Salesian School, Chertsey
| Salesian School, Chertsey | |
|---|---|
| File:Salesian chertsey logo.png | |
| Address | |
 | |
Guildford Road/Highfield Road Chertsey , Surrey , KT16 9LU England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Secondary School |
| Motto | Serve the Lord with Gladness |
| Established | 1921 (As Salesian College) |
| Founder | St. John Bosco |
| Head teacher | James Kibble |
| Chaplains | Miss Ina Coles & Mr Kevin O'Donnell |
| Staff | >100 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 1280 |
| Website | http://www.salesian.surrey.sch.uk/ |
Salesian School is a split-site Roman Catholic Comprehensive Secondary School in Chertsey, Surrey. The two sites were originally 2 single-sex education Roman Catholic private schools maintained by the Salesian Fathers and Sisters. The Salesian College at Highfield Road, founded in 1921, was for boys and the later Guildford Road school was for girls. In 1971 they merged to form one comprehensive school but still maintained single-sex education on separate sites.
In 1983 it became a coeducational school with pupils located on sites according to their age or subject taught. As of 2008, however, Years 7 to 11 (aged 11-16 years) began to exclusively study at the larger Guildford Road, while the Sixth Form Centre (ages 16-18) remains at Highfield Road - the students currently following a two week timetable.
Staff
Father James Curran was Headteacher until 1967, followed by Father Edward O'Shea (1967-1977), Father John Gilheney (1977-1990), David Cleworth (1990-2005) and Eric Doherty (2005-2006). In September 2006, James Kibble took on the post of Headteacher. Currently, there are over 100 members of staff, either working as teachers, learning and teaching assistants or associate staff. One of the most famous former members of staff at Salesian School was Sean Devereux, the inspirational UNICEF worker assassinated while helping the poor of Somalia in 1993. He taught Physical Education at Salesian School from 1986-1988.
Alumni
- John Boorman, British film director
- Tim Brabants, British World Champion Canoeist Olympic K1000 Gold Medallist
- Terence Dackombe, actor (The Krays), writer (Spitting Image)
- Tony Doyle, Cycling World Pursuit Champion 1980 & 1986
- Jean-Marie Carroll, musician (The Members)
- Andrew Mackinlay, MP
- Martin Freeman, Actor
- Ian Selley, Arsenal FC 1992-1997
- Sir Kieran Prendergast, British diplomat
- Graham Wilmer, author and child welfare consultant
The Fusion Project
In 2004 the school commenced work on the first stage of the Fusion Project which ultimately aims to combine the two parts of the school onto a single site at Guildford Road. A new technology block, housing class rooms for Graphics, Food, Resistant Materials, Electronics and Textiles was finished in October of the same year. Further phases, which included an all-weather sports facility and a larger canteen at Guildford Road to accommodate the extra pupils have also been completed.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has built up a solid reputation in the performing arts in recent years, staging successful productions of Sweet Charity and Bugsy Malone and producing two well-attended bi-annual community musical concerts. The school also has a positive record in national and regional contests, taking part in 'Young Enterprise' events as well as the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.