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Graveney School

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Coordinates: 51°25′25″N 0°09′04″W / 51.4235°N 0.151°W / 51.4235; -0.151
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Graveney School
Address
Map
Welham Road

Tooting
,
London
,
SW17 9BU

England
Coordinates51°25′25″N 0°09′04″W / 51.4235°N 0.151°W / 51.4235; -0.151
Information
TypeAcademy
Motto"Committed to excellence"
Established1669
Department for Education URN137005 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of the GovernorsIan Parkes
PrincipalCynthia Rickman
Staffc. 200
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment2259
HousesSt. John's, Rosa Bassett, Ensham, Furzedown, Battersea
Colour(s)Black, gold and blue    
School feesNone
Websitehttp://www.graveney.org/

Graveney School is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status in the Furzedown area of Tooting, southwest London, England. The school has a partially selective admissions policy. At the beginning of 2023, the school was assessed in an Ofsted inspection report as outstanding.[1]

History

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Graveney School can trace its origins back to a school founded in the late 1660s by Sir Walter St John, 3rd Baronet, in Battersea, and the modern Graveney was established in 1986 as an amalgamation of Ensham School (for girls) and Furzedown Secondary School (mixed). Furzedown was formed in 1977 as an amalgamation of Battersea Grammar School (for boys) and Rosa Bassett School (for girls).

Created as a standard comprehensive school under the control of the local education authority (initially the ILEA, later Wandsworth), a significant change occurred in 1991 when Graveney became a grant-maintained school,[2][3] giving far greater control to the school governors. Following the changes resulting from the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which abolished grant-maintained status, the school preserved a degree of independence by electing to become a foundation school.

The school achieved Technology College status in 1995[4] and also moved to a partially selective admissions policy in September of that year.[5][6] From the introduction of selection the school was permitted to choose up to 50% of pupils by ability; however, this was reduced to 25% in 2000,[7] increased to 30% in 2001[8] and reduced back to 25% in 2004,[9][4] Graveney School converted to become an academy on 1 August 2011.[10]

Years 7 to 11

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When students begin their education at Graveney in Year 7, they are placed into sets depending on their Year 6 SATs and their Wandsworth test result. Students can either be put into Extension (4 classes), Enrichment (3 classes) or Endeavour (3 classes).

Years 7 to 9

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Students in all bands study one of three Modern Foreign Language. This could either be French or Spanish. From Year 8 onwards, there is an opportunity to study an additional modern foreign language e.g. German, French or Spanish.

Years 10 to 11

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After Christmas of year 9, usually February, students pick their GCSE options. English Language and Literature, Maths, Science and PE are compulsory for the two years.

The Sixth Form

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Graveney School has a large sixth form, offering a range subjects to study at A-level. The sixth form is open for application to both internal students (students that studied at Graveney School), and external candidates (students that received their secondary education elsewhere).

The sixth form offers an extensive range of subjects many that are not available to take at GCSE, such as Film Studies, Government & Politics, Further Mathematics, Philosophy, Photography and Psychology. Students can also retake GCSEs in Mathematics and English. The sixth form has minimum entry requirements of 5 A*-Cs at GCSE level for internal students. For a student to graduate from year 12 to year 13, they must have attained minimum grades of two Es at AS level.

The sixth form does not have a uniform policy, however students must wear their ID card visibly at all times.

Site and buildings

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Graveney initially operated on both the former Furzedown and Ensham sites; however, the Ensham building was closed and the school now occupies what was Furzedown Secondary School on either side of Welham Road in Tooting, south west London.

The part of the site on the southern side of Welham Road is the former Rosa Bassett School, the main building of which was opened in 1913.[11] The larger area to the north of the road is the former Furzedown Training College (a teacher training college), which was opened in 1915.[12] The buildings surround a tree-lined campus and include Furzedown House, a Grade II-listed[13] Georgian house, built in 1794.[12][14]

The other buildings include: Red House, College House, Lower School, Upper Science, Lower Science, Atkins Technology Centre, the Tech block, an independent study centre, Bradford House, The Oppenheimer Observatory, a sports hall and a multigym.

Each building is dedicated to two or more subjects.

  • Red House - English
  • Garden Classroom - PSHE
  • Furzedown House - Art, Music, Drama and English
  • Theatre - Drama and English
  • College House - Maths, IT, Sports Studies
  • Lower School - Languages, History, IT and Government & Politics
  • Lower Science - Biology, Chemistry and Physics
  • Upper Science - Biology, Chemistry and Physics
  • Atkins Technology Centre - Electronics, Resistant Materials, Textiles and Graphics
  • Technology Block - Food and Media Studies
  • Sixth Form Study Centre - Study area for Sixth Form students only which doubles as an assembly hall
  • Bradford House - Psychology, Sociology, Economics
  • The Oppenheimer Observatory - Geography, Religious studies, Philosophy and Astronomy
  • Sports Hall - Sports Studies and PE
  • Multigym - Sports Studies and PE

On the north side of Welham Road, there is also a recreation area which is owned by Wandsworth Council but used by Graveney during school hours for Sports Studies and PE lessons. The area consists of a small running track, an astro turf pitch, 2 tennis courts which can be converted into another pitch and a cricket area.

