Commonweal School

The Commonweal School

Seen in October 2007
Motto	Salubritas et Industria
Established	1927
Type	Academy
Headteacher	Mr K Defter
Deputy Headteacher	Mr R Linnegar
Chairperson	Mari Williams
Specialism	Arts
Location	The Mall Okus, Swindon Wiltshire SN1 4JE England
Local authority	Swindon
DfE URN	137190
Ofsted	Reports
Students	1076
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–16
Houses	Ridgeway, Sarum, Whitehorse & Stonehenge
Colours	Green, Red, Yellow and Blue
House Colours	Green, Red, Yellow & Blue
Tie Colours	Blue, White and Black
Website	The Commonweal School

Coordinates: 51°32′57″N 1°47′16″W / 51.54911°N 1.78785°W / 51.54911; -1.78785

The Commonweal School is a secondary school located in Swindon, Wiltshire, England.

Admissions

There are approximately 1100 pupils on roll. It is situated in the south-west of Swindon, south of the A4289.

History

Grammar school

Commonweal School was founded in 1927 as a grammar school.

Comprehensive

In 1965 it became a Senior High School, taking pupils of all abilities aged 14 to 18. There was a second re-organisation in 1983 when Commonweal became a seven-form entry comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16, therefore losing its sixth form.

Specialist school

It has been awarded the title Performing Arts College.

Academy

It became an Academy on 1 August 2011. It had been a foundation school.

Houses

There are four school houses each with their own colour:

• Ridgeway: green
• Sarum: red
• Stonehenge: blue
• Whitehorse: yellow

Uniform

There are four uniforms depending on gender and education tier.

The uniform for girls in KS3

• School tie
• White shirt
• Black trousers or skirt
• Black socks
• Black shoes
• (Optional) blue jumper or fleece with school crest

The uniform for girls in KS4 is:

• School tie
• White shirt
• Black trousers or skirt
• Black socks
• Black shoes
• (Optional) black jumper or fleece with school crest

The uniform for boys in KS3 is:

• School tie
• Blue shirt
• Black trousers
• Black socks
• Black shoes
• (Optional) blue jumper or fleece with school crest

The uniform for boys in KS4 is:

• School tie
• White shirt
• Black trousers
• Black socks
• Black shoes
• (Optional) black jumper or fleece with school crest

As of the 2008 summer term, instead of the school tie and shirt all years have the choice of wearing a polo shirt. For KS3 boys, it has to be a blue polo shirt; and for KS3 girls, KS4 girls, and KS4 boys, it is a white polo shirt.

Academic performance

It gets the joint highest GCSE results in Swindon with Highworth Warneford School. Four schools in Swindon get above average results.

Alumni

Grammar school

• Godfrey Bowles, Managing Director from 1989-94 of Pearl Group
• Prof Keith Browning, Professor of Meteorology from 1992-2003 at the University of Reading, Chief Scientific Officer from 1989-91 at the Met Office, and President from 1988-90 at the Royal Meteorological Society
• Justin Hayward, musician
• Prof Ronald Johnston, Vice-Chancellor from 1992-5 of the University of Essex, Professor of Geography since 1995 at the University of Bristol, and from 1974-92 at the University of Sheffield
• Robert Lamb, conservationist
• Lt Cdr Paul Millett, test pilot for the Panavia Tornado
• Air Vice-Marshal David Saunders CBE, Station Commander from 1983-85 of RAF Sealand
• Prof Joseph Tinsley, soil scientist

References

External links

• Commonweal School
• EduBase
• Foundation school