Nonsuch High School

Nonsuch High School For Girls

Motto	'Serve God And Be Cheerful'
Established	1938
Type	Grammar School, Foundation school
Headmistress	Mrs Karin Rowsell
Chair	Mrs. Donna Evans
Specialism	Science and Languages
Location	Ewell Road Cheam London SM3 8AB England
Local authority	London Borough of Sutton
DfE URN	103008
Ofsted	Reports
Students	1219
Gender	Girls
Ages	11–18
Houses	Mercury Pluto Mars Jupiter Neptune Saturn
Colours	Light and dark blue
Website	nonsuchhigh.co.uk

Coordinates: 51°21′19″N 0°13′26″W / 51.3554°N 0.2239°W / 51.3554; -0.2239

Nonsuch High School is an all-girls' grammar school located in Cheam, South London, England, standing in 22 acres (89,000 m²) of grounds on the edge of Nonsuch Park. The school holds Specialist Science College and Specialist language status.

History

The school was founded in May 1938.

Awards

The school has achieved various awards such as Beacon status, Sportsmark Award, Schools Achievement Award and Education Extra - Distinction. It also gained specialist science college status in July 2004 and more recently a language school status.This means extra funding is provided. Every year, along with St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls, Nonsuch provides the ball girls for the Queen's Club Championships in addition to providing ballgirls for the ATP tournament last year.^[1][2]

Selection

As Nonsuch is a selective school, girls are required to take the 11+ exam, which used to be a shared selection test with Wallington High School for Girls,but was made separate in 2009.^[3] to get into year 7. However there are sometimes occasional places in other year groups, and these are based on tests in English, Mathematics and Science.^[4] There is another intake for the sixth form, which is based on GCSE results. An average of 50 points are needed for this.^[5]

The Nonsuch catchment area is defined by two circles. The first is a circle of 5.25 km radius whose centre is mid-way between the main front doors of Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls. This is known as Circle A. The second catchment area is a circle of 5 km radius whose centre is the main front door of Nonsuch High School for Girls, excluding the area in Circle A. This is known as Circle B.

50 places are awarded each year to those with the highest scores in the Entrance Test, whether they live inside or outside the catchment area.

Those who pass the test and live within the circle on the cut-off date as defined by the Pan-London Co-ordinated Admissions System are ranked according to the score they achieve. Places are initially allocated according to the ranked order. If however, two or more girls have the same score and fewer places are available, the place or places will be offered to the girl or girls who live nearer to the school. Up to 80% of the places allocated on this criterion are chosen from the girls who live within Circle A, and the rest are allocated from within Circle B.

The Year 7 selection test consists of two papers, verbal reasoning and non- verbal reasoning, with a short break between them. Not all girls who pass the test are guaranteed a place because normally more girls pass the test than the number of places available. The papers are standardised according to ages in years and months so that younger students (i.e. summer birthdays) are not penalised. The pass mark for admission to Year 7 in 2010 was 202.^[6]

Rules

The school has strict rules for behaviour and dress. Rules include: No make up, hair of one natural colour, appropriate footwear, no patterned tights, no ankle socks, have to wear blue or black gloves, hats, scarves with teachers checking at the entrance. Between Years 7 and 9, girls must wear school coats. Years 10 and 11 are allowed to wear their own, provided they are black in colour and meet certain requirements.

Lessons

On entry, all pupils follow the national curriculum with an additional foreign language (German, French, Latin or Spanish) chosen after one year, although this has changed, and the new years from 2006 onwards are given the opportunity to take both languages in Year 7 rather than picking up another one in the next year. The range of subjects taken for GCSE is broadened by the opportunity to continue with a second language, to study the separate sciences and to choose appropriate Technology courses.Music has recently become very popular with pupils, for example in GCSE. Initially, pupils are taught in forms, with smaller groups for practical subjects. Later, setting allows for the different rates of progress of individual pupils. The pupils are sometimes mixed with different forms for particular subjects such as Design & Technology allowing them to socialise with other people outside their form. In Nonsuch there are 6 forms in each year group each consisting of an average of 30 pupils. The houses are named after planets and are: Mercury, Pluto, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn.

The majority of pupils continue their studies in the large Sixth Form for which external candidates may apply although there is a required standard of grades required in the GCSE exam to pass into the sixth form.This current year an sum of around 50 people left the school for another sixth form. Courses may be chosen from 27 subjects. Core studies and seminar work lead to an additional A level in Critical Thinking.In 2008 the mode Grade for this a- level was a C. Candidates are prepared for Oxbridge entries where appropriate, and most students proceed to higher education or professional training.

Astronomy

The school has an observatory on the roof where the astronomy society meet frequently. The school has one teacher for this GCSE. In 2008 all 5 students achieved either an A or A* grade.^[2]

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Nonsuch High School

• Elizabeth Kay,^{[citation needed]} author of books such as: The Divide trilogy(1960–67)
• Katie Melua, singer-songwriter
• Joanna Rowsell, cyclist ^[7] (2000–2007)
• Melanie South, tennis player^[8]

References

1. ^ Ofsted inspection number 268864 accessed 6 August 2007
2. ^ ^{a b} "Science Department" (pdf). Nonsuch High School. http://www.nonsuchhigh.co.uk/vacancies/Science%20Department%20description.pdf. Retrieved 13 February 2008. 
3. ^ Supplementary forms for Sutton Secondary Schools on the London Borough of Sutton website accessed 7 August 2007
4. ^ Admission into Years 8, 9 and 10 at Nonsuch accessed 7 August 2007
5. ^ Nonsuch High School for Girls Admission Policy accessed 7 August 2007
6. ^ Entry to Nonsuch in Year 7 accessed 7 August 2007
7. ^ [1] accessed 18 June 2009
8. ^ This is Local London article from 28 June 2007 accessed 6 August 2007

External links

• The Nonsuch website