Raynes Park High School

Raynes Park High School is a co-educational comprehensive school which educates students aged 11 to 19. It is located in Raynes Park, England, coming under the London Borough of Merton.[1]

Raynes Park High School
Address
Bushey Road

Raynes Park
,
Greater London
,
SW20 0JL

England
Coordinates51.4033°N 0.2391°W / 51.4033; -0.2391
Information
TypeComprehensive community school
MottoesTo each his need, from each his power (Traditional) Inspiring learning; achieving excellence (Modern)
Established1935 (1935)
Local authorityMerton
Department for Education URN102674 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsMichael Ross
HeadteacherKirsten Heard
Age11 to 19
Enrolment1020
HousesMiltons, Gibbs, Halliwells and Newsoms
Colour(s)White, red, yellow and purple
Websitehttps://www.rphs.org.uk

Location

Raynes Park High School is situated at the junction of the Kingston bypass (A3) and Bushey Road (A298). To the east, it is bounded by West Barnes Lane (B282), and just east of the boundary between the boroughs of Kingston upon Thames (New Malden) and Merton, and just north of the Shannon Corner junction of the A3/B282.

TfL contracted bus routes that serve the school include 131, 152, 265, 655, K5, N87 with nearby National Rail stations include New Malden, Motspur Park and Raynes Park all operated by South Western Railway and all within the oyster fare zone.

History

The school first came into being as a boys only grammar school in 1935. It remained as such for the next 34 years until 1969 when it became a 13–18 boys' comprehensive. In September 1990, when as along with the rest of the borough's schools, it became a 12–16 mixed comprehensive. Finally in September 2010 like all other high schools in the borough, the school's sixth form was re-instated. The school is now an official mixed 11–19.[2]

Sixth form

Following the conversion of Merton's education system to a two tier structure in the 1990s, the school's sixth form was closed. Students wishing to take A-levels enrolled at various colleges or sixth forms in the area. Subsequently, sixth form centres were re-introduced for all Merton High Schools and in September 2010 the purpose built sixth form block opened its doors to Year 12 students.

School organisation

The Head Teacher is Kirsten Heard and the Chair of Governors is Michael Ross. The school last had an Ofsted inspection in January 2019, when it was graded Good.[3]

There have been eight Headteachers:

  • John Garrett,
  • Charles Wrinch
  • T. Henry Porter
  • G. David N. Giles
  • Brian Butler
  • John D. Massey
  • Ian Newman
  • Phillip Wheatley
  • Kirsten Heard

Traditions

W.H. Auden, who had collaborated with the founding headmaster, John Garett, on an anthology called The Poet’s Tongue in 1935,[4] composed the words for the school song, though the original has been since shortened and modernised.[5]

Raynes Park has four Houses: Miltons, Gibbs, Halliwells and Newsoms. The Houses are all identified by distinctive ties (Miltons:white, Gibbs:red, Halliwells:yellow and Newsoms:purple). These names were taken from four of the first five teachers. The fifth teacher, Cobb, also had a House (Cobbs:green) and the name remained in use for some buildings until December 2002[6]

Awards
  • FA Charter Standard Development School Award for outstanding contribution to Football[7]
  • Sport England Sports Mark Award for delivery of national PE[8]

Guinness world record

The Guinness world record for the largest egg and spoon race was broken by 859 pupils, from Raynes Park High School, in October 2003.[9][10]

Notable former pupils

Raynes Park County Grammar School

Raynes Park High School

References
  1. CSF – Early Years, Childcare and Children's Centres. "Raynes Park High School".
  2. "Eteach – Raynes Park High School Careers Site".
  3. "Raynes Park High School Ofsted inspection".
  4. https://www.newcriterion.com/blogs/dispatch/w-h-auden-poet-friend-panacea
  5. https://www.rphs.org.uk/page/?title=School+History&pid=15
  6. https://www.rphs.org.uk/page/?title=School+History&pid=15
  7. "Raynes Park High School – Inspection report", Ofsted, 4 June 2008.
  9. "Pupils scramble to crack world record", Europe Intelligence Wire, 1 November 2003
  10. "Egg and spoon race smashes record ", BBC News, 24 October 2003
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