Coombe Boys' School
Coombe Boys’ School and Sixth Form is a non-selective state secondary school and sixth form in New Malden, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, England. The cohort comprises only boys from Years 7 - 11 and a joint sixth form facility is offered for Year 12 and 13 students. The school was founded in 1931 (as Beverley Central School) and celebrates its 90th Anniversary in 2021. In 2006, the school federated with Coombe Girls’ School and Sixth Form forming part of the Coombe Academy Trust and has a long-standing educational partnership with the independent King’s College School, Wimbledon. Coombe Boys’ School is part of the Kingston Teaching School Alliance, a partnership of over twenty schools, Achieving for Children (AfC) and two HEIs; the UCL Institute of Education (University of London) and the University of Roehampton.
| Coombe Boys' School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| |
College Gardens Blakes Lane , , KT3 6NU United Kingdom | |
| Coordinates | 51.394258°N 0.249096°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy |
| Motto | "Preparing you for a World of Opportunities" |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Multi-faith |
| Established | 1931 |
| Department for Education URN | 137859 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Chair | Marion Webb |
| Executive Headteacher | Deborah Walls[1] |
| Headteacher | David Smith |
| Staff | approx. 50 |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 11 to 16 (Up to 18 in sixth-Form) |
| Enrolment | 754[1] |
| Houses | Stephenson, Shaftesbury, Faraday, Burns, Wilberforce, Brunel |
| Publication | The Coombe Chronicle |
| Website | http://www.coombeboysschool.org/ |
A local school for local boys, Coombe Boys’ School is proud of its strong links with the community and continues its ethos of togetherness and community spirit in school. A network of former students exists in the Coombe Boys’ Alumni.
Results and Achievements
The school was inspected by OFSTED in December 2013 and again, in a short inspection, in March 2018. The overall inspection rating for Coombe Boys’ School on both occasions was ‘Good with Outstanding Features’. In 2013, the school was rated ‘Outstanding’ for Leadership and Management and ‘Good’ in ‘Achievement of Pupils’, the ‘Quality of Teaching’ and the ‘Behaviour and Safety of Pupils’.
In 2018, Ofsted commented that: "The latest GCSE results show that the school has maintained above-average attainment in English and mathematics" and: "In the sixth form, vocational results are exceptionally strong." The report also found that: “Warm, positive relationships have created a supportive environment in which pupils feel confident to ask questions and push themselves further.”
In 2020, Coombe Boys’ Drama Department was awarded the first ever 'National Outstanding School Drama Department' in the country at the Music & Drama Education Awards. Judges remarked that the Coombe Boys’ Drama Team were “An exemplary department which goes above and beyond in the pursuit of excellence in drama provision.”
Coombe Boys’ School featured as a ‘Hot Tip’ in The Tatler State Schools Guide 2015 and listed as ‘One of the Highest Achieving Schools for Sports’ in the 100 Best State Sports Schools, School Sports Magazine April 2016.
Houses
The school is made up of six Houses named after famous Britons: Burns (red badge), Brunel (purple badge), Faraday (yellow badge), Shaftesbury (orange badge), Stephenson (red badge) and Wilberforce (green badge). Inter-house opportunities include extra-curricular activities, competitions and charity fundraising.
Sport
Coombe Boys’ School provides a thriving sports offer which includes football, table tennis, basketball athletics and cricket with links to Malden Wanderers Cricket Club. The school has many sporting achievements including: Surrey basketball finals, Surrey football finals, national badminton finals and Coombe Boys’ also won the English Schools’ Football Association PlayStation F.C. Schools’ Cup two years running in 2014 and 2015.
Year Council and Student Council
Every year group has its own Year Council. Each school council has student representatives from every year group and meet to discuss matters which are important to the students and the school.
CAPA - Performing Arts
In 2019 the Coombe Academy Trust launched CAPA the Coombe Academy of Performing Arts which is based at the Coombe Boys’ school site. An out of hours Performing Arts Academy available to boys and girls (aged 9 upwards) from the local community. CAPA offers a unique opportunity for pupils to participate in termly theatre performances within a small ensemble. Whether new to drama or an experienced performer there is something for everyone with the opportunity for all CAPA members to ‘tread the boards’ termly.
Notable alumni
- Cyril Barton V.C., World War 2 Royal Air Force bomber pilot
- Sqn Leader Ian Bazalgette V.C, D.F.C.
- Ryan Sessegnon, footballer for Tottenham Hotspur
- Steven Sessegnon, footballer for Fulham FC
- Harvey Elliott, footballer for Liverpool FC
- Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich
- Jazzie Zonzolo, Actor, Comedian
- Professor Peter Meinack, Artistic Director of Aquila Theatre, Clinical Associate Professor of Classics at New York University, Artistic Director of the Aquila Theatre
Head Teachers
- 2015 to date: - David Smith
- 2012 - 2015 - Deborah Walls (now Executive Headteacher)
- 2006 - 2012 - Carol Campbell
- 2000 - 2006 - Paul Templeman-Wright
- 1960 - 1985 - Clifford Fisher
References
- "Coombe Boys' School – Inspection Report". Ofsted. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2009.