Gravesend Grammar School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gravesend Grammar School | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Consule Cunctis | ||
| Founded: 1893 | ||
| Type: Grammar, Secondary. | ||
| Location: Gravesend, Kent, United Kingdom | ||
| LEA: | ||
| Ofsted number: [1] | ||
| School Category: | ||
| Headteacher: Mr. G. Wybar | ||
| Staff: | ||
| Students: 1013 | ||
| Age Range: 11-18 | ||
| Gender: Male, Female at 16+ | ||
| Website: gravesendgrammar.kent.sch.uk | ||
Gravesend Grammar School is a selective secondary school located in Gravesend, United Kingdom. The school accepts boys at age 11 by examination and boys and girls at 16, based on their GCSE results.
Contents |
[edit] The School
Gravesend Grammar School was originally built and located in the heart of the town of Gravesend before the beginning of the 20th century (1893), opened in a lavish ceremony by Princess Beatrice of Battenburg, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria. The School was later moved and rebuilt on the site of Milton Hall, the former home of the Mayor of Gravesham. The original 'old' building still stands today and is now a technical college in the town. The replacement building is still in use although many alterations and additions have been made to it since it was originally constructed, including being rebuilt after having been hit by a bomb during World War II.
The second school building, known as the 'Centenary Building', was built in 1993, to commemorate the School's 100th year, and currently houses cutting-edge facilities including multiple computer facilities and chemistry labs. There are a number of Mobile Classrooms around the school site, used for various subjects, although these are beginning to be replaced by more permanent buildings.
Overall, there are 46 classrooms, including six Computer Rooms, a growing number of which contain Interactive Whiteboards, as well as a library, a sports hall, several small music practice rooms, and a canteen available to all staff and pupils.
In 2004 the School gained specialist status as a Maths and Computing Specialist School. This in itself guarantees the School extra government funding in order to continue the running and expansion of its high-class facilities.
The Chair of the Governing Body is Mr Graham Ralph BA (Hons).
The Head Master is Mr Geoff S Wybar BA.
The Deputy Head Master is Mr Brian Simpson BA MA (Curriculum) and the Deputy Head Mistress is Dr Jo L Seymour (Teaching and Learning).
The Assistant Head Masters are Mr Chris Morgan BA (Senior Tutor) and Mr Tim M Allen BSc (Director of Specialist School).
The Director of Support Services is Mr Mike Fall BEng.
[edit] House System
The School operates a House system. Pupils in each year group are divided into five forms, each form belonging to one of the school's five Houses. Each House has a different coloured variant of the school tie. The Houses and their colours are as follows: Cliff (blue), Downs (yellow), Hill (green), Town (red) and School (purple). School House is relatively new, having been introduced in 1993 because of the increased numbers of pupils entering the School.
[edit] Head Boy Team & Prefects
Each year, a Head Boy and a team of five deputies are elected from the Lower Sixth (Year 12). Several weeks before the Easter Holiday, any student wishing to stand for the position must submit a manifesto to the Head of Year. Once these have been accumulated, a husting is held, in which the candidates put forwards their ideas and reasons for being elected. Following this, the Year 12 group and Staff vote for their choices for Head Boy and Deputies. The candidates that have the most votes then go on to an interview with the headmaster, and the choices are announced just before the term ends. Despite the school's tradition of appointing a Head Boy, now that there are girls in the sixth form, the position is not exclusive, and indeed, the current team is a mixed group.
There are a large number of prefects in the school, ranging from subject prefects to pastoral ones in charge of areas of the school such as the Library or the Canteen. There is a dedicated team of about fifteen students to ensure appropriate use of ICT facilities at Break and Lunchtimes. All members of the Prefect and Head Boy teams are issued a blue, shield shaped badge with the appropriate position emblazoned across it.
