at A Level. In addition girls are encouraged to choose three or four of the following optional subjects : History, Geography, Business Studies
, French, ICT
, Religious Education, Art, Textiles, Music, Drama, Food Technology
, Child Development
and PE
. Accelerated classes for AS level
Critical Thinking
and Psychology
are also offered.
The Sixth Form
follows the National Curriculum for girls aged 16–18 years. A-Levels can be chosen from the following options : English, Religious Education, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Accounting, Business Studies, French, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, ICT
, Art, Music, Food Technology, PE, Textiles, Drama and Theatre Studies. A BTEC Diploma
in Performing Arts is also offered.
In the academic year 2008–09 at GCSE 40 per cent of grades were either A* or A, 60 per cent were grade B or better, and 84 per cent of all grades were A* - C. Seventy-five per cent of the candidates gained a minimum of five higher-grade GCSEs, and nearly every pupil in the year attained at least five GCSE passes. Half of all AS grades were at A, B or C, and 84 per cent were grade E or better. At A level 30 per cent of all grades were grades A and B, and only one candidate failed to achieve a pass in just one subject.
In the academic year 2009-2010 at GCSE 80% of pupils attained at least 5 GCSE passes A*-C. Forty seven per cent of all grades at A2 were grades A and B. Only one candidate failed to achieve a pass in just one subject. In the Lower Sixth form there was a ninety three percent pass rate. Forty four percent of all AS grades were A or B.
According to the 2009 Sunday Times Parent Power Survey, Adcote is one of the top fifty small independent schools in the country. The school was ranked 37th nationally, by performance at GCSE examinations in the summer of 2009.
In the academic year 2010-2011, at A level, there was almost a 100% pass rate, with 84% of candidates gaining a grade from A*-C.
In the academic year 2010-2011 at GCSE 81% of all grades awarded were A* - C.
In the Independent Schools Inspection of 2011, every area of school life was rated as at least 'good', with several areas rated as 'outstanding'.
The Gardening Club has been very successful in recent years, winning a gold award and the Best In Show trophy at the Malvern Show working with celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw
. They have also won two gold medals at the Shrewsbury flower show.
The school organises regular drama productions and a significant number of pupils achieve LAMDA awards.
Many extra curricular activities are arranged both in the week and on the weekends. There are trips to local venues for shopping, swimming and bowling, visits to concert halls and theatres in the region, and weekend trips to places such as The Eden Project, Bath, and Hadrian's Wall.
Social events are arranged on a regular basis for the girls in conjunction with the local independent schools such as Prestfelde
and Shrewsbury School
.
The girls at Adcote play a variety of sports, in both PE
lessons and through activities. In the Autumn term the girls, usually Years 7, 8 and 9, play Netball
and Lacrosse
competitively. The Netball squads compete in the Shropshire
Schools League and Lacrosse
is played against local independent schools.
In the Summer term, Rounders is the main sport that is played competitively in the Shropshire School League, however the school has just recently received a small grant from the Shropshire LTA
and is in the process of increasing the profile of tennis.
In PE
lessons girls also have the opportunity to play rugby and participate in gymnastics and athletics.
Adcote is now recognised as one of the leading schools for gymnastics in the region.
In 2010 the Over 11 gymnast team are the Midlands Independent Schools Champions and the Shropshire School Champions, with the U11 2nd overall. The Under 11 team also came 2nd in the Independent School Nationals at Fenton Manor.
The former England Netball Captain Tracey Neville
was the Guest Speaker at the 2010 Speech Day. The current England international hockey player Rebecca Herbert was the Guest Speaker at the 2011 Speech Day.
In 2008 the Headmaster Ryan Jervis was awarded the OBE for his services to Education.
All members of the Association receive an annual newsletter, usually at the beginning of September. This includes a bulletin with up to date news of events, etc.
In 2008 the Old Girls Association established a new scholarship. The scholarship, for entry to Year 7, is for up to 100% of fees, subject to means testing. Applications for this major award are invited from exceptional young ladies belonging to families living within the old Adcote Estate, which includes Baschurch, Great Ness, Nesscliffe and Montford Bridge.
The Association is very active and has more than a thousand members.
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
non-selective day and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for girls, located in the village of Little Ness, five miles (8 km) northwest of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, 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 was founded in 1907, and is set in a Grade I listed country house built in 1879 for Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby I (1807–52) and a great niece of Abraham Darby
Abraham Darby I
Abraham Darby I was the first, and most famous, of three generations with that name in an English Quaker family that played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. He developed a method of producing pig iron in a blast furnace fuelled by coke rather than charcoal...
