Pimlico School
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Pimlico School is a secondary school in Westminster, London, UK. The school is a specialist Arts College. The school was designed by John Bancroft of the Greater London Council's architecture department and was built in 1967-70. It is an example of Brutalist architecture due to its austere use of concrete and glass without decorative claddings or ornament, and its appearance has been controversial since it opened.
The school is operated by the Westminster Education Department. It is currently on special measures after OFSTED adjudged it as failing; City of Westminster Council wish to turn it into a city academy with a private sponsor, which will remove it from their control.
The new temporary headteacher, Jo Shuter, is also the head of Quintin Kynaston School in Westminster.
September 2007 saw the departure of deputy headteachers Mike Hanoman and Sue Gregory.
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[edit] Academy status
The decision by Westminster Council to turn Pimlico School into an academy was made on 9 July 2007. A consultation was held with the parents and all those involved with the school, who voted strongly in favour of it remaining a Community school. However, they still plan to make it an academy. [1]
[edit] School uniforms
Students in years 7 to 11 are required to wear school uniforms.[2]
A protest was held outside the school by students refusing to wear the new full school uniform enforced by Jo Shuter the first day it was introduced, at the beginning of the academic year in 2007. The students turned up in Pimlico polo shirts, as they had done before, but refused to wear the black shoes or black trousers/skirts she had enforced. Students were forced to go home and change, making them miss out on a significant amount of education on their first day (many of the children lived in areas such as Camberwell or Peckham) and the few who refusedg to leave or vow never to wear converse shoes or anything of the likes again and those who insisted on attending lessons were kept in internal referral for the whole day.
[edit] Special Music Course
At Pimlico School, there is a Specialist Music course for a percentage of the students in each year. They learn two or three instruments (which can include the voice) and take part in a rich and varied programme of musical activities fitted into an extended school day. Entry is by audition. The course admits up to 24 students per year on to the scheme (giving a total of about 90 "special musicians" in a school of 1,400). They follow a normal curriculum, modified to allow them time for their music. Despite the Special Music course being a main part of the school's identity and what, in many people's opinions, contributes to making it unique, Westminster plan to abolish the music course for intake after it becomes an academy.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Graham Mulvein
[edit] References
- ^ Westminster backs academy school » Education » 24dash.com
- ^ Pimlico School Website
- ^ Steele, John. "Straw's son cautioned on drug sale", The Daily Telegraph, 1998-01-13. Retrieved on 2007-11-12. Archived from the original on 2005-11-11. "Straw is studying for A-levels at a school in Pimlico and has been offered a place at Oxford."
- ^ Sale, Jonathan. "Passed/Failed: Asher D", The Independent, 2004-11-25. Retrieved on 2007-11-12. "Then I went to Pimlico [mixed comprehensive]."
- ^ Foot, Tom. "Fears academy will mean the end for school’s music stars", Camden New Journal: West End Extra, 2007-10-26. Retrieved on 2007-11-12. "The school’s special music course has produced scores of professional musicians from the artistic director of the Royal Opera House, Tony Pappano, to the celebrated hip-hop artist Rodney Smith, aka Roots Manuva."
- ^ Thomas Sangster Trivia. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
