Dorothy Stringer School

The school is named after Dorothy Stringer, who was mayoress of Brighton in 1952{{Harvnb|Collis|2010|p=301.}} and a member of the Council's education committee for over 50 years.{{Cite web |title=Dorothy Stringer OBE (1894 - 1977) |url=https://brightonwomenshistory.org.uk/dorothy-stringer-obe-1894-1977/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Brighton & Hove Women's History Group |language=en-GB}} Dorothy Stringer's commitment to education was clear; when she got asked about the cost of building the school in 1955, she replied, 'Nothing is too good for the children of Brighton.'

The site of Dorothy Stringer School was once Varndean Farm (est. late nineteenth century) The land around the farm was purchased by Brighton County Borough Council's education committee in 1909, after a devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease amongst the farm animals.{{Cite web |title=Small Varndean farm established c1800s |url=https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/places/placescho/varndean-boys-school/withdean-history-4 |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=My Brighton and Hove |language=en}} Five schools were built; Balfour Road Primary School and Junior School (opened 1924) Varndean Secondary School (opened 1926) and Varndean College Sixth Form College (opened 1931). Dorothy Stringer was opened in 1955. The campus is bounded by Surrenden Road, Loder Road, Balfour Road and Friar Crescent, with Stringer Way providing an alternative entrance via the main staff car park. Local buses include the 5B, the 94 and 94a, which serve as combined school buses for Dorothy Stringer and Varndean to Hanover and Kemptown.{{Cite web|url=http://buses.co.uk/page.shtml?pageid=1305|work=Brighton & Hove Buses website|title=Secondary School Buses|access-date=21 May 2018}}

Dorothy Stringer gained the Eco-Schools Green Flag award in 2000 and has maintained its status, updating the school as rules become stricter.{{cite web|url=http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/school?id=5065|website=eco-schools.org.uk|title=School Grounds|access-date=21 May 2018}} It was the only secondary school in Brighton to hold this award until its renewal in June 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/schoolsearch?name=Dorothy%20Stringer&lea=173&awards=greenFlag|title=School Search|website=eco-schools.org.uk|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625101259/http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/schoolsearch?name=Dorothy%20Stringer&lea=173&awards=greenFlag|archive-date=2016-06-25|url-status=dead}} and the school secured the award for the 9th time in 2021.{{Cite web|title=Stringer Press {{!}} Spring Term 2021|url=https://issuu.com/dorothystringer/docs/stringer_press_spring_term_2021|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Issuu|language=en}} In the late 1990s, the school focused on recycling and improving the look of the school grounds. Since 2000 the Dorothy Stringer Environmental Partnership has focused on increasing the biodiversity of the grounds{{cite web|url=https://gateway.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/public/ds/pages/eco_butterfly_havens.aspx|work=Dorothy Stringer School website|title=Butterfly Havens|access-date=21 May 2018}} and solar power.{{cite web|url=https://gateway.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/public/ds/pages/eco_sustainability.aspx|work=Dorothy Stringer School website|title=Travel|access-date=21 May 2018}} In 2003, a dilapidated classroom building set among the woodland was renovated into the Brian Foster Environment Centre, named after a late teacher.{{cite web|url=https://gateway.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/public/ds/pages/eco_brian_foster.aspx|work=Dorothy Stringer School website|title=The Brian Foster Environment Centre|access-date=21 May 2018}} From this base, Dorothy Stringer has become the lead environmental school in Brighton and Hove, forming international links with St Joseph's School in Le Havre{{cite web|url=http://www.st-jo.fr/index_gb.asp|work=Saint-Jo College lycée privé|title=International relationships / Presentation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108095540/http://www.st-jo.fr/enseignementprivestjo_ouvertureinternationale_presentation_gb.asp|archive-date=8 November 2007|access-date=21 May 2018}} for which funding from the Franco-British Council{{cite web|url=http://www.francobritishcouncil.org.uk/|title=Franco-British Council|work=Franco-British Council}}{{failed verification|date=May 2018}} was won, and a student exchange trip is run for Year Seven pupils. Dorothy Stringer is also known for its forming of links with neighbouring schools and, within the school, involving a large number of students in educational environmental activities.

Dorothy Stringer became a specialist sports school in 2002 and despite the government abolishing specialisms in schools in 2012, sport remains an important feature: pupils receive at least two hours of sport education a week, in line with government guidelines.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4617742.stm|work=BBC News|title=Minister exercised over PE issue|date=16 January 2006}} Becoming a sports school has entailed the demolition of the sports hall and the construction of a new venue twice the size, with an additional dance studio, gym and changing rooms.{{Cite web|url=https://sports-facilities.co.uk/sites/view/1010104|title=Dorothy Stringer School Brighton BN1 6PZ|website=sports-facilities.co.uk|access-date=2019-10-24}} As part of the school's responsibilities as a sports school, Dorothy Stringer undertakes work to promote sport in local primary schools, which is chiefly done through the JSLA and a new scheme which involves establishing and nurturing dance clubs in local primary schools and organising a mass performance named "Let's Dance"{{Cite web |date=2024-10-13 |title=Lets Dance: 20 Years of Brighton’s Best School Dance Event |url=https://megapixelmovie.com/lets-dance-brighton/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-GB}} as well as their own Dorothy Stringer Dance Show,{{Cite web |date=2024-10-20 |title=Dorothy Stringer Dance Show: Inspiring Performances at Brighton Dome |url=https://megapixelmovie.com/dorothy-stringer-dance-show/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-GB}} both of which are held at the Brighton Dome.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-17 |title=Let’s Dance – thousands of Brighton and Hove school children step out on stage at the Dome |url=https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2016/03/17/lets-dance-thousands-of-brighton-and-hove-school-children-step-out-on-stage-at-the-dome/ |access-date=2019-10-24 |website=Brighton and Hove News |language=en-US}}

