Howell's School Llandaff
Encyclopedia
Howell’s School Llandaff is an independent school
in Llandaff
, Cardiff
. The school teaches girls from the age of 3 years up to 18, and contains a nursery, junior, senior school and a sixth form college. Historically a girls’ school, Howell's has, from September 2005, admitted boys into the school’s sixth form
, which has been renamed as Howell's Sixth Form College.
merchant
trading
in Bristol
, London
and Seville
, bequeathed 12,000 gold ducats. to the Drapers’ Guild (latterly the Company of Drapers) to provide dowries “every yere for Maydens for ever.” His “Merchant’s Mark” is still used as a logo for the school. The school's magazine is called the Golden Ducat in reference to the bequest.
In 1860 the Company of Drapers founded the school, housed in a building designed by Decimus Burton
, on the outskirts of the village of Llandaff
. Another school was founded by the same charity at Denbigh
in 1859. Also in this year, the school opened to its first pupils, with Miss Baldwin and the first Headmistress.
In 1980 the school joined the Girls' Day School Trust
(then the Girls’ Public Day School Trust).
In 2006 The school opened the GDST's first co-education sixth form with the admission of 26 boys into year 12.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The school teaches girls from the age of 3 years up to 18, and contains a nursery, junior, senior school and a sixth form college. Historically a girls’ school, Howell's has, from September 2005, admitted boys into the school’s sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
, which has been renamed as Howell's Sixth Form College.
History
In 1537, Thomas Howell, a WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
trading
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, bequeathed 12,000 gold ducats. to the Drapers’ Guild (latterly the Company of Drapers) to provide dowries “every yere for Maydens for ever.” His “Merchant’s Mark” is still used as a logo for the school. The school's magazine is called the Golden Ducat in reference to the bequest.
In 1860 the Company of Drapers founded the school, housed in a building designed by Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton was a prolific English architect and garden designer, He is particularly associated with projects in the classical style in London parks, including buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and London Zoo, and with the layout and architecture of the seaside towns of Fleetwood and...
, on the outskirts of the village of Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
. Another school was founded by the same charity at Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
in 1859. Also in this year, the school opened to its first pupils, with Miss Baldwin and the first Headmistress.
In 1980 the school joined the Girls' Day School Trust
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
(then the Girls’ Public Day School Trust).
In 2006 The school opened the GDST's first co-education sixth form with the admission of 26 boys into year 12.
Key dates
- 1859-60 Howell’s School built.
- 1860 Miss Baldwin appointed Headmistress.
- 1860 Classes started with 60 pupils.
- 1872 Miss Ewing appointed Headmistress.
- 1880 Miss Kendall appointed Headmistress.
- 1887 Sanatorium built.
- 1896 Cookery School built.
- 1900 Great Hall built.
- 1906 Steward's Wing built.
- 1906 Hywelian Guild established.
- 1920 Miss Kendall retired.
- 1920 Miss Trotter appointed as Headmistress.
- 1937 Swimming pool built.
- 1937 Miss Knight appointed as Headmistress.
- 1941 Miss Lewis appointed as Headmistress.
- 1950 Science laboratories built.
- 1960 Bryntaf and Oaklands acquired as extra boarding houses.
- 1960 Hywelians donated grand piano.
- 1978 Miss Turner appointed as Headmistress.
- 1980 Howell's School joined the Girls' Day School TrustGirls' Day School TrustThe Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
. - 1984 Junior School for ages 7-11 opened.
- 1990 Music Block and Octagon Room built.
- 1991 Mrs Jane Fitz appointed as Headmistress.
- 1993 Boarding ceased and houses remodelled for the Sixth Form.
- 1997 Nursery opened accepting girls from the age of three.
- 1997 Sports Hall and Fitness Suite built.
- 2001 New laboratory and renovation programme completed.
- 2003 New Junior School building and extension project commenced.
- 2004 Ty Hapus(Happy House), new building for Junior School completed and Junior School intake doubled.
- 2005 Co-educational Sixth Form College established - first young men in school in 145 years.
- 2007 Mrs Sally Davis appointed as Principal.
- 2008 Howell's becomes a Fairtrade School.
- 2010 Howell's celebrates 150 years since its opening
Notable former pupils
- Charlotte ChurchCharlotte ChurchCharlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
, singer - Patricia ClarkePatricia ClarkePatricia Hannah Clarke, née Green, FRS was a British biochemist.Clarke was born in Pontypridd, South Wales, and was educated at Howell's School, Llandaff, from 1930 to 1937, before studying the Natural Sciences Tripos at Girton College, Cambridge, from 1937 to 1940.After graduating she took a post...
, biochemist - Janet DaviesJanet Davies (Welsh politician)Janet Davies is a Plaid Cymru Welsh politician. She was the National Assembly for Wales Member for South Wales West from 1999 to 2007, retiring at the 2007 election.-Background:...
, Welsh politician - Jem, pop singer
- Jean McFarlane, Baroness McFarlane of Llandaff, the holder of the first Chair of Nursing in an EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
university (the University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterThe University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
) - Julie MorganJulie MorganJulie Morgan AM is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Cardiff North from 1997 until 2010; she is married to former First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan. Julie Morgan won the Cardiff North seat in the Welsh Assembly in the 2011 elections.-Early life,...
, Labour MP - Lucy OwenLucy OwenLucy Owen is a Welsh television news reader.-Early life:Owen attended Howell's School in Llandaff, Cardiff, and graduated from the Royal Holloway, University of London in English.-Career:...
(née Cohen) BBC Wales news presenter - Claire SummersClaire SummersClaire Summers is a Welsh news television presenter for BBC Wales.Born in Cardiff, but brought up in Cowbridge, Summers was educated at Howell's in Llandaff...
, BBC Wales news presenter - Jo WaltonJo WaltonJo Walton is a Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002 and the World Fantasy award for her novel Tooth and Claw in 2004. Her novel Ha'penny was a co-winner of the 2008 Prometheus Award...
, fantasy and science fiction writer