King Edward VI Humanities College

Infobox UK school
name = King Edward VI Humanities College


size = 150
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established = 1550 and 1954 - combined in 1991
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type = Bi-lateral school with Grammar and comprehensive elements
religion = Secular and non denominational
president =
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head = Mrs Margaret Reeve
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chair =
founder = Sir Frances Willoughby
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specialist = Humanities College
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street = West End
city = Spilsby
county = Lincolnshire
country = ENG
postcode = PE23 5EW
LEA =
ofsted = 120659
staff =
enrollment = 465
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
houses =

colours = Navy Blue
publication =
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website = http://www.king-edward.lincs.sch.uk/| website_name = King Edward VI Humanities College Website

King Edward VI Humanities College, is a coeducational bi-lateral secondary school and specialist Humanities College located in Spilsby, Lincolnshire for children between the ages of eleven and sixteen.

The bi-lateral status is not common, with less than five such schools remaining in England and Wales, but effectively means that any local children who pass the Lincolnshire Eleven plus examination and select King Edward VI Humanities College will receive a grammar school education, but the school also accepts children who have not passed the 11+ and they will instead receive a separate comprehensive education but under the same roof and from the same teaching staffs and management team. Subject to a child's individual performance, during their time at the school, re-streaming between the bi-lateral poles is possible although rare.

The school is an amalagamation of two separate institutions, the King Edward VI Grammar School opened in 1550 and the Sir John Franklin Secondary Modern School, which opened in 1954. These schools were combined in 1991 as Spilsby High School, initially retaining both sites.

History

Founding of the grammar school

In common with many grammar schools in Britain, Spilsby's was founded in 1550 by order of King Edward VI and bore his name. The building of the new school was funded by the local Lords of the Manor of Eresby, the Willoughby family, who also endowed the school with a fund that continues to the present day. [ [http://www.spilsbygsf.org.uk/ Grammar School Foundation] ]

Initially the school had no school building and lessons took place in the chapel at Willoughby's Eresby Manor estate. In 1611 the family gifted a plot of land and the agricultural buildings were converted into a small school. In 1839 a new school was built on its current site, again with funds provided by the Lord of the Manor. Between 1741 and 1842 the school population consisted of around forty two children, 30 boys and 12 girls. In 1839 the number of girls on the roll increased to 15 although the girls were only taught to read and write in addition to needlework classes, while the boys also studied mathematics, the sciences, Greek and Latin. [ [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/Spilsby/#Census Grammar school] ]

In 1894 Lord Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster and 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby established a charitable trust to continue annual funding of the grammar school into the future.

pilsby’s second school

In 1954 in response to the government’s new Tripartite Educational System the local education authority built a second secondary school in the town called Sir John Franklin Secondary Modern School at a greenfield site near the A16 main road. Under the banner of "education for all" the secondary modern was to provide a rich but more practical and vocational education for those children who did not pass the 11+ examination and attend grammar school.

The schools join

Due to falling roll numbers and in an attempt to reduce running costs, in 1991 Lincolnshire’s education authority announced that it was to amalgamate the two Spilsby schools under a single management and teaching structure while retaining both school sites. The new combined school was renamed Spilsby High School. As the number of pupils continued to fall the original grammar school site was eventually abandoned. The building stood empty and unused for several years, although it could not be demolished due to its Grade 2 Listed Building status. In 2007 the grammar school building was reoccupied and now serves as the "Spilsby Centre of Excellence and Multi Use", providing conference facilities and access to IT for the general community.

In 1997 Spilsby High School renamed and rebranded as King Edward VI School and the current school badge was adopted.

The school today

The long standing Spilsby Grammar School Foundation charitable trust continues to fund elements of the schools annual costs including certain capital costs and the annual prize day. A new foundation charter had been agreed with the Charity Commission in 1990 and assets including several valuable parcels of local land were realised to bolster the foundation’s cash assets. [ [http://www.spilsbygsf.org.uk/ Grammar School Foundation’s assets and continuation] ]

In September 2005 the school achieved specialist school status and renamed yet again, this time to its current King Edward VI Humanities College. The additional funding provided an audio and visual recording studio, enhanced ICT facilities and an archive area in a recently refurbished Humanities Block with interactive whiteboards and well resourced departments. [ [http://www.king-edward.lincs.sch.uk/ Humanities Status] ]

Results

The school ranked 57th out of 65 in the published results table for Lincolnshire schools during 2007. Only 22% of pupils achieved the equivalent of five or more GCSEs at grade C or above. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/925_gcse_lea.stm "Secondary schools in Lincolnshire: GCSE-level"] , BBC News, 10 January 2008] . King Edward VI Humanities College was the only bi-lateral educational facility in the published results table.

Ofsted report

In the most recent Ofsted report dated 30 November 2006 the inspector commented::" This is a small bilateral college which serves Spilsby and the surrounding area, drawing pupils from as far as Skegness. However, most pupils who achieve the required standard in selection tests at eleven attend local grammar schools. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is below average. There are very few pupils from minority ethnic groups or with English as an additional language. The proportions of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and SEN statements are above average. The college has had specialist status in the humanities since September 2005.:Overall Grade: 3 (Satisfactory):The college provides a satisfactory education for its pupils. Inspectors' judgements closely match the college's own evaluation. Senior staff identify the college's strengths and weaknesses accurately and take relevant action to address the key issues. The college has made significant improvements in the last year but many strategies are yet to have full impact on pupils' achievement and personal development, which are satisfactory overall. " [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=120659&inspectionNumber=291818&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\\school\\120\\s5_120659_20070104.xml Ofsted Report Dec 2006] ]

chool badge

The school badge depicts crossed corn sheaves in gold on a white and red shield, representing growth and a rich educational harvest while linking to Lincolnshire’s rural and agricultural heritage. Above the corn sheaves are the words King Edward VI and below is the word Spilsby.

References

External links

* [http://www.king-edward.lincs.sch.uk/spilsby.asp Official site]