Ifield Community College

Community school in Crawley, West Sussex, England

Ifield Community College

Address

Crawley Avenue

Crawley

West Sussex

RH11 0DB

England

Coordinates| 51°07′02″N 0°12′35″W﻿ / ﻿51.1172°N 0.2096°W﻿ / 51.1172; -0.2096
Information
Type| Community school
Established| 1966
Founder| Sarah Robinson
Local authority| West Sussex County Council
Department for Education URN| 126071 Tables
Ofsted| Reports
Principal| Dan Conlon
Gender| Mixed
Age| 11 to 18
Enrolment| 1018
Colour(s)| Black (and red logo)
Former name| Ifield Grammar School
Website| http://www.ifieldcc.w-sussex.sch.uk

Ifield Community College (ICC) is a maintained comprehensive secondary school in Crawley, England, for pupils aged 11 to 18.

## Admissions

[edit]

It caters for around 1000 pupils in years 7 to 13, including over 100 in its sixth form. It is situated in the west of Crawley, next to the A23. Ifield railway station is nearby to the south.

The school is entirely comprehensive, providing education for around 1000 pupils aged between 11 and 18 of all abilities.

Most pupils attending the school live within the catchment area, and transfer from one of the local primary schools:

* The Mill Academy School
* Waterfield Primary School
* West Green Primary School
* The Bewbush Academy
* Gossops Green Primary School
* Langley Green Primary School
* St.Margarets Primary School

## History

[edit]

The school has history dating back to 1852 – nearly 100 years before the coming of the new town. It began as a free school opened by Mrs Sarah Robinson in the village of Crawley. A new building was opened in 1854 in what was later to become known as Robinson Road in honour of the teacher. In 1953, the school lost its primary-aged pupils with the opening of the new West Green county junior and infants' school. Many older pupils were moved to the newly opened Hazelwick School with the remainder transferring to the new Sarah Robinson secondary modern School buildings opened on the Ifield campus in 1956.[1]

### Comprehensive

[edit]

At this time, the secondary modern school shared a campus with the newly opened Ifield County Grammar School, built in 1955. The schools worked closely together, eventually merging in 1966 to become Ifield comprehensive school following retirement of F.W. Wilmott, the Headmaster at the Sarah Robinson school.[2] A headmaster, Mr Bomford, was brought in to oversee the transition and he introduced a new formality, with senior teachers wearing gowns in assemblies for the first time. Ifield had a considerable reputation for sport, particularly football and athletics. The pupils at this time included Jeff Bryant, who went on to be a professional footballer with Wimbledon and Alan Minter, a future World Boxing Champion.[citation needed]

### 1980 arson attack

[edit]

On 24 February 1980 there was a large fire, that cost £100,000. 15 year olds Andrew Burchell, of Rushetts Road in Langley Green, West Sussex and Richard Macpherson, of Elsted Close, were expelled on 25 February 1980.[3] A 15 year old boy and 16 year old boy were jailed for life in August 1980.[4]

Their parents appealed against the heavy sentences, which were considered disproportionate, in February 1981, but lost the appeal, after Iain Glidewell was not greatly fooled by any contrived apologies or confected blubbering.[5][6][7]

### New buildings

[edit]

By 1984 there were some 1600 pupils on roll[8] \- including Keith Newell who went on to play cricket for Sussex County Cricket Club.

Developments in the early 1980s saw the two separate buildings co-locating, with former buildings becoming the home of Ifield Middle School in 1985. In 2005, a new school building opened in the centre of the campus, with the old buildings being demolished.[9]

## Campus

[edit]

The campus for the school was set aside in the masterplan for Crawley New Town along the eastern edge of the neighbourhood of Ifield alongside the A23. It was shared with St Margaret's Church of England primary school, and later the Holy Cross Intermediate School.

