West Buckland School
Encyclopedia
West Buckland School is an English
public school
located on the outskirts of the village of West Buckland
on the edge of Exmoor
, 9 miles (12.9km) east of Barnstaple
, Devon
. It comprises a senior school (including a sixth form), preparatory school and a nursery. John Vick (headmaster since 1997) is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
.
There are approximately 600 pupils, of whom around 100 board
; 40% of boarders are from abroad. The day pupils are drawn from a wide area of North Devon and Somerset and many use the large school bussing operation in collaboration with local coach operators.
West Buckland School was founded as the Devon County School in 1858 by Rev. J.L. Brereton
to provide a public school
education for sons of farmers and the middle class. The foundation stone of the Gothic
style buildings was laid in October 1860 by Earl Fortescue, who had provided land and other support for the school.
Under the first headmaster, J.H. Thompson, numbers rose to 150 by 1876 and then declined as a consequence of agricultural depression
and competition from other schools.
In the winter of 1912/13 the school was renamed West Buckland School.
During the 1950s it received increasing support from the Devon County Educational authority and became a direct grant school. In 1976, when direct grants were abolished, it became a fully independent school.
West Buckland leads the North Devon schools examination league table. On 30 August 2008 the Western Morning News
reported the school's best ever GCSE results and produced a table placing the school sixth out of the twenty-one independent schools in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset on the basis of points per candidate. The paper also reported on "impressive" A level results in August 2008, noting that over 70% of students achieved 'A' or 'B' grades.
The school is rapidly expanding in numbers and facilities. 2008 saw the completion and opening of the Jonathan Edwards Sports Centre behind the nineteenth century complex and 2010 the completion of a second high cost and adventurous combination of buildings containing Art & Design and Design & Technology workshops, a new theatre, which replaces the old theatre , together with assembly space for the prep school and a new quadrangle. Images of both completed projects are on the school website.
(in brackets their house colours) of West Buckland School are:
Numerous inter-house competitions are held throughout the school year in music, drama and sport, culminating in Sports' Day on the final day of the summer term. Points are awarded depending on how well houses do in each competition and whichever house has amassed the largest number of points after Sports' Day wins the coveted Southcomb Shield.
An extract from "West Buckland School 1858-1958. The First Hundred Years. A Review of a Century recorded by Friends and Pupils."
The order of the houses in the overall points standings at the end of the year determines which row of tables each house sits at for the following year in the dining hall (the Karslake).
The House system provides a continuity of pastoral care throughout a pupil's school career, as well as creating opportunities for leadership qualities to be demonstrated.
Courtenay are the current champions (2010-2011).
The houses have each won the Southcomb Shield (first competed for in 1924) the following number of times:
Brereton: 23
Grenville: 23
Fortescue: 21
Courtenay: 21
Each of the boarding houses has its own houseparent.
Aside from being Senior Prefects, sixth form members of each house have the opportunity to be Link Prefects. This is where two members of the sixth form are allocated to one tutor group within the house. They will generally visit the group once a week, usually on a Thursday. This provides a direct link between the pupils and staff and allows the younger members of the house to be able to chat to older members of the house who they perhaps wouldn't have an opportunity to otherwise talk to.
There is also a peer counselling service called Familiar Faces. This is staffed by members of Year 11 who voluntarily train as counsellors. The Familiar Faces take it in turns to be available to talk to other members of the school in complete confidence in a private location. This is an extremely useful and comforting service, especially if pupils feel that they are unable to express their concerns to their parents or to staff.
, providing for 5 to 11 year olds; a nursery is also on site. Accommodation for Langholme pupils is provided in the Bamfylde boarding house.
Notable alumni include:
.
(MCC) on, to date 4 occasions in 2005, '7, '8 and '9.
across Exmoor
. The Senior Boys' Run is reputed to be the longest compulsory school cross-country run in the country, with a walk of eight miles to the start and a run of ten miles back to the finish (the school). Senior girls are required to walk six and to run seven and a half miles. Junior boys walk out five miles and run back five and a half, while Junior girls walk four and run four.
. This records principal meteorological parameters which are displayed on the West Buckland School web site with archive data also available for download.
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...
public school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
located on the outskirts of the village of West Buckland
West Buckland, Devon
West Buckland is a small village located east-south-east of Barnstaple in North Devon, England. The hamlet of Elwell lies to its north-east....
on the edge of Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
, 9 miles (12.9km) east of Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. It comprises a senior school (including a sixth form), preparatory school and a nursery. John Vick (headmaster since 1997) is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
.
There are approximately 600 pupils, of whom around 100 board
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
; 40% of boarders are from abroad. The day pupils are drawn from a wide area of North Devon and Somerset and many use the large school bussing operation in collaboration with local coach operators.
