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THE SCHOOL Gravesend Grammar School was originally built and located in the heart of the town of Gravesend before the beginning of the 20th century. The school was later moved and rebuilt at a new location. The original 'old' building still stands today and is now a technical college in the town. The replacement building is still in use although many alterations and additions have been made to it since it was originally constructed, including being rebuilt after having been hit by a bomb during World War II . The second school building, known as the 'Centenary Building', was built in 1993 , to commemorate the school's 100th year, and currently houses cutting-edge facilities including multiple computer facilities and chemistry labs. There are a number of Mobile Classrooms around the school site, used for various subjects, although these are beginning to be replaced by more permanent buildings. Overall, there are 46 classrooms, including six Computer Rooms, a growing number of which contain Interactive Whiteboard s, as well as a library, several small music practice rooms, and a canteen available to all staff and students. In 2004 the school gained specialist status as a Maths and Computing Specialist School. This in itself guarantees the school extra government funding in order to continue the running and expansion of its high-class facilities. HOUSE SYSTEM The school operates a House System . Pupils in each year group are divided into five forms, each form belonging to one of the school's five Houses. Each House has a different coloured variant of the school tie. The Houses and their colours are as follows: Cliff (blue), Downs (yellow), Hill (green), Town (red) and School (purple). School House is relatively new, having been introduced in 1993 because of the increased numbers of pupils entering the school. SIXTH FORM The Sixth Form currently contains approximately 300 students, studying A Level s in a variety of subjects. Each week there is a "General Education" session for the Lower Sixth, in which various speakers such as the local MP or representatives from Israeli and Palestinian Support Charities. The school also provide free "Driveability" sessions for the Year 12 students, that outline the various risks and responsibilities of learning to drive. There are several extra-curricular clubs specifically for the sixth form, including an A+ computing course, and a Film Club. CAREERS The students begin to prepare for career choices in Year 9, where they start to have one lesson a fortnight being taught various aspects of careers, including interview techniques and how to write CV s. These lessons continue until the end of year 11. In addition, all year 11 students have a week's work experience in a variety of locations, from local schools to companies in London . They also have group careers interviews with a Connexions advisor, with one on one sessions if requested. The school has a Careers Library that any student can use, that contains prospectuses and information from various Universities , as well as information about possible careers paths. HEAD BOY TEAM & PREFECTS Each year, a Head Boy and a team of five deputies are elected from the current Year 12. Several weeks before the Easter Holiday , any student wishing to stand for the position must submit a Manifesto to the Head of Year. Once these have been accumulated, the a Husting is held, in which the candidates put forwards their ideas and reasons for being elected. Following this, the Year 12 group and Staff vote for their choices for Head Boy and Deputies. The candidates that have the most votes then go on to an interview with the headmaster, and the choices are announced just before the term ends. Despite the schools tradition of appointing a Head Boy, now that there are girls in the sixth form, the position is not exclusive, and indeed, the current team is a mixed group. There are a large number of prefects in the school, ranging from subject prefects to pastoral ones in charge of areas of the school such as the Library or the Canteen. There is a dedicated team of about fifteen students to ensure appropriate use of ICT facilities at Break and Lunchtimes. All members of the Prefect and Head Boy teams are issued a blue, shield shaped badge with the appropriate position emblazoned across it. SPORT Sport plays a very big part of life at the school, to the extent that for the last two years, all GCSE students take Physical Education short courses. There are a number of specialist PE teachers that coach a variety of teams, including Badminton (which is coached by a previous National Champion), Rugby , and Hockey , as well as facilities for Basketball , Table Tennis and Athletics . DRAMA AND MUSIC The school GCSE and A Level groups have recently staged productions such as The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui , West Side Story , Animal Farm , The Madness Of King George , and The Crucible . There are a number of Musical organisations in the school, including Guitar and Recorder Clubs, a Chamber Orchestra and a Choir. TRIPS Recent years have seen educational visits to France , Italy , and Germany , including various exchanges, as well as slightly less adventurous trips to places such as The Globe Theatre and The British Museum . Groups of senior students have recently been to Peru on a World Challenge Expedition and an expedition to Mongolia in 2007 has just entered the fund raising stage. The School also hold more recreational visits, such as recent Rugby Tours to Canada and South Africa , and the Annual Ski Trip to Italy . MOTTO & SCHOOL SONG Consule Cunctis is the school's Latin Motto , and is usually translated as meaning 'take thought for everyone'. The school motto is also the title of the school song, which was originally the song of the school rugby team, and created at some point in the 1960s . :Consule Cunctis: We readily grant it :Who will not hearken the song as we chant it :Some 1000 fellows assembled in hall? :For the splendour of life shall illumine our faces :While boyhood's a game that delights us and graces :Our "Play for the side with your face to the ball". :Consule Cunctis: When school days have ending :There's none shall escape from the duties attending :All 1000 fellows assembled in hall, :Though the ground to our feet may ring flintily, dustily :Forget not the chorus but sing it right lustily. :"Play for the side with your face to the ball". :Consule Cunctis: in fair or rough weather :We''ll play to the whistle, stand fast all together :We 100 fellows assembled in hall. :Consule Cunctis: the world is before us :And we'll make it yet in our full throated chorus :Of "Play for the side with your face to the ball". :Headboy: School! Selah! C'est a dire! :All reply: Alors! Oui, bon Ou, aye Ou, aye, aye :Zen, Zen, Zen! :GRAVESEND! OTHER
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