Collingwood College, Surrey
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| Motto | Believe, Succeed |
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| Established | 1971 |
| Type | Technology College |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Principal | Mr Jerry Oddie |
| Asst. Principal | Karen Griffiths, Eden Tanner |
| Location | Kingston Road, Camberley, Surrey, England |
| Colours | Blue, white and black |
| Website | www.collingwoodcollege.com |
Collingwood College is a secondary school located in Camberley, Surrey, England for 11-18 year olds. Its catchment area encompasses much of the Surrey Heath area of Camberley, Bagshot, Lightwater, Windlesham, Bisley, Chobham and West End.
It is the largest school in the area, and third largest in Surrey, with over 2,700 pupils. It occupies a 30-acre campus and is divided in the three main areas 'Kingston' (Years 10 & 11) and 'Barossa' (Years 7-9), and the new, purpose-built, Sixth Form Centre. This was funded by the sale of land, on which the college's previous sixth form centre (named "Ballard") was situated. Collingwood College is a specialist school in technology.
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[edit] History
The college was originally founded as Collingwood School. It was formed in 1971 through the combination of three schools - Frimley and Camberley Grammar School, which had moved to the Kingston Road, Old Dean site in 1967, Barossa County Secondary School and Bagshot Green Secondary School. This is the origin of campus arrangement of the school buildings, with three buildings sharing common grounds.
The first Headmaster was Mr. Leonard Roe, who had previously been Headmaster of the grammar school. He was followed by Peter Halls-Dickerson, who was a major advocate of the idea of direct grant schools. Collingwood was one of the earliest direct grant schools to be created after the passage of the legislation by the then Conservative government. On 1st September 1991 Collingwood School became Collingwood College – a Grant Maintained school. This change of status was overwhelmingly supported by the parents. In 1999, under the new School’s Framework, the school adopted Foundation status.
In September 1994 Collingwood College became a Self-Governing Technology College. As of 1st April 2008, the College has been granted High Performing Specialist School status.
[edit] Stabbing Incident
The school appeared in the English and American press in November 2005, and again in November 2006 following the assault on student Natashia Jackman, who was stabbed in the back and above the eye.
The school was also featured on a special programme called "School of Hard Knocks" on ITV that was aired on the 6 November 2006. It examied the assault in some detail. It featured an interview with Natashia and her parents, as well as stories from other victims of bullying. The programme publicly criticised the principal for denying that there was a bullying problem at Collingwood. However, the recent OFSTED report shows that there is no bullying problem at Collingwood College, and the behaviour is "outstanding". [1]
Some newspapers described the school a place where gang culture reigned, where "tribal violence" was frequent and the students were uncontrollable.[2] However, interviews with current and former students of the school suggest that this is untrue and many students rallied against the poor press the school was getting.
[edit] Collingwood College Productions
Jane Roberts' (Head of Speech and Drama) school productions, of which she is the producer and director, are hailed as "professional" standard. She has been at the college for more than 23 years and has put on 21 productions of well known musicals.
Each spring the college stages a musical production, in which the students perform both acting and musical accompaniment. The show runs for up to eleven nights and are professionally staged, being set-designed by Graham Wynne of Changing Rooms fame, who is a former alumnus of the college. Recent shows have included The Wizard of Oz, Grease, My Fair Lady, Bugsy Malone, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, High Society, Dracula Spectacula, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd and Oliver!.
The Sixth Form Revue is an annual events which consists of satirical sketches on Collingwood. It includes sketch on everything from current affairs to the mockery of prominent teachers.
Also, at the end of every year, a "Fun Day" is arranged, where usually over £1300 is raised, all of it going to nine different charities. Over the year, the college raises in excess of £6000, all of which goes to charities selected by the students.
[edit] Sixth Form Centre
In 2005, the new Sixth Form Centre was officially opened by the Countess of Wessex.[3] This replaced the aging "Ballard" building which was subsequently demolished after the sale of the land it was situated on. The Sixth Form Centre features an extremely modernised architecture, a series of seven small IT classrooms plus one large computer suite on the top floor. The centre provides facilities for sixth form students such as a common room and private study area.
[edit] Collingwood College Football Team
Collingwood College has one of the most prominent football teams in Surrey. In 2004 they won the Local League Cup, and then again in 2005.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Matt and Luke Goss, the brothers who formed the successful 1980s pop duo, Bros
- Adam Powell and Donna Williams, founders of the online virtual pet site, Neopets
- Paul Cross, who played George in the 1990s TV series, The Borrowers
- Graham Wynne, Celebrity Designer from the TV show Changing Rooms
[edit] Notable Teachers
- Jane Roberts was nominated for Teacher of the Year 1996 for her time and effort working with students in theatre throughout the year.
- Peter Redrup, (aka DJ Drude), former DJ of the Reading-based techno band, The Objects.
