Alderwasley Hall School

Alderwasley Hall School
Established 1930 (Special School 1976)
Type Independent special school
Head Teacher Sara Forysth
Location Alderwasley
Derbyshire
DE56 2SR
England
53°04′34″N 1°30′50″W / 53.076°N 01.514°W / 53.076; -01.514Coordinates: 53°04′34″N 1°30′50″W / 53.076°N 01.514°W / 53.076; -01.514
DfE URN 113021 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 134
Students 96
Gender Coeducational
Ages 5–19
Colours Pink, Blue (Unofficial)
Sixth form Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form Centre
Website alderwasleyhall.com

Alderwasley Hall School is an independent residential special school. The school is for children and young people aged 5 to 19 with Asperger's, speech and language difficulties and Acquired Brain Injury.[1] It is in and named after the village of Alderwasley in the Peak District, close to Wirksworth in Derbyshire, England.

History

The earliest owners of the land were the Le Fownes in the thirteenth century. No description remains of the original house except the chapel of St Margaret which was rebuilt in the sixteenth century. The Lowes owned the estate during the fifteenth century and the house at this time most likely took an 'H' formation. Nicholas Hurt of Casterne inherited the estate in 1690 when he married Elizabeth Lowe and the estate was transformed. An iron forge was established nearby at Shining Cliff Woods in 1764 and the house was extended in ashlar Millstone Grit sandstone. An eighteenth century deercote is a significant feature of the park and recently restored from ruin. By 1880 the estate was around 3,500 acres with 200 acres of walled deer park. The estate was inherited by Hurt's son, also Francis Hurt who was also High Sheriff.[2] The Hurts were responsible for building two other country homes on the estate for members of the family, being Chase Cliffe and Oakhurst House. The estate was broken up in 1920 and the Hurts sold the house in 1930 when they moved to Casterne Hall, Staffordshire. The house was sold to a Benedictine Order to be used as a school. In 1976 it became a Special School.[3] The house was made a Grade II listed building in 1967.[4]

Use as a school

The school is primarily a term-time residential school, but takes day pupils primarily from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire. It also has an onsite Children's Home for some pupils to live 52 weeks a year at the school.[5] Despite being an independent school, the majority of funding comes from local education authorities (LAs).

The school has extensive grounds, which include a series of ponds, which are home to ducks and geese. The parish church of All Saints lies close to the entrance of the school grounds.

The Headteacher is Sara Forsyth. It is owned by the SENAD Group based in Derby who run other schools for children and young people with learning difficulties.[6]

Alderwasley Hall in about 1905

Because of the difficulties experienced by the students the school has poor exam results compared to mainstream schools. However, in the school's 2014 Ofsted Education Inspection under "Achievement of pupils" the school was graded good.[7] The most recent exam results showed 0% of students achieving grades A*–C in both GCSE English and mathematics, making it the lowest possible score compared to the national average of 53.5%. The school has also seen a year-on-year fall on results, with only 71% of people achieving any qualifications at the school now compared to 73% in 2009, 100% in 2008 and the national average of 99.1%. Average total points per pupil is only 51, which is 88% lower than the national average of 439.[8]

In 2012 the school was in the national news over its controversial measure of forced drug testing for all staff members at the school, which resulted in strike action by some of the staff members.[9]


Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form Centre

The Sixth Form Centre Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form Centre,is based 1 mile (2 km) south of Wirksworth. It is also used by the students from Alderwasley for Sport and Art.

Specialisms

The school is primarily set up to cater for pupils with Asperger's Syndrome and speech and language difficulties, but does take students with Autistic Spectrum of Difficulties, Dyslexia, Specific Learning Difficulties, Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, Delicate/Medical Conditions, Epilepsy and Dual/Multi-Sensory Impairment.[10][11][12]


References

  1. ↑ "The Trust Centre Alderwasley". Archived from the original on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  2. ↑ Maxwell Craven & Michael Stanley, The Derbyshire Country House Vol 1
  3. ↑ Historic England. "St Benets School  (Grade II) (1109075)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  4. ↑ English Heritage:Images of England, architectural description of listed building
  5. ↑ Alderwasley Hall School
  6. ↑ SENAD group
  7. ↑ Ofsted, Education Inspection Report,http://senadgroup.com/wp-content/themes/senad/downloads/alderwasley/reports/Independent%20School%20Standar%20Inspection%20July%202014.pdf
  8. ↑ "Exam Resaults Alderwasley Hall School". Department of Education. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Harrison, Angela (6 December 2012). "Teachers strike over random drugs test call". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Isbi Alderwasley
  11. ↑ FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - REFERENCE NO: 001948/09
  12. ↑ Alderwasley Callouts
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