Dene Magna Community School
Encyclopedia
Dene Magna Community School is a secondary foundation school
in Mitcheldean
, Gloucestershire
, England
, previously known as Abenhall Comprehensive School. The school is mixed, and has 745 pupils aged between 11 and 16. In 2005, the school was awarded a place on Ofsted
's "Honours List" of 234 high-achieving schools. The headmaster is Stephen Brady - replacing Robert Broadbridge in December 2009. In 2008 the school continued their good reputation as they had another outstanding Ofsted
report. Thus making the school one of the best secondary and comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom
. In September 2011 the school became one of the only schools in the area to adopt the new Academy status which had been put forward by the government, this meant that governors and leaders of the school could take control of the financial gatherings of the school and the school as a whole.
for its contribution to environmental education, when a seven month campaign to reduce the school's waste resulted in a 59% reduction in the volume of rubbish produced. The staff intend to change the menus for the food offered by the school to make the students' diets healthier, responding to the area's status as being the area with the highest incidence of heart disease in the country.
Within meetings of the Student Council, matters of student politics are discussed ranging from the interviewing of candidates applying for a post at the school, to discussing new bills and policies regarding the schools management.
, Spain
, Qatar
and Japan
. There are a group of students who take time of school each year to visit the link school in Kenya, and there is a student exchange.
and Cricket
.
The main highlight that has been achieved is the Year 10 Rugby
Team playing in the 2008 Daily Mail cup. The team reached the final round of the regional competition and lost to Chosen Hill School
.
Addax
: Runner-Up in the Interhouse Cup 2011
Brocket
: Winners of the Interhouse Cup 2011
Sassaby: 5th in the Interhouse Cup 2011
Hart
: 3rd of the Interhouse Cup 2011
Rhebok: 4th in the Interhouse Cup 2011
Foundation school
In England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools....
in Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean is a small town in the east of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England.-History:Mitcheldean was a thriving community for many centuries due to the town's proximity to iron ore deposits...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, 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...
, previously known as Abenhall Comprehensive School. The school is mixed, and has 745 pupils aged between 11 and 16. In 2005, the school was awarded a place on Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
's "Honours List" of 234 high-achieving schools. The headmaster is Stephen Brady - replacing Robert Broadbridge in December 2009. In 2008 the school continued their good reputation as they had another outstanding Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report. Thus making the school one of the best secondary and comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In September 2011 the school became one of the only schools in the area to adopt the new Academy status which had been put forward by the government, this meant that governors and leaders of the school could take control of the financial gatherings of the school and the school as a whole.
Health and environmental campaigns
In 2000 the school was awarded a certificate by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for its contribution to environmental education, when a seven month campaign to reduce the school's waste resulted in a 59% reduction in the volume of rubbish produced. The staff intend to change the menus for the food offered by the school to make the students' diets healthier, responding to the area's status as being the area with the highest incidence of heart disease in the country.
Student voice
The Student Council represents the student body's views. From each Tutor Group two representatives are elected annually to attend meetings of their respective Year Council, from which three are elected to attend the meetings of the School Council (Student Council).Within meetings of the Student Council, matters of student politics are discussed ranging from the interviewing of candidates applying for a post at the school, to discussing new bills and policies regarding the schools management.
School events
- Mufti Day - Non-school uniform day, takes place around 4 or 5 times a year.
- Sports Day (June) - The whole school day is dedicated to athletics this is used to win house points
- Sponsored Walk (June) - takes place every year to raise funds for charity and school funds.
Notable alumni
- David Drew, politician, Former LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP for Stroud (former member of staff) - Robert Broadbridge, cricketer (headmaster) 2001-2009
- Paul Manns, footballer - Harrow Hill FC (current teacher) 2009–present
- Natasha (Mo) Hunt, - England Women's Rugby Player (former student)
School Links
There are a number of links which Dene Magna have with the wider world, this includes other schools in countries including KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. There are a group of students who take time of school each year to visit the link school in Kenya, and there is a student exchange.
Sport
There are many sports played at Dene Magna but in team games competitively against other schools there are 3 main sports Football, RugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.
The main highlight that has been achieved is the Year 10 Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
Team playing in the 2008 Daily Mail cup. The team reached the final round of the regional competition and lost to Chosen Hill School
Chosen Hill School
Chosen Hill School is a large co-educational academy state school in the village of Churchdown in Gloucestershire, England, between Cheltenham and Gloucester. It is a dual specialist Technology College and Language College, and a Beacon School. The school was recently mentioned in The Daily...
.
Houses
All of the school houses have been named after different species of deer.Addax
Addax
The Addax , also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered species of antelope that lives in the Sahara desert. As suggested by its alternative name, this pale antelope has long, twisted horns. It is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large...
: Runner-Up in the Interhouse Cup 2011
Brocket
Brocket Deer
Brocket deer are the species of deer in the genus Mazama. They are medium to small in size, and are found in the Yucatán Peninsula, Central and South America, and the island of Trinidad. Most species are primarily found in forests. They are superficially similar to the African duikers and the Asian...
: Winners of the Interhouse Cup 2011
Sassaby: 5th in the Interhouse Cup 2011
Hart
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
: 3rd of the Interhouse Cup 2011
Rhebok: 4th in the Interhouse Cup 2011