Colyton Grammar School

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Colyton Grammar School
Motto Esse Quam Videri
Be rather than seem to be
Established 1546
Type foundation, selective
Headteacher Mr. B.J.Sindall, M.Ed., F.R.S.A.
Chairman of Governors Christopher Bastin
Specialism Science
Location Whitwell Lane
Colyford
Devon
EX24 6HN
England Flag of England
LEA Devon
Ofsted number 113555
Students 800, including 217 in the sixth Form
Gender Mixed
Ages 11 to 18
School colours Blue     /Gold     
Website www.colytongrammar.devon.sch.uk
Coordinates: 50°43′41″N 3°04′21″W / 50.728, -3.0725

Colyton Grammar School (commonly abbreviated to 'CGS') is a co-educational grammar school located in the small town of Colyford in East Devon and teaches students from years 7 to 13 (ages 11 to 18).

The school has one of the finest academic records in the country, and features consistently amongst the top co-educational schools. In GCSE and A-Level, the success rates far exceed national averages and are also significantly higher than the average for other grammar schools.

The school has an open campus style setting situated on a site of over 18 acres in total. There have been a number of improvements to the site over recent years, including the construction of a new sixth form study centre, sports hall, chemistry block and arts centre as well as a host of other renovation and landscaping works to improve the continuity of outside areas.

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[edit] History

  • The school was founded in 1546, by a group of twenty yeomen and merchants - the first Feoffees - who bought some land from the crown "for the benefit of Colyton". Their first act was to endow a Grammar School "for the goodly and virtuous education of children in Colyton for ever".
  • The school was first situated in a single room over the porch of the parish church until the Feoffees hired a room in the town and the school was moved. In 1612, the school moved to the Church House, which had been enlarged by having another storey built on to it.
  • The first headmaster on record was William Hull, who joined the school in 1603, for a salary of £5 a year. The first headmistress - Mrs. Susanah Stokes - was appointed in 1792.
  • In 1815, the school first received its own water supply.
  • It was only in 1875, that the school was established as a day and boarding school with its current name - Colyton Grammar School.
  • June 20th 1876, school population reached record low of just one pupil. Numbers steadily increased again and by August 1884, there were 33 pupils.
  • School was closed in 1900, due to a lack of pupils. It remained closed for 5 years until 1905, when it was re-opened with a new headmaster.
  • In 1913, a change in the school's constitution allows girls to be admitted for the first time and the school officially becomes a co-educational grammar school. The population is now at 60.
  • A change in the governing body sees the Feoffees hand over to a Board of Governors - 15 people - in 1914. The Board of Education
  • In 1927, the school moves to its present site in Colyford. The population is now at 100.
  • In 1963, the swimming pool was opened and Rugby union was introduced as one of the school's core sports. There is no swimming pool at the school now.
  • The Cottrill Sports Hall was opened in 1979. (Now being used as an assembly hall due to the addition of a new Sports Hall)
  • In 1990, current headmaster Barry Sindall was appointed.
  • Mr Sindall has recently announced his upcoming retirement from September 2008, and will be replaced by Paul Evans, one of the current deputy headteachers.

[edit] Recent Developments

The school began its development and expansion in 1991, with the Feoffees' Building - housing science and technology classrooms. A new music suite was completed in 1993, followed by the Walker Building in 1996 - a library and resources centre, history classrooms, language classrooms/lab and IT suite. Shortly after, the new canteen opened in 1998 and the year after, 1999, the Sixth Form Study Centre was completed. 2001, saw the construction of the Coly Building - a suite of four classrooms for geography, history and technology. In 2003, an additional IT room was opened. A new Sports Hall - complete with sprung flooring, changing rooms and dance studio - was built in 2004, as well as the re-surfacing of the all-weather pitch. The latest completed developments are a new Arts Centre and a re-built Chemistry Block, both completed in 2006. A current development, due for completion in the Summer of 2008, is an extended sixth form centre, to house the 3-year sixth form. This block will also house two laboratories allowing for the refurbishment of technology teaching.

The school is involved with the AQA 'English Baccalaureate' but has no current plans to follow other leading grammar and independent schools in the county by offering the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to A levels.

[edit] What Others Say

  • Ofsted School Inspection Report:

"Colyton Grammar School is an outstanding school which works very hard and very successfully to serve its students well. The school has a positive ethos. High standards of attainment and attitude are promoted within a sharing and caring community."

  • Good Schools Guide 2003:

"Excellent, steadily maintaining its position as one of the strongest academic state schools in the country. Proud students speak highly of the school with an unpretentious confidence. Excellent attitudes and behaviour. Academically outstanding grammar school [which] instills self belief."

  • The Daily Telegraph 'Schools Guide':

"First rate academic school; very good teaching. Friendly, purposeful, well-ordered; the school hums with activity and enthusiasm."

  • The Independent 'Guide To Good Schools':

"The school's teaching includes active learning, group work, and solving real problems for industry within the curriculum. GCSE and A-Level results are outstanding."

  • The Financial Times:

"There are some state schools, such as Colyton Grammar School, which can match the best independent schools."

  • Colyton Grammar is the Sunday Times 'Top State Secondary School for 2006'.
  • The school has been acknowledged as 'outstandingly successful' in the Annual National Report of the Chief Inspector of Schools.

[edit] External links

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