Dayncourt School Specialist Sports College
Encyclopedia
Dayncourt School is a mixed-sex, state-funded, comprehensive
secondary school
located in the village of Radcliffe on Trent
, in Nottinghamshire
, England
. The school intake covers pupils from ages 11 to 18, with the upper two years being catered for in the integrated sixth-form centre. Previously known as Radcliffe on Trent County Secondary School and then Dayncourt Comprehensive School, Dayncourt was awarded Specialist Sports College status in September 2002.
of Canada
at the time. The Canadian association was apt, as one of the driving motivations for the development of the school was the presence of a sizeable expatriate Canadian population in the district, a product of the Royal Canadian Air Force
's use of Langar airfield
, 6.5 miles southwest of Radcliffe.
Of the initial intake roughly 20% were Canadian, with the majority of other students being drawn from the village of Radcliffe. As Canadian pupils commonly only attended the Radcliffe school while their parents were stationed at the air base, every effort was made to allow these students to move smoothly between the Canadian and British education systems: four of the initial teaching staff were themselves Canadian, and lessons and timetabling were adapted to better integrate the two regimes. For many years the link between the two countries was symbolised by the presence of a large, 6m totem pole
placed on a lawn to the right of the main entrance. The pole was carved from a telegraph pole by an early Canadian pupil at the school, and was accompanied by a smaller 2m pole placed inside the entrance lobby itself. In the mid-1990s it was discovered that the original wooden pole had become dangerously rotten and so had to be removed. A replacement was constructed in fibreglass, and painted by staff and students of the school.
. Included alongside Radcliffe were the villages of Shelford, Holme Pierrepont
and Gamston
along the River Trent
, Cotgrave
to the south, and many smaller hamlets in the surrounding area. It was decided that the school name should be changed to better reflect this wider geographical spread.
No one identity linked these disparate communities. Social and cultural differences were distinctly apparent between agrarian villages such as Shelford and Gamston, the colliery village of Cotgrave, and commuter-dominated Radcliffe. The common practice of naming the school after the local manorial
family was not possible as, although both the de Manvers and Pierrepont families were significant historical landholders, neither had held the area in its entirety. The only family to have done so were the De Aincurts, who held the land in the years following the Norman Conquest. Using the modern spelling of the name, it was agreed that the school should be renamed Dayncourt.
World Champion Nathan Robertson
is a former pupil. In September 2002 Dayncourt School was awarded Specialist Sports College status, after a campaign led by long-serving PE
teachers Dave Bullas and John Jones. The decision marked a significant shift in the evolution of the school, and in particular its integration with the wider local community. Increases in funding which accompany the Sports College status, in addition to the ability to raise extra funding from third parties, have seen a complete overhaul of school sporting facilities in the first few years of the new millennium. A recent grant of nearly £500,000 from the Football Foundation
allowed the school to build a new all-weather pitch facility. Dave Bullas died unexpectedly on the 10th December 2005 and the school decided to name their new facility in his memory. The Dave Bullas Sports Centre was opened by former Nottingham Forest
player Steve Chettle
on 9th July 2007. Further capital investment is planned for the indoor and swimming facilities in the coming years.
colours of light blue and yellow are those of the De Aincurt family arms
, dating back to before 1066. In the upper portion a black lion passant gardant
represents both the Pierrepont and Manvers family crests; a black lion forms the central feature of both sets of insignia, although in each case the lion is depicted rampant
. In the lower portion, blue lines are again borrowed from the De Aincurt escutcheon, but are given a wave to represent the River Trent, which runs along the northern border of the school's catchment area. Finally, the five black blocks represent the five major villages in the catchement area: Radcliffe on Trent, Cotgrave, Shelford, Holme Pierrepont and Gamston.
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...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in the village of Radcliffe on Trent
Radcliffe on Trent
Radcliffe-on-Trent is a large village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire-Location:Radcliffe has a population of around 8,000. It is to the east of Nottingham, and is close to but not quite part of the Greater Nottingham built-up area...
, in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire 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 intake covers pupils from ages 11 to 18, with the upper two years being catered for in the integrated sixth-form centre. Previously known as Radcliffe on Trent County Secondary School and then Dayncourt Comprehensive School, Dayncourt was awarded Specialist Sports College status in September 2002.
Origins and the Canadian influence
Radcliffe on Trent County Secondary School was built in 1957 and enrolled its first intake of approximately 300 pupils at the beginning of the new academic year that September. The school was officially opened on 6th November 1957 by Mr. S. D. Pierce, Deputy High CommissionerHigh Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the time. The Canadian association was apt, as one of the driving motivations for the development of the school was the presence of a sizeable expatriate Canadian population in the district, a product of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
's use of Langar airfield
RAF Langar
RAF Station Langar is a former military airfield on the border of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire near the village of Langar in England. The airfield is located approximately east-southeast of Radcliffe on Trent; about north-northwest of London...
, 6.5 miles southwest of Radcliffe.
Of the initial intake roughly 20% were Canadian, with the majority of other students being drawn from the village of Radcliffe. As Canadian pupils commonly only attended the Radcliffe school while their parents were stationed at the air base, every effort was made to allow these students to move smoothly between the Canadian and British education systems: four of the initial teaching staff were themselves Canadian, and lessons and timetabling were adapted to better integrate the two regimes. For many years the link between the two countries was symbolised by the presence of a large, 6m totem pole
Totem pole
Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America...
placed on a lawn to the right of the main entrance. The pole was carved from a telegraph pole by an early Canadian pupil at the school, and was accompanied by a smaller 2m pole placed inside the entrance lobby itself. In the mid-1990s it was discovered that the original wooden pole had become dangerously rotten and so had to be removed. A replacement was constructed in fibreglass, and painted by staff and students of the school.
