Churchmead School
Encyclopedia
Churchmead School is a designated Specialist Arts College co-educational comprehensive
Church of England
voluntary aided
community school
that caters for 11-18 year olds. It is located in Datchet
, Slough
, county of Berkshire
, England
. The school's motto, Dicant, has been used since its inception.
Churchmead was established as a secondary modern school for Buckinghamshire County Council
, who, in the south of the county, operated a system of 11-18 year old secondary schools, fed by 5-11 primary schools (or 5 - 7 infant school
s and 8 - 11 junior school
s). Changes to county boundaries in 1974 led to the school transferring to Berkshire County Council, who operated it as a school within Slough
's education system, by then modified for the change from primary to secondary education to take place at age 12 rather than 11. Further changes led to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
becoming the Education Authority
in 1998. The rest of the Windsor area of Windsor and Maidenhead uses a system with age 8 - 13 middle school
s so leaving Churchmead as the only 11-18 school in its area of the borough. This in turn results in most students being drawn from Slough, which has resumed secondary education starting at age 11.
In May 2007, Ofsted
conducted an inspection of the school and came to the conclusion that the 'school requires significant improvement, because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform. The school is therefore given a Notice to Improve.'
In May 2008, Ofsted
conducted another inspection of the school and came to the conclusion that the 'school was satisfactory and sharply improving. The key areas of improvement were the levels of respect shown by pupils towards teachers and the quality of learning.
Starting September 2008, the four house system that has been in existence since the school was founded, was scrapped for a three house inter-year form system.
, this means that sixth form students from both schools can study Advanced Level courses including Media and Photography at Churchmead. From September2009, pupils will be able study the BTEC First Diploma
at Churchmead and Slough Grammar.
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...
Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
voluntary aided
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
community school
Community school
The term "community school" refers to types of publicly funded school in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to a school that serves as both an educational institution and a centre of community life. A community school is both a place and a...
that caters for 11-18 year olds. It is located in Datchet
Datchet
Datchet is an English Thameside village and civil parish situated in the unitary authority of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire. It was transferred to Berkshire from Buckinghamshire in 1974....
, Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, 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's motto, Dicant, has been used since its inception.
Churchmead was established as a secondary modern school for Buckinghamshire County Council
Buckinghamshire County Council
Buckinghamshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Buckinghamshire, in England, the United Kingdom. Its area of control does not include Milton Keynes, which is a unitary authority...
, who, in the south of the county, operated a system of 11-18 year old secondary schools, fed by 5-11 primary schools (or 5 - 7 infant school
Infant school
An Infant school is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom for school for children between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality....
s and 8 - 11 junior school
Junior school
A junior school is a type of school which caters for children, often between the ages of 7 and 11.-Australia:In Australia, a junior school is usually a part of a private school that educates children between the ages of 5 and 12....
s). Changes to county boundaries in 1974 led to the school transferring to Berkshire County Council, who operated it as a school within Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
's education system, by then modified for the change from primary to secondary education to take place at age 12 rather than 11. Further changes led to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
becoming the Education Authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
in 1998. The rest of the Windsor area of Windsor and Maidenhead uses a system with age 8 - 13 middle 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...
s so leaving Churchmead as the only 11-18 school in its area of the borough. This in turn results in most students being drawn from Slough, which has resumed secondary education starting at age 11.
In May 2007, 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 ....
conducted an inspection of the school and came to the conclusion that the 'school requires significant improvement, because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform. The school is therefore given a Notice to Improve.'
In May 2008, 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 ....
conducted another inspection of the school and came to the conclusion that the 'school was satisfactory and sharply improving. The key areas of improvement were the levels of respect shown by pupils towards teachers and the quality of learning.
Starting September 2008, the four house system that has been in existence since the school was founded, was scrapped for a three house inter-year form system.
Prefects
The school maintains a prefect system. Several prefects including a Head Boy & Head Girl were chosen in the latter part of Year 11, but once the school established a sixth form, head boys and head girls were selected from among the sixth form students. The prefect system reverted back to Year 11 during the 2006/07 school year.School links
Churchmead School is in co-operation with Slough Grammar SchoolSlough Grammar School
The school is a Language College, a Science College, a Leading Edge School, an ICT-Focus School, a Training School, an International School under the International Baccalaureate Organization and a participant in the Primary Language Initiative. From September 2004 it has offered some International...
, this means that sixth form students from both schools can study Advanced Level courses including Media and Photography at Churchmead. From September2009, pupils will be able study the BTEC First Diploma
BTEC First Diploma
The BTEC First Diploma is a vocational qualification taken in England and Wales and Northern Ireland by young people aged 16 and over and by adults. The qualification is organised and awarded by the Edexcel Foundation within the BTEC brand....
at Churchmead and Slough Grammar.