Fitzharrys School, is a state secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...

, in England. Currently there are about 900 students attending. The current headteacher is Jonathan Dennett who took over from Susan Tranter in January 2011http://fitzharrys.oxon.sch.uk/index.php/whats-on/latest-news/266-newheadteacher. The school emblem that adorns the gateway and uniform badges depicts three Harriers

Harrier (bird)

A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds....

 on a blue background.

School status

Since 2005, Fitzharrys School has held the status of a specialist school

Specialist school

The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...

 for technology. The specialist school status is a joint partnership between the three state secondary schools in Abingdon: Fitzharrys, John Mason School

John Mason School

John Mason School, or JMS, is a state secondary school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. It has a specialist Arts College status.-History:Established as an old grammar school in 1960, JMS has now grown considerably, with, as of 2007, approximately 1000 students. Ms Di Mashiter began as the...

 and Larkmead School

Larkmead School

Larkmead School is a state secondary school situated on Faringdon Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. It is one in a four-way partnership of Abingdon schools known as 14:19 Abingdon. The other members are John Mason School, Fitzharrys School and Abingdon and Witney College...

. As part of the recent change in status and increased funding many new investments have been made.

Notable alumni

Professor Kathy Sykes

Kathy Sykes

Kathy Sykes is a British physicist, academic and broadcaster. She has been Professor of Sciences and Society at the University of Bristol since November 2002...

, Collier Chair For Public Engagement in Science and Engineering at the University of Bristol

University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...

 studied at Fitzharrys.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article391121.ece.

Kate Garraway

Kate Garraway

Kathryn Mary Garraway is an English journalist currently employed by ITV Breakfast.She has presented the UK version of The Biggest Loser.-Early life:...

(Former GMTV and now Daybreak presenter) attended the school.

External links

• Official Website