Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley
Encyclopedia
Prince Henry's Grammar School (Specialist Language College), also known as Prince Henry's, is a secondary school and sixth form established in 1607 in the historic market town of Otley
, West Yorkshire
, England. The school teaches boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 and has around 1,400 pupils and 84 teachers and retains a high position within regional league tables. Leading departments include Art, English, History and Science. Despite the name, Prince Henry's is now a state comprehensive school
rather than a grammar school
.
Prince Henry's was founded under Royal Charter from King James I in 1607 and is named after his son Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales
. As the Charter stipulates the name of the school to be Prince Henry's Grammar School, this name was perforce retained despite it becoming an anachronism when the school became a comprehensive. The school celebrated its 400th birthday in 2007.
The school's frontispiece is an Edwardian school house complete with clock tower. The school facilities include a new science block added in May 2008. Prince Henry's also has sporting facilities that include a swimming pool, tennis courts and the Wharfemeadow playing fields, all of which uphold PHGS's tradition within the area for developing young talent through curricular and extra curricular activities. The school has also recently completed the integration of a sixth form rugby academy in 2007.
On 10 July 2008 HRH Duke of Kent
visited the school to officially open the new science building. As well as unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening, His Royal Highness spoke to students in Prince Henry's sciences, physical education and modern languages lessons. The building has been named after Walter Hargreaves Hindle, a former Otley resident who bequeathed a large sum of money to the school for the advancement of the study of science.
to be presented with the prestigious International School Award
from the British Council
, as a result of staff and student led initiatives. Prince Henry's is actively engaged in the EU's Comenius programme
and has links to partner schools around the world (including China and South Africa). This is in addition to its specialism in modern foreign languages (acquired in 1999). This status brings significant additional funding into the school to enable it to broaden the language-learning opportunities of its students and the local community. Typically students study at least two languages at GCSE level (French or German & Spanish) and Chinese, Italian and Polish are available as options for AS and A Level study. GCSE students also have Mandarin language tasters and several participate in exchange programs with China on an annual basis.
The school's media and music departments produce an annual musical; recent years have seen Les Misérables, Back to the Eighties, Grease, South Pacific and Return to the Forbidden Planet performed. The music department ensembles run throughout the year and include: PHOJO (Jazz Orchestra); Concert Band; Orchestra; Senior Choir; Strings; Junior Band and 'Sing Up!' (A year 7/8 vocal group). These groups often perform at local churches in Otley
and Ilkley
as well as at art exhibition openings and in various locations abroad (France, Italy and Belgium most recently).
Sporting achievements include rugby, which is a popular sport at PHGS as is netball. In the 2003–04 season the school rugby union
team won the Daily Mail
Under-18 Vase. Other sporting activities include swimming, athletics, badminton and annual ski trips to France and the United States. The PE department also organises a biennial rugby tour to Dubai.
PHGS runs numerous foreign exchanges, as the school has strong international links in Europe, Durban, South Africa and China. The history department runs biennial trips to Russia, Italy and to the battlefields of the First World War. The school is a long-term participant in the EU's Comenius exchange programme, and is currently working with schools in Spain, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
The school has strong links with regional institutions including the Royal Armouries and Leeds Metropolitan University, with whom it signed a sports facilities accord in 2008. The politics department hosts seminars run by staff from the University of Nottingham while the history department organises similar events with staff and students from the University of Leeds and University of Durham.
Politics students visit Parliament every year and run a biennial regional conference on issues of popular interest. The 2010 conference will focus on the general election in the form of a unique student-orientated hustings attended by leading regional politicians. Several students from the school take part in the Citizenship Foundation's national bar mock trials and many sixth formers are members of the debating society.
Organised by BBC's Asianet Radio Station, John Steel was challenged to a live debate with Sachin Sharma. However, with the Local Education Authority declaring that it was up to schools to make its own policies regarding the period of walk outs John Steel failed to take up the offer leaving Sachin an open-mic to ridicule his suspension and agitate against the war unopposed. Very shortly afterwards both students went from being indefinitely suspended to being reinstated without conditions. The sixth formers of the school were henceforth allowed to participate in antiwar activity outside of the school unrestricted. The younger students, however, were prevented from doing so.
NUT and NASUWT teachers, through fear of changes in pay and conditions, decided to strike on the 10th, 16th and 17th November, with unions giving notice that 64 teachers would take part. Further strikes were planned for the 22nd, 23rd and 24th should the governors not accept a plan to delay the movement to an Academy. There was "almost unanimous opposition" from two public meetings to the school becoming an Academy.
