Thomas Tallis School

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Thomas Tallis School is a large mixed comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-19, located in Kidbrooke in the Borough of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The school is a specialist Arts College, Leading Edge School and national School of Creativity.

The School was built in 1971, originally for 850 pupils, but now packs in nearly 1700. It is built on the site of a former RAF airfield. However, the school has now won funding for an entirely new state-of-the-art building, due to open in September 2009.

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[edit] The school and its facilities

Thomas Tallis currently has two main buildings, which are joined together by two 'links'. In between the two buildings is a concourse area, which is where the majority of students congregate before school and at break times. The buildings remain similar to how they were after construction in 1971; however the school has expanded with a series of huts being built around the two main buildings. The huts hold classes, meetings and exams. The school also uses two fields and a caged concrete area for recreational purposes. The main field is located to the left after entering the school, while the other field is behind the school itself. Moreover, in 2004 an obstacle course including climbing facilities was constructed behind one of the school buildings on the opposite side of the school to the main field. The school itself has two gymnasia, several computer labs, a specialised deaf support center and various other on-site facilities.

[edit] The past

Richard Reid, also known as "The Shoe Bomber," attended Tallis.[1] In 1997, one of the school's pupils, fifteen year old Nathan Brown, a member of a triad-style gang called the Golden Snakes, murdered CJ Rickard, 14, a pupil from the neighbouring Kidbrooke School with a 17-inch machete. Six other pupils of the school were jailed for a total of 20 years after admitting conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent.[2]

Others have been much more positively successful. One instance amongst many: a more recent student at Tallis, Dominic Cooper, originated the role of Dakin in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre, going on to play Dakin on tour in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong and on Broadway and in film and radio versions of the piece. The school was filmed for some short cut-scenes projected onto a screen onstage at the National. A former pupil Charley Kazim Uchea was on television as a Big Brother 2007 (UK) contestant. it was for long time

[edit] The present

In 1998, the school was awarded specialist arts college status and has successfully been re-designated twice. Further recognition of its general excellence and high attainment came when the school was awarded Leading Edge status in 2005. This accolade refers to the fact that the school is seen as being involved in the development of innovative teaching methodologies and ways of increasing the attainment of children. Thomas Tallis School has belonged to the Creative Partnerships network of schools since 2005. In May 2008, the school became one of only thirty schools in the country to be awarded the status of School of Creativity. The school is also acknowledged for its Deaf and Hearing unit (to which several rooms are dedicated), in which deaf and hearing impaired students can interact more socially and achieve good results.

The school has also recently been in the news for being involved in TV chef Jamie Oliver's campaign to improve school dinners in Britain. It features in his TV series Jamie's School Dinners - for instance, the students feeling a bit sick as they are shown how a 'Turkey Twizzler' is really made are in one of Tallis's Food classrooms. Since then the menu has changed and a new healthy panini and fair trade cafe has opened.

A text book designed by German publisher Klett uses pictures of the school and, as a consequence, German students frequently contact Thomas Tallis in search of pen pals.

[edit] The future

The school is part of the British government's Pathfinder Building Schools for the Future programme. Building work on a new school adjacent to the current site begins in 2007 with occupancy of the new school scheduled to take place in 2009. Staff and students (as of October 2006) are actively involved with the architects in the design of the new school.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nzerem, Keme (2002-02-28). At School with the Shoe Bomber. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
  2. ^ Cj's Murderer To Appeal Against Sentence. News Shopper (1998-06-20). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.

[edit] External links


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Schools in the London Borough of Greenwich
Primary
Secondary
Abbey Wood School · Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England Secondary School · Crown Woods School · Eltham Green Specialist Sports College · Eltham Hill Technology College for Girls · Greenwich Community College at Plumstead Centre · The John Roan School · Kidbrooke School · Plumstead Manor girls School · Shooters Hill Post-16 Campus · St Pauls Academy · St Thomas Moore Catholic Comprehensive School · St Ursula's Convent School · Thomas Tallis School · Woolich Polytechnic School for Boys
Independent
Belcanto London Academy Theatre School · Bellerbys College · Blackheath High School · Colfe's School · Right Choice Project · Riverston School