| Motto |
Latin Nil Sine Labore (Nothing without effort) |
|---|---|
| Established | Leased 1873 (existed prior) |
| Type | Comprehensive |
| Religion | Non-denominational |
| Head Teacher | Ms Rosemary Leeke |
| Deputy Heads | Mr Pete Bains, Mr Shahid Deen |
| Chair | Ms Jill Hoffbrand |
| Specialism | Performing Arts |
| Location | Charrington Street Somers Town London NW1 1RG England |
| Local authority | Camden |
| DfE URN | 100051 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 832 (2010-11)[1] |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours |
Light blue Navy Orange (sixth form) |
| Publication | Mosaic, Artisan |
| Affiliations | SSAT, Reed Group, IiP, Camden Consortium, Eco-Schools |
| Replaced | Sir William Collins Secondary School (for Boys) (1951-93) |
| Website | sccs.camden.sch.uk |
South Camden Community School (SCCS) is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school in Somers Town, in the London Borough of Camden, England. Formerly from 1951 it was known as Sir William Collins Secondary School for boys only. As at 2011 the school is involved in an extensive rebuilding and refurbishment programme which will be completed in 2013. The school's accreditations include Healthy Schools, Sportmark, Leading Parent Partnership award and International Schools status.[1] The last Ofsted inspection publish in July 2011 rated the school as 'satisfactory'.[1]
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SCCS has about 1,100 students aged 11–16 in the main school and 200 students aged 16–18 in the sixth form. In May 2008 there were plans to expand the school by two streams of about 30 pupils in each year.
The Governing Body consists of elected staff and parents, appointed members from the Education Authority, a Clerk to the Governors, co-opted members from the community, and ex-officio, the Head Teacher.
The school has several Deputy and Assistant Heads and each student age-group also has a Head of Year. The school is divided into departments with some subjects, Humanities, English and Science, called "Faculties". Many sixth formers go on to universities in London.
Plans for redevelopment of SCCS were announced in January 2010. The incoming Conservative-LibDem coalition Government gave it the go-ahead on 6 August 2010[2][3][4].
SCCS students are from a variety of religious, economic, and linguistic backgrounds. The school offers GCSE courses in languages from Bengali to Dutch. The school also puts emphasis on drama and the arts. Drama productions are ambitious, and have included productions such as A Clockwork Orange.
The school dates from 1873, when the London School Board leased the site, although a school had existed there before. The new school was completed and opened in 1877, as "Medburn Street School". In 1904, it was renamed the "Stanley School", reversed in 1910 to avoid confusion with another nearby Stanley School. It originally took children up to age eleven, later extended to older pupils.
After 1938,[5] following various reorganisations, the school only took students older than eleven. In 1951 it merged with part of the North London Polytechnic school for pupils over age 11, based in Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, and became "Sir William Collins School" taking boys only. It was named after Sir William Job Collins[6][7]. Collins (9 May 1859 - 12 December 1946) was born in London and educated at University College School, and St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He became a Fellow, Scholar and gold medallist in Sanitary Science and in Obstetrics at the University of London and received Honours in Physiology, Forensic Medicine and Surgery. During his career Collins was also involved in many aspects of anatomy and ophthalmology, receiving the Doyne Ophthalmic Medal for the latter from the University of Oxford in 1918. He was knighted in 1902. He was also Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, 1907-1909, 1911-12, and a member of the University Senate, 1893-1927. He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Vaccination, 1889-1896; Liberal Member of Parliament for St Pancras West 1906-1910, and for Derby, 1917-18; London County Councillor for St. Pancras West, 1892-1904; and Vice-Lieutenant of the County of London, 1925-1945.
The school added "Secondary" to its title around 1960 when it became a comprehensive school, still for boys only.[8] This was part of the London County Council policy at the time for all inner London schools. It became co-educational in 1981 and then became "South Camden Community School" in 1993.
The original Victorian school buildings were located between Chalton Street and Medburn Street; Medburn Street was used as the address. Medburn Street was demolished when, between 1958 and 1961, the London County Council extended the site and buildings to Charrington Street. Charrington Street became the new address with the school offices located on that side. The new extensions were officially opened in October 1961 by the eminent engineer Sir Willis Jackson (later Lord Jackson of Burnley). The extensions had, however, already been partially occupied in 1960 out of necessity with the large expansion of pupils, to approximately 1,100 at the time, which made it one of the largest schools in inner London. A portrait of Sir William Collins hung in the new main entrance during the 1960s.
The site for the new extension was about 5 acres (20,000 m2). The cost at the time was £375,000, and a further £36,500 with furniture and equipment. The architect was Mr William Crabtree, FRIBA and the general contractor Gee, Walker & Slater Ltd. The design was of interconnected quadrangles with as many rooms looking inwards as possible. Crabtree's other work in London included the famous Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square, Chelsea, a Grade II listed building. Crabtree also worked on the John Lewis Department Store in Oxford Street, London, another outstanding building[9].
