Palmer's College
Encyclopedia
Palmer's College is a sixth form college
for 16 - 19 year olds in Thurrock
, Essex
, England
. With an 'outstanding' Ofsted inspection in 2007, the College was awarded Beacon status in 2008. It offers a wide range of courses including the International Baccalaureate (IB), over 40 A level subjects, and a variety of BTEC, Business Technology and GCSE courses.
(now called South Essex College of Further and Higher Education), next to the A1089 just north of the A126 junction (Marshfoot Interchange). It is close to the boundary between Little Thurrock
(to the west) and Chadwell St Mary. It is administratively in Thurrock and although its postal address is Grays
, it is located in the religious parish of St Mary the Virgin, Little Thurrock.
founded a charity school for 'ten poore children' of the parish of Grays Thurrock, endowing it with valuable property in the town and Lombard Street, in the heart of the City of London. Initially located in a small building inside the churchyard, the school evolved into a boys' school of modest merit. However in response to the changing educational landscape initiated by the 1870 Education Act, the trustees of Palmer's charity re-launched the school on a new site on the hill above the town in 1874. To this a girls' school was added in 1876. As grammar schools both boys' and girls' establishments flourished during the twentieth century, variously referred to as William Palmers' School and the Palmer's Endowed School. William Strang, 1st Baron Strang
, perhaps Palmer's most distinguished alumnus, recalled it in 1905 as 'a modest establishment, modest that is in size and in material equipment, but not at all modest in the opinion which it held of itself'. However, the boys school, which admitted both day pupils and boarders until 1970, achieved the status of a public school, 1931-46, and went on to become a notable centre of sporting and musical activity in south Essex.
In 1971, as part of the reorganisation of education in Essex, the boys' and girls' schools amalgamated, together with Aveley Technical High School, to constitute a sixth form college. During the mid-1970s, the boys' and Aveley schools relocated to the College's present site (until then occupied by the Girls' School alone). The College is still supported by the William Palmer College Education Trust, the direct successor of the trustees William Palmer appointed to administer his charity. Artefacts from the schools' past can be seen in the College library.
The Student Executive are the "voice of the students" within the college; they are responsible for organising many college events. The Student Executive of 2007-2008 raised £4,000 for Little Havens Children’s Hospice while The Student Executive of 2008/9 raised £3,000 for Cancer research UK as well as hosting various social events and fundraising days over the course of the year.
The school has a good record of students attaining places on the prestigious Prime Minister's Global Fellowship programme. The school achieved its first two students in the inaugural year of the programme, 2008. In 2009 it had another successful applicant.
In 2006 Palmer's College celebrated its 300th anniversary and is proud to be able to trace its roots back over 300 years.
concluded 'Palmer’s is an outstanding college'. Student achievement and the standard of work were good and success rates overall 'well above national averages for learners from all backgrounds'. The College was also praised for its retention rates and value-added scores.
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
for 16 - 19 year olds in Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. With an 'outstanding' Ofsted inspection in 2007, the College was awarded Beacon status in 2008. It offers a wide range of courses including the International Baccalaureate (IB), over 40 A level subjects, and a variety of BTEC, Business Technology and GCSE courses.
Location
The college is situated on Chadwell Road (B149) on the opposite (southern) side of the road to the Thurrock and Basildon CollegeThurrock and Basildon College
Thurrock and Basildon College was a further education college in Grays, Essex, England. It was formed by the merger of Thurrock Technical College and Basildon College. The college merged with South East Essex College of Arts and Technology on 1 January 2010 to form South Essex College....
(now called South Essex College of Further and Higher Education), next to the A1089 just north of the A126 junction (Marshfoot Interchange). It is close to the boundary between Little Thurrock
Little Thurrock
Little Thurrock is a ward and Church of England parish in the unitary authority of Thurrock.-Location:Little Thurrock is on the north bank of the river Thames, about east of London...
(to the west) and Chadwell St Mary. It is administratively in Thurrock and although its postal address is Grays
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
, it is located in the religious parish of St Mary the Virgin, Little Thurrock.
History
Palmer's was first opened in 1706 when the merchant William PalmerWilliam Palmer
William Palmer may refer to: *William Palmer , British Olympic athlete* William Palmer , English cricketer*William Palmer , doctor and multiple murderer...
founded a charity school for 'ten poore children' of the parish of Grays Thurrock, endowing it with valuable property in the town and Lombard Street, in the heart of the City of London. Initially located in a small building inside the churchyard, the school evolved into a boys' school of modest merit. However in response to the changing educational landscape initiated by the 1870 Education Act, the trustees of Palmer's charity re-launched the school on a new site on the hill above the town in 1874. To this a girls' school was added in 1876. As grammar schools both boys' and girls' establishments flourished during the twentieth century, variously referred to as William Palmers' School and the Palmer's Endowed School. William Strang, 1st Baron Strang
William Strang, 1st Baron Strang
William Strang, 1st Baron Strang, GCMG, KCB, MBE was a British diplomat who served as a leading adviser to the British Government from the 1930s to the 1950s and as Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1949 to 1953....
