The Commonweal School is a secondary school (with a sixth form) in the south-west of
Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
History
The Commonweal School was opened in 1927, and most of the first pupils transferred from the College and Euclid Street secondary schools. The original building was designed for 410 pupils. September 1939 saw a sudden rise in numbers to 530 as
evacuees arrived, half of them from East Ham Grammar School, London.
In 1965, it became a Senior High School, taking pupils of all abilities aged 14 to 18. There was another re-organisation in 1983 when Commonweal became a seven-form entry
comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16, therefore losing its sixth form.
Its
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 philosop ...
status was awarded on 1 August 2011; previously, it had been a
foundation school. An expansion in September 2014 saw the reinstatement of its sixth form, known as C6.
Leadership
'Tam' Hartley was the first headmaster. Doctor C.E Jones was appointed headmaster in 1932, and his name is commemorated in the shield awarded to the house that wins the annual
Sports Day
Sports days (British English) or field days (American English) are events staged by many schools and offices in which people participate in competitive sporting activities, often with the aim of winning trophies or prizes. Though they are often h ...
. Robert 'Bob' Linnegar took over in September 2017 and retired at the end of August 2021. Mr Charles 'Chas' Drew taking the post at the start of the 2021/2022 Academic year.
School houses
There are four school houses, each named after a historical site within Wiltshire. Each house has its own colour, head and deputy.
* Ridgeway
* Sarum
* Stonehenge
* Whitehorse
Upon arrival at the school, each student is placed within a house. Houses act as a 'community' for the students, and students compete in inter-house events throughout the year. The house with the most points will be awarded the inter-house shield. Whilst in their final year at Commonweal, students are able to apply to become house officials, otherwise known as
prefects
Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
A prefect's ...
.
Sixth form
In December 2012, it was announced by the Head that the
Department for Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further and higher education), apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
A Department ...
had accepted the school's bid for a
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 ...
. This opened in September 2014 with places for up to 300 students in new, purpose-built facilities, funded by the Department for Education. The sixth form provides a range of academic courses, alongside a varied enrichment programme.
Academic performance
At the most recent
Ofsted inspection, in November 2017, the school received a rating of 'Good' in all categories, leading to an overall effectiveness rating of 'Good'.
In a Kirkland Rowell survey of students in September 2016, 57% of students gave an overall satisfaction rating of 'Good' and 23% 'Very good'. This means about 20% of students – around 230 of the returned surveys – did not think of the school as good.
Alumni
*
Keith Browning
Keith Anthony Browning (born 31 July 1938) is a British meteorologist who worked at Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the University of Reading departments of meteorology. His work with Frank Ludlam on the supercell thunderstorm at ...
, atmospheric scientist
*
Justin Hayward
David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician best known as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the rock band the Moody Blues. Hayward became the group's principal lead guitarist and vocalist over the 1967–1974 ...
, musician
*
Lyndon Ogbourne
Lyndon Saul Ogbourne (born 18 May 1983) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Nathan Wylde in the ITV1 soap opera '' Emmerdale''.
Background
Ogbourne began acting at the age of six. He was educated at Commonweal School before stud ...
,
actor
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Academies in Swindon
1927 establishments in England
Educational institutions established in 1927
Secondary schools in Swindon