Helenswood School

The Helenswood Girls School, is an all-female secondary school in Hastings, East Sussex in the United Kingdom, and has achieved specialist Arts College status. It takes girls from age 11 to age 16, and there is a separate Sixth form which is shared with William Parker School, a local boys' school. The school's origins date from the late 1800s and up to 1978, when it changed from being a selective grammar school to a comprehensive school, its name was Hastings High School.

The School is a split site, with years seven to nine (ages 11-14) being taught at the Lower School, and years ten to eleven (14-16) and Sixth Form at the Upper School.

Helenswood School

Achievement For Girls
Headteacher	Dame Sheila Wallis
Deputy Headteachers	Mrs S Worsfield, Mr C. Lacey, Mrs Y Jenkins, Mr T Jarman, Mrs D Johnson
School type	Maintained
Founded	1898
Location	Hastings, East Sussex
Enrollment	Years 7–11 plus 6th Form
Faculty	—
Campus surroundings	Suburban

Facilities

The school is very rich in the number of facilities it offers its students. At both sites there are many computers with internet access for the students to use in class time and in their free time. Each site also has a Drama Studio; Science Laboratories, where the students are able to perform many experiments; Libraries, which are open to students all year round and both sites are also equipped with equipment for Physical Education. Each classroom has an LCD projector, with many rooms also having Interactive 'SmartBoards'. The Lower School also benefits from a brand new Sports Hall, with a Dance Studio and Fitness Gym. That site also has Electronic Notice Boards in the corridor.

In Summer 2007, building work began on the Upper School, demolishing the old foyer, and a brand new reception area and computer suite are due for January 2008.

Heads of Year (Academic Year 2007/8)

*Year Seven - Mrs V Sheldrake

*Year Eight - Mrs V Sheldrake

*Year Nine - Mr M Watson

*Year Ten - Mrs Nugent

*Year Eleven - Mrs Phillips

*Sixth Form - Mr T Jarman

*Sixth Form - Ms. D Johnson

Departments

(Head of Department)

English (Mrs E Hannavy-Cousen)

Mathematics (Mr P Smith)

Science (Mr Jackson)

Modern Foreign Languages (Mr T Seymour)

Design, Technology and Creative Arts (Mr J Brown)

History (Mrs F Lacey)

Geography (Mr S Mallindine)

Physical Education (Mrs Dallaway)

Religious Education (Dr P Kitchenham)

Information Technology

Business Studies

Music (Mr I McCrae)

Drama (Mr N Whitehead)

Psychology (Mrs I Dowds)

ixth Form

The School shares its sixth form with William Parker School. Run by Mrs Danielle Johnson, it has enjoyed a good success rate, achieving a record standard of grades in the Summer of 2008. In September 2007 it welcomed over 290 new year 12 students, many of whom were from places from all corners of the world.

The Sixth Form was recently 'rescued' from the plan to close all Sixth Forms in the Hastings and Rother area to form a huge tertiary college. Now, however, the Sixth Form is safe, and, therefore, can enjoy huge improvements over the next years.

Notable alumni

* Jo Brand, comedienne
* Billie-Jo Jenkins, teenage murder victim

References

* [http://www.eteach.com/JobSeekers/RecruiterProfile.aspx?EmpNo=13166 Jo Brand reference]

External links

* [http://www.helenswood.e-sussex.sch.uk/ Helenswood School]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/845_4055.stm]