. The Darbys were the iron-master family who built Ironbridge
The Iron Bridge
The Iron Bridge crosses the River Severn at the Ironbridge Gorge, by the village of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, England. It was the first arch bridge in the world to be made out of cast iron, a material which was previously far too expensive to use for large structures...
. The school has a nursery that takes children aged 2 to 5, a Junior Department that takes girls aged 5 to 11, and the Senior School for girls aged 11 to 18.
The school is a registered charity. The school is a member of the Independent Schools Association, the Boarding School Association and the Independent Schools Council.
History
Wellington, Shropshire
Wellington is a town in the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England and now forms part of the new town of Telford. The population of the parish of Wellington was recorded as 20,430 in the 2001 census, making it the third largest town in Shropshire if...
. The school grew quickly and the roll was thirty-one after two years. In 1915 the school moved into the larger Innage House in Shifnal
Shifnal
Shifnal is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It forms part of The Wrekin constituency, and is about east of Telford. It has a railway station on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line and is near to the M54 motorway.-Early medieval time:...
. The numbers of boarders doubled and two years later a second boarding house was needed.
In 1919 the school moved again to a Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
mansion in Shifnal
Shifnal
Shifnal is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It forms part of The Wrekin constituency, and is about east of Telford. It has a railway station on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line and is near to the M54 motorway.-Early medieval time:...
called Haughton Hall, with room for 45 boarders and staff.
In 1926 the Old Girls Association was established. In 1927 a private company was formed for the purchase of Adcote in Little Ness. The school was filled to capacity with 72 boarders. During the depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
the school maintained its numbers with never fewer than 50 boarders.
By 1937 the numbers had risen again and the following year plans were drawn up to convert the stables and other outbuildings into classrooms, music rooms and laboratories. The Second World War halted the plans but another building, "The Mount", was taken up in Baschurch
Baschurch
Baschurch is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. Population: 1,475 . The village has strong links to Shrewsbury to the south-east, Oswestry to the north-west, and Wem to the north-east. Baschurch is twinned with the town of Giat...
to accommodate another 16 children. By 1947 both schools were filled to capacity and waiting lists were in place until 1951. In 1954 the junior school moved to Aston Hall near Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, which then returned to Adcote in 1968. The school continued to grow and the Adcote Educational Trust was established in 1964. Since then the school has been administered by a board of governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
.
In 2007 the school celebrated its centenary, and it continues to flourish to the present day. Recent developments include the increased provision of ICT facilities, the refurbishment of the boarding accommodation and a new multi-fuel heating system for the school.
Adcote House
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, by letter patent, granted the manor of Little Ness, including Adcote, to the protestant branch of the Howard family, Thomas, Earl of Suffolk
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Admiral Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, KG, PC was a son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk by his second wife Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk, the daughter and heiress of the 1st Baron Audley of Walden....
, who in turn sold it to the Cravens. Adcote was divided up during the early part of the eighteenth century and was reunited by the Shropshire hero - Clive of India. From Clive's will we learn that he had purchased the lands stretching from Baschurch to Little Ness. In 1850 Robert Clive's great grandson, sold his land to Henry Dickenson, of Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale is a village in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England, containing a settlement of great significance in the history of iron ore smelting. This is where iron ore was first smelted by Abraham Darby using easily mined "coking coal". The coal was drawn from drift mines in the sides...
, who was married to Deborah Darby. In 1868 the property was conveyed to Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby.
The house was designed by the famous architect Norman Shaw RA to a Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
design and stands in 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) of landscaped gardens. Some local sources of inspiration for Adcote are thought to be Benthall Hall
Benthall Hall
Benthall Hall is a 16th century English country house located in Benthall close to the town of Broseley, Shropshire, England, and a few miles from the historic Ironbridge Gorge. It retains much of its fine oak interior, and an elaborate 17th century staircase...
in Broseley
Broseley
Broseley is a small town in Shropshire, England with a population of 4,912 . The River Severn flows to the north and east of the town. Broseley has a town council and is part of the area controlled by Shropshire Council. The first iron bridge in the world was built in 1779 to link Broseley with...
and Madeley Court, the former home of the Darby family. It is thought that "Shaw himself regarded Adcote as his best house" It is also considered that the house is "perhaps the best example of the country houses built (by Shaw) between 1870 and 1880". Adcote House "has become famous mainly due to Shaw's autograph drawing A masterpiece of Archetectonic drawing, it now adorns the Diploma Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, London
London
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...
