Established 1907 Head Teacher Mr Peter Shaw DfE URN 136012 Tables Motto Aspire and Achieve Founded 1907 | Chair of Governors Mr Terence Hart Phone +44 1983 524651 Color Blue | |
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Location Mountbatten DriveNewportIsle of WightPO30 5QUEngland Similar Medina College, Christ the King College, Island Innovation VI Form C, The Isle of Wight College, Isle of Wight Council Profiles | ||
Carisbrooke College is a foundation trust-supported secondary school in Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight, formerly Carisbrooke High School. Sixth form students are based at the Island Innovation 6th Form Campus, in Newport: this is the Joint Sixth Form with Medina College.
Contents
History
The history of Carisbrooke College dates from 1907, when its forerunner, Newport County Secondary Grammar School, was opened on Upper St James Street, Newport. The new school was situated on the site of the pre-existing Newport Technical Institute and Seely Library, both having been built with the support of Sir Charles Seely. The original school houses were named after famous men with Island connections: Tennyson, Swinburn, Arnold and Faraday. The school's motto was 'Turris Tutissima Virtus' (Virtue is the Safest Fortress).
In 1957-58, the school moved from its premises on St James Street, Newport, to a new purpose-built site in nearby Carisbrooke. The school changed its name to Carisbrooke Grammar School. On the same site a separate school was built, called Priory Boys Secondary Modern School.
The Carisbrooke Grammar School complex included a main block with classrooms, a staff room, senior master's/mistress's offices and a tuck shop. Connected to this block were an acoustically designed assembly hall/auditorium (complete with raised stage) and a fully equipped gymnasium with changing rooms. There was a separate science block in which physics, chemistry, biology, technical drawing and domestic science were taught. A single-storey craft block was included for woodwork and metalwork classes. A few years after opening, an outdoor swimming pool was added to enhance the existing sports facilities.
The first headmaster of Carisbrooke Grammar School was Stanley G. Ward B.A., presiding over an initial staff compliment of 41. The four school houses (this time named after famous Isle of Wight residences) were Farringford (blue), Mottistone (green), Osborne (red), and Wolverton (yellow).
Change occurred again in 1971, when the Isle of Wight moved to a comprehensive education system. This resulted in Carisbrooke Grammar School merging with its neighbour, Priory Boys Secondary Modern School, to become Carisbrooke High School.
The Isle of Wight reorganised its education system again in 2010-11. As a result, Island Innovation Trust (formerly Medina Innovation Trust), took over responsibility for the school. In September 2011, the school reopened as Carisbrooke College, with the age range extended to Year 7 to Year 13 (having previously been from Year 9 upwards). It is now one of eight secondary providers on the Isle of Wight, with the school in a hard federation with Medina College.
In July 2015 Isle of Wight Council put forward proposals to close Carisbrooke College from 2016, and merge it with Medina College. However the plan was subsequently rejected by councillors.
Facilities
The main school site is situated on the outskirts of Carisbrooke village and occupies an area of 24 acres. The school shares a 6th form campus with Medina College on Upper St James Street, Newport, on the former Nodehill Middle School site (the same site where the school began life in 1907 as Newport County Secondary Grammar School).
The school has extensive sports facilities, including several rugby pitches, football and hockey pitches, a flood-lit astroturf pitch, basketball courts, squash courts, tennis courts, netball courts, two fitness suites, an indoor sports hall, and a gymnasium. Other facilities at the school include two halls (the 'Main Hall' and the 'West Hall'), a large drama studio, ten science laboratories, extensive facilities for art and design technology, and a cafeteria.
Houses
The house system at Carisbrooke College consists of five houses named after Greek gods: Poseidon, Zeus, Athena, Demeter and Apollo.
From 2007, a vertical tutor group system was in place at Carisbrooke High School, with each tutor group made up of five to nine pupils from each year group (Year 9 to Year 11), plus two or more sixth formers from both the Upper and Lower Sixth. Each tutor group was assigned to a house. In September 2011, when the school became Carisbrooke College, it was decided that the tutor groups should be made up of pupils from a single year group, as had been the case before 2007.
Results
The school's recent exam results are listed below:
Notable former pupils
Academia
Arts and Media
Business
Politics
Sport