The Westgate School

Infobox UK school
name = The Westgate School


established = 1977
type = Comprehensive
head = Mrs Joanne Turvey
specialist = Science
street = Cheriton Road
city = Winchester
county = Hampshire
country = England
enrollment = 1250
LEA = Hampshire
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
publication =
website = http://www.westgate.hants.sch.uk/
website_name = westgate.hants.sch.uk/

The Westgate School is a comprehensive school in Winchester, Hampshire. It has science specialist status. Westgate is a quite a large school with about 1,250 pupils. A large proportion of its pupils continue to Peter Symonds College which is only a few hundred metres away.

Achievements

In recent years between 75 and 80% of 15 year olds have achieved five or more GCSE grades A to C, 70-80% including Maths and English which children find very fun. [ [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/ UK Government school performance tables] ]
According to the [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/850_gcse_lea.stm BBC league tables] , Westgate is one of Hampshire's top state schools.

Catchment area

Westgate has a large catchment covering Winchester and some of the surrounding villages. Unusually for a state comprehensive, Westgate also features a girls' boarding house, Rotherly where people(children)can stay.

History

The school, formerly known as Winchester County High School, had been a grammar school for girls only, until September 1973 when the first intake of comprehensive boys and girls entered the first year. At this point the school was renamed as The Westgate School. Many of the old grammar school teachers left in July 1974 to work in the neighbouring newly-established sixth form college, the former Peter Symonds boys' grammar school. The Deputy Head, Miss Barbara Taylor, was one who made the move, but the Headmistress, Miss Muriel Rowe, remained for several more years.

The last grammar school intake left in July 1977, leaving The Westgate School entirely comprehensive and co-ed from then on.

Former pupils

* Andy Burrows (drummer for the band Razorlight)
* Lucy Pinder (British model)Julia Darling

(Inspirational writer and artist)

References

External links

* [http://www.westgate.hants.sch.uk/ School website]