Hanley Castle High School

Engraved sandstone plaque. The text reads:
Founded 1326
Restored 1735
Enlarged 1868 1909 1930 1935

In 1326 a chantry school was established to teach local children music, reading and writing, so that they could become part of the choir of St Mary's church.[1] Deeds dating from 1523 and 1544[8] are the earliest extant documents, and the Church of England episcopal archives record a Philippus Frye as being a master at the school in 1582.[1][9] In 1633 new trustees were installed,[10] and in 1733 the school house was rebuilt on funds donated by Sir Nicholas and Mr Edmund Lechmere.[1] For several centuries, the school functioned under the patronage of the baronets and hereditary peers of the Lechmere family who have been settled in Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, since the 11th century.[11] The baronets were traditionally chairmen or members of the board of governors until at least the mid-1970s. The school's emblem is the same pelican that is the central feature of the Lechmere family coat of arms.[1] In 1868 in order to improve the teaching standards, a new headmaster was installed by the trustees, the school was rebuilt in 1869 and divided into an endowed grammar school for the sons of the middle classes and an elementary school providing the labouring and agricultural classes with a basic education.[11] [12] Following further changes in 1893, the primary school was named St Mary's Primary School and was relocated in the nearby hamlet of Cross Hands and the grammar school provided education for boys from the age of 8 to 17.[11]

In 1909 funds were allocated by Worcestershire County Council for the construction of new classrooms and the appointment of governors was supervised by the council. The number of students increased from 55 in 1921, to 172 in 1946 with 4 boys in the sixth form.[11] By the late 1950s, a first modern extension including new classrooms, a science laboratory, and modern sanitary facilities had been constructed, and the number of pupils had increased to 217 boys aged 11 to 18 who were generally admitted by selection after passing the 11-plus exam. About 50 of the pupils were boarders, and although government owned, the school was still run very much on the traditional lines of a typical English "Public School" of which there were many in the Malvern area. With 42 students in the sixth form in 1962, an urgent request for further extensions to the school became a subject of debate in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.[13]

Compared with other schools in the county, Hanley Castle was still small, and in 1969 following changes in government education policy, the school was developed more on the lines of a comprehensive school to introduce a focus on vocational as well as academic education. The boarding section was closed down, the dormitories, resident staff quarters, and the clinic were converted to classrooms and teachers' offices, and girls were admitted for the first time in 1972, .[14] In 1974 the school became a comprehensive school and was renamed Hanley Castle High School. At this stage, although there were still pupils under the age of 14, the new intake of pupils came each year by transfer of pupils from "The Hill School" (now closed) at Tunnel Hill, Upton-upon-Severn. Prior to that The Hill had been a state secondary school for children aged 11–18. The Hill was renamed "The Hill Junior High School" in 1974 as part of the same round of changes. In 1991, Hanley Castle High School returned to being an age 11–18 High School following the two-tier school system, and the Hill Junior High School was closed.[14] By 2002 the student population at Hanley Castle High School had increased to around 850,[14] and to around 1,000 by 2006.[15] On 23 September 2011 the school celebrated the beginning of the new school year with its newly granted academy status. Presiding over the event, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Harriett Baldwin stated “Hanley Castle has been a successful school for hundreds of years and I am delighted to be able to mark its transformation into an academy. I feel enormous pride whenever I visit the school and it is clear that the staff and governors are doing an amazing job.” [6]

Inside traditional main building. Early 20th century.

The school has existed for almost 700 years,[15] and has retained many of its original features. The oldest parts are listed buildings dating from around 1600, include the Grade II western wing, formerly a dormitory and since the 21st century largely converted to use for administration and teachers' facilities,[16] and the former headmaster's house now serving as the sixth form centre. Additions to the campus in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have been carefully designed to harmonise with the historic architecture without disturbing the original character, and include science laboratories, a gym, a sports hall, and a performance hall, as well as new classrooms.[14][15] A £2 million dedicated language centre was added in 2008.[10]

Sixth form study centre, formerly the headmaster's residence. A 17th-century listed building.

A 20th-century building, the maths department

With the changes in 1969 many of the old traditions were lost in the course of modernisation along with the demolition of older buildings that have been replaced by extensive expansion. The school nevertheless retains its centuries-old stance as the focal point of the tiny village, and its high standards of academic achievement.[15] The campus now comprises many new buildings that include six science laboratories, two computer rooms, two music rooms, a drama studio, two art studios and five craft, design and technology work areas. Funded by Worcester County Council and Malvern Hills District Council, a £650,000 sports hall accommodating four badminton courts was added in 2002.[17] The school also has a self-contained sixth-form college on site, with around 200 students studying for their A levels. A modern, purpose built 2-storey language centre was added to the campus in 2008, and is fully equipped with language learning technology including overhead LCD projectors, interactive whiteboards, and laptop computers to convert any of the classrooms into language laboratories. A new music block has also been added. .[15]

Hanley Castle High School is located in the middle of a rural area surrounded by farms, small villages and hamlets, and is bounded to the east by the River Severn. The nearest urban centres are the small town of Upton-upon-Severn at 1.4 miles (2.2 km) and Malvern at about 6 miles (9.5 km). The main feeder schools include Castlemorton C.E. Primary School, Eldersfield Corse Lawn C.E. Primary School, Hanley Swan (St. Gabriel's) Primary School, Kempsey Primary School, Longdon St. Mary's C.E. Primary School, Pendock C.E. Primary School, Upton-upon-Severn C.E. Primary School, and Welland Primary School, and schools in the Malvern area.[18] Admissions are accepted according to priorities of pupils' needs and location within and outside the general catchment area.[19]

