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Holgate School (Hucknall)
Encyclopedia
Holgate School is a specialist "School of arts" in Hucknall
, Nottinghamshire
, England
, a former mining community north of Nottingham. The school has a centre for deaf students and the sixth form serves both the secondary schools in Hucknall. A carved stone cross called a khatchkar was placed in the school by the Armenia
n government as a thank you for the Lord Byron School
which was built in Leninakan (now Gyumri
) in Armenia following their 1988 earthquake. The carving was replaced in 2004.
in Durham
. Two other schools in Hucknall are named after Ms Holgate.
In 1968, while the school was a secondary modern school, a former headmistress was charged and found guilty of theft and fraud. She pleaded guilty to a number of charges including spending £38 that the students had collected for charity.
The school had been in special measures due to its poor leadership, behaviour and performance in November 2004 and it was reported that parents were to take legal action against the school for not dealing with bullying effectively. In February 2005, the head teacher resigned and a new head was seconded, initially for a period of one year, from Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
.
The school was reassessed as "Satisfactory" and was then assessed as "Good" in 2008, although it was noted that the improvement in teaching was not yet reflected in the results and the governing body was "Satisfactory". In 2007 the school successfully attained recognition as a school of Arts and in 2008 took on an Artist in residence, Neil Heath, to inspire the students.
The sixth form did not attract as many students as it should and did not score well in the recent inspection compared with the main school, although this was recognised in future plans.
All year 7 students are taught 'Respect Me' and it is expected to be remembered throughout the year groups, including sixth form.
The school is unusual in having a Khatchkar in its grounds. A Khatchkar is a traditional carved cross which has been used in Armenia since the thirteenth century. The original Khatchkar was placed in the school by the Armenia
n government in thanks for the Lord Byron School
which was built in Leninakan (now Gyumri
) in Armenia following their 1988 earthquake at Spitak and opened by Margaret Thatcher
. There was a good partnership between the schools largely due to the influence of the rector, Fred Green, from the local St Mary Magdalene church
where Lord Byron is buried. The initial reason for the partnership arose because of Lord Byron. Byron was a famous British poet who had shown an affection for Armenian culture when he was a guest of the Mekhitarist Order in Saint Lazarus Island, Venice
. The original Khatchkar was installed on 5 November 1991 in a ceremony attended by Kenneth Clarke
the then Minister for education. The original stone was irretrievably damaged by vandals in 2000. Fortunately the Armenian government not only replaced it but also caused the original to be erected at the church. The new stone by the original stonemason was installed in 2004 in memory of the rector and his belief that the damage should be seen as a strengthening of faith. It was thought that the original stone may have been damaged by football fans
who confused Armenia with Albania
.
Hucknall
Hucknall, formerly known as Hucknall Torkard, is a town in Greater Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in the district of Ashfield. The town was historically a centre for framework knitting and then for mining but is now a focus for other industries as well providing housing for workers 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...
, a former mining community north of Nottingham. The school has a centre for deaf students and the sixth form serves both the secondary schools in Hucknall. A carved stone cross called a khatchkar was placed in the school by the Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n government as a thank you for the Lord Byron School
Lord Byron School (Gyumri)
Lord Byron School #20 was founded in 1988 in Gyumri following the Spitak earthquake that devastated the city, by funds provided by the British Government as well as donations raised by the British people...
which was built in Leninakan (now Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
) in Armenia following their 1988 earthquake. The carving was replaced in 2004.
Background
The school was not complete in 1955 but the first students attended that year. The school was named after Annie Elizabeth Holgate who had been a teacher but had entered local politics and she became chair of the local education committee. She married Henry and her son was to become a noted mathematician and rise to head Grey CollegeGrey College, Durham
Grey College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Although it was originally planned that the college was to be named Oliver Cromwell College, this proved too controversial and it was instead named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister at the time of the...
in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. Two other schools in Hucknall are named after Ms Holgate.
In 1968, while the school was a secondary modern school, a former headmistress was charged and found guilty of theft and fraud. She pleaded guilty to a number of charges including spending £38 that the students had collected for charity.