Katherine Hannah, BBC Journalist (Radio Teeside & Radio Leeds)
Brian Harvey Ellison (Member of the Glitter Band.
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England. The school teaches boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 and has around 1,400 pupils and 84 teachers and retains a high position within regional league tables. Leading departments include Art, English, History and Science. Despite the name, Prince Henry's is now a state 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...
rather than a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
.
Prince Henry's was founded under Royal Charter from King James I in 1607 and is named after his son Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
. As the Charter stipulates the name of the school to be Prince Henry's Grammar School, this name was perforce retained despite it becoming an anachronism when the school became a comprehensive. The school celebrated its 400th birthday in 2007.
The school's frontispiece is an Edwardian school house complete with clock tower. The school facilities include a new science block added in May 2008. Prince Henry's also has sporting facilities that include a swimming pool, tennis courts and the Wharfemeadow playing fields, all of which uphold PHGS's tradition within the area for developing young talent through curricular and extra curricular activities. The school has also recently completed the integration of a sixth form rugby academy in 2007.
On 10 July 2008 HRH Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of George V.-Pre-history:...
visited the school to officially open the new science building. As well as unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening, His Royal Highness spoke to students in Prince Henry's sciences, physical education and modern languages lessons. The building has been named after Walter Hargreaves Hindle, a former Otley resident who bequeathed a large sum of money to the school for the advancement of the study of science.
Specialist Statuses
In October 2005 Prince Henry's Grammar School became the first school in the City of LeedsCity of Leeds
The City of Leeds is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, governed by Leeds City Council, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. The metropolitan district includes Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell,...
to be presented with the prestigious International School Award
International School Award
The International School Award is a British Council accreditation scheme rewarding schools with a notable global element in their curriculum.The scheme began in 1999 and since then, over 1000 International School Awards have been granted....
from the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, as a result of staff and student led initiatives. Prince Henry's is actively engaged in the EU's Comenius programme
Comenius programme
The Comenius programme is a European Union educational project. It relates to school-level education, and is part of the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013. It aims "to help young people and educational staff better understand the range of European cultures, languages and values".Its name...
and has links to partner schools around the world (including China and South Africa). This is in addition to its specialism in modern foreign languages (acquired in 1999). This status brings significant additional funding into the school to enable it to broaden the language-learning opportunities of its students and the local community. Typically students study at least two languages at GCSE level (French or German & Spanish) and Chinese, Italian and Polish are available as options for AS and A Level study. GCSE students also have Mandarin language tasters and several participate in exchange programs with China on an annual basis.
Extra-Curricular Activity
Prince Henry's has a strong tradition of extra-curricular involvement from many students and staff.The school's media and music departments produce an annual musical; recent years have seen Les Misérables, Back to the Eighties, Grease, South Pacific and Return to the Forbidden Planet performed. The music department ensembles run throughout the year and include: PHOJO (Jazz Orchestra); Concert Band; Orchestra; Senior Choir; Strings; Junior Band and 'Sing Up!' (A year 7/8 vocal group). These groups often perform at local churches in Otley
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
and Ilkley
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the metropolitan borough of Bradford. Approximately north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe...
as well as at art exhibition openings and in various locations abroad (France, Italy and Belgium most recently).
Sporting achievements include rugby, which is a popular sport at PHGS as is netball. In the 2003–04 season the school rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team won the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
Under-18 Vase. Other sporting activities include swimming, athletics, badminton and annual ski trips to France and the United States. The PE department also organises a biennial rugby tour to Dubai.
PHGS runs numerous foreign exchanges, as the school has strong international links in Europe, Durban, South Africa and China. The history department runs biennial trips to Russia, Italy and to the battlefields of the First World War. The school is a long-term participant in the EU's Comenius exchange programme, and is currently working with schools in Spain, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
The school has strong links with regional institutions including the Royal Armouries and Leeds Metropolitan University, with whom it signed a sports facilities accord in 2008. The politics department hosts seminars run by staff from the University of Nottingham while the history department organises similar events with staff and students from the University of Leeds and University of Durham.
Politics students visit Parliament every year and run a biennial regional conference on issues of popular interest. The 2010 conference will focus on the general election in the form of a unique student-orientated hustings attended by leading regional politicians. Several students from the school take part in the Citizenship Foundation's national bar mock trials and many sixth formers are members of the debating society.
