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Dame Alice Harpur School, Bedford

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Dame Alice Harpur School details

Address:

Dame Alice Harpur School
Cardington Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK42 0BX

Telephone:

01234 340871

Fax:

01234 344 125

Email:

admissions@dahs.co.uk

Website:

www.dahs.co.uk

Authority:

Bedfordshire

Gender of entry:

Girls

Age range:

7-18

Number of students:

892

Affiliation:

GSA

Gender of sixth form:

Girls

Last inspection:

February 2004. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Jill Berry, appointed in 2000.

Background: Part of the Harpur Trust group of independent schools in Bedford, Dame Alice Harpur School was established in 1882 with 58 girls. The school day starts for those who require it with breakfast club from 8am and can extend to 6pm for those who take part in supervised study after school. Teaching is geared to the specific learning needs of pupils, who achieve high levels of academic success. Most girls take nine GCSEs from a wide range of options and each is encouraged to combine academic achievement with a real sense of personal and social responsibility. Upper school girls take part in a variety of social events, such as a picnic, prior to GCSEs and after the exams a day out together as a reward for their hard work. Study in the sixth form is geared predominantly, but not exclusively, for entry into higher education. Most girls take four AS-levels and three A-levels. The school's commitment to helping each girl fulfil her potential is supported by the experiences offered through the extracurricular programme. These include the CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, Young Enterprise and the Ogden Business Trust school competition. Due to links with other Harpur Trust schools, girls have a wide range of coeducational opportunities outside classes. Dame Alice also encourages contribution to the community through singing at almshouses, fundraising and an annual party for the visually impaired. An extensive development and refurbishment programme is a priority, soon to add a new sixth form centre with cafe and ICT and media suite.

Alumni: Jean Muir, fashion designer; Gail Emms, 2004 Olympic silver medallist, badminton mixed doubles; Carolyn Sampson, opera soprano.

Higher education: 100% (2 Oxford 5 Cambridge).

Special needs: A special educational needs specialist works with each individual to develop tailored requirements and solutions.

Inspection: February 2004: Dame Alice Harpur School provides a stimulating and supportive environment in which girls achieve good standards in their work and enjoy exceptional opportunities outside lessons. Both staff and pupils are fully committed to the school's ethos and to the hard work needed to sustain it. Girls show initiative, concern for others and loyalty to the community. Leadership of the school as a whole is good, but some limitations in subject leadership mean that the best classroom practices are not spread fully throughout the school.

Feeder schools: Moorlands; Milton Keynes Prep; Polam; Fernwood; Pilgrims Pre-Prep.

Girls' age range: 7 to 18.

Percentage admitted according to academic ability: 100.

Average class size (seniors; 11-16): 24.

Average class size (sixth form): 8.

Dame Alice Harpur School Statistics

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