, perhaps Palmer's most distinguished alumnus, recalled it in 1905 as 'a modest establishment, modest that is in size and in material equipment, but not at all modest in the opinion which it held of itself'. However, the boys school, which admitted both day pupils and boarders until 1970, achieved the status of a public school, 1931-46, and went on to become a notable centre of sporting and musical activity in south Essex.
In 1971, as part of the reorganisation of education in Essex, the boys' and girls' schools amalgamated, together with Aveley Technical High School, to constitute a sixth form college. During the mid-1970s, the boys' and Aveley schools relocated to the College's present site (until then occupied by the Girls' School alone). The College is still supported by the William Palmer College Education Trust, the direct successor of the trustees William Palmer appointed to administer his charity. Artefacts from the schools' past can be seen in the College library.
The College Today
2008 saw a record number of students applying to the College with over 2000 students enrolling. The College is equipped with modern teaching facilities set in beautiful grounds. Both students and the general public have access to a newly refurbished sports and fitness centre (including gym), and Palmer's hosts a variety of events for children from local schools on its playing fields.The Student Executive are the "voice of the students" within the college; they are responsible for organising many college events. The Student Executive of 2007-2008 raised £4,000 for Little Havens Children’s Hospice while The Student Executive of 2008/9 raised £3,000 for Cancer research UK as well as hosting various social events and fundraising days over the course of the year.
The school has a good record of students attaining places on the prestigious Prime Minister's Global Fellowship programme. The school achieved its first two students in the inaugural year of the programme, 2008. In 2009 it had another successful applicant.
In 2006 Palmer's College celebrated its 300th anniversary and is proud to be able to trace its roots back over 300 years.
Academic performance
It gets A level results slightly under the England average, which is the best in Thurrock LEA. However there are only two places in the LEA that sit A levels. Most sixth form colleges in England typically do much better, though this is without taking into account variations in the character of their catchment areas.2007 Ofsted Report
A 2007 inspection by OFSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
concluded 'Palmer’s is an outstanding college'. Student achievement and the standard of work were good and success rates overall 'well above national averages for learners from all backgrounds'. The College was also praised for its retention rates and value-added scores.
The Mission Statement
Palmer's College is committed to serve its community through excellent teaching and support for all students. the College aims to ensure that, in their pursuit of learning, students are enthusiastically engaged and successful in the achievement of their goals. It aims to widen their aspirations to take full advantage of a more globalised inter-dependent world.Old Palmerians' Association
Past members of the college may join the Old Palmerians' Association which holds a variety of events and allows past pupils to keep in touch with the College. In 2007, the Association published 300 Years of Palmer's - a miscellany of record and reminiscence.Palmer's Grammar School for Boys
- Malcolm Argent CBE, Chairman from 1996-8 of National Air Traffic ServicesNational Air Traffic ServicesNATS Ltd. is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK Flight Information Regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to fifteen UK airports and Gibraltar...
- Sir Roger Bone KCMG, President of Boeing UKBoeing Defence UKBoeing's presence in the United Kingdom is currently made up of a number of Boeing businesses :* Boeing Defence UK* Boeing UK Limited* Aviall* Alteon* Jeppesen* Continental Data Graphics...
since 2005, Ambassador to Brazil from 1999–2004, and to Sweden from 1995-9 - Flight LieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Charles Corder - Malcolm Chase (1957- ), Professor of Social History at the University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
- Christopher Corrigan (1958-), Professor of Asthma, Allergy & Respiratory Science, Guy’s Hospital and King’s College London
- Peter Dines CBE, Chief Executive from 1988–93 of Schools Councils UK
- Maurice Dixson, Executive Chairman of Cranfield Aerospace since 2003 and Chief Executive from 1987-8 of Royal OrdnanceRoyal OrdnanceRoyal Ordnance plc was formed on 2 January 1985 as a public corporation, owning the majority of what until then were the remaining United Kingdom government-owned Royal Ordnance Factories which manufactured explosives, ammunition, small arms including the Lee-Enfield rifle, guns and military...
