Hope House School Explained

Hope House School
Mottoes:-->
Address:2 Blucher Street
Town:Barnsley
County:South Yorkshire
Postcode:S70 1AP
Country:England
Other Name:HHS
Former Name:Barnsley Christian School
Type:Private school
Religious Affiliation:Christian
Founders:-->
Local Authority:Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Oversight:Hope House Church
Trust:Hope House School Trust
Urn:106659
Ofsted:Yes
Principal:Su Wood
Gender:Mixed
Age Range:4–16
Enrolment:55 (2019)[1]
Capacity:98
Accreditations:-->
Affiliations:-->

Hope House School (HHS, formerly Barnsley Christian School) was a 4–16 mixed, Christian, private school in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1985 and closed on 27 April 2018. It was part of the Hope House Church.

History

Hope House School was established in 1985 as part of the mission of Hope House Church and was known as Barnsley Christian School. It changed its name to Hope House School in September 2012 and Hope House School Trust was set up as a company with charitable status to be the proprietor of the school. It shared premises with the church in a town centre building and drew its pupils largely from Christian families who were members of the two local churches. However, this changed over the years with a growing intake from non-Christian families but the school retained its Christian character.[2]

It was one of twenty-seven independent schools to be issued with a warning notice from the Department for Education in November 2017 that failed to meet its independent school standards. It noted its pupils were not developing respect for different faiths and beliefs, didn't have easy access to drinking water and the outdoor space was too small.[3] [4]

Its fees depended on the age but ranged from £370 a month for juniors and up to £455 a month for the older students. It closed on 27 April 2018 due to a change in legislation that made it difficult to maintain the independent choices the school could make, no longer having the freedom it once had, increase in running costs and falling numbers.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hope House School, Barnsley . Get information about schools . GOV.UK . 12 September 2019 . en.
  2. Web site: Hope House School Inspection report . Bridge Schools Inspectorate . 12 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190912034557/http://www.bridgeschoolsinspectorate.co.uk/files/hope_house_school_final_report_2013.pdf . 12 September 2019 . 2013.
  3. News: Robertson . Alix . Allen-Kinross . Pippa . Safeguarding, fire safety and segregation: DfE releases 27 new private school warning notices . 12 September 2019 . Schools Week . 27 April 2018.
  4. News: DfE warned 12 more private faith schools over failures in one month . 12 September 2019 . National Secular Society . 10 May 2018.
  5. Web site: Hope House School . Hope House School . 12 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190126084258/http://www.hopehouseschool.org.uk/ . 26 January 2019 . 2018.
  6. News: Hope runs out for school . 12 September 2019 . Barnsley Chronicle . 3 March 2018.