Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Motto Meliora Sequamur
(Let us follow better things.)
Established 1881
Type Voluntary controlled grammar school
Headteacher Jane Robinson
Chair of Governors Ash Rehal
Location Old Dover Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 3EW
England
Coordinates: 51°15′53″N 1°05′48″E / 51.2648°N 1.0966°E / 51.2648; 1.0966
Local authority Kent
DfE number 886/4534
DfE URN 118840 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 72
Students c. 1025
Gender Girls (co-ed Sixth form)
Ages 11–18
Houses Curie, Johnson, Nightingale, Pankhurst, Austen and Fonteyn
Colours Navy, gold and white
Publication L-mag
Website SLGGS website

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School is a single-sex voluntary controlled grammar school in Canterbury, Kent, England. The school originated in the Middle Ages as an educational foundation for children in Canterbury, emerging as a separate school for girls in 1881. Its sister school is Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys which resides a mere half mile away.

The school is 'selective' in its intake, with prospective Year 7 students having to take the Kent Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education ("eleven-plus") examination. Around 155 new students are accepted every year at age 11, and around 60 students every year join the sixth form from other schools. 2010 saw the successful introduction of boys into the sixth form.

In the school's Ofsted inspection (May 2007) it was rated 'Outstanding' in all areas.[1]

History

The history of the school begins with the Blue Coat Boys' School housed at the Poor Priest's Hospital which had been founded in the Middle Ages. In 1881, two new schools (a girls school and a boys school) succeeded it and were called the Canterbury Middle Schools. However, to dispel rumours that they were solely for the use of the middle classes, they were renamed in 1887 to become the Simon Langton Girls' and Boys' schools, named after Simon Langton, an Archdeacon of Canterbury who in 1248 had left behind legacies to the Poor Priest's Hospital.

During the Baedecker Blitz in the Second World War, the old school buildings were destroyed - they were situated in what is now the Whitefriar's Shopping Centre and rebuilt on its present site (just off the A2050) in 1950.

In 2005, Simon Langton Girls' became a specialist school in music and information and communication technology (ICT). In 2008, the national Gold ArtsMark has been awarded to the school for the third time in 2008, for excellence in Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Textiles. ArtsMark is the benchmark for arts education provision and Simon Langton Girls' received the Gold award in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Jane Robinson became the head teacher in January 2008.

In 2010, the school gained the International School Award in recognition of the international ethos embedded throughout the school.

In 2013, the school took part in a Government study for the Department of Education focusing on the use of 3D Printers and how they can be used in the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, resulting in all UK schools having to teach 3D printing from September 2014. The school also saw the opening of the new 'STEM' lab, and the introduction of STEM as a KS3 subject. The aim is to develop students interest in studying engineering/ STEM subjects at further/ higher education. 2012 saw 24% of students leaving SLGGS opting to study engineering or design technology based CV courses at university.

The present buildings

The present buildings were built in the 1950s, and facilities include 13 large fully equipped laboratories, specialist teaching classrooms, large drama studio, three dedicated art rooms, modern craft, design and technology rooms, school library, three large computer rooms, music suite including a music technology classroom, a refurbished sixth-form centre, and a careers and higher education library.

The school grounds includes spacious sports fields, outdoor netball and hockey courts, outdoor tennis courts and an orchard. In 2010 a school garden was set up by Year 10 and 11 students for which they received funding from The Princes' Trust.

There are ongoing plans for a new school being built on the same grounds.

Academic Performance and Ofsted Reports

In a 2009 Ofsted inspection[2] found that the overall effectiveness of the subject, mathematics, to be outstanding; "Many students experience outstanding teaching" from "some exceptionally talented teachers" and "some excellent use is made of computer-linked whiteboards to enhance students’ understanding." "Achievement post-16 is good. Standards are very high."

Ofsted Lead Inspector, Ian Stuart, wrote a letter to pupils on 7 June 2007 to tell them they were "developing into fine young people" who were "outstanding ambassadors" for their generation following the 2007 Ofsted Inspection which rated the school as 'Outstanding' in all areas.[3] Girls follow an 800-year-old tradition in achieving high academic distinction, learning civilized and humane values and developing the personality and character to allow them to go on to play a leading role in the wider world.

Academy proposals

In 2016 the governing body of Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School began consulting on the possibility of the school converting to academy status. The proposals would see Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School become the lead school in a multi-academt trust, which would also include Spires Academy.[4]

The proposals have met with some opposition from parents at the school and have subsequently been rescinded and the application to DfE cancelled.[5]

Notable former pupils

References

  1. ↑ "Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School". Ofsted.
  2. ↑ http://www.langton.kent.sch.uk/_img/pics/doc/Ofsted%20Inspection%20June%202009.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.langton.kent.sch.uk/_img/pics/doc/Ofsted%20Inspection%20Letter%20June%202007.pdf
  4. ↑ "Academy Status - Information Letter March 2016".
  5. ↑ "Legal advice sought on Canterbury grammar academy plan 'concern'". BBC News.
  6. ↑ "Imogen Bain". IMDb.
  7. ↑ "Whitstable bowls player Sian Gordon makes Commonwealth Games squad". Kentish Gazette. 19 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Rupert Bear Memorabilia Saved for Canterbury". Canterbury City Council. 21 Feb 2005.
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