Alcester Grammar School
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Alcester Grammar School (AGS) is a co-educational 11-18 maintained selective
grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...
, situated in
Alcester Alcester () is a market town and civil parish of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in the Stratford-on-Avon District in Warwickshire, England, approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 7 miles south of Redditc ...
,
Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...
, England. On 1 April 2011, Alcester Grammar School became the first school in south Warwickshire to achieve
academy An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...
status.


History

AGS was known as "Newport's Free School" from about 1592 until 1912 because Walter Newport provided in his will for the endowment which, in early years, paid the schoolmaster's stipend and enabled the scholars to be educated free of charge. Newport was a nephew of Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor in 1597, and a relative of Robert, second Earl of Warwick. In 1912, the new coeducational school now known as Alcester Grammar School, on the site in Birmingham Road came into use.


Admissions

For admissions at age 11 to Year 7 of the school, the Governing Body participates in the Local Authority’s co-ordinated admissions scheme for maintained secondary schools. Admission to Year 7 is determined by the performance of candidates in an entrance examination and by the availability of places. Only students who attain the required standard in the prescribed arrangements for selection by reference to ability or aptitude will be eligible to be considered for admission to the school. In September 2013 AGS increased its intake to 120 into Year 7, resulting in a 4 form entry of 30 students per form. In September 2015, the Governing Body decided that it would admit up to 30 additional students into year 7 over the Published Admission Number (PAN) of 120. From September 2016 the PAN for entry in year 7 will be 150 students, resulting in a 5 form entry of 30 students per form. The priority circle for South Warwickshire Grammar Schools is based on the traditional area for application. It is based on a circle with a radius of 16.885 miles running from the American Fountain in Rother Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-we ...
to the County boundary south of Long Compton.


Sixth form

At age 16 for year 12 (
sixth form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...
) students may be admitted providing they achieve a minimum of
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
Grade B in four subjects and at least Grade C in Mathematics and English Language. Students should achieve at least a minimum of Grade B in the four subjects they select to study to A level. Subject specific variations to this latter requirement (e.g. where the corresponding GCSE subject was not available or an A or A* grade at GCSE is required) will be stated within the school’s sixth form prospectus. Alcester Grammar School offers a unique environment for post-16 education. It offers all students a degree of responsibility for their own learning and personal development, within a strong framework of support and guidance. This increases from year 12 to year 13. AGS offers a wide range of A level courses, with the freedom to choose any combination of four subjects, plus an optional
Extended Project Qualification An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a qualification taken by some students in England and Wales, which is equivalent to 50% of an A level. They are part of level three of the National Qualifications Framework. It is currently graded A*-E. ...
.


Overseas students

AGS may admit to the
Sixth Form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...
a small number of students who come from an overseas EEA country that does not take UK GCSEs provided their qualifications are deemed acceptable to and compatible with the
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
requirements stated above.


Results

The school receives consistently high
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
results. In 2015 99% of GCSE candidates achieved 5+ A*-C grades (or equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs. In 2015 99.8% of A level entries were at A*-E, with 88% of A-Level entries achieving A*-C grades. The 2017 League tables showed AGS to be the best performing grammar school in Warwickshire at 16-18 for progression.


School achievements

In 2012
Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...
graded the school's Mathematics department as Outstanding. In its 2006 and 2009
Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...
inspections the school was graded as Outstanding.


Centenary

In 2012 AGS, which first opened in 1912, marked its Centenary with a host of celebratory events.


Notable former pupils

*
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CBE, former
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pilot, Station Commander from 2013-15 of
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*
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*
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, founded the
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at the
University of Warwick The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands (county), West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded i ...
*
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, Olympic hurdler Team GB Athlete Profile: Andrew Pozzi
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, writer


References


External links


Alcester Grammar School's Website

Alcester Grammar School Sixth Form Website
* * 1
Telegraph Website
{{Authority control Grammar schools in Warwickshire Academies in Warwickshire * Alcester