Core subjects taught in the school follow the National Curriculum. The Sixth Form offers courses at AS/A2 / BTEC Levels and include:, Art & Design, Biology, Business StudiesCh, Chemistry, Dance, Design & Technology, Economics, English Lang & Lit, English Language, English Literature, Fashion BTEC, Film Studies, Food, Nutrition and Health, French, German, Spanish, Further Maths, Geography, Government & Politics, History, Home Economics, Information Technology, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Music Technology, Philosophy, Product Design, Psychology, Sociology, Sport & Physical Education, and Theatre Studies.[20]

As a designated Language College,[15] the school offers French, German and Spanish to GCSE level and French and German to A-level. A fast-track programme for advanced linguists enabling them to take their first modern language GCSE in Year 9 and then continue with AS level or a new language in Years 10 and 11. Some pupils can choose to take a GCSE in all three languages. Extra curricular clubs also provide experience in Italian, Swedish, and Chinese Mandarin.[21]

In 2011 following a successful application, the school was converted to Academy, a new status introduced by the Department of Education (DoE) in 2010 for schools assessed as well performing. This meant more autonomy of management and direct government funding.[22] Under the government scheme, the school becomes effectively independent and part of an education market, although still a public asset. The school could now directly hire staff and set their own rates of pay, design its own structure of curricula, and to set its own annual school year calendar.[22] Through the DoE Young People’s Learning Agency the school may also receive additional grants that would not be available from the local education authority (LEA).[23]

Ofsted judges Hanley Castle to be a good school with outstanding features, among them: the quality of teaching and learning, support for vulnerable learners, well behaved pupils, a peer system of reporting incidents to senior pupils in confidence, good leadership and management, and a range of extra-curricular activities and clubs.[15] In her report inspector Rashida Sharif describes Hanley Castle as a "vibrant and dynamic school that has not stood still since its last inspection, held in March 2006." [24] The school's academic performance in GCSE results was ranked in 2004 among the top 200 state schools in the country,[25] and throughout the years 2005–2008 was consistently and significantly higher than both the county and national averages,[26] while The Guardian league table also places it as one of the top performing schools in the county for 2007–08. [27] The number of A-level results has increased from 16 points (61%) in 1997 to 769 (adjusted for increased in students) points (76%) in 2007.[28] In 2011, 88% of Year 11 students achieved 5 A*- C passes, and 73% including English and Maths.[29] In 2012 98% of students passed their A-level exams with 10% reaching grade A and 67% at grade C.[30] In 2019 the school was ranked 4th in the county with a performance well above the national average.[31]

For over a hundred years the school has maintained a tradition of sports, and by 1890 Hanley Castle Grammar School was fielding a cricket team.[35] Students represent the school in a number of sports including hockey, netball, rugby, football, volleyball, tennis, cricket, badminton, athletics, cross-country and swimming, and the facilities include a sports hall and a fully equipped gymnasium, outdoor tennis courts, and two large fields for cricket, rugby, track, and athletics. The school continues an ancient tradition and hosts an annual sporting event known as the "Hanley Run" in which around 900 runners compete in a cross country running race. While the run is compulsory for junior students, everyone from year 10 and above, (including staff) may participate of their own free will. Additionally, netball, hockey, basketball, table tennis, indoor football, badminton, and girls football are also offered as organised extra-curricular activities.[36]

As a traditional boys grammar school, students were allocated to three houses, Hall, Lane, and Rhydd for the purpose of inter-house sports events.[1] The modern school has a system of three 'colleges': Gilbert College (green) named after Gilbert de Hanley, a local 12th century forester; Burley College (blue), that takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon word burh leah and referring to the land on which stood the 13th century Hanley Castle built by King John; and Horton College (yellow) from the former Anglo-Saxon name horh tun for Roberts End, a nearby ancient pottery settlement.[37]

Novelist P.G. Wodehouse whose aunt, Lucy Apollonia Wodehouse, was the wife of the vicar of Hanley Castle based several stories in the area. Severn End, the stately home of the Lechmere Baronets, is said to be the inspiration for Brinkley Court, the country seat for Bertie Wooster's Aunt Dahlia. In addition, Hanley Castle Grammar School, 50 metres from St Mary's Church, was the model for Market Snodsbury Grammar School, in Right Ho Jeeves (1934).[16][38] with at least one of the stories mentioning the School Hall, now the school library, in detail.[39]

Many alumni are members of the Old Hancastrians Association,[40] which is chaired by a school governor, and organises annual events. Former pupils often return to visit the school and sign the Old Boy's (and girls) book which is hosted in the nearby medieval village inn.

• List of schools in Worcestershire

Other Malvern area secondary schools

• Dyson Perrins CofE Academy
• The Chase

• Shirley, Evelyn, Philip (1883). Hanley & the house of Lechmere. London: Pickering & Co.
• The National Archives at Worcestershire Record Office: 850 HANLEY CASTLE/8119/6/iv (Hanley Castle Grammar School C1852-1910): History of school, 1910; List of documents relating to school, (early 20th century); Reprint from the Free Schools of Worcestershire by George Griffith relating to Hanley Castle Free School, printed, (1852); Scheme made by the Board of Education under the Charitable Trusts Acts, 1853–94, for the alteration of the scheme regulating the Hanley Castle Grammar School, printed, (1910); Scheme of the Charity Commission for the administration of Hanley Castle Grammar School, printed, (1892).