Dorothy Stringer is also a part of the Healthy School initiative, a Partnership Promotion School, a Training School, a recipient of money from the Big Lottery Fund for the school newsletter, and benefits from the European Union's III A programme. Dorothy Stringer has long owned the Dolawen Centre,{{Cite web|url=https://public.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/ds/pages/dolawen_main.aspx|title=dolawen_main|website=public.dorothy-stringer.co.uk|access-date=2019-10-24}} an outdoor pursuits centre on a working farm in the Snowdonia National Park near Bangor, north-west Wales. This facility allows the school to organise annual trips for its Year 7 pupils and lease the building for the use of other schools, organisations and individuals.

In January 2017, Dorothy Stringer was listed as one of the UK's best state schools in Tatler Magazine,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tatler.com/article/best-state-secondary-schools-uk-2017|title=The Tatler guide to the best state secondary schools 2017|website=Tatler|access-date=2019-09-24}} which praised the school's GCSE results and sports facilities.

On 25 June the new Conservative-Liberal coalition released details of 'Outstanding' schools that had, so far, expressed an interest in Academy status, under the Academies Act 2010. Dorothy Stringer School was one of the education establishments on this list, indicating the governors' wish to receive more information and explore all possible options.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10413492.stm|work=BBC News|title=Would-be academy list published|first=Hannah|last=Richardson|date=25 June 2010}}

• Harley Alexander-Sule, musician from hip-hop group Rizzle Kicks
• Jessica Hynes, actor and comedian
• Lucy Griffiths, actor
• Will Becher, film director, Aardman Animations
• Steve Palmer, footballer{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/5477334/Town-vs-Gown-Brighton-East-Sussex.html|title=State vs independent schools: Brighton, East Sussex|last=Davidson|first=Max|date=2009-06-09|access-date=2019-09-10|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
• James Daly, footballer{{cite web |title=Dorothy Stringer Prize Giving Evening |url=https://public.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/Lists/NewsLetters/DispForm.aspx?ID=1121&ContentTypeId=0x0104009D6111B89BA0964A948D9B9202D6C163}}
• Seann Walsh, comedian{{cite web |title=Brighton boy Seann Walsh on his new show, The Lie-In King|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10731663.brighton-boy-seann-walsh-on-his-new-show-the-lie-in-king/}}
• John McEnery, actor

In September 2009 it was revealed that a senior member of the school's teaching staff, Ken Browne, had been arrested in July of that year under suspicion of possessing indecent images of children such as pictures of girls from year 7 in changing rooms. The school attempted to pre-empt scandal by first releasing information of Browne's arrest to parents via a letter, before later contacting the local paper, The Argus. Ken Browne was immediately removed from the teaching staff at the school and has since moved from the area.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/125097/Top-teacher-is-hled-on-child-porn-charges|work=Daily Express|title=Top teacher is hled on child porn charges|first=Tom|last=Morgan|date=5 September 2009}} On 20 January 2011, Browne pleaded guilty to his charges{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8805204.BLACKHEATH__Paedophile_deputy_head_pleads_guilty_to_making_child_sex_images/|work=News Shopper|location=Orpington|title=Paedophile deputy head pleads guilty to making child sex images|first=Nina|last=Massey|date=21 January 2011}} and later that year was sentenced to 10 months in prison.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12570194|work=BBC News|title=Former Brighton teacher jailed over child pornography|date=24 February 2011}}

Leslie Hoogland was a former English teacher at Dorothy Stringer between 1978 and 1979, who was arrested in 2004 on suspicion of possessing child pornography whilst teaching in Toronto.{{Cite web |date=2004-05-19 |title=Teacher arrested over child pictures |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6715765.teacher-arrested-over-child-pictures/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=The Argus |language=en}}

Prior to Varndean Farm ceasing its operations and the land being sold to the Council in 1909,{{Cite web |title=Small Varndean farm established c1800s |url=https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/places/placescho/varndean-boys-school/withdean-history-4 |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=My Brighton and Hove |language=en}} there was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease amongst the livestock and a large pit was dug to bury the dead animals in.{{Cite book |last=Carder |first=Timothy |title=encyclopedia of brighton |date=1990 |publisher=east sussex county libraries |year=1990}} The location of this pit is unknown, but there has been speculation that it was dug right beneath where the school's Religious Studies Department is. Some say that is why it always smells so bad on the stairs in F-Block.

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last=Collis|first=Rose|others=(based on the original by Tim Carder)|title=The New Encyclopaedia of Brighton|edition=1st|year=2010|publisher=Brighton & Hove Libraries|location=Brighton|isbn=978-0-9564664-0-2}}

• [http://www.dorothy-stringer.co.uk/ School website]

{{Brighton and Hove buildings}}

{{Schools in East Sussex}}

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Category:Secondary schools in Brighton and Hove

Category:Community schools in Brighton and Hove

Category:Educational institutions established in 1955

Category:1955 establishments in England