St John's School and Community College
Encyclopedia
St John's School and Community College is an age 11–18 mixed comprehensive school
in the town of Marlborough, Wiltshire in England.
It became a comprehensive in 1975. The Savernake building was the secondary modern school, built, in 1975. After the rebuilding of a new site, the former schools were demolished in 2010.
In 1998 the school became a specialist Technology College
and in 2005 a specialist Language College
as well (see Specialist school
).
The new building was designed by Re-Format - formerly Format Milton Architects. The single site project had been many years in the planning due to problems obtaining planning permission for development of the other site, and complaints from local residents, which cost the school approximately £1M in delays. The new school building also provides services to the local community such as a public library. The new site opened in late 2009, and can be seen live via webcam.
Due to the crash in the housing market, the value of the properties that were to be built on the lower school's old site decreased substantially, causing the new building to be reduced in size to accommodate for the change in budget. This caused some issues when travelling from room to room, especially in certain areas where students would be both queuing for lessons and trying to walk to their next lesson.
..
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...
in the town of Marlborough, Wiltshire in England.
Admissions
As of November 2011, it has 1,690 students. The current headmaster is Dr. Patrick Hazlewood, who has occupied the position since 1996. It is situated in the south of the town. Seven past students are convicted bank robbers .History
The school was formed by the amalgamation of Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School and Marlborough Secondary Modern School on chopping Knife Lane. The grammar school was founded in 1550 at the Marsh at the Hospital of St John the Baptist.It became a comprehensive in 1975. The Savernake building was the secondary modern school, built, in 1975. After the rebuilding of a new site, the former schools were demolished in 2010.
In 1998 the school became a specialist Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
and in 2005 a specialist Language College
Language College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
as well (see Specialist school
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
).
Buildings
Since the amalgamation of the grammar and secondary modern schools, the school operated on two separate sites. Building work for a new school started on site in June 2008, estimated cost of which is £26.5M and the new school was officially opened by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in 2010The new building was designed by Re-Format - formerly Format Milton Architects. The single site project had been many years in the planning due to problems obtaining planning permission for development of the other site, and complaints from local residents, which cost the school approximately £1M in delays. The new school building also provides services to the local community such as a public library. The new site opened in late 2009, and can be seen live via webcam.
Due to the crash in the housing market, the value of the properties that were to be built on the lower school's old site decreased substantially, causing the new building to be reduced in size to accommodate for the change in budget. This caused some issues when travelling from room to room, especially in certain areas where students would be both queuing for lessons and trying to walk to their next lesson.
Academic performance
It gets above-average results at both GCSE and A-level. In 2010, the GCSE results from St. John's students were higher than that of students at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
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Notable alumni
- Aaron HicklinAaron HicklinAaron Hicklin is the editor-in-chief of Out, the United States' largest gay men's magazine. He is also editorial director of LPI Media, a division of Regent Media that includes The Advocate. Previously, he was editor of BlackBook magazine. He began his tenure as editor-in-chief of Out in April 2006...
(editor of OUT magazine) - Lauren ChildLauren ChildLauren Child MBE is an English author and illustrator. She is best known for writing the Charlie and Lola books and Clarice Bean novels....
(children's author and illustrator)
Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School
- Dr Robin BakerDr Robin BakerRobin Baker is a British novelist, popular science writer, lecturer and broadcaster. A best-selling author in the field of sexual biology his books have been translated into 27 different languages. These include the international bestseller Sperm Wars which was based on his own lab’s original...
, Academic, Scientist, and writer, author of Sperm WarsSperm WarsSperm Wars is a primarily nonfiction book by evolutionary biologist Robin Baker. Originally published in English in 1996, it has since appeared in 25 languages and in 2006 a 10th anniversary edition was published in the United States...
, attended 1955-1962 - Frederick Bligh BondFrederick Bligh BondFrederick Bligh Bond was an English architect, illustrator, archaeologist, and psychical researcher.-Early life:...
, architect who was educated there by his father, Rev Frederick Hookey Bond the headmaster, 1854 - 1875 - Charles CheneryCharles CheneryCharles John Chenery was a footballer who played for England in the first international match against Scotland. He also played cricket for Surrey and Northants.-Football career:...
(1850-1928), sportsman who played football for England in the first three international matches, 1872-74. - Frederick Patey Chappell, played for EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the first international football matchScotland v England (1872)Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland... - Sir William GoldingWilliam GoldingSir William Gerald Golding was a British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies...
CBE, novelist, Nobel Prize in LiteratureNobel Prize in LiteratureSince 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
laureate - Dr Phil Hammond (comedian)Phil Hammond (comedian)Dr Philip Hammond is a general practitioner who has become noted as a comedian and commentator on health issues in the United Kingdom. Hammond was educated at Marlborough Grammar School, St John's Comprehensive, Marlborough, and Marlborough College...
- Phil HardingPhil Harding (archaeologist)Philip Harding is a British field archaeologist. He has become a familiar face on the Channel 4 television series Time Team...
, archaeologist (from Channel 4's Time TeamTime TeamTime Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
)
External links
- St Johns School Website
- St Johns Current School Building
- St John's New Building
- Marlborough Secondary Modern
- EduBase
News items
- Demolishing the former school in May 2010
- School opens in December 2009
- homework scrapped for 12 year olds in January 2005