Earls High School
Encyclopedia
The Earls High School is a secondary school
on Furnace Lane near the A458
in Halesowen
, West Midlands
.
The Earls High School was created in September 1972 as a result of a re-organisation of education in Halesowen which saw the Grammar School merge with the adjacent Technical School on Furnace Lane. It was formed at a time when Halesowen was replacing the traditional 5-7 infant, 7-11 junior and 11-16/18 secondary schools with 5-9 first, 9-13 middle and 13-18 secondary schools. The Earls High School began life as a 13-18 secondary school with facilities spread between the old Grammar and Technical School buildings.
The School's facilities have been updated over the years with extensions and new teaching blocks added, along with sports halls and a dance centre astro turf pitches and a new cricket pavilion.
The original building present at the time of the School's foundation in 1652 was demolished in 1864 and replaced by a new building on the same site fronting Grammar School Lane. This building was positioned approximately in the centre of what is now The Earls' traffic roundabout.
A further school building (now the oldest building still in existence) was opened on Friday March 1, 1908. The former School hall within this building (now housing the current library) has fine stained glass windows donated by Sir George Hingley in memory of his uncle Sir Benjamin Hingley who was educated at the School.
The current main School building (known as 'A' Block) was opened in 1931. The architect, Mr A.T. Butler F.R.I.B.A. was educated at the School.
The School has a successful House System believed to have been introduced by Mr. R. Dickinson (Headmaster) in around 1910. The names of the Houses (Cobham, Abbey, Shenstone and Hingley) all have connections with Halesowen.
The School motto – Ut Filii Lucis Fiatis (That We Shall Become Sons of Light) is likely to have been introduced prior to 1905, the date when girls were first admitted to the School.
In September 1982, the Halesowen area (which had become part of the Dudley borough in April 1974) abandoned the three-tier education system and Earls High became an 11-16 school, gaining two younger year groups of 11 and 12 year olds (first and second years) but its sixth form was closed following the establishment of an expanded tertiary college of further education at nearby Halesowen College. In September 1990, the traditional 1-5 year numbers were replaced with a continuous year numbering system which saw the year groups designated as 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
The school is among the highest performing in the whole Dudley borough, with the percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE's at grade C or above regularly passing the 60% mark. http://www.earlshighschool.org/about/
A sixth form centre was added in September 2009, at the same time as a similar unit was opened at nearby Windsor High School
, as sixth form education made a return to Halesowen secondary schools after an absence of almost 30 years. http://www.earlshighschool.org/news/?n=45
On Thursday 3rd November 2011, the school was forced to temporarily close due to the school building which contains the school's phone lines being hit by lightning, the lightning first hit the second oldest exising block 'B' block,breaking part of the old bell tower by the main entrance causing wood and tiles to fall from the roof, one injuring a year nine child. then the lightning struck the gym at the back of 'B' block causing everything in their to stop and/or be postponed. the lightning then struck the astroturf right by a group of year 8 students. the school then went into lockdown and everyone was ushered inside.the lightning then hit 'A' block and it's car park, 'L' block, a language block shattering the windows, 'E' block, the english block and 'C' block the art and music block.
- the old boys team eventually being formed in 1930 and becoming the Halesowen Old Halesonians team, supplying their name.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
on Furnace Lane near the A458
A458 road
The A458 is a route on the UK highway network that runs from Mallwyd, near Machynlleth, in Wales, to Halesowen, near Stourbridge, in England. On the way it passes through Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth and Stourbridge.-Welshpool to Shrewsbury:...
in Halesowen
Halesowen
Halesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
.
Information
The School's history dates back to 1652 when a Free Grammar School was founded. There is, however, evidence that a school existed in 1632 as local men are recorded as being benefactors of a Free School in Halesowen. It is unclear whether the Free Grammar School was a new establishment or a new name for an older school.The Earls High School was created in September 1972 as a result of a re-organisation of education in Halesowen which saw the Grammar School merge with the adjacent Technical School on Furnace Lane. It was formed at a time when Halesowen was replacing the traditional 5-7 infant, 7-11 junior and 11-16/18 secondary schools with 5-9 first, 9-13 middle and 13-18 secondary schools. The Earls High School began life as a 13-18 secondary school with facilities spread between the old Grammar and Technical School buildings.
The School's facilities have been updated over the years with extensions and new teaching blocks added, along with sports halls and a dance centre astro turf pitches and a new cricket pavilion.
The original building present at the time of the School's foundation in 1652 was demolished in 1864 and replaced by a new building on the same site fronting Grammar School Lane. This building was positioned approximately in the centre of what is now The Earls' traffic roundabout.
A further school building (now the oldest building still in existence) was opened on Friday March 1, 1908. The former School hall within this building (now housing the current library) has fine stained glass windows donated by Sir George Hingley in memory of his uncle Sir Benjamin Hingley who was educated at the School.
The current main School building (known as 'A' Block) was opened in 1931. The architect, Mr A.T. Butler F.R.I.B.A. was educated at the School.
The School has a successful House System believed to have been introduced by Mr. R. Dickinson (Headmaster) in around 1910. The names of the Houses (Cobham, Abbey, Shenstone and Hingley) all have connections with Halesowen.
The School motto – Ut Filii Lucis Fiatis (That We Shall Become Sons of Light) is likely to have been introduced prior to 1905, the date when girls were first admitted to the School.
In September 1982, the Halesowen area (which had become part of the Dudley borough in April 1974) abandoned the three-tier education system and Earls High became an 11-16 school, gaining two younger year groups of 11 and 12 year olds (first and second years) but its sixth form was closed following the establishment of an expanded tertiary college of further education at nearby Halesowen College. In September 1990, the traditional 1-5 year numbers were replaced with a continuous year numbering system which saw the year groups designated as 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
The school is among the highest performing in the whole Dudley borough, with the percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE's at grade C or above regularly passing the 60% mark. http://www.earlshighschool.org/about/
A sixth form centre was added in September 2009, at the same time as a similar unit was opened at nearby Windsor High School
Windsor High School (Halesowen)
Windsor High School is a Secondary School located on Richmond Street, Halesowen, in England.- The School :Windsor High School is a comprehensive school in Halesowen, West Midlands. It is a large school, catering for 1,369 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is heavily over-subscribed...
, as sixth form education made a return to Halesowen secondary schools after an absence of almost 30 years. http://www.earlshighschool.org/news/?n=45
On Thursday 3rd November 2011, the school was forced to temporarily close due to the school building which contains the school's phone lines being hit by lightning, the lightning first hit the second oldest exising block 'B' block,breaking part of the old bell tower by the main entrance causing wood and tiles to fall from the roof, one injuring a year nine child. then the lightning struck the gym at the back of 'B' block causing everything in their to stop and/or be postponed. the lightning then struck the astroturf right by a group of year 8 students. the school then went into lockdown and everyone was ushered inside.the lightning then hit 'A' block and it's car park, 'L' block, a language block shattering the windows, 'E' block, the english block and 'C' block the art and music block.
Notable alumni
Alumni are known as Old Halesonians. The school has long been seen as a strong academic institution and sportingly good at rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
- the old boys team eventually being formed in 1930 and becoming the Halesowen Old Halesonians team, supplying their name.
Halesowen Grammar School
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