Formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of two single-sex schools, the Lord Weymouth School (founded 1707) and the School of St Monica (founded 1874). Its handsome and well-equipped buildings lie in beautiful gardens and grounds, facing open country on the edge of the very attractive old town. The school has long-established and close links with the town and the locality where it enjoys strong support. The prep school is on a neighbouring site. The school now offers the International Baccalaureate alongside traditional A-levels. A friendly school with the declared aim of developing the potential and recognising the value of all pupils. More than half the school is involved in music and about 120 pupils learn an instrument. A large number is engaged in dramatic activities and there is a strong design department. It has a high reputation in sport and games (a number of representatives at county and national level); there is also a strong CCF contingent, a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, a substantial commitment to local community schemes and a well-established Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 630 pupils, 440 day (265 boys, 175 girls), 190 boarding (105 boys, 85 girls). Senior department 11-18, 475 pupils (295 boys, 180 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 5, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16. Own entrance tests used. For sixth form entry, 5 GCSE subjects at least grade C (grade B in English and sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State-school entry, 20% of senior intake; own prep department provides over 50%.
Academic scholarships; also for music, drama, design technology and art.
Headmaster: Martin Priestley, in post since 2006. Teaching staff: 90 full-time, 15 part-time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.
GCSE: 55 pupils in upper fifth. 87% gain at least grade C in 7+ subjects. A-levels/IB: 60 in upper sixth; 39 took A-levels, passing an average 3.4 subjects. 20 took IB, 90% gained the Diploma. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 285.
95% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (10% after a gap year), 2% to Oxbridge. 5% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 35% in science and engineering, 43% in humanities and social sciences, 12% in art and design, 5% in other vocational subjects eg pharmacology, nursing, media studies. Others typically go on to HND or art foundation courses.
GCSE, AS and A-levels, and IB Diploma. 21 subjects offered (including business studies, psychology, sports studies). Sixth form: 40% take science A-levels; 35% arts/humanities; 25% both. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Dyslexia unit and EFL teaching with qualified staff. Languages: French (from age 5), German (from 13) and Spanish, all to GCSE and A-level. Visits to France and Germany; pupils from Germany and Spain in school. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum (eg for design and presentation in design technology, multimedia learning packages in languages and science, internet and CD research tasks in all subjects); all take GCSE short course. 70+ computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked (including boarding houses) and with email and internet access; many pupils own laptops.
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 6 musical groups including orchestra, concert band, stage band, clarinet choir, choir. Drama: Drama offered. Some pupils are involved in school productions. Art and design: On average, 16 take GCSE, 6 A-level. Design and textiles also offered.
Sport: Soccer, rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics (boys), hockey, netball, athletics (girls). Optional: basketball, badminton, squash, cross-country, tennis, swimming, rounders, golf. County representation in hockey, athletics and cross-country. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award; expeditions to eg Iceland and Austria. CCF and community service optional. Over 30 clubs, eg computing, music and drama, aikido, various craft groups, school newspaper, shooting, electronics, cookery.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy and girl, head of house and house prefects - appointed by the Headmaster or house staff. School Council. Religion: Church of England. Daily assembly and Sunday morning chapel for boarders. Social: Drama, debates, social service, mini-enterprise. Regular skiing trips. Some meals formal, some self-service. School shop. No alcohol allowed.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect detention.
Sixth form have own study bedroom, others in dormitories of 2-4. Single-sex houses of 35-60. Central dining rooms. Senior pupils can provide and cook own food. Exeats at half-term. Visits to local town allowed.
F Jaeger, C J Benjamin, E J Baddeley, F Bartholomew (actors); Ian Macdonald (racing driver); Thomas Arnold (headmaster); David Backhouse (sculptor); Admiral P H Hall-Thompson; E J Davies (world long jump record holder); Grosvenor Thomas (painter); Major-General Bryan Dutton, Major-General Charles Foulkes.
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