Downham Market High School

Downham Market High School

Established	1956
Type	Comprehensive
Headteacher	Jon Ford (2011–present)
Chair of Governors	Alison Chapman
Specialism	Technology College
Location	Bexwell Road Downham Market Norfolk PE38 9LL
Local authority	Norfolk County Council
DfE URN	121210
Ofsted	Reports
Staff	250
Students	1,800
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–16 (Downham Market High School) 16–18 (Downham Market College)
Houses	Keystage 3 (Years 7-9): D Band H Band S Band Keystage 4 (Years 10-11): X Band Y Band
Colours	Uniform:           Navy Blue and white PE:      Royal Blue
Website	www.downhamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk

Coordinates: 52°36′14″N 0°23′19″E / 52.6040°N 0.3886°E / 52.6040; 0.3886

Downham Market High School is a state high school situated in Downham Market, Norfolk, England. The School has been awarded specialist Technology College status by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. The Bexwell and Ryston sites have a combined student population of approximately 2,000 pupils. The school is one of the largest in East Anglia partially due to its large catchment area.

Downham Market High School and College is divided between two separate campuses, with the main Bexwell campus teaching students years 7 - 11 (ages 11 – 16) and the Ryston campus teaching further education to sixth form students years 12 - 13 (ages 16 – 18).^[1]

History

See also: Downham Market College

Downham Market High School opened in September 1980 as the amalgamation of three former secondary schools in Downham Market - Downham Market Grammar, Downham Market Boys' School and Downham Market Girls' School. It now occupies two sets of premises known as Bexwell and Ryston.

The Bexwell site dates back to 1956 and was originally organised as separate boys' and girls' secondary modern single-sex schools. With building adaptations at the time of re-organisation in 1980, these former schools are now designated the Junior and Senior sides of the Bexwell site. The Upwell block was added as a consequence of the closure of Upwell Secondary in 1982 when around 220 additional pupils were added to the school roll. The Malcolm Arnold Room was opened by the famous composer Sir Malcolm Arnold in 1984. Other buildings on the Bexwell site include the Technology Block (1997), the Arts Block, housing History, Music and Drama (2001) and the English Block (2005).

Ryston was formerly the premises of Downham Market Grammar School, built in 1930 in the extensive grounds of the White House dating back to the 17th century. The house was formerly occupied by the headmaster of the school and, later, by the sixth form. It became surplus to requirements and was sold back into the residential sector in 2000. Since reorganisation, two new blocks have been added on the Ryston site. The Art and Business centre was opened by Gillian Shepherd MP, Minister of State for Education.

The academic years 1980/01 and 1981/82 saw the phasing out of the previous grammar and secondary modern pattern of education and, from September 1982, Downham Market High School became a fully amalgamated county, co-educational, secondary, comprehensive, day school. Year 7 students were based at Ryston after reorganisation in 1980, due to Bexwell insufficient space for five year groups, and Ryston's additional space for the then much smaller sixth form. Ofsted stressed the importance of uniting Key Stages 3 and 4 on the same site and this was duly achieved with the opening of the New Block on the Bexwell site in 2001. In September 1983, the existing transfer arrangements into the school were re-organised so that all pupils entered at 11+ and not, as hitherto, with pupils from the surrounding village primary schools entering at 11+ and pupils from Clackclose County Middle School and Hillcrest First and Middle School entering at 12+.

The school gained Grant-Maintained status in 1992 (which lasted until the change of Government in 1997) and was extended with new buildings, sports hall and swimming pool. Technology College status was gained in 1996 by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

^[2]

Headteachers

Mr Lamport-Smith was the first Headmaster, succeeded by Maurice Pearson, after whom M and P got their form names. John Ingram became Head of Downham Market Grammar School in 1976 after Maurice Pearson's death and, and in 1980, after successfully amalgamating the Grammar School with the two Secondary Modern Schools became head of the newly formed High School. Mrs Mary Hunt was Acting Head of the girls' school at the time of reorganisation and Mr Harold Barnes was Head of the Boys' school. The initial Chair of Governors was Colonel A Parkin, O.B.E..

• 1956–1969: Mr. Lamport-Smith (Grammar School)
• 1969–1975: Maurice Pearson (Grammar School)
• 1976–1980: John Ingram (Grammar School)
• 1980–1995: John Ingram (Downham Market High School)
• 1995–2001: Ian Gartshore
• 2001–2002: Anne-Marie Storey
• 2002–2008: Ian Bloom
• 2008–2010: Sarah Quantrill
• 2011 (January-June): Gordon Boyd
• 2011–Present: Jon Ford

Campuses and Facilities

Minor renovations to the Bexwell campus where completed in 2009. The renovations began around 2005 and include the migration of the reception from beneath the library to the A Block, an expanded cafeteria, and a the English Block. The Bexwell site also replaced most of the sites existing white boards with new interactive whiteboards, and also replaced most of the computers in the T Block with newer models.

The school provides extra-curricular programs including: musical, dramatic and sporting events, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.^[1]

In 2009, the Downham Market Leisure Centre extended and simultaneously refurbished its primary gym, the previous gym equipment was donated to the sports department at Downham Market High School.

Drama and music

The drama department is active in the school, offering a range of extracurricular activities and producing a variety of productions each year. Sixth Sense Theatre Company is part of the drama department in the school and teaches senior students the art of touring a production. Every summer the company tours a production; in recent years they have performed in Scotland, The Channel Islands and Australia.

The music department runs several orchestras and arranges instrument tuition for students. The department stages a number of concerts throughout the year including the annual Christmas and recital concerts.

Sports

The school has a good reputation for sports, and teams regularly compete with other schools and in championships. Sports facilities on site include football and hockey pitches, tennis courts, basketball courts, cricket nets and a leisure centre - (run by the Borough Council) which holds a sports hall, gym and swimming pool, which the school regularly use.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Downham Market High School - Technology College - About". Downham Market High School and College. http://norfolk.schooljotter.com/downham2/About. Retrieved 29 April 2010 (2010-04-29). 
2. ^ "Downham Market High School - Technology College - History". Downham Market High School and College. http://norfolk.schooljotter.com/downham2/History. Retrieved 29 April 2010 (2010-04-29). 

External links

• Official website