- Peter Holwell, Principal of the University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
from 1985–97 - Guy HolmesGuy HolmesGuy Gorham Holmes was an English footballer who represented Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Holmes played amateur football for Ilford.-References:...
(1905-1967), England footballer - Prof Geoffrey Thorndike MartinGeoffrey Thorndike MartinGeoffrey Thorndike Martin is an egyptologist, Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology Emeritus, University College, London, Joint Field Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project and fellow commoner of Christ's College, Cambridge.-Biography:Martin was born in London. He attended...
, Edwards Professor of EgyptologyEdwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and PhilologyThe Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology is a university professorial chair held at University College London.-History:The Chair was founded on the death of Amelia Edwards of the Egyptian Exploration Fund in 1892, who bequeathing her collection of Egyptian antiquities to...
from 1988–93 at UCLUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London... - Jeremy Fell MathewsJeremy Fell MathewsJeremy Fell Mathews, CMG, JP was the last Attorney General of Hong Kong before 1997, He served the post from 1988 to 1997, under the Governorship of Lord Wilson of Tillyorn and the last Governor Christopher Francis Patten.-References:...
CMG, Attorney General of Hong KongSecretary for JusticeThe Secretary for Justice is a member of the Hong Kong Government responsible for prosecutions and legal matters. He or she heads the Department of Justice....
from 1988–97 - Anthony Moore (Anthony Michaels-MooreAnthony Michaels-MooreAnthony Michaels-Moore is an English operatic baritone. After beginning studies in singing in 1981 and attending the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama from 1984-85, his career has focused on the Italian repertoire throughout Europe where, in addition to the standard repertoire, he has sung...
)(1957- ), opera singer - Sir Bryan Nicholson, Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
from 1992–2001 and Chairman of BupaBupaBupa is a large British healthcare organisation, with bases on three continents and more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. It is a private healthcare company, in direct contrast to the UK's National Health Services, which are tax-funded healthcare systems and do not require private...
from 1992–2001 - Prof Norman Palmer CBE, Professor of the Law of Art and Cultural Property from 2001-4, and of Commercial Law from 1991-2001 at University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
- Prof Peter Pharoah, Professor of Public Health from 1979-97 at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
- Robert James Bain Roach, national junior athletes champion (100 yards sprint), 1938; participant in 1946 European Athletics Championships
- Jeremy Round (1957-1989), cookery writer and journalist on the Independent newspaper
- Sansom, Sir George Bailey (1883–1965), diplomat and orientalist
- William StrangWilliam Strang, 1st Baron StrangWilliam Strang, 1st Baron Strang, GCMG, KCB, MBE was a British diplomat who served as a leading adviser to the British Government from the 1930s to the 1950s and as Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1949 to 1953....
, first Baron Strang (1893–1978), diplomat - Richard Tallboys CMG OBE, Ambassador to Vietnam from 1985-7, and Chief Executive of the World Coal Institute UKWorld Coal InstituteThe World Coal Institute changed its name to World Coal Association in November 2010.The World Coal Association is a non-profit, non-governmental association, funded by coal enterprises and stakeholders....
from 1988–93 - Prof Peter WadhamsPeter WadhamsPeter Wadhams is professor of Ocean Physics, and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Groupin the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge...
, Professor of Ocean Physics since 2003 at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and Director from 1987-92 of the Scott Polar Research InstituteScott Polar Research InstituteThe Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south of Cambridge .... - Roger WrightsonRoger WrightsonRoger Wilfrid Wrightson was an English cricketer. Wrightson was a left-handed batsman who occasionally fielded as a wicket-keeper....
(1939-1986), Essex cricketer
Palmer's College
- Daniel Clements, Southend Premier League winning captain of Kingswood FC 2009-10
- Vivien Ellis, early music and folk singer (Dufay CollectiveDufay CollectiveThe Dufay Collective is an early-music ensemble from the United Kingdom, specializing in Medieval and Renaissance music. Founded in 1987, it was named after the Renaissance composer Guillaume Dufay. The group is directed by William Lyons...
)
- Jean LambertJean LambertJean Denise Lambert is an English politician, and Member of the European Parliament for the London Region. A member of the Green Party of England and Wales, she has been an MEP since 1999...
Green MEP for LondonLondon (European Parliament constituency)London is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :The constituency corresponds to Greater London, in the south east of the United Kingdom....
since 1999
- Mark-Anthony TurnageMark-Anthony TurnageMark-Anthony Turnage is a prolific English composer of classical music. His initial musical studies were with Oliver Knussen, John Lambert, and later with Gunther Schuller...
(1960- ), composer