Yarm School
Encyclopedia
Yarm School is a fee-paying Public School situated within the market town of Yarm
, North Yorkshire
, England
.
, at the southern end of the Georgian
market town of Yarm
. Most of the school's sports pitches are located off the school site; Aislaby playing fields are located on the north side of the river near the village of Aislaby, whilst the larger Green Lane playing fields are located next to Yarm railway station
.
, the school is "Cheerful and welcoming" and is a happy balance of the "traditions of grammar School with modern, forward-thinking attitude".The school also performs successfully at all levels with pupils getting a total of 1102.2 A/AS points per pupil and 242.8 A/AS points per entry in 2010- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12168129. At GCSE, in 2010 28.2% of entries were A* and 60% of GCSE entries were either A* or A's- http://www.yarmschool.org/general-information/results/gcse-results/
and is featured in the Good Schools Guide.
As of 2011 tuition costs are around £11,000 a year.
(Yarm Grammar School) and provided education for boys aged 13–18. The Preparatory School opened in 1991 (moving into the former grammar school buildings) in response to public demand for traditional preparatory school education and later added an Early School for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 years and a Nursery for 3 year-olds.
In 2001, the school became fully co-educational, a move which has since been replicated by other independent schools in the region, including Ampleforth College
.
on the roof of a school building was visible from space as imaged by Google Earth
. While the graffiti has been removed the picture still remains on Google Earth. This was a practical joke by a few members of the then Upper Sixth.
Extensive redevelopment plans, including a large auditorium, were approved in 2009.
Mathematics (most sets do IGCSE),
Either Dual Award Science or separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics (IGCSE)
Pupils must do at least French, most pupils do German,
Pupils must then do three from the following;
History, Geography, Latin, Classical Civilisation, Business Studies (IGCSE), Design & Technology:- Resistant Materials, Electronics or Textiles, Art, Music or Religion and Philosophy. Russian and Classical Greek (for pupils who do Latin A-level) GCSE can usually be studied in Lower Sixth of the Sixth Form.
General studies can be studied in the activities sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Subjects available at A level are :-
Humanities and Arts: History, Geography, English Literature, Religion and Philosophy.
Sciences:Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, .
Social Sciences: Politics, Economics, Business Studies, Psychology.
Creative: Art, Design Technology, Music, Theatre Studies.
Languages: French, German, Spanish.
Pupils help to raise money for their designated house charities. These are usually a mixture of local, national and international charities. Each house typically raises over £2,000 per year for their charities through a variety of fundraising activities.
Aidan Bede Cuthbert Oswald
, rugby
, cricket
, hockey
, netball
, rounders
, football and canoeing.
Some of these are extra-curricular activities and are mostly done in an activities session.
Tennis
, rugby, cricket and hockey are played as fixtures for the boys. Tennis, netball, rounders and hockey are played as fixtures for the girls.
In July 2009, a team of cyclists from the school won the over-16 category of the British Schools Cycling Association National 10-mile Time Trial Championships.
The school is fortunate enough to be located next to the River Tees, and Yarm School Boat Club enjoys considerable local and national success, including regular victories at the annual Durham Regatta and two gold medals at the 2009 Henley Womens Regatta, as well as representation at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta
and RAF
. The Army section is attatched to the Yorkshire Regiment, and goes on regular training with them, making use of facilities at nearby Catterick Garrison.
The cadets learn military based skills such as climbing, abseiling, weapons training, orienteering and tactical assault simulation. There are several CCF Camps, Military Training Weekends and cadet competitions each year, during which the cadets go on field manoeuvres in order to apply the skills they have learned to a practical situation. The cadets are required to present themselves for inspection by the masters in charge of the CCF on a weekly basis.
The cadets represent Yarm School on Armistice Day
when many schools remember those who died in Boer War
, World War I
, World War II
and the Korean War
.
An annual dinner is held for CCF staff members and cadets. Parents of cadets are invited to the dinner by the Contingent Commander. This happens late in the Autumn term and is an opportunity to reflect on the contingent's successes. The dinner represents that of a military mess dinner.
The RAF Section goes on flying days to RAF Leeming
where they get hands on experience on flying the Grob Tutor
plane. Cadets in the RAF section are also able to attend Gliding events at bases such as Topcliffe
and go on Easter camps with RAF sections from other schools.
The CCF go on annual camps to different military locations, most recently to Munster, Germany in 2010 and Crowborough in 2011.
