“Ever questioned what makes a school more than just bricks and books?” Deer Park School isn’t just any school. It holds a unique place in the educational landscape.
Deer Park School values its history. It successfully combines traditions with modern learning. This ensures pupils benefit from a strong academic and inclusive environment.
The curriculum at Deer Park has been consistently judged as outstanding. Pupils’ behaviour has also earned this distinction. This recognition came from Ofsted in 2007, 2010, and 2013.
Originally, in 1966, Cirencester Deer Park was established. It was an 11-18 mixed Comprehensive School. It combined the town’s Grammar school dating from the 13th Century with the girls’ and boys’ secondary schools. These schools operated on the current site. The buildings were erected in the 1950s. Previously, the site held old Nissan huts. These huts had accommodated an American Army Hospital during the Second World War.
In September 1991, the school was reorganized. It became an 11-16 comprehensive school with over 1000 pupils. It shares the campus with Cirencester College. The college offers A level and applied courses for 16-19 year olds.
Deer Park School decided to ballot parents for Grant Maintained Status in 1993 which it achieved. In September 1999, the Governing Body adopted Foundation School status. In 2011, the school successfully converted to Academy Status. As an established academy, Deer Park is building collaboratively.
In January 1995, the school successfully bid to become a ‘Technology College’. It developed this commitment through subsequent re-designations. Deer Park School became a Beacon School in 1999.
The school contributed to ‘transforming the school workforce’ in 2002 as a Pathfinder. Deer Park was also successful in its applications. It became a Leading Edge Partnership in 2003. It also became an Enterprise Learning Pathfinder from 2003 to 2005.
Deer Park School was recognized as a designated Training School in 2004. It has consistently achieved the British Council’s prestigious International School’s Award. This occurred in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
In 2005 and 2006, the school was invited to take advantage of opportunities for high-performing specialist schools. It successfully applied for additional specialisms like Arts and Applied Learning.
Following the general election in 2010, funding for specialist schools was withdrawn. In 2011, the school was one of the first comprehensives in Gloucestershire to successfully convert to become an Academy.
In September 2016, Deer Park celebrated its joint anniversaries. It marked 50 years as a comprehensive school and 25 years as an 11-16 school.
In April 2018, Deer Park School became a member of the Corinium Education Trust.
History pupils are urged to question things they read. They investigate the impact of the provenance on the validity and utility of an interpretation. Pupils are asked to judge the significance and impact of issues.
At Deer Park, history lessons develop skills of immense value beyond the classroom. Pupils are encouraged to be inquisitive and questioning. Building learning power is central to all History lessons here. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and to work independently.
Deer Park School teaches not only about the past. It provides valuable lessons for the present too. The school’s history curriculum enables pupils to learn how historians study the past. They use evidence to construct their accounts through reading.
Deer Park enables pupils to understand their shared past. It helps pupils understand their own identity and others’ experiences in the world.
Deer Park School is more than just a place of learning. It’s a place where history and education intertwine. The Deer Park pupils develop into well-rounded individuals.