{{more citations needed|date=February 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox school | name = Gillingham School | logo = GillinghamSchool.jpg | logo_size = 150px | image = Entrance drive to Gillingham School main hall and arts centre (geograph 4291475).jpg | coordinates = {{Coord|51.0381|-2.2681|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | motto = Docendo discimus | motto_translation = By teaching, we learn | established = {{Start date and age|1516}} | type = [[Voluntary controlled school]] | head_teacher = Paul Nicholson | r_head_label = | r_head = | founder = | address = Hardings Lane | city = [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]] | county = [[Dorset]] | country = England | postal_code = SP8 4QP | local_authority = [[Dorset County Council]] | urn = 113882 | ofsted = Yes | staff = | enrollment = 1,769 | gender = Mixed | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | publication = | houses = Baxter, Clarendon, Davenant, [[Murder of Yvonne Fletcher|Fletcher]], George Butler, Hurley, [[Neil Lyndon|Lyndon]], Matthews, Seager, Wagner | website = {{URL|www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk}} }}
'''Gillingham School''' is a coeducational school situated in [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]] in North [[Dorset]], England. Gillingham Grammar School can trace its foundation back to 1516. It was founded as a Free School, paid for out of the proceeds of land gifted to the school by several local landowners, and was managed by twelve trustees or Feoffees. Evidence exists to prove that the Gillingham Free School persisted without a break until the present day although the format has metamorphosed to a Grammar school and then to its present Comprehensive status. Among its distinguished alumni was [[Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon|Edward Hyde]], who became the [[Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon|1st Earl of Clarendon]], and [[Lord Chancellor|Lord High Chancellor of England]] 1661–1667. Edward Frampton was the headmaster in 1648 and he became [[Bishop of Gloucester]] in 1680.<ref name=wagner>Gillingham Grammar School, Dorset - An Historical Account" by A F H V Wagner, MA</ref>
Over the years the school further prospered, and in 1916 girls were admitted for the first time. It was in 1926 that the school came under the control of the Dorset County Council who agreed to pay the staff salaries and provide grants for most education needs. In 1940 a County "Modern School" for the less academically able was built in a field next to the Grammar School and in 1959 the two schools combined into a Comprehensive School. Over the years and particularly in recent times the buildings were modernised and eventually all were replaced. The present school now has a roll of over 1600 pupils and a high reputation for achievement.<ref name=wagner/>
Gillingham School is divided up into 10 form tutors, each with a name which relates to the school in one way or another. They are; Baxter, Clarendon, Davenant, [[Murder of Yvonne Fletcher|Fletcher]], George-Butler, Hurley, Matthews, [[Neil Lyndon|Lyndon]], Seager, and Wagner.<ref name="gillingham-dorset.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/about-us/our-school/origins-of-the-school|title=Origins of the School|website=www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk|access-date=8 September 2017|archive-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908110952/https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/about-us/our-school/origins-of-the-school|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a comprehensive school, Year 7 - 11 have these tutors, each with roughly 32 pupils in. The Gillingham School Sixth Form are sorted into tutors, however the names are different from the school. The names are the initials of the form tutor teacher themselves.
The Gillingham School sixth form attracts students from a large surrounding region and the school was rated 'good' in the latest [[Ofsted]] report.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 September 2017|title=Latest Ofsted Report|url=https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/Documents/Ofsted/2017.pdf|website=Gillingham School|access-date=13 August 2020|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227061944/https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/Documents/Ofsted/2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Notable alumni== {{alumni|date=May 2025}} * [[Yvonne Fletcher]] – [[Metropolitan Police]] officer murdered in a [[Murder of Yvonne Fletcher|1984 diplomatic incident]] * [[Neil Lyndon]] – writer and journalist.<ref name="gillingham-dorset.co.uk"/> * [[Adam Tomkins]] – Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament<ref>"Tomkins, Adam, (born 28 June 1969), Member (C) Glasgow, Scottish Parliament, since 2016; John Millar Professor of Public Law, University of Glasgow, since 2003." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 24 Mar. 2018</ref> * [[Josh Sims (footballer)|Josh Sims]] – football player, currently playing for [[Yeovil Town F.C.]] * [[Lloyd Isgrove]] – football player, currently playing for [[Hume City FC]] * [[Jonathan Brearley]] - CEO of GB energy regulator [[Office of Gas and Electricity Markets|Ofgem]]
==Racism controversy== In 2022, it was claimed that the school had neglected over 30 reports of racism from a family that included a teacher and three students. The family later contacted North Dorset [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Simon Hoare]]. According to their complaint, the school told them that it adopted a "zero tolerance" approach to bullying, then failed to provide a copy of their policy when asked. The school claims to have worked closely with local and national authorities and told reporters they could not discuss the outcome of their investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Family angry at Dorset school's response to racism claims |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-63819492 |access-date=13 February 2025 |work=[[BBC South]] |date=1 December 2022}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Schools in Dorset}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Secondary schools in Dorset]] [[Category:1516 establishments in England]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in the 1510s]] [[Category:Voluntary controlled schools in England]] [[Category:Gillingham, Dorset]]