The Mount School, York
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009) |
| Motto | Fidelis in Parvo |
|---|---|
| Established | 1831 |
| Type | Independent |
| Principal | Julie Lodrick |
| Location | Dalton Terrace York North Yorkshire YO24 4DD England |
| Ages | 3–18 |
| Website | mountschoolyork.co.uk |
Coordinates: 53°57′08″N 1°05′52″W / 53.95235°N 1.09771°W
The Mount School is a Quaker independent day and boarding school in York, England, for girls aged 11–18. It was founded in 1831. Its preparatory school is called Tregelles, and it accepts only girls from 2012 onwards and has a nursery department. There are two or three forms in Year 7 to 11 and College (Sixth Form). There are about 9 to 21 girls in each form. Each form has a head of form and year.
Contents |
[edit] History
The school was founded by Yorkshire Quakers in 1831.
[edit] Present day
The current headmistress is Julie Lodrick. The school motto is Fidelis in Parvo, meaning "faithfulness in little things".
[edit] School Day
The school day begins with a meeting for worship every morning, except for Wednesday which is form time and hymn practices. The day is divided into nine 35 minute periods, lessons are one or two periods long. Morning break occurs after Period 2 and Lunch break after Period 5. After Period 9 there is an afternoon break before activities. The Mount offers a wide range of after school activities including creative writing, debating and music or sporting activities. There is also an option for girls to remain to complete their homework within school.
[edit] Boarding
After activities girls may stay for supper. Boarders are separated into School House and College House, for the College years. Girls are able to stay for one night a week up to every night of the term. There are many boarding activities and traditions upheld by the boarding department including the Christmas 'Carols on the Stairs'.
[edit] Traditions
The Mount School has many long standing traditions throughout the school year. These range from 'Games in the Dark' at Bonfire Night, where Year 11 girls arrange a treasure hunt style challenge for the younger girls, and some older, to take part in whilst parents arrive at the school for fireworks later in the evening. College girls present three events to the school, one at the end of each term. Firstly the College I Pantomime, then the College II Talent Show and finally the Leavers' Play. The Leavers' Play is presented to the school at Leavers' Supper, usually the final Thursday of the year. The new head girsl present the old head girls with flowers and College II present the school with a gift, previous years including an award in memory of a teacher and a digital photo frame to show pictures of student trips.
The school holds an end of term meeting both at Christmas and in the summer.
Between these meetings is Family Day. This a usually during mid May and is the main fundraising event of the year. The school body selects two charities to support each year, one based in the UK and one overseas. The students, sometimes staff, speak about potential charities during Morning Meeting before all students vote for which to support. Family Day is an opporntunity for every year to run a stall to raise money, whilst music and drama group offer entertainment. Other activity groups run stalls to raise awareness such as Amnesty International and Eco Committee, which in 2011 won the Green Flag award for the school. This represents the highest achievement for an eco-friendly school.
The summer meeting, Speech Day, summarises the year and introduces the new head girl team. Awards and Scholarships are presented to students from every year group, including Grade 8 Music and Drama awards. Each leaver writes a few sentences about their time at the Mount and their future plans, these are read out as they receive a necklace of the Mount Rose as a leaving gift.
[edit] Academics
The Mount School has for many years been acknowledged as one of the top independent girls' schools in the United Kingdom. In The Times League Table, the school is ranked 2nd by A-level results in the York area.
Academically the school maintains traditional values and has developed ‘pillars of excellence’ in several subject areas: science, music, sports, art, drama and foreign languages.
In 2006, a 100% pass rate in A Level was recorded across the academic subjects. Over 33% of the year group gained three or more A grades, and four students were credited with 5 grade As, with three girls securing their places at the University of Cambridge in the following academic year. As for GCSE level, 100% of pupils achieved a good GCSE grade in seven or more subjects. Five students gained one of the top five marks in the country in various subjects.
[edit] Athletics
The sporting facilities are 16 acres (65,000 m2) of pitches, an indoor heated swimming pool, a sports hall, and a gymnasium. Girls may opt for activities such as orienteering and fencing. Every year has complusory P.E. lessons for sports including netball, hockey and swimming in the winter and rounders, tennis and athletics in the summer. College girls are able to choice from a wider variety of sports including lacrosse and using the fitness suite.
Every year has a team for Hockey, Netball, Tennis, Rounders and Swimming. These teams compete with other schools in the city and county. The school also has teams for athletics competitions and cross country races.
[edit] Music
The Mount has an entire block dedicated to Music and holds three concerts in the year, one especially for small groups and soloists. There are teachers able for most instruments and an opportunity for students to join a variety of music activities. The school has a Senior and Junior Orchestra and Senior and Junior Choir. There is also a Windband and Swing Band for woodwind and brass instruments. The school has one auditioned choir, Singing Group, which has been asked to sing at several events outside the school including events held at York Minster.
[edit] Drama
Drama is an active part in school life as there is usually a whole school play and a College Play every year. Girls are encouraged to be an active part of all roles for these plays including backstage and lighting, front of house and of course the acting itself. The College play is yet another tradition at the Mount. Girls from College II select a play of their choice to direct, produce and organise costumes and sets. Usually girls in the senior years are chosen for parts and teacher input is kept to an advisory role. Previous years have performed Alice, The History Boys and Accrington Pals. The Drama department presents 'I See A Voice' ever term, enabling the current Drama students, both academic and extra-curiccular, to showcase their exam pieces to the students and parents.
[edit] Notable former pupils
- Dame Judi Dench, actress
- Rose Neill, BBC Broadcaster
- Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist
- Laura Sayers, Radio 1 producer
- A. S. Byatt, author
- Margaret Drabble, author
- Kate Bellingham BBC technology presenter and engineer
- Anna Walker, BBC Tomorrow's World and Sky presenter
- Kathy Killick, BBC Look North politics presenter
- Kathleen Tillotson, literary scholar
- Mary Ure, actress
- Hilary Wainwright, feminist and Guardian writer
- Elaine Kellett-Bowman, former Conservative MP
- Isobel Barnett, radio and television personality
- Elfrida Vipont, children's author
- Jean Henderson, lawyer and Liberal Party politician
- Rachel Howard, contemporary artist
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Sturge, H. W. & Clark, T. The Mount School. York, 1785 to 1931. (Pub. 1931).
- Smith, M. F. & Waller, E. A. The Mount School. York, 1857 to 1957. (Pub. 1957).
- The Mount OSA. A register of old scholars, 1931-1932. (Pub. 1932).
- The Mount School Annual reports (annual lists of pupils 1919-1940).
- Old York Scholars Association Annual reports, 1887-1901. OSA Annual reports. (Pub. 1890).
- Sheils, S. (2007) Among Friends, The Story of The Mount School, York. London: James & James
[edit] External links
 |
This Yorkshire school or sixth form college related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
