The English School, Nicosia: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 23:13, 17 April 2016
| The English School | |
|---|---|
| File:English School Nicosia.svg | |
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
Nicosia Cyprus | |
| Information | |
| Type | selective co-educational secondary school |
| Motto | Non Sibi Sed Scholae |
| Established | 1900 |
| Founder | Canon Frank Darvall Newham |
| Chairperson | Magda Nicholson |
| Headteacher | Graeme Garrett |
| Teaching staff | 110 |
| Age range | 11-19 |
| Houses | Wolseley Beaconsfield Newham Kitchener |
| Colour(s) | |
| Website | www |
The English School, Nicosia is a selective co-educational school in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the Middle East and Europe, with rigorous selection process for admittance.[1] It is the only secondary school in Nicosia designated to be bi-communal, with both Greek and Turkish Cypriots being educated at the school.[2]
History
The school was founded in 1900 by an Anglican clergyman, Canon Frank Darvall Newham and since its inception the school has offered a British-style secondary level education to children from all the communities of Cyprus. Originally it only accepted the children of the British rulers of the island and was located within the medieval walls of Nicosia. It moved to its current premises in 1939. The school is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the entire geographic area, with rigorous entrance criteria.
The school started off as a private venture but control was transferred to the British Governor in 1930. Following independence from British occupation in 1960, control passed to the Cypriot Government. In 2007, the school's status and eligibility for state grants was challenged at the Supreme Court.[3][4]
In 1958, EOKA distributed a text threatening Greek Cypriots that attended the school. This resulted in the parents removing students from the school and the number of Greek Cypriots attending fell from 317 to 21.[5]
Some of the School's worst moments came to pass during the time when Thomas Thomas was Headmaster. Scandals rocked the school and the Headmaster was sacked, with accusations over favouritism and his erratic behaviour.[6]
From September 2003 onwards, the school returned to its bi-communal status by re-enrolling Turkish Cypriots.[7] It is a highly selective academic co-educational secondary school and most of its leavers attend universities in Great Britain.[8][9]
In November 2006, Turkish Cypriot students were attacked at The English School by extremist members of "National Voice of Youth with a Greek Soul". At the time, The US Department of State released the following statement:
"In April 2007 court proceedings began for 13 suspects charged with attacking Turkish Cypriot students. On November 22, 2006, 15 to 20 Greek Cypriot teenagers, believed to be members of an ultranationalist group, National Voice of Youth with a Greek Soul, entered the English School in Nicosia and attacked a group of Turkish Cypriot students, causing minor injuries."[10]
It follows British educational models in its emphasis on the all-round education of the whole pupil and offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, music and drama.[citation needed]
Staff are all qualified graduates of British or other English Language universities, or, in the case of the Greek Department, of Greek universities. The school is heavily oversubscribed and entry is by competitive examinations.[11]
The school hosted the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in 1995, 2000 and 2005.[12][13][14]
5B4ES is an amateur radio club in Nicosia. It has been operated by the students of the English School since 1969. In recent years the club couldn't operate as it had no member with a license, but in 2008 a member of the club acquired his license and the club resumed operations.
Instruction
Based on the model of British independent secondary schools,[citation needed] for the first three years all students follow a broad curriculum designed to lay foundations for public examinations and give them a taste of all the subjects on offer.
At the end of the 3rd year, students begin to specialise by choosing their programme of GCSE subjects. The compulsory core subjects are English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Modern Greek / Turkish and students choose a number of optional subjects. In the 6th year, all pupils must take five AS Level courses including Modern Greek, Ancient Greek or Classical Civilisation, and in the 7th year, pupils choose to continue with 4 subjects at A Level. Lots of English School students continue their studies in the top universities of England. The English school is considered to be one of the best English schools all over the world.
The school has the following 16 departments:
Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Economics, English, Geography, Greek, History, ICT, Maths, Modern Languages, Music, Physical Education, Physics, and Turkish.[15]
A Religious Instruction department also exists, but classes are optional as they are available only to Greek-Orthodox, Armenian-Orthodox and Maronite-Catholic students. Religious Education is also available for students who do not wish to partake in Religious Instruction; lessons review a more general overview of various faiths and their histories.
Grounds
The school is situated in a semi-wooded parkland near the centre of the capital Nicosia and is one of the largest schools in Cyprus. Recent updating of the school's academic facilities came with the completion of the Science building, a modern science wing.[16]
The school's extensive sport grounds include 2 full size football fields, 4 futsal fields, running and athletics tracks, 3 tennis courts, a (lawn) hockey field, 2 basketball and 2 volleyball courts. The school has a large multi-purpose indoor sports arena completed in 1992.
Houses
The school is split into 4 houses. Each house has associated colours.
| House | Named after | Colours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaconsfield | The Earl of Beaconsfield | Yellow | |
| Kitchener | Horatio Herbert Kitchener | Dark blue | |
| Newham | Canon Newham | Light Blue | |
| Wolseley | The Viscount Wolseley | Red | |
Notable alumni
- Dimitris Lipertis, poet and writer, former teacher.
- Rauf Denktaş, Turkish Cypriot politician
- Michalis Karaolis, EOKA fighter
- Stephanie Solomonides, first Cypriot to ski to the South Pole[17][18]
In 2010, a book was published to list the notable Turkish Cypriot alumni of the school.[19]
Amongst others, numerous famous doctors, financiers and politicians around the world are known to have attended the English School in Cyprus.
References
- ^ "Entrance Examination Procedure". Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "2014 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cyprus". US Department of State. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ Hazou, Elias (2007-07-21). "Promotion row throws English School status into question". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2008-03-28. [dead link]
- ^ "Question time for the English School". Cyprus Mail. 2002-07-18. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ Lange, Matthew (2011). Educations in Ethnic Violence: Identity, Educational Bubbles, and Resource Mobilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 89. ISBN 1139505440.
- ^ http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cmnews/1998/98-08-18.cmnews.html#01
- ^ English School to open entry for Turkish Cypriots Cyprus Mail Archive article - Friday, June 6, 2003 [1]
- ^ 2005 ES leavers destinations
- ^ Cypriot schools celebrate top A-level results. Cyprus Mail - archive article - Sunday, August 28, [2]
- ^ US Department of State Report on Religious Freedom in 2007, Retrieved May 2, 2011
- ^ Entrance Examinations
- ^ "Extra-curricular activities". Cyprus Mail. 2005-04-24. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ "Debating their way to the top". Cyprus Mail. 2005-03-29. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ "60 pupils debate hot topics at World Championships". Cyprus Mail. 2000-04-02. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ The English School - Departments
- ^ "English School unveils new science building". Cyprus Mail. November 13, 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ Stephanie Solomonides on the official website of the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition
- ^ "First Cypriot to reach the South Pole", Patrick Dewhurst, Cyprus Mail, January 1, 2010
- ^ "İngiliz Okulu'nda öğrenim görenler kitabı tanıtılacak" (in Turkish). Star Kıbrıs. Retrieved 8 December 2010.