John Kyrle High School

The John Kyrle High School & Sixth Form Centre
Motto Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)
Established 1953
Type Academy
Headteacher Mr Nigel Griffiths BA (Hons.)FRSA, National Leader of Education
Location Ledbury Road
Ross-on-Wye
Herefordshire
HR9 7ET
England
Coordinates: 51°55′26″N 2°34′41″W / 51.924°N 2.578°W / 51.924; -2.578
DfE URN 116975 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 1400 (Approx)
Gender Mixed
Ages 11–18
Colours          
Publication The Prospect
Website The John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre

John Kyrle High School is a secondary school with academy status situated in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England. It is named after the philanthropist John Kyrle (1637–1724), known as "The Man of Ross".

History

The school site was opened in 1953 and was Herefordshire's first secondary modern school. The Ross-on-Wye Grammar School and secondary modern school (the Overross School) were merged in 1979 to form a single comprehensive school called John Kyrle High School. In August 1979, the Lower School site, the former grammar school, was badly damaged by fire. This site was closed in 1997.

The site where is the school is currently situated is about 15 acres. The building was built during the Second World War and although it was planned for a 500 pupil school it was also planned to be an emergency hospital in case of severe bombings. The main corridors and rooms off it were built in such a way that it could be used as a hospital. The Ross-on-Wye Secondary Modern opened on the site in 1953, although it was intended to be a boys school that could provide support 500 pupils. At this time there were only 14 classrooms, a science room, an art room, two craftrooms, two domestic science rooms, library, two handicraft rooms, gymnasium with changing rooms, entrance and exhibition hall, an assembly hall, administration block, dining room and kitchens.

The cost of the building and grounds to Herefordshire County Council was £122, 250 not including equipment.

Awards

The school has been awarded Technology College status, among other awards for its large investment in Interactive White Boards and a large amount of computer facilities. The school also recently received an ofsted "outstanding" school award in 2008. It became a New Converter Academy in January 2010 following the Headteacher attending a presentation given by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education in Downing Street.

The school has attained the following awards:

Royal visit

On Friday 11 July 2003 Queen Elizabeth II visited the school on her tour of the West Midlands region. She was led around the school by the headteacher, Mr Griffiths, and ended by talking to some of the children about the school.

Main areas on the tour of the school were the refurbished Design and Technology rooms, the ICT Department and the Art Block.

Development

Over the years there has been much work done to the school, including lifts for disabled access to upper floors, refurbishment of the canteen, a Sixth Form Common Room, an astroturf pitch, and most recently a new music block.

John Kyrle High School also offers many clubs and extra-curricular activities, most of which are sport-related. These usually take place during the lunch break or after school.

Modern foreign languages

John Kyrle High School teaches three main languages, namely French, German and Spanish. French is taught to all in Year Seven, and in Year Eight a second language, German or Spanish, is taken up, depending on the student's choice. It is then the student's choice to continue to do at least one language at GCSE level. The school has been given a Language College status.

Renowned visitors to the school

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