Add to clipboard

What it's like

Founded in 1896, it is situated on Blackpool's south shore, half a mile from the sea. The site has recently been developed and refurbished and provides good up-to-date facilities, including an all-weather pitch, sports hall, music rooms, drama studio and promethean interactive whiteboards in every teaching room. Originally a boys' school, it first admitted girls in 1977 and is now fully co-educational. The aims of the school are to provide an environment in which pupils can make the best use of their abilities and to encourage them to develop an awareness of their individual strengths. It has a reputation for providing a good, all-round academic training and examination results are very good. There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities, with sport, drama and music central to school life. There is an outdoor pursuits centre at Glenridding in the Lake District. Both the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme are well-supported.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 2-18, 800 day pupils (412 boys, 388 girls). Junior department 2-11, 212 pupils (118 boys, 94 girls). Senior department 11-18, 588 pupils (294 boys, 294 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 2, 5, 7, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (usually grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. 50% of senior intake from state schools (plus 5% to sixth form), plus 40+% from own junior school.

Scholarships & bursaries

20 pa scholarships at age 11, value 10%-15% fees; plus sixth form scholarships (academic, drama, music, sport, art and design); all scholarships may be supplemented by means-tested assisted places, to a maximum value of 100% of fees. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.

Parents

25% professionals, consultants, solicitors etc; 15% in hotel/tourism.

Head & staff

Headmaster: Barry M Hughes, in post since 2003. Educated at St Joseph's School, Workington, and Salford University (applied chemistry). Previously Second Master at Dauntsey's, Head of Lower School and Housemaster at Kelly College and Housemaster and Head of Year at a large maintained secondary school in Birmingham. Before taking up teaching, worked as an R&D chemist at Sellafield. Holds national professional qualification for head teachers. Also a member of the Court of Lancaster University. Teaching staff: 63 full time, 10 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 44.

Exam results

GCSE: On average, 100 pupils in Year 11, 98% gaining at least grade C in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 95 in upper sixth, 46% passing in 4+ subjects, 51% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 393.

Pupils' destinations

97% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (12% after a gap year), 2% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 18% in science and engineering, 15% in economics and business, 25% in other humanities and social sciences, 3% in art and design, 6% in vocational subjects such as physiotherapy.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 22 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, all take general studies AS-level. Special provision: Help with learning difficulties, especially dyslexia. Languages: French, German, Spanish and Latin offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges to France and Germany. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject in and across the curriculum. 300+ computers for pupil use (18 hours a day), all networked and with filtered email and internet access. Electronic whiteboards/data projectors in all teaching rooms.

The arts

Music: 20% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Many musical groups including choir, orchestra, swing band, wind group, brass ensemble, choral society, soul band, rock band. Drama and dance: Both offered. Many pupils involved in school productions. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 12 A-level.

Sports & activities

Sport: Rugby, cricket, athletics compulsory for boys; hockey, netball, athletics, tennis for girls. Optional: swimming, squash, badminton, golf, fencing, rounders. International representatives at rugby, hockey, netball, athletics, soccer, fencing, biathlon. Activities: Pupils take bronze and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF compulsory for 3 terms at age 14 (very large CCF contingent). Community service optional. Up to 30 clubs, including IT, drama, golf, debating, science, French, Young Enterprise.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn; formal dress code in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy/girl, head of house and house prefects appointed by the Headmaster. Religion: School has Christian ethos (assemblies compulsory). Social: Debates, concerts, visits etc with local schools. Organised trips abroad for French, German, history, geology, geography; hockey tour (Australia), cricket tour (Carribean), rugby tour (South America). Pupils allowed to bring own car or bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect a departmental detention.

Association of former pupils

is run by the Foundation Secretary, c/o the school.

Former pupils

David Ball (Soft Cell); Chris Lowe (Pet Shop Boys); Jenna-Louise Coleman (actress); Jonas Armstrong (actor); Jimmy Armfield, George Eastham, Stanley Matthews (footballers); Sir Walter Clegg MP; Peter Boydell QC; Tom Graveney (cricketer); Sir William Lyons (Jaguar Cars); Dr Michael Smith (Nobel prize-winning chemist); Keith Oates (Marks & Spencer); Peter Purves (TV presenter); Barrie-Jon Mather (rugby).