In 2005, a new building for the school was opened in the southeasternmost corner of the large campus, maintaining the existing tree-lined boundaries. The campus is still shared with St Margaret's School, and now The Mill Primary School and the Manor Green special schools.[10]

## Choir

[edit]

Ifield Community College had a choir made up of students from all age groups in the school. In 1996 it was the subject of a film by SVC television, directed by Andrew Vere.[11] The choir, led by Patrick Allen (music educator), has performed at European venues including St Mark's Basilica in Venice (2008), the Royal Festival Hall, London, Barcelona Cathedral, the Auditorium Stravinski in Montreux and a recent (June 2011) collaboration with the BBC Singers saw them performing and recording at Maida Vale Studios.[12] They have been six times finalists at the National Festival of Music for Youth, most recently in 2009, 2010 and 2014.[13] The choir was the subject of a feature on BBC Radio 3's Music Matters in May 2011, focusing on the integration of the choir's Chagossian Drummers.[14] The choir also represented the UK in The Let The People's Sing Gala Concert, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in October 2011.[15] The choir broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 in March 2012 as part of the Voice's Now festival from The Roundhouse, London.[16]

## Notable former pupils

[edit]

* Sqn Ldr Simon Meade, Red Arrows from 1991-93, with the last year as part of the synchro pair, the Hawk display pilot from 1989-90;[17] originally from Gossops Green in Crawley, he was in the Scouts, and a 400m hurdler;[18][19] he joined the RAF in 1979, and became Red Arrows team leader from 1997-99, aged 35;[20] a former Harrier pilot[21]

School in 2004 before demolition in 2005

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hudson, T.P., ed. (1987). "Ifield: Education". A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town. Oxford: Institute of Historical Research by Oxford University Press. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-19-722768-6. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
2. ^ Report and Recommendations on Reorganisation of Secondary Education. West Sussex County Council. 1966.
3. ^ Crawley and District Observer Friday 5 September 1980, page 3
4. ^ Crawley and District Observer Friday 29 August 1980, page 1
5. ^ Crawley and District Observer Thursday 19 February 1981, page 1
6. ^ Times Tuesday February 17 1981, page 9
7. ^ 1981 arson appeal
8. ^ Hudson, T.P., ed. (1987). "Ifield: Education". A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town. Oxford: Institute of Historical Research by Oxford University Press. pp. 93–95. ISBN 0-19-722768-6. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
9. ^ "New Crawley Schools get ready to welcome pupils" (Press release). West Sussex County Council. 16 August 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
10. ^ "Ifield School and Thomas Bennett Community College". Nicholas Hare Architects LLP. Archived from the original on 22 September 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
11. ^ BFI.org
12. ^ "BBC Singers - Saturday 18 June 2011 - Rhythms of the World". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
13. ^ "Music for Youth | Wednesday | Main Stage Performances". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
14. ^ "BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Ann Murray, Schoenberg's New World, Two Boys".
15. ^ "BBC Radio 3 - Choir and Organ, Let the Peoples Sing Gala Concert".
16. ^ "BBC Radio 3 - Choir and Organ, Voices Now".
17. ^ Sleaford Standard Thursday 24 October 1996, page 4
18. ^ Crawley and District Observer Thursday 15 April 1982, page 11
19. ^ Crawley and District Observer Friday 6 February 1976, page 50
20. ^ Crawley News Wednesday 16 October 1996, page 2
21. ^ Crawley and District Observer Wednesday 11 June 1986, page 57

## External links

[edit]

* Official School website
* Ifield Community College information on West Sussex Grid for Learning
* Ofsted Information on the school
* EduBase
* Ifield Community College Choir website Archived 30 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Crawley, West Sussex