, Rugby
and Rowing
or continue academic study e.g. Ancient Greek, Russian and General Studies.
Also in keeping with the events of the time, in 2010 the school held a 'mock election', where pupils from Sixth Form politics classes acted as candidates representing the main British political parties. The Conservative Party (UK)
representative won by a large margin- over 100 votes.
Yarm
Yarm is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in North Yorkshire...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, 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...
.
Situation
The senior school is situated in the Friarage buildings and grounds, on the River TeesRiver Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
, at the southern end of the Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
market town of Yarm
Yarm
Yarm is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in North Yorkshire...
. Most of the school's sports pitches are located off the school site; Aislaby playing fields are located on the north side of the river near the village of Aislaby, whilst the larger Green Lane playing fields are located next to Yarm railway station
Yarm railway station
Yarm railway station serves the town of Yarm in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The station is south west of Middlesbrough on the North TransPennine Express Line. It opened in 1996, replacing a former station further north that had closed in 1960...
.
Reputation
According to the commercially published Good Schools GuideThe Good Schools Guide
The Good Schools Guide is a guide to British schools .- Overview :The guide is compiled by a team of editors, which according to the official website "comprises some 50 editors, writers, researchers and contributors; mostly parents but some former headteachers." The website states that it is...
, the school is "Cheerful and welcoming" and is a happy balance of the "traditions of grammar School with modern, forward-thinking attitude".The school also performs successfully at all levels with pupils getting a total of 1102.2 A/AS points per pupil and 242.8 A/AS points per entry in 2010- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12168129. At GCSE, in 2010 28.2% of entries were A* and 60% of GCSE entries were either A* or A's- http://www.yarmschool.org/general-information/results/gcse-results/
Admissions
The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' ConferenceHeadmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
and is featured in the Good Schools Guide.
As of 2011 tuition costs are around £11,000 a year.
History
Yarm is one of the youngest public schools in the country, founded in 1978 in reaction to the closure of the local state grammar schoolGrammar 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...
(Yarm Grammar School) and provided education for boys aged 13–18. The Preparatory School opened in 1991 (moving into the former grammar school buildings) in response to public demand for traditional preparatory school education and later added an Early School for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 years and a Nursery for 3 year-olds.
In 2001, the school became fully co-educational, a move which has since been replicated by other independent schools in the region, including Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
.
School Crest
The school crest shows a Phoenix rising from flames, a reference to the school's history as being established from the closure of the previously existing grammar school in Yarm. The founding Headmaster Mr. Tate got this idea from a local insurance company as well as the idea of the school was rising from the ashes.Expansion
In 2006, the school expanded further with the acquisition of Raventhorpe Preparatory School which became the satellite feeder school Yarm at Raventhorpe.Google Earth
In December 2006 the school reached international media when it became apparent graffitiGraffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
on the roof of a school building was visible from space as imaged by Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
. While the graffiti has been removed the picture still remains on Google Earth. This was a practical joke by a few members of the then Upper Sixth.
Redevelopment
In late 2006 and early 2007 there were plans for a relocation attempt which needed planning permission from Stockton Council. Stockton Council denied the permission for planning permission at which Yarm made an appeal. In 2008 the school dropped the idea for planning saying that they would try to extend the possibilities within the school.Extensive redevelopment plans, including a large auditorium, were approved in 2009.
Subjects
English Language and English Literature (IGCSE)Mathematics (most sets do IGCSE),
Either Dual Award Science or separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics (IGCSE)
Pupils must do at least French, most pupils do German,
Pupils must then do three from the following;
History, Geography, Latin, Classical Civilisation, Business Studies (IGCSE), Design & Technology:- Resistant Materials, Electronics or Textiles, Art, Music or Religion and Philosophy. Russian and Classical Greek (for pupils who do Latin A-level) GCSE can usually be studied in Lower Sixth of the Sixth Form.
General studies can be studied in the activities sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Subjects available at A level are :-
Humanities and Arts: History, Geography, English Literature, Religion and Philosophy.
Sciences:Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, .
Social Sciences: Politics, Economics, Business Studies, Psychology.
Creative: Art, Design Technology, Music, Theatre Studies.
Languages: French, German, Spanish.
