The Westgate School
| Established | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Type | Community comprehensive with boarding school |
| Headteacher | Mr Paul Nicholson |
| Location |
Cheriton Road Winchester Hampshire SO22 5AZ England Coordinates: 51°04′03″N 1°19′50″W / 51.0675°N 1.3306°W |
| Local authority | Hampshire |
| DfE URN | 116407 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1134 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 4–16 |
| Website | Westgate School |
The Westgate School is a comprehensive school in Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
History
The school was founded in the early 1900s as the Winchester County School for Girls, becoming Winchester County High School for Girls (WCHS) in 1936. By the 1970s it had 900 girls.
It had been a grammar school for girls only, until September 1973 when the first intake of comprehensive boys and girls entered the first year. At this point the school was renamed as The Westgate School. Many of the old grammar school teachers left in July 1974 to work in the neighbouring newly established sixth form college, the former Peter Symonds boys' grammar school. The Deputy Head, Miss Barbara Taylor, was one who made the move, but the Headmistress, Miss Muriel Rowe, remained for several more years.
The last grammar school intake left in July 1977, leaving The Westgate School entirely comprehensive and co-ed from then on.
Achievements
In recent years between 75 and 80% of 15-16 year olds have achieved five or more GCSE grades A* to C, 70-80% including Maths and English.[1] According to the BBC league tables, Westgate is one of Hampshire's top state schools.
Notable former pupils
- Andy Burrows (former drummer for the band Razorlight)
- Joe Butterworth (drummer for the band Talanas)
- Lucy Pinder (British glamour model)
- Philippa Forrester (British TV presenter and co-producer)
Winchester County High School for Girls
- Gillian Ashmore (nee Oxenham), Chief Executive from 2001-2 of the Equal Opportunities Commission, and Regional Director from 1994-8 of the Government Office for South East England
- Diane Corner, Deputy Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic since 2014, High Commissioner to Tanzania from 2009-13
- Dame Myra Curtis, Principal from 1942-54 of Newnham College, Cambridge
- Julia Darling, novelist
- Dame Julie Mellor, Chair from 1999-2005 of the Equal Opportunities Commission
- Alex Mitchell (née Beale, 1947–2010), former editor of Christian monthly magazine Third Way
- Winifred Moberly, Principal from 1919-28 of St Hilda's College, Oxford
- Jane Reynolds, Chief Executive from 1991-2000 of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
- Marion Richardson, artist
- Prof Jocelyn Toynbee, Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology from 1951-62 at the University of Cambridge