Stanborough School, Welwyn Garden City

Grammar school

It was founded as a selective Grammar school in 1939, and so recently celebrated its 70th year. It had around 550 girls and boys in the 1960s.

Comprehensive

It became an all-ability comprehensive school in 1968. In the early 1980s it had around 900 boys and girls.

Merger with Sir John Newsom School

In September 1998, nearby Sir John Newsom School was merged with Stanborough School and its pupils transferred across to Stanborough site.

Academy status

The school gained academy status in February 2012 with a specialism in Maths and Computing. The school is now independent of local authority control and legally is a private company limited by guarantee registered at Companies House with registration number 07900439.

The Houses System

Stanborough School consists of six houses. Each Year of the school is divided into six tutor forms, each aligned with one of the six houses Named after respected stately homes. The six houses are:

Specifically to Year 11, three new houses were added

The main six houses compete for the Stanborough House Trophy each year. The school year consists of a variety of competitions and tournaments which allow students to gain points for their houses. Notable events include: Run for Stanborough, House Drama, House Music and Sports Day. In 2012, as part of celebrating the London Olympics, the school hosted the 'Stanborough Olympics' which was a two-day sporting event, complete with their own torch relay which included two representatives from each house, selected based on their contribution in all house events, to carry the torch. Furthermore, students can earn points through collecting reward points, having good attendance and contributing to smaller competitions and events.

Each House is led by a small group of staff/sixth formers. Two House tutors will act as House Leaders and two Year 13 sixth formers act as the House Captains. It is the House Captains job to organise their house and lead them to victory through the various competitions throughout the year.

Run

Run for Stanborough: Usually taken place during the autumn months, members of Stanborough School - students, teachers and support staff will walk or run their way around Stanborough Lakes to raise money for the school charity. In 2011, £6000 was raised for Teenage Cancer Trust from this one single event, and the 2012/13 charity will be 'Rays of Sunshine', for who the school aims to raise as much money for. Some will be in fancy dress, and the runners will be in PE kit, but everyone will have the same purpose - to get as much sponsorship as possible to help worthy causes. The Run also contributes as one of the events during the School year which contributes to the House Cup.

The event usually ends with the eagerly awaited gunging, where students get to see their teachers at the end of the run be gunged with as variety of sloppy concoctions tipped over their heads.

Drama

House Drama: Performed shortly before Christmas, House Captains arrange a house production at the beginning of school term which is rehearsed over the months ready for the big event. The cast consists only of house members and is directed and produced solely by the House captains. Each House performance can only be 30 minutes long. This event contributes to the Stanborough House Trophy, but winners of this competition also win a House Drama Trophy. 2008 saw Ashridge win with their performance of Beauty and the Beast, 2nd place was given to Hatfield with their performance of "A Streetcar Named Desire"

School Productions: Every other Year, the Drama department (and sometimes the music department) and school members host a School production, performed in the Spring term, rehearsals starting in September. Past performances have been the likes of Oliver, West Side Story, We Will Rock You and most recently Les Miserables.

Music

House Music: Performed in the spring term. Musicians of each house demonstrate a wide range of musical genius by hosting a 30-minute performance full of a variety of musical acts, which since 2012 are now put on after school giving parents a chance to buy tickets and watch the event. Performances in the past have been known to include rock bands, singing, instrument solos, musical numbers and rapping.

Dance

School Dance Display: Every other Year after the school production, the Dance department and students perform a spectacular series of dance numbers, demonstrating unique and creative talents.

Sixth Form Consortium

Stanborough Sixth form is part of a wider consortium of many secondary schools in the area. Stanborough offers a range of subjects at A level on site. English, History, Mathematics, Science, Computer Science, Psychology are just a few examples. Other schools aligned with the sixth form consortium include:

Academic performance

Stanborough School often achieves GCSE results above the national average, with 51% of pupils achieving the equivalent of five or more GCSEs grade C or above including English and Maths in 2012. Their A Level results are consistently one of the highest of maintained schools in Hertfordshire.

Welwyn Garden City Stanborough Grammar School

Notable former teachers