Houses
There are four houses in the Senior School, each with its own housemaster or housemistress and tutor team. Each house has its own colours. The many inter-house competitions play an important role in school life and belonging to a particular house contributes significantly to pupil identity.Pupils help to raise money for their designated house charities. These are usually a mixture of local, national and international charities. Each house typically raises over £2,000 per year for their charities through a variety of fundraising activities.
Houses and colours
The houses are named after prominent Saints associated with the North East of England. The houses and their colours are:Aidan Bede Cuthbert Oswald
Year Groups
At Yarm, the year pupils join the Senior School is known as the 'First Year'. This is followed by the 'Second Year' and 'Third Year'. The 'Fourth Year' (once known as the 'Remove') and 'Fifth Year' are the GCSE years, whilst the 'Lower Sixth' and 'Upper Sixth' are the 'A' Level years.Sports
Yarm offers a variety of sports including rowingRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, 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 ...
, rounders
Rounders
Rounders is a game played between two teams of either gender. The game originated in England where it was played in Tudor times. Rounders is a striking and fielding team game that involves hitting a small, hard, leather-cased ball with a round wooden, plastic or metal bat. The players score by...
, football and canoeing.
Some of these are extra-curricular activities and are mostly done in an activities session.
Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, rugby, cricket and hockey are played as fixtures for the boys. Tennis, netball, rounders and hockey are played as fixtures for the girls.
In July 2009, a team of cyclists from the school won the over-16 category of the British Schools Cycling Association National 10-mile Time Trial Championships.
The school is fortunate enough to be located next to the River Tees, and Yarm School Boat Club enjoys considerable local and national success, including regular victories at the annual Durham Regatta and two gold medals at the 2009 Henley Womens Regatta, as well as representation at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
Combined Cadet Force
Within the school is a Cadet Force Contigent including two sections, ArmyArmy Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
and RAF
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
. The Army section is attatched to the Yorkshire Regiment, and goes on regular training with them, making use of facilities at nearby Catterick Garrison.
The cadets learn military based skills such as climbing, abseiling, weapons training, orienteering and tactical assault simulation. There are several CCF Camps, Military Training Weekends and cadet competitions each year, during which the cadets go on field manoeuvres in order to apply the skills they have learned to a practical situation. The cadets are required to present themselves for inspection by the masters in charge of the CCF on a weekly basis.
The cadets represent Yarm School on Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
when many schools remember those who died in Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
An annual dinner is held for CCF staff members and cadets. Parents of cadets are invited to the dinner by the Contingent Commander. This happens late in the Autumn term and is an opportunity to reflect on the contingent's successes. The dinner represents that of a military mess dinner.
The RAF Section goes on flying days to RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
where they get hands on experience on flying the Grob Tutor
Grob G 115
|- Incidents and Accidents :*In February 2009, two RAF Tutors operating air experience flights from RAF St Athan collided in mid-air. All four occupants were killed, a pilot and a female Air Training Corps cadet in each aircraft. The two cadets killed were cousins Nikkita Marie Walters, 13, and...
plane. Cadets in the RAF section are also able to attend Gliding events at bases such as Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire. It is a satellite station of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to 77 and 102 Squadrons flying the Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf...
and go on Easter camps with RAF sections from other schools.
The CCF go on annual camps to different military locations, most recently to Munster, Germany in 2010 and Crowborough in 2011.
Other Extra curricular activities
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, pupils participate in the activity sessions. Pupils choose from a broad range of activities, such as Beekeeping, Horseriding, Rowing, Debating Society and Stock Broking. There is also an opportunity to train for school sports like CricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, Rugby
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...
and Rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
or continue academic study e.g. Ancient Greek, Russian and General Studies.
Also in keeping with the events of the time, in 2010 the school held a 'mock election', where pupils from Sixth Form politics classes acted as candidates representing the main British political parties. The Conservative Party (UK)
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
representative won by a large margin- over 100 votes.
Academic performance
The school gets very good A-level results, and the best for all secondary schools in the borough. See the reputation section.Notable Old Yarumians
- James WhartonJames Wharton (UK politician)James Stephen Wharton is a British Conservative Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Stockton South since the 2010 general election, having defeated the sitting Labour MP Dari Taylor.-Early life:...
, Conservative MP since 2010 for Stockton South - Simon Webster, rugby union for Scotland
- Paul JohnstonPaul Johnston (cricketer)Paul Robert Archibald Johnston , is an English cricketer. Johnston is a left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium pace. He was born in Hartlepool, County Durham and educated at Yarm School....
, cricketer