Hall Cross Academy

Hall Cross Academy (formerly Hall Cross School and Doncaster Grammar School), founded in 1350, is a co-educational academy in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.

Hall Cross Academy
Hall Cross Academy Logo
Address
Thorne Road

Doncaster
,
South Yorkshire
,
DN1 2HY

England
Coordinates53.523106°N 1.124831°W / 53.523106; -1.124831
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoConfort et liesse -Welfare and Jubilation
Established1350 (1350)
SpecialistScience
Department for Education URN137842 Tables
OfstedReports
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1911
Capacity2263
Former pupilsOld Danensians
Former namesDoncaster Grammar School, Hall Cross Comprehensive School
Websitehttp://www.hallcrossacademy.co.uk

Admissions

The Academy is split over two sites, with the Upper academy located in the centre of Doncaster (in the Town Fields area) and the Lower academy in the north of Bessacarr, near the Dome. Hall Cross Academy has specialist status as a Science College. The total number of pupils who attend the Academy is over 2000. It features as an integral part of the community, providing access to facilities for many primary schools, which also form part of its large catchment area. The headteacher of the Academy is Mr Simon Swain.

It is named after the Hall Cross on Hall Cross Hill, on the opposite side of the main road through Doncaster.

The Library and Christchurch House

The library building is the oldest building on the Town Centre site, it was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and was built in 1869. Downstairs it features a plaque which can still be seen to this day, dedicating the building to Queen Victoria. The library is a classic example of Victorian Gothic Revival, featuring a large Hammerbeam roof decorated with flowers cut into the massive oak beams which may, in fact, be stained pine. The building also features a tower at one corner. Inside, the library features two massive Gothic-style glass windows at either end, one of them being stained glass, designed and executed by former pupil C. Rupert Moore, which was unveiled in 1938 as a tribute to "Old Boys" from the school who died in World War I. The library features a large number of Victorian plaques, dedicated to past headteachers of the school, men from the school who died in both wars, and other various things. The one added most recently commemorates the visit by Prince Charles to the school in 1989. By number of books, the library is the biggest school library in Doncaster and is largely used by the 6th form.

Christchurch house is the school's equivalent of a "6th form block". It is a large detached Victorian Townhouse which overlooks the local church that the house is named after. The house features a grand wooden staircase, stained glass skylights, and a statue of the Venus de Milo which originally resided in the Girls' School, built in 1918. When the school was disbanded, the statue was moved to Hall Cross Academy.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is one of the most important days in the academic calendar. The Academy has held a ceremony every year since 1918 to remember those who attended the school and died in battle. The service begins at 9 am. Speeches are made by the Head Teacher who gives thanks to those who died as a result of conflict. Two poppy wreaths are then carried down the corridor to the library by the Head Boy and Head Girl. They are then laid by the World War One and World War Two plaques respectively, while the Last Post is played on the trumpet, with the sounds carrying through to the library.

Railways

High Speed Train power car no. 43045 was named 'The Grammar School, Doncaster AD1350' in Spring 1984.[1] It is now in service with East Midlands Trains and does not carry its former name. The nameplate removed from the locomotive can be found in the tower of the Academy along with a large collection of railwayana amassed by the Doncaster Grammar School Railway Society, to which, at one point, one in six pupils belonged[2] The collection also includes nameplates from two locomotives destroyed as a result of the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash.[2]

Notable faculty members

Alumni

Hall Cross Comprehensive School

Doncaster Grammar School for Boys

Doncaster High School for Girls

Doncaster Grammar School

Old Danensians

Alumni and former staff of Doncaster Grammar School, Doncaster High School for Girls, Hall Cross Comprehensive School and Hall Cross Academy, known as Old Danensians, are able to join the Old Danensians' Club.

The object of the club is to maintain connections between past members of the School with one another and the School, and generally promote the welfare of the foundation.[8]

Hall Cross Academy

The 2012–2013 term saw the establishment change its name to Hall Cross Academy.

Academic performance

GCSE results for the school are slightly above average. At A-level it performs well, with some of the best results in South Yorkshire, and the third best in Doncaster LEA. Results in Doncaster at GCSE are notably low, but they are much better at A level, similar to the situation in Grimsby and Hull.

  • An external view of the Academy
  • The library, as seen from the balcony
  • A close up of the stained glass library window
  • Students at the Thorne Road site, 1887
  • The first students to attend the Thorne Road site, 1870
  • The original school building, 1869

References
  1. http://www.abrail.co.uk/Mag%2047.htm
  2. "Nottingham to Leeds". Great British Railway Journeys. Series 5. Episode 10. 17 January 2014. BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. "Hall Cross hockey star scores at the Olympics". Doncaster Free Press. 20 August 2008.
  4. Geddes, Tanya (27 July 2000). "FIVE WILL RECEIVE TOWN'S TOP HONOUR". South Yorkshire Times.
  5. Roger Needham
  6. Hendry, David F (19 April 1996). "OBITUARY : Professor Denis Sargan". The Independent. London.
  7. Williams, Kay (10 September 2001). "Madge Adam". The Guardian. London.
  8. "Old Danensians' Club". Retrieved 16 September 2008.
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