Dowdales School which was founded 1928, is a community, comprehensive

Comprehensive school

A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...

 school in Dalton-in-Furness

Dalton-in-Furness

Dalton-in-Furness is a small town of 8,394 people, north east of Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, England.-History:Dalton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, written as "Daltune" as one of the townships forming the Manor of Hougun held by Earl Tostig. Historically, it was the capital of Furness...

, Cumbria

Cumbria

Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...

 for both boys and girls in the age range 11-16. There are approximately 1000 pupils on roll.

The school was originally based on the former Ashburner Mansion, which is still a part of the school. The name of Dowdales derives from the adjacent field known as Peter Dowdales' Field.

The Current Head Teacher is Ms. Julie D. O'Connor.

The school has achieved Leading Edge status for its excellent work, it is an Ambassador School for Gifted and Talented pupils and is a Performing Arts College.

On 28 August 2010, The Dowdales Year 7 Rugby Team defeated Temple Moor at Wembley 26-4, to Win the Carnegie Schools Tournament.

Sports

The school also is the home of The Dalton Active Sports Hall, which hosts many local sporting activities. These include: Zumba

Zumba

Zumba is the largest dance fitness program in the world, based on a Latin-inspired dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia during the 1990s....

, Tennis & Aerobics. These are just a few of the activities that Dowdales School offers to its pupils.

Fire

On September 16th 2011, there was a fire reported in the school's Design & Technology block, within one of the Food Technology classrooms, from a faulty tumble dryer. All students and staff were evacuated and the students were later sent home. 2 members of staff were injured, but both were given the all clear and released from Furness General Hospital the same day. Because of this, the school was closed for 2 days, but reopened on Wednesday 21st September to all pupils.

Community & Events

The pupils of Dowdales are well known in the communities surrounding the school site and participate in many local activities involving not only them but the people around them and other schools in the area. The school has participated in many events this year.

External links

• School website
• Ofsted report
• Stats on BBC