Twyford Church of England High School

History

Twyford High School was purchased from the London Borough of Ealing by the London Diocesan Board for Schools and established in 1981 and is one of a family of 13 LDBS secondary schools within the city. The school opened as the result of a concerted campaign by local parents.

One of the school buildings, The Elms, is the oldest surviving building in Acton. It was built by Charles Morren in 1735 as a Baroque country villa and has been occupied by various wealthy citizens. In 1954 it ceased to be a private home. There were plans to demolish it but the former local council, Middlesex County Council, opposed it and bought the house to be used as a school. An extension was added to house new classrooms. In 1981 it was taken over by the new Twyford C of E High School

The name "Twyford" comes from the Twyford Brook that runs underground near the Elms, and literally means "Two Fords". This same brook is connected to Twyford Abbey in the West Twyford area of Ealing.

Academic Profile

With results well above the national and LEA average, Twyford is a school with a strong academic record. It ranks 2nd out of 10 and 5th out of 17 for A-level and GCSE results respectively in the LEA (of both selective and non-selective schools). In successive Ofsted inspections (2007 & 2012), it was rated "outstanding".

Sport

Rugby, football, netball, and hockey are the most popular sports at Twyford, though opportunities for students to participate in trampolining, table tennis and basketball are available through many different lunchtime and after school clubs. A wide variety of sports including self-defence and gymnastics are mandatory during progression through the school. Cricket and Rugby are also played, particularly in the summer term.

The school has an affiliation with the London Wasps whose training grounds it uses: it provides schooling for Wasps Apprentices, helping make the rugby team one of the country's most formidable; it reached the final rounds of the National Schools Sevens Festival Tournament 2007.

Music

The school specialises in music, and music is a highly valued curricular and extra-curricular activity within the school. Annual classical and popular music competitions are held in which a wide section of talent is displayed. The school runs many groups and choirs as extra-curricular activities and the Gospel Choir won the title of Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year 2009. The choir is renowned throughout London and has played at many major venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House. In addition to the gospel choir, Twyford boasts a full school orchestra, large chamber choir spanning all school years, junior choir, community choir (for parents, friends and staff), student run jazz band, swing band, urban collective and many small vocal and instrumental ensembles including string quartets, female vocal ensembles and a samba band. The Music and Drama departments join together each February to put on the annual school production, with a full student cast, orchestra, stage crew and technical team. A wide range of instrumental tuition is also offered with highly specialised peripatetic teachers.

Societies and Clubs

Societies and clubs of varying subject can be found meeting weekly at the school including a debating society (taking part in the annual Mace Debating Competition), chess club and Art club. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels.

Twyford Chaplaincy

The dedicated chaplaincy team organises the services of the school and provides support for families and staff. It is headed by the school chaplains (The Rev. John Seymour) and the head of the Twyford Fellowship Group (Geoff Lumley). The student chaplaincy team is currently headed by Geoff Lumley.

Twyford Fellowship Group

TFG is effectively the school's Christian Union in which students meet to worship God together using contemporary and relevant worship. It includes Bible study and regular guest speakers as well as annual weekends away.

School Structure

Twyford is organised into year groups each containing seven tutor groups, which are also members of the school's seven houses: Truro, Wells, York, Fountains, Ripon, Durham & Canterbury. Each tutor group has its own Form Representative, Chapel Ambassador and Sport, Enterprise and Endeavour representatives.

Each Year Group has a Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year and two Year Representative. The Head of Year 7 liaises with the Primary Schools that the students have come from, and for this reason remains Head of Year 7 each year. Once students move into Year 8 they will then remain with their new year head until the end of Year 11.

The lower years (7 to 9) cover the National Curriculum's Key Stage Three and are overseen by the Head of KS3. In the same way years 10 and 11 are overseen by the Head of KS4.

In the Sixth Form there is a permanent Head of Year 12, and also one for Year 13 (at the moment this post is held by Miss Keller) as well as an overall Head of KS5.

Points

Conduct points (or simply 'positives') are awarded by teachers to pupils for good behaviour, work, and through the winning of inter-house competitions. 'Negatives' can also be given to pupils for lacking behaviour, presentation, and work, with the effect of deducting points from the grand total. The House that has won the most points at the end of the Easter term is awarded the Inter-House Trophy.

House System

Each pupil is a member of one of the seven school houses at Twyford. House representatives meet at a council to represent the views of students in each house and year.

Houses are named after famous cathedrals or abbeys in England and each is associated with a colour.

The initial of each House joins to create the full name of the school (TWYFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL), with 'O' being excluded for historical reasons.

Uniform

Uniform consists of the following mandatory items:

- Black Blazer with the Twyford Logo - Tie(Years 7-8 where a tie with gray and red stripes whilst years 9-11 wear a plain gray tie with just the school logo displayed) - Grey School Jumper - Black School Trousers/Skirt - Black School Shoes

School Bags also must be able to carry books/folders up to A4 size and coats, jackets hats and scarves must be plain with no visible logos.

Sports gear includes a White Polo shirt with red trim and the Twyford Logo with red and white socks and appropriate trainers.

Old Twyfordians

Myles Hippolyte (1994–), footballer

Harry Podmore (1994–), cricketer

Asma al-Assad (1986-), British born wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Controversies

In February 2014, several Sixth formers who attended the school where discovered to be using class A drugs at parties. The school has a zero tolerance policy on drugs and although the actions took place off the grounds, parents of those involved were individually contacted and the information was passed to the police.

In 2016 several pupils were suspended under allegations of drug abuse on school grounds, appropriate action was taken and the students were later suspended. These students were later expelled.