Longdean School
Encyclopedia
Longdean School is a academy in Hemel Hempstead
, Hertfordshire
. The academy has specialist status as a Maths and Computing College.
in Hemel Hempstead
. It was founded in 1957 as part of the growth of the town after being designated as a new town and the need for new secondary
school provision.
to form the third-largest comprehensive school
in Hertfordshire
at the time.
The school motto was Rejoice in Thy Youth, and this remained after the amalgamation.
Since September 2006 the headmaster is Mr Rhodri Bryant, replacing the previous headmaster, Mr Nigel Matthias. The last Ofsted
report classed the school as a ‘GOOD’ school with outstanding featureshttp://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/117523. Mr Bryant's appointment coincided with the £30,000 redevelopment of the 6th Form common room as well as significant refurbishment throughout the school. Further development is planned.
On 30 October 2007 a new website was released sporting the new colours of the school. The school has a VLE system (virtual learning environment
) on which student work can be uploaded and teachers can contact students. The school operates a cashless catering system where money can be put on to the card which can be used in the school's two canteens.
During the summer term of 2011 longdean school changed its status form school to academy, thus becoming longdean school academy.
the school is actually situated about one mile away in the Bennetts End
district of the town.
The school works in consortium
with two neighbouring schools to enhance post-16 provision. The group consists of Adeyfield School
, Astley Cooper School
and Longdean School. Staff development and well-being are also coordinated at consortium level.
Former members of staff include:
Former members of staff include:
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. The academy has specialist status as a Maths and Computing College.
Grammar school
Originally called Apsley Grammar School, it began as a state grammar schoolGrammar 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...
in Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
. It was founded in 1957 as part of the growth of the town after being designated as a new town and the need for new secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
school provision.
Comprehensive
The name of the school changed to Longdean School in 1970 on the amalgamation with the adjacent Bennett's End Secondary Modern SchoolSecondary 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...
to form the third-largest 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...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
at the time.
The school motto was Rejoice in Thy Youth, and this remained after the amalgamation.
Since September 2006 the headmaster is Mr Rhodri Bryant, replacing the previous headmaster, Mr Nigel Matthias. The last Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education
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 classed the school as a ‘GOOD’ school with outstanding featureshttp://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/117523. Mr Bryant's appointment coincided with the £30,000 redevelopment of the 6th Form common room as well as significant refurbishment throughout the school. Further development is planned.
On 30 October 2007 a new website was released sporting the new colours of the school. The school has a VLE system (virtual learning environment
Virtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
) on which student work can be uploaded and teachers can contact students. The school operates a cashless catering system where money can be put on to the card which can be used in the school's two canteens.
During the summer term of 2011 longdean school changed its status form school to academy, thus becoming longdean school academy.
Admissions
Although named for the nearby village of ApsleyApsley
Apsley is a 19th century mill town in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It is a historic industrial site situated in a valley of the Chiltern Hills. It is positioned below the confluence of two permanent rivers, the Gade and Bulbourne. In an area of little surface water this was an obvious site...
the school is actually situated about one mile away in the Bennetts End
Bennetts End
Bennetts End is a neighbourhood within Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, England. It is located in the southeast of the town and consists almost entirely of public housing built as part of the new town in the 1950s...
district of the town.
The school works in consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
with two neighbouring schools to enhance post-16 provision. The group consists of Adeyfield School
Adeyfield School
Adeyfield School is an 11-18 secondary school in Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The school has specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College...
, Astley Cooper School
Astley Cooper School
The Astley Cooper School is an 11-18 comprehensive school on the edge of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. It was established in 1984 following a merger of two local schools, Grove Hill School and Highfield School. It occupies the former Grove Hill site on St Agnells Lane. The former Highfield...
and Longdean School. Staff development and well-being are also coordinated at consortium level.
Apsley Grammar School
Former students include:- Paul Boateng, (now Baron Boateng)Paul BoatengPaul Yaw Boateng, Baron Boateng is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, becoming the UK's first black Cabinet Minister in May 2002, when he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury...
- the UK's first black Cabinet ministerCabinet of the United KingdomThe Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
, and British High Commissioner to South Africa from March 2005 to April 2009. - Prof Hugh Loxdale MBE, entomologist, Professor of Ecology from 2009-10 at the Institute of Ecology, University of Jena, and President from 2004-6 of the Royal Entomological Society of LondonRoyal Entomological Society of LondonThe Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
- Andy PowellAndy PowellAndy Powell is an English guitarist and songwriter, and best known as a founding member of Wishbone Ash.-Early life and career:...
- guitarist in the rock group Wishbone AshWishbone AshWishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular records included Wishbone Ash , Argus , There's the Rub , and New England... - Prof Kenneth Powell, biotechnologist, and Professor of Biology from 1995-2000 at University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
Former members of staff include:
- Iris du PréIris du PréIris du Pré was a pianist, composer, conductor and educator, best known as the mother of two famous musicians, Hilary, and Jacqueline....
- music department - Prof David Daniell, Professor of English from 1992-4 at University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(sixth form master from 1958-69)
Longdean School
Former students include:- Chris EaglesChris EaglesChristopher Mark "Chris" Eagles is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers...
- Professional soccer player, enrolled in Manchester United youth academy before turning pro, now playing for Burnley. - Jake HowellsJake HowellsJake Thomas Howells is an English-born Welsh footballer who plays for Luton Town.-Youth career:Howells was born in Hemel Hempstead, and represented his town at youth level...
- Professional soccer player, currently playing for Luton Town, for whom he has twice won the Young Player of the Season award in 2009 and 2010.
Former members of staff include:
- Brian Coulshead, Headteacher from 1993-2010 of Parmiter's SchoolParmiter's SchoolParmiter's School is a co-educational school in Garston, Hertfordshire on the outskirts of North West London, England with a long history. Although the school admits pupils of all abilities it is partially selective...
(taught from 1972-9) - Geoffrey Mills, Headteacher from 1983-98 of The Latymer SchoolThe Latymer SchoolThe Latymer School is a selective, mixed grammar school in Edmonton, north London, England.- Examination procedures :Approximately 180 pupils are admitted to Year 7 annually. Places are awarded on the basis of competitive examination, though 20 are reserved for students with exceptional musical...
(taught from 1973-8)