Herschel Grammar School

Infobox UK school
name = Herschel Grammar School


size =
latitude =
longitude =
dms =
motto = (current) "Achievement, challenge, excellence"
(previous) "Negotiis Pares"
("Equal to the task")
motto_pl =
established = approx 1952
closed =
c_approx =
type = Grammar foundation school
religion = Secular
president =
head_label =
head = Julian King-Harris
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Technology College
street = Northampton Avenue
city = Slough
county = Berkshire
country = England
postcode = SL1 3BW
LEA = Slough
ofsted = 110103
staff =
enrollment = 862
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.herschel.slough.sch.uk/
website_name =

Herschel Grammar School is a selective co-educational grammar foundation school and Technology College in Slough, Berkshire. Situated on Northampton Avenue, the present headteacher is Mr. Julian King-Harris. The school has around 900 pupils, 250 of whom are in the Sixth Form

History

The school was established in town centre buildings formerly occupied by Slough Secondary School in William Street (a site now occupied by the Slough campus of Thames Valley University) in about 1952. In 1958, the school moved to a purpose-built site on Northampton Avenue, occupying land that had (before the Second World War) been used as 'Timbertown', an area of hastily constructed temporary houses. [pp 75, 82, "The Changing Face of Slough", Slough Museum, Breedon Books, 2003] The school has remained at Northampton Avenue, although for the 1988/89 academic year it temporarily moved to the site of the former Orchard Secondary Modern School while the permanent buildings were refurbished after damage to the roof in the storms of 1987. [pp 82, "The Changing Face of Slough", Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby 2003] .

Within its present buildings, the school has had a number of different names and forms, including:

:"Slough Technical School":"Slough Technical High School" (to 1972):"Herschel High School" (1972 to 1984):"Sir William Herschel Grammar School" (from 1984):"Herschel Grammar School"

In 2004, the school completed its new sports centre, which now serves as " [http://www.sloughleisure.com/index.php?id=534| Herschel Sports] " to the public when out of school hours. The new sports complex includes a full-size astro-turf football, hockey pitch, four full-size tennis courts, six full-size indoor badminton courts, one full-size indoor basketball court, a dance studio and changing facilities with lockers.

Mission Statement

At Herschel we work together to:

provide a stimulating and exciting learning environment for all promote life long learning recognise and value the achievement of each individual develop responsibility, tolerance and consideration for others strengthen the bond between school, home and the community build partnerships with industry and commerce

Herschel Grammar School is committed to providing a friendly atmosphere where pupils can fulfil their potential, grow in confidence and above all, be happy.

We achieve this by employing excellent teachers who will provide support to pupils in both their academic and social development. We encourage pupils to develop and express their opinions in a constructive and positive manner.

We are proud of our high academic achievements and we are equally proud of the range of extra curricular activities that we are able to offer pupils.

In recent years the school has been the subject of much refurbishment. We pride ourselves on providing pupils with a modern, clean, well resourced school.

As a Technology College we will ensure that our information and communications technology is regularly updated so that pupils are well prepared for the rapidly advancing systems that they will come across in the world of work.

Julian King-Harris, M.A.Headteacher

ixth Form

The school has a sixth form of about 250 pupils, both from the lower school and pupils who have moved from other schools. The sixth form is a part of the Herschel Consortium. The pupils in the sixth form have a common room that is strictly used for studying only inside lesson time due to the sixth form's strict study rules. In September 2006 a silent study room was built inside the sixth form block.

Prefects

The school maintains a prefect system. Twelve prefects including a "Head Boy" & "Head Girl" are chosen in the latter part of Year 12. The current Head Boy is Daniel Williams and the Head Girl is Jenna Hallesy. The prefects occupy their posts until the end of Year 13.

chool links

Herschel Grammar School is the founding member-school of the "Herschel Consortium" - a co-operation of the sixth forms of Herschel Grammar School, the Westgate School, and Baylis Court School, all of which are within the same district of Slough.

Baylis Court controversy

The 'Herschel Consortium' has been criticised for having a flaw - Baylis Court is an all girls school, and while Herschel and Westgate can accept all Baylis students into their Sixth form, Baylis only accept female students from the other schools. Some have argued that this defeats the purpose of the consortium - and that, for instance, Herschel allowing only their female students to study Art and Performing Arts at Baylis, is breaching the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Unfortunately, this has led to several pupils (both male, and female with male friends), choosing to study art A level at other establishments, such as Langley Grammar School, and East Berkshire College.

Alumni of interest

* Dennis James (staff), Deputy Mayor and Leader of Slough Borough Council
* Iain Lee, broadcaster
* Brian McDermott, footballer
* Nigel Rushby, Cabinet Member, Slough Borough Council

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.herschel.slough.sch.uk/ Official website]
* [http://herschel.slough.digitalbrain.com/slough/accounts/staff/herschel/frontpage/documents/ofsted%20summary%20report2004.doc Ofsted Report]