John Flamsteed Community School
Encyclopedia
John Flamsteed Community School is a comprehensive
secondary, or high school, in the village of Denby
, Derbyshire
, England
named after Sir John Flamsteed
, the first Astronomer Royal
, who was a native of Denby and made early and accurate predictions of a solar eclipse in 1666.
The school itself can trace its history in the village to a Smithy Houses School that was founded in 1894 with a staff of two. The school was at Smithy Houses which had previously been the offices of William Drury Holden
who inherited Locko Park
. The first school was designed for 150 students and was paid for by voluntary subscription. Within two weeks the school had attracted over 120 pupils and the new head asked the governors to employ two extra staff to teach the pupils efficiently. Smithy Houses School was used by the community - in 1919 when the Denby Pottery
Welfare committee organised a concert here, four days after the end of World War I
.
In 1975 there was a plan to close the school but this was opposed by the local community. The school at that time was called Denby John Flamsteed School. After six years the school was relaunched as an eleven to sixteen community school under its present name.
John Flamsteed now specializes in subjects Maths, Computing and Science. A new Drama and Music block was opened in September 2011. The Old school area now only teaches subjects Languages and English. http://www.jfcs.org.uk/index.php/Parents/School-Tour
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...
secondary, or high school, in the village of Denby
Denby
Denby is a village in the English county of Derbyshire that is notable as the birthplace of John Flamsteed, England's first Royal Astronomer, and the location of the Denby Pottery Company....
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, 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...
named after Sir John Flamsteed
John Flamsteed
Sir John Flamsteed FRS was an English astronomer and the first Astronomer Royal. He catalogued over 3000 stars.- Life :Flamsteed was born in Denby, Derbyshire, England, the only son of Stephen Flamsteed...
, the first Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
, who was a native of Denby and made early and accurate predictions of a solar eclipse in 1666.
History
There is evidence of a Free School association in Denby from 1854, although the first school in Denby dates from 1730 after Jane Massie left monies for a school in her 1728 will. In 1838 a school in the village had 25 children receiving a free education in reading and writing with a separate teacher for the girls who were taught to sew and knit.The school itself can trace its history in the village to a Smithy Houses School that was founded in 1894 with a staff of two. The school was at Smithy Houses which had previously been the offices of William Drury Holden
William Drury Lowe
William Drury-Lowe was an English landowner who inherited the Locko Park lands and became a High Sheriff of Derbyshire.-Biography:...
who inherited Locko Park
Locko Park
Locko Park is a privately owned 18th century country house, near Spondon, Derbyshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.The estate was acquired by William Gilbert from William Byrde in 1563. The oldest part of the house is the chapel of 1669. The main south facing block of the present house, built...
. The first school was designed for 150 students and was paid for by voluntary subscription. Within two weeks the school had attracted over 120 pupils and the new head asked the governors to employ two extra staff to teach the pupils efficiently. Smithy Houses School was used by the community - in 1919 when the Denby Pottery
Denby Pottery Company
Denby Pottery Company Ltd is a British manufacturer of pottery, and is named after the village of Denby in Derbyshire.-History:The pottery at Denby was founded on the estate of William Drury-Lowe in 1809 as a manufacturer of stoneware bottles. It was run by Joseph Jager in partnership with Robert...
Welfare committee organised a concert here, four days after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1975 there was a plan to close the school but this was opposed by the local community. The school at that time was called Denby John Flamsteed School. After six years the school was relaunched as an eleven to sixteen community school under its present name.
John Flamsteed now specializes in subjects Maths, Computing and Science. A new Drama and Music block was opened in September 2011. The Old school area now only teaches subjects Languages and English. http://www.jfcs.org.uk/index.php/Parents/School-Tour