[edit] Sixth Form
The Sixth Form currently contains approximately 300 students, studying A Levels in a variety of subjects. Each week there is a "General Education" session for the Lower Sixth, in which various speakers such as the local MP or representatives from Israeli and Palestinian Support Charities. The school also provide free "Driveability" sessions for the Year 12 students, that outline the various risks and responsibilities of learning to drive. There are several extra-curricular clubs specifically for the sixth form, including an A+ computing course, and a Film Club.
[edit] Careers
Pupils begin to prepare for career choices in Year 9, where they start to have one lesson a fortnight being taught various aspects of careers, including interview techniques and how to write CVs. These lessons continue until the end of year 11. In addition, all year 11 pupils have a week's work experience in a variety of locations, from local prep schools to companies in London. They also have group careers interviews with a Connexions advisor, with one on one sessions if requested. The school has a Careers Library that any student can use, that contains prospectuses and information from various Universities, as well as information about possible careers paths.
[edit] Sport
Sport plays a very big part of life at the school, to the extent that for the last two years, all GCSE students take Physical Education short courses. There are a number of specialist PE teachers (who take the title 'Master-in-Charge') that coach a variety of teams, including Badminton (which is coached by a previous National Champion), Rugby, and Hockey, as well as facilities for Basketball, Table Tennis and Athletics.
[edit] Drama and music
The school GCSE and A Level groups have recently staged productions such as Grease, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, West Side Story, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Animal Farm, The Madness of King George, and The Crucible. There are a number of Musical organisations in the School, including Guitar and Recorder Clubs, a Chamber Orchestra and a Choir.
[edit] Trips
Recent years have seen educational visits to France, Italy, and Germany, including various exchanges, as well as slightly less adventurous trips to places such as The Globe Theatre and The British Museum. Groups of senior students have recently been to Peru on a World Challenge Expedition and an expedition to Mongolia in 2007 is entering the final stages of fund raising and preparation. The School also hold more recreational visits, such as recent Rugby Tours to Canada and South Africa, and the Annual Ski Trip to Italy. The school has also taken pupils to canoe down the Ardeche and in 2007 will be taking 50 pupils scuba diving in Gozo
[edit] Motto & School Song
Consule Cunctis is the school's Latin motto, and is usually translated as meaning 'take thought for everyone'. The school motto is also the title of the school song, which was originally created at some point in the 1920s when the school was still located in the town. Originally, the School used the song 'Forty Years On', the School Song for Harrow School, until 'Consule Cunctis' was written by two of the Schools' Masters. 'Forty Years On' continued to be sung along with the new song at important dates in the school calendar, such as Speech Day, until the late Forties. Due to the popularity of the School, the words have changed recently from 'nine hundred fellows' to 'one thousand', reflecting the ever-increasing numbers in the houses.
- Consule Cunctis: We readily grant it
- Who will not hearten the song as we chant it
- Some 1000 fellows assembled in hall?
- For the splendour of life shall illumine our faces
- While boyhood's a game that delights us and graces
- Our "Play for the side with your face to the ball".
- Consule Cunctis: When school days are ending
- There's none shall escape from the duties attending
- All 1000 fellows assembled in hall,
- Though the ground to our feet may ring flintily, dustily
- Forget not the chorus but sing it right lustily.
- "Play for the side with your face to the ball".
- Consule Cunctis: in fair or rough weather
- We'll play to the whistle, stand fast all together
- We 1000 fellows assembled in hall.
- Consule Cunctis: the world stands before us
- And we'll yet make it join in our full-throated chorus
- Of "Play for the side with your face to the ball".
- Headboy: School! Selah! C'est a dire!
- All reply: Alors! Oui, bon. Oh, aye. Oh, aye, aye.
- Zen, Zen, Zen!
- GRAVESEND!
[edit] Other
- The school has recently set up a radio station, that is to be run by pupils, with broadcasts at break and lunchtimes over the school computer systems. [2].
- At the end of each academic year (depending on the punctuality of the editorial team), a school magazine, "The Miltonian" is published. Generally it includes Valedictories to leaving staff members, reviews of sporting seasons and drama productions, accounts of school trips and other events that took place during the previous year.
