Woodlands School, Essex

Woodlands School is a specialist school in performing arts. The current head teacher is Mr. Andy White. It is a secondary school, based in Basildon, Essex. The school contains over 1500 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16, starting from year 7 and ending in year 11. This figure also includes approximately 120 staff. The school consists of an East Block (Food, Art, D&T, ICT, Fitness, Science and Maths) Middle Block (More science, Sports hall, Reception, Student Services and Library) and a West Block (English, Languages, Geography, History, Music and Performing Arts).

Woodlands offers English, Maths, Science, Languages (German and French), Geography, History, Personal and Social Education, ICT, Performing Arts (Music, Drama etc), Media Studies, Design Technology, Art and Physical Education.

Each year group has an assembly twice a week and finish every day at 3:45pm. Woodlands also start school at 8:50am and have 5 lessons a day. Woodlands also has 6 'Drop a Days' per school year. These consist of two long sessions in a day, instead of the usual 5. (Morning session - 9:00am-10:40am and 11:00am - 12:00pm with a 20 minute break. Lunch is 12:00pm-13:00pm. Afternoon Session - 13:00pm-15:00pm. Tutorial is only 15 mins after last session, instead of the normal 30 mins.)

Since 2005, the school has been working to expand its specialist performing arts status into the local community. Community youth organisations are now working in partnership to use funding from Essex County Council's Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund to complete the construction of the Theatre.

Summer 2006 saw Woodlands School working with Creative Partnerships, The Basildon Arts Trust, Support Through Art, Loco Motion (Youth Group) and many other organisations to host an arts festival flagshipped by the surreal performance spectacular 'Einsteins Dreams.' The producers - Greg Klerkx and Sam Holdsworth - formed a new company called Nimble Fish after the success of Einsteins Dreams.

At the latest Ofsted inspection (2011), Woodlands achieved an 'outstanding' report. It has achieved an 'outstanding' report consistently since 2000.

Traditionally a month after Year 11's begin study leave and a month before their exam results are revealed, a prom is held for the year 11's, which only the students organise.

Every year, prefects are chosen from letters written by applicants in year 11 for the positions. Normally only 80 people are given the positions but in 2009 after a record amount of applicants, 90 prefects were chosen which was over a quarter of the year group. Each prefect is given a department or year to work for and must perform duties whether it be to deliver sheets or help out with extra curricular clubs. From these prefects, 10 head prefects are chosen, also known as Team Leaders. Team Leaders are given a group of prefects who they are in charge of. If the team leaders feel that the prefects they are in charge of are not performing their duties up to standard, they can report to a member of the Senior Leadership Team and have them removed.

Notable alumni

• Phil Gardner, playwright and journalist
• Michael Catchpole, professional tennis player - currently britain's no. 6

William de Ferrers School

William de Ferrers School is a secondary school in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex. It is a comprehensive school and has 1,847 pupils on roll, aged between 11 and 18. It is a specialist sports, maths and computing college.

Accommodation

 

The School has houses that are purpose-built that opened 1982, which was upgraded in 1989.

The Dame Elizabeth Hall is a large dining area for all staff and students.

The school is now under the management of Headmaster Mr Russell Ayling M.A. B.A. N.P.Q.H. F.C.M.I.

West Hatch High School

West Hatch High School is a secondary school located in Chigwell, Epping Forest, Essex (near Woodford Bridge). The area now occupied by West Hatch was previously the western gate (or hatch as it would have been known) into Epping Forest; it is from these roots that the school derives its name. The school currently educates 1300 students from the local catchment area and nearly 200 sixth form pupils from north east London and west Essex. Built in 1957 (as West Hatch Technical High School) on Chigwell High Road the grounds have been renovated on numerous occasions developing the many acre site into 7 main teaching buildings.

Facilities

 

West Hatch has been under major renovations of late with recent additions including a Music Suite (2002), Maths Dining & Drama Block (1999), Ruby Theatre (2000 built by students attaining Gold The Duke of Edinburgh Award Status), Sixth Form Centre (2000) and Business and Enterprise Block (2003) technology and the 4-storey classroom block.

Extensive renovation of the ICT infrastructure has culminated in a state of the art ICT network for students and staff. The wider community makes use of these resources with evening classes and Microsoft Digital Literacy training provided to parents using a parent portal.

Notable alumni

• Vicki Nathan (aka Vicki Michelle) - actress, 'Allo 'Allo!
• Sally Gunnell - 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games 400m hurdles gold medallist
• Kate Silverton - BBC newscaster
• Mark Wallinger - artist
• Giles Watling - actor
• Stuart McDonald - Television Director

James Hornsby High School

The James Hornsby High School is a secondary school and specialist sports college in Laindon, Essex of the United Kingdom. The current school headteacher is Chris Hayes was appointed after the departure of Gill Thomas, headmistress of the school between 2006 till 2010. In 2005 James Hornsby was recorded as the 69th most improved secondary schools in the country by the then Department of Further Education and Schools.

A school magazine has also been established and published by the students of the media studies department the magazine is called The Hornsby Healrd. The school has many sports teams and takes part in many events each year.

The performing arts students also put on various shows throughout the year within school and in local theatres.

The school is named after the last schoolmaster of the Puckles Charity School who was called Mr James Matthews who was HeadMaster for 31 years. Before being called The James Hornsby High School, the school was named St Nicholas School.

