The Ashcombe School

The Ashcombe School

Established	1976
Type	Comprehensive school, Community school
Headteacher	David Blow[1]
Specialism	Language
Location	Ashcombe Road Dorking Surrey RH4 1LY United Kingdom
DfE URN	125264
Ofsted	Reports
Students	c. 1500
Gender	co-educational
Ages	11–18
Houses	4 (Windsor, Stuart, Tudor, and York)
Colours	Navy blue
Website	The Ashcombe School

Coordinates: 51°14′19″N 0°19′46″W / 51.2387°N 0.3295°W / 51.2387; -0.3295

The Ashcombe School is a mixed community comprehensive secondary school in Dorking, England, for children aged 11 to 16 with a sixth form for ages 17 to 19.^[1]

History

The school was established in 1976, by the merger of Dorking High School for Boys and Girls and Mowbray School.^[2] Dorking High School was a successor to both Dorking County School and Dorking County Grammar School. Mowbray was a girls school.

Pupils

Pupils range in age from 11 to 18 and the current number on roll is approximately 1600 with a standard admission number of 240 pupils in Year 7, the year of intake.

Each year, approximately 240 pupils join The Ashcombe School from nearly 30 different primary and independent schools. The number of Sixth Form students is approximately 300, including some from other schools.

Curriculum and academic performance

The school curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the school has been noted for its academic success.

The school claims that GCSE results have been consistent over several years with typically 100% gaining 5 A*-G, around 80% gaining 5 A*-C and 70% 5A*-C including Maths and English and over 20 pupils gaining 5 or more A* grades. In addition to A-levels (which are now divided into AS and A2 level courses), the sixth form offers a limited number of GCSEs and GNVQ. In the A-level examinations the average points score per student is consistently around 350pts per student. As a result of these successes, most students are offered university places, including entries to Oxbridge.

Language teaching

The Ashcombe School became a Specialist Language College in September 1998, allowing it to receive additional funding. It was featured in the Independent and the Guardian as a school that teaches Mandarin.^[3][4]

Notable alumni

Dorking County Grammar School

• Liz Lynne,^[5] Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands
• Tom Mangold,^[6] award-winning BBC journalist and writer

The Ashcombe School

• Evan Davis,^[7] economist and BBC journalist
• Jamie Mackie, footballer

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Edubase: Establishment: The Ashcombe School". Department for Education. http://www.edubase.gov.uk/establishment/summary.xhtml?urn=125264. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
2. ^ "ADA Membership Brochure". The Ashcombe Dorkinian Association. http://ashcombedorking.com/info/brochures/A_D_A1.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
3. ^ McCormack, Steve (2007-07-05). "Language of the future: Why Mandarin Chinese is taking off in schools". Education. independent.co.uk. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/language-of-the-future-why-mandarin-chinese-is-taking-off-in-schools-455913.html. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
4. ^ Cutforth, Sarah (2004-04-06). "The future is ... Mandarin". Education Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1186057,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
5. ^ "Liz Lynne MEP – MEP for the West Midlands". Liberal Democrats. http://www.libdems.org.uk/meps_detail.aspx?name=Liz_Lynne_MEP&pPK=61197d6e-9327-4411-9b28-b48bc003cfac. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
6. ^ "Curriculum Vitae". Tom Mangold. http://www.tommangold.com/cv.html. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
7. ^ "Evan Davis to become a permanent presenter on Today". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/01_january/23/evan.shtml. Retrieved 2011-06-27.