Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Motto |
Liberae Scholae De Comune Sigilum ("Free School with a Public Seal") |
---|---|
Established |
1327 1571 (Received Royal Charter) |
Type |
Grammar school; Academy |
Headteacher | Heather Payne |
Chair of Governors | Margaret Sergeant |
Founder | Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln |
Location |
West Street Horncastle Lincolnshire LN9 5AD England Coordinates: 53°12′35″N 0°07′19″W / 53.2098°N 0.1219°W |
DfE number | 925/5411 |
DfE URN | 138665 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
Students | 877 pupils |
Gender | Coeducational |
Ages | 11–18 |
Colours | Maroon, navy and black |
Website |
www |
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle is a co-educational grammar school with academy status in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England. In 2009, there were 877 pupils, of whom 271 were in the sixth form.[1]
Although royally chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, there had already been a school in Horncastle for two hundred and fifty years. The original charter document, with its royal seal, remains in the custody of the school's governors.
The school's catchment area includes Horncastle and the surrounding area, Wragby, Bardney and Woodhall Spa to the west, the Lincolnshire Wolds to the north and east, and RAF Coningsby.
History
Foundation
A school is known to have existed in Horncastle as far back as 1327 but records of the present school effectively begin when Queen Elizabeth I granted the charter to establish a grammar school in Horncastle, on the petition of Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln.[2] The School received its seal on 25 June 1571 and the charter document remains in the possession of the present school governors.
Originally, the school was built on a site adjoining the River Bain close to St Mary's Parish Church. It was demolished and rebuilt after the Civil War on the same site, remaining there until the first decade of the 20th century when in 1908 the present dining hall was the first building to be established on the current school site. The summer of 2008 was the school's 100th year on the present site and was duly marked by several centenary celebrations.
Coeducation and expansion
For much of its existence, Queen Elizabeth's was a boys' only day and boarding school. Girls were only admitted for the first time around the late 1900s. Since then the school has continued to expand, with further buildings added as the number on roll has increased. Up to the Education Act of 1944, Queen Elizabeth's had been an independent school. Following the Act the school voluntarily handed over control and finance responsibility to the Local Authority.
Change of status
In the autumn of 1991, the parents voted overwhelmingly for the school to become a self-governing grant maintained school. When grant maintained status was abolished by the new Labour government under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, schools were offered a choice of returning to local authority control or opting for foundation status. Foundation status offered an environment within the education authority but with autonomous school governors controlling admissions criteria and standards for the school, directly hiring and employing the school's staff and holding ownership of the school's estate. This was the route the school selected and Queen Elizabeth's later gained foundation status which allowed a degree of independence from the Local Authority. In 2003, Queen Elizabeth's gained joint specialist status for science and mathematics in partnership with Banovallum School, Horncastle's secondary modern school. A second specialism for modern languages was added in 2008. The school converted to academy status in September 2012 and is now independent of local authority control.
Present day
Ofsted report
The most recent Ofsted inspection took place in January 2009.[1] The inspector described the school as follows:
- Queen Elizabeth's is a good and improving school, highly regarded by the local community. Its capacity to sustain improvement in the future is also good. The school's specialism in science and mathematics is strongly felt, not only in the enhanced resources and rising levels of attainment in these subjects, but also in excellent collaborative work with other secondary and primary schools. A carefully constructed induction programme involving visits and high quality 'workshop' activities ensure that Year 7 students are fully prepared for the challenges of their new school.
Selection
Entry at age eleven is determined by the school's own selection procedures, which remain in line with those operating in other parts of the county. Normally the school commences four forms of pupils annually, representing the top 25% of the catchment area ability range. Continuation to the school's Sixth Form is open to all pupils for whom the school can provide a suitable course of study.
Academic life
The school is made up of three parts:
- Lower School (Years 7, 8 and 9)
- Middle School (Years 10 and 11 - GCSE Years)
- Upper School (the Sixth Form - A Level Years)
Curriculum
The subjects taught at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle are:[3]
- English
- Maths
- Statistics (GCSE only)
- Further Maths
- Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
- Geography
- History
- Technology
- Music
- Art
- Drama
- Media Studies
- ICT
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Business Studies
- Religious Studies / Education
- Geology
- Archaeology
- Sport Studies
- Textiles
- Food Technology
- Product Design
- General Studies
School uniform
School uniform is mandatory for all pupils. For years 7 to 11, this consists of a maroon blazer and maroon/blue/white tie. In the sixth form, boys wear a black blazer and black and gold tie, while girls wear a navy blazer with a navy and silver tie.
