Pate's Grammar School

Pate's Grammar School
Motto	Patebit Tum Quod Latuit (That which is hidden shall be revealed)
Established	1574
Type	Voluntary Aided
Headteacher	Shaun Fenton MA
Founder	Richard Pate
Specialisms	Languages College, Science College and Beacon School
Location	Princess Elizabeth Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 0HG  England
LEA	Gloucestershire
Ofsted number	115754
Staff	87 teaching, 35 support
Students	948
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11 to 18
Houses	Beaufort, Gloucester, Richmond, York
Publication	Pate's Progress, The Grammar School Gazette
Website	www.pates.gloucs.sch.uk

Pate's Grammar School is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school in the Hesters Way area of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom catering for pupils aged 11 to 18. It was granted Language College status in 2001, is a Beacon school, and in February 2006 was one of the first in the country to be awarded 'extra special status' – that is, both Language College and Science College status. The school was founded with a fund bestowed to Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Richard Pate in 1574. The school became co-educational in 1986, when Pate's Grammar School for Girls merged with Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys.

Academic achievements

At GCSE level in 2004, 100% of pupils entered earned 5 A* to C grades ^[1] and the school came twelfth in the BBC table of performance in A-/AS-Level ^[2]. Again in 2005 100% of pupils earned 5 A* to C grades at GCSE ^[3], and in 2006, 100% of pupils passed in at least 7 subjects with grades A* to C ^[4]. The Physics Department at Pate's was also recognised as the best Physics department in the country in a survey published by the Observer newspaper in May 2006. ^[5]

Sporting achievements

Pate's also has a strong sporting heritage, and this has been continued over the previous year, with the First XV Rugby squad achieving previously unparalleled successes on the pitch, under the wiley eye of ex-England scrum-half Peter Kingston. In 2007 Pate's senior rugby teams completed a season unbeaten for the first time in 21 years after a nailbiting season finale against RGS Worcester.

Community

The school has a relatively famous school council. The team of pupils and sixth formers from across the school is intended to help the students enjoy their time at Pate's more beneficially and give them a voice in school affairs. The council has so far been quite successful and fairly popular, and was voted the best in the South-West by the Headteachers' Association in the academic year of 2005-06. The school is also known for its consistently good performance in the Young Enterprise competition held amongst schools nationwide. On one occasion in the 1970s the school became the champion of the BBC Radio quiz programme Top of the Form. Pate's is also heavily involved with charity work and has a very successful Charity Committee elected each year.

Notable alumni

Famous former pupils of Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys include Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and the composer Gustav Holst. Other alumni include Sir Benjamin Baker, co-designer of the Forth Bridge and other major engineering projects; the biologist, Sir Rowland Biffen; Gilbert Jessop, the famous cricketer; and Siân Berry, female Principle Speaker of the Green Party. The headmaster, Shaun Fenton, can also claim famous links; his father being the singer and actor Alvin Stardust. His brother is the renowned musician Adam F.

See also

• Old Patesians RFC

References

External links

• Pate's Grammar School, official site
• pgsccf.org, official Pate's Combined Cadet Force (CCF) site
• Pate's History, official site of the History and Politics Department