John O'Gaunt Community Technology College
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This article's section called "Stage lighting" does not cite any references or sources. (July 2008) |
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| Motto | Personal caring for today, educating for tomorrow |
|---|---|
| Established | 1962 |
| Type | Comprehensive community school |
| Religion | None, But assemblies are orientated towards Christianity |
| Headteacher | Neil Spurdell |
| Chair of the Governing Body | Mr. John Adey |
| Location | Priory Road Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0AN England |
| Local authority | West Berkshire |
| DfE URN | 110050 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 633 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | Avery Hall, Brunel Hall and Columbus Hall |
| Colours | |
| Website | John O' Gaunt Community Technology College |
John O'Gaunt Community Technology College is a comprehensive and Technology College of approximately 633 pupils in Hungerford, Berkshire, England. It was Berkshire's first community school. The school was built in 1962 and is a fusion of 1960s decor and 1990s pre-fabricated buildings. Pupils between the ages of 11–16 years old can enroll with the secondary school, and those that are 16-18 can apply to join the sixth form. The school also offers extracurricular activities mainly sports and arts events. Students can also apply for a course at Newbury College, in which case students are taken by bus on a Wednesday (year 10/11) or Friday (year 12/13).
The school's Technology College status benefits the whole school in that almost all classrooms are equipped with an interactive white-board and multimedia capabilities.
The school gained national attention as the site of the denouement of the Hungerford massacre on 19 August 1987. Michael Robert Ryan made the then-empty school the site of his final stand and suicide, having killed 16 people and injured 15 others.
Ofsted inspection
The most recent ofsted inspection was on 3 October 2007. More information is available at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=110050 .
Departments
Drama
The drama department has a studio with lighting and sound equipment, two rehearsal rooms, that are shared with music; and a prop and costume cupboard.
The main hall also houses the main performance areas, with a DMX 25 channel lighting system, and 24 channel sound system with 2.1 stereo sound. The lighting system was upgraded in July 2008.
Music
The music department has a music suite, including electronic keyboards, MIDI enabled Keyboards linked to multimedia PCs, with a Sibelius score creation package. Musical instruments available range from tubular bells to recorders. With the addition of three rehearsal rooms, two of which are shared with Drama, the music department also tutors students in how to play a musical instrument. The School uses peripatetic teachers from Berkshire Maestros to tutor students.
The site
John O'Gaunt is built on the outskirts of Hungerford, next to the leisure centre. There are nine buildings on the site, some of which are linked by corridors and others that aren't. The Kennet block (commonly referred to as the 'three-storey block'), the small and main halls, the office (or reception), the ‘De Monteforte’ block, the technology block, the Woodlands block (also known as the art block), the maths and science blocks, the performing arts, music, drama, and stage lighting block, and the physical education block.
Kennet Block
The Kennet Block contains the RE department, the English department, and the modern foreign languages department.
The Library
The library resources are:
- Six computers, internet connected.
- non-fiction area.
- fiction area.
- project packs, consisting of leaflets and a list of books. These are usually themed to social sciences, and PSCHEE topics.
- chess sets and other board games which can be used via reservation at lunch times.
The library uses the management system Eclipse, which is a fully automated system, with an external search client, which can search the books available in the library from anywhere in the school.
The Library staff are Ann Randal and Rachel Beville.
There is also a Library committee, made up of students. These Students act as Librarians and have duties in the Library.
Halls
The main hall is the main area for the school. At break and lunch times the hall plays the role of a food hall, with the cafeteria open to buy food. Seating is provided in the form of tables and chairs. The entrance to the cafeteria is through the Small Hall. The Small Hall is used for storage, and small and special events. When the halls are not in use as food halls, they are used for rehearsing events such as performances or concerts.
’De Monteforte’
The ‘De Monteforte’ block houses the offices, the ICT department, and the humanities department.
Technology
The technology block houses technology classes, including graphical design, resistant materials, textiles, woodwork, and food.
Woodlands
This block is commonly known as the art block although housing the science and mathematics departments.
Science, Maths and Study & Support
These two subjects are in the Woodlands block. Mathematics is upstairs, sharing half a floor with the school's 'Study and Support' department, that assists students with learning difficulties, and emotional problems. The science department is downstairs (physics, chemistry and biology).
Performing arts, music, drama, stage lighting
This block houses all the theatre and media side of the school. After school hours, groups might rehearse a play, the school band practise or the choir rehearse.
PE block
This block has the changing rooms, and corridors to the swimming pool (owned and operated by the leisure centre), sports hall, astro-turf pitch, and playing fields.
