Horndean Technology College

Infobox School2
name = Horndean Technology College

| motto = "Striving for excellence through high quality teaching and lifelong learning."
established = 1975
type = Technology College| head_name = Headmaster
head = Glen Strong
city = Portsmouth
state = Hampshire
country = UK
campus = Portsmouthstudents = Senior - 1600, Junior - 0| colour = Blue, White & Black
website = [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/ www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk] |

Horndean Technology College is a large school, situated in the town of Horndean in Hampshire, UK. The school has formerly been called Horndean Community School, Horndean Secondary School and Horndean Bilateral. It is also sometimes informally referred to as Barton Cross, after the road on which its main entrance is situated. The school teaches over 1500 students a range of subjects, and has a large campus with over 11 buildings. The school has started a pilot scheme where they offer podcasts over the internet for at-home learning. [ [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/Podcast_GCSE.htm :: Horndean Technology College :: ] ]

Leadership Team

*Glen Strong - Headmaster
*Nigel Sheppard - Deputy Head
*Russel Stevens - Assistant Head
*Andrew Gray - Assistant Head
*Zoe Spencer - Assistant Head
*Deidre Hurn - Assistant Head
*Nicky Bugden - Community and Support Services Manager

School Campus

A block is the main administration block, and it contains the school's library, many offices (including Glen Strong's office), and a large computer suite. It is situated in the middle of the campus. The medical room is in this block, and the main office where pupils are able to come for help, known as student support services (SSS), is near the main entrance to this building.

X block is the maths block, as well as holding most of the information technology lessons. Business and Travel and tourism is also taught here. The lower school cafe is on the ground floor, along with the temporary location for the infant's nursery. This building is situated at the lower end of the school.

C block used to be the Modern Foreign Languages block, but is now being used as a pre-school/nursery.

W block is where half of the Design Technology classes are situated. Electronics and Product Design are the subjects taught here. The corridor is considered by some students as too small, as it becomes difficult to enter or exit during lesson changeover periods.

M block is where music lessons are taught. This block is one of the few air-conditioned buildings in the school, and has many rooms where you can practise and be taught a musical instrument by school staff or private tutors.

G block is the English Language and English Literature block. Physical Education is also taught here, and has the interactive multi-gym situated in this building. There are two halls where indoor PE lessons can be taught; one is known as the "Old Hall", the other "The Gym", not to be confused with the multi-gym.

S block and New S block are the science buildings, which are connected by a glass bridge. Art is also taught on the ground floor of the first building. This building is found at the top of the college, and below the field.

H block is where Graphics, Food Technology and Textiles are taught. It was originally the home of the History department (hence the name) which is now in D block. It is situated right between the main field and D block. The Careers department was recently removed to make more classroom space so the Connexions adviser is now in A block. H Block is now the new home for the construction and hairdressing department, which has completed refurishment

D block is where the humanities subjects are taught, History, Religious Studies and Geography. It is the largest building on the campus, with 4 floors, each floor dedicated to largely one subject, with the only exception being the 2nd floor, where the classrooms are shared equally between all three subjects. This building was intended to be a temporary building, but has since been made permanent. However students complain that the block has rather flimsy walls, and because the block is designed to sway slightly in strong winds.

SF block used to be the sixth form section of the school, but since this was eradicated in 2004, it has been used as a Drama and Information Technology block, as well as some other lessons on the ground floor. The upper school cafeteria is found in this building. Since September 2007, this block has hosted Modern Foreign Language lessons.

Barton Hall is used mainly for the community, with a bar, hall and the community's reception. Barton Hall is also used for assemblies, concerts and activities such as team building.

Sports Hall Block is a large sports hall between the Astroturf pitches and G Block. It is larger than the Gym and Old Hall, and stores most of the sports equipment such as the hockey sticks and rounders bats. It has a female changing room on the upper floor, and the male changing rooms on the ground floor. This building is sometimes used for community events, such as football

The site also has facilities for Physical Education in its field, including Astroturf pitches, a running track, long jump with sandpit, Tennis Courts and football and rugby union goalposts.

School Uniform

Like most schools in the area, Horndean Technology College requires students to wear School Uniform. This consists of

*Royal blue jumper, which has the school logo in white
*White polo shirt, which has the school logo in blue
*Dark coloured trousers

The school does not permit students to wear trainers, or other fashionable shoes. It also does not allow students to have excessive jewellery, or to have their hair dyed in an over-zealous way.

School Bands

The music department have many bands. The main two are The Horndean Swing Band and the Horndean Steel Pans. They have played at main events such as Merchiston Hall Fete; The Classic Cars Show in Waterlooville and the Proms put on by the Horndean Twinning for the guests from Horndean's twinned town, Aubergenville. Besides these, there are smaller bands such as the Brass Ensemble, who entered the Portsmouth Music Festival and came first in their class, and the Woodwind Ensemble (also lovingly nicknamed "Wetsock" by two of its members) who have won the Woodwind Ensemble Cup with Distinction in their class at the Portsmouth Music Festival 2007.

School Multi-Gym

The school has a new, refurbished multi-gym. The multi-gym, situated in G Block, is twice the size of the previous one, with a complete set of new machines. The gym is the first in Britain to utilise the new technology that enables pupils to play video games using dance mats, etc. and still be engaging in exercise. The multi-gym was opened on the 12 October 2006, by Portsmouth FC manager, Harry Redknapp

Ofsted Report (2004)

The school had its latest Ofsted Report in 2004 and 2006. [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/generalOff.htm Ofstead Report of 2004]

Curriculum

Homework

The school operates a "Passport to Independence" (also known as P2I) scheme for students studying Key Stage 3, as an alternative to setting homework. Under this scheme, pupils receive an assignment for which they have four weeks to complete. Such assignments are set every half term for core subjects, and every term for others. This has proved to be a bigger success, as more children completed it than homework. Also, the school has forum set up by a number of its students called Buster. This was set up so that students who are good at a certain subject can help other students who are not so strong. Although this is strongly linked in with Horndean Technology College, students from other school are welcome to sign up and ask for help. Also there is a forum, created by students, to provide homework guidance from mainly students and teachers. This is called [http://p2ibuster.proboards80.com/ P2I Buster] and this is also open to other schools as well.

The Network

The school has a magazine which is sent home via the pupils to be read by the parents and pupils, all copies of this magazine can be found on this website: [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/GeneralNetwork.htm The Network] . Inside The Network, there are various things such as: I.C.T. help, language puzzles, reviews of recent trips and advertisements for the school. The Network is mainly written by the teachers but sometimes the students can be given a page to write.

Podcasts

The school has released a number of podcasts to help students revise for their GCSEs. They can be found on the school website.

Notable Former Students

*Rob Hayles - Cyclist
*Emma Barton - Actress
*Tim Davenport - Hockey player
*Tom Butt - Hockey player

References

External links

* [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/GeneralCatch.htm Catchment area]
* [http://www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk/ Horndean Technology College website]
* [http://p2ibuster.proboards80.com/ P2I Buster]