User:Ken Ord/Wisbech Grammar School

Founded during the turbulent reign of Richard II in 1379, Wisbech Grammar School was established by a society of local merchants, the Guild of the Holy Trinity, to provide education for poor boys of the town. Now a fully co-educational day school, it draws its 650 pupils aged four to 18 from the three counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire and the headmaster is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference.

Occupying a prime site on North Brink, one of England’s most handsome Georgian streets and a magnet for film makers, the school – the finest in Fenland – is set in 26 acres of magnificent grounds in a conservation area. Open, friendly and welcoming, the school is small enough for staff to know all the pupils individually, but large enough to provide an impressive range of opportunities. The traditional emphasis on the pursuit of academic success is complemented by a sensitive and effective pastoral care system. All members of the senior school and the preparatory school, Magdalene House, are encouraged to develop their confidence and unlock their true potential, both inside and outside the classroom, as well as engaging with the wider community.

In recent years the expansion of the teaching staff has helped to reduce class sizes and foster more individual learning. The ongoing development programme has included a performing arts centre and a floodlit, all-weather Astroturf pitch. A new hall and two more classrooms have been constructed for the rapidly expanding preparatory school, which takes its name from Magdalene College. The Cambridge college has enjoyed a close connection with the Grammar School for over 350 years and the master and fellows appoint two of their number to the governing body. Junior pupils also enjoy the extensive benefits of the senior school facilities and teaching expertise. The latest addition to the campus, a new sixth form centre, opened in September.

Senior school admission
The main entry is at age 11 by a competitive examination which is designed to discover potential. Pupils can also enter at second, third and fourth form levels. Offers of sixth form places are made on the basis of interview and a report from a student’s current school.

Fees per term (2010-2011)
Senior school £3,425 per term; Magdalene House preparatory school £2,355 per term. Means tested bursaries are available at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. These are known as governors’ assisted places and are reviewed annually. Currently, 205 pupils receive support from the scheme. Application forms for governors’ assisted places are available from the bursar.

Travel to school
The school’s catchment area embraces King’s Lynn, Peterborough, Whittlesey, March, Hunstanton and Long Sutton. School buses run from a number of these places, visiting villages en route, and there are late buses to most destinations for pupils involved in after-school activities.

Teaching and learning
The school aims to foster a love of learning and to provide an environment which nurtures talent and breeds success. There is a high regard for the traditional disciplines, but the school is also ready to open up exciting new fields of study. An extensive academic curriculum in the first three years of the senior school includes opportunities to sample a number of technology subjects, and Spanish is offered from the third form. The option system at GCSE ensures a broad-based curriculum as well as allowing pupils to play to their strengths. At A Level 24 subjects are provided and students have their first chance to take business studies, economics, music technology, computing, graphics and drama and theatre studies. The school also provides support which allows bright children with learning difficulties and disabilities to rise to the challenge of a rigorous academic education. Two thirds of the student body enter the Maths Challenge competition and technology enjoys a high profile: sixth form food and nutrition students have recently worked with Gordon Ramsay at the BBC Good Food Show and members of the Twin Cambs teams have reached the national finals of the Greenpower competition to design and build an electric racing car for the last three years in a row.

The sixth form experience
The school has a first-class track record in enabling students to realize their university and career aspirations. Entrusted with a greater degree of independence, sixth form members are encouraged to make their mark and develop leadership qualities, both within the house system and at a wider level. Their new uniform, a stylish business suit with a discreet lapel badge, was adopted following meetings of the student council. The recently opened sixth form centre provides a fine facility for the school’s most senior students.

Creative and performing arts
The flourishing music department provides practical opportunities for pupils to develop their creative talents. Ten visiting instrumental and vocal tutors give individual tuition to a sixth of the students, and there are numerous opportunities to join in choirs, wind and steel bands and perform in the annual concerts and community charity events.

A dynamic tradition of drama allows pupils to build their confidence and hone their acting skills, both in major productions on the main stage and in more intimate performances in the studio. Audiences have sampled everything from Renaissance drama to experimental twentieth century works, as well as popular musicals, and ambitious recent productions have included She stoops to conquer, My fair lady and Amadeus. Rehearsals are currently under way for The duchess of Malfi.

The art and design department is a highly visible presence in the school, mounting exhibitions on-site and at the Reed Barn at the neighbouring National Trust property, Peckover House, and talented artists and designers regularly win places at the top art colleges. The silk screen printing area was established by the Stationers’ Company in recognition of the wartime connection with the Grammar School when the Company’s school in Hornsey was evacuated to Wisbech, and girls taking A Level textiles were branded the best in the country in the 2009 Good schools guide.

