THE BEACON SCHOOL in Surrey, Banstead

Education Centre Information: The Beacon School:

Establishment Type:Foundation School
Phase of Education: Secondary
Status: Closed
Local Authority: Surrey
Reason Establishment Closed: Academy Converter
Establishment Close Date: 30/11/2011
Boarders: No Boarders
Sixth Form: Has a sixth form
Urban/Rural Description: Urban > 10k - less sparse
Special Classes: Has Special Classes
Religious Character: None
Total Pupils: 1128
Number of boys: 557
Number of girls: 571
Admissions: Comprehensive
Age Range: 11-18
Gender: Mixed
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Background:

The Beacon School was established in 1989 following the merger of two schools. The school is an 11-to-18 mixed comprehensive school open to students of all abilities. It has established a reputation for providing high quality comprehensive education for girls and boys, and a record of continuous improvement. It now serves the communities of Banstead, the adjacent London boroughs of Sutton and Croydon together with the London borough of Merton. The Beacon benefits from many new buildings. In 1989 it built new classrooms, which included science laboratories and a technology suite. The new learning resource centre, giving every child access to a huge range of library books and computer programmes, was provided at the same time. The Ashcroft building, completed in 1997, provides 15 classrooms for history, geography, religious studies and technology, together with a small hall. Other specialist facilities include spacious drama, music, and art provision, a business studies suite with an NVQ office training area, a special needs area offering classrooms and interview rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school has a computer network that is accessible in all classrooms. It also enjoys extensive open-air sports facilities offering both grassed and hard areas as well as two gyms. The aim of The Beacon, as a comprehensive school is to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, which provides opportunities for all students to develop their talents and achieve their full potential. It fully covers the national curriculum, which is organised to encourage maximum examination success for each student. The range of activities on offer includes: basketball, badminton, netball, cross-country, dance, tennis, gymnastics, soccer, hockey, trampolining, rugby, athletics, cricket, table tennis. The school provides a happy and secure learning environment in which every student is known and valued as an individual.