The Spectator

School portraits: snapshots of four notable schools

Stoke Newington School, Howell’s School Llandaff, Lancing School and Giggleswick School

 
 
 

Stoke Newington school

 
This Hackney school — lovingly known as Stokey School — has a strong reputation for both the creative arts and academia. In 2006, it unveiled its new sixth form, and this year students received record-breaking A-level results, with 83 per cent achieving A*–C grades.

In 2002 the school was awarded a Media Arts specialism, and until 2013 it was a designated ‘media arts and science college’. The focus on the arts still lies at its heart, with links to organisations such as the Barbican and the BBC, and extracurricular activities ranging from workshops (including a self-esteem workshop with TV presenter Miquita Oliver, pictured) to theatre and museum visits, and even opportunities abroad. Examples have included Latin trips to Rome and photography trips to New York. With facilities including a recording studio, theatre, TV studio and photography dark rooms, it’s no wonder sixth-form places are in demand.
 


Howell’s school, Llandaff

 
In 1537, Welsh merchant Thomas Howell left 12,000 gold ducats to the Drapers’ Company to provide dowries ‘every yere for Maydens for ever’. By 1860 this sum had grown enough for two schools to be opened: Howell’s School in Llandaff, outside Cardiff, and a school of the same name in Denbigh which has since closed. Although Howell’s now allows boys alongside its ‘maydens’ in sixth form, from three to 16 the school remains single-sex, and is a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust. It also maintains links to the Drapers’ Company, with Drapers Scholarships awarded to exceptional students each year. As well as good academic results (80 per cent of A-level results were A* to B grades, this year), Howell’s also has a new sports complex which opened in September last year.

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