Friends School Lisburn
Encyclopedia
Friends' School, Lisburn is a Quaker voluntary grammar school
in the city of Lisburn
, Northern Ireland
founded in 1774.
s were purchased at Prospect Hill from the Earl of Hertford
. In 1774 the first Headmaster, John Gough, took up his post. The school was known as the Ulster Provincial School, and in 1794 became the responsibility of the Ulster Quarterly Meeting, the body representing the Religious Society of Friends in Ulster
.
It is the only Quaker school in Northern Ireland (Newtown School, Waterford
being in the Republic of Ireland
); it is, however, one of nine in the United Kingdom
. Friends' still embraces the Quaker ethos inherent within Quaker schools across the United Kingdom, as well as this, members of the Religious Society of Friends still have seats on the Board of Governors. The school emphasises strongly the need for people of all races and religions to come together in a spirit of community and friendship. It originally only accepted pupils from Quaker families and could have been described as a public school
, this term has, however, lost its meaning in Northern Ireland with the introduction of Grammar Schools. A period of silence is still observed in morning Assemblies, this is used for reflection and silent worship.
In 2011 the school was named by the Sunday Times as the best in Northern Ireland.
) due to its reputation. Friends' now only accepts day pupils, of around 140 a year contributing to a full enrollment of 970 for the Grammar school.
The latest addition to the school was a playground, opened in 2009. It stands in the place of the old swimming pool, beside Harding House. The swimming pool was reputed to be the oldest heated one in Ireland (1901).
Recent building programmes have included a new Preparatory Department, the refurbishment of all the science laboratories and significant improvements in the provision of disabled access, including the construction of two lifts, giving access to all floors of the West Wing and to all floors of the Main Building.
The refurbishment of the former Boarding Department has included the provision of new accommodation for the Geography Department and the expansion of ICT
facilities.
A purpose built greenhouse and potting shed was completed in November 2004. Improvements to pupils’ cloakroom areas were made during the 2004 – 2005 school year.
A purpose built preparatory department was completed in 1996 and retains the name Prospect House, after the old building which housed the department for almost fifty years. The Preparatory Department houses Lisburn's Friends meeting House.
Every year pupils from Friends' participate in the annual Quaker Pilgrimage with pupils from other Quaker Schools, such as Bootham School
and Leighton Park.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in the city of Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
founded in 1774.
History
Founded in 1774 on the basis of a bequest from John Handcock, a Quaker linen trader, when twenty acreAcre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s were purchased at Prospect Hill from the Earl of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England...
. In 1774 the first Headmaster, John Gough, took up his post. The school was known as the Ulster Provincial School, and in 1794 became the responsibility of the Ulster Quarterly Meeting, the body representing the Religious Society of Friends in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
.
Newtown School, Waterford
Newtown School is a multidenominational, coeducational independent school with both boarding and day pupils in Waterford, Ireland. It is run by a Board of Management, but owned by the Religious Society of Friends.- History :...
being in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
); it is, however, one of nine in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Friends' still embraces the Quaker ethos inherent within Quaker schools across the United Kingdom, as well as this, members of the Religious Society of Friends still have seats on the Board of Governors. The school emphasises strongly the need for people of all races and religions to come together in a spirit of community and friendship. It originally only accepted pupils from Quaker families and could have been described as a public school
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
, this term has, however, lost its meaning in Northern Ireland with the introduction of Grammar Schools. A period of silence is still observed in morning Assemblies, this is used for reflection and silent worship.
In 2011 the school was named by the Sunday Times as the best in Northern Ireland.
Composition
The School consists of a fee-paying Preparatory Department, Prospect House, and a Grammar School, the latter of which, until recently had a boarding department attracting pupils from abroad (mostly Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) due to its reputation. Friends' now only accepts day pupils, of around 140 a year contributing to a full enrollment of 970 for the Grammar school.
The latest addition to the school was a playground, opened in 2009. It stands in the place of the old swimming pool, beside Harding House. The swimming pool was reputed to be the oldest heated one in Ireland (1901).
Recent building programmes have included a new Preparatory Department, the refurbishment of all the science laboratories and significant improvements in the provision of disabled access, including the construction of two lifts, giving access to all floors of the West Wing and to all floors of the Main Building.
The refurbishment of the former Boarding Department has included the provision of new accommodation for the Geography Department and the expansion of ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
facilities.
A purpose built greenhouse and potting shed was completed in November 2004. Improvements to pupils’ cloakroom areas were made during the 2004 – 2005 school year.
A purpose built preparatory department was completed in 1996 and retains the name Prospect House, after the old building which housed the department for almost fifty years. The Preparatory Department houses Lisburn's Friends meeting House.
Every year pupils from Friends' participate in the annual Quaker Pilgrimage with pupils from other Quaker Schools, such as Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
and Leighton Park.
Notable former pupils
- Michael DibdinMichael DibdinMichael Dibdin , was a British crime writer.-Life:Dibdin was born in Wolverhampton, the son of a physicist, and was brought up from the age of seven in Lisburn, Northern Ireland where he attended Friends' School...
, author - James G. Douglas (1887-1954), Member of the Seanad ÉireannSeanad ÉireannSeanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
.
- Stephen Ferris, Professional rugby player; Ulster, Ireland, British and Irish Lions.
- Glenn Hand, Professional Footballer for Carrick Rangers F.C.
- Bulmer HobsonBulmer HobsonJohn Bulmer Hobson was a leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood before the Easter Rising in 1916...
- Jimmy KirkwoodJimmy KirkwoodJames W. Kirkwood is a former field hockey player and Irish cricketer, who was born in Northern Ireland.-Hockey:Kirkwood was a member of the golden winning British squad at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul....
- Joy Winfred Lamb, Irish International Hockey Player, 1940-1950
- Roger McMorrowRoger McMorrowRoger McMorrow is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the National Maternity Hospital and St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. He is inventor of the McMorrow Laryngoscope and the CXE Breathing Circuit and is one of Ireland's Everest Summiteers...
, Doctor and explorer - Gareth Murdock, Bass Player of AlestormAlestormAlestorm is a folk metal band from Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterized by a pirate theme, and as a result have been dubbed a "Pirate metal" band at a popular heavy metal related website....
- Sir Lucius O'Brien (1896-1974), first Chairman of Northern Ireland Housing Trust.
- Frank Pantridge CBEFrank PantridgeProfessor James Francis "Frank" Pantridge, MD, CBE was a physician and cardiologist from Northern Ireland who transformed emergency medicine and paramedic services with the invention of the portable defibrillator....
, cardiologist
- Jordan Baker - Professional footballer who currently plays for Ballymena F.C.