Cherwell School
Encyclopedia
The Cherwell School is a state secondary school on the Marston Ferry Road
in Oxford
, England
. The current school site was built in 1963 as a secondary modern school
, later becoming the main comprehensive school
for North Oxford
. Along with later expansions, in 2003, and as part of a city-wide reorganisation, it merged with the Frideswide Middle School, and is now a split site school of 1,700 students aged between 11 and 19. The Cherwell School's previous headteacher was Mr N McGowan. McGowan announced his departure on 2 April 2010 after 8 months in post.. McGowan left at the end of May 2010 and was replaced by acting head Paul James. In October, Paul James was appointed Headteacher.
The main building work was construction of a new building alongside the existing block, and then removing the internal wall to create a much larger space. On the second floor of the structure, the school library has been extended to include quiet study areas, each with computer and desk facilities. Currently there are limited funds for the furnishing of this new block; an appeal has been launched on the school website for donations.
The school currently has the largest number of students of any state school in Oxfordshire.
Marston Ferry Road
Marston Ferry Road is a link road in north Oxford, England.The road links the Banbury Road in North Oxford just south of Summertown with Cherwell Drive in Marston, continuing as Headley Way to Headington to the southeast. It is a modern link road with a bridge over the River Cherwell about half way...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The current school site was built in 1963 as a secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
, later becoming the main comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
for North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
. Along with later expansions, in 2003, and as part of a city-wide reorganisation, it merged with the Frideswide Middle School, and is now a split site school of 1,700 students aged between 11 and 19. The Cherwell School's previous headteacher was Mr N McGowan. McGowan announced his departure on 2 April 2010 after 8 months in post.. McGowan left at the end of May 2010 and was replaced by acting head Paul James. In October, Paul James was appointed Headteacher.
Recent changes
The North site has recently undergone construction work, with the extension of the Sixth form common room. The original design, to accommodate only 100 students in years 12 and 13, became inadequate in recent years for the 300 or more students currently in the sixth form.The main building work was construction of a new building alongside the existing block, and then removing the internal wall to create a much larger space. On the second floor of the structure, the school library has been extended to include quiet study areas, each with computer and desk facilities. Currently there are limited funds for the furnishing of this new block; an appeal has been launched on the school website for donations.
The school currently has the largest number of students of any state school in Oxfordshire.
Notable alumni
Cherwell School alumni are called Cherwellians:- Hannah EnglandHannah EnglandHannah England is a British middle-distance athlete who specialises in the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run.Born in Oxford, England, she attended the Cherwell School in Summertown, North Oxford. England joined Oxford City Athletic Club as an under 13, her first major success coming in the UK...
, middle-distance runner and World Championship 1500m silver medallist. - Adam Hunt, chess International Master and younger brother of Woman Grandmaster, Harriet HuntHarriet HuntHarriet Vaughan Hunt is an English chess player and four times British Ladies' champion.-Biography:A high profile player from an early age, she won five British Junior Girls titles between 1989 and 1991...
. - James LavelleJames LavelleJames Lavelle is a DJ, electronic recording artist and record label boss.-Early years:Born into a family with a strong tradition of music, Lavelle first began by learning the cello with his grandmother in Oxford....
, member of music group UNKLEUNKLEUnkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, founder of Mo'Wax record label. - Yasmin Le BonYasmin Le BonYasmin Le Bon is a British Iranian fashion model. She was born to an Iranian father and an English mother...
née Yasmin Parvaneh, model and wife of Simon Le BonSimon Le BonSimon John Charles Le Bon is an English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia.-Early life:...
of Duran DuranDuran DuranDuran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
fame. - Tom PennyTom PennyTom Penny is a professional skateboarder from Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. He is well known in the skateboarding community for his calm style and natural abilities and as a master of frontside flips and many kickflip variations...
, professional skateboarder. - Tom Poster, pianist and winner of the keyboard section of BBC Young Musician of the YearBBC Young Musician of the YearThe BBC Young Musician of the Year is a televised national music competition. It is broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Four biennially, despite the name, and hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
in 2000.
External links
- Cherwell School website
- Exam league table results for Cherwell School, 2006 and results from 2005
- Ofsted inspection report (carried out in 2005)
- http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=123251&providerCategoryID=8192 [January 2008]
- Aerial Map of Cherwell School (North site)