Misbourne School

The Misbourne

Motto	Success Through Learning
Established	1956
Type	Secondary modern community school
Headteacher	Mr Robert Preston BA,MEd(Oxon)
Chair of Governors	Katherine Edgar
Specialism	Arts and Technology[1]
Location	Misbourne Drive Great Missenden Buckinghamshire HP16 0BN England Coordinates: 51°41′55″N 0°42′17″W / 51.6985°N 0.7046°W / 51.6985; -0.7046
Local authority	Buckinghamshire
DfE URN	110490 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	910 [1]
Gender	Co-educational
Ages	11–18
Colours	Cherry Red and Navy Blue
Website	www.misbourne.bucks.sch.uk

The Misbourne is a co-educational secondary school in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. It is a community school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18. The school has approximately 910 pupils.^[1]

Ofsted Report April 2013

In its most recent report of November 2013 The Misbourne was rated as good in all four judgements. Ofsted reported that the school's achievement "is good and rising rapidly". Behaviour and safety "of students and their attitudes to learning are extremely good. Teaching "is good overall with some that is outstanding". Leaders and managers "are ambitious for the school’s future and set demanding targets".^[2] Headteacher Robert Preston said "We are never complacent at The Misbourne and as the report states, we have detailed plans for making our school even better, with a clear vision for the future, and the school sets itself very demanding targets. I am delighted to read so many positive comments, moreover, the support of students, staff and parents is testament to the fact that The Misbourne continues to aspire to provide the very best education for all our students. I am very proud to lead the school".

Academic Performance

The Misbourne is building a strong local reputation for academic achievement improving its 5 A*-C GCSE performance from 72% in 2011.^[3] to 84% in 2012, placing the school in the top four upper schools in Buckinghamshire, to its highest ever result of 88% in 2013.^[4] In the sixth form, 99% of A level exams were passed, with 76% at A*-C and 41% A*-B.^[5]

Sixth Form

The Misbourne has a large sixth form of around 200 students. The Misbourne offers A-Levels as well as BTECs. Sixth formers have access to their own private study area and ICT suite.

The Misbourne Sixth Form has always been a strong element of the school's performance "The sixth form is good. Students’ attainment at both AS and A2 levels is improving. Sixth formers make good progress in their work related courses" Ofsted Report April 2013.^[6]

Facilities

The Misbourne has secured more than £3 million for building projects

The Misbourne has been successful in securing £3 million investment to improve buildings. This award has been agreed by the local authority in recognition of the Misbourne’s continuing success and will be used to replace some of the old terrapin buildings with permanent structures. The result will be more functional and aesthetically pleasing than the current temporary accommodation, and remain within the current building footprint of the site. Building is due to begin in May 2014.

In addition, the active Student Council has been very persuasive in its presentations identifying the toilets as an area for refurbishment. As a result the school has been awarded a further £250,000 for this project.

Partly as a result of the school's specialist statuses in Arts and Technology, the school has several ICT rooms with computers for student use. In addition, there is a printing room where photographs can be processed and produced. Students also have access to computer aided design software (CAD).

The school canteen functions as a cafe, operated by a third party company. The school also has tennis courts and large playing fields.

The school's Performing Arts block was opened in 2004, in memory of former headmaster David Selman. It provies small practise rooms for private music lessons and student use. The classrooms are all equipped with Casio keyboards. There is a dance studio and a recording studio equipped with music editing software.

Specialist Status

In September 2006 the Misbourne was awarded specialist school statuses in both Arts and Technology.^[1]

History

The Misbourne was the first purpose-built secondary modern school in the country.^[7] The first pupils started at the school on 19 December 1955, although it did not officially open until 20 January 1956. Originally there were only twenty-five students.^[8]

The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005/6. The celebrations culminated in a Jubilee summer fête in June 2006 which was attended by Cherie Blair.^[9]

The Misbourne School was the friendliest school in Britain in 2005, according to a report from Friends Reunited.^[10][11]

The Misbourne celebrated the first MizFest on 9 July 2012 students took part in music and drama performances, a fashion show, workshops for all ages - including fashion, cake baking, trampolining and Taiko drumming - and there was also a performance by the community choir.^[12]

Notable alumni

• James Corden, actor ^[13]
• Jennifer Higham, actor
• Alex Kew, actor
• Alice Connor, actor
• Martin Lister, Appeared in Dreams of a Life^[14]

References

External links

• Department for Education Performance Tables 2011