Headteachers and principals

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  • 1986 –1989 John A. Phillips, BA (Oxon)[15]
  • 1989 – 2019 Graham Stapleton, MA (Cantab)
  • 2019 – Cynthia Rickman LRAM, Prof. Cert.

John Phillips had been headmaster of both Battersea Grammar and Furzedown Secondary Schools prior to his appointment at Graveney.

House system

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Graveney's traditional three houses were St. John's, Rosa Basset and Ensham. However, after the Summer of 2018, two new houses have been added: Furzedown and Battersea.

  • St. John's (pronounced "Sinjun's") – named after Sir Walter St John, 3rd Baronet, who founded the school that became Battersea Grammar School; the house emblem, a gold falcon, is derived from the crest on Sir Walter's coat of arms.[16] Motto: Gloria Brevis, Honor Longus.
  • Rosa Bassett – named after Rosa Bassett, the first headmistress of County Secondary School Streatham, which became Rosa Bassett School. The house's motto, Honesta Obtinete, and the scarlet pimpernel emblem are both taken from those of Rosa Bassett School.
  • Ensham – named after Ensham school. Motto: Per Ardua Ad Alta.
  • Furzedown
  • Battersea

Year forms

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Years 7 to11 consist of ten forms. The forms break down into: 4 Extension band forms, 3 Enrichment band forms and 3 Endeavour band forms.[clarification needed]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ King, Laurence (2022). "Graveney School Inspection Report". www.ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted.
  2. ^ "Publications and Records". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 13 May 1991. col. 13–14. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Publications and Records". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 16 December 1991. col. 28–29. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b Graveney School [Prospectus] for entry in September 2024 (PDF). Graveney School. 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ R v. Peter Downes, ex parte Wandsworth London Borough Council, CO/4114/99. London: Queen's Bench Division. 2000. Archived from the original (RTF) on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  6. ^ "Publications & Records". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 11 June 1996. col. 126. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Downes, Peter (1999). Determination, Case Reference(s): ADA/00048 and ADA/00018. Office of the Schools Adjudicator. Archived from the original (DOC) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  8. ^ Webster, Tony (2000). Determination, Case reference: ADA00140 & ADA00145. Office of the Schools Adjudicator. Archived from the original (DOC) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  9. ^ Newton, David (2004). Determination, Case reference: ADA/000359; ADA/000360; ADA/000362. Office of the Schools Adjudicator. Archived from the original (DOC) on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  10. ^ Ofsted Communications Team (5 July 2018). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk.
  11. ^ "From the Balham & Tooting News and Borough of Wandsworth Chronicle, August 21, 1917". The Old Grammarian. 8 (3): 7–8. November 1979. Archived from the original on December 5, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  12. ^ a b Gower, Graham. "A History of Suburban Streatham". Ideal Homes: Suburbia in Focus. University of Greenwich. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  13. ^ "Listing Reference LB/235". Wandsworth Borough Council. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  14. ^ Conservation and Design Group, Borough Planner's Service (2005). Conservation area character statements, 26: Streatham Park (PDF). Wandsworth Borough Council. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  15. ^ Poffley, M. F. (2002). "Old Grammarians' Association; A summary history of the Association". Old Grammarians' Association. Archived from the original on 5 December 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  16. ^ Poffley, M. F. (2002). "BGS Heraldry". Old Grammarians' Association. Archived from the original on 5 December 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  17. ^ Josh Halliday "Amol Rajan appointed as Independent editor", guardian.co.uk, 17 June 2013
  18. ^ "The aliens have landed! The school that made its own feature film". The Guardian. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  19. ^ "BMX World Championship title triumph amazing - Quillan Isidore".
  20. ^ "Talented Graveney School biker set to contest BBC Young SPOTY". Wandsworth Guardian. 4 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Josef Craig wins BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year". BBC Sport. 16 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Hero Fiennes Tiffin: "Dopo After 2 vorrei girare il terzo e il quarto capitolo"". 19 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Team pursuit gold and silver for Great Britain at track world championships".
  24. ^ "Hamilton sets new Oliviers record". BBC News. 6 March 2018.
  25. ^ Alex Cucos-infamous xylophone, glockenspiel and bongo player (winning 3 awards and a BDE honour).Dami Bakare at Sports Reference
  26. ^ "Meet Grace Wales Bonner, the designer taking menswear by storm". Evening Standard. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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