John O'Gaunt Community Technology College
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| John O'Gaunt Community Technology College | |
| Motto | Personal caring for today, educating for tomorrow |
| Established | 1962 |
| Type | Comprehensive community school |
| Religious affiliation | None, But assemblies are orientated towards Christianity |
| Headteacher | Mrs. L. Bartlett |
| Specialism | Technology College |
| Location | Priory Road Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0AN England |
| LEA | West Berkshire |
| Ofsted number | 110050 |
| Students | 633 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11 to 18 |
| Houses | Avery Hall, Brunel Hall and Littlecote Hall |
| School colours | Royal Blue background and Bright Yellow highlight for all but stationary in dark royal blue |
| Website | [www.jog.westberks.org www.jog.westberks.org] |
John O'Gaunt Community Technology College is a comprehensive and Technology College of approximately 633 pupils in Hungerford, Berkshire. It was also Berkshire's first community school. The school was built in 1962 and is a fusion of 1960s decor, 1990s pre-fabricated buildings, and up-to-date ICT equipment. Pupils between the ages of 11-16 years old can enroll with the secondary school, and those that are 16-18 can apply to join the sixth form. The school also offers extra curricular activities mainly sports and 'the arts' events. Students can also apply for a course at Newbury College, in which case students are taken by bus on a Wednesday (year 10/11) or Friday (year 12/13).
The school's Technology College status benefits the whole school in that almost all classrooms are fully equipped with an interactive white-board and multimedia capabilities.
The school gained unfortunate national attention as the site of the denouement of the Hungerford massacre on August 19, 1987. Michael Robert Ryan made the then-empty school the site of his final stand and suicide, having killed 16 people and injured 15 others.
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[edit] Ofsted Inspection
The most recent ofsted inspection was on the 3rd October 2007. The school managed to attain a Grade 3 - Satisfactory. This was an overall grade for KeyStage 3 and 4. Sixth form also gained a grade 3. More information is available at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=110050 .
[edit] Departments
[edit] Drama
The drama department consists of a studio with basic lighting, and a minimum of sound equipment. However, the rest of the department has two rehearsal rooms, that are shared with music; and a prop and costume cupboard.
[edit] Stage lighting
The stage lighting department is a recent addition to the school in May 2006, with the difference that it is entirely run by students. This gives a group of students the experience of running a department on their own. This was shut down in September 2007, after accusations of conspiracy and secrecy. These accusations were never confirmed, but the department was still forced to be disbanded. The members were temporarily suspended, but to stop any more rumors and accusations, The Department head resigned. It has reverted back to the old system of one lone lighting technician. The Sound technician group also followed suit to prevent any further problems.
[edit] Music
The music department is a fully equipped music suite, including electronic keyboards, MIDI enabled Keyboards linked to multimedia PCs with the full Sibelius package allowing easy creation of scores and music. Also stocked are a range of musical instruments from tubular bells to recorders. With the addition of three rehearsal rooms, two of which are shared with Drama, the music department also tutors students in how to play a musical instrument, although none of the school staff do this. The School bring in teachers from the Young Berkshire Musician Trust to tutor students, which means that students are allowed to leave their current lesson to go to one of these lessons, although they aren't meant to exceed 30 minutes.
[edit] Science
[edit] The site
John O'Gaunt is built on the outskirts of Hungerford, next to the leisure centre. There are nine buildings on the site, some of which are linked by corridors and others that aren't. The Kennet block (commonly referred to as the 'three-storey block'), the small and main halls, the office (or reception), the ‘De Monteforte’ block, the technology block, the Woodlands block (also known as the art block), the maths and science blocks, the performing arts, music, drama, and stage lighting block, and the physical education block.
[edit] Kennet Block
The Kennet Block contains the RE department, the English department, the modern foreign languages department, and the library.
[edit] The Library
The library used to be two classrooms, that had the wall next door knocked through to accommodate the extended needed space. It is a well stocked and functioning library, offering students a range of resources. The resources offered are: Four Wireless Laptops each with internet capabilities. A well stocked Non-Fiction area. An up-to-date fiction area, with mostly new stock. Project packs, that consist of Leaflets and a list of relevant books. These are usually themed to social sciences, and PSCHEE topics. Chess sets which can be used via reservation at lunch times.
The library uses the management system Eclipse, which is a fully automated system, with an external search client, which can search the books available in the library from anywhere in the school.
[edit] Halls
The main hall is the main area for the school similar to a forum. At break and lunch times the hall plays the role of a food hall, with the cafeteria open to buy food. Seating is provided in the form of tables and chairs, although on rare occasions, these aren't put out if a special event is planned or if the school isn't open for more than four hours. The entrance to the cafeteria is through the Small Hall, which is a reserved for staff, visitors, Year 11s, prefects and the sixth form. The Small Hall is used for storage, and small & special events. When the halls are not in use as food halls, they are used as extra classrooms, or for rehearsing events such as performances or concerts.
The school also performs a major amount of events, including the end-of-year production, in which students of all ages, take part in running a performance. In 2005 the school performed 'Annie - The musical' which ran for four nights with varying success and audiences. The last night was the most enjoyed with the biggest audience of approximately 300 people.
[edit] ’De Monteforte’
The ‘De Monteforte’ block houses the offices, the ICT department, and the humanities department. The history department takes pride in offering students great support in the students WWII project's, and for some years having guest speakers in to talk about their experiences in WWII prison camps, or bombed cities.
[edit] Technology
The technology block houses all the technology classes, including graphical design, resistant materials, textiles, woodwork, and food.
[edit] Woodlands
This block is more commonly known as the art block although officially housing the science and mathematics departments.
[edit] Science, Maths and Study & Support
These two subjects are officially the Woodlands block although they have been separated to refer people to either upstairs or downstairs, depending on where you are heading. Mathematics are upstairs, sharing half a floor with the school's 'Study and support' department, aimed at assisting students with learning difficulties, and emotional problems. It is made to be a relaxing department, so students who are being bullied, or have emotional problems can be comforted in a relaxed environment. Downstairs consistes of the science department which includes physics, chemistry and biology.
[edit] Performing arts, music, drama, stage lighting
This block houses all the theatre and media side of the school. Although small, a lot happens in this block afterschool, such as groups rehearsing a play, the school band practising, or the choir rehearsing.
[edit] PE block
This block has the changing rooms, and corridors to the swimming pool (owned and operated by the leisure centre), sports hall, astro-turf pitch, and playing fields.
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