City of Portsmouth Boys' School

Coordinates: 50°49′52″N 1°04′16″W / 50.831°N 1.071°W / 50.831; -1.071

City of Portsmouth Boys' School

Motto	A non-catchment school; all boys are welcome
Established	1905 and 1975
Type	Foundation school
Headteacher	Mr Mike Smith
Deputy Headteacher	Mr Dan Ledger
Location	London Road Portsmouth Hampshire PO2 9RJ England
Local authority	Portsmouth
DfE URN	116497 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	Approx. 1000
Gender	Boys
Ages	11–16
Colours	Black and Red
Chairman	Mrs Margaret Bunn
Contact No	023 9269 3521
Website	City of Portsmouth Boys' School

The City of Portsmouth Boys' School, often referred to as CPBS (and locally as City Boys), is a single sex, Foundation and Comprehensive school for boys from the ages of eleven to sixteen in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The school is on London Road in the Portsmouth northern sub district of Hilsea. The current comprehensive school, established in 1975, was the product of an amalgamation of four separate secondary schools in the west of the City of Portsmouth.^[1] In 2003 it achieved the Investors in People award for its specialist subject status.

School information

The school specialises in maths, computing and engineering. The last Ofsted inspection was in 2011, which rated the school as Good, the last before that was in 2008. As of 2003 the school had 840 pupils in attendance. The numbers of pupils enrolled has fallen in the last three years from 966 in 2001.^[2][3]

The current headteacher is Mr Mike Smith. The previous headteacher was Mrs. A Greatorex. The current head of Governors is Mrs Margaret Bunn. The previous head of Governors was Mr Terry Ward. Mr Jim Rowe is vice chair for the school. The City of Portsmouth Boys' partners with Portsmouth Academy for Girls for many activities. The Current deputy headteacher is Mr Dan Ledger.

The school publishes a monthly newsletter.^[4] Academic results are now rising and continuing to improve. The school is also well known around Portsmouth for being highly successful in sports, espiecially rugby, football and athletics. The school has also produced both junior and senior Olympic athletes as well as successful rugby and football players.

History

The City of Portsmouth Boys School has existed in various forms since 1905. The original main campus building consisted of a red brick three floor complex surrounding an inner grass quadrangle or 'quad'. This square complex forms the oldest part of the school today, facing London road. It is currently used for the administration, history and computer departments, as well as the library. In 1944 the school became a technical college, second in the tier of the three school system (above secondary modern status and below Grammar). It was named the Portsmouth Technical High School and retained this title until 1975. Under the tripartite system of the Butler Education Act, the school was expanded beyond the original main square complex.

In 1974 the school switched to the comprehensive system and the school was rebuilt in its present form that exists today.^[5] Until 1984 the school had occupied premises on two sites, the Main Campus off London Road, Hilsea (previously the Technical High School) and the Lower School in Doyle Avenue (previously Hilsea Modern School). The new building, consisting of mainly pre-fabricated materials and glass, more than doubled the size of the school. The original 'quad' building was incorporated into a new glass and concrete complex, that included a five floor tower containing the English and Science departments. Other new buildings included new dining facilities, a new modern sports complex with two Gyms and a new main hall and auditorium (which contains the school's trophies and plaques dating to the school's formation). The technology department was established a few years later and extended away from the school. At this time, the school also developed its own Combined Cadet Force as well as securing land to double the school sports field.

In the mid-1980s the technology department was extended with a new building above for the new school art department. In 1988 the school was again extended. A new music department and a new food technology department were constructed to the side of the 'main' quad building and science tower. After the education act of 1996 the school chose to become a grant maintained status school, investing financial authority in the school governors. In 1999 the school had saved enough money to build a new maths department separate from the main school complex and consisting of eight new classrooms. The old maths department, housed in temporary facilities since the 1950s was demolished.

The school is currently still a comprehensive but recently acquired Foundation status, giving extra grants to science, engineering, maths and technology facilities. The engineering department of the school recently achieved "specialist status", which was funded through a £45,000 donation from BAE Systems to help renovate the classrooms, facilities and computer access.^[6]

Recent additions to the school building include a new security system a fence which encompasses the entire school facility as well as a keycard entrance system for pupils and teachers.

In February 2007, the school hosted a design competition in which a design was chosen for a statue of the Victorian era engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The carbon-coated stainless steel sculpture is currently being built at HMS Sultan in Gosport and was unveiled in March 2013 in St George's Square, Portsea.^[7] The school has also taken part in charity events. A tutor in 2007 donated over £1000 to Cancer Research UK by putting on a charity variety show, named '9DXC and Friends Charity Variety Show'. It involved many teachers and the students of the before mentioned tutor group(9DXC).

In late 2012 and 2013 many exterior elevations of the school were refurbished with new windows added to many of the classrooms.Recent examination results have been very disappointing particularly in Science and Languages. It is clear from governor minutes that the all boy nature of the school is not sustainable in the longer term in view of a falling roll and the Headteacher has said girls should be allowed entry.

Notable former pupils

• Barry Laden MBE FRSA 1977-1983
• JAKAZiD (Joshua McInnes) 1999-2004
• Joe Jackson (musician)
• John Cameron (Auctioneer and TV personality) 1982-1986

External links

• The School's website
• City Boys' Educational League Tables
• Guardian League Table
• Ofsted Reports

References