Harrogate Ladies' College is a private boarding and day school located in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a girls' senior school in 1893, the college includes Highfield Prep School and educates girls from ages 2 to 18 and boys up to age 11. It is a member of the Girls' Schools Association and Allied Schools.
| Harrogate Ladies' College | |
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| Address | |
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Clarence Drive , , HG1 2QG England | |
| Coordinates | 53°59′47″N 1°33′03″W / 53.996300°N 1.550970°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private day and boarding |
| Motto | Industria, Fide, Pietate (Work, Faith and Piety) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1893 |
| Principal | Sylvia Brett[1] |
| Gender | Girls; Boys (ages 2–11) |
| Age | 2 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 640~ |
| Website | www |
History
editThe original Harrogate College was a boys' school. George Mearns Savery, the headmaster of the school opened a girls' school in 1893. The boys' school closed after Savery's death in 1903 and the girls' school initially kept the name of Harrogate College. In 1904, the girls' school moved into the present accommodation on the west side of Harrogate.[2] In 1907 the school acquired a panel by sculptor Frances Darlington, depicting Sir Perceval's Vision of the Holy Grail which was fixed above the fireplace in the reading room.[3]
From 1939 to 1945, the school was evacuated to Swinton Park, and after the Second World War moved back. Additional extensions that housed a library, a science block and a gymnasium were built later in the 1950s. Later, more buildings were constructed (a sports hall in the 1980s, an art room, and the Highfield Prep School). Gradually, houses on each side of Clarence Drive were acquired and were used as boarding houses. The pre-prep department, known as Bankfield, was opened in 1997, whilst the junior school, Highfield, opened in 1999.
Currently, the grounds, playing field, tennis courts, houses and gardens occupy about 28 acres (11 ha) of the Duchy Estate.[4]
The college now consists of three divisions: Highfield Pre-School (boys and girls aged 2–4), Highfield Prep (boys and girls aged 4–11) and the main school (day and boarding girls aged 11–18).
Academic performance
editThe 2023 results are:[5]
- GCSE Results (2023): 57% achieved grades 9-7
- A Level Results (2023) 41% achieved grades A/A; 68% achieved grades A-B
Pastoral Care
editAs a Christian school, pupils are encouraged to attend chapel services but the school accepts pupils of "all faiths or none". The school has links with the local parish church St Wilfrid's Church. A school chaplain oversees pastoral care and spiritual aspects of the school curriculum. The College has its own health and wellness centre.[6]
House System
editUpon entry, pupils are placed into one of the four houses. Over the school year, the houses will compete in inter-house competitions.
Highfield
editThe junior school houses are named after four of the Yorkshire Dales.
Senior School
editThe senior school houses are separate from boarding houses. They are named after prominent British female figures in history.
Boarding
editThe school has a long boarding tradition and over half of senior school pupils are boarders. Full or flexible boarding is available to girls aged 10 and above. There are five boarding houses: Armaclare, Clarence, Lancaster, Lincoln, or Tower. The first four are situated in the heart of the campus. Tower House, which is similar to a university hall of residence and houses Upper Sixth girls, is located further away from the main school. Each house is overseen by a housemistress and full-time residential staff who look after boarders during after-school hours.[9]
Notable former pupils
edit- Genevieve Barr, actress
- Sheila Burnford, author
- Jane Carr (Rita Brunstrom), actress
- Joolz Denby, poet, novelist, artist and tattooist
- Claire King, actress
- Elspeth Candlish Henderson, WAAF
- Grace Hickling, naturalist
- Lottie McGuinness, Paralympian[10]
- Anne McIntosh, politician
- Ella Pontefract, writer[11]
References
edit- ^ "Harrogate Ladies' College Announces New Head". Archived from the original on 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Harrogate College". Illustrated London News. Vol. 237. 1960. pp. 957–960.
- ^ "Sir Perceval: The Vision of the Holy Grail". d.lib.rochester.edu. University of Rochester: The Camelot Project. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ History
- ^ Bryan (25 March 2024). "Explore Harrogate Ladies' College: Reviews, Rankings, And More". Britannia UK. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Chapel
- ^ "Highfield – The House System". Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "HLC – The House System". Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Boarding
- ^ "'It will mean everything to take part': Lottie McGuinness ready to lift her way to Paralympic glory". Yorkshire Post. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Ella Pontefract – Dales Countryside Museum". Retrieved 11 November 2022.
External links
edit
Media related to Harrogate Ladies' College at Wikimedia Commons