Established 1925 Headmaster Mr C Ward BEd Phone +44 1526 352169 Number of students 200 | Chairman of Governors Mr J Harris Capacity 188 | |
SLT Mr R Goodhand BSc PGCEMr G Sinnot BSc(Econ) PGCE NPQH MBCSMrs N Wallis BA(Hons) PGCE Motto enitendo; By striving (Latin) Similar St Andrews C Of E Primary S, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, Branston Community Academy, Jubilee Park Profiles | ||
St Hugh's School is a coeducational, preparatory school in the village of Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England, founded in 1925. It was originally known as a boarding school, although a significant proportion of its students are now day pupils or flexi-boarders. The current headmaster is Chris Ward, who has been in post since 2013.
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History
St. Hugh's School was founded by Ronnie and Joan Forbes in 1925, initially in a three-storied house on the corner of Iddesleigh Road and Stanhope Avenue. The school expanded rapidly, spreading into another house which later became the offies of Woodhall Spa UDC. In 1929, the school moved to the present site on Cromwell Avenue, with the buildings being extended and enlarged in 1929 and 1933.
In 1940, when Lincolnshire airfields became a target for the Luftwaffe and the school buildings were commandeered for military use, St Hugh's was evacuated to Storrs Hall in the Lake District, until it was deemed safe to return in 1944.
Fairmead House, a former girls' school, was purchased for use as a senior boys' boarding house in 1946, with the war time huts in the garden being put to various uses, and in 1952, Austral House, renamed "Dominies" was added as the headmaster's house.
On the death of the founder in 1960, an advisory council was established to govern the school, chaired by Rt Rev'd Kenneth Riches, Bishop of Lincoln. The school became a charitable trust in 1964 and became co-educational in 1980.
The school is dedication not to St Hugh, bishop of Lincoln, but to Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln. Hugh was a child whose supposed murder by Jews (after he climbed over a wall to retrieve his ball from their property) was used for many years as a blood libel. The Church of England formally apologised for Little St Hugh in 1955. The founder asserted that this story should remind his boys to maintain control, both of the ball and of their lives. The story and its moral are represented in the school badge, which shows a ball flying over a wall.
Campus
The school sits on a 4.7 hectares (11.6 acres) campus on the edge of the village of Woodhall Spa. The original building, an Edwardian villa, has been much extended and the buildings on campus now include a teaching block, a science block, a music school, a library, an assembly hall and a nursery school and pre-prep department. The school as a swimming pool and a sports hall. The cricket pavilion looks over the 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of playing field and the Lincolnshire farmland beyond.
Fairmead House (for senior boys' boarding) and Dominies (the headmaster's house) were sold as part of the restructuring of the school in the 1990s. All senior boarders are now accommodated in the main building and in Raftshund House—an Arts and Crafts villa nextdoor.
Houses
The school uses the house system, with each pupil being placed in a house when they join the school.
The houses are named after three former headmasters; Forbes Kelham and Wheeler.
Academic
Pupils study the usual core subjects of maths, English and the sciences, together with ICT, history, geography, art, cookery, DT, RS and textiles. Language teaching includes French and either German or Latin. Pupils also engage in music, drama and PE and games.
Sports
The main sports for boys are football, cricket and Rugby footall.. Older boys also play rugby sevens and hockey. Girls play hockey, netball and rounders. The children also compete in cross country running and athletics. The school has its own swimming pool, and is the regional champion at U9 and U11 level. Other sports available include badminton, basketball, creative dance, gymnastics, handball and orienteering.
Extra Curricular
The school has an active music department with two choirs, and an orchestra which often plays full symphony pieces.
In addition to curricular drama lessons, all senior pupils have the chance to participate in a full length musical production, accompanied by a professional band, in the spring term each year. In addition, there is a range of productions for children in different age groups throughout the school year.
The school operates a Forest School in its woodland.
The school runs hobbies sessions at the end of each school day.