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 |
| Motto | Expectation, Excellence, and Enjoyment (Originally Esse Qvam Videri) |
| 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 | 1022, including 6th Form |
| Houses | 5 |
| Colour(s) | Blue and gold |
| Publication | Seven Stripes |
| Website | https://www.colytongrammar.com/ |
Colyton Grammar School (often called CGS) is a school in Colyford, East Devon, England. It's a grammar school and an academy for students aged 11 to 18.
The school has received "Outstanding" ratings from Ofsted (the UK's school inspection body) multiple times. In 2023, The Sunday Times ranked it as the ninth-best state school in the country. It was also named the second-best in the South West of England. The school was started by local business people in 1546. It sits on a large 18-acre site close to the Devon coast.
Contents
A Look at Colyton Grammar School's History
How the School Started
Colyton Grammar School has a long and interesting history. It began in 1546 when a group of 20 local farmers and merchants asked the King for permission to buy back land. This land had been taken from the Earl of Devon. They were given this land and became known as the Feoffees of Colyton. This group is one of England's oldest charities still running today.
Their first big step was to set up a grammar school in the late 1500s. Queen Elizabeth I later ordered that the school should continue. She granted £5 a year to help educate "20 poor boys forever."
Early School Buildings
The very first school was a small "petty school" in one room. This room was above the porch of the local church. The local priest taught the sons of merchants and farmers there.
In 1612, the Feoffees changed The Church House into the school's first proper home. The school stayed there until 1927. After that, it moved to its current location in Colyford.
Who Were the First Headteachers?
The first headmaster we know about was William Hull. He started in 1603 and earned £5 a year. Much later, in 1792, Mrs. Susanah Stokes became the first headmistress.
It wasn't until 1875 that the school officially became Colyton Grammar School. It offered both day and boarding places for students.
Ups and Downs in Student Numbers
On June 20, 1876, the school had only one student! But numbers soon grew again. By August 1884, there were 33 students.
However, the school closed in 1900 because there weren't enough pupils. It reopened in 1905 with a new headmaster.
Girls Join the School
A big change happened in 1913. The school's rules were updated to allow girls to attend for the first time. This made Colyton Grammar School a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls could learn together. In 1914, a Board of Governors (a group that helps run the school) was set up. Finally, in 1929, the school moved to its current site in Colyford.
Recent Changes and Growth
New Buildings and Facilities
Since 1991, Colyton Grammar School has grown a lot. Many new buildings have been added or updated. These include:
- Two new Study Centres, called the "Study Centre" and the "Sindalls Building."
- A major update to the Chemistry block, now known as the "Jowett Building."
- A large new Science and Design & Technology block, the "Feoffees Building."
- New buildings for Music and Art.
- The big "Walker Building," which holds the school library (The Elizabeth Preston Library), and classrooms for History, Psychology, and Modern Languages.
- A new Humanities building, the "Coly Building," with classrooms for Religious Education and Geography.
- A new canteen called "Take Five."
- A complete makeover of the "Cottrill Hall," which is the main school hall.
Becoming an Academy
On January 1, 2011, the school became an Academy. This means it is a state-funded independent school. The Colyton Grammar School Academy Trust now runs the school.
Updates in Recent Years
In 2019, the Drama Studio was changed into a classroom and a new Wellbeing Centre. The old computer rooms became classrooms, and the tech labs were turned into new computer rooms.
In 2022, the East Wing of the school was renovated. A new Drama Studio was installed there, named after a former teacher, Sid Bradbeer. Actor and former student Tom Brittney officially opened it.
In 2023, the school, parents, alumni, and local groups worked together to fund a new sports pitch. This pitch is for both students and the local community. Ollie Devoto from the Exeter Chiefs opened it.
In May 2023, the school decided to stop the "Muck-Up Day" tradition for Year 13 students. Some students came to school dressed as "Pirates and Princesses" and were sent home before their A-level exams.
At the start of the 2023/2024 school year, some classrooms had to be closed. This was due to a type of concrete called RAAC, which needed to be checked for safety. This included parts of the recently updated East Wing.
What Students Learn (Curriculum)
Colyton Grammar School is part of the South West Academic Trust. This group helps selective schools in the South West of England share good ideas.
For a while, students took their GCSE exams in Year 10. This allowed for a three-year Sixth Form. However, since September 2016, GCSE exams are taken in Year 11 again. This means the Sixth Form is now two years long.
Starting in the 2017–2018 school year, 155 new students are admitted each year. Before this, it was 124 students. This change led to the introduction of a fifth school house, called Elm.
School Staff
As of April 2022, Colyton Grammar School has 154 staff members. This includes teachers, as well as staff who work on the school site and in the catering team.
Famous Former Students (Old Colytonians)
Many successful people have attended Colyton Grammar School. Some of them include:
- Tom Brittney, an actor
- Tom Brooks, a writer and thinker
- Florence Nightingale David, a statistician (someone who works with numbers and data)
- Tom Moran, a screenwriter (someone who writes movie scripts)
- Sir Rex Richards, a scientist and academic, who used to be the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
- Carry Somers, a fashion designer and social entrepreneur