." Shaw designed Adcote in Tudor style and used the local building traditions to give the house a sense of continuity with the past The house is built of local sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with tall chimneys, pointed gables
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
and mullioned and transomed windows. Its features include a Great Hall
Great hall
A great hall is the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or a large manor house in the Middle Ages, and in the country houses of the 16th and early 17th centuries. At that time the word great simply meant big, and had not acquired its modern connotations of excellence...
with a Minstrels' gallery
Minstrels' gallery
A minstrels' gallery is a form of balcony, often inside the great hall of a castle or manor house, and used to allow musicians to perform, sometimes discreetly hidden from the guests below.-Notable minstrel's galleries:...
, William De Morgan
William De Morgan
William Frend De Morgan was an English potter and tile designer. A lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass and furniture for Morris & Co. from 1863 to 1872. His tiles are often based on medieval designs or Persian patterns, and he experimented with innovative glazes and...
tiled fireplaces and stained glass windows by Morris & Co.
Morris & Co.
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. and its successor Morris & Co. were furnishings and decorative arts manufacturers and retailers founded by the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris...
, after cartoons by Walter Crane
Walter Crane
Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most prolific and influential children’s book creator of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of...
. The use was built for Rebecca Darby, the widow of Alfred Darby I (1807–52). Mrs Darby lived in the house until her death in 1909. Mrs Darby enjoyed entertaining guests and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
was known to be a regular visitor.
Alfred Darby II inherited the house from his mother. Alfred (1850–1925) was the final family link to Coalbrookdale: he was chairman of the company from 1886 until his death, and thus the Darby's long and illustrious history in the regional and national industrial revolution ended. Upon his death the house was sold to the Adcote School Trust. The Darby family - as Quaker educationalists, were pleased to see the house converted into a school;otherwise it could well have been demolished - as happened to some of Shaw's other mansions. Adcote was converted to a boarding school in 1927. Now the spacious upstairs bedrooms are dormitories for boarders, with views of the gardens and surrounding countryside. The original stable and coach houses have been converted into classrooms, science laboratories and the Junior School.
Gardens
The landscaped gardens surrounding the school feature a variety of trees including Beeches, Tulip treesLiriodendron
Liriodendron is a genus of two species of characteristically large deciduous trees in the magnolia family .These trees are widely known by the common name tulip tree or tuliptree for their large flowers superficially resembling tulips, but are closely related to magnolias rather than lilies, the...
, Oaks (American and evergreen), Atlas Cedar
Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco . A majority of the modern sources treat it as a distinct species Cedrus atlantica, but some sources consider it a subspecies of Lebanon Cedar Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to...
s and Wellingtonia
Sequoiadendron
Sequoiadendron giganteum is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with Sequoia sempervirens and...
. The grounds include a walled garden and borders filled with rhododendrons and azaleas. As part of the National Gardens Scheme
National Gardens Scheme
The National Gardens Scheme, was founded in 1927 in England with the aim of "opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public for charity". Originally, the money was raised to provide pension support for district nurses; 609 private gardens were opened and £8,191 was raised.Over...
, the school and its grounds are regularly open to the public.
School Curriculum
There is a Reception Class which covers the EYFS statutory framework.The Junior School
Junior school
A junior school is a type of school which caters for children, often between the ages of 7 and 11.-Australia:In Australia, a junior school is usually a part of a private school that educates children between the ages of 5 and 12....
is for Girls aged 5 to 11. In Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or...
and Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
the girls follow Years 1 to 6 of the National Curriculum. English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Religious Education, Music, Art, PE, Design Technology (which includes Textiles and Food Technology), French, Information & Communications Technology (ICT). SATs
National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
tests are taken in Year 6.
The Senior School is for Girls aged 11 to 18. Years 7 to 9 follow Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14...
of the National Curriculum for girls aged 11–14 years. English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, RE, Languages, ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
, Art, Music, Food Technology
Food technology
Food technology, is a branch of food science which deals with the actual production processes to make foods.-Early history of food technology:...
, Textiles, PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, PSHCE and Careers. For girls whose first language is not English a full programme of English as an Acquired Language (EAL) is available. SATs
National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
tests are taken in Year 9 when girls receive help and advice before choosing their GCSE options.
