Misbourne School
 |
|
| Motto | Success Through Learning |
|---|---|
| Established | 1956 |
| Type | Secondary modern community school |
| Headteacher | Mr Robert Preston BA,MEd(Oxon) |
| Chair of the IEB | Alan Armstrong |
| Location | Misbourne Drive Great Missenden Buckinghamshire HP16 0BN England Coordinates: 51°41′55″N 0°42′17″W / 51.6985°N 0.7046°W |
| Local authority | Buckinghamshire |
| DfE URN | 110490 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1,225[1] |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours | Cherry Red and Navy Blue |
| Website | www.misbourne.bucks.sch.uk |
The Misbourne School is a co-educational secondary school in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. It is a community school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18. The school has approximately 1,225 pupils.[1]
History
The Misbourne was the first purpose-built secondary modern school in the country.[2] The first pupils started at the school on 19 December 1955, although it did not officially open until 20 January 1956. Originally there were only twenty-five students.[3]
The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005/6. The celebrations culminated in a Jubilee summer fête in June 2006 which was attended by Cherie Blair.[4]
In 2006 it was reported that the Misbourne School was heavily in debt. The school bursar said she hoped the debt would be cleared within a year.[5]
The Misbourne School was the friendliest school in Britain in 2005, according to a report from Friends Reunited.[6][7]
The Misbourne celebrated the first MizFest on 9 July 2012 students took part in music and drama performances, a fashion show, workshops for all ages - including fashion, cake baking, trampolining and Taiko drumming - and there was also a performance by the community choir.[8]
Academic Performance
The Misbourne is building a strong local reputation for academic achievement improving its 5 A*-C GCSE performance from 71% in 2010.[9] to 72% in 2011, placing the school in the top four upper schools in Buckinghamshire, to its highest ever result of 86% in 2012.[10] In the sixth form, 98% of A level exams were passed, with 76% at A*-C.[11]
Sixth Form
The Misbourne has a large sixth form of around 200 students. The Misbourne offers A-Levels as well as BTECs. Sixth formers have access to their own private study area and ICT suite.
The Misbourne sixth form has always been a strong element of the school's performance "The sixth form is well established and students achieve well. Good and outstanding teaching, effective support and guidance, and an academic curriculum linked to students’ needs and interests lead to them making good progress and being well prepared for the next stage of their education. Ofsted Report April 2012[12]
Facilities
The Misbourne has secured more than £2.5 million for building projects
The Misbourne has been successful in securing £2.5 million investment to improve buildings. This award has been agreed by the local authority in recognition of the Misbourne’s continuing success and will be used to replace some of the old terrapin buildings with permanent structures. The result will be more functional and aesthetically pleasing than the current temporary accommodation, and remain within the current building footprint of the site.
In addition, the active Student Council has been very persuasive in its presentations identifying the toilets as an area for refurbishment. As a result the school has been awarded a further £250,000 for this project.
Partly as a result of the school's specialist statuses in Arts and Technology, the school has several ICT rooms with computers for student use. In addition, there is a printing room where photographs can be processed and produced. Students also have access to computer aided design software (CAD).
The school canteen functions as a cafe, operated by a third party company. The school also has tennis courts and large playing fields.
The school's Performing Arts block was opened in 2004, in memory of former headmaster David Selman. It provies small practise rooms for private music lessons and student use. The classrooms are all equipped with Casio keyboards. There is a dance studio and a recording studio equipped with music editing software.
Specialist Status
In September 2006 the Misbourne was awarded specialist school statuses in both Arts and Technology.[1]
Ofsted Report April 2012
In its most recent report of April 2012 The Misbourne was rated good in two of the four judgements made under the new tougher inspection regime. Ofsted reported that the school no longer required special measures as it was now providing a satisfactory standard of education, and was "improving strongly". The report said "against all odds of declining standards, the headteacher, staff and Interim Executive Board have all worked determinedly to turn around the fortunes of the school".[12] Responding to the report, Headteacher Robert Peston commented "The School's good reputation has been reclaimed and I am proud of our achievement so far. However, this is only the start as we move to be the very best and an outstanding school. The Misbourne is back".[13]
Notable alumni
- James Corden, actor [14]
- Jennifer Higham, actor
- Alex Kew, actor
- Alice Connor, actor
- Martin Lister, Appeared in Dreams of a Life[15]
References
- ^ a b c "Ofsted database: The Misbourne School". Ofsted. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
- ^ "The Misbourne News" (PDF). Misbourne School Newsletter. October 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ "Old school pals invited to be part of Golden Jubilee bash". Bucks Free Press. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ Phillips, Neil (23 July 2007). "Cherie Blair keeps her playground date". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ Story, Clara (6 March 2006). "Our schools don’t get the sums right". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
- ^ "Friends Reunited 2005 School Report Shows Women Make Better School Friends Than Men" (Press release). PRNewswire. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
- ^ "Friendly praise for school celebrating 50 years". Bucks Free Press. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ http://prestwood.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/2012/07/mizfest-is-a-hot-one-at-the-mi.html
- ^ http://chesham.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/2010/08/the-misbourne-school-achieves.html
- ^ http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/misbourne-school-gcse-results-i-take-my-hat-off-to-my-staff-and-the-children-says-head-1-4193289
- ^ http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/the-misbourne-a-level-results-76-of-exams-graded-a-to-c-1-4170643
- ^ a b http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/110490
- ^ http://www.misbourne.bucks.sch.uk/docs/Letters/letter_to_parents_and_ofsted_report_march_2012.pdf
- ^ http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/43be11e1fd4ceee51e01b0698ea94a74/james-corden-awards-comedian-corporate-events-hire-contact.html
- ^ http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/martin-lister-film-star-14806.html
