School in Hertford, England
Richard Hale School is an 11–18 boys' secondary school located in Hertford in the south east of England. In the 2014–2015 academic year, the school had over 1,000 pupils including students attending the optional sixth form, which is also open to girls.
History
The school was founded as "Richard Hale's School" on 16 April 1617 by the affluent merchant Richard Hale, who wished to "erect a grammar school for the instruction of children in the Latin tongue and other literature in the town of Hertford". The original school building was in use for 313 years from 1617 to 1930, and still stands near to All Saints' Church. For most of its life the school was known as the "Hertford Grammar School" until 1967, when it was renamed to coincide with the 350th anniversary.[3]
It began the transition to a comprehensive school in 1975, a process completed when the last grammar intake left in 1981. New buildings were built in 1977, the gym was built in 1978 and the Sixth form centre from 2009 to 2011. It became a science college in 2003, a foundation school in 2008, and converted to academy status on 1 July 2013.[3]
Overview
Houses
Hale gave his name to one of the five original houses of the school. The remaining four were named after the school benefactors Francis Earl Cowper KG and Richard Benyon Croft; and former pupils Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Page, DSO and bar, and the evolutionary biologist Alfred Russel Wallace.[4] These five houses remained for several decades until a sixth house called "Kinman" was added to the growing school, named after the headteacher Major George Kinman who organised the school's move in 1930. This house was for the boys who were previously in an overflow form, and not grouped together with their other house mates. House competition is an integral part of school life at Richard Hale, with competitions taking place not only on the sports fields, but on the stage in both music and drama.
Music
Students learn instruments and play in its bands and choirs. The music department puts on concerts every year. In January 2017 the concert band and school choir performed at St. Paul's Cathedral in London as part of the school's 400th anniversary.[5]
Science
The school is a science academy. On 26 April, the school successfully sent a balloon up to the edge of space.[6]
Sport
A new 3G full sized football pitch has recently[when?] been built allowing the football teams to play and train on a modern surface. Planning permission for a new sports hall was given, however it became unaffordable so the funds were used to erect a Sixth Form Centre, which was finished in the summer of 2011.[citation needed] In 2020 however, construction went underway and the hall was finished and ready for use in october 2022.
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