Reepham High School and College

Reepham High School and College (Academy)
Address
Whitwell Road Reepham , Norfolk , NR10 4JT England
Coordinates	52°45′29″N1°06′27″E / 52.75799°N 1.10744°E / 52.75799; 1.10744
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Comprehensive Excellence
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1961
Local authority	Norfolk
Trust	Synergy Multi-Academy Trust
Specialists	Science, Applied Learning, Mathematics & Computing
Department for Education URN	138829 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Principal	Jon Croucher [1]
College Director	Helen McGuinness [2]
Years taught	7-13
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11to 18
Enrollment	~800
Sixth form students	~200
Schedule type	2 Week Timetable
Colour(s)	Green, Maroon and White
Publication	RHSC Review
Website	http://www.reephamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk/

Reepham High School and College is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status located in Reepham, Norfolk. The majority of the students live in outlying villages. Prior to September 2009, when Reepham College opened, it was known as Reepham High School. Jon Croucher is the current principal, taking over from Tim Gibbs in 2024. The school created and leads the Synergy Multi-Academy Trust.

History

The school opened with around 200 pupils in 1961 as a secondary modern school. The first head was Edward Riddell Smith. ^[3]

A sixth form was opened next to the school in September 2009 after a £6,000,000 investment.^{[ citation needed ]} A £280,000 playing field was added in 2010, ^[4] as well as additional science classrooms.^{[ citation needed ]}

The high school converted to an academy in October 2012, and in 2014, received an £800,000 grant to replace its 55 year old windows. ^[5]

In 2015, Reepham High School and College created the Synergy Multi-Academy Trust, made up of academies and schools within 30 minutes of Reepham including Reepham Primary, Bawdeswell Primary, Foulsham Primary, Mattishall Primary, Astley Primary, Corpusty Primary and Litcham School. ^[6]

A new languages block was finished in September 2016.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2017, Mark Farrar stepped down as head teacher, and Tim Gibbs, vice principal and physical education teacher at the school, replaced him. ^[7] Farrar became head of Synergy until August 2019, when he retired. ^[6] In 2024, Tim Gibbs retired and Jon Croucher became the current headmaster. ^[1]

In 2018, Helen McGuinness, former head of social sciences at the school, was welcomed back as college director. ^[2] In September of that year, the high school introduced a ban on mobile phones, while allowing them to be hidden in school bags and to be used if "under explicit instruction by a teacher", citing small distractions as the original reason. Head teacher Tim Gibbs noted a decline in bullying following the ban. ^[1] French TV channel France 2 filmed in Reepham High School to report on the ban. ^[8]

In 2024, it was reported that Synergy Multi Academy Trust had proposed 30 job losses across two schools in order to address what it says is a budget deficit of £2.9 million, including 16 teaching roles, one leadership post and eight support staff posts at Reepham. ^[9]

Ofsted and specialisation

Since 2006 the school has been a specialist Science, Mathematics and Vocational school.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2006, the Eastern Daily Press reported that Reepham High was the only school in Norfolk to carry Ofsted's “Outstanding” ranking. ^[10] In September 2008, the school was ranked “Outstanding” for a third time and scored the highest overall grade possible. ^[11] After converting to Academy status in 2012, the school subsequently lost its "Outstanding" rating in the inspection of May 2013, becoming "Good". ^[12] The high school retained its "Good" rating in its 2016 and 2020 inspections. ^[13]

Notable alumni

High school

• Jed Steer, Aston Villa goalkeeper^{[ citation needed ]}
• Carl Rogers, former captain of Norfolk County Cricket Club ^[14]
• Bruce Fielder (a.k.a. Sigala), musician ^[15]
• Iona Lake, steeplechaser ^[16]

References

1. "Head of School welcome". 4 September 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
2. "Reepham College welcomes a new director". Eastern Daily Press. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
3. Hill, Chris (11 July 2011). "Reepham High looks forward after half-century celebrations" (PDF). Dereham Times. Archant Regional. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
4. Hill, Chris (16 May 2010). "New playing field for Reepham High School". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
5. Fisher, Geoff (1 July 2014). "High school wins grant to replace ageing windows and doors". Reepham Life. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
6. "CEO at Norfolk multi-academy trust retiring at end of August". Eastern Daily Press. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
7. Geoff.Fisher (4 July 2017). "Mark Farrar to step down as RHSC headteacher". Reepham Life. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
8. "French TV crew films children at Reepham school where mobile phones are banned". Eastern Daily Press. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
9. "School redundancies paused after strike threat". BBC News . 20 December 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
10. "Ofsted rank Norwich school 'outstanding'". Eastern Daily Press. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
11. "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". January 2018.
12. "Reepham High School and College Inspection" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
13. "High school keeps 'good' Ofsted rating after 'radical' shake-up". Eastern Daily Press. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
14. "Carl Rogers". The Cricketer. TestMatchExtra. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
15. "Sigala". Outline Magazine. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
16. Freezer, David (4 July 2017). "'Shock' British title joy sparks World Championship hope for Iona Lake". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 12 October 2022.