Years 10 and 11 follow Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4 is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other exams, in maintained schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—normally known as Year 10 and Year 11 in England and Wales, and Year 11 and Year 12 in Northern Ireland, when pupils are...
of the National Curriculum for girls aged 14–16 years. The core curriculum comprises English, English Literature, Mathematics (including Statistics) and Science. All three Sciences can be studied individually, leading to Dual Award Science at GCSE. Provision is also made for students wishing to take the sciences as three separate subjects at A Level. In addition girls are encouraged to choose three or four of the following optional subjects : History, Geography, Business Studies
Business studies
Business studies is an academic subject taught at higher level in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, as well as at university level in many countries...
, French, ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
, Religious Education, Art, Textiles, Music, Drama, Food Technology
Food technology
Food technology, is a branch of food science which deals with the actual production processes to make foods.-Early history of food technology:...
, Child Development
Child development
Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories....
and PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. Accelerated classes for AS level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
are also offered.
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,...
follows the National Curriculum for girls aged 16–18 years. A-Levels can be chosen from the following options : English, Religious Education, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Accounting, Business Studies, French, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
, Art, Music, Food Technology, PE, Textiles, Drama and Theatre Studies. A BTEC Diploma
BTEC First Diploma
The BTEC First Diploma is a vocational qualification taken in England and Wales and Northern Ireland by young people aged 16 and over and by adults. The qualification is organised and awarded by the Edexcel Foundation within the BTEC brand....
in Performing Arts is also offered.
Academic Results
In the academic year 2007–08 three-quarters of pupils scored at least five A* - C GCSE passes or better. At A level 43 per cent of all exam entries scored A at A-level.In the academic year 2008–09 at GCSE 40 per cent of grades were either A* or A, 60 per cent were grade B or better, and 84 per cent of all grades were A* - C. Seventy-five per cent of the candidates gained a minimum of five higher-grade GCSEs, and nearly every pupil in the year attained at least five GCSE passes. Half of all AS grades were at A, B or C, and 84 per cent were grade E or better. At A level 30 per cent of all grades were grades A and B, and only one candidate failed to achieve a pass in just one subject.
In the academic year 2009-2010 at GCSE 80% of pupils attained at least 5 GCSE passes A*-C. Forty seven per cent of all grades at A2 were grades A and B. Only one candidate failed to achieve a pass in just one subject. In the Lower Sixth form there was a ninety three percent pass rate. Forty four percent of all AS grades were A or B.
According to the 2009 Sunday Times Parent Power Survey, Adcote is one of the top fifty small independent schools in the country. The school was ranked 37th nationally, by performance at GCSE examinations in the summer of 2009.
In the academic year 2010-2011, at A level, there was almost a 100% pass rate, with 84% of candidates gaining a grade from A*-C.
In the academic year 2010-2011 at GCSE 81% of all grades awarded were A* - C.
In the Independent Schools Inspection of 2011, every area of school life was rated as at least 'good', with several areas rated as 'outstanding'.
Extended Curriculum
A wide range of activities are offered by the school. These include: Judo, Horse Riding, Dance, Ballet, Trampolining, Circus Skills, Rowing, Tennis, Badminton, Golf, Design Technology and Art, Food Technology, Textiles and the Duke of Edinburgh award.The Gardening Club has been very successful in recent years, winning a gold award and the Best In Show trophy at the Malvern Show working with celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw
Chris Beardshaw
Chris Beardshaw is an award winning UK gardener who is perhaps best known for his work on the BBC's long running television series Gardeners World. He is formally trained and holds an MA in Landscape Architecture from the University of Gloucestershire...
. They have also won two gold medals at the Shrewsbury flower show.
The school organises regular drama productions and a significant number of pupils achieve LAMDA awards.
Houses
Each girl is allocated to one of three houses - Glenmore, Haughton and Innage - which are the basis for competition within the school. Sporting trophies, music events and points gained throughout the year all go towards deciding on the top-performing house each year.Boarding
Boarding is available for girls aged 7 to 18. Boarding arrangements are very flexible: occasional, weekly or full boarding is possible. Every girl has a tutor to offer support. In addition to tutors, responsibility for the care, personal development, welfare and general happiness of boarders rests with the resident Pastoral Deputy, who is assisted by three resident matrons and is supported by the school doctor.Many extra curricular activities are arranged both in the week and on the weekends. There are trips to local venues for shopping, swimming and bowling, visits to concert halls and theatres in the region, and weekend trips to places such as The Eden Project, Bath, and Hadrian's Wall.
