The Castle School

Not to be confused with The Castle School, Taunton.

Academy in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England

The Castle School

the former Sixth Form Centre on Gloucester Rd (closed 2024)

Address

Park Road

Thornbury

Gloucestershire

BS35 1HT

England

Coordinates| 51°36′55″N 2°31′30″W﻿ / ﻿51.6153°N 2.5250°W﻿ / 51.6153; -2.5250
Information
Type| Academy
Established| 1952; 73 years ago (1952)
Department for Education URN| 139348 Tables
Ofsted| Reports
Headteacher| Jessica Lobbett
Staff| 100
Gender| Coeducational
Age| 11 to 18
Enrolment| 1,538
Colour(s)| Black, Amber/Gold
Website| www.thecastleschool.org.uk

The Castle School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, England, which serves the town and the surrounding villages. Pupils from Bristol also attend the school. There are around 1,500 pupils, including 300 in the sixth form.

The school site on Park Road has seen additions in recent years including the community sports centre,[1] the Octagon Drama Studio[2][3] and in 2024 a new Post-16 Centre and a 20-classroom Maths and Science building.

Former headmaster Adrian Verwoert was appointed a CBE for services to education in May 2004.[4] Joining the school in 1980, he was appointed as head in 1988. He was succeeded by Melanie Warnes in September 2004. She left in 2014.[5]

## History

[edit]

In 1862, Handel Cossham, a local preacher, built the original village school, a British School, at Gillingstool.[6] Some years later, because of overcrowding, a new infant school building was added adjacent to the original school. In 1952 the school was separated into infants, juniors and seniors and the latter formed the Thornbury County Secondary school. Before this it was an 'all-age' school taking pupils up to age thirteen, known as Thornbury Council School.[7]

In 1962, during the headship of Mr Cliff J. Martin, plans were drawn up for a new building to house the expanding secondary school.[8] Building work started the following year on Park Road, the site used as the school's playing field. In 1965, the building was opened under the new name of The Castle School, which reflected the school's new position adjacent to Thornbury Castle, whilst keeping the same initials (TCS). The official opening ceremony took place in 1966, attended by the Duke of Beaufort, Chancellor at the University of Bristol at the time.

The county infant and junior schools at Gillingstool later formed the Leaze School, which is now known as Gillingstool Primary School.[9]

The school became a comprehensive in 1972, the same year that Thornbury Grammar School moved from its site on Gloucester Road to new buildings in Alveston (also becoming a comprehensive with the new name of Marlwood School). The Castle School took over the Gloucester Road buildings, which became its Sixth Form Centre for a number of years until the new Post-16 facilities opened in 2024 and the school was able to unite on the Park Road site.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

See also: Category:People educated at The Castle School

* Joel Dommett, comedian[10]
* Pfeiffer Georgi, race cyclist[11]
* Matt Kane, actor, writer and director[12]
* Joe Morrell, Wales and Bristol City football player[13]
* John Robins, comedian[14]
* Kerry Howard, actor
* Billy Vunipola, England and Saracens rugby union player[15]
* Mako Vunipola, England and Saracens rugby union player[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Castle School, Bristol". School Hire. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
2. ^ Sauvebois, Marion (18 September 2013). "Metalmorphosis wows at Castle School's Octagon Gallery in Thornbury". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
3. ^ "Gallery to open with print show". Gazette. 28 May 2004. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
4. ^ "Head teacher retires". Gazette. 16 July 2004. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
5. ^ "New head teachers sought in Thornbury and Alveston, South Gloucestershire after sudden resignation". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
6. ^ "Handel Cossham". Thirnbury Roots. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
7. ^ "Thornbury and District Museum: Thornbury's publicly-funded schools". Thornbury Voice. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
8. ^ Sims, Aaron (29 September 2016). "Tributes paid to 'trailblazer' founding Castle School headmaster Cliff Martin". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
9. ^ "Our History". Gillingstool Primary School. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
10. ^ Ashcroft, Esme (2 April 2017). "Where did these 11 Bristol celebrities go to school?". Bristol Live. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
11. ^ "Castle School pupil and Berkeley resident Pfeiffer Georgi wins silver medal at National Youth Omnium Track Championships". Gloucestershire Gazette. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
12. ^ Sims, Aaron. "'Gotham' actor Richard Kind to star in film by Thornbury director Matt Kane". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
13. ^ Iles, Rob (23 May 2013). "Former Liverpool target and Wales under-17 captain Joe Morrell looks forward to starting professional career at Bristol City after leaving The Castle School". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
14. ^ "Bristol comedian wins top Edinburgh award". B24/7. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
15. ^ a b Iles, Rob (10 January 2013). "Lloyd Spacey says The Castle School are proud of Mako and Billy Vunipola". Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* School profile
* Documentary, featuring The Castle School

* v
* t
* e

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* Abbeywood Community School
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* The Crypt School
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* Cirencester College
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Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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