History
Joseph Lloyd Brereton
Prebendary Joseph Lloyd Brereton, , was an educational reformer and writer, who founded inexpensive schools for the education of the middle classes. Through his work and writings he influenced others to make similar foundations.-Life:Brereton was born on 19 October 1822 at Little Massingham...
to provide a public school
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
education for sons of farmers and the middle class. The foundation stone of the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style buildings was laid in October 1860 by Earl Fortescue, who had provided land and other support for the school.
Under the first headmaster, J.H. Thompson, numbers rose to 150 by 1876 and then declined as a consequence of agricultural depression
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
and competition from other schools.
In the winter of 1912/13 the school was renamed West Buckland School.
During the 1950s it received increasing support from the Devon County Educational authority and became a direct grant school. In 1976, when direct grants were abolished, it became a fully independent school.
West Buckland leads the North Devon schools examination league table. On 30 August 2008 the Western Morning News
Western Morning News
The Western Morning News is a politically independent daily regional newspaper founded in 1860 and covering Devon and Cornwall and parts of Somerset and Dorset.-Organisation:...
reported the school's best ever GCSE results and produced a table placing the school sixth out of the twenty-one independent schools in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset on the basis of points per candidate. The paper also reported on "impressive" A level results in August 2008, noting that over 70% of students achieved 'A' or 'B' grades.
Expansion and Development
Houses
The four housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
(in brackets their house colours) of West Buckland School are:
- Brereton (Purple and Black )
- Courtenay (Red and White )
- Fortescue (Yellow and Black )
- Grenville (Blue and White )
Numerous inter-house competitions are held throughout the school year in music, drama and sport, culminating in Sports' Day on the final day of the summer term. Points are awarded depending on how well houses do in each competition and whichever house has amassed the largest number of points after Sports' Day wins the coveted Southcomb Shield.
An extract from "West Buckland School 1858-1958. The First Hundred Years. A Review of a Century recorded by Friends and Pupils."
On July 31, 1917, there fell in action, E. H. Southcomb, then a Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment. He was for many years a very cheerful member of the Brereton House, no great athlete but always ready to play his part to the best of his ability. On leaving West Buckland he went, by his father's wish, to Shrewsbury for two years, and then entered a bank, where he remained till war broke out. On his death it was found that he had left a legacy (£10 10s. 0d.) to the Sports Fund of his first school, and somewhat late it has at last been decided to perpetuate his memory by a Shield which will be held by the House which obtains the chief athletic cups in the School year, which starts in September. For this purpose, each of the Challenge Cups carries a definite mark. The allocation of marks for each cup was not an easy matter and even now the values may require re-adjustment in 1924. The Headmaster formed a committee consisting of Messrs. Corless, Taylor and Walton, and the list as issued by them will hold good at any rate till July, 1924. The winning House will hold the shield, which will be hung over their dining tables, and will also take the right of the line on ceremonial parades.
The order of the houses in the overall points standings at the end of the year determines which row of tables each house sits at for the following year in the dining hall (the Karslake).
The House system provides a continuity of pastoral care throughout a pupil's school career, as well as creating opportunities for leadership qualities to be demonstrated.
Courtenay are the current champions (2010-2011).
The houses have each won the Southcomb Shield (first competed for in 1924) the following number of times:
Brereton: 23
Grenville: 23
Fortescue: 21
Courtenay: 21
Boarding
There are three main boarding houses at West Buckland:- Bamfylde - situated on the preparatory school site, and catering for girls aged 5 to 16
- Boyer House - for boys aged 5-18
- The Gables - for sixth formSixth formIn 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,...
girls aged 16 to 18
Each of the boarding houses has its own houseparent.
Responsibilities
Prefect duties, which include care of younger students, are awarded to senior pupils within each house. The Head and Deputy Head of School are selected from the Senior Prefects. The prefect team typically consists of around 20 members of the upper sixth. They are split into five teams, each having responsibility for one day of the working week. There are also dedicated boarding prefects.Aside from being Senior Prefects, sixth form members of each house have the opportunity to be Link Prefects. This is where two members of the sixth form are allocated to one tutor group within the house. They will generally visit the group once a week, usually on a Thursday. This provides a direct link between the pupils and staff and allows the younger members of the house to be able to chat to older members of the house who they perhaps wouldn't have an opportunity to otherwise talk to.
There is also a peer counselling service called Familiar Faces. This is staffed by members of Year 11 who voluntarily train as counsellors. The Familiar Faces take it in turns to be available to talk to other members of the school in complete confidence in a private location. This is an extremely useful and comforting service, especially if pupils feel that they are unable to express their concerns to their parents or to staff.
Langholme
Langholme is West Buckland's preparatory schoolPreparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
, providing for 5 to 11 year olds; a nursery is also on site. Accommodation for Langholme pupils is provided in the Bamfylde boarding house.
Notable former pupils
The Old West Buckland Association provides regular newsletters to former pupils. It also organises sports matches between current school teams and teams of 'old boys' and 'old girls', as well as organising a number of social events.Notable alumni include:
- Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards (athlete)Jonathan David Edwards, CBE, is a former British triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995....