School estate
The school consists of the main school building and several outer buildings.
The main building contains 30 classrooms, 4 IT rooms, school offices, a main hall, a sports centre, a sixth form block and a library.
There are several outer buildings including the science, English and music blocks. This contains two music classrooms along with practice rooms, a large drama studio and lighting balcony and 2 art classrooms and a gallery. The new English block contains 4 classrooms and an office
Sports facilities
The facilities at the school are:
- Three football pitches
- Five netball courts
- Nine tennis courts
- Two grass hockey pitches
- One cricket pitch with three outdoor nets
- Athletics track
- Trim track
- Gymnasium including table tennis
- Sports hall
- Four rounders pitches
- Four outdoor table tennis tables
Transport arrangements
A fleet of contract and services buses, organised by the education authority, provides free transport for pupils in the school's catchment area, who live more than three miles from the school. The school is also served by a privately organised service for out of catchment area pupils from the Sibsey and Stickney, Lincolnshire areas to the north of Boston, as well as Lincoln, Lincolnshire and its surrounding area.
Scandals
In 2014 the school experienced a sex scandal when it was discovered that whilst on a school trip that two pupils (both under the age of consent) had sexual intercourse. The event occurred when girls allegedly, unbeknownst to staff as they were sleeping, snook into the "boys only[4]" dormitory. No action was taken by the school authority until pupils began to confer the details of the event with their peers. The decision by the school was to suspend the staff involved with the trip, however the suspensions have since been revoked. The students who committed the act were also suspended. Parents of the pupils who attended the trip received letters from the school.
The school was met with dismay from the parents with one explaining "“I am worried about letting my children go on trips and I know some other parents feel the same.”
A pupil also added “It’s no big secret. It (sex) has gone on on other trips.[5]”
Outcome
On 21 March 2014 a statement was released by David Bennett, Chair of Governors that stated:
" The school takes the welfare and well-being of all its pupils very seriously; it remains a priority whether they are on site or away on trips or visits.
All educational visits are thoroughly risk assessed and, where any risk is identified, steps are put in place to minimise it.
In dealing with the issue which arose on a recent school trip, the school acted quickly, responsibly and carried out a full investigation.
I am happy this was dealt with in an appropriate and proportionate way.
We remain very grateful for the support we have received from parents and pupils following recent coverage in a local newspaper.
Although this issue was distressing for all concerned, we look forward to school life returning to normal for the benefit of all our pupils.[6]”
Sporting achievement
- Pupils represented county and higher level in sports such as cricket, hockey, tennis, football and squash.
- Many of the schools sports team won county competitions and went on to national level.
- Several teams played sports in other countries.
Notable former pupils
- Colin Bailey, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police 1995-2000
- Boothby Graffoe, Radio 4 comedian
- Mark Kent, UK Ambassador to Vietnam 2008-2010
- Alfred Lodge (1854-1937),[7] professor; mathematician and former head boy; President of the Mathematical Association from 1897–98; brother of physicist Oliver Lodge
- Henry Simpson Lunn, founder of the Lunn Poly travel agents
- The Reverend Jonnie Parkin, former Chaplain of Leicester Cathedral, now Team Vicar of Great Bowden, Leicestershire
- Ben Pridmore, World Memory Champion 2004, 2008 and 2009[8]
- Abigail Tarttelin, actress, writer and novelist
- Arthur Thistlewood: British conspirator in the Cato Street Conspiracy
- Robert Webb, actor and comedian, known for Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look[9]
- Amy Ward (Stage name Amy Alexandra), glamour model and Big Brother 8 contestant. Now the 'face' of Television X
- Dan Judson, former presenter with the Lincs FM Group including Lincs FM and Compass FM. Now working in Gibraltar with BFBS.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Ofsted report" (PDF). Ofsted. January 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ↑ "Horncastle". Genuki. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ "QEGS Prospectus 2013" (PDF). QEGS. 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ↑ "Grammar school governors in Horncastle respond to claims of underage sex on school trip". Lincolnshire Echo. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "Parents shocked by school sex scandal". Horncastle News. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Statement from QEGS Governors following ‘sex scandal’ story". Horncastle News. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "Prof. Alfred Lodge". Nature. Nature Publishing Group. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ↑ Memory Champion's secrets, BBC News, 7 April 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2011
- ↑ "Comedy Star Goes Back to School". Horncastle News. 14 April 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
External links
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle: school website
- Ofsted page for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
- League tables 2005