The 2001 Ofsted report:[10] notes that the school had a multicultural intake, with many pupils of Bangladeshi or Somali origin. The report says that almost 80% of pupils spoke English as an additional language and the number of pupils entitled to free school meals, often used as an indicator of social deprivation, was well above the national average. The report adds that the proportion of lower attaining pupils joining the school was much greater than the national average; that in all year groups, there were significantly more boys than girls and that pupil attendance was below average.
However, the report concluded that the school met its pupils' needs "very effectively". GCSE results, although below the national average were higher than expected given pupils' low attainment on joining the school and improving above the national average. Teaching was recorded as "good" and the school had "very many more strengths than weaknesses".
In 2006, the proportion of students meeting the national target at GCSE level (which is 5 passes at Grade A* to C, to include English and Mathematics) was 30%, against a Camden Borough average of 45.7% and a national average of 45.8%.[11]
An October 2007 Ofsted report,[12] said that the school was "satisfactory" overall and that "personal development and well-being" was "good". No aspects of the school were described as "unsatisfactory" or "outstanding". The report said that SCCS should raise students' achievement at Key Stage 3; develop teachers' practice across the school so that a greater proportion of teaching is good and meets the individual needs of students more closely; and develop the work of middle leaders so that their practice is effective across the school.
The school uniform is compulsory for students who are not in the sixth form. It includes a light-blue polo shirt embroidered with the school logo, a navy-blue school sweatshirt or fleece embroidered with the school logo, black trousers or, for girls, a plain black skirt or navy-blue shalwar kameez and black shoes or black trainers. Girls may wear a plain navy, black, or white headscarf for religious reasons. Sanctions for not wearing the correct uniform vary from a detention, sending the offender home to change or occasionally more serious action involving the offender's parents or guardian.
Most of the uniform can only be purchased from the school[13]. Neither the OFT's 2006 inquiry[14] into the cost of school uniform nationally nor the OFT's subsequent statement[15] have changed this.
SCCS uses as sysytem known as Behaviour for Learning (BfL) around the school. BfL incorporates both sanctions for misbehavior and rewards for good behavior. The following is a simplified version of the BfL system of sanctions used at SCCS[16]—it uses different orders of consequence (C):
Students are rewarded for good behavior with a "commendation". All commendations given are recorded on the school's computer server. As an incentive, receiving more than a certain number of commendations warrants a prize; often this includes an invitation to a special school trip, a certificate, or vouchers. For exceptional contribution to the school or the community, students are given the Jack Petchey Award. Only a handful have been given so far.[17]
SCCS produces two official school magazines[18]. Both are produced in full color, featuring photographs of recent school events. As such, they are expensive to produce and hence new editions are typically published and circulated in tutor groups only once each term. Mosaic is a general magazine with information about school events. It covers school trips, clubs, and the SCCS School Council. The Headmistress contributes an article for the front page. Mosaic is in addition to normal regular newsletters, which tend to cover specific issues, and is oriented more towards students rather than home. The School Council is involved in its production and material is usually from students, rather than staff, as previously. The School Council may create a student Mosaic committee to produce and edit the magazine. Artisan is about the school's status as a Specialist Arts College. It provides information on Drama, Art, and Music at SCCS, including school plays and other artistic projects. Artisan usually includes comments from members of the SCCS Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts. The historical original school magazine first produced in the early 1960s was called Phœnix after the schools logo at the time. The cover for the 1968 edition shown was by George Olid of form 6U (an expanded sixth form from 1963 was split into upper ('A' level year 2), middle ('A' level year 1) and lower (GCE O level retakes) streams. The editors in 1968 were G Steward (an English teacher) and C S Warren (Art - see SCCS people).
SCCS School Council is an organisation of students who attempt to voice the opinions of their peers and ensure staff–student cooperation.[19] The Council is recognized and backed by the school's management and receives a moderate yearly budget.
The Council is two-tiered: five Year Councils (one for each age group) and one whole-school Council, known formally as the Main School Council. Evidence suggests that the School Council's importance and influence is growing, particularly as meetings become more frequent. The Headmistress now attends nearly all meetings held by the Main School Council. The Council has student representatives on the Board of Governors and the Council has financial backing to the value of several thousand pounds.
The School Council is overseen by a staff member, known as the Council Administrator, who deals with logistics and who attends meetings mainly in an advisory capacity. Likewise, the Council has no "President" or leader. Arguably, the only existing role resembling a School Council President is that of Senior Chairperson; however, despite being an influential Council figurehead, the Senior Chairperson is not allowed to vote on Main School Council motions and therefore lacks any decision-making authority.
SCCS has a relatively active Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The SCCS PTA meets occasionally and any parent or guardian of an SCCS student is welcome to attend.