Southend High School for Boys

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Southend High School for Boys is a grammar school situated in Southend, England. It has students from the ages 11 through to 18 years old. It was one of the only schools in the area to achieve "outstanding" in the latest Ofsted inspection. ^[1] The school consistently achieves over 95% of its students attaining 5 GCSEs grade A*–C every year. ^[2]

The current headteacher is Dr. Robin M Bevan (the previous headmaster was M D Frampton, 1988–2007). The current deputy heads are Mr A Gardner and Miss L Duffy.

[edit] History

The school was founded in 1895 and provided the first secondary education within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea. It moved to its present larger site on Prittlewell Chase in 1939.

Southend High School for Boys is a foundation school within Southend-on-Sea Local Authority. It is a grammar school, with entry dependent upon performance in selective tests set by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).

Since 2001 the school has been a Language College, promoting modern foreign languages both inside and outside the curriculum as well as within the local community. It was a founder member of Southend Excellence Cluster, supporting and collaborating with nearly thirty primary and secondary schools. In 2006, as a high-performing specialist school, it was invited to become a Leading Edge school, promoting innovation in teaching and learning in liaison with local partner schools. ^[3]

Student numbers have been increasing over recent years. As of 2007/08 academic year there are just over 980 students on roll, over 220 of whom (including some girls) are in the Sixth Form.

The stated aims of the school are the pursuit of academic excellence, stressing the personal and social development of the individual, the fostering of a positive set of values, and preparation of students for a responsible and enriching role within society.

[edit] Hitchcock Library

The school has opened a new library in the west end of the campus named the Hitchcock Library, in honor of Joseph Hitchcock, the first headmaster at the school's present site, who served from 1939 to 1959.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Academic

The school was last inspected in February 2006 when the main conclusion of Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education) was as follows:

Southend High School for Boys is an outstanding school with a very strong ethos and a distinctive character. Its pupils are justifiably proud to belong to it, make very good progress and achieve exceptionally high standards. The school successfully balances an emphasis on academic achievement with a concern for pupils' personal development and well-being. This ensures that pupils are well prepared for their place in society.

They have also recently received the NACE Challenge Award, which means they are the first secondary school in the Eastern Counties to obtain it, and the 22nd school in the entire country of Britain to achieve the award.^[1]

[edit] Building Extensions

Although the building was originally built almost symmetrically, it has undergone various changes which have meant it is no longer the case.

After havin sustained bombing damage during World War II, a new roof was constructed over the main hall and the (former) sports hall (now the Frampton Theatre). It was recently after this time (approx 1954)that classrooms W14 + W15 got built; originally they were not here; which explains the reason as to why upstairs corridor in the West End does not complete a full circuit around the quadrangle.
In 1961, the technology block was built, along with 8 "temporary" huts to the west of this building and a connecting boiler room to the rear of the stage of the main hall.
In 1992, QE1 and QE2 classrooms were built inside the East End quadrangle to cope with demand of extra pupils.

In 1995, the Hitchcock Library was constructed to fill in the West End quadrangle with a new art room, W16 on top. The library was needed to alleviate overcrowding in the "Old Library" which is located above the headmaster's office & main school office.

In 1998, the Sixth Form centre was built, removing 4 of the "temporary huts" 37 years after they were built.

In 2003, the Languages college was constructed to create room for an expanded intake of pupils; an extra 25 per year starting in the 2002-2003 year. As this was built, subject rooms also got swapped around; maths moved from the 4 other huts into E1, E2, E3 and QE1 (E1 & E9 were previously German rooms & E2, QE1, & QE2 were French rooms and E3 was a Latin room). E9 became an extra English Room (previously it was just E5, E6, E7 & E8) and RE gained the use of QE2. Music also gained the use of L6 in the language college for a short period of time whilst the Sports Hall & Music Centre were under construction).
Owing to such a long time in sub-standard accommodation in Music & PE (as mentioned by the OFSTED report of 2002), a bid was made to Southend Borough Council for a grant to be made available for a new Sports Hall & Music Centre (following a recent construction of a top quality facility at St Bernards High School for Girls). Permission was granted and the sum of £2.25 million was given to the school for the construction of this new facility. The school began a development appeal to raise a further £475,000 in order to equip the centre with the latest fitness machines and recording studio. This was the largest amount an English High School had hoped to raise in the history of British education. The appeal lasted for 3 years until 2006 when it was closed. The total raised was £376,000; slightly less than expected. Unlike the Sixth Form Centre & Language College (built from prefabricated units in a brick shell), this building was designed by Peter Emptage & Associates and built to last. According to documentation, this building is constructed to last 120 years. Constructed in a steel frame and finished in glass, red brick, aluminium panelling and a beech coloured wood, the new centre boasts a 5 badminton court sports hall, the largest school sports hall in Southend Borough (the only larger indoor hall is that at Garon's Park). This building was completed in 2005 and is now well used; not only by members of the school community but also the wider community in the evenings and at weekends.

Further plans for the school as part of the development appeal included another Art room constructed on top of the old changing rooms in the West End (now careers room & reprographics) and the transformation of L6 from a "British Red Cross store" to a food technology room. Instead, L6 has been changed into a Spanish room, whilst the Art room has not yet come to fruition. Other changes that have occurred as part of the original 3 year plan was the new addition of the Frampton Theatre in place of the old Sports hall, modifications of science rooms and the careers room. The old music department has now become the home of PSHE and a special needs room side of stage right. The side of stage left room has been used as exam desk storage since the music centre has opened and the music office was moved. For many years, the under stage area was used as a music classroom/music rehearsal room/storage room. Since 2004 it was used to store a vast number of organ pipes with the view that the school organ would be extended. However, funds have also been dropped from this area and hence it has now been cleared (as of Christmas 2007) and is now used as a maintenance office / workshop for the premises department at school.

[edit] House system

Students at Southend High School for Boys are split into four houses; Athens, Tuscany (Etruscans), Sparta, and Troy. Competitiveness is actively encouraged between houses as the students contend to win the Cock House Championship.^[4]

[edit] Noted alumni

Media

• Jonathan Clements, author ^[5]

• Brian Gibson, director ^[6]

Music

• Sam Duckworth of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly ^[7]
• Robin Trower and Chris Copping of Procol Harum ^[8]
• Digby Fairweather
• Keith Summers ^[9]
• Viv Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band^{[citation needed]}

Science

• Samuel Soal, parapsychologist
• Bertram Kelly, electrical engineer
• Alan Archer, biochemist

Sport

• John Lloyd, tennis player

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ofsted Report February 2006 (2006-02-02). Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
2. ^ Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables 2006. Department for Education and Skills. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
3. ^ Leading Eddge Partnerships schools list. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
4. ^ House Activities; retrieved on 2008-02-23.
5. ^ Hallissey, Nick. "Sci-fi on the beach", Southend Evening Echo, 2005-03-17. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. 
6. ^ "Brian Gibson (obituary)", Telegraph.co.uk, 2004-01-20. Retrieved on 2008-01-17. 
7. ^ Giles, David. "Caped Crusader", Southend Evening Echo, 2006-08-23. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. 
8. ^ "Robin's whiter shades of nostalgia", The Southend Standard, 2006-09-16. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. 
9. ^ Marsh, Paul (2004-04-02). Keith Summers - An Obituary. Musical Traditions. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.

[edit] External links

• Official website