Rydon Community College

Rydon Community College is a maintained comprehensive middle-deemed-secondary school for pupils aged 10 to 13. It is one of only 11 schools of its type in the United Kingdom. It currently caters for around 415 pupils.The school is located just outside Storrington, West Sussex in the village of Thakeham.

History

The school was first opened in 1940 as the Storrington council senior school.cite book | title=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 2| url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18301| last=Hudson | first=T.P. (Ed.)| date=1986| pages=48-49| publisher=Victoria County History Series] It was developed and extended over the following years, being renamed as Rydon county secondary school. The roll continued to rise until the mid-1960s, but had fallen to just 328 by 1968. Accordingly, in 1969, the school was modified to become an intermediate school offering education for pupils aged between 10 and 13. Pupils then transferred to Steyning Grammar School in nearby Steyning.

In 2002, consultations were undertaken to review provision in the area to revert to the more usual two-tier structure of education. However, a parental ballot demonstrated clear support for the existing arrangements, and the status quo emerged as the preferred option.

Campus

The campus is in a rural area, just north of the village of Storrington in West Sussex. The school is largely housed in original buildings from original secondary school opened during World War II. Several additions and adaptations have been made, including modifications to accommodate the change to an intermediate school.

Organisation

Pupils in the school are organised into three year groups, aligned to the National Curriculum years of Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8. Pupils are taught mainly by specialist teachers as in secondary schools, although pupils in the first year of the school are in Key Stage 2.

Pupils transfer to the school from several feeder primary schools from Storrington, Ashington and surrounding villages. Almost all pupils transfer at the end of Year 8 into Year 9 at the Steyning Grammar School.

References

External links

* [http://www.rydon.w-sussex.sch.uk/ Rydon Community College website]
* [http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/school-list/4018.en Rydon information on West Sussex Grid for Learning]