West Buckland School

History

West Buckland School was founded as the Devon County School in 1858 by Rev. J.L. Brereton to provide a public school education for sons of farmers and the middle class. The foundation stone of the Gothic(?)-style buildings was laid in October 1860 by Earl Fortescue, who had provided land and other support for the school.

Under the first headmaster, J.H. Thompson, numbers rose to 150 by 1876 and then declined as a consequence of agricultural depression and competition from other schools.

In the winter of 1912/13 the school was renamed West Buckland School.

During the 1950s it received increasing support from the Devon County Educational authority and became a direct grant school. In 1976, when direct grants were abolished, it finally became a fully independent school.

West Buckland leads the North Devon schools examination league table.

Expansion and development

The school has 450 pupils and is expanding in facilities. 2008 saw the completion of a sports hall behind the nineteenth century complex. In April 2010 the 150 Building opened, a combination of buildings containing modern art, design and technology workshops, a theatre which replaced an old theatre together with assembly space for the prep school, and a quadrangle. In Autumn 2015 the 'Michael Morpurgo' library opened. In the building there is also the head of sixth form office, an English and economics classroom, the school library and work area with computers for pupils. Also opened was Parkers, a sixth form boarding house for boys and girls, each with their own room with en suite facilities. Downstairs features a lounge and kitchen for use of day pupils as well.

The four House system of West Buckland School are:

Numerous inter-house competitions are held throughout the school year in music, drama and sport, culminating in Sports' Day on the final day of the summer term. Points are awarded depending on how well houses do in each competition and whichever house has amassed the largest number of points after Sports' Day wins the coveted Southcomb Shield.

An extract from “West Buckland School 1858-1958. The First Hundred Years. A Review of a Century recorded by Friends and Pupils.”

On July 31, 1917, there fell in action, E. H. Southcomb, then a Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment. He was for many years a very cheerful member of the Brereton House, no great athlete but always ready to play his part to the best of his ability. On leaving West Buckland he went, by his father’s wish, to Shrewsbury for two years, and then entered a bank, where he remained till war broke out. On his death it was found that he had left a legacy (£10 10s. 0d.) to the Sports Fund of his first school, and somewhat late it has at last been decided to perpetuate his memory by a Shield which will be held by the House which obtains the chief athletic cups in the School year, which starts in September. For this purpose, each of the Challenge Cups carries a definite mark. The allocation of marks for each cup was not an easy matter and even now the values may require re-adjustment in 1924. The Headmaster formed a committee consisting of Messrs. Corless, Taylor and Walton, and the list as issued by them will hold good at any rate till July, 1924. The winning House will hold the shield, which will be hung over their dining tables, and will also take the right of the line on ceremonial parades.

The House system provides a continuity of pastoral care throughout a pupil’s school career, as well as creating opportunities for leadership qualities to be demonstrated.

Boarding

There are currently four main boarding houses at West Buckland:

Each of the boarding houses has its own houseparent. In Autumn 2015, the new sixth form boarding house will open which will house the sixth form girls and sixth form boys.

Fees

Annual Day Fees: £7,140 - £13,260, Annual Boarding Fees: £21,120 - £24,600

Responsibilities

Prefect duties, which include care of younger students, are awarded to senior pupils within each house. The Head and Deputy Head of School are selected from the Senior Prefects. The prefect team typically consists of around 20 members of the upper sixth. They are split into five teams, each having responsibility for one day of the working week. There are also dedicated boarding prefects.

Aside from being Senior Prefects, sixth form members of each house have the opportunity to be Link Prefects. This is where two members of the sixth form are allocated to one tutor group within the house. They will generally visit the group once a week, usually on a Thursday. This provides a direct link between the pupils and staff and allows the younger members of the house to be able to chat to older members of the house who they perhaps wouldn't have an opportunity to otherwise talk to.

There is also a peer counselling service called Familiar Faces. This comprises members of Year 11 who voluntarily train as counsellors. The Familiar Faces take it in turns to be available to talk to other members of the school in complete confidence in a private location. This is an extremely useful and comforting service, especially if pupils feel that they are unable to express their concerns to their parents or to staff.

Langholme

Langholme is West Buckland's preparatory school, providing for 4 to 11 year olds. There is also a nursery on site. Accommodation for Langholme pupils is provided in the Bamfylde boarding house.

Alumni

The Old West Buckland Association provides regular newsletters to former pupils. It also organises sports matches between current school teams and teams of 'old boys' and 'old girls', as well as organising a number of social events.

Notable alumni include:

Speech Day

On the third Saturday in September each year, the school holds its Speech Day and prize-giving ceremony. Pupils who have achieved excellence in academic, sporting and other fields are rewarded for their efforts and for their contribution to the school's success. Successful former pupils are often invited to make speeches, alongside a customary speech by the serving headmaster of the school.

The Exmoor Runs

Every year the school holds the Exmoor Run, essentially a cross-country run across Exmoor. The Senior Boys' Run is reputed to be the longest school cross-country run in the country, with a walk of eight miles to the start and a run of ten miles back to the finish (the school). Senior girls are required to walk six and to run seven and a half miles. Junior boys walk out five miles and run back five and a half, while Junior girls walk four and run four.