Neha Patil (Editor)

Ecclesfield School

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Established
  
1931

Headteacher
  
Mr J. Wirth

DfE URN
  
140809 Tables

Motto
  
Together we achieve.

Founded
  
1931

Type
  
Academy

DfE number
  
373/4270

Phone
  
+44 114 246 1156

Number of students
  
1,750

Location
  
Chapeltown Road Ecclesfield Sheffield S35 9WD England

Address
  
Chapeltown Rd, Sheffield S35 9WD, UK

Similar
  
Bradfield School, Tapton Secondary School, Hinde House School, Fir Vale School Academy, Chaucer School

Profiles

Mr jones doing time warp in media ecclesfield school


Ecclesfield School is a coeducational secondary school with academy status situated on Chapeltown Road (A6135) between Chapeltown and Ecclesfield, South Yorkshire in the East Ecclesfield district of Sheffield, England. It is for ages 11–16. It has about 1,750 pupils, making it the largest school in Sheffield.

Contents

Crossbar challenge ecclesfield school


History

Ecclesfield School opened as "Ecclesfield Grammar School" in 1931. Its foundation was largely due to the efforts of Lady Mabel Smith, a Labour councillor for West Riding County Council, and daughter of Earl Fitzwilliam. Lady Mabel was Chairman of the School Governors from 1931 to her death in 1951.

In 1931 Ecclesfield Grammar School provided for three streams of 30 pupils, increased to five in 1952 with an annual intake of 150 and a total number on roll of 800; by this time 2,500 pupils had been admitted. Following integration with Hunshelf pupil intake increased further. Total pupil numbers during the 36 years the school operated as a grammar school was approximately 4,450, and approximately 10,000 since it became a comprehensive.

Major extensions to the school were made in 1952-53, including Lady Mabel Hall, kitchens and classrooms, and separate science and craft blocks. Further building undertaken during the 1960s included a sports hall with changing rooms and a multi-story classroom block, with the gymnasium from the previous building converted into a library. Concurrently, a separate Hunshelf School was built on part of the playing fields.

During the 1950s new entrants were allocated to forms according to surname alphabetical order, and were allotted to a "house", Strafford, Brontë, Fairfax or Priestley, for weekly assembly and competitive sports.

In 1967 the School became Ecclesfield Comprehensive School after amalgamating with Hunshelf Secondary Modern School, and served the areas of Ecclesfield, Chapeltown, Hoyland, Elsecar, High Green, Bradfield, Stannington, Grenoside, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side, on the southern boundary of the West Riding of Yorkshire between Sheffield and Barnsley. Initially it remained separate from Hunshelf School, but the two schools later amalgamated to form an enlarged Ecclesfield Comprehensive, run by Sheffield City Council.

Again, major building work took place in the school in the early 21st century, as the Priory, Wharncliffe and Cowley blocks were built (often shortened to just P, W, and C) as well as the new canteen and car park. This is all documented in the ESVC referenced below. Astro-turf was introduced along with the demolition of some of the older 'hunshelf' building blocks. It was here where the school gained its 'Specialist in visual and performing arts' status. On 1 April 2014 the school converted to academy status.

Drama

The school has drama and music studios, and a theatre with tiered seating and lighting system. Productions include musicals and serious dramas. Ecclesfield School teachers Paul O'Farrell and Ben Smithard wrote and directed the play Exit Stage Left which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in July & August 2012. The play won the Yorkshire music and drama award. They have also directed musicals and plays which take place in the schools Lady Mabel Hall annually.

Academic performance

At GCSE, the school performs above average for Sheffield LEA. In 2013, the school achieved a "Good" in its Ofsted Report.

Notable former pupils

  • Jamie Cook, guitarist with the Arctic Monkeys
  • Karl Ley, bomb disposal expert, awarded the George Medal
  • James Lomas, Actor
  • Jordan Ramos, sprinter and tumbling (gymnastics)
  • Billy Sharp, professional football
  • Simon Stainrod
  • Ecclesfield Grammar School

  • Chris Baines, environmentalist, writer and broadcaster 1958-65
  • Jack Birks CBE, Chairman of British Maritime Technology Ltd (now called BMT Group) from 1985–95 and President of the Society for Underwater Technology from 1974-5 and of the Institute of Petroleum from 1984-6, and helped to establish BP's Forties oilfield
  • Barry Hines, author
  • David Merry CMG, High Commissioner to Botswana from 2001-5
  • Prof Alan Pickering, director of Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Windermere from 1995–2001
  • Donald Pleasence, actor
  • Reginald Thompson, Chairman of the National Dock Labour Board from 1983–91
  • References

    Ecclesfield School Wikipedia