Colyton Grammar School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colyton Grammar School |
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| Address | |
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Whitwell Lane
Colyford
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EX24 6HN
England
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| Coordinates | 50°43′41″N 3°04′21″W / 50.728°N 3.0725°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Grammar school, Academy |
| Mottoes | Expectation, Excellence, and Enjoyment Esse Qvam Videri (To be rather than to seem) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1546 |
| Founders | Feoffees of Colyton |
| Specialist | Science |
| Department for Education URN | 136366 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Chair of Trustees | Ian Griffin |
| Headmaster | Timothy Harris |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1023, including 6th Form |
| Houses | 5 |
| Colour(s) | Dark blue and gold |
| Publication | Seven Stripes |
| Website | https://www.colytongrammar.com/ |
Colyton Grammar School (CGS) is a school for both boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It is a grammar school and an academy, located in the village of Colyford in East Devon, England.
The school is known for its excellent academic record. The government organization Ofsted, which inspects schools, has rated it "Outstanding" three times in a row. In 2023, The Sunday Times newspaper ranked it as the ninth-best state school in the entire country. The school sits on a large 18-acre campus near the coast and has a history going back almost 500 years.
Contents
The School's Long History
How It All Began
The school was founded in 1546, making it one of England's oldest charities still running today. It started when a group of local merchants and landowners, known as the Feoffees of Colyton, were given land by the King. Their first big project was to start a grammar school.
Queen Elizabeth I later gave the school a Royal Charter, which is a special document from the monarch. This charter provided £5 a year to give a "goodly and virtuous education" to 20 boys from poorer families.
At first, the school was just a single room above the porch of the local church. In 1612, the Feoffees moved the school into a building called The Church House, which became its first proper home.
Moving and Growing
The first headmaster we know of was William Hull, who started in 1603. The first headmistress, Mrs. Susanah Stokes, was appointed much later in 1792. The school officially got its current name, Colyton Grammar School, in 1875.
The school has had its ups and downs. On one day in 1876, there was only one student! Luckily, numbers grew again. However, the school had to close in 1900 because there weren't enough students, but it reopened five years later with a new headmaster.
In 1913, a major change happened: girls were allowed to attend for the first time. This made the school co-educational, meaning it was for both boys and girls. In 1929, the school moved to its current location in Colyford.
What the School Is Like Today
Starting in 1991, the school began a major period of growth. Many new buildings were added and old ones were updated. These included new science labs, a music building, an art building, and a large library. A new canteen was also built.
In 2011, the school became an academy. This means it is funded by the government but has more freedom in how it is run.
More recently, the school has continued to improve its facilities. In 2022, a new drama studio was opened by the actor Tom Brittney, who used to be a student there. In 2023, a brand-new sports pitch was opened by Ollie Devoto, a player for the Exeter Chiefs rugby team.
In late 2023, some classrooms had to be closed because they were built with a type of concrete called RAAC, which is no longer considered safe. This meant temporary classrooms had to be set up on the school grounds while repairs were planned.
Learning at Colyton
Students at Colyton Grammar School start their GCSE curriculum in Year 9. This gives them three years to prepare for their exams, which they take in Year 11.
The school is part of the South West Academic Trust. This is a group of similar schools in the region that work together to share ideas and improve teaching.
In 2017, the school started admitting more students each year, growing from 124 to 155. To welcome the new students, a fifth House called Elm was created.
Famous Former Students
Several well-known people, called "Old Colytonians," attended the school.
- Tom Brittney, an actor known for his television roles.
- Florence Nightingale David, a famous statistician.
- Sir Rex Richards, a scientist who was once the head of the University of Oxford.
- Carry Somers, a fashion designer and campaigner for ethical fashion.
