Gad's Hill School
 |
|
| Motto | First to thine own self be true |
|---|---|
| Established | 1924 |
| Type |
Independent school Co-educational Day school |
| Headmaster | Mr David Craggs |
| Location |
Higham Kent ME3 7PA England 51°24′40″N 0°27′28″E / 51.4112°N 0.4579°ECoordinates: 51°24′40″N 0°27′28″E / 51.4112°N 0.4579°E |
| Local authority | Kent |
| Students | 301 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 3–16 |
| Houses | Haig, Wellington, Beatty |
| Website | www |
Gad's Hill School in Kent, England, was formerly Gads Hill Place, the country home of Charles Dickens. It became an independent school for day pupils in 1924.
Gad’s Hill School has many traditions. Year 11 pupils sign the lead on the roof which has many names from years past. This tradition began when there were plays and dances in the grounds and the pupils would come and write their names to commemorate the occasion.
The evening before the Christmas holidays, the pupils and their families visit Rochester Cathedral to attend the annual Carol Concert. During this concert chosen pupils read the lesson of the Bible, the choir sings traditional carols and a chosen pupil is honoured to sing the first stanza of Once in Royal David's City.
On the last day of the winter term the whole school has an annual cross country run. The younger students run around the rugby fields a few times. Juniors run a 2.5 km (2 mi) and the seniors run a 3.5 km (2 mi).
In June 2008, the school was shown in the Channel 4 TV docudrama Dickens' Secret Lover, presented by actor Charles Dance, on Dickens' alleged affair with the actress Ellen Ternan during the last 13 years of his life. Charles Dickens died in what is now the school's dining room. Cedric Charles Dickens, the author's great-grandson, was a governor of the school until his death in 2006. Marion Dickens, the author's great great granddaughter, is a former pupil of the school and is a member of the Board of Governors.
Pupils at Gad’s Hill School have once again achieved top marks in their GCSE examinations.
Headmaster Mr David Craggs said: “For a school that takes pupils with a broad range of abilities, these are very pleasing results indeed.
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Wikipedia