Pate's Grammar School

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Pate's Grammar School

Motto	Latin: Patebit tum quod Latuit English: That which is hidden shall be revealed
Established	1574
Type	Voluntary aided, selective academy
Headteacher	Russel Ellicott
Founder	Richard Pate
Specialisms	Languages and Science
Location	Princess Elizabeth Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 0HG England Coordinates: 51°54′25″N 2°07′01″W / 51.907°N 2.117°W / 51.907; -2.117
DfE URN	136353 Tables
Ofsted	Reports Pre-academy reports
Staff	87 teaching, 35 support
Students	995
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–18
Houses	Beaufort Gloucester Richmond York
Colours	Black, Grey, White, Red
Publication	Pate's Progress The Grammar School Gazette
Alumni	Old Patesians
Website	www.pates.gloucs.sch.uk

Pate's Grammar School is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school with academy status in the Hesters Way area of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England catering for pupils aged 11 to 18. It was granted Language College status in 2001, is a Beacon school, and in February 2006 was one of the first to be awarded "extra special status" — that is, both Language College and Science College status. The school was founded with a fund bestowed to Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Richard Pate in 1574. The school became co-educational in 1986, when Pate's Grammar School for Girls merged with Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys. In fact, the first female pupils came to the (Boys) Grammar School in 1971/72 to take their A-levels in the 6th form, and vice versa.

In November 2012 Pate's was awarded with State ‘Secondary School of the Year’ by The Sunday Times in their Good Schools Guide.^[1]

Academic achievements

At GCSE level in 2004, 100% of pupils entered earned five A* to C grades,^[2] and the school came twelfth in the BBC table of performance in A-/AS-Level.^[3] Again in 2005, 100% of pupils earned five A* to C grades at GCSE,^[4] and in 2006, 100% of pupils passed in at least seven subjects with grades A* to C.^[5] In 2008, more A* grades were achieved collectively than any other grade put together at GCSE level.

The physics department was recognised as the best in the country in a survey published by The Observer in May 2006.^[6]

In 2012, The Sunday Times ranked Pate's as the fourth best state secondary school in the UK. It was also awarded with State ‘Secondary School of the Year’.^[7]

Sporting achievements

The senior rugby team was coached by ex-England scrum-half Peter Kingston until his retirement in 2009.^{[citation needed]} In 2007 Pate's senior rugby teams completed a season unbeaten for the first time in 21 years.^{[citation needed]}

Community

The school has a school council; the team of pupils and sixth formers from across the school is intended to help the students enjoy their time at Pate's more beneficially and give them a voice in school affairs.

The school competes in the Young Enterprise competition held amongst schools nationwide. In 2007, it reached the national finals for the Make Your Mark Enterprise Challenge held in London.^{[citation needed]} The school was also named as one of the four winners of the annual BBC School's Question Time competition in 2009.^[8]

Pate's is also involved with charity work and has a Charity Committee elected each year; in 2007–08, over £16,000 was raised. The school is situated in a deprived area of Cheltenham and under the headmaster Richard Kemp deprived students were encouraged to apply.

The current headmaster is Russel Ellicott, who took over from Shaun Fenton in September 2012.

Developments

The school raised funds in order to complete new fitness facilities. The £50,000 fitness suite was officially opened by Geoff Hurst in April 2010.

In summer 2012, Pate's Grammar completed the construction of a new refectory, costing £1.75 million. This also involved upgrading the school canteen to a cashless catering system operated by sQuid. It was opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester on 5 October 2012.^[9]

Former Headmasters and Headmistresses