Churchill Community School

Infobox UK school
name = Churchill Community School

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latitude = 51.3369
longitude = -2.8119
dms = yes
motto = Aiming for Excellence
phone =
fax =
established = 1956
type = State school
head = Dr Barry Wratten
street = Churchill Green
city = Churchill
county = North Somerset
country = England
enrollment = c.1500
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
publication = The Churchill/The Spotlight
website = http://www.churchill.n-somerset.sch.uk

Churchill Community School is a state school situated in the village of Churchill, North Somerset, surrounded by countryside and overlooked by the Mendip Hills. It has a sixth form centre, taking students from years 7 to 13 and offering General Certificate of Secondary Education, A-levels and BTEC courses. In 2002 the school was granted specialist Arts College status. The current headteacher is Dr Barry Wratten succeeding Brian Kirkup, who is now a governor of The Kings of Wessex School in nearby Cheddar. [cite web | url= http://www.kowessex.co.uk/downloads/parent_documents/gov_report.pdf | publisher= The Kings of Wessex School | format= pdf | title= Governor's Report to Parents | accessdate= 2008-08-06]

The school is organised by house system, with the houses named after royal dynasties of Britain: Stuart (green), Hanover (yellow), Tudor (red) and Windsor (blue).

The school publishes a weekly newsletter, a termly publication called "The Churchill" and an arts newsletter, "Spotlight".

2006 marked the school's half-century on its site. This was celebrated with a series of events cumulating in Jubilee Party in the grounds of the school.

Sports

The school's sports teams compete with other schools in football, running and rugby union, where school teams have been successful in the Daily Mail Cup. Its rugby team has toured in Europe, Africa and South America, before Dr Wratten decided to actively fund and encourage music tours to the Czech Republic. The school benefits from an indoor swimming pool, squash and tennis courts and playing fields. The school formed its first girls' rugby team in 2003.

Other activities

Since 1995 the school has been a member of the Gabblers Club, the Bristol-based debating organisation. The school has won its annual competition three times.

Its dance, drama and music studios support the school's specialist Performing Arts status and the school regularly stages dramatic productions at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare. The school also boasts a successful choir, string ensemble, concert band and jazz group. Pupils are also active in chess, Duke of Edinburgh Award and sailing. In recent years the school has organised visits to, among others, Paris, New York, Russia, China, Bolivia, Tanzania and Kyrgyzstan. The schools award winning senior gospel choir, Youthful Spirit have toured in Greece, Germany and Austria.

On the last day of term before Christmas vacations, sixth form pupils wear fancy dress to school and have breakfast with their tutor groups, then watch the yearly event of the Christmas revue organised by year 13 students. Socially, the Sixth Form Council organises regular parties at bars in Weston-super-Mare.

The school's official slogan is 'aiming for excellence' but is more famously known as 'it's cool to be keen', as set down by the former headmaster, Mr. Kirkup.

References

External links

* [http://www.churchill.n-somerset.sch.uk/ Churchill Community School website]
* [http://www.churchillmusic.org.uk/school.html Churchill Music school site]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=109312&providerCategoryID=8192 Churchill Community School entry on Ofsted website]
* [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_07.pl?No=8024139&Mode=Z&Type=SC&Phase=k&Year=07&Base=a&Num=802 Key Stage 3 performances tables (DSCF)]
* [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_07.pl?Mode=Z&Type=SC&No=8024139&Phase=1&Year=07&Num=802&Base=c&s2s=1 GCSE performance tables (DSCF)]