De La Salle School, St Helens
There are 1200 pupils, and about 140 staff.
History
Grammar schools
Two of the former schools were called West Park Grammar School and Notre Dame High School, which were both direct grant grammar schools.
The first statement in the Brothers' History of the House was: "September 18, 1911. The school was opened today by our Brothers. The Brothers are Brother Nilus, Brother Alphonse and Brother Francis. We commenced with 37 pupils."
Twelve years earlier in 1899, Father Hearne, the parish priest of Sacred Heart, had bought a house in St George's Road and set up a Catholic school for boys to complement the school for girls opened by the Sisters of Notre Dame. It was recognised as a Secondary School and was receiving small grants from the St Helens Education Committee. The Education Committee subsequently withdrew grants on the grounds of inadequate accommodation and insufficient teaching facilities. The agreement by which the Brothers took over Father Hearne's School in 1911 provided for his house to become the Brothers' residence with adjoining stables becoming two classrooms. In 1911 Brother Nilus opened with 37 pupils. In 1912 the number of students was 100.
Campus
The school completed a large building programme in June 2013. Nearly half of the building stock was rebuilt, while almost all of the remainder was remodelled.
Notable former pupils
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (August 2022) |
- Steve Prescott (1973–2013) - international rugby league player
- Paul Wellens (b. 1980) - rugby league player, St Helens RLFC
- Michael Parr (b. 1986) - actor
- Emma Rigby (b. 1989) - actress
- Stephanie Davis (b. 1993) - actress
- Jason Gilchrist (b. 1994) - footballer
- Andrew Langtree, actor
- David Tench, musician
West Park School
- David P. Houghton (b. 1966) - Professor of National Security Affairs, Naval War College
- Johnny Vegas (b. 1970) - comedian
West Park Grammar School
- Bernie Clifton (b. 1936) - entertainer
- Ray Connolly (b. 1940) - screenwriter
- Tom Brophy (b. 1942) - rugby player
- Chris Hesketh (1944–2017) - rugby player
- Sean Hughes (1946–1990) - history teacher, Labour MP, Knowsley South (1983–1990)
- Pete Postlethwaite (1946–2011) - actor
- Ian Lenagan (b. 1946) - businessman, Chairman English Football League
- Brendan O'Neill (b. 1948) - businessman, Executive ICI
- Pete McCarthy (1951–2004) - comedian and television presenter
- John P. Burrows FRS (b. 1954) - Professor of Physics of the Ocean and Atmosphere
- Frank Cottrell-Boyce (b. 1959) - screenwriter
- Andy Platt (b. 1963) - rugby player
- Kevin Simms (b. 1964) - rugby player
- Mick Burke (b. 1941) - mountaineer
Notre Dame High School
- Liz Twist (b. 1956) - Labour MP Blaydon (2017–)
- Kathryn Mitchell (b. 1963) - academic, Vice-Chancellor University of Derby
- Ann Williams (b. 1965) - Olympic athlete
References
- ^ ISBN 0 950 1036 09 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum Growing up in St Helens by John D Vose Memories and recollections of a glass town. Chapter 5
- ^ "Wello goes back to school to open new pitch". St Helens Star. 19 May 2010.
- ^ From Hollyoaks to Hollywood for St Helens' Emma Rigby?
- ^ "De La Salle gang rooting for Over the Rainbow's Steph". St Helens Star. 22 April 2010.
- ^ "Many happy returns for Burnley hat-trick hero Jason Gilchrist". St Helens Star. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ "Andrew gets in shape for Corrie". St Helens Star. 6 August 2009.
- ^ "Saturday Mornings ~ The Saturday Show ~ Data Sheet". Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.