Saint Cecilia's Church of England School explained

Saint Cecilia's Church of England School
Coordinates:51.4475°N -0.2084°W
Established:2003
Type:Academy
Religious Affiliation:Church of England
Head Label:Headteacher
Head:Renata Joseph[1]
Address:Sutherland Grove
City:London
Country:England
Postcode:SW18 5JR
Local Authority:Wandsworth
Ofsted:yes
Urn:141808
Enrolment:950
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Free Label 2:Diocese
Free 2:Southwark
Website:http://www.saintcecilias.london/

Saint Cecilia's Church of England School (commonly referred to as 'Saint Cecilia's') is a Church of England secondary school in Southfields, south-west London. It opened in 2003 as Saint Cecilia's, Wandsworth Church of England School, and was renamed on 1 March 2015. Music and Mathematics are the school's specialisms.

History

It opened as a voluntary aided school in September 2003 with one year group of 150 pupils. It has been growing incrementally year by year until it reached 750 pupils across Years 7 to 11 in the 2007/2008 academic year. It opened its sixth form in 2008. There are now approximately 900 pupils and students at the school including Sixth Formers. The School won the 2010 Schools Question Time Challenge.[2]

In March 2015 the school converted to academy status.

In 2019, the school launched the Saint Cecilia's Rugby Academy as a partnership with Premier Rugby Club, London Irish. Each year, 26 boys from the Sixth Form will train with the professionals whilst studying for A Levels and BTECs at the school.[3]

Former school on the site

Saint Cecilia's occupies a part of the site of the former Wandsworth School, a boys' secondary school that merged to become John Archer School in 1986, before finally closing in 1991.[4] Some of the former school's land was sold off for housing, with the original 1927 building converted into flats. Proceeds from the sale of the land helped to finance the £12.4 million cost of building Saint Cecilia's on the southern part of the site.[5]

Admissions

Saint Cecilia’s Church of England School now admits 180 pupils into Year 7 each year. The school participates in the coordinated admission scheme of Wandsworth Council. Saint Cecilia's also adheres to the common timetable for admissions including the arrangements for dealing with applications received after the closing date as set out in Wandsworth Council's scheme.

School life

Academic life

Saint Cecilia's Church of England school caters for pupils of all genders aged 11 to 18.

House System

In July 2009 it was announced the school would begin a house system. In September 2009 five houses were introduced. They were (with house colours later voted for by the pupils of each house):

In 2021, a sixth house, Carter, was launched named after famed jazz musician, Betty Carter. Its house colour is bright orange. The house names spell S-A-I-N-T-C.

Sixth Form

In September 2008 the school expansion led to the opening of the school's sixth form. The Sixth Form caters for around 200 pupils across both the Lower and Upper Sixth.

Academic performance

Saint Cecilia's is a high achieving school and every year, GCSE and A Level results are well above average, among the best in Wandsworth LEA.[6]

Sport

The school has rugby, netball, athletics and football teams that take part in weekly local and regional competitions. Every year, pupils are given the option to take part in the Wimbledon Championships Ball Boys and Girls.

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wandsworth school appoints new headteacher . April 23, 2019. Wandsworth Guardian.
  2. News: All schools should encourage respect and LGBT acceptance . February 11, 2019 . Guardian.
  3. LIRFCCommunity. 1318110857289781249 . 19 October 2020 . This year we launched our partnership with Saint Cecilia's Church of England supporting and running their rugby programme..
  4. Web site: AIM25 collection description. aim25.com.
  5. Web site: Wandsworth School Redevelopment Progress Page. 9 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509025613/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/the.carpenters/wandredev.htm. 9 May 2008.
  6. Web site: Saint Cecilia's Church of England School - GOV.UK. Find and compare schools in England.