Established 1976 DfE URN 125264 Tables Phone +44 1306 886312 Number of students 1,408 | Headteacher David Blow Ofsted Reports Color Navy blue Founded 1976 | |
Type Comprehensive school, Community school Location Ashcombe RoadDorkingSurreyRH4 1LYUnited Kingdom Similar Therfield School, The Priory School, St John's School, Reigate School, Rosebery School | ||
The Ashcombe School is a mixed community comprehensive secondary school in Dorking, Surrey, for children aged 11 to 16 with a sixth form for ages 16 to 18.
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History
The Ashcombe School was established in 1976, by the merger of Dorking County Grammar School and Mowbray School. The co-educational Dorking County Grammar School had been founded in 1931 with the Amalgamation of the Dorking High School for Boys (1884-1930) and St.Martin's Church Of England High School for Girls. Mowbray Secondary Modern School for Girls opened on an adjacent site in 1959.The schools were close enough to share the school kitchen
Pupils
Pupils range in age from 11 to 18 and the current number on roll is approximately 1600 with a standard admission number of 240 pupils in Year 7, the year of intake.
Each year, approximately 240 pupils join The Ashcombe School from nearly 30 different primary and independent schools. The number of Sixth Form students is approximately 300, including some from other schools.
Curriculum and academic performance
The school curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the school has been noted for its academic success.
The school claims that GCSE results have been consistent over several years with typically 100% gaining 5 A*-G, around 80% gaining 5 A*-C and 70% 5A*-C including Maths and English and over 20 pupils gaining 5 or more A* grades. In addition to A-levels (which are now divided into AS and A2 level courses), the sixth form offers a limited number of GCSEs and GNVQ. In the A-level examinations the average points score per student is consistently around 350pts per student. As a result of these successes, most students are offered university places, including entries to Oxbridge.
Language teaching
The Ashcombe School became a Specialist Language College in September 1998, allowing it to receive additional funding. It was featured in the Independent and the Guardian as a school that teaches Mandarin.