Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls
Encyclopedia
Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls is a fully selective girls' grammar school in England
situated close to Stratford-upon-Avon
.
in 2002, and was recently awarded the status of a Specialist Science College
. Entry is by examination at 11, although entry may be made in later years or most commonly at sixth form level. A simple campus plotted around a large grassy patch of land (named, "the centre lawn") makes for an efficient and navigable school system.
had no hope of an education beyond comprehensive level, unless their parents could afford to send them to the King's High School For Girls
in nearby Warwick
. Thanks to the sustained efforts of several women, including the first Headmistress Miss E.B. Williams, Shottery
(as the school is often known) was created. The first pupils were taken from the A stream of nearby Hugh Clopton School, known today as Stratford High School
. Today, the school admits around 75 new Year 7 pupils per year. Competition for places is high, with more than seven applicants per place.
The original school was centred around the historic Shottery Manor, parts of which date from the 14th century. The Manor still stands today, and is used as a sixth form centre. Three additional buildings were added before the school opened, in what were originally the Manor orchards and flower gardens.
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...
situated close to Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
.
Admissions
The school has been consistently recognised as one of the top twenty state schools in England, became a Specialist Language CollegeLanguage College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
in 2002, and was recently awarded the status of a Specialist Science College
Science College
Science Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, science and mathematics...
. Entry is by examination at 11, although entry may be made in later years or most commonly at sixth form level. A simple campus plotted around a large grassy patch of land (named, "the centre lawn") makes for an efficient and navigable school system.
History
The school opened in 1958. Before this time, academically able girls in StratfordStratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
had no hope of an education beyond comprehensive level, unless their parents could afford to send them to the King's High School For Girls
The King's High School For Girls
The King's High School for Girls is an independent school for girls in Smith Street, Warwick, England. There are currently 700 girls in years 7-13...
in nearby Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
. Thanks to the sustained efforts of several women, including the first Headmistress Miss E.B. Williams, Shottery
Shottery
Shottery is a small village a mile west of Stratford-Upon-Avon; nowadays, it is considered a part of the town, but it retains the feeling of a distinct village.-History and amenities:...
(as the school is often known) was created. The first pupils were taken from the A stream of nearby Hugh Clopton School, known today as Stratford High School
Stratford High School
Stratford High School may refer to:*Stratford High School in Stratford, Connecticut*Stratford High School in Houston, Texas*Stratford High School in Stratford, Texas...
. Today, the school admits around 75 new Year 7 pupils per year. Competition for places is high, with more than seven applicants per place.
The original school was centred around the historic Shottery Manor, parts of which date from the 14th century. The Manor still stands today, and is used as a sixth form centre. Three additional buildings were added before the school opened, in what were originally the Manor orchards and flower gardens.
The Manor
Features include:- A priest holePriest hole"Priest hole" is the term given to hiding places for priests built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England, from the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558....
(in the atticAtticAn attic is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building . Attic is generally the American/Canadian reference to it...
). To find the priest hole, go up the stairs into the attic (leading from the landing in the oldest part of the Manor) and across to the opposite wall, just to the right of the staircase. - The butler's pantry (just off the Lower Common Room)
- Alice in Wonderland tiles in the AV room, formerly a children's nursery (there are also bars on the windows).
- The Common roomCommon roomThe phrase common room is used especially in British and Canadian English to describe a type of shared lounge, most often found in dormitories, at universities, colleges, military bases, hospitals, rest homes, hostels, and even minimum-security prisons. It is generally connected to several...
s:- The Lower Common Room is used by the Upper Sixth. Located on the ground floor, it is a large room with wood panelling and an enormous (no longer functional) fireplace.
- The Upper Common Room was formerly used up until 2006 as the Lower Sixth's common room, but is now a second staff room. This room is actually four rooms, set in the roof, looking over the centre lawn. The staircase leading up to the common room is steep and narrow and in previous years most Year 12s spend the first few weeks of term falling up and down it. The first room is long and narrow. The second is rather smaller and contains two alcoves. The third and fourth rooms (a defunct toilet and a drama costume store) lead off the second room. There is also a hatch in the floor, used as the fire escape in case of emergency; a drop-down ladder leads down to the Careers Library on the floor below.
- The Sixth Form kitchen: Although not a common room, the kitchen is used by sixth formers, especially lower sixth. There are cooking facilities of sorts, including a kettle and a microwave.
- The Smaller lower common room is a recently converted room into a common room, used primarily by the Lower Sixth.
- Stained glass windows on the first floor, including in the room used, until recently, as a music room (Now Geography room). This room also has a large fireplace - Rumor has it that a tunnel leads from behind this fireplace.
Legends
- That Shakespeare was betrothed in the chapel (the Geography Room). There is no official record of where Shakespeare's betrothal took place, although the chapel at Shottery Manor would certainly have been the closest chapel to the nearby home of his bride, Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (Shakespeare)Anne Hathaway was the wife of William Shakespeare. They were married in 1582. She outlived her husband by seven years...
.
Tunnels
Various tunnels and secret passages have been attributed to the Manor. These include:- A secret passage from behind the Geography Room fireplace, apparently leading to Sheep Street in the town of Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. Although this seems very, very unlikely, it is true that a passage of some sort does exist. Each year, when the Manor is inspected and tested against various Health & Safety criteria, this tunnel is temporarily unblocked, checked for fire hazards and sealed again. - Another passage, from an unspecified location, leading about five miles and coming out in the countryside. It is claimed that this passage was built at the same time as the priesthole, and for a related purpose. Again, although the length of the tunnel seems extremely unlikely, it is known that there are two tunnels which are checked annually by the fire brigade.
Ghosts
- Teachers and pupils present at the school in the 1980s told of a grey lady who walked the old part of the Manor's upper floor. This story was repeated by several members of staff including the late music teacher Barbara Chadwick, who recalled helping one female colleague lock up the Manor as she was too afraid to do it alone. The grey lady was said to move around the main staircase, wearing a long dress and a bonnet. She did not acknowledge other people or attempt to approach them. She has not been seen or heard since the mid-1990s.
- A ghostly flautist has sometimes been heard playing in the empty Practice Room.
- A woman in Victorian clothing has also been seen, although this is the most unsubstantiated of the rumours.
- Another woman wearing Victorian clothes was seen on the old stairs leading to the manor.
Head girls
- 2009/10 - Hattie Beaumont, with two deputy head girls Catie Barnes and Charley Burman.
- 2010/11 - Beth Ferguson, and the two deputies were Helen Ormrod and Olivia Bonna-Evans.
- April 2011 to 2012 - Libby Atkinson and the deputies Ellie Richardson and Ellie Drabble.
Notable former pupils
- CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Helen Allkins, Matron-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing ServiceQueen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing ServiceQueen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service is the nursing branch of the British Royal Navy. The Service unit works alongside the Royal Navy Medical Branch....
, and Director of Naval Nursing Services since July 2008 - Corrie CorfieldCorrie CorfieldCoriona Corfield is a BBC Radio 4 continuity announcer and newsreader.-Early life:She grew up near Stratford-upon-Avon. She attended Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls, where she became Head Girl...
, 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...
continuity announcer and news reader - Karen DotriceKaren DotriceKaren Dotrice is an English actress known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey to two accomplished stage actors...
, actress