Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is a foundation school established in 1636 by Grace, Lady Manners, a member of the Duke
of Rutland's family. Originally the school occupied premises in the centre of Bakewell but then moved three
quarters of a mile away to a 10 acre site on a hillside commanding spectacular views of the Wye Valley.
The school serves a wide rural catchment area encompassing many villages and the small town of Bakewell.
Bakewell is a market town and tourist centre set in the heart of the Peak District National Park, 8 miles from
Matlock, 12 miles from Buxton and Chesterfield, and 14 miles from Sheffield. The housing available within the
area is varied covering a range of prices and environments.
The school is one of the largest in the county with 1512 students on roll including 326 in the Sixth Form. The
benefit of size is reflected in the impressive range of opportunities, in and beyond the classroom. Traditional in its
retention of Speech Day and Commemoration Services, and insistence on good social behaviour, uniform and
hard work, Lady Manners School has a modern and caring approach to preparing children for the world of
tomorrow. Non-denominational religious education is a key element in the student experience.
Pastorally, the school is organised into Lower School (Years 7-9), Upper School (Years 10-11) and Sixth Form,
each with a Head of School, Heads of Years, and Form Tutors. Teaching is organised through departments,
each with a Curriculum Leader. There is a teaching staff of 109 of whom 37 are on part-time contracts. There
are 125 support staff, including specialist finance, premises, catering and technical staff, all of whom are
employed directly by the school.
The Lower School curriculum aims to provide a broad and common education for all students. In Upper School
the core curriculum contains English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, Religious Studies, PE, PSHE and Citizenship.
Choice is introduced through four subject options but students are encouraged to ensure that their curriculum
remains broad and balanced by considering creative, humanities subjects and languages.
The PSHE programme complements academic progress in the general aim of educating the whole child, and
careers education raises student awareness of the world of work through its work experience programme,
conventions, industry workshops and counselling. The range of extra-curricular activities is impressive with
opportunity through outdoor pursuits, excursions, language exchanges, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young
Enterprise and clubs and societies. The very successful sports teams and regular, highly professional drama
productions and choral and instrumental concerts involve many students and staff.
The school is renowned for academic excellence and offers 42 subjects for study at Key Stage 4 and 29 to
Advanced Level. After outstanding achievement at GCSE many students remain in education post 16, at Lady
Manners School, and the high success rate with 'A' levels enables most of the Sixth Form to move onto degree
courses. Students with special educational needs are given additional teaching support in class, and in small
groups, and adaptations to the building have made facilities accessible for students with disabilities.
The current buildings opened in 1938 with major extensions in 1958, 1972 and 1995. Facilities include specialist
science laboratories, computer centres, drama hall, specialist language, music, history and geography rooms,
open-plan art and technical area, library, gymnasium, sports hall and Sixth Form Centre. A new Sixth Form
Centre, gymnasium, fitness suite and changing rooms came into use in September 2005 enabling some much
needed adaptations of the existing accommodation and a reduction in the use of the Highfields Annex. The
development has been funded in the main by the sale of the school’s boarding house which closed in 2003.
Governors are now turning their attention to the priorities for the next stages of development and this has
included the building of a Vocational Centre in 2010.
Lady Manners School is closely linked with the local area it serves through its extensive on-site adult and youth
education programme, charity and fund raising, public concerts and plays, local music and liaison with churches,
industry and employers. It is keen to extend these mutually beneficial links by responding to community requests
and enabling local groups to hire facilities. There is also a growing international dimension to events and
opportunities in school - so much so that in 2009 we achieved the full International School Award and this Award
was successfully retained after a new application in 2012.
Staff at Lady Manners School give freely of their time and expertise. In return they have the experience of
working in a comprehensive environment with many well motivated and talented children. There are many
opportunities for professional growth and development.