Gloucester School
 Gloucester School, Hohne | |
| Established | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2015 |
| Type | SCE school |
| Acting Head | Mrs M Strong BA (Hons) |
| Chair of Governors | Col A Reynolds |
| Location |
Hohne Lower Saxony BFPO 30 Germany |
| Local authority | SCE |
| DfE URN | 132380 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Staff | ~39[1] |
| Students | ~490 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | yes |
| Colours |
black and white (uniform); navy or sky blue (sport) |
| Website |
www |
Gloucester School was a British military secondary school in Hohne, Germany. It was one of four secondary schools operated by the Service Children's Education in support of British Forces Germany in the post-Cold War period. It served children of military personnel and civilian employees of Bergen-Hohne Garrison with its stations at Fallingbostel, Celle and Hohne (near Bergen). It was a day school only, with no boarding facilities.
History
The original school was opened in 1962 in what had become the Glyn Hughes hospital, a former Wehrmacht hospital on the Bergen-Hohne Training Area.[2] In 1965, however, they moved to a purpose-built school a short distance away in the woods on the Belser Berg ("Belsen Hill") behind Hohne Station.[2] The Glyn Hughes hospital still exists, but is now derelict and occasionally used for FIBUA training by troops.
The old school was demolished in summer 2007 and replaced by the present one built slightly further up the hill. It was opened officially by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester in September 2007.[3]
Following a visit by Gloucester schoolchildren to the then minister-president of Lower Saxony, David McAllister, in Hanover on 28 February 2012, the leader of the state government paid a reciprocal visit to Gloucester School on 6 September 2012.[4]
The school closed in summer 2015 when the British Army left Lower Saxony.
Curriculum
The school followed the National Curriculum and was inspected by Ofsted. All tutor groups were mixed ability. The full range of National Curriculum subjects and Religious Education was offered in key stages 3 and 4 supplemented by a social education programme.
Activities
Gloucester School offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The school had a house system which formed the basis for sporting competitions, and all students were encouraged to participate. The school also took part in inter-school sports within Germany.[5]
After-school activities were offered three times a week including art, dance, drama and various sports. The school also had a fully equipped music centre.[5]
There were annual ski holidays for the upper and lower school organised by the Youth Service. Trips also took place during Activities Week in the summer term to places such as Bremen, Hamburg and Hanover. Other outings included skiing and snowboarding at the nearby Snowdome and camping in the Harz mountains.[5]
Performance
According to the Ofsted inspection in Feb 2011, Gloucester was "a good school with some outstanding features".[6]
Head teachers
- –2009 Mr. A E Pedder BSc, MA
- 2009–2012 Mrs L E Heath BEd (Hons)
- 2013–2015 Mrs M Strong B A (Hons)
Chairmen of the School Governance Committee
- –2009 Col A R Singer
- 2006–2009 Col P A Smith OBE
- 2010–2013 Col P H Eaton MA (Cantab)
- 2013–2015 Col A Reynolds
Emblem
The school emblem was a wild boar, an animal typical of the Lüneburg Heath region in which the school was located.
References
- ↑ Gloucester School Prospectus 2012, Gloucester School, pdf, p. 6.
- 1 2 A Brief History ~ Hohne camp 1936 to present day at www.truppenuebungsplatzbergen.com. Accessed on 30 January 2013.
- ↑ Gloucester School at web.archive.org. Accessed on 30 January 2013.
- ↑ Ministerpräsident David McAllister besucht Gloucester School in Bergen-Hohne at bundespresseportal.de. Accessed on 15 November 2012.
- 1 2 3 Gloucester School Prospectus 2012, Gloucester School, pdf, p. 14.
- ↑ Gloucester School at www.gloucesterschool.de. Accessed on 30 January 2013.