John O'Gaunt School explained

John O'Gaunt School
Trust:Excalibur Academies Trust
Head Label:Head
Head:Richard Hawthorne
Chair Label:Chair of Governors
Chair:John Adey
Address:Priory Road
Postcode:RG17 0AN
Country:England
Urn:142822
Ofsted:Yes
Enrolment:395[1]
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Houses:Avery Hall, Brunel Hall and Columbus Hall
Colours:Navy, Yellow and White

John O'Gaunt School is a coeducational secondary school in Hungerford, Berkshire, England for students aged 11 to 16. It was Berkshire's first community school.

History

Opened in January 1963, the school is a fusion of 1960s decor and 1990s pre-fabricated buildings.[2] The school gained Technology College status in 2003, and was renamed John O'Gaunt Community Technology College[2] before converting to academy status and becoming John O'Gaunt School in 2012. It is run by the Excalibur Academies Trust, a multi-academy trust which includes several local primary schools and St John's Marlborough.[3]

Hungerford massacre

See main article: Hungerford massacre. On 19 August 1987, during the Hungerford massacre, gunman Michael Ryan entered the school during the summer holiday and killed himself in a classroom.[4] [5]

Sixth Form

In the first half of 2014, the school suspended their upcoming sixth form intake for September 2014 due to dwindling student numbers, and intended to suspend the 2015 intake and beyond. For changes to intakes of 3 or more years, West Berkshire Council were required to hold a statutory consultation, which resulted in the Sixth Form being closed from August 2016 onwards. West Berkshire Council have indicated that should demand increase for a sixth form at the school in the future, that consideration would be given to reopening the sixth form.[6]

Extracurricular activities

John O'Gaunt offers mainly sports and arts events. Students who apply for a course at Newbury College are taken by bus.

Former headteachers

Notable former pupils

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EduBase – John O'Gaunt School. education.gov.uk. 7 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Hungerford Virtual Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726163609/http://hungerfordvirtualmuseum.co.uk/Themes/Schools/John_O-Gaunt_School/john_o-gaunt_school.html . 2013-07-26 . dead. Dr Hugh Pihlens. 7 August 2016.
  3. Web site: John O'Gaunt School. Excalibur Academies Trust. en-GB. 2019-07-23.
  4. Web site: Shooting Incidents at Hungerford on 19 August 1987; Report of Mr Colin Smith CVO QPM . Smith . Colin . JESIP . . 2 August 2023 . c. 1988 . https://archive.today/20230802124141/https://www.jesip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hungerford-Shootings.pdf . 2 August 2023.
  5. Book: Mass Murderers . 1993 . Time-Life Books . Alexandria, Va. . 9780783500041 .
  6. Web site: West Berkshire Council – [ARCHIVED] Closure of the Sixth Form at John O'Gaunt School, Hungerford (31 August 2016) – Information. info.westberks.gov.uk. 7 August 2016.
  7. Web site: New John O'Gaunt School head is announced – News – Newbury Weekly News. newburytoday.co.uk. 7 August 2016.
  8. Web site: Call that heralded an unexpected journey for Hungerford actor – News – Newbury Weekly News. newburytoday.co.uk. 7 August 2016.