(born 1966), triple jumpTriple jumpThe triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
world record holder, Olympic Games gold medalist and broadcaster - Bertie HillBertie HillAlbert "Bertie" Edwin Hill was a British equestrian.After serving in the Home Guard during the Second World War, Hill became an amateur jockey in point-to-point racing...
(1927-2005), equestrianEquestrianismEquestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, Olympic Games gold medalist. - Harold HiltonHarold HiltonHarold Horsfall Hilton was an English amateur golfer.-Biography:Hilton was born in West Kirby. In 1892, he won The Open Championship at Muirfield, becoming the second amateur to do so. He won again in 1897 at his home club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake...
(1869-1942), golfer, won The Open ChampionshipThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
twice and member of the World Golf Hall of FameWorld Golf Hall of FameThe World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of... - Tim WonnacottTim WonnacottTim Wonnacott is a Chartered Auctioneer, Chartered Surveyor English antiques expert, television presenter. He has been Director of one of the world's oldest auction houses, Sotheby's...
(born 1953), antiques expert and television presenter - Brian AldissBrian AldissBrian Wilson Aldiss, OBE is an English author of both general fiction and science fiction. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss is a vice-president of the international H. G. Wells Society...
(born 1925), author of science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and general fiction - R. F. DelderfieldR. F. DelderfieldRonald Frederick Delderfield was a popular English novelist and dramatist, many of whose works have been adapted for television and are still widely read.-Childhood in London and Surrey:...
(1912-1972), playwright and novelist, To Serve Them All My DaysTo Serve Them All My DaysTo Serve Them All My Days is a novel by British author R. F. Delderfield.First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980...
was closely based on West Buckland School - Victor UboguVictor UboguVictor Eriakpo Ubogu is a former Bath and England rugby union player. He also played, whilst still at university, for Moseley....
(born 1964), former Bath and England rugby player - Stephen OjomohSteve OjomohStephen Oziegebe Ojomoh, known as Steve Ojomoh , is a Nigerian-born English former rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a flanker....
(born 1970), former Bath and England rugby player - Harold GimblettHarold GimblettHarold Gimblett was a cricketer who played for Somerset and England. He was known for his fast scoring as an opening batsman and for the much-repeated story of his debut...
(1914-1978), former Somerset and England cricket player - John RaeJohn Rae (educator)Dr John Rae was a British educator, author and novelist. He was headmaster of Taunton School and then Head Master of Westminster School ....
(1931-2006), novelist, educator, former headmaster of Westminster SchoolWestminster SchoolThe Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain... - Sir John Ashworth (born 1940), former Director of the London School of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsThe London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
- John ClarkeJohn Clarke (Dean of Wells)The Very Rev. John Martin Clarke is the current Dean of Wells. He was born on 20 February 1952 and attended West Buckland School, Hertford College, Oxford and Edinburgh University. After a period of study at Edinburgh Theological College he was ordained in 1977...
(born 1953), current Dean of WellsDean of WellsThe Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter of Wells Cathedral in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The current Dean is the Very Revd John Clarke, who lives in The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells.-List of the Deans of Wells:*1140–1164 Ivo... - Sir Anthony TippetAnthony TippetVice Admiral Sir Anthony Sanders Tippet KCB was a Royal Navy officer who ended his career as Chief of Fleet Support.-Naval career:...
(1928 - 2006), former Chief of Fleet SupportFourth Sea LordThe Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
of the Royal Navy and General Manager of Great Ormond Street HospitalGreat Ormond Street HospitalGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
Speech Day
On the third Saturday in September each year, the school holds its Speech Day and prize-giving ceremony. Pupils who have achieved excellence in academic, sporting and other fields are rewarded for their efforts and for their contribution to the school's success. Successful former pupils are often invited to make speeches, alongside a customary speech by the serving headmaster of the school.Sport
The school has a wide range of sports facilities, including a recently constructed sports centre, named after athlete and former pupil Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards was a preacher, theologian, and missionary to Native Americans. Edwards "is widely acknowledged to be America's most important and original philosophical theologian," and one of America's greatest intellectuals...
.
MCC
The school cricket team has played the Marylebone Cricket ClubMarylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
(MCC) on, to date 4 occasions in 2005, '7, '8 and '9.
The Exmoor Runs
Every year the school holds the Exmoor Runs, essentially a cross-country runCross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
across Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
. The Senior Boys' Run is reputed to be the longest compulsory school cross-country run in the country, with a walk of eight miles to the start and a run of ten miles back to the finish (the school). Senior girls are required to walk six and to run seven and a half miles. Junior boys walk out five miles and run back five and a half, while Junior girls walk four and run four.
Weather station
Since January 2004 the school has run an automatic weather stationAutomatic weather station
An automatic weather station is an automated version of the traditional weather station, either to save human labour or to enable measurements from remote areas...
. This records principal meteorological parameters which are displayed on the West Buckland School web site with archive data also available for download.