Founded in 627 and thus one of the oldest schools in Europe. Alcuin was a pupil and headmaster; its first head was a saint (Paulinus) and Guy Fawkes was an old boy. It is on an urban, single site in 47 acres of sports pitches by the Ouse. It is exceptionally well equipped in fine buildings; facilities include a multi-surface pitch and swimming pool. Its junior, prep and pre-prep schools are on the same site. Academic standards are high and examination results very good. It is strong in drama and art and particularly in music. High standards are attained in a variety of sports, games and rowing. A wide range of extra-curricular activities is offered. There is a vigorous CCF contingent, considerable commitment to local community action and over 100 pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Pupils: Age range 13-18; 532 pupils, 367 day (216 boys, 151 girls), 165 boarding (99 boys, 66 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used. No special skills or religious requirements but all attend chapel (Church of England). Entry from state and prep schools; many pupils (direct entry) from own prep school, St Olave's School (tel 01904 527416).
Honorary academic scholarships. Means-tested bursaries and music awards.
Head Master: Richard Smyth, in post 2004. Educated at Sedbergh and Cambridge University (law and modern history). Previously Headmaster at King's Bruton, Housemaster at Wellington College, and taught at Christ's Hospital and Gresham's. Also spent 5 years in business, 1 year as lay assistant to Anglican Church in Berne; cricket blue and rugby half blue. Teaching staff: 57 full time. Annual turnover 4%. Average age 35.
GCSE: 101 pupils in fifth, 98% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 105 in upper sixth: all passed in 4+ subjects, with an average final point score of approximately 375.
99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (6% after a gap year), 12% to Oxbridge. 6% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 33% in science and engineering, 45% in humanities and social sciences, 4% in art and design, 11% in vocational subjects eg architecture, product design, computer sciences, education.
GCSE and A-levels. 17 GCSE subjects, 22 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 16% take science A-levels; 34% arts/humanities; 50% both. Vocational: Work experience available. Languages: French, German and Spanish to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges to France, Germany, Spain. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 200 computers and laptops for pupil use, all networked and with email and internet access. Most pupils take Clait.
Music: Over 45% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10+ musical groups including orchestra, string orchestra, bands, choirs, choral society, swing band, string ensemble, barbershop quartet. Regular productions eg My Fair Lady, Mozart's Requiem; performances in York Minster. Drama: There are regular school and middle school productions, including plays by Harold Pinter and Sarah Kane recently. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Pottery and 3D also offered.
Sport: PE part of curriculum up to the sixth form. Options programme includes: netball, rugby, cricket, hockey, rowing, squash, fencing, swimming, cross-country, aerobics, fitness, badminton, volleyball, water polo, tennis, table tennis, athletics, trampolining, outdoor pursuits. Regular national and county representatives. Activities: Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, CCF, World Challenge expeditions, Community Action, canoeing and walking trips offered. Numerous other activities including cookery, debating, Amnesty.
Uniform: School uniform worn; dress code in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Monitors, head boy, head girl and heads of houses - appointed by the Head Master and staff. Religion: Compulsory attendance at (Church of England) services during the week. Social: Many holiday expeditions including Northern France battlefields; rugby tour (eg South Africa), hockey and netball (eg Barbados), skiing, music (eg Italy), classics (eg Morocco). Meals self-service. School shop.
Founded on self-discipline and respect for others. Uncompromising application of rules on serious issues. Consistent approach within the house system for minor offences.
Sixth form in own study bedrooms or share with up to 2. Single-sex houses of up to 50. Resident SRN. Central dining room. Regulated visits to York.
Old Peterite Club is run by Hon Secretary, W M Hudson, c/o the school.
3 Archbishops of York; C Northcote Parkinson (of Parkinson's Law); Norman Yardley (cricket); Guy Fawkes; Laurence Eusden (Poet Laureate); Sir Thomas Herbert (author); Jeremy J Beadle (music critic); Christopher Hill (historian); Sir Clifford Allbutt (inventor of clinical thermometer; the original Dr Lydgate in George Eliot's Middlemarch); John Barry (composer); Basil Radford (actor); Greg Wise (actor).
|
