Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School is a single-sex voluntary controlled grammar school
in Canterbury
, Kent
, England
. The school originated in the Middle Ages as an educational foundation for children in Canterbury, emerging as a separate school for girls in 1881. Its sister school is Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
which resides a mere half mile away.
The school is 'selective' in its intake, with prospective Year 7 students having to take the Kent Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education ("11+") examination. Around 155 new students are accepted every year at age 11, and around 10 students every year join the sixth form
from other schools.
In the school's most recent Ofsted
inspection (May 2007) it was rated 'Outstanding' in all areas.
, an Archdeacon of Canterbury who in 1248 had left behind legacies to the Poor Priest's Hospital.
During the Baedecker Blitz in the Second World War, the old school buildings were destroyed - they were situated in what is now the Whitefriar's Shopping Centre
and rebuilt on its present site (just off the A2050) in 1950.
The school grounds includes spacious sports fields, outdoor netball and hockey courts, outdoor tennis courts and an orchard. In 2010 a school garden was set up by Year 10 and 11 students for which they received funding from The Princes' Trust.
Ofsted Lead Inspector, Ian Stuart, wrote a letter to pupils on 7 June 2007 to tell them they were "developing into fine young people" who were "outstanding ambassadors" for their generation following the 2007 Ofsted Inspection which rated the school as 'Outstanding' in all areas. Girls follow an 800 year old tradition in achieving high academic distinction, learning civilized and humane values and developing the personality and character to allow them to go on to play a leading role in the wider world.
Ofsted 2007
In 2005, Simon Langton Girls' became a specialist school
in music and information and communication technology (ICT).
In 2008, the national Gold ArtsMark has been awarded to the school for the third time in 2008, for excellence in Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Textiles. ArtsMark is the benchmark for arts education provision and Simon Langton Girls' received the Gold award in 2002, 2005 and 2008.
in recognition of the international ethos embedded throughout the school.
"International work at the school is ongoing with a photography competition underway with a partner school in Palestine and a new partner school recently established in France. Students will explore French culture and identity through photographs and winning ones will be used to produce a calendar to sell for charity at the Year 10 Christmas Fair,” said Mr Stalley, Head of Modern Foreign Languages.
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...
in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, 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...
. The school originated in the Middle Ages as an educational foundation for children in Canterbury, emerging as a separate school for girls in 1881. Its sister school is Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys school of over 1000 pupils and staff, located in the outskirts of Canterbury, Kent. It holds both Foundation and Grammar school status and has 'specialist college' status in science....
which resides a mere half mile away.
The school is 'selective' in its intake, with prospective Year 7 students having to take the Kent Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education ("11+") examination. Around 155 new students are accepted every year at age 11, and around 10 students every year join the sixth form
Sixth 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,...
from other schools.
In the school's most recent 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 ....
inspection (May 2007) it was rated 'Outstanding' in all areas.
History
The history of the school begins with the Blue Coat Boys' School housed at the Poor Priest's Hospital which had been founded in the Middle Ages. In 1881, two new schools (a girls school and a boys school) succeeded it and were called the Canterbury Middle Schools. However, to dispel rumours that they were solely for the use of the middle classes, they were renamed in 1887 to become the Simon Langton Girls' and Boys' schools, named after Simon LangtonSimon Langton
Simon Langton is a television director and producer. He is the son of David Langton, the actor who played Richard Bellamy in Upstairs, Downstairs....
, an Archdeacon of Canterbury who in 1248 had left behind legacies to the Poor Priest's Hospital.
During the Baedecker Blitz in the Second World War, the old school buildings were destroyed - they were situated in what is now the Whitefriar's Shopping Centre
Whitefriars Shopping Centre
Whitefriars Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in Canterbury, Kent, England.-Before Whitefriars:The Whitefriars Shopping Quarter is situated on the site of the former multi-storey car park and Ricemans department store...
and rebuilt on its present site (just off the A2050) in 1950.
The present buildings
The present buildings were built in the 1950s, and facilities include 13 large fully equipped laboratories, specialist teaching classrooms, large drama studio, three dedicated art rooms, modern craft, design and technology rooms, school library, five large computer rooms, music suite including a music technology classroom, a refurbished sixth-form centre, and a careers and higher education library.The school grounds includes spacious sports fields, outdoor netball and hockey courts, outdoor tennis courts and an orchard. In 2010 a school garden was set up by Year 10 and 11 students for which they received funding from The Princes' Trust.
Academic Performance and Ofsted Reports
The most recent Ofsted inspection (2009) found that the overall effectiveness of the subject, mathematics, to be outstanding; "Many students experience outstanding teaching" from "some exceptionally talented teachers" and "some excellent use is made of computer-linked whiteboards to enhance students’ understanding." "Achievement post-16 is good. Standards are very high."Ofsted Lead Inspector, Ian Stuart, wrote a letter to pupils on 7 June 2007 to tell them they were "developing into fine young people" who were "outstanding ambassadors" for their generation following the 2007 Ofsted Inspection which rated the school as 'Outstanding' in all areas. Girls follow an 800 year old tradition in achieving high academic distinction, learning civilized and humane values and developing the personality and character to allow them to go on to play a leading role in the wider world.
Specialist Status
“The school’s specialist status in music and ICT is adding strength to the creative elements of the curriculum. Learning is also promoted through the outstanding curriculum, which is particularly well suited to the school’s commitment to the all-round development of the girls.”Ofsted 2007
In 2005, Simon Langton Girls' became a specialist school
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
in music and information and communication technology (ICT).
In 2008, the national Gold ArtsMark has been awarded to the school for the third time in 2008, for excellence in Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Textiles. ArtsMark is the benchmark for arts education provision and Simon Langton Girls' received the Gold award in 2002, 2005 and 2008.
International School Award
In 2010, the school gained the International School AwardInternational School Award
The International School Award is a British Council accreditation scheme rewarding schools with a notable global element in their curriculum.The scheme began in 1999 and since then, over 1000 International School Awards have been granted....
in recognition of the international ethos embedded throughout the school.
"International work at the school is ongoing with a photography competition underway with a partner school in Palestine and a new partner school recently established in France. Students will explore French culture and identity through photographs and winning ones will be used to produce a calendar to sell for charity at the Year 10 Christmas Fair,” said Mr Stalley, Head of Modern Foreign Languages.
Notable alumni
- Vicky BeechingVicky BeechingVictoria Louise Beeching is a British contemporary Christian musician and worship leader. She has released five projects: Shelter EP , The Journey EP , Yesterday, Today & Forever , Painting the Invisible , and Eternity Invades .-Early life:Vicky Beeching grew up in Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom...
, musician - Andrea Wonfor, television executive
- Alison Zhu, mathematician
- Sian Gordon, English bowler