Rydon Community College
Encyclopedia
Rydon Community College is a maintained comprehensive
middle-deemed-secondary school
for pupils aged 10 to 13. The school is located just outside Storrington
, West Sussex
in the village of Thakeham
. It is one of only 9 schools of its type in the United Kingdom
, and currently caters for around 415 pupils. Rydon holds the specialist Science College
and Business and Enterprise College
statuses.
.
in nearby Steyning
.
In 2002, consultations were undertaken to review provision in the area to revert to the more usual two-tier structure of education. However, a parental ballot demonstrated clear support for the existing arrangements, and the status quo emerged as the preferred option.
. Several additions and adaptations have been made, including modifications to accommodate the change to an intermediate school.
s, although pupils in the first year of the school are in Key Stage 2
.
Pupils transfer to the school from several feeder primary schools from Storrington, Ashington
and surrounding villages. Almost all pupils transfer at the end of Year 8 into Year 9 at the Steyning Grammar 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...
middle-deemed-secondary school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
for pupils aged 10 to 13. The school is located just outside Storrington
Storrington
Storrington is a village in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England, and one of two in the civil parish of Storrington and Sullington. Storrington lies at the foot of the north side of the South Downs. As of 2006 the village has a population of around 4,600. It has one main shopping street...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in the village of Thakeham
Thakeham
Thakeham is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England located to the north east of Storrington.The name Thakeham means "thatched homestead" and the original village had just one main street which is home to the village's only pub, The White Lion, and church. The...
. It is one of only 9 schools of its type in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The 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...
, and currently caters for around 415 pupils. Rydon holds the specialist Science College
Science 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...
and Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields...
statuses.
.
History
The school was first opened in 1940 as the Storrington council senior school. It was developed and extended over the following years, being renamed as Rydon county secondary school. The roll continued to rise until the mid-1960s, but had fallen to just 328 by 1968. Accordingly, in 1969, the school was modified to become an intermediate school offering education for pupils aged between 10 and 13. Pupils then transferred to Steyning Grammar SchoolSteyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School is a state comprehensive school in Steyning, West Sussex, England. It is the only state school in West Sussex which caters for boarders...
in nearby Steyning
Steyning
Steyning is a small town and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It is located at the north end of the River Adur gap in the South Downs, four miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea...
.
In 2002, consultations were undertaken to review provision in the area to revert to the more usual two-tier structure of education. However, a parental ballot demonstrated clear support for the existing arrangements, and the status quo emerged as the preferred option.
Campus
The campus is in a rural area, just north of the village of Storrington in West Sussex. The school is largely housed in original buildings from original secondary school opened during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Several additions and adaptations have been made, including modifications to accommodate the change to an intermediate school.
Organisation
Pupils in the school are organised into three year groups, aligned to the National Curriculum years of Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8. Pupils are taught mainly by specialist teachers as in secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s, although pupils in the first year of the school are in Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
.
Pupils transfer to the school from several feeder primary schools from Storrington, Ashington
Ashington, West Sussex
Ashington is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies on the A24 road 3 miles northeast of Storrington.The parish has a land area of 805 hectares...
and surrounding villages. Almost all pupils transfer at the end of Year 8 into Year 9 at the Steyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School is a state comprehensive school in Steyning, West Sussex, England. It is the only state school in West Sussex which caters for boarders...
.