Aldworth Science College

Aldworth Science College is a secondary school, formerly Richard Aldworth Community School, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. The school holds Specialist Science College status.

Founder

The School takes its name from Richard Aldworth, a wealthy London merchant, whose mother, Jane South, came from a prominent Basingstoke family involved in the wool trade. When he died in December 1646, he left money to Christ's Hospital, where he was a governor and to found and support Blue Coat Schools in Reading and Basingstoke. The School in Basingstoke opened around 1649 and closed in 1896 due to bankruptcy. Its building however survived until 1966 until it was demolished during the redevelopment of the town. Its site in Cross Street is now marked by a statue of a Blue Coat Boy

History and Current News

The school was built in 1963 and when it was opened in September of that year, a stone plaque from the old Blue Coat School building was incorporated in the main entrance. It changed its name from Richard Aldworth School to Aldworth Science College in September 2005.

Due to funding from earning the science status, certain areas of the school have been redeveloped. Major work was carried out over the summer of 2008, including the renovation of the Dartmouth Block. It has been changed so now the middle floor is for the Community to use; the whole block is now easily accessible for disabled students, and the I.T rooms on the bottom floor have been upgraded, so now the rooms can have people from outside the school go in and use the rooms. Lately, in 2011, the top floor computer suites; which were in dire need of replacement, were upgraded. Also, work has started on a new drama studio, which is yet to be finished.

The school was briefly called South Ham Secondary School, I bought a book which was being cleared from the library when I attended the school between 1978-1983, and the library stamp was 'South Ham Secondary School',

Notable alumni

• Robert Steadman, composer