St Christopher School, Letchworth: Difference between revisions

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St. Christopher School was set up in 1915 shortly after Ebenezer Howard founded Letchworth Garden City. It was to be a school 'where members of different faiths shall be encouraged to mix together and in this way to learn a respect and tolerance for beliefs other than their own'. Overall the aim was to create a community that would encourage the positive development of all the capacities that lie within the child.

Notable hallmarks include the lack of school uniform and the freedom and encouragement to address teachers by their first names. Until recently all Major Officials (the school's term for a 'prefect') were nominated and elected by school pupils. Students and staff alike had a say at the school council meeting and the School Meeting, but the headmaster reserved the right to veto any he deemed unworkable or unacceptable.

The School in its present form developed under the guidance of Lyn and Eleanor Harris (1925-1954) and their son Nicholas (1954-1980). Following Nicholas' death in a road accident in Spain, the governors hired Colin Reid, essentially to carry on his work. Colin was Head from 1981-2004.

The headmaster for the next two years was Donald Wilkinson, who made many changes to the running of the school during his short spell. Mr. Wilkinson reviewed the school's system of self government and generally tightened up the way the school was run.

Donald Wilkinson resigned the headship on 28th September 2006 for personal reasons. The Chairman of Governors thanked Donald for his contribution to the development of the School and in particular for the raising of academic standards both at GCSE and A level.

The current Acting Head is Richard Palmer. Having taught Craft, Design and Technology at the School and having been a boarding houseparent before leaving to teach at two other schools,Richard returned in 2004 as Head of the Junior School, a title he still holds.

The school is the proud holder of the world record for having the oldest running Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A.). ^{[citation needed]}

External links

The school's web site.

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 Overall the aim was to create a community that would encourage the positive development of all the capacities that lie within the child.
-It is currently believed to be the largest [[vegetarian]] private boarding school in [[Britain]], and possibly the world. Notable hallmarks include the lack of [[school uniform]] and the freedom and encouragement to address teachers by their first names. Until recently all Major Officials (the school's term for a 'prefect') were nominated and elected by school pupils. Students and staff alike had a say at the school council meeting and the School Meeting. Motions passed in council were carried to the School Meeting, attendance at which became compulsory in the eighties. Motions passed here were actioned, but the [[headmaster]] reserved the right to veto any he deemed unworkable or unacceptable.
+Notable hallmarks include the lack of [[school uniform]] and the freedom and encouragement to address teachers by their first names. Until recently all Major Officials (the school's term for a 'prefect') were nominated and elected by school pupils. Students and staff alike had a say at the school council meeting and the School Meeting, but the [[headmaster]] reserved the right to veto any he deemed unworkable or unacceptable.
 The School in its present form developed under the guidance of Lyn and Eleanor Harris (1925-1954) and their son Nicholas (1954-1980). Following Nicholas' death  in a road accident in Spain, the governors hired Colin Reid, essentially to carry on his work. Colin was Head from 1981-2004.
-The headmaster, for the next two years was Donald Wilkinson who made many changes to the running of the school during his short spell. While on paper none of the policies had changed, whether or not this was true in practice remains open to debate. Mr. Wilkinson abandoned the school's system of self government, ceased accepting special needs pupils unless he felt the school could help them to high exam results, and generally tightened up the way the school was run (hoodies were banned and major officials were appointed by Donald). This caused much controversy in the local newspapers. Several teachers of long standing resigned and many other staff were made redundant as a result of Mr Wilkinson's attempt to modernise and commercialise the school. As certain of these were again of long-standing it seemed his own personal prejudices were very much at work although he and the governors cited financial reasons for this and other changes.
+The headmaster for the next two years was Donald Wilkinson, who made many changes to the running of the school during his short spell. Mr. Wilkinson reviewed the school's system of self government and generally tightened up the way the school was run.
-Donald Wilkinson resigned the headship on 28th September 2006 citing 'personal reasons', leading to a strong response from both staff and pupils.
+Donald Wilkinson resigned the headship on 28th September 2006 for personal reasons. The Chairman of Governors thanked Donald for his contribution to the development of the School and in particular for the raising of academic standards both at GCSE and A level.
-The current acting head is now Richard Palmer. Having taught Craft, Design and Technology at the school for some years in the 80s and 90s, and later returned as Head of the Junior School, a title he still holds, he has been warmly welcomed to the position.
+The current Acting Head is Richard Palmer. Having taught Craft, Design and Technology at the School and having been a boarding houseparent before leaving to teach at two other schools,Richard returned in 2004 as Head of the Junior School, a title he still holds.
 The school is the proud holder of the world record for having the oldest running [[Parent Teacher Association]] (P.T.A.). {{fact}}
 ==External links==
-The headmaster for the next two years was Donald Wilkinson, who made many changes to the running of the school during his short spell. Mr. Wilkinson reviewed the school's system of self government and generally tightened up the way the school was run.
-Donald Wilkinson resigned the headship on 29th September 2006 for personal reasons. The Chair of Governors thanked him for his contribution to the development of the School, in particular the raising of academic standards.
 *[http://www.stchris.co.uk/ The school's web site.]