Preston Manor High School
Encyclopedia
Preston Manor High School is one of the largest high schools within the London Borough of Brent
, located in the Preston
area.
. Its current headteacher is Mr M. Lantos, who recently took over from Mrs. Andrea Berkeley. Most of the students today are of Asian origin (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) and others are of Afro-Caribbean and African descent.
in 2002 with Mathematics as an additional specialism.
Science and Maths achievement have increased dramatically and continue to improve since becoming a specialist college. Results for both subjects are significantly above the National Average across all key stages.
It has four local primary partner schools in the borough that it works with throughout the year as part of its specialist science community work. Pupils at Ark Academy, Oakington Manor, Byron Court, Preston Park and Wembley Manor pay regular visits to its laboratories or receive outreach lessons from its trained science teachers. It also works closely with its secondary community partners, JFS and the KS3 Pupil Referral Unit pupil to provide an enriched and motivating curriculum for their students. It is continuing to develop its community work, offering workshops to parents and members of the local community on Science and Health related issues.
At Key Stage 4 the percentage of students achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE has risen steadily over the past 3 years (from 70% in 2004 to 74% in 2006). The percentage of students achieving 5 or more A* to G grades has remained steady over the same period (at 98% or 99%).
In summer 2006 it achieved its highest ever examination successes at GCSE
and Post 16, putting Preston Manor in the top 25% of schools nationally. As a result of the innovative practice within the school, it hosted over ten visits for educationalists from the Department for Education and Skills (including the Secretary of State
) and other schools to showcase good practice in raising achievement with Africa
n, African-Caribbean
boys, whole school literacy and most importantly the personalisation of education.
It gets the second best GCSE and A-level results in Brent, with well-above average results, although the GCSE results are better than those at A-level. The best in Brent is JFS, which gets results similar to a grammar school
.
judged the school to be outstanding overall, recognising Preston Manor as a forward-thinking school, whose commitment and level of care to students is outstanding. In recognition of its consistently high standards, it gained High Performing Specialist School status and was asked to take on a second specialism, which will add to its already extensive collaborative work with local primary and secondary schools.
Preston Manor has now started to teach food technology and DT. These options will be available to choose from GSCE options in many more years to come.
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
, located in the Preston
Preston, London
Preston is an area of northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent. The area has a mid-sized park called Preston Park. The Preston Manor High School is located in the area.-Buses:...
area.
Admissions
It has 1354 students in High School and roughly 260 students in Sixth FormSixth 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,...
. Its current headteacher is Mr M. Lantos, who recently took over from Mrs. Andrea Berkeley. Most of the students today are of Asian origin (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) and others are of Afro-Caribbean and African descent.
Grammar school
It was founded in 1938 as Preston Manor County Grammar School and its first headteacher was Mr W.P. Bannister, who recruited excellent staff and maintained high standards throughout the War which continued throughout his tenure as Head.. He remained headmaster until his death in 1963. Other long serving teachers were Mr Clarke, Miss Cave, Mr Kernutt, Mr & Mrs Kent and Miss Mullins. It provided a traditional grammar school curriculum with science and languages streams. The school motto was "Munas prae jure" which may be translated as "Duty before rights".Preston Manor as a Science College
Preston Manor was amongst the first cohort of schools nationally to become a specialist Science CollegeScience College
Science Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, science and mathematics...
in 2002 with Mathematics as an additional specialism.
Science and Maths achievement have increased dramatically and continue to improve since becoming a specialist college. Results for both subjects are significantly above the National Average across all key stages.
It has four local primary partner schools in the borough that it works with throughout the year as part of its specialist science community work. Pupils at Ark Academy, Oakington Manor, Byron Court, Preston Park and Wembley Manor pay regular visits to its laboratories or receive outreach lessons from its trained science teachers. It also works closely with its secondary community partners, JFS and the KS3 Pupil Referral Unit pupil to provide an enriched and motivating curriculum for their students. It is continuing to develop its community work, offering workshops to parents and members of the local community on Science and Health related issues.
Academic results
Over the past five years, achievement of students at Key Stage 3 have been consistently above the national average in all three core subjects.At Key Stage 4 the percentage of students achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE has risen steadily over the past 3 years (from 70% in 2004 to 74% in 2006). The percentage of students achieving 5 or more A* to G grades has remained steady over the same period (at 98% or 99%).
