Herschel Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Herschel Grammar School is a selective co-educational grammar
foundation school
and Technology College
in Slough
, Berkshire
. The current headteacher is Mrs Joanne Rockall. The school has around 900 pupils, 250 of whom are in the Sixth Form
.
in William Street (a site now occupied by the Slough campus
of Thames Valley University
) in about 1952. In 1958, the school moved to a purpose-built site on Northampton Avenue, occupying land that had (before the Second World War) been used as 'Timbertown', an area of hastily constructed temporary houses. The school has remained at Northampton Avenue, although for the 1988/89 academic year it temporarily moved to the site of the former Orchard Secondary Modern School while the permanent buildings were refurbished after damage to the roof in the storms of 1987.
Within its present buildings, the school has had a number of different names and forms, including:
In 2004, the school completed a multimillion pound sports centre, which now serves as Herschel Sports to the public when out of school hours. The sports complex includes a full-size astro-turf football, hockey pitch, four full-size tennis courts, six full-size indoor badminton courts, one full-size indoor basketball court, a dance studio and changing facilities with lockers.
In 2010 a number of students in the sixth form managed to secure places on courses such as medicine while others received offers at universities such as Cambridge
and the LSE
.
, and Baylis Court School
, all of which are within the same district of Slough.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
foundation school
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....
and Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
in Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. The current headteacher is Mrs Joanne Rockall. The school has around 900 pupils, 250 of whom are in the Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
.
History
The school was established in town centre buildings formerly occupied by Slough Secondary SchoolSlough Grammar School
The school is a Language College, a Science College, a Leading Edge School, an ICT-Focus School, a Training School, an International School under the International Baccalaureate Organization and a participant in the Primary Language Initiative. From September 2004 it has offered some International...
in William Street (a site now occupied by the Slough campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
of Thames Valley University
Thames Valley University
The University of West London is a public university based in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in Ealing and Brentford, London, and Reading, Berkshire....
) in about 1952. In 1958, the school moved to a purpose-built site on Northampton Avenue, occupying land that had (before the Second World War) been used as 'Timbertown', an area of hastily constructed temporary houses. The school has remained at Northampton Avenue, although for the 1988/89 academic year it temporarily moved to the site of the former Orchard Secondary Modern School while the permanent buildings were refurbished after damage to the roof in the storms of 1987.
Within its present buildings, the school has had a number of different names and forms, including:
- Slough Technical SchoolSecondary Technical SchoolA Secondary Technical School was a type of secondary school in the United Kingdom that existed in the mid-20th century under the Tripartite System of education. For various reasons few were ever built, and their main interest is on a theoretical level....
- Slough Technical High School (to 1972)
- Herschel High School (1972 to 1984)
- Sir William HerschelWilliam HerschelSir Frederick William Herschel, KH, FRS, German: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel was a German-born British astronomer, technical expert, and composer. Born in Hanover, Wilhelm first followed his father into the Military Band of Hanover, but emigrated to Britain at age 19...
Grammar School (from 1984) - Herschel Grammar School
In 2004, the school completed a multimillion pound sports centre, which now serves as Herschel Sports to the public when out of school hours. The sports complex includes a full-size astro-turf football, hockey pitch, four full-size tennis courts, six full-size indoor badminton courts, one full-size indoor basketball court, a dance studio and changing facilities with lockers.
Sixth form
The school has a sixth form of about 250 pupils, both from the lower school and pupils who have moved from other schools. The sixth form is a part of the Herschel Consortium. The pupils in the sixth form have a common room that is used for studying as well as more general recreational and relaxing activities during lesson time. In September 2006 a silent study room was built inside the sixth form block and pupils are timetabled to spend one or two hours of non-lesson time in a supervised study room.In 2010 a number of students in the sixth form managed to secure places on courses such as medicine while others received offers at universities such as Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and the LSE
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Prefects
The school has a prefect system. In the latter part of Year 12, twelve prefects including a Head Boy & Head Girl are elected by the students and teachers in the Sixth Form and Year 11. The prefects occupy their posts until the end of Year 13.HGS Student Newspaper
In December 2009, the school launched a student publication: “HGS”. It provides a light hearted and more student orientated account on the goings on at Herschel, with an eclectic mix of articles ranging from interviews with teachers, agony aunt advice pages and a Big Issues section. Since March 2010 it has also included a “Student Spotlight” aimed at celebrating notable pupils who have excelled in extracurricular activities.School links
Herschel Grammar School is the founding member-school of the Herschel Consortium - a co-operation of the sixth forms of Herschel Grammar School, the Westgate SchoolWestgate School
The Westgate School is a co-educational secondary modern foundation school. in Cippenham, Slough, Berkshire, England. It has recently launched a sixth form, which is part of the Herschel Consortium....
, and Baylis Court School
Baylis Court School
Baylis Court School is a girls' secondary modern foundation school in Slough, Berkshire, England, for students aged 11–18. It is the only single-sex non-selective school in Slough, and has a sixth form which is part of the Herschel Consortium....
, all of which are within the same district of Slough.
Notable alumni
- Iain LeeIain LeeIain Lee is a British comedian, and a television and radio presenter. His career began when he performed stand-up comedy gigs across venues in London. He subsequently became co-presenter of the comedy current affairs show The 11 O'Clock Show on Channel 4 and RI:SE...
, broadcasterPresenterA presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show... - Brian McDermottBrian McDermott (footballer)Brian James McDermott is an English football manager and former player.He joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1977 and went on to play for Fulham, IFK Norrköping, Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Exeter City and Yeovil Town in a 14-year playing career during the 1980s and 1990s...
, footballer and 2009-10 caretaker manager of Reading FC.