Bexley Grammar School

Infobox Secondary school
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motto = Praestantiae Studere
(Strive for Excellence)
established = 1955
type = Grammar School
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gender = Mixed
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headmaster = Mr Welsh
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students = c. 1500
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address = Welling
city = Greater London
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province = Bexley
country = United Kingdom
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free_label_1 = LEA
free_1 = London Borough of Bexley
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website = http://bexley.school-site2.net/
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Bexley Grammar School, is a co-educational grammar school in Welling, in the London Borough of Bexley. Students are admitted into Year 7 at age 11 or into the Sixth Form (Year 12) at age 16, providing they fulfil the entry requirements (11+ Examination).

School Badge

The Bexley Grammar school badge consists of two Latin words translating into 'Strive For Success'.

History

Founded in 1955, Bexley Grammar School was opened by Sir Edward Heath, the local Member of Parliament at the time, and after whom the Heath Building (completed in 2000) is named. Sir Edward attended the school's Golden Jubilee celebrations shortly before his death in 2005. Bexley Grammar has been a Specialist Language College since September 2002 and has recently become a foundation school. In September 2008 it will become a specialist in Science with Mathematics.It has so far had four headmasters, yet with the current head moving on to Bristol Grammar School, current deputy head Mr John Welsh is due to become Headmaster in July 2008.

Grounds

The school has expanded into new buildings over time; Main (M),Jubilee(J),Danson (replaced 2005), Heath(H),Feuvre (L),(Mu),Jubilee extension (2002-03), Golden Jubilee(G) and . Some confusion can occur with the Jubilee extension to the which was originally the G building and the 2005 extension of the Main building.

The schools layout forms an internal courtyard area surrounded on all sides, except from the West, a covered seating area.

The area of the field exceeds that of the buildings, as can be seen [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=welling&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=11.256642,29.53125&ie=UTF8&ll=51.455819,0.109434&spn=0.002921,0.00721&t=h&z=17&iwloc=addr]

chool Curriculum

The school has a broad curriculum, with studys in a broad range of subjects. The school exceeds itself in ensuring all students receive teaching within broad range of subjects, which despite specialisms involve a generally very high standard of teaching by engaged and motivated staff in all departments. The variety of subjects provided has expanded considerably in the past five years, with for instance, Drama included in the Year 7 Timetable for the first time in 2006.

Extra-curricular clubs, during breaks,lunches and after-school periods provide many additional opportunities for students, with for instance includes additional language learning of Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. The English department runs successful Debating (Lower Years) and Critical Thinking Clubs; both of which improve key skills, as well as providing other benefits (Bexley Debating Prize gaining the school 6 dedicated Macs for Film Studies). All these are in addition to the additional revision sessions held for most subjects in the weeks approaching exams which staff/departments are most willing to provide.

Whilst perhaps less prominent within the school, the provision of the four Design and Technology subjects at KS3 (Graphics,Resistant Materials, Food Tec and Textiles) is a key component of the Timetable, with Food Tec being the only known example where double-sessions are preferred over single for these year groups. Each subject has a dedicated room, with specialist equipment (e.g CAD/CAM, Sewing Machines) and also a single room shared with the Art department.

Languages

A fairly significant part of the curriculum is devoted to languages, fitting the schools long-standing (2003) specialist status.In Year 7, all students learn one modern foreign language,(French or German) in addition to Latin; In Year 8 pupils select a second additional foreign language to study, (Spanish, Russian, Japanese, French or German).Students must continue their two modern languages through to GCSE, with GCSE Latin being a further option for KS4. The option of studying CLINT (Classical civilisation) in Year 9 is also available.

Language learning continues into the Sixth Form, as an option for A-level or as extra-curricular , or as a compulsory integral part of the IB . Courses in French and German for Business, GCSE Spanish and British Sign Language are currently available as Extra-Curricular Course for A-Level students. This school has an exceptionally high standard in language learning and attainment and is one of the top thirty schools in the country for language.

The school is about to undertake a large change in the curriculum, which involves holding SATs a year earlier than the national norm and shifting GCSE preparation and early GCSE work (including coursework) into Year 9. Science GCSEs Specifications are also being withdrawn with the introduction of IGCSEs (at Double or Triple) and Science in the News GCSE from 2007. [http://bexley.school-site2.net/docs/Documents/Y8%20To%20Y9%20New%20Courses.pdf]

IB

The school offers the IB diploma Programme as an alternative to A Levels in its sixth form. As the only school in Bexley offering the IB, the school enjoys popularity from sixth form applicants and also the occasional visit from other schools considering the I.B. Whilst putting extra pressure on departments and naturally budgets (as a parallel system), this course provides a very different structure to student learning, perhaps providing a greater all-round knowledge at a level comparable or slightly greater than A-level. This however could be argued to be more due to a greater sum of its parts, (4 v 6 subjects) rather than a greater single aspect. Despite an obvious preference towards smaller class sizes (which can sometimes be achieved) it is no longer a given that class sizes (especially in 'core' subjects) will be extremely smaller than at A-level (as uptake increases).

The school has so far tended to 'sell' the IB to a greater extent than A Levels, as it continues to be the lesser known and understood alternative (despite being around the U.K for the last 35 years).

As with A-levels it is exceptionally important that the student is confident with their choices.

House System

BGS operates a House System involving all years, with around 12 members of staff in each house.On admission to the school, each student is assigned to one of the six houses, :

*Collins house (Red)
*Johnson house (Blue)
*Kirkman house (Yellow)
*Mabbs house (Purple)
*Prothero house (Green)
*Wellman house (Orange) (created in 2003),

Each house is named after a former member of senior staff that had a notable impact on the school. Within these houses, the students have bi-weekly meetings and make up their houses representations in the schools ever growing range of yearly inter-house competitions.

House Competitions include:
*Football
*Hockey
*Swimming (at crook log swimming centre)
*Basketball
*General Knowledge Quiz
*Drama
*Box (gardening)
*Harvest
*Sports Day
*Cross Country Run (full participation)
*Touch rugby

All six houses have a "Head of House", who is in charge of organising all house activities. They are assisted by several House Captains, selected from the Sixth Form students. The House Captains are responsible for organising and preparing the teams for the competitions, and often officiate at the events themselves. The Merit Card Scheme also works into the points system used by the houses.

Initially there were only Prothero, Collins, Johnson and Kirkman; however since then Mabbs followed by Wellman were added to provide more houses for the growing number of students entering the school.

Uniform

The school uniform currently follows the school's blue colour scheme;

For Boys;
*Dark blue blazers
*Dark blue tie with school logo
*Light blue or white shirts
*Black or charcoal grey trousers.

For Girls;
*Dark blue blazers
*Either light blue fitted blouse with no tie, or a white blouse with a tie
*Black or grey skirts only.

The uniform has changed many times in recent history. In recent times a white shirt would have been worn with either a blue, black and white striped tie or a blue and golden badged tie celebrating the schools golden jubilee. Also, in the past, girls had to wear ties.

ee also

*London Borough of Bexley
*Grammar schools in the United Kingdom
*List of schools in Bexley [http://bexley.school-site2.net/docs/Documents/Y8%20To%20Y9%20New%20Courses.pdf]

External links

* [http://www.bexleygs.co.uk/ Bexley Grammar School website]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=101462&bar=no Bexley Grammar Ofsted Report]