Social events are arranged on a regular basis for the girls in conjunction with the local independent schools such as Prestfelde
Prestfelde School
Prestfelde School is an independent coeducational day and boarding preparatory school, located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England for children between the ages of 3 and 13...
and Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
.
Sport
Sport is regarded as very important by the school and girls have the opportunity to enjoy netball, athletics, archery, golf, badminton, rowing and judo with tuition available for horse riding, tennis and swimming.The girls at Adcote play a variety of sports, in both PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
lessons and through activities. In the Autumn term the girls, usually Years 7, 8 and 9, play Netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
and Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
competitively. The Netball squads compete in the Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
Schools League and Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
is played against local independent schools.
In the Summer term, Rounders is the main sport that is played competitively in the Shropshire School League, however the school has just recently received a small grant from the Shropshire LTA
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
and is in the process of increasing the profile of tennis.
In PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
lessons girls also have the opportunity to play rugby and participate in gymnastics and athletics.
Adcote is now recognised as one of the leading schools for gymnastics in the region.
In 2010 the Over 11 gymnast team are the Midlands Independent Schools Champions and the Shropshire School Champions, with the U11 2nd overall. The Under 11 team also came 2nd in the Independent School Nationals at Fenton Manor.
The former England Netball Captain Tracey Neville
Tracey Neville
Tracey Anne Neville is one of England's most capped netball players, playing for her country 74 times before an injury forced her out of the game in 2008. She currently plays for Leeds Met Carnegie in the British Netball Superleague, after being out injured for two years...
was the Guest Speaker at the 2010 Speech Day. The current England international hockey player Rebecca Herbert was the Guest Speaker at the 2011 Speech Day.
Nursery
The "Happy Faces" Nursery is located within the grounds of Adcote School providing a Montessori pre-school education for boys and girls from 3 months to 5 years old.Previous Headmasters and Headmistresses of Adcote
| Years |
Headmasters / Headmistresses |
|---|---|
| (1907–1946) | Amy Gough |
| (1946–1972) | Doris Gough |
| (1972–1978) | Mary Norman |
| (1978–1997) | Susan Cecchet |
| (1997–2001) | Angela Read |
| (2002–2004) | Robin Case |
| (2004–2007) | Deborah Hammond |
| (2007–2009) | Ryan Jervis |
| (2009 - ) | Gary Wright |
In 2008 the Headmaster Ryan Jervis was awarded the OBE for his services to Education.
Old Girls' Association
After less formal arrangements had been made for many years, the Old Girls' Association was formed in 1926. All past students of the school can become members of the Old Girls' Association (OGA), which coordinates reunions, alumni sporting teams and other activities for alumni.All members of the Association receive an annual newsletter, usually at the beginning of September. This includes a bulletin with up to date news of events, etc.
In 2008 the Old Girls Association established a new scholarship. The scholarship, for entry to Year 7, is for up to 100% of fees, subject to means testing. Applications for this major award are invited from exceptional young ladies belonging to families living within the old Adcote Estate, which includes Baschurch, Great Ness, Nesscliffe and Montford Bridge.
The Association is very active and has more than a thousand members.
Notable former pupils
Former students of Adcote are referred to as Old Adcotians.- Marit AllenMarit AllenMarit Allen was an English fashion journalist and costume designer who specialized in costumes for films. She designed the costumes for several successful Hollywood films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, The Witches, Eyes Wide Shut, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Brokeback Mountain and La Vie en Rose...
Fashion editor and film costume designer (1941–2007) - Polly StocktonPolly StocktonPolly Stockton is a British event rider. Polly is a member of the British World Class Performance squad.Polly Stockton has enjoyed a successful career as a Young Rider, she won the team gold at the 1994 European...
Polly is a member of the British World Class event riding performance squad and has represented her country at both young and senior level. - Sita Brahmachari Author. Winner of the 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
- Jane Dillon Internationally recognised interior designer
External links
- School inspection report from the ISI
- Boarding school inspection report from OFSTED
- School Website
- Schools Guide Book entry
- Independent Schools Directory entry
- UK Boarding Schools Guide
- Illustrations of Adcote
- Guardian Newspaper - Obituary of Marit Allen
- Shropshire Star - Marit Allen
- ISBI Entry
- Old Girls Association (OGA) website
- Schoolsnet Entry
- Amateur Rowing Association entry
- Independent Schools Directory entry
- Boarding School Association entry