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The School
Poole Grammar School is a Group 7 selective school for boys, serving the Borough of Poole. Close links are maintained with
Parkstone Grammar School for Girls, the two schools being some half-mile apart. The school became a Trust School on 1 April
2008 with Bournemouth Boys, Torquay Boys, Colyton Grammar School and Exeter University. Although a grammar school existed in
the town for a while some three hundred years ago, the present Poole Grammar School dates from 1904 when it opened as Poole
Secondary School. For a time the school was co-educational but separated in the late 1930's when Poole Grammar School catered
only for boys and Parkstone Grammar for girls.
The school moved into new buildings on its present site in 1966 on what was then a heathland area on the Poole/Wimborne road.
In spite of significant housing development since then, the school enjoys a pleasant position, bordered on one side by a belt
of trees and very close to protected woods and heath. In recent years there have been various extensions to the facilities
at the school to meet current needs. In addition to internal modifications, a new Technology Block was completed in 1993
and an Arts Centre for Art, Drama and Music built in 1997. A new wing for Mathematics and Technology was added in 2002, the
science department was refurbished in 2005/06 and a new science/ICT study centre, funded through the Wolfson Foundation, was
created in 2007. Sports facilities have also been improved with a full size fitness room (2003), Astroturf championship
standard tennis courts (2007) and a large three-bay cricket practice net facility and a climbing wall (2005).
The school has six networked PC computer suites. All school PC's are connected to the Internet via a broadband connection.
PC's are also dispersed round the school providing a "learn anytime, anywhere" environment with a VLE available to students
and staff. The school was designated a Maths and Computing College in 2003 and was redesignated in 2007. As a High Performing
Specialist School PGS has taken on a second specialism in Cognition and Learning with an emphasis on Gifted and Talented pupils.
2007 was year for awards as the school was designated (i) a Healthy school, (ii) ICT mark, (iii) International school,
(iv) Investors in People was rewarded along with Investors in Careers and (v) the silver Artsmark.
Following the completion of extensions to the buildings, six forms have been admitted since 2000. These remain oversubscribed,
with approximately two applicants per place. There is a further entry at 16+ and the large Sixth Form is currently about 300
strong with discussions under way with Parkstone Girls Grammar school to strengthen further our joint provision. The total
number on roll is 966 (12-18). There is an excellent tradition of academic, sporting, drama and musical success. The school
is renowned for its wide range of extra-curricular activities, particularly on the games field and D of E. It is hoped all
staff members will play a part in the extracurricular programme run by the school. Academically the school is within the top
quartile of Grammar Schools.
The Borough of Poole has now agreed to change the age of transfer from Year 8 to Year 7. As a result the school has secured
a DCSF grant of £4.5 million for further development of the school to accommodate a Year 7 with building plans in place
and completion in 2011 with pupils arriving in 2013.
There is an academic staff of 65, organised on a departmental pattern. The number of Support Staff covering finance, office,
library, reprographics and technical roles, including laboratory and workshops and ICT continues to expand as we develop
workforce practice reforms.
Please note that Poole Grammar School is a non-smoking establishment.
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