John O'Gaunt School

Not to be confused with The John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

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.

John O'Gaunt School
School entrance and Kennet Block
Address
Priory Road Hungerford , Berkshire , RG17 0AN England
Coordinates	51°24′17″N 1°30′52″W
Information
Type	Academy
Established	January 1963; 61 years ago (1963-01)
Local authority	West Berkshire
Trust	Excalibur Academies Trust
Department for Education URN	142822 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Governors	John Adey
Head	Richard Hawthorne
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 16
Enrolment	395[1]
Houses	Avery Hall, Brunel Hall and Columbus Hall
Colour(s)	Navy, Yellow and White
Website	www.johnogauntschool.co.uk

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

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 [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.^{[citation needed]}

Former headteachers

• Ian Tucker (2015–2019)
• Sarah Brinkley (2012–2015)^[7]
• Neil Spurdell (2009–2012)
• Lin Bartlett (1998–2008)
• Marcia Twelftree (1993–1997)
• Jeff Dawkins (1990–1993)
• Monica Darroch (1990)
• David Lee (1986–1989)
• Keith McClellan (1985–1986)
• David Lee (1975–1985)
• Norman Fox (1975)
• Rex Chesney (1963–1974)

Notable former pupils

• Adam Brown, actor, comedian and pantomime performer^[8]
• Charlie Austin, footballer for Queens Park Rangers
• Michael Robert Ryan, perpetrator of the Hungerford massacre, who also killed himself at the same school

References

1. "EduBase – John O'Gaunt School". education.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
2. Dr Hugh Pihlens. "Hungerford Virtual Museum". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
3. "John O'Gaunt School". Excalibur Academies Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
4. Smith, Colin (c. 1988). "Shooting Incidents at Hungerford on 19 August 1987; Report of Mr Colin Smith CVO QPM" (PDF). JESIP. Home Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
5. Mass Murderers. Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books. 1993. ISBN 9780783500041.
6. "West Berkshire Council – [ARCHIVED] Closure of the Sixth Form at John O'Gaunt School, Hungerford (31 August 2016) – Information". info.westberks.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
7. "New John O'Gaunt School head is announced – News – Newbury Weekly News". newburytoday.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
8. "Call that heralded an unexpected journey for Hungerford actor – News – Newbury Weekly News". newburytoday.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2016.

External links

• Official website