Ipswich High School
Location
Woolverstone

Ipswich
,
Suffolk
,
IP9 1AZ

England
Coordinates52°00′11″N 1°11′43″E / 52.00292°N 1.19532°E / 52.00292; 1.19532
Information
TypePrivate day and boarding school
MottoBefore honour comes humility.
Established1878
FounderSophie Youngman
Local authoritySuffolk
Department for Education URN124888 Tables
Head TeacherMr Dan Browning
GenderMixed[1]
AgeNursery to 18
Enrolment530
HousesAqua, Ignis, Ventus, Terra
Colour(s)   Cherry red and dark grey
Websitehttps://www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/
Ipswich High School, the main building Woolverstone Hall

Ipswich High School is a co-educational private school at Woolverstone Hall near Ipswich, England. Formerly an exclusive school for girls, it was converted to co-education in 2018 following acquisition by the China-oriented[2] investment banker London & Oxford Group.

History

Ipswich High School was opened as a school for girls in the Assembly Rooms in Northgate Street, Ipswich, on 30 April 1878 with 43 pupils. The first headmistress, Miss Sophie Youngman, held the position for 21 years and the school flourished and expanded under her leadership. She was succeeded by Miss Kennett and, in 1905, the Council of the Trust purchased a large private house and grounds in Westerfield Road, Ipswich. The move provided a more modern classroom standard, science laboratories and a playing field.

Another house, Woodview House, was purchased in 1913. Owing to the continued expansion of the school and the demands of the modern curriculum, the decision was taken in 1992 to rehouse the school at Woolverstone Hall, a Grade 1 listed building set in 80 acres (320,000 m2) of parkland on the banks of the River Orwell, the former premises of Woolverstone Hall School for boys (1951 to 1990).

Transition to Mixed-sex education was effected in September 2018. The change to co-education received mixed responses from parents and alumnae.[3] As of 2020 the school serves a wide area of Suffolk and north Essex, taking girls and boys aged 3–18 years and providing both primary, secondary school and sixth form education, where pupils take traditional A Levels in subjects such as Latin, History and Mathematics.

Alumni of the former Woolverstone Hall School are affiliated through formal recognition of its Old Boys’ Association in the alumni community.[4]

Governance

Following acquisition of the school by London and Oxford Group (LOG) in 2017, the principal and the chair of governors remained in their positions,[1] reporting to the ownership subsidiary Ipswich Education Limited (IEL). Members of the Senior Leadership Team are identified on the school's official website.

Mr Dan Browning started as Head in Jan 2023. [5]

Facilities

Woolverstone Hall, a Grade I listed paladian mansion, houses the Sixth Form, Geography Dept, Dance Studio, Music Department, Head's study, main reception, offices and the Orwell Kitchen. Facilities include an AstroTurf playing field, indoor swimming pool, large theatre, award winning boarding houses (The Barns and Dairy House) and sports hall. Extensive formal gardens remain from the historic estate and can be enjoyed by the pupils. The grounds extend to the River Orwell, which is viewable from classrooms in the Prep School and Orwell House (the Senior teaching block) with sports pitches on the front lawn and church field. Students dine in the Orangery and Orwell Kitchen, situated in the main building which is also used as a wedding and events venue out of school term time. The Art School is located in a specialist building adjacent to the stables and the Food (Lord Belstead Room) and DT rooms are located on the other side of the stables. The school has plans to convert the grand stable block into a new Sixth Form centre in the future.

Curricula

The school offers numerous subjects before GCSE, which include five different languages; along with ICT, the humanities, the arts, and the sciences. English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (as Combined Science) must be taken at GCSE. At GCSE, pupils can study three optional subjects (excluding English Literature, English Language, Maths and Combined Science). At A Level, pupils can study three or four subjects with an 'enrichment course' (Astronomy, Cooking, Sports Leaders or Critical Thinking), with the option of taking an EPQ at A2. Pupils can study English Literature, Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Physical Education, Three-Dimensional Design, Fine Art, Economics, Music, Philosophy, Geography, Dance, Drama & Theatre Studies, Religion, Philosophy & Ethics, History, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Computer Science, Classical Civilization, Economics and Business Studies at A Level.

To receive entry into the Senior School, the pupils must take three exams similar to the 11+ and then must maintain their academic expectations throughout the school, especially at GCSE level. Sixth Form students are admitted on the basis of their GCSE results. Academic support is available for pupils and tutors work closely to monitor their achievements.

The school was ranked 16th in the ‘East Anglia independent schools’ category in the 2023 `Sunday Times parent power rankings.

Notable former pupils

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stott, Matt. "Ipswich High School for Girls changes name to Ipswich High School and will accept boys from 2018". East Anglian Daily Times, 11–12 September 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017
  2. ↑ London & Oxford Group at linkedin.com, retrieved 21 November 2019
  3. ↑ Stott, Matt (12 September 2017). "'Heartbroken' parents react to Ipswich High School losing all-girls status and admitting boys". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Alumni community at official website
  5. ↑ Admin, I. H. S. (26 May 2022). "New Head of Ipswich High School is Announced". Ipswich High School. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Kelly, Liam (27 May 2018). "How I made it: Jade Holland Cooper, founder of Holland Cooper". Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  7. ↑ "Frances Hardinge's Twisted City – The Town Crier's House – 2016". www.franceshardinge.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Vote now for the Alumna of the Year 2016". gdst.net. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Russell, Steve (28 October 2018). "We intend to fall off the perch while working, says 'Bear Hunt' illustrator Helen Oxenbury at 80". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  10. ↑ Russell, Steven (15 April 2008). "How they're ruining my lovely Felixstowe". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  11. ↑ IPSWICH HIGH SCHOOL, G. P. D. S. T. (1954–1955). "School News 1954-1955" (PDF). ipswicharchive.daisy.websds.net.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.