St George's Roman Catholic Primary School

Coordinates: 53°57′04″N 1°04′30″W / 53.951°N 1.075°W / 53.951; -1.075

St. George's RC Primary School, York
Motto Signum Fidei
Established 1852
Type Primary School
Headteacher Mrs. R. Mazza
Location Winterscale Street
York
North Yorkshire
England
Students 200
Ages 3–11
Website www.stgeorgesrc-york.org.uk

St. George's RC Primary School is a mixed Roman Catholic primary school serving the city centre Parish of St. George in York, North Yorkshire, England. The school is for boys and girls aged 3–11 with an Early Years Unit for 3-5 year olds. It is a successful school with notable strengths in Creativity and the Performing Arts.

The History of St. George's

Although girls had been educated at the Bar Convent since its inception in 1686 the first public Catholic School in York was opened by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1844 on their premises in Blossom Street and called ‘St Mary’s Day School’. In 1852 a new school was built in Margaret Street adjacent to St George’s Church at a cost of £1,700. Of this £200 was given by the Catholic Poor School Committee and the rest raised by the people of York and an income of £23 was secured as an endowment. This school was staffed first by the IBVM until 1874 and later by the Sisters of Charity, the Order founded by St Vincent de Paul in 1633. The curriculum included spelling, writing, geography, arithmetic and history and parents were expected to subscribe a penny or twopence for girls.

By 1867 there were 305 on the roll, and by 1900 the numbers had risen to 534. Because of this increase St George’s Wesleyan Chapel in Chapel Row built in 1824 was purchased in 1897, modified and extended and opened as a new junior and infant school in 1900, this was the precursor of the present school. Between 1927 and 1932 the original St George's School in Margaret Street was reorganized into 3 departments: Senior boys, Mixed, and Infants. A new building for the senior boys located next to the Primary school was begun in 1939 and opened in 1948.[1]

In 1950 the current school building was planned, but various delays meant that work did not begin until May 1976 and was completed in September 1977 at a cost of over £200,000. The general plan consists of three units of twinned classrooms, each sharing a project area built around a central hall, together with a Nursery and Reception Area, an administrative block, kitchen and a caretaker’s house. The school grounds include gardens, a playing field and an allotment. It is situated not far from the city centre on Fishergate.[2]

The school

St. George's is noted for its strengths in Creativity and the Performing Arts. It has been awarded the Gold Arts Mark, and has strong links with local theatres and professional performers. St. George's achieved the 'Healthy School' award for its commitment to PE, sport and healthy lifestyle education. The school also holds the Basic Skills Quality Mark and the Football Association Charter Standard.[3] St. George's offers a wide range of extra curricular activities, both during and after school, including:[4]

  • Access to before and after school care,
  • Football, Netball, Rugby, Tennis and Swimming,
  • Music Tuition,
  • Choir,
  • Dance Club
  • Drama Production Club,
  • Languages Club - French & German,
  • Chess Club,
  • Sport Tournaments and Competitions,
  • York Drama Festival

Alumni

References

  1. ↑ "'Schools and colleges', A History of the County of York: the City of York (1961), pp. 440-460.". Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. ↑ The History of St. George's School, York by Helen Glendinning
  3. ↑ OfSTED Report, St. George's RC Primary School York (2006)
  4. ↑ Official School Profile - direct.gov.uk

External links

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