West Buckland School
| West Buckland School | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
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West Buckland, Devon England |
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| Information | |
| Type | Independent school |
| Motto | Read and Reap |
| Established | 1858 |
| Founder | Joseph Lloyd Brereton |
| Headmaster | Phillip Stapleton |
| Enrollment | 700 (approx.) |
| Website | www.westbuckland.devon.sch.uk |
West Buckland School is an English independent school located on the outskirts of the village of West Buckland on the edge of Exmoor, 10 miles (12.9 km) east of Barnstaple, Devon. it comprises a senior school, preparatory school and a nursery.
There are approximately 620 pupils, of whom around 90 board; 15% of students are from abroad. The day pupils are drawn from a wide area of North Devon and many use the large school bussing operation in collaboration with local coach operators.
West Buckland School was founded as the Devon County School in 1858 by Rev. J.L. Brereton to provide a public school education for sons of farmers and the middle class. The foundation stone of the Gothic(?)-style buildings was laid in October 1860 by Earl Fortescue, who had provided land and other support for the school.
Under the first headmaster, J.H. Thompson, numbers rose to 150 by 1876 and then declined as a consequence of agricultural depression and competition from other schools.
In the winter of 1912/13 the school was renamed West Buckland School.
During the 1950s it received increasing support from the Devon County Educational authority and became a direct grant school. In 1976, when direct grants were abolished, it finally became a fully independent school.
West Buckland leads the North Devon schools examination league table.
The school has 450 pupils and is expanding in facilities. 2008 saw the completion of a sports hall behind the nineteenth century complex. In April 2010 the 150 Building opened, a combination of buildings containing modern art, design and technology workshops, a theatre which replaced an old theatre together with assembly space for the prep school, and a quadrangle. In Autumn 2015 the 'Michael Morpurgo' library opened. In the building there is also the head of sixth form office, an English and economics classroom, the school library and work area with computers for pupils. Also opened was Parkers, a sixth form boarding house for boys and girls, each with their own room with en suite facilities. Downstairs features a lounge and kitchen for use of day pupils as well.
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