Richard Huish College, Taunton
Encyclopedia
Richard Huish College is named after Richard Huish who originally established the college as a grammar school
for boys in the 18th century. Since 1979 it has been a sixth form college
. It is located on a single site, about a mile from the centre of Taunton
, the county town of Somerset
, England.
The college received an outstanding grade from Ofsted
in 2007.
The college attracts students from a wide geographical area around the town, as well as from the schools in Taunton. The college also attracts students from the strong independent sector in Taunton and also from other counties in the United Kingdom. In Somerset as a whole, around 80% of young people aged 16 to 18 are in full-time education and training. General Certificate of Secondary Education
(GCSE) results in Somerset in 2002 were slightly above the national average. The unemployment rate in the area served by the college is low. There is a general further education college in Taunton, and four tertiary colleges
within a 25 miles (40.2 km) radius.
The college caters mainly to full-time students aged 16 to 18, but there is a growing range of professional courses for adult students, mainly in business and accounting. There were 1,281 students in 2002/03 and approximately 1,850 at the end of 2006. There are now over 2,000. Most students are taking advanced-level courses, including subsidiary and vocational courses. A small number of GCSEs are offered. The college places a strong emphasis on the breadth of its enrichment activities for full-time students.
Over the period 2000–2009, a variety of building projects have resulted in the Willow Building, the Hawthorn Building, Linden, and in 2009 Rowan House, each providing outstanding facilities for teaching and learning, with additional facilities for music and sport. In 2003, the Learning Resource Centre at the heart of the campus, which is named after the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke
, a former pupil of Huish's Grammar School, was extended and completely refurbished. Plans are currently in place for more new building, extension and refurbishment as the college grows both in size and reputation. In 2006 the sports dome was opened, a ground breaking project for an inflatable dome for sports. The development of the Redwood Centre has many functions including: performance space for music students, and exam hall, common room and many more.
During the Summer of 2008 Somerset Catering Services lost their catering contract. The new academic year saw Costa Coffee opening in the College Cafe.
During the summer of 2010, after rigorous campaigning by the student environmental group, mostly every rubbish bin has been removed from campus in favor of cleaner more Eco-friendly recycling receptacles.
There are over 40 subjects offered at level 3 in General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (GCE AS) and GCE Advanced level (GCE A2). Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) courses are offered in business, leisure and recreation, performing arts (popular music industries), and health and social care. At level 2, a small number of GCSEs is offered. The college places a strong emphasis on the breadth of its enrichment activities for full-time students.
There is a growing range of professional courses for adult students, mainly in business and accounting. Adult students make up less than 5% of the college's full-time equivalent students.
, freeplay in the dome and table tennis.
The Sports Dome, new for 2006, has led to an increase in participation in badminton and martial arts. Despite some doubts about its appearance, students and staff have welcomed it. Watch a video of the Sports Dome going up.
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...
for boys in the 18th century. Since 1979 it has been a sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
. It is located on a single site, about a mile from the centre of Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, the county town of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England.
The college received an outstanding grade from Ofsted
Ofsted
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 ....
in 2007.
The college attracts students from a wide geographical area around the town, as well as from the schools in Taunton. The college also attracts students from the strong independent sector in Taunton and also from other counties in the United Kingdom. In Somerset as a whole, around 80% of young people aged 16 to 18 are in full-time education and training. General Certificate of Secondary Education
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...
(GCSE) results in Somerset in 2002 were slightly above the national average. The unemployment rate in the area served by the college is low. There is a general further education college in Taunton, and four tertiary colleges
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
within a 25 miles (40.2 km) radius.
The college caters mainly to full-time students aged 16 to 18, but there is a growing range of professional courses for adult students, mainly in business and accounting. There were 1,281 students in 2002/03 and approximately 1,850 at the end of 2006. There are now over 2,000. Most students are taking advanced-level courses, including subsidiary and vocational courses. A small number of GCSEs are offered. The college places a strong emphasis on the breadth of its enrichment activities for full-time students.
