Hall Cross Academy
53°32′36″N 1°05′14″W / 53.54347°N 1.08729°W
| Hall Cross Comprehensive School | |
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| Type | Co-educational secondary comprehensive with specialist Science and Mathematics status |
| Motto | Confort et liesse |
| Established | 1986 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Head teacher | Dr. Kelvin Simmonds |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 2597 |
| Website | http://www.hallcross.doncaster.sch.uk |
Hall Cross Comprehensive School, founded in 1986, is a co-educational comprehensive school in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The school is split on two sites, with the Upper School located in the centre of Doncaster in the (Town Fields area) and the Lower School in Bessacarr. Hall Cross has specialist status as both a Science College and a Mathematics and Computing College. The total number of pupils who attend the school is 2,597. It features as an integral part of the community, providing access to facilities for many primary schools, which also form part of its large catchment area. The last headteacher of the school was Kevin Jones, who recently retired due to ill health and stress. Because of this and receiving a Notice to Improve in a recent Ofsted inspection, the school appointed an executive head Dr. Kelvin Simmonds, headteacher of Danum Technology College[1]. The associate headteacher is Mrs Jackson, the assistant headteacher Mr J Blount and the deputy headteacher Mr Watts.
History
Hall Cross Comprehensive has a long history within Doncaster. The library within the Upper School is a Grade 2 listed building and is the first school building on this site. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who also designed St Pancras Chambers (formerly the Midland Grand Hotel in London), Doncaster Parish Church of St. George, and other famous buildings. The Upper School site was originally Doncaster Grammar School for Boys. However, it has been a comprehensive school for some years. It was first referenced in 1350, making it older than Eton, and one of the twenty-eight oldest schools in the United Kingdom. The first squash courts in Doncaster were built on the Thorne Road site and still exist today, although they have been converted to a fitness suite and table tennis courts.
The Lower School was originally Ellers High School, then Ellers Middle School. As part of reorganisation of the school system in the early 1990s, it became part of Hall Cross.
The Library
The library building is the oldest building on the Town Centre site, built in 1869. Downstairs it features a plaque which can still be seen to this day, dedicating the building to Queen Victoria. The library is a clasic example of Victorian Gothic Revival, featuring a large Hammerbeam roof decorated with flowers cut into the massive oak beams. The building also features a tower at one corner. Inside, the library features two massive Gothic style glass windows at either end, one of them being stained glass, which was put in in 1918 as a tribute to "Old Boys" from the school who died in World War 1. The library features a large amount of Victorian plaques, dedicated to past headteachers of the school, men from the school who died in both wars, and other various things. The most recently added one commemorating when Prince Charles visited the school in 1989. By number of books, the library is the biggest in Doncaster, and is largely used by the 6th form.
Remberance Day
Remembrance day is one of the most important days in the school calendar. The school has held a ceremony every year since 1918 to remember those who attended the school and died in battle. The service begins at 9. Speeches are made by the Head Governor and Head Teacher. A poppy wreath is then carried down the corridor to the library. It is then laid by the World War 2 plaque, whilst the Last Post is played on the trumpet, with the sounds carrying through to the library.
Famous pupils
The school has produced some famous pupils, including Barry Middleton the England International hockey star. His mother is a maths teacher at the school. [citation needed]Another famous pupil is David Firth, the animator behind Salad Fingers and all animations on the fat-pie website. His mother teaches art at the school. Other well-known past pupils include Lord Ronald Dearing, former Chairman of the Post Office and Rodney Bickerstaffe, former leader of Britain's largest trades union, UNISON.
Controversy
In 2007 Hall Cross School failed its annual Ofsted report. As a result former headmaster K. Jones was forced to resign appointing Dr K. Simmons as the executive head. Controversy struck when the parents of current pupils were not informed of recent failures to the schools report
Summary of Ofsted Report
Key for inspection grades
Grade 1 Outstanding:
Grade 2 Good
Grade 3 Satisfactory
Grade 4 Inadequate i.e Fail
Overall effectiveness of the school - Grade: 4
Achievement and standards - Grade: 4
Personal development and wellbeing - Grade: 2
Teaching and learning - Grade: 3
Curriculum and other activities - Grade: 4
Care, guidance and support - Grade: 3
Leadership and management - Grade: 4