Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Encyclopedia
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School is a state comprehensive school
near Wotton-under-Edge
, Gloucestershire
, England
, for ages 11 to 18. It was founded by Lady Berkeley for the use of six scholars in 1384 which makes it one of the oldest surviving schools in England
, and the oldest state school in the country.
The old school buildings in School Lane, Wotton-under-Edge, were erected in 1726 with additions later. Shortly after the school had become co-educational, Church Mill was bought in 1908. After the First World War, Carlton House was rented from the Post Office.
In January 1963 the school vacated the premises in Wotton and moved into a new building for 350 pupils in the Kingswood Road. The erection of the first phase of extensions to the Kingswood Road buildings began in March 1972.The extensions were completed for the start of the Autumn Term 1973, when Katharine Lady Berkeley's re-opened as a comprehensive school for 830 pupils. Wotton Secondary School closed at the end of August 1973.
The second phase of extensions was completed in September 1975.
In 1989 HRH the Duke of Gloucester
opened the Renishaw Centre, an IT room costing £60,000 and since then the School has installed three more computer rooms. Renishaw Company renewed the equipment in the Renishaw Centre, with the former hardware being transferred to the Special Needs Department.
In 1992 Grant Maintained (GM) status was attained, with the object of providing for the structural improvement of the buildings and a wish to be able to make independent decisions to suit the school's future. In 1996, the school achieved designation as a Language College
which attracts additional funding from central government This has enabled the school to offer a languages curriculum covering seven modern languages and Latin
.
In 1994 accommodation was added to allow for the increase in numbers, from 1010 in 1984 to 1170 in 1994 and then to 1340 in 1998. Further new buildings were completed in September 1997 to provide six more classrooms and the Language Centre costing £220,000 was opened in September 1996. In autumn 1999, work began on further new buildings to provide a new two storey teaching block which includes 11 classrooms, three ICT
suites and a new library. In addition to this a three laboratory extension was added to the Science
Centre.
In 2003 a major new extension was added to the Music block and a small network of computers installed. One of the rooms in the Humanities block was converted into a cross-curricular computer suite. The Business Studies
ICT suite was upgraded into a full computer suite.
In 2004 a new single-story block was added between the existing Science and Music
blocks. This accommodates a new ICT suite, four new classrooms and two small meeting/seminar rooms.
In 2005 the reception area was refurbished with new office accommodation added. Since then the Music block has been extended and two further classrooms have been converted to ICT suites.
In 2007 the school gained a second DfES specialism, that of training school
. The school population has stabilised at around 1500 pupils. On the 16th January 2008 the school had an OFSTED inspection and received 'Good' overall, with an 'Outstanding' for the Sixth Form. The full report can be viewed by visiting the OFSTED http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=115757&providerCategoryID=8192 website.
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...
near Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern end of the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town. Standing on the B4058 Wotton is about from the M5 motorway. The nearest railway station is...
, 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...
, for ages 11 to 18. It was founded by Lady Berkeley for the use of six scholars in 1384 which makes it one of the oldest surviving schools in 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...
, and the oldest state school in the country.
The old school buildings in School Lane, Wotton-under-Edge, were erected in 1726 with additions later. Shortly after the school had become co-educational, Church Mill was bought in 1908. After the First World War, Carlton House was rented from the Post Office.
In January 1963 the school vacated the premises in Wotton and moved into a new building for 350 pupils in the Kingswood Road. The erection of the first phase of extensions to the Kingswood Road buildings began in March 1972.The extensions were completed for the start of the Autumn Term 1973, when Katharine Lady Berkeley's re-opened as a comprehensive school for 830 pupils. Wotton Secondary School closed at the end of August 1973.
The second phase of extensions was completed in September 1975.
In 1989 HRH the Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is a member of the British Royal Family. Prince Richard is the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has been Duke of Gloucester since his father's death in 1974. He is currently 20th in the line of succession...
opened the Renishaw Centre, an IT room costing £60,000 and since then the School has installed three more computer rooms. Renishaw Company renewed the equipment in the Renishaw Centre, with the former hardware being transferred to the Special Needs Department.
In 1992 Grant Maintained (GM) status was attained, with the object of providing for the structural improvement of the buildings and a wish to be able to make independent decisions to suit the school's future. In 1996, the school achieved designation as a Language College
Language College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
which attracts additional funding from central government This has enabled the school to offer a languages curriculum covering seven modern languages and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
suites and a new library. In addition to this a three laboratory extension was added to the Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
Centre.
In 2003 a major new extension was added to the Music block and a small network of computers installed. One of the rooms in the Humanities block was converted into a cross-curricular computer suite. The Business Studies
Business studies
Business studies is an academic subject taught at higher level in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, as well as at university level in many countries...
ICT suite was upgraded into a full computer suite.
In 2004 a new single-story block was added between the existing Science and Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
blocks. This accommodates a new ICT suite, four new classrooms and two small meeting/seminar rooms.
In 2005 the reception area was refurbished with new office accommodation added. Since then the Music block has been extended and two further classrooms have been converted to ICT suites.
In 2007 the school gained a second DfES specialism, that of training school
Training school
For a juvenile correctional facility, see youth detention center-----A training school is an official designation, awarded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, to schools in England that provide exceptional facilities for in-service and work experience training of teachers...
. The school population has stabilised at around 1500 pupils. On the 16th January 2008 the school had an OFSTED inspection and received 'Good' overall, with an 'Outstanding' for the Sixth Form. The full report can be viewed by visiting the OFSTED http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=115757&providerCategoryID=8192 website.