School expansion and a name change
In 1972 the school took on full comprehensive status, and with it a greatly increased catchment areaCatchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
. Included alongside Radcliffe were the villages of Shelford, Holme Pierrepont
Holme Pierrepont
Holme Pierrepont is a hamlet located south of the city of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire, England. It is in the Gamston ward of the Rushcliffe local authority in the East Midlands region....
and Gamston
Gamston, Rushcliffe
Gamston is a civil parish and a suburb of West Bridgford, in the Rushcliffe district of Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated approximately south-east of Nottingham and is part of the West Bridgford postcode of NG2....
along the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
, Cotgrave
Cotgrave
-History:Cotgrave is a town in the borough of Rushcliffe, in Nottinghamshire, England, lying south east of Nottingham. With a relatively small population and an ancient heart that has largely escaped development Cotgrave has a village atmosphere...
to the south, and many smaller hamlets in the surrounding area. It was decided that the school name should be changed to better reflect this wider geographical spread.
No one identity linked these disparate communities. Social and cultural differences were distinctly apparent between agrarian villages such as Shelford and Gamston, the colliery village of Cotgrave, and commuter-dominated Radcliffe. The common practice of naming the school after the local manorial
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
family was not possible as, although both the de Manvers and Pierrepont families were significant historical landholders, neither had held the area in its entirety. The only family to have done so were the De Aincurts, who held the land in the years following the Norman Conquest. Using the modern spelling of the name, it was agreed that the school should be renamed Dayncourt.
Specialist sports college
Sport has always played a key role in Dayncourt's identity. BadmintonBadminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
World Champion Nathan Robertson
Nathan Robertson
Nathan James Robertson is an English badminton player who has achieved international success in both the men's events and the mixed doubles event...
is a former pupil. In September 2002 Dayncourt School was awarded Specialist Sports College status, after a campaign led by long-serving 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....
teachers Dave Bullas and John Jones. The decision marked a significant shift in the evolution of the school, and in particular its integration with the wider local community. Increases in funding which accompany the Sports College status, in addition to the ability to raise extra funding from third parties, have seen a complete overhaul of school sporting facilities in the first few years of the new millennium. A recent grant of nearly £500,000 from the Football Foundation
Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the United Kingdom’s largest sports charity, investing £40m into communities each year thanks to money provided by its funding partners the Premier League, The FA and the Government...
allowed the school to build a new all-weather pitch facility. Dave Bullas died unexpectedly on the 10th December 2005 and the school decided to name their new facility in his memory. The Dave Bullas Sports Centre was opened by former Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
player Steve Chettle
Steve Chettle
Stephen "Steve" Chettle is an English former footballer who currently works as the U13 team coach at Nottingham Forest. He is best known for his time as a player at Forest...
on 9th July 2007. Further capital investment is planned for the indoor and swimming facilities in the coming years.
The school badge
The school badge reflects many aspects of local and school history. The fieldField (heraldry)
In heraldry, the background of the shield is called the field. The field is usually composed of one or more tinctures or furs. The field may be divided or may consist of a variegated pattern....
colours of light blue and yellow are those of the De Aincurt family arms
Coat 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...
, dating back to before 1066. In the upper portion a black lion passant gardant
Attitude (heraldry)
In heraldry, an attitude is the position in which an animal, fictional beast, mythical creature, human or human-like being is emblazoned as a charge, supporter or crest. Many attitudes apply only to predatory beasts and are exemplified by the beast most frequently found in heraldry — the lion. ...
represents both the Pierrepont and Manvers family crests; a black lion forms the central feature of both sets of insignia, although in each case the lion is depicted rampant
Attitude (heraldry)
In heraldry, an attitude is the position in which an animal, fictional beast, mythical creature, human or human-like being is emblazoned as a charge, supporter or crest. Many attitudes apply only to predatory beasts and are exemplified by the beast most frequently found in heraldry — the lion. ...
. In the lower portion, blue lines are again borrowed from the De Aincurt escutcheon, but are given a wave to represent the River Trent, which runs along the northern border of the school's catchment area. Finally, the five black blocks represent the five major villages in the catchement area: Radcliffe on Trent, Cotgrave, Shelford, Holme Pierrepont and Gamston.
Notable alumni
- Rebecca Gill, England Polo Champion 2011, Equestrian Silver Medallist 2008
- Nathan RobertsonNathan RobertsonNathan James Robertson is an English badminton player who has achieved international success in both the men's events and the mixed doubles event...
, World Badminton Champion (20062006 IBF World Championships - Mixed Doubles-Section 2:-Section 3:-Section 4:-Finals:-References:...
) and Olympic Silver Medallist (2004Badminton at the 2004 Summer OlympicsBadminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Goudi Olympic Hall at the Goudi Olympic Complex from August 14 through August 21. Both men and women competed in their own singles and doubles events and together they competed in a mixed doubles event....
). - Tom Graham, actor, plays Tom Archer in the long-running BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
soap opera The ArchersThe ArchersThe Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
.