A competitive spirit
The sports department arranges a competitive fixture list against schools across the eastern counties and in the midlands, and Wisbech Grammar School takes pride in punching above its weight. An extensive inter-house programme also allows pupils of all abilities to develop their competitive spirit. The main games for boys are rugby in the autumn term and hockey and rugby sevens in the spring, together with cricket and athletics in the summer. Girls play hockey and netball in the first two terms and rounders and athletics in the summer. There is also tennis for boys and girls. For pupils above the third form who are not involved in a major team game, the options range from squash and basketball to archery and spinning. The facilities include a recently refurbished, full-size sports hall and the extensive on-site Astroturf pitch, together with generous playing field provision. Pupils also enjoy access to a covered swimming pool, a sports hall and a fitness centre at a neighbouring leisure centre.

Beyond the classroom
Wisbech Grammar School believes in learning on location. Geography students have recently investigated tectonic activity in Iceland and explored the breath-taking Amalfi coastline. Spanish students head to Salamanca for a week of intensive language tuition and cultural activities, and there are frequent art trips to New York. There is a flourishing exchange with the Willibrord Gymnasium in Emmerich in north Germany, as well as a chateau trip for second formers and a study visit to France. Students also criss-cross the country for hands-on learning, and excursions such as the third form trip to Shakespeare’s Globe run regularly. A sports tour to Barbados provides a chance to compete in the Caribbean sun, while over 70 students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with those at the highest level mounting expeditions to the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales. The senior school adventure begins with an outdoor activity week for the first form in rural Shropshire.

Closer to home, sixth formers sharpen up their business skills in the Young Enterprise scheme, regularly reaching the regional finals. Clubs such as astronomy, philosophy, wake up walk and grow, cook, eat help to stretch the mind and develop life skills. Members of Caritas, the charity and community service team, reach out to those in need in the town as well as hosting a party for pensioners.

Magdalene House
The preparatory school, which caters for boys and girls from reception to year six, has doubled in size to over 165 pupils since its re-founding in 1997. Great emphasis is placed on reading, writing and numeracy, and the pupils follow a broad-based curriculum. The children have access to many of the excellent senior school facilities, including the science laboratory, sports hall and theatre. They also have their own library, dedicated computer room and a light and spacious new hall. Specialist teaching is offered in science, music, design technology, physical education and games, information technology and drama. Many children receive peripatetic music lessons and there are three choirs. Opportunities for performance in drama and music, including class plays, assemblies and informal concerts, are regular features. In January the year six pupils sit an entrance examination for the senior school.

Sporting opportunities abound and a full timetable of fixtures against other schools is arranged. The main boys’ team sports are rugby, hockey and cricket, whilst the girls play hockey, netball and rounders. Members of the under 11 rugby and hockey teams enjoy an annual long weekend tour to North Yorkshire.

A varied after-school programme for both juniors and infants provides the opportunity to develop sports and leisure skills, as well as artistic and musical talents. A supervised homework club also runs each day.

Field trips, activity days at local museums and visits by theatre groups and outside speakers lie at the heart of the curriculum. Years four, five and six enjoy an annual week at an activity centre.

Generally children are admitted to the reception class at the beginning of the school year in which they reach the age of five. All children registering are invited to spend part of a day in school when they are assessed in a manner appropriate to their age. Candidates for entry are also welcomed at all other stages of the junior school age range.

All enquiries should be addressed to the Secretary, Magdalene House Preparatory School, Wisbech Grammar School, North Brink, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1JX. Tel: 01945 586780;  Fax:  01945 586781.

Old Wisbechians Society
Further information about the society can be obtained from the Admissions Secretary at the school, to whom requests for the school magazine, Riverline, should be sent. News of past pupils is published on the school website, www.wgs.cambs.sch.uk.

Old Grammarians
•	Thomas Herring – Archbishop of Canterbury •	Thomas Clarkson – the friend of the slaves •	John Gordon – novelist •	Ray DaSilva – founder of the Norwich Puppet Theatre •	Professor Stephen Littlechild – Director General of Electricity Supply at the Office of Electricity Regulation •	Richard Blakesley – winner of record backing on Dragons’ den •	Claire Goose – actress •	Zara Dawson – actress

Charitable status
The Wisbech Grammar School Foundation is a registered charity, number 1087799. It exists to promote the education of boys and girls.