Midhurst Rother College
Midhurst Rother College opened in January 2009 as a result of the reorganisation of secondary education provision in the Rother Valley by West Sussex County Council. A new mixed 11 to 18 academy, sponsored by the United Learning Trust (ULT), has replaced the predecessor schools in Midhurst, Easebourne and Petworth (Midhurst Grammar School (Years 9 to 13), and Midhurst Intermediate School and Herbert Shiner School (Years 6 to Year 8)). Through the DCSF’s Partnerships for Schools programme a budget of £31 million will secure a new College building planned to open in Midhurst in 2012.
In the period prior to entry to its new buildings, Midhurst Rother College will operate as a split site school with Key Stage 4 and 5 students based in Midhurst and Key Stage 3 students in Easebourne. The two sites are less than one mile apart.
The College sees itself as the successor to a rich tradition of secondary education that has taken place in Midhurst for over 300 years. A school was founded in Midhurst for poor boys in 1672 by a local businessman named Gilbert Hannam. Today his and other endowments allow a trust to operate with extensive assets and named College prizes for students. Initially a school for just 12 pupils, the College’s current roll is approximately 950 students with plans to increase the roll to a maximum of 1500.
Midhurst Rother College serves a large rural catchment area of over four hundred square miles in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The great majority of our students are bussed in to a school that is at the centre of the local community, with a Youth Wing and many adult education services provided at the College. Designation as a Science College means that extra resources are available to develop teaching and learning across the curriculum and in the wider community.
The aim of the College is to form a seven year partnership with every family that sends its children there. In return, the College will be a place where:- Students are free to achieve, belong and contribute;
- Teachers can teach and students can learn in the very best environment;
- Extracurricular activities and taking on responsibility are an important part of everyday life;
- Parents play a central role in the education and wider College life of their children;
- Students move on successfully to higher education, further education or top quality training.