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The History of Soham
Village College |
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The Grammar School on Churchgate Street |
The Grammar School at Beechurst |
Soham Grammar School Memorial - Roll of Honour
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1878 AD Soham Grammar School is Founded
The all boys Grammar School had its origins in
the Soham Free School founded in 1686. It became Soham Grammar school in 1878
and occupied premises on Churchgate Street. The existing Churchgate Street
building dates from around 1880 and is built on an area called the Hempland and
on the site of the original school.
1925 AD The Grammar School at Beechurst
In 1925 the Grammar School had moved into the
former private mansion, Beechurst, built in 1900 by Charles Morbey. Beechurst
was the finest house in Soham with beautiful grounds, an arboretum and an
orangery.
1958 AD Soham Village College Established
The Village College was officially opened
on 16th October 1958 on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council by Sir Edward
Boyle, Bart., M.P. It was built on a seventeen acre site next to Soham Lode
known as the Moat Fields. When first opened it was a four form entry school with
some 460 students aged from 11-15. The Warden was Mr. S.W.Percival, with eighteen
assistant teachers, Edward Lang, a full time Tutor for Further Education and a
full time Assistant Tutor and Youth leader. The school buildings incorporated a
branch of the County Library and a Youth Club. Housing for the Warden, caretaker
and some staff was provided on the site. Mr Riggulsford succeeded Mr Percival as
Warden in September 1963 and the College continued to grow and had a very active
community and arts programme under Adult Tutor, Norman Sykes.
1972 AD The Grammar
School Closes
The biggest change, however, was in 1972
when the school leaving age was raised to 16 and a new
comprehensive school was formed by merging the College with the ancient Soham
Grammar School which occupied an adjoining site on Sand Street and whose playing
fields were next to the College fields. Mr Riggulsford left Soham for a new
Headship in Bristol and Mr A.E.Lawrance, a former Head of Mathematics at the
Grammar School was appointed Warden.
Under Mr Lawrance the College gained a strong academic and sporting reputation.
Over the years the County Library moved to new premises in the town, the Youth
Club too had its own purpose built Lode Centre opened in 1991 next to a new
community sports hall built on College land in 1984, and with the exception of
housing for the caretaker, the staff houses were sold. In 1985 after the retirement of Mr A.E.Lawrance, Dr. A.W.Bullock, as the new
Principal master-minded an extensive building programme. This created a new
Science block, Resource Centre, Staff Room and Music block helping to fill the
space between the two former schools.
1993 AD The College becomes Grant Maintained
In September 1993 the College became a Grant
Maintained School and in 1994 was awarded Technology College status. In March
1996 local benefactor Mr. Simon Gibson opened a splendid new Gibson Wing
extension to Beechurst and in November 1998 HRH Princess Margaret opened the new
M Block for Science and Technology.
In 1999 Dr. A.W.Bullock retired and Mr H.L.Gilbert became Principal until September 2005 when Vice Principal Dr. D.Lunn became Acting Principal for a year until a new Principal could be sourced, the College has been headed by Dr. C.Taylor since September 2006 to date. Soham Village College is one of the first schools in the country to be allowed two specialisms as a Foundation College and so from Easter 2006, it is now both a specialist Technology
and Languages College.
Soham Village College has strong academic and sporting traditions. There are
excellent modern teaching facilities fully computer networked and an active
programme of capital investment. In the tradition of Cambridgeshire Village
Colleges the buildings are widely used by the community for further education
and events. The College occupies an extensive and attractive site with spacious
playing fields and views of the open fenland countryside.
The College has been awarded the Artsmark - Bronze Award, International School
Award, Sport England SportsMark Award, Basic Skills Quality Mark,
Becta ICT Mark for Excellence in ICT and the Investors in People Award. These are
external measures of the quality of our Expressive Arts Curriculum and our
teaching of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT as well as the training and development
of our staff.
The Catchment Area
The catchment area for the College includes
Soham, Barway, Wicken, Fordham, Isleham, Chippenham,
Snailwell, Kennett and Burwell. The principal feeder primary schools are: St
Andrew's in Soham, The Weatheralls in Soham, Fordham Primary, Isleham Primary, Kennett
Primary and Burwell
Village College. In recent years, however, the pupils have been drawn from an
even wider area around Soham including: Ely, Littleport and Newmarket. Soham Village College is still a comprehensive school of eleven form entry with
some 1350 students aged between 11 and 16 on roll. It is planned to rise as Soham itself grows and extra housing comes into the area.
The Beechurst Entrance Today |
The Lodeside Entrance Today |
History
Section Researched by Michael Rouse - Soham Village College
(Amended November 2007)
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