Soham On-Line - History & Tourism - The Grammer School / Beechurst

The all boys Grammar School had its origins in the Soham Free School founded in 1686. It became Soham Grammar school in 1878 and occupied premises on Churchgate Street. The existing Churchgate Street building dates from around 1880 and is built on an area called the Hempland and on the site of the original school.

In 1925 the Grammar School had moved into the former private mansion, Beechurst, built in 1900 by Charles Morbey. Beechurst was the finest house in Soham with beautiful grounds, an arboretum and an orangery.

The Village College was officially opened on 16th October 1958 on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council by Sir Edward Boyle, Bart., M.P. It was built on a seventeen acre site next to Soham Lode known as the Moat Fields. When first opened it was a four form entry school with some 460 pupils aged from 11-15. The Warden was Mr. S.W.Percival, with eighteen assistant teachers, Edward Lang, a full time Tutor for Further Education and a full time Assistant Tutor and Youth leader. The school buildings incorporated a branch of the County Library and a Youth Club. Housing for the Warden, caretaker and some staff was provided on the site. Mr Riggulsford succeeded Mr Percival as Warden in September 1963 and the College continued to grow and had a very active community and arts programme under Adult Tutor, Norman Sykes.

The biggest change, however, was in 1972 when the school leaving age was raised to 16 and a new comprehensive school was formed by merging the College with the ancient Soham Grammar School which occupied an adjoining site on Sand Street and whose playing fields were next to the College fields. Mr Riggulsford left Soham for a new Headship in Bristol and Mr A.E.Lawrance, a former Head of Mathematics at the Grammar School was appointed Warden.

Under Mr Lawrance the College gained a strong academic and sporting reputation. Over the years the County Library moved to new premises in the town, the Youth Club too had its own purpose built Lode Centre opened in 1991 next to a new community sports hall built on College land in 1984, and with the exception of housing for the caretaker, the staff houses were sold.
In 1985 after the retirement of Mr A.E.Lawrance, Dr. A.W.Bullock, as the new Principal master-minded an extensive building programme. This created a new Science block, Resource Centre, Staff Room and Music block helping to fill the space between the two former schools.

In September 1993 the College became a Grant Maintained School and in 1994 was awarded Technology College status. In March 1996 local benefactor Mr. Simon Gibson opened a splendid new Gibson Wing extension to Beechurst and in November 1998 HRH Princess Margaret opened the new M Block for Science and Technology.

In 1999 Dr. A.W.Bullock retired and Mr H.L.Gilbert became Principal until September 2005 when Vice Principal Dr. D.Lunn became Acting Principal for a year until a new Principal could be sourced, the College has been headed by Dr. C.Taylor since September 2006 to date. Soham Village College is one of the first schools in the country to be allowed two specialisms as a Foundation College and so from Easter 2006, it is now both a specialist Technology and Languages College.

Soham Village College has strong academic and sporting traditions. There are excellent modern teaching facilities fully computer networked and an active programme of capital investment. In the tradition of Cambridgeshire Village Colleges the buildings are widely used by the community for further education and events. The College occupies an extensive and attractive site with spacious playing fields and views of the open fenland countryside.

The College has been awarded the Artsmark - Bronze Award, International School Award, Sport England SportsMark Award, Basic Skills Quality Mark, Becta ICT Mark for Excellence in ICT and the Investors in People Award. These are external measures of the quality of its Expressive Arts Curriculum and teaching of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT as well as the training and development of staff.

The catchment area for the College includes Soham, Barway, Wicken, Fordham, Isleham, Chippenham, Snailwell, Kennett and Burwell. The principal feeder primary schools are: St Andrew's, Soham, The Weatheralls, Soham, Fordham, Isleham, Kennett and Burwell Village College. In recent years, however, the pupils have been drawn from an even wider area around Soham including: Ely, Littleport and Newmarket.
Soham Village College is still a comprehensive school of eleven form entry with some 1350 pupils aged between 11 and 16 on roll. It is planned to rise to 1350 as Soham itself grows and extra housing comes into the area.

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The next Annual Dinner is on Saturday 4th October 2008.

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL/BEECHURST

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