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Polam Hall School, Darlington

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Polam Hall School details

Address:

Polam Hall School
Grange Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5PA

Telephone:

01325 463383

Fax:

01325 383539

Email:

information@polamhall.com

Website:

www.polamhall.com/?pageid=62

Authority:

Darlington

Gender of entry:

Girls

Age range:

2-19

Number of students:

414

Affiliation:

GSA

Last inspection:

January 2006. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: A J P Foster, appointed in September 1995.

Staff: 17 (women 17).

Background: Polam Hall was founded in 1854 and has long been inter-denominational. Set in 19 acres of parkland, the school believes its 'beautiful situation and the essentially family atmosphere enable the girls to grow and reach their full potential in a warm and caring environment'. The junior school is very closely integrated with the senior school. All pupils follow a mixture of formal and informal education. In Years 3 to 6, they undertake a broader curriculum, with a form teacher for pastoral care and lessons with specialist subject teachers. Pupils are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities which include speech, piano, cello, violin, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, fencing, judo, ballet, modern dance and tap dance. 'High standards are encouraged and indeed attained in all aspects of school life.' .

Approach to discipline: 'We create a caring, family atmosphere in which teaching and learning can take place in a safe and happy environment. We take a postive approach towards discipline, with good behaviour and hard work being rewarded. The girls are taught to respect themselves and each other, their school and their environment. Positive behaviour is rewarded in a number of ways which reinforces the message.'

Uniform: Green tartan pinafore, yellow blouse, dark green jumper, blazer, hat..

Inspection: January 2006: 'In most respects, the school meets its aims and aspirations to a high degree. It has maintained, and even improved academic standards whilst making great strides in broadening and enriching the experience of pupils in other areas of activity, sporting, cultural and social. The result has been to raise their confidence and sense of self-worth. Provision for personal development, pastoral care and welfare is outstanding. Pupils leave as well rounded individuals with high personal standards and a practical concern for those less fortunate than themselves; they also show an unusual degree of initiative and enterprise. Communication and links with parents and the outside world have all improved considerably. The school is a warm, friendly and supportive community, which is lively and buzzing with activity. Pupils and parents are rightly very pleased with their school. Improvement since the last inspection is not easy to comment on. The school has passed through a difficult period because of the long illness and death of the previous headmistress and an inevitable loss of momentum. The last two years have been a period of adjustment and changing culture. That so much has been achieved is due to the vision and energy of the headmistress and the senior management team and the commitment and willingness to adapt of the staff. Through its own self-evaluation, the school is aware that more can be done to raise the attainment of the most able, to improve the consistency of assessment and reporting and to increase the effectiveness of monitoring through the development of the role of heads of department and subject co-ordinators. The school meets all the regulatory requirements.'

Polam Hall School Statistics

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