In summer 2006 it achieved its highest ever examination successes at GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
and Post 16, putting Preston Manor in the top 25% of schools nationally. As a result of the innovative practice within the school, it hosted over ten visits for educationalists from the Department for Education and Skills (including the Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
) and other schools to showcase good practice in raising achievement with Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n, African-Caribbean
British African-Caribbean community
The British African Caribbean communities are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background and whose ancestors were primarily indigenous to Africa...
boys, whole school literacy and most importantly the personalisation of education.
It gets the second best GCSE and A-level results in Brent, with well-above average results, although the GCSE results are better than those at A-level. The best in Brent is JFS, which gets results similar to a grammar school
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...
.
Ofsted Reports
In November 2005, OfstedOffice 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 ....
judged the school to be outstanding overall, recognising Preston Manor as a forward-thinking school, whose commitment and level of care to students is outstanding. In recognition of its consistently high standards, it gained High Performing Specialist School status and was asked to take on a second specialism, which will add to its already extensive collaborative work with local primary and secondary schools.
Preston Manor has now started to teach food technology and DT. These options will be available to choose from GSCE options in many more years to come.
Expansion
As of September 2008 Preston Manor began admitting forty more students into its cohort. Therefore in order to facilitate this the school needed to expand. Work began in January 2008 on a £4.5 million project which will see a new teaching block and a 4 court sports hall built, amongst other new facilities.Notable alumni
- Lady SovereignLady SovereignLouise Amanda Harman , better known by the stage name Lady Sovereign, is an English rapper & grime artist. She is noted for her professional success in performing styles of music generally dominated by males...
- London Grime artist, contestant of Celebrity Big Brother 2010 - Kapil Trivedi - drummer for the British Indie Group Mystery JetsMystery JetsMystery Jets are an English five-piece indie band, formerly based on Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, London. The band was formed by Henry Harrison , Blaine Harrison and William Rees when the boys were still at school and would send each other songs on cassettes...
- Una PadelUna PadelUna Padel was a British criminal-justice reformer, known for her work in penal reform. She was the director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies from 1999 until her death in 2006, after which the centre established the Una Padel Award.- Life and career :Born in Hampstead, London, Padel...
(21 July 1956 – 29 August 2006) was a British criminal-justice reformer, known for her work in penal reform
Preston Manor County Grammar School
- Barbara BrayBarbara BrayBarbara Bray was a British translator and critic.An identical twin , she was educated at Girton College, Cambridge, where she read English, with papers in French and Italian...
née Jacobs, distinguished scholar of French literature and a well-known literary translator, partner of Samuel BeckettSamuel BeckettSamuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most... - Mark Goodfellow, Ambassador to Gabon from 1986-90
- John HosierJohn HosierJohn Hosier CBE, was a musical educator. He was born with stunted fingers so was unable to play a musical instrument himself, but nonetheless he devoted his life to music and music education...
CBE - Head of schools music broadcasts at the BBC from 1960-73 and Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and DramaGuildhall School of Music and DramaGuildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
from 1978-89 - Derek Milton, High Commissioner to Jamaica from 1989-95
- Derek Partridge CMG, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone from 1986-91
- Prof Gary Slapper, Professor of Law at the Open UniversityOpen UniversityThe Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
- writes the Case Notes column for The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International... - Jim Slater, private investor who started the Really Essential Financial Statistics (REFS) company financial information system in 1994
- Jeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of PlaistowJeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of PlaistowJeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of Plaistow, GCVO, CBE , is a British businessman. He was executive chairman of the shipping line P&O from 1983 to 2005, having joined the board as a non-executive Director on 6 February 1980...
CBE, Chairman from 1983-2005 of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation CompanyPeninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation CompanyThe Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
(P&O), and founded MotabilityMotabilityMotability is a United Kingdom scheme which enables disabled people to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter by using their Government-funded mobility allowances....
in 1977 - Rosemary Thew, Chief Executive since 2005 of the Driving Standards AgencyDriving Standards AgencyThe Driving Standards Agency is an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport .DSA’s vision is 'Safe Driving for Life'. Its overall mission is to contribute to the public service agreement objective to achieve 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road...
- Mari WilsonMari WilsonMari Wilson is an English singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s-influenced pop music songs, and her beehive hairstyle.-Career:...
, singer - Robert Fisher, Professional football player with Leyton Orient FC
- Jeffrey Kenner, Professor of Law, Nottingham University, 2005 - date