Fancy finding out about a school born from community vision? I will tell you the story of Cobham Free School.
Cobham Free School stands as a testament to innovative education. It brings together the best practices from both private and state sectors. The school is located across multiple sites in Cobham. It has a junior school on Portsmouth Road, a senior school on Hurst Road and a sixth form in Munro House.
Cobham Free School opened its doors in September 2012. It started as a single-form entry junior school for children aged 4 to 11. In 2014, it expanded to include a senior and sixth form department. This merger created an all-through school.
The primary department is located on the site of the former Cobham police station. It moved to this location in 2013. The Senior Department and Sixth Form are both based in Munro House. This is the school’s permanent main site. The Senior Department was temporarily located at a former primary school site in West Molesey. The move to Munro House happened at the start of the 2020/21 school year.
Cobham Free School follows a traditional academic curriculum. It has a strong focus on music, sport, and extra-curricular activities. The school shares close links with the Yehudi Menuhin School and Chelsea Football Club.
In May 2014, Cobham Free School underwent its first Ofsted inspection. It was judged to be “Good”. Inspectors praised the headteacher’s inspiring vision. They noted that the entire school community fully supported this vision. In the 2017 Ofsted inspection, the school was again rated “Good”.
The school sought to accommodate all pupils within a single location. Munro House, a 1990s office building, was transformed. The wings of the original building were an ideal fit for teaching and administration. By retaining the existing structure, the school was able to provide the best value for money. New wings were introduced to accommodate larger dining, music, sport and activity spaces.
Construction was completed in phases. Phase 1 involved refurbishing existing office space for a new Sixth Form. Phase 2a included refurbishing existing office space for teaching facilities. Finally, phase 2b featured new build accommodation for larger halls.
Cobham Free School has come a long way in a relatively short time. It provides a wonderful new junior department, senior school, and sixth form for the Cobham community. The buildings will be enjoyed by many generations of children. They will make a positive difference to the quality of education on offer.
Cobham Free School’s motto is “Optimum Omnibus”. This is Latin for “The best for all”. This motto reflects the school’s commitment to providing an excellent education for every student.