Timetable

• 8:40 am – Lesson 1
• 9:40 am – Form Time/ Year Assembly
• 10:00 am – Lesson 2
• 11:00 am – Break
• 11:20 am – Lesson 3
• 12:20 pm – Lesson 4
• 1:20 pm – Lunch Time
• 2:00 pm – Lesson 5
• 3:00 pm – Home Time

The Curriculum

All key stage 3 students (years 7,8, & 9) must follow a standard curriculum of English, Science, Maths, History, RE, CPSHE, Geography, Dance/Drama, PE, Art, French/Spanish and IT.

Once students reach key stage 4 (Years 10 & 11) they choose the lessons that they wish to carry on learning. They must continue English, Maths, Science, PE & IT. CPSHE & RE are also a required subject of the curriculum but are taught a term at a time.

Key stage 3 options and 2 reserves include:

• Media Studies
• Drama
• Sports Studies
• Dance
• Art & Design
• Classical Civilisations
• Health & Social Care
• Physical Education
• Music
• History
• Geography
• Graphic Design
• Hospitality and Catering
• French
• Spanish
• Sports Studies And Uniform Public Services Combined
• Religious Education
• Music
• Information Technology (6 ICT rooms)

Buildings

The school has two main buildings.

The main three-story building houses the English & Media, science, maths and IT departments. The science laboratories had major refurbishment in summer 2010.

The main building also has a series of one story floor blocks which house the language, visual arts, PE, health & social care, music and dance departments.

The reception, cafeteria, library and staff offices are also located in the main building.

The second building is named the "Humanities Block". This building also has a main 3 story block which houses the history, geography, RE, classical civilisations. The humanities building also has another block within containing two IT rooms, drama, resistant materials, food technology, graphic design and public services departments. The "servery" is also located in the humanities block which is an alternative food vendor to the cafeteria.

A third building has been added to the campus, opened in October 2010.

The school also boasts a sports hall, gymnasium, 2 performing arts studios, large assembly hall and a swimming pool. In July 2010 the sports hall went under work to make a new corridor and extension which was completed in December 2010. The new extension has been designed to meet Disability Discrimination Act Guidelines. The extension has two floors, the top floor acting as a further class room and observation room into the Sports Hall. In the lower floor there is a disabled toilet and another observation room for the Swimming Pool that is hired out to clientele. A new corridor was built for easier access in the hummanities block In 2011 another huge undergo will be happening to the sports areas extra Boys and Girls changing rooms are being built to imporve the schools sports area.

Epping Forest College

Epping Forest College is a sixth form and further education college in Loughton, England, offering a wide range of both AS/A2 Levels and vocational qualifications. They are the largest provider of AS and A2 Level education in the area.

Beauchamps High School

Beauchamps High School, locally known as Beauchamps, is a mixed intake secondary school and sixth form college for students aged between 11 and 18 (school years 7 to 13) in Wickford, Essex, England. The sixth form offers post 16 education for students aged 16-18 and accepts both former Beauchamps students and students educated at other establishments. The school includes a fairly diverse student population, consisting primarily of British nationals and a small ethnic minority. The current headteacher of the school is Mr. Robert "Winkle" Hodges.

History

The name 'Beauchamps' is French for beautiful fields. The school is located in the town of Wickford in Essex, England, and moved to its present site in 1959. The school was called Beauchamps Grant Maintained School until 1995, when its name was changed to Beauchamps High School. In 2003 it acquired a specialist status as a Business and Enterprise school, and in 2008 it obtained a Vocational status.

Academics

 

According to the school's website, in 2007, 60% of A-level passes were at Grades A to C, and 86% of students (a new school record) achieved 5 GCSEs at Grades A* to C. The School was given an outstanding report by Ofsted in December 2006.

In 2010 the trends continue to improve with 92% of students achieving 5 GCSEs grades A*-C and a 98% pass rate (66% A-C) at A-level which are vast improvements on previous records.

Despite the improvement is grades, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection found the school to be a grade lower than the previous inspection with 'good' and the sixth form only achieving satisfactory. This change has come about since the change of headship.

Alumni

• Andy Coulson – former editor of the News of the World
• Rhys Thomas – comedy actor/writer
• Tony Way – comedy actor/writer

Alec Hunter Humanities College

Alec Hunter Humanities College, formerly Alec Hunter School and Alec Hunter High School, is situated in Braintree, Essex. It is a comprehensive school for 11–16 year olds, and has Humanities specialist status.

  

History

Alec Hunter Humanities College, formerly Alec Hunter High School, was named after Alec B. Hunter, a leading textile designer in the town during the 1930s. Alec Hunter was born in Haslemere, Surrey, and, after serving in the army during the First World War, he joined his father’s weaving firm in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. His father was a textile designer with a tradition of silk weaving.

In 1927, Alec Hunter's family moved to Edinburgh, where he worked producing contemporary fabrics. In 1932 he joined Warner & Sons, a leading textile manufacturer and became the managing director of their Braintree factory. He was responsible for producing traditional silks and brocades woven for the coronation ceremonies of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The Queensway Coronation Silk, woven under the direction of Alec Hunter, hung from the balconies of Westminster Abbey when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2 June 1953.

Alec Hunter was honoured by many associations and societies. Not only was Alec Hunter High School named after him, many roads in the town are named after his fabric designs: Deerleap, Linfold, Harwell, Bridport and Broadoaks.. The school also had three school sports houses with names referencing local industrial connections: Courtauld, Critall and Warner.

The school was built in October 1961 and in September 2005 was awarded specialist status as a Humanities College, providing extra opportunities in English, History and Citizenship in the school and local community.

Alec Hunter is a partner school in the Braintree Sixth Form which opened next to Notley High School in September 2009. Mr Hutchinson has now left Alec hunter as he suffers from a brain tumor.

The school has hosted all four of the events staged by professional wrestling promotion British Wrestling Evoluition so far.