Iraq War walkout controversy
On 5 March 2003 prior to the Iraq War, the school suspended two Sixth formers, Sachin Sharma and Carey Davies, for trying to organise a demonstration against the war at Prince Henry's Grammar School and giving anti-war speeches in the school cafeteria. Their suspension gained national news coverage. Sachin said he had simply spoken up in favour of protesting against the potential war: "The majority of our school does not have democratic rights." Headmaster John Steel said: "We value the conviction of the two students concerned, and respect the views of all members of our school community, but we cannot sanction protests during the school day when students should be in lessons."Organised by BBC's Asianet Radio Station, John Steel was challenged to a live debate with Sachin Sharma. However, with the Local Education Authority declaring that it was up to schools to make its own policies regarding the period of walk outs John Steel failed to take up the offer leaving Sachin an open-mic to ridicule his suspension and agitate against the war unopposed. Very shortly afterwards both students went from being indefinitely suspended to being reinstated without conditions. The sixth formers of the school were henceforth allowed to participate in antiwar activity outside of the school unrestricted. The younger students, however, were prevented from doing so.
Academy Controversy
During 2011 school governors examined the possibility of the school becoming an Academy. In Autumn 2011 there were two meetings consulting parents over proposed Academy status; at both meetings parents were unanimously against. Subsequently teaching staff took a vote on the move: 71 were against and 2 were for. The final decision was made at a governors' meeting where 10 voted for Academy status and 9 against, with one absentee. A public meeting in Otley Parish Church on 23 November passed votes of no confidence in the Chair of Governors, members of the Governing Body, and the Headteacher. The meeting made a demand that parents be balloted on the issue. The school is set to become an Academy on 1 December 2011.NUT and NASUWT teachers, through fear of changes in pay and conditions, decided to strike on the 10th, 16th and 17th November, with unions giving notice that 64 teachers would take part. Further strikes were planned for the 22nd, 23rd and 24th should the governors not accept a plan to delay the movement to an Academy. There was "almost unanimous opposition" from two public meetings to the school becoming an Academy.
Alumni
- Thomas ChippendaleThomas ChippendaleThomas Chippendale was a London cabinet-maker and furniture designer in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. In 1754 he published a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director...
- Famous Cabinet Maker - Sam Chippindale - property developer and co-founder of the Arndale Shopping Centres
- Joanna Coles - editor of the American edition of Marie ClaireMarie ClaireMarie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
magazine - Liz BlackmanLiz BlackmanElizabeth Marion "Liz" Blackman is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Erewash from 1997 to 2010. She served as a Government Whip from 2007-08.-Early life:...
- Former MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for ErewashErewash (UK Parliament constituency)Erewash is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:The constituency covers the borough of Erewash.... - Tim MarshallTim MarshallTim Marshall , born in 1959, is Foreign Affairs Editor for Sky News). He has reported from Europe, the USA and Asia. Having served in the RAF prior to his journalistic career, he has reported from a number of war zones...
- Foreign Affairs editor, Sky NewsSky NewsSky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New... - Joseph Evans - Series Producer, Channel 4's Coach TripCoach TripCoach Trip is a reality show that was broadcast on Channel 4 with More4 and Pick TV showing repeats since 7 March 2005. The programme returned on 25 May 2009. The show's format consists of 4 to 7 teams of 2 undertaking a coach tour principally of continental Europe...
- Your VegasYour VegasYour Vegas are a British rock band from Leeds, England.-Background:The band started playing music together while attending Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley, West Yorkshire. Their first band was called Orka but they later changed their name to Salvadore...
- Four Members of Universal-signed Indie Band - David Thomas BroughtonDavid Thomas BroughtonDavid Thomas Broughton is a London-based folk singer and guitarist. Born in Otley, West Yorkshire, he creates the sound of a large ensemble by sampling himself singing, playing acoustic guitar, and making an assortment of other sounds through a Boss loop pedal...
- Musician - Danny Care - the Harlequins and EnglandEngland national rugby union teamThe England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
scrum halfRugby positionsRugby football positions may refer to:*Rugby league positions*Rugby union positions... - Lizzie ArmitsteadLizzie ArmitsteadElizabeth Mary Armitstead is a world champion British track and road racing cyclist. She is a member of British Cycling's Olympic Academy and has represented Great Britain internationally...
- British Track and Road Racing Cyclist - Helene Speight - Apprentice Finalist (2008)
- Peter Robinson - Chairman of BPC
- Jill AtkinsJill AtkinsGillian Atkins is a former field hockey player, who was a member of the British squad that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988....
- British Olympic hockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player (Former PHGS teacher) - Beatrice Kelley - Television Actress (Former PHGS pupil and teacher)
Katherine Hannah, BBC Journalist (Radio Teeside & Radio Leeds)
Brian Harvey Ellison (Member of the Glitter Band.