Kings of Wessex School

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The Kings Of Wessex School
Established	1976
School type	state school
Headteacher	Chris Richardson
Location	Cheddar, Somerset, England
Website	[1]

Kings of Wessex School is a secondary school located in Cheddar, Somerset, England. It has some 1,100 students aged 13-18, of both genders and all ability levels. It is run as a foundation school by the Church of England and among its aims is "to promote an understanding of the meaning, significance and values of the Christian faith". It was awarded the specialist status of Technology College in 2001, enabling it to develop its IT facilities and improve courses in Science, Mathematics and Design Technology. The school has in its grounds a leisure centre and swimming pool with sports facilities that are used by its students and the pupils of other schools in the village. Its grounds also contain the ruins of an ancient Saxon palace and chapel.

1 Ofsted report
2 Technology College status
3 Foundation status
4 Uniform controversy
5 Historic links
6 The Future
7 Alumni
8 External links
9 References
10 Schools in Somerset

[edit] Ofsted report

A 2002 OFSTED report found that KoW school was "good school with a very good sixth form" and enabled its students to do well in examinations and tests. It described the school as a "friendly, harmonious community" and praised the way students took responsibility for their own learning.

Its criticisms included the complaints that religious education was not adequate for older students, and that not all students could take part in daily collective worship.

[edit] Technology College status

Being in a rural area with few large local manufacturers, the school had some difficulty in raising the £54,000 of sponsorship necessary to gain Technology College status, but many small donations from local employers and charities enabled it to reach the target. The headmaster claims that the process of soliciting funds helped the school to refine its focus and gave local businesses more of a stake in the school. He also stresses that the new status of Technology College will not lead to any reduction of its strength in the arts.

[edit] Foundation status

In 2006 the school governors voted for foundation status. This was well supported despite some vocal opposition from a minority of parents in the local press. Foundation status has not changed the school's Christian ethos. It still maintains close ties with the village's St Andrews Church and the vicar remains as one of the school governors.

[edit] Uniform controversy

In 2003, 22 children who were said to be wearing unsuitable uniforms were isolated in the school's learning unit and forbidden to talk to each other. Some had been wearing plain blazers purchased at supermarkets, instead of the more expensive blazers with badges available only from the school outfitters. Although parents soon complied with the regulations, they compared the measures to Dickensian strictness and formed an action committee which protested to the local education authority and to Education Secretary Charles Clarke. The headteacher justified the action, saying it had the desired effect. The schools pointed out that financial help is available for parents with modest means.

[edit] Historic links

The school grounds contain the remains of a Saxon palace. A wooden "great hall" was constructed around the reign of King Alfred the Great (died 899AD). It was rebuilt around 930 AD and a chapel and other buildings were added. The palace hosted the Witenagemot, an assembly of powerful figures, in AD 941, 956 and 968. The remains were excavated during the construction of the school, but have since been re-buried. The layout is marked with concrete plinths.

At least one member of staff has been found to have genetic links to stoneage inhabitants of the area. Scientists compared DNA taken from a 9,000 year-old skeleton known as "Cheddar Man" with that of 15 school pupils and 5 adults from Cheddar village. A match was found, appropriately enough with the school's history teacher, Adrian Targett. This is claimed to be the longest human lineage ever to be traced, and supports the theory that the Britons were descended from ancient hunter-gatherers who later turned to agriculture, rather than a from more recent wave of immigrant farmers.

[edit] The Future

In 2006 the school opened a new languages block. It is also received planning permission for a new drama block which will be completed in October 2007. Unfortunately there is no prospect of government money being made available under the Building Schools for the Future initiative to rebuild the main fabric of the school within the next 10 years.