All Saints Roman Catholic School, York

Mary Ward, a nun from York, initiated a mission in 1665 to educate girls in the Catholic faith, with the aim of preserving Catholicism for future generations. She assumed leadership of the community and established convent-run schools on the Continent, where Catholicism was still legal. Following her passing, the Sisterhood returned to York in 1686. With the assistance of Thomas Gascoigne, a Yorkshire businessman who desired his daughters to receive a local Catholic education, the Bar Convent Girls School was founded. Gascoigne provided a £500 donation to set up the school.[12] The school eventually became the first Roman Catholic institution to teach girls in the nation.[13]

'no more than a boarding school for young ladies of Roman Catholic families'. – Drake describing the Convent and school in 1736

During the 1800s, an additional wing was added for a day school, as the school was growing.[13]

In 1925, the Bar Convent School became a grammar school, allowing locals to apply for scholarships.[13]

During the Baedeker raids in 1942, the school infirmary was demolished. At the time, the school was being utilized as a military hospital, and medical equipment was installed in the school hall. Following the conclusion of the Second World War, the school's facilities were expanded, and an additional seven classrooms, a laboratory, a needlework room, and a dining room were constructed, effectively doubling the school's accommodation. [13]

During the mid-1970s, the school began admitting boys.[12] Following the elimination of the grammar school system in the early 1980s, the responsibility for the school was transferred from the Sisterhood to the Diocese of Middlesbrough, ensuring the continuation of free Catholic education in the region. The school was reopened as All Saints Roman Catholic School in 1985, with the inclusion of pupils from St. Georges and Margaret Clitherow Secondary Schools (due to the Vale of York Catholic School re-structuring), resulting in a doubling of the school's size. Additionally, the Upper School and Sixth Form were relocated to Mill Mount, a neighboring converted Manor House property obtained by the school from the council after the closure of the Mill Mount County Grammar School for Girls.[14]

Charles Heneage Elsley Recorder of York, Owner of Mill Mount Manor House

The school was established in 1920 and was initially administered by the City of York Education Committee until 1974 when it was taken over by North Yorkshire County Council. The school had 124 girls enrolled in March 1921, some of whom were transferred from Queen Anne School.

The original Manor building and stables (still used on the upper site), which was built in 1850 for Charles Heneage Elsley Esq., J.P. and Recorder of York, was purchased and adapted by the municipal authority for use as a school.

The school added a chemistry laboratory in 1922 and a cookery centre in 1925. By 1933, there were 272 girls enrolled, and extensions were added in 1935 to provide accommodation for 150 more girls.

The "New Building" in 1935

A games field at Nunthorpe was opened in 1938. By March 1946, there were 383 girls attending the school.[13] The curriculum was expanded over the years, with subjects such as chemistry, general science, and physics being added, and the original School Certificate being replaced with General Certificate of Education (GCEs). In 1965, a plan was proposed to turn York into a comprehensive education system by 1970, with Nunthorpe and Mill Mount joining to become a sixth form college, and the two other grammar schools becoming a comprehensive. However, this plan fell through, and the school remained a girls' grammar school until 1985, and the site was sold to All Saints RC.

The exterior of the St Georges RC Secondary School,which was located on Walmgate

During the period of 1927–1932, St George's School in Margaret Street underwent a reorganization, resulting in three separate departments for Senior Boys, Mixed, and Infants. In 1939, construction of a new building for the Senior Boys department began, and was completed in 1948, adjacent to the Primary school. By 1956, both schools had become voluntary aided schools, with 240 children enrolled in the primary school and 290 boys in the secondary modern school. [15] However, the Senior school was eventually closed in 1985 due to discussions on the reorganization of York's Catholic Senior schools in the late 1970s. The buildings remained abandoned for many years before being demolished in 1996 to make way for housing. The school was incorporated into All Saints RC School, with the campus relocated to Nunnery Lane and Mill Mount respectively.[16]

Headteachers since the creation of the School in its current form:

• Dr. Adrian Elliott 1985-2003

• Mr. Bill Scriven 2003-2019

• Mrs. Sharon Keelan-Beardsley 2019-Present [17]

The exterior of the Bar Convent, Located within the same building as All Saints RC School Lower Site

All Saints School was formerly a Language and Performing Arts College which was part of the Specialist schools programme. This meant that it received extra funding for language teaching. It no longer holds this title as the programme was abolished.

Previously a voluntary aided school administered by York City Council,[18] in May 2023 All Saints Roman Catholic School converted to academy status.[19] The school is now sponsored by the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust[20] but continues to be under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough.

At present, the Bar Convent serves as a museum, guest house, and café. The Mary Ward sisters and Sacristan live in the Convent, and the Lower School shares the chapel.[21][22] The School is linked closely to Saint Francis-Xavier School (SFX) in Richmond since 2022, when All Saint's headteacher (previously headteacher of SFX) became executive headteacher of both schools.

Incorporated into All Saints in 1985 during the reform of Catholic education in the Vale of York.

• David Bradley, actor. Best known for playing Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series and Walder Frey in the HBO series Game of Thrones.[32]

This school was incorporated into Millthorpe school but was situated in All Saints upper site.

• Sue Doughty (née Powell), former Liberal Democrat MP for Guildford (1959–66)
• Karen Jones CBE, businessperson and founder of the Café Rouge restaurant chain

• Isobel McDonald-Davies, Deputy Registrar General for England and Wales from 1994–2005
• Tricia Walker, author

• Anna Docherty, four times British champion, Team GB track cyclist[33]