Sheldon School

Infobox UK school
name = Sheldon School


size =
latitude = 51.46714
longitude = -2.13401
dms = dms
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established =
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closed =
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religion =
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Gerard MacMahon
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specialist = Science College
specialist_pl =
street = Hardenhuish Lane
city = Chippenham
county = Wiltshire
country = England
postcode = SN14 6HJ
LEA = Wiltshire
ofsted = 126499
staff =
enrollment = 1649
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
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website = http://www.sheldonschool.co.uk
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Sheldon School is a large mixed comprehensive school in Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK for children aged 11-18 and is the largest school in Wiltshire. It is one of three in Chippenham, the others being Abbeyfield and Hardenhuish. The school is currently headed by Gerard MacMahon who joined the school in 2004.

Sheldon School was originally called Chippenham Boys High School, when it changed its name in name in 1980 and became a comprehensive.

Awards and specialist status

Sheldon School was awarded specialist Science College status in 2002 [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/126499] . This has allowed the school to develop the Science department including the building of new laboratories and refurbishing the old ones. Also, the school has used the money to ensure computers, linked to data projectors are in every classroom with many of them also having Interactive whiteboards. In 2007 it was awarded its second specialism, in Sports, an event marked by former Olympian Sharon Davies visiting the school. [ [http://www.olympics.org.uk/news.aspx?GT=Invariant&NE=1979&AT=&GA=&SP= British Olympic Association > News ] ] The school also holds the Sportsmark Gold Award, and the Artsmark Award.

Ofsted and academic achievement

The school is consistently amongst the top performing schools, for its type, in the area and in 2006 59% of its pupils achieved an A*-C in five subjects, including Mathematics and English. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/865_gcse_lea.stm BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Secondary schools in Wiltshire ] ] Its A Level results were even better and in 2007 the school was fifth overall in the whole of Wiltshire. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/865_alevel_lea.stm BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Secondary schools in Wiltshire ] ] The last three Ofsted reports of the school has confirmed its current status of one of the highest achieving schools in the area. The last Ofsted inspection rated the school as 'outstanding' [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=315574&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\126\s5rti_126499_20080428.pdf Microsoft Word - 126499.DOC ] ] These successful inspections means that Sheldon is one of only fourteen in the country to have been identified as an 'outstanding provider' three times. [ [http://www.sheldonschool.co.uk/parents/ofsted_detail.html Sheldon School - Ofsted ] ] Sheldon School names itself as 'the best Comprehensive school in the country.' [ [http://www.sheldonschool.co.uk/parents/ofsted_detail.html Sheldon School - Ofsted ] ]

Olympic Day Fun Run

In June 2007 the school's annual Olympic Fun Run took place. The run was started by Sharon Davies, who was invited the celebrate the school achieving specialist status in Sports. On 27th June, Olympic rower Peter Gardener will be visiting Sheldon School, to mark the school's annual 'Fun Run'. 'Fun Run' is basically when Years 10-7 students run all around Sheldon's field as well as Hardenuish's field on a course. The afternoon starts off with the famous Olympic spokesperson announcing a speech and then the event takes place. Year 10 pupils start off first, then Year 9, then Year 8 and then Year 7 students. Some teachers may like to participate too in this annual event. The students are each given a free t-shirt, in which they must wear throughout the whole course of the run. This events takes place in the afternoon of a Friday. The 'Olympic Day Fun Run' attracts attention as local photographers often travel to Sheldon school. The course ends with students running past the finishing line. After the event, the pupils are allowed to leave school early for their committment.

Notable Alumni

*Chris Horsman - Welsh international rugby union prop forward
*Jamie Cullum and his brother Ben (musicians) both attended the Sixth Form.
* Sir Peter Wanless - Director of School Performance and Reform for the Department for Education and Skills

References

External links

* [http://www.sheldonschool.co.uk/index.htm School homepage]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=126499&providerCategoryID=8192 Ofsted]