The Ashcombe School

The Ashcombe School
Established 1976
Type Comprehensive school, Community school
Headteacher David Blow[1]
Specialism Language
Location Ashcombe Road
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1LY
United Kingdom
DfE URN 125264
Ofsted Reports
Students c. 1500
Gender co-educational
Ages 11–18
Houses 4 (Windsor, Stuart, Tudor, and York)
Colours Navy blue
Website The Ashcombe School

The Ashcombe School is a mixed community comprehensive secondary school in Dorking, England, for children aged 11 to 16 with a sixth form for ages 17 to 19.[1]

Contents

History

The school was established in 1976, by the merger of Dorking High School for Boys and Girls and Mowbray School.[2] Dorking High School was a successor to both Dorking County School and Dorking County Grammar School. Mowbray was a girls school.

Pupils

Pupils range in age from 11 to 18 and the current number on roll is approximately 1600 with a standard admission number of 240 pupils in Year 7, the year of intake.

Each year, approximately 240 pupils join The Ashcombe School from nearly 30 different primary and independent schools. The number of Sixth Form students is approximately 300, including some from other schools.

Curriculum and academic performance

The school curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the school has been noted for its academic success.

The school claims that GCSE results have been consistent over several years with typically 100% gaining 5 A*-G, around 80% gaining 5 A*-C and 70% 5A*-C including Maths and English and over 20 pupils gaining 5 or more A* grades. In addition to A-levels (which are now divided into AS and A2 level courses), the sixth form offers a limited number of GCSEs and GNVQ. In the A-level examinations the average points score per student is consistently around 350pts per student. As a result of these successes, most students are offered university places, including entries to Oxbridge.

Language teaching

The Ashcombe School became a Specialist Language College in September 1998, allowing it to receive additional funding. It was featured in the Independent and the Guardian as a school that teaches Mandarin.[3][4]

Notable alumni

Dorking County Grammar School

The Ashcombe School

References