The Friary School
| Motto |
Inservi Deo Et Laetare[1] (Serve God and be Cheerful) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1892 |
| Type | Community secondary school |
| Head Teacher | David Lister[2] |
| Location |
Eastern Avenue Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 7EW England Coordinates: 52°41′40″N 1°50′50″W / 52.6944°N 1.8472°W |
| Local authority | Staffordshire[3] |
| DfE number | 860/4126 |
| DfE URN | 124422 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1,194 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Former names |
Lichfield High School for Girls Friary Grange School The Friary High School |
| Website | School website |
The Friary School (formerly Lichfield Friary School) is a mixed secondary school located in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. The school serves pupils aged 11–18. The school became an arts and sports college in 2006.
History
Due to the reorganisation of secondary education in the period 1970-73, the former girls' school was closed and succeeded by the present school on a new site on the north side of the town. The former site, at the corner of Bore Street and St John Street, became an adult education centre with Staffordshire County Council.
School Hymn
The headmistress prior to re-organisation was Miss KCM Gent. She wrote the school hymn:
To Mercia's ancient Kingdom came,
Long years' ago St Chad whose name
We hold in veneration.
To thegn and serf, to young and old,
He preached the faith of Christ and told
His gospel of salvation.
The soaring eagle, Mercia's crest,
The sign of strength and warrior's zest,
For them now gained new meaning.
To Christ the Mercian people turned,
The "eagle's wings" of prayer they learned,
And knew God's love redeeming.
When to our city's narrow ways
The Grey Friars came, a house they rais'd
Of service, love and learning.
In every man they saw their Lord;
They fed the hungry, preached God's word,
With zeal and courage burning.
Saint Francis taught them how to love
All birds and beasts; his sign the dove,
Was emblem of his spirit.
So may their peace and gentleness,
Their joy in service, ever bless
The place which we inherit.
The mother-church of Mercia - scarred
By civil war, her beauty marred,
When Hackett came to save her.
In faithful service, loving care,
He planned to build again as fair,
And gifts like jewels gave her.
In all he did and thought and said
Men saw his motto and were led
"To serve God and be cheerful".
To bear the Cross with joyous heart,
To do in faithfulness their part;
God's children are not fear-ful.
We see the spires that Hackett knew;
They bid us keep his motto true,
Serve God with joy adoring.
May we the strength of prayer possess
To lift our hearts in holiness,
On Eagle's wings upsoaring.
We work where once the Grey Friars prayed
So may our lives like theirs be made;
Their joyous spirit cheer us.
And as we bear the threefold sign,
The eagle, doves and Cross of thine,
O, Lord of all, be near us!
Notable former pupils
- Sian Brooke, actress
- Siobhan Dillon, actress and singer
- John Eccleston, puppeteer, writer, television presenter and programme creator
- David Charles Manners, best-selling author, theatre designer and charity co-founder
- Daniel Sturridge, England and Liverpool FC footballer
- Nigel Hurst, Chief Executive of the Saatchi Gallery
- Stuart Austin, mixed martial arts
References
- ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). The Friary School. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- ↑ "Staffordshire School Directory". Staffordshire County Council. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- ↑ "The Friary School - Inspection Report". Ofsted. November 9, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- M.W. Greenslade, ed. (1990). "Lichfield: Education". A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 14: Lichfield. British History Online. pp. 170–184. Retrieved 2008-01-14.