The Park Community School, Barnstaple
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| Mottoes | Sic Nos Non Nobis |
|---|---|
| Type | Foundation school |
| Headteacher | Gareth Roscoe |
| Location |
Park Lane Barnstaple Devon EX32 9AX England 51°04′10″N 4°03′01″W / 51.06956°N 4.05031°WCoordinates: 51°04′10″N 4°03′01″W / 51.06956°N 4.05031°W |
| Local authority | Devon |
| DfE URN | 113514 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1,440 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Houses | Kingsley , Drake , Raleigh , Fortescue , Chichester |
| Website | The Park School |
The Park Community School is a mixed 11–16 state comprehensive school in Barnstaple, Devon, England. It is maintained by Devon County Council.
History and houses
It was founded in 1910 as Barnstaple Grammar School,[1] educating the youth of much of North Devon. The school's name was changed to The Park School in 1973 when the school became a comprehensive. From 2002 to 2003 the school underwent extensive remodelling with a new maths and science building linking the old North and South Buildings, and a new food hall was also built whilst many of the old classrooms were redesigned and refurbished.
The school used to consist of four houses, each of which was named after a prominent person from Devon: Sir Francis Drake, Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue, Charles Kingsley, and Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1999, owing to the number of pupils attending the school, a fifth house, Chichester, named after Barnstaple born Sir Francis Chichester, was created.
Subjects
The school day begins with a registration period either in a tutor room or assembly and then is divided into six 50 minutes lessons. After the first two lessons there is a twenty-minute break that is followed – after lesson four – with a lunch break.
The school used to specialise in teaching technical subjects, and students are able to take small classes in subjects, including food, electronics, product design, graphics and textiles.
The vast majority of the school's 1,440 pupils progress to further study at Petroc College. formerly called North Devon College in Sticklepath, Barnstaple.
Trips
A wide variety of trips are on offer at Park school. Some examples:
- Year seven residential to Torquay.
- Triple science trip to Alton Towers.
- Gifted and talented trips for particular subjects.
- Annual ski trip open to all years.
- End of year activity days.
- Year ten Bude residential.
(see Park website for images.)
Prefects
Each house has its own head prefects, sports prefect and charity prefects.
Learning mentors
The school has a team of learning mentors (academic and pastoral) who work with specific students to enrich and improve their time at the school.
