Ryeish Green School
Encyclopedia
Ryeish Green School was a comprehensive
secondary school
located in the hamlet of Ryeish Green
, near Spencers Wood
in Reading
, Berkshire
. Their mission statement is to Build a community spirit where all have a sense of belonging and self worth is valued.
was Mr Reeley.
After World War II
, the school modernised, expanded and amalgamated with a school in Spencers Wood (what is now the village library) to become a senior school.
The official reason for the closure is falling student numbers (caused in part by the constant speculation of closure) which were down from 904 in 2002 to 746 in 2006. However it is suspected that Wokingham Borough Council does not want to provide a school so close to the borough's boundary and wants to develop the site.
In 2007 the decision to close it was upheld. The school is appealing the decision.
If the school is closed, there is controversy about where the pupils will go. It is believed that the nearby Madjeski Academy will take some pupils, but most will have to be taken in by other schools in the area. This is causing discontent throughout the area, so officially, the Ryeish Green catchment area
will be part of The Bulmershe School
, although it is unclear whether this will remain tenable.
If the school were to stay, it would be ideally placed for the many new housing developments in the area. Likewise, if it were to go, it would be a prime location for development of another housing estate or a supermarket.
In 2007, an independent candidate stood in the local council elections running on a Save Ryeish Green School ticket. Although both Labour
and Liberal
candidates stood down in favour of him, he fell a few votes short of the Tory
candidate who is in favour of closing the school.
They have got the Go-ahead with transforming Ryeish Green into a free school and the West of Wokingham group are all set to open the school in September 2012 in the name of Oakbank.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in the hamlet of Ryeish Green
Ryeish Green
Ryeish Green is a small hamlet in the civil parish of Shinfield, Berkshire, England, 4 miles south of Reading. It is located next to Spencers Wood and sometimes considered a part of that village....
, near Spencers Wood
Spencers Wood
Spencers Wood is a village in the civil parish of Shinfield, Berkshire, England, south of Reading. The village of Three Mile Cross adjoins it to the north. To the west lies the village of Grazeley.-History:...
in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. Their mission statement is to Build a community spirit where all have a sense of belonging and self worth is valued.
History
Ryeish Green School was originally called Three Mile Cross Primary School when it was built in 1911. It originally taught pupils aged 5 to 14 years. Its first headmasterHead teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
was Mr Reeley.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the school modernised, expanded and amalgamated with a school in Spencers Wood (what is now the village library) to become a senior school.
Closure
Ryeish Green was closed in 2010. Wokingham Borough Council has tried a number of times to close the school and its latest attempt has been met with success.The official reason for the closure is falling student numbers (caused in part by the constant speculation of closure) which were down from 904 in 2002 to 746 in 2006. However it is suspected that Wokingham Borough Council does not want to provide a school so close to the borough's boundary and wants to develop the site.
"Ryeish Green was the most improved secondary school in the area" |
| Frank Browne, Wokingham District Council leader who is a supporter of the school's closure |
If the school is closed, there is controversy about where the pupils will go. It is believed that the nearby Madjeski Academy will take some pupils, but most will have to be taken in by other schools in the area. This is causing discontent throughout the area, so officially, the Ryeish Green catchment area
Catchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
will be part of The Bulmershe School
The Bulmershe School
The Bulmershe School is a mixed-sex comprehensive school located in Woodley, Berkshire, England, which first opened in 1964 as a grammar school. It caters for children of all abilities between the ages of 11 and 18...
, although it is unclear whether this will remain tenable.
If the school were to stay, it would be ideally placed for the many new housing developments in the area. Likewise, if it were to go, it would be a prime location for development of another housing estate or a supermarket.
In 2007, an independent candidate stood in the local council elections running on a Save Ryeish Green School ticket. Although both Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Liberal
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
candidates stood down in favour of him, he fell a few votes short of the Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate who is in favour of closing the school.
Reopening of the school!Yea!
A number of the parents from Shinfield of those who were affected by the closure got together to form the West of Wokingham Parent Group (WoW), and have been campaigning to turn Ryeish Green into a free school.They have got the Go-ahead with transforming Ryeish Green into a free school and the West of Wokingham group are all set to open the school in September 2012 in the name of Oakbank.
How to Apply for Oakbank
If your child(ren) is now in year 6, 7 or 8, and are interested in getting a placement at Oakbank, you can get a prospectus and (or) application form by clicking here.Special Educational Needs
One of Ryeish Green's most valuable facilities is its Special Educational Needs Centre which provides education to many disabled people throughout the area.Academic results 2007
- 34% achieving Level 2 (5+A*-C) including English and maths GCSEs
- 35% achieving Level 2 in functional English and maths
- 98% achieving Level 1 in functional English and maths
- 38% achieving Level 2 threshold (the equivalent of 5+A*-C)
- 93% achieving Level 1 threshold (the equivalent of 5+A*-G)
- 23% of students at the end of Key Stage 4 who achieved two GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C which cover the Key Stage 4 science programme of study
- 99% achieving at least one entry level qualification
- The average UCAS score per candidate for A/AS-Levels was 445.0
2008 death of student
On the morning of 2 May 2008, Ryeish Green sixth-form student Robert Spence was stabbed in Reading town centre and later died. Robert has "successfully studied a broad range of subjects" according to the headmistress Mrs. Garner. Two men were arrested in connection with the stabbing on 15 May.Awards
- Prince's Trust 2007 S.E.Region Community Impact Award
- Healthy Schools Award 2008
Sport
- In 2008 the Ryeish Green Yr 11 football team was victorious in Reading Schools 2008 tournament at the Madejski StadiumMadejski StadiumThe Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
.