College mission statement
"To be a centre of excellence in the south-west by providing 16 to 19-year-old students with high quality advanced-level education, to prepare them for higher education (HE) and professional careers, and by contributing to workforce development in the region."Campus
The college occupies a site of 8 hectares (19.8 acre), of which 70% is sports fields, in the south of Taunton. The college buildings range in age from 1880 to 2009 and take their names from some of the trees that cover the campus.Over the period 2000–2009, a variety of building projects have resulted in the Willow Building, the Hawthorn Building, Linden, and in 2009 Rowan House, each providing outstanding facilities for teaching and learning, with additional facilities for music and sport. In 2003, the Learning Resource Centre at the heart of the campus, which is named after the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, a former pupil of Huish's Grammar School, was extended and completely refurbished. Plans are currently in place for more new building, extension and refurbishment as the college grows both in size and reputation. In 2006 the sports dome was opened, a ground breaking project for an inflatable dome for sports. The development of the Redwood Centre has many functions including: performance space for music students, and exam hall, common room and many more.
During the Summer of 2008 Somerset Catering Services lost their catering contract. The new academic year saw Costa Coffee opening in the College Cafe.
During the summer of 2010, after rigorous campaigning by the student environmental group, mostly every rubbish bin has been removed from campus in favor of cleaner more Eco-friendly recycling receptacles.
Technology
There is a campus wide Wi-Fi network installed so that staff and students are able to use compatible laptops, mobile phones or PDAs to access the college network. Summer 2008 saw the removal of all the printers campus wide. These were replaced with more Multi Function Devices which promise to be more convenient, greener and cheaper by saving paper and energy. Staff and Students can log on to any device and print their work. Staff and Students can also easily work from home using the Colleges 'Remote Desktop' Service.Curriculum
As well as traditional school subjects, the college offers many others such as archaeology, critical thinking, environmental science, film studies, health and social care, law, leisure studies, media studies, philosophy, popular music industries and travel & tourism.There are over 40 subjects offered at level 3 in General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (GCE AS) and GCE Advanced level (GCE A2). Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) courses are offered in business, leisure and recreation, performing arts (popular music industries), and health and social care. At level 2, a small number of GCSEs is offered. The college places a strong emphasis on the breadth of its enrichment activities for full-time students.
There is a growing range of professional courses for adult students, mainly in business and accounting. Adult students make up less than 5% of the college's full-time equivalent students.
Exam results
The college's A2-Level exam results are as follows:- 2003/2004 - 99.3% pass rate
- 2004/2005 - 99.7% pass rate: A-B: 71%
- 2005/2006 - 99.8%+ pass rate: A-B: 75%
- 2006/2007 - 99.2%+ pass rate: A-B: 74%
- 2007/2008 - 99%+ pass rate: A-B: 55%
- 2008/2009 - 99%+ pass rate: A-B: 69%
Notable students
- Andrew CastleAndrew CastleAndrew Nicholas Castle is an English retired tennis professional, former British No. 1, and now television presenter.-Biography:...
, former British number one tennis player and television presenter. - Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. ClarkeSir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, a BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and inventor. - William GibsonWilliam Gibson (historian)William Thomas Gibson is a historian, academic, and professor who specialises in the history of religion in Britain in the early modern period.-Education:...
, Professor of History - Rebecca HuxtableRebecca HuxtableRebecca 'Beccy' Huxtable is a British radio personality and producer, currently co-producing The Scott Mills Show with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 1.- Early life :Rebecca was born in Taunton, Somerset...
, Co-presenter on Radio 1. - Keith ParsonsKeith ParsonsKeith Alan Parsons is an English cricketer who played first-class for Somerset between 1992 and 2008. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler....
, cricketer. - Andy RobinsonAndy RobinsonRichard Andrew 'Andy' Robinson OBE is an English rugby union coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach of Scotland.Robinson played as an openside flanker for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions...
, former head coach of the England national rugby union teamEngland national rugby union teamThe England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
Sport
Richard Huish College is a centre of sporting excellence and currently offers academies for Cricket, Tennis, Football, Golf and recently Rugby Union. Richard Huish provides a range of sports including Rugby Union (Men's and Women's), Basketball, Ultimate frisbee and others. There is also the 'Active Huish' scheme which encourages students to take part in sports they previously would not have considered and also provides a more relaxed atmosphere in which to exercise. Examples of the 'Active Huish' programme are dodgeballDodgeball
Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
, freeplay in the dome and table tennis.
The Sports Dome, new for 2006, has led to an increase in participation in badminton and martial arts. Despite some doubts about its appearance, students and staff have welcomed it. Watch a video of the Sports Dome going up.