The Park Community School

The Park Community School is a mixed 11–16 state comprehensive school in Barnstaple, Devon, England.  It is maintained by Devon County Council. 

History and houses
It was founded in 1910 as Barnstaple Grammar School, educating the youth of much of North Devon.  The school's name was changed to The Park School in 1973 when the school became a comprehensive. 
From 2002 to 2003 the school underwent extensive remodelling with a new maths and science building linking the old North and South Buildings, and a new food hall was also built whilst many of the old classrooms were redesigned and refurbished. 

The school used to consist of four houses, each of which was named after a prominent person from Devon: Sir Francis Drake, Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue, Charles Kingsley, and Sir Walter Raleigh.  In 1999, owing to the number of pupils attending the school, a fifth house, Chichester, named after Barnstaple born Sir Francis Chichester, was created. 

Subjects
The school used to specialise in teaching technical subjects, and students are able to take small classes in subjects, including food, electronics, product design, graphics and textiles. 

The vast majority of the school's 1,440 pupils progress to further study at Petroc College, formerly called North Devon College in Sticklepath, Barnstaple. 

Prefects
Each house has its own head prefects, sports prefect and charity prefects. 

Learning mentors
The school has a team of learning mentors (academic and pastoral) who work with specific students to enrich and improve their time at the school. 

Notable alumni
Barnstaple Grammar School

Michael Bowering
Jonathan Hanmer
Nicholas Hooper (1654–1731)
Charles Johnston (priest)
John Johnston (priest)
Thomas Lee (1794–1834)
Gervase Frederick Mathew
Cuthbert Mayne
David Shepherd (umpire)
David Spiegelhalter
David Vine

References

External links

Category:Secondary schools in Devon
Category:Buildings and structures in Barnstaple
Category:Foundation schools in Devon