Gordano School
 | |
 | |
| Established | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Type | Academy |
| Headteacher | Gary Lewis |
| Specialism | Technology College |
| Location |
St. Mary's Road Portishead North Somerset BS20 7QR England Coordinates: 51°28′31″N 2°46′12″W / 51.4752°N 2.7701°W |
| DfE URN | 136856 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Students | 1,913 as of January 2012 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | 6 |
| Website | www.gordano.n-somerset.sch.uk |
Gordano School is a comprehensive secondary school with academy status located in Portishead, North Somerset, England. In 1999, the school was awarded Specialist schools Technology College status.[1] Gordano School has 1,913 students aged 11 to 18 as of January 2012.[2]
History
The school was originally proposed in 1937, with a projected cost of £27,000. However, the project was cancelled due to the Second World War.[3] New plans were drawn in 1952, and excavation of the site started in 1954. During excavations, the skeleton of an Iron Age man was found, who was nicknamed Septimus because he was discovered on the seventh day of the seventh month.[4] Roman building remains were also found in the grounds[5] before the school opened on 17 September 1956, with 300 pupils, 18 teachers, and 12 classrooms.
The official opening took place on 12 July 1957.[3] The school had cost £146,000 and still needed work to the playing fields. By September of that year, pupil numbers had increased to 500 and councillors were demanding more classrooms. The increase was attributed to the "post-war bulge". In 1965, £209,000 was allocated for new buildings.[3] The education department forecast the school numbers would treble by 1975. In 1994, an astroturf sports playing surface was laid at a cost of £260,000. Numbers had grown to 1,589 students and 88 teachers.[3]
Since 2000 the school has undergone a £9,500,000 re-development, adding a new hall incorporating a drama room. Included in the building work was a new maths and social sciences block, music block extension, new science and technology classrooms, and a canteen extension. The Sixth Form Centre also underwent renovation. The new buildings were officially opened in December 2006. In November 2007 Gordano School became a Foundation School. Technology College status was redesignated in October 2007.
The school is also home to Gordano Valley Church[6] as well as many local clubs and societies including the successful Portishead town band which rehearses regularly on the site.[7]
In December 2009, it was announced that headteacher Graham Silverthorne was leaving at the end of the academic year to take up a new post in Hong Kong.[8] Gary Lewis became the new headteacher in August 2010.
The school has since had a new English block built and old science classrooms and common room regenerated into science labs and lecture style classrooms (finished summer 2011). This will also result in subject departments moving to different locations around the school. Additionally,in July 2011, the school secured a £2,000,000 grant from the YPLA to extend and redevelop the existing Sixth Form facilities. The bid was supported by Dr Liam Fox, the local MP. The new Sixth Form building is called the 'Learning Curve' and was opened by Liam Fox on 20 September.
Awards
The school has gained the following awards:
- Training School[1]
- Arts Mark
- Technology College[1]
- Sport England
- Investors in People
- A Leading Edge School[1]
- European Award for Languages
Houses
Gordano School is divided into six houses which were previously named after the house heads' surname – now each is named after shipping areas around the UK:
- Lundy (Formerly Old Man Berridge)
- Fitzroy (Formerly Smith)
- Portland (Formerly Prevett)
- Cromarty (Formerly Mckay)
- Shannon (Formerly Stanley)
- Biscay (Formerly Offer)
Prime Minister's Global Fellowship
The school had its first student attain a place on the Prime Minister's Global Fellowship programme in 2009.[9]
Notable alumni
- Geoff Barrow of the band Portishead.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Gordano School". Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Establishment: Gordano School". EduBase. Department for Education. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "History". Gordano School. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Obituaries". Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Portishead History". Portishead People. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Gordano valley Church". Gordano Valley Church. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Video: Horny pair given their marching orders at office party". Bristol Evening Post. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Best A-level results in school's history make perfect send-off for head teacher". Bristol Evening Post. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ British Council website "Fellows" accessed 10 November 2009.
- ↑ "News". Portishead. Retrieved 24 March 2010.