The Bishop Gore School (Welsh: Ysgol Esgob Gore) is a secondary school in Swansea in Wales, founded on 14 September 1682 by Hugh Gore (1613–1691), Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. It is situated in Sketty, close to Singleton Park and Swansea University. In December 2013 the school was ranked in the second highest of five bands by the Welsh Government, based on performance in exams, value added performance, disadvantaged pupils' performance, and attendance.

Bishop Gore School
Address
Map
De La Beche Road

,
SA2 9AP

United Kingdom
Coordinates51°36′55″N 3°59′18″W / 51.61525°N 3.98838°W / 51.61525; -3.98838
Information
TypeComprehensive
MottoVirtue and good literature
Established1682; 342 years ago (1682)
Local authoritySwansea
HeadteacherHelen Burgum
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
HousesRotherslade, Langland, Caswell, Limeslade, Bracelet
Colour(s)Years 7–11
   Maroon and Gold
Years 12–13
  Black
Last InspectionMay 2015
Pupils on roll:1,002 pupils (at 2015 inspection)
6th form:112 pupils (at 2015 inspection)
AlumniOld Goreans
Websitehttp://www.bishopgore.net/

History

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Grammar school

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The school was endowed and established in 1682, as a Free Grammar School by Hugh Gore, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, for "the gratuitous instruction of twenty boys, sons of the most indigent burgesses, and in the event of a dissolution of the corporation, to sons of the poorest inhabitants of the town." Initially located in historic Goat Street (on a site now part of Princess Way in the city centre), it has since known several names and locations. In September 1853 the school, by then named the Swansea Grammar School for Boys, moved to Mount Pleasant into a new building designed by the architect Thomas Taylor. The building was extended in 1869 to a design by Benjamin Bucknall.

From 1895 the site was shared with the newly created Swansea Intermediate and Technical School for Boys (later the co-educational Swansea Technical College). Under the provisions of the 1902 Education Act the running of both institutions was taken over by Swansea Council.

During World War II the buildings were largely destroyed by incendiary bombs. Discussions about the rebuilding of the site led to the decision to move the Grammar School to a new site elsewhere in Swansea and in 1952 it relocated to newly built premises located in De La Beche Road, Sketty, at which point it was renamed Bishop Gore Grammar School and subsequently, from 1970, Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.[1]

An extension was built in the 1970s and further Design and Technology extensions in the 1990s.[citation needed]

Comprehensive

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Until 1970, Bishop Gore was an all-boys grammar school, then it merged with the girls' grammar school Glanmôr and Townhill Secondary School to become Bishop Gore Co-educational Comprehensive school in 1971.

School today

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As of 2015, Bishop Gore has 1,002 male and female students aged 11–18, including 112 in the sixth form.[2] The sixth form has a separate lounge, facilities and uniform. The headteacher is Helen Burgum (the school's first female headteacher, appointed September 2017). Set at the head of Singleton Park, close to the village of Sketty and the seafront, Bishop Gore is built around two quadrangles. The red brick building has in the centre the second largest hall in Swansea, second only to the Brangwyn Hall.[citation needed] Each pupil is assigned to a house: Caswell, Langland, Bracelet, Rotherslade or Limeslade (named after beaches on the nearby Gower peninsula), which they retain throughout their time at the school. Highlights of the school year include the Eisteddfod, the inter-house sports tournaments, the productions by Bishop Gore Theatre Company, and the end-of-year balls for the senior students.

In January 2010, an inspection report was published which awarded Bishop Gore the highest possible grades in all categories. As a result of this the school was featured as a 'best practice' case study by Estyn and was named in the chief inspector's annual report – being the only secondary school in Wales to achieve this recognition.

Dylan Thomas

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Memorial plaque on the former site of Swansea Grammar School

The most famous alumnus of Bishop Gore is almost certainly the poet, playwright and author Dylan Thomas (1914–1953). His father, David John (D. J.) Thomas was senior English master at the school, then known as Swansea Grammar School.[3] Not a distinguished pupil, he nonetheless gained attention through publishing his first poem in 1926, "The Song Of The Mischievous Dog" and in 1928 winning the school's annual one-mile race.[4][5] He left in 1931 to begin work at The South Wales Daily Post as a junior reporter.

In 1988 the main surviving structure of the 1869 former school building was renamed the Dylan Thomas Building in honour of its former pupil.

Old Goreans

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The main surviving structure of the former Swansea Grammar School site on Mount Pleasant was renamed the Dylan Thomas Building in 1988 to honour its former pupil.

Notable Old Goreans have included:

International Rugby players

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Several Old Goreans have played international rugby, for the Wales national rugby union team or the Wales women's national rugby union team

See also

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  • The Kardomah Gang, 1930s Swansea literary and cultural circle, several members of which attended the school

References

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  1. ^ Davies, J. A. (2000) Dylan Thomas: Swansea, Gower and Laugharne. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, p. 60
  2. ^ "A report on Bishop Gore School" (PDF). Estyn. April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2020. There are 1,002 pupils on roll, including 112 in the sixth form.
  3. ^ Davies, Walford (2014). "Dylan Thomas". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
  4. ^ "Dylan's Swansea". Dylanthomas.com. City and County of Swansea. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. ^ Turner, Robin (26 June 2013). "A teenage Dylan Thomas 'was very athletic and loved running'". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  6. ^ Turner, Robin (14 January 2009). "Pupils see sixth-former fall from roof". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Haydn Mainwaring". Newport RFC.
  8. ^ "Quest to Find First Women's Team From 1987". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
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