Administration|

* Constituency
* Local Elections
* MP: Henry Smith
* Public services

The New Town|

* Crawley Development Corporation
* Thomas Bennett
* Anthony Minoprio

Neighbourhoods
and other areas|

* Bewbush
* Broadfield
* Fernhill
* Forge Wood
* Furnace Green
* Gossops Green
* Ifield
* Langley Green
* Lowfield Heath
* Maidenbower
* Manor Royal Industrial
* Northgate
* Pound Hill
* Southgate
* Three Bridges
* Tilgate
* Tinsley Green
* West Green
* Worth

Geography|

* Gatwick Stream
* River Mole

Transport|

* Crawley Station
* Gatwick Airport Station
* Ifield Station
* Three Bridges Station
* M23 motorway
* A23 road
* Metrobus
* Fastway
* Gatwick Airport
* Timeline
* Proposed expansion

Education|

* Central Sussex College
* Ifield Community College
* The Gatwick School
* Hazelwick School
* Holy Trinity School
* Oriel High School
* St Wilfrid's School
* Thomas Bennett Community College
* Schools in Crawley, West Sussex

Places of worship|

* Friary Church of St Francis and St Anthony
* Ifield Friends Meeting House
* St John the Baptist's Church
* St Margaret's Church
* St Michael and All Angels Church
* St Nicholas' Church

Buildings|

* Ancient Priors
* Brewery Shades
* Broadfield House
* Charlwood House
* City Place Gatwick
* Crawley Hospital
* Dyers Almshouses
* George Hotel
* Ifield Water Mill
* Old Punch Bowl
* The Beehive
* Town Hall
* Tree House
* White Hart Inn

Heritage|

* Conservation areas
* Listed buildings
* Locally listed buildings

Leisure|

* Broadfield Stadium
* Celtic and Irish Cultural Society
* Crawley and District Football League
* Crawley Rugby Club
* Crawley Town F.C.
* Hawth Theatre
* K2 Leisure Centre
* Tilgate Nature Centre
* Tilgate Park
* Worth Park Gardens
* Worth Way

* v
* t
* e

Schools in West Sussex

Secondary|

* The Academy, Selsey
* Angmering School
* Bishop Luffa School
* Bohunt Horsham
* Bohunt School Worthing
* Bourne Community College
* The Burgess Hill Academy
* Chichester Free School
* Chichester High School
* Davison High School
* Downlands Community School
* Durrington High School
* Felpham Community College
* Forest School
* The Gatwick School
* Hazelwick School
* Holy Trinity School
* Ifield Community College
* Imberhorne School
* The Littlehampton Academy
* Midhurst Rother College
* Millais School
* Oathall Community College
* Oriel High School
* Ormiston Six Villages Academy
* The Regis School
* Sackville School
* St Andrews High School
* St Oscar Romero RC School
* St Paul's RC College
* St Philip Howard RC High School
* St Wilfrid's RC School
* Shoreham Academy
* Sir Robert Woodard Academy
* Steyning Grammar School
* Tanbridge House School
* Thomas Bennett Community College
* Warden Park Secondary Academy
* The Weald School
* Worthing High School

Special|

* Oak Grove College
* Palatine School

Sixth-form college|

* Chichester College
* Crawley College
* The College of Richard Collyer
* Northbrook College
* Worthing College

Independent
(preparatory)|

* Brambletye School
* Cottesmore School
* Dorset House School
* Great Ballard School
* Great Walstead School
* Handcross Park School
* The Prebendal School
* Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School
* Westbourne House School
* Windlesham House School

Independent|

* Ardingly College
* Burgess Hill Girls
* Christ's Hospital
* Farlington School
* Hurstpierpoint College
* Lancing College
* Our Lady of Sion School
* Rikkyo School in England
* Seaford College
* Shoreham College
* Worth School

Former|

* Boundstone Community College
* Chichester High School For Boys
* Discovery New School
* Kings Manor Community College
* Lavant House School
* Midhurst Intermediate School
* Midhurst Grammar School
* Newells Preparatory School
* Rydon Community College
* St Margaret's Convent
* Stoke Brunswick School
* Tavistock and Summerhill School
* Towers Convent School

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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