John Kyrle High School
 | |
| Motto | Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1953 |
| Type | Academy |
| Headteacher | Mr Nigel Griffiths BA (Hons.)FRSA, National Leader of Education |
| Location |
Ledbury Road Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 7ET England Coordinates: 51°55′26″N 2°34′41″W / 51.924°N 2.578°W |
| DfE URN | 116975 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1400 (Approx) |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours | |
| Publication | The Prospect |
| Website | The John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre |
John Kyrle High School is a secondary school with academy status situated in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England. It is named after the philanthropist John Kyrle (1637–1724), known as "The Man of Ross".
History
The school site was opened in 1953 and was Herefordshire's first secondary modern school. The Ross-on-Wye Grammar School and secondary modern school (the Overross School) were merged in 1979 to form a single comprehensive school called John Kyrle High School. In August 1979, the Lower School site, the former grammar school, was badly damaged by fire. This site was closed in 1997.
The site where is the school is currently situated is about 15 acres. The building was built during the Second World War and although it was planned for a 500 pupil school it was also planned to be an emergency hospital in case of severe bombings. The main corridors and rooms off it were built in such a way that it could be used as a hospital. The Ross-on-Wye Secondary Modern opened on the site in 1953, although it was intended to be a boys school that could provide support 500 pupils. At this time there were only 14 classrooms, a science room, an art room, two craftrooms, two domestic science rooms, library, two handicraft rooms, gymnasium with changing rooms, entrance and exhibition hall, an assembly hall, administration block, dining room and kitchens.
The cost of the building and grounds to Herefordshire County Council was £122, 250 not including equipment.
Awards
The school has been awarded Technology College status, among other awards for its large investment in Interactive White Boards and a large amount of computer facilities. The school also recently received an ofsted "outstanding" school award in 2008. It became a New Convertor Academy in January 2010 following the Headteacher attending a presentation given by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education in Downing Street.
The school has attained the following awards:
- Language Colleges Status
- Technology College Status
- Vocational School
- Artsmark Gold Award from the Arts Council England
- International School Award 2007-2010
- School Achievements Award from the Department for Education and Skills
- School Curriculum Award
- CharterMark Award for Excellence
- Healthy Schools
- Investor in People Award
- Teaching Awards Winner
- Sport England
- Diana Award
- Governor Mark
Royal visit
On Friday 11 July 2003 Queen Elizabeth II visited the school on her tour of the West Midlands region. She was led around the school by the headteacher, Mr Griffiths, and ended by talking to some of the children about the school.
Main areas on the tour of the school were the refurbished Design and Technology rooms, the ICT Department and the Art Block.
Development
Over the years there has been much work done to the school, including lifts for disabled access to upper floors, refurbishment of the canteen, a Sixth Form Common Room, an astroturf pitch, and most recently a new music block.
For a period in 2007, the school topped the 'Hall of Fame' on the website 'RateMyTeachers.co.uk'
John Kyrle High School also offers many clubs and extra-curricular activities, most of which are sport-related. These usually take place during the lunch break or after school.
Modern foreign languages
John Kyrle High School teaches three main languages, namely French, German and Spanish. French is taught to all in Year Seven, and in Year Eight a second language, German or Spanish, is taken up, depending on the student's choice. It is then the student's choice to continue to do at least one language at GCSE level. The school has been given a Language College status.
School trips
Most of the school's departments organise exchanges and visits for all years, some of which are listed below:
- Geography GCSE and AS/A2 Residential Visit to Nettlecombe Court, Somerset
- Geology AS/A2 Residential Visits to Cumbria, Pembroke & the South Coast
- Foreign Exchange Students Scheme with France (Condé-sur-Noireau) and Germany (Betzdorf)
- Art Trips to galleries
- Kisiki College, Namatumba, Uganda in Year 12/13.
- Year 8 trips to Normandy
- Year 9 trip to Germany
- Year 9 + 10 trip to Spain
- Year 10 GCSE History Northern Europe Trip (Belgium and Trenches)
- Year 12 trip to New York
- Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions & training in Years 9-13.
- Year 7 + 8 trip to Paris
Renowned visitors to the school
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- The Right Honourable Lord Baker of Dorking CH, PC
- The Right Honourable The Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon GCMG, KBE, PC
- Sir John Harvey-Jones RN (Rtd.), MBE
- Mr. Martin Bell OBE (Former MP for Tatton)
- General Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billière KCB, KBE, DSO, MSC, MC & Bar
- Sir Colin Ryley Shepherd (Former MP for Hereford)
- Mr. Paul Keetch (Former MP for Hereford)
- Mr. David Hallam (Former MEP for Herefordshire and Shropshire)
- Mr. Jesse Norman BA (Hons), MA, PhD, (MP For Hereford and Herefordshire South)