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Hawarden High School
Ysgol Uwchradd Penarlâg (Welsh)
The school from the north-west, in between Gladstone Park (left) and farmland (upper-right).
Address
Map
The Highway

Hawarden
,
Flintshire
,
CH5 3DN

Wales
Information
TypeSecondary School
Established1606; 418 years ago (1606)
Local authorityFlintshire LEA
HeadteacherSimon Budgen
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
EnrolmentApprox 1250
HousesDeiniol, Ledsham, Glynne and Gladstone
Colour(s)Black uniform
FounderGeorge Ledsham
Websitehttp://www.hawardenhigh.org.uk/
The school's main entrance

Hawarden High School (Welsh: Ysgol Uwchradd Penarlâg) is an English language medium secondary school in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales. It is part of the Flintshire LEA.[1] The school traces its history back to 1606 when a single-classroom grammar school was established with £300 left by a local resident named George Ledsham. The current building occupying this place was first built in 1898 by local architects Grayson & Ould and W&T Bailey, and was extended throughout its history. Located on the same site is a Grade II listed building, the School Library, the former Headmaster's House.

In 1998, the school completed a £4m extension which provided a new school hall, a sports centre extension, expansion of the Technology department and a new drama studio, as well as numerous other improvements. The extension was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1998, on her visit to Flintshire.

In 2007, the school's headmaster, Mr M.C. Powell retired after over 25 years of teaching; his role was taken over by Mr R.J. Davies, who previously held the role of Headteacher at a secondary school in Wrexham. During 2009, as part of a celebration of the bicentennary anniversary of the birth of Victorian era, four times Prime Minister and Hawarden resident, Mr W E Gladstone, Roger Davies gave an interview to local community-heritage volunteer, John Butler. This was subsequently published by National Heritage Archive, Peoples Collection Wales. [2] The school retained a rating of "Good" in its 2009 Estyn inspection with "Excellent" prospects for future improvement.[3] Mr P. Ellis became the Acting Headteacher following the departure of Mr. Davies to an advisory post with Welsh Government. Ellis then became Headteacher for two years, and was followed by Mr S. Budgen.

In 2009, the school launched an investigation after a digitally manipulated video of its teachers dancing circulated online.[4]

In 2015, Christine King, a senior teacher with 14 years at the school, was issued with a prohibition order by the General Teaching Council for Wales after being found guilty of 11 allegations amounting to serious professional incompetence.[5]

The school currently holds a house system, started in 2015, containing four houses named after important local people; Gladstone, Glynne, the aforementioned Ledsham, and Deiniol.

In September 2018, the school faced media criticism for removing students with hair shorter than 0.65 centimetres from classes.[6][7][8]

In October 2018, supply teacher Sian McIlhagga arrived to teach at the school as a supply teacher while under the influence of alcohol. Later that day she was caught driving while intoxicated by North Wales Police, for which she was fined £440 and banned from driving for 18 months. A misconduct hearing in nearby Ewloe took place in October 2019 where McIlhagga was banned from teaching for two years.[9]

In August 2019, headteacher Mr S. Budgen said the A-Level results achieved that month were the best in the school's history, with the school ranked in the top 25% nationally.[10]

In November 2019, the school was awarded a National Quality Award or NQA by the Healthy Schools Scheme, following a visit conducted in September. The scheme is a national initiative funded by Public Health Wales which recognises a school's commitment to health and wellbeing.[11][12][13]

£55,000 of funding to boost capacity at the school has been offered by property developer Eccleston Homes as part of a bid to demolish the nearby Colettine Poor Claire monastery and build 15 detached homes on the site. The proposal came after a significant number of nuns relocated to Nottingham.[14] In March 2020, the developer started an appeal to the Welsh Government planning inspectorate after Flintshire County Council refused planning permission.[15]

Notable alumni

A number of ex-pupils of the school have gone on to achieve notable success:

References

  1. ^ "School site". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  2. ^ https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/526976
  3. ^ Estyn Report
  4. ^ "Hawarden High School Teachers Dance". YouTube.
  5. ^ "Incompetent teacher is banished from classroom". The Leader. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Parents are fuming over a High Schools threat to 'isolate' pupils if their hair is too short". Deeside.com. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. ^ Evans, Owen (11 September 2018). "'Insane' uniform rule slammed as kids face isolation until hair grows back". northwales. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Parents dismay as Hawarden High School pupils with too short hairstyles 'isolated'". The Leader. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ Hughes, Gareth (27 October 2019). "Teacher who turned up for work drunk is struck off". northwales. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. ^ "A Level results 'best in the school's history' says Hawarden High School Headteacher". Deeside.com. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. ^ Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes. "National Quality Award Report of the visit to Hawarden High School" (PDF). Hawarden High School.
  12. ^ "Hawarden High School praised for taking care of pupils' health and wellbeing". Deeside.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. ^ "National award for Hawarden High School". The Leader. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Poor Clares on the move – along with their deceased Sisters". Conference of Religious. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Appeal launched following rejection of plans to demolish Hawarden monastery". Deeside.com. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "School 'proud' of international players". 16 June 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Former Hawarden High School pupil Ryan Hedges agrees three deal with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen". Deeside.com. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  18. ^ Live, North Wales (21 March 2013). "Michael Owen's former Hawarden teacher hails 'fantastic career'". northwales. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
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