The school had been in special measures due to its poor leadership, behaviour and performance in November 2004 and it was reported that parents were to take legal action against the school for not dealing with bullying effectively. In February 2005, the head teacher resigned and a new head was seconded, initially for a period of one year, from Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School
Bramcote Park Business & Enterprise School is a mixed state school in Nottinghamshire. It teaches children from 11 to 16 . It is located in Bramcote. The Executive Head Teacher is Kevin Dean. it is a member of the White Hills Park Federation...
.
The school was reassessed as "Satisfactory" and was then assessed as "Good" in 2008, although it was noted that the improvement in teaching was not yet reflected in the results and the governing body was "Satisfactory". In 2007 the school successfully attained recognition as a school of Arts and in 2008 took on an Artist in residence, Neil Heath, to inspire the students.
The sixth form did not attract as many students as it should and did not score well in the recent inspection compared with the main school, although this was recognised in future plans.
Subjects
Holgate is a specialist school in the Arts and therefore puts most of its focus and funding on subjects such as Art, Drama and Music. However, as well as the classical lessons of English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, History and Geography, it also gives third year students the option to take Psychology, Sociology, Business Studies, Information Technology and other non-compulsory subjects.Linked schools
There are seven schools that are identified as feeders to Holgate School, they are:- Edgewood Primary and Nursery
- Beardall Street Primary and Nursery School
- Broomhill Junior School
- Annie Holgate Junior
- Leen Mills Primary
- Bestwood Village Hawthorne Primary and Nursery
- Hillside Primary and Nursery
Code of conduct
The Holgate School uses a code of conduct that relies on the acronym 'Respect Me':- Respect all students, staff and visitors.
- Express your views in the right way.
- Safety for all.
- Prepare to learn.
- Enjoy education and allow others to do the same.
- Consider others before you act.
- Try your hardest to reach your goals.
- Manners cost nothing.
- Everyone can make the school a nice place to be.
All year 7 students are taught 'Respect Me' and it is expected to be remembered throughout the year groups, including sixth form.
Catering
Like many schools in Britain, Holgate has been trying to improve the quality of its school meals provision especially as part of a reduction in childhood obesity. However it is notable that the schools menu was singled out for comment in the Brunei Times, and the menus are available online. The school menu also made the British press after the school banned take-away food and saw healthy school dinner take-up rise by two hundred per cent in six months. Holgate was also the first school in Nottinghamshire to begin using 'Fingerprint technology' in the catering; this allowed for students to upload money to an account which allowed them to purchase food in the canteens. This system has been heralded for its use against bullying.Khatchkar and twinning
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n government in thanks for the Lord Byron School
Lord Byron School (Gyumri)
Lord Byron School #20 was founded in 1988 in Gyumri following the Spitak earthquake that devastated the city, by funds provided by the British Government as well as donations raised by the British people...
which was built in Leninakan (now Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
) in Armenia following their 1988 earthquake at Spitak and opened by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. There was a good partnership between the schools largely due to the influence of the rector, Fred Green, from the local St Mary Magdalene church
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hucknall
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, is a parish church in the Church of England.The church is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest....
where Lord Byron is buried. The initial reason for the partnership arose because of Lord Byron. Byron was a famous British poet who had shown an affection for Armenian culture when he was a guest of the Mekhitarist Order in Saint Lazarus Island, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The original Khatchkar was installed on 5 November 1991 in a ceremony attended by Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
the then Minister for education. The original stone was irretrievably damaged by vandals in 2000. Fortunately the Armenian government not only replaced it but also caused the original to be erected at the church. The new stone by the original stonemason was installed in 2004 in memory of the rector and his belief that the damage should be seen as a strengthening of faith. It was thought that the original stone may have been damaged by football fans
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
who confused Armenia with Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Alumni
Past pupils of Holgate are known as Old Holgaters.- Steve BlatherwickSteve BlatherwickSteven Scott Blatherwick is an English former footballer who spent much of his career playing for Chesterfield, as a defender. He retired from the game at the age of 32, on medical advice after suffering a back injury...
, Footballer - Neil Heath, ArtistArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
JournalistJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...