About the school

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Published: Tuesday, 25 March 2014 10:27

This is a Roman Catholic High School for boys aged 11 to 16 with a mixed Sixth Form. The school opened as a two form entry school in 1960. In September 1973 it was extended to become a four form entry school and its status was changed to a bilateral school (i.e it has both a selective - eleven plus intake and none-selective intake).

The school became Grant Maintained on 1st September 1993, and reverted to Voluntary Aided Status in September 1999. The first Sixth Form intake was admitted in September 1996. It is a co-educational Sixth Form. In 2001 we extended to become a five form entry school. It now offers 30 selective and 120 non- selective places. We became a Specialist School for Maths and Computing in September 2004. The school roll in September 2007 was 995 including 200 in the sixth Form.

While the majority of pupils come from Catholic Primary Schools, the Governors are pleased to accept applications from committed families of other Christian denominations and families wishing a Catholic Eductioan. Girls are admitted into the 6th Form.

St. Thomas More is the only Catholic Boys' Secondary school in the south-east of Essex and serves a wide catchment area.

The Accommodation

An ambitious refurbishment programme has upgraded the Science Labs and classrooms in English and Maths. The Computer and Technology, Sports, Careers, Business Studies and Media Studies facilities have all been improved recently.

• Four Religious Education rooms
• Chapel
• Six English rooms
• Six Mathematics rooms
• Six Computer rooms
• Seven Science Laboratories
• Three History rooms
• Four Geography rooms
• Three Modern Language rooms
• Five Technology workshops
• Three Art rooms
• One Music room
• Three Music practice rooms
• Recording studio
• Drama studio
• Two Special Needs rooms
• Staffroom
• Dining Room
• Sports Hall Sports Hall

The Basic Need Expansion Program

Phase one was completed in Autumn 2001. This has provided extra classrooms and a new reception area. Phase two (a large two-storey teaching block at the rear of the school, housing the departments of Technology, Art, Music, Business Studies, Graphics and Psychology) was completed in 2003. All classrooms have a digital projector and whiteboards. All teachers have a laptop computer. There are three pitches attached to the school, one of which is an all-weather Astroturf pitch. The school is bounded on two sides by playing fields belonging to two neighbouring grammar schools. Private housing and a main dual carriageway border the other two sides.

The Sixth Form College

A new 6th Form Centre was built in 1996. It contains 2 Science Laboratories and a Prep Room; the Business Studies department; the School Library; 6th form teaching rooms and private study area; the 6th form Common room plus offices and other facilities. Additional remodelling in the main school buildings has created further teaching spaces, a new A-level computer room.

The 6th Form offers all our pupils the opportunity for further studies at A-level or Applied A-level and Vocational Qualifications, and a direct route to University and other forms of Higher Education. We expect that most of our boys will stay on into the Sixth Form, though some will continue to choose the Post 16 routes which have always been available in the area. A separate Prospectus regarding admission to the 6th Form is available at the school.

The Food Technology Block

The technology block was extended in 2010 to increase the schools facilities and give the ability to teach Food Technology. All of the new rooms are fitted with state of the art audio visual technology including digital projectors, interactive whiteboards and sound systems.

The extension houses the following rooms:

• Food Technology
• Learning Centre
• Psychology
• Business Studies