Information about the School

Welcome to Katharine Lady Berkeley's school, a highly successful 11-18 mixed comprehensive with approximately 1460 pupils. The school's history dates back to its foundation on October 20th 1384 by Katharine, the wife of Lord Berkeley. The school provides an environment which promotes a real commitment to achievement and a genuine sense of enjoyment in learning new skills, knowledge and understanding.

Our school nestles under the southern tip of the Cotswold escarpment, close to the town of Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire. The school was originally sited in the town itself, having moved to the old school buildings in 1726. In 1963 the school moved to its present location just outside the town. A new Mathematics block, pictured here, was completed in September 1997. In September 2000, new accommodation was completed which provided 6 new rooms for the English Department, 3 new Business Studies rooms (1 equipped with a networked computer suite), 2 dedicated ICT rooms, 2 new rooms for the Religious Studies Department and a new School Library networked with 15 computers. There was also an extension to the Science block to provide 3 new Science laboratories. The Art department was refurbished and a further ICT suite was added in the summer of 2002, as well as the Music department accommodation being considerably extended early in 2003.

The school is very successful, with 68% of students achieving 5 or more passes at grades A* to C in 2002 and A' level results which place the school as one of the top state comprehensives in the country. We are committed to ensuring that students have the widest range of opportunities available to them when they leave the school by offering a broad and balanced curriculum. This enables students to gain the best results of which they are each capable and also promotes the development of the personal qualities necessary for them to be successful in further or higher education, employment and in adult life in general.

The school is designated as a Language College which means that we place a high priority on the development of international awareness, understanding and communications throughout our curriculum and through the involvement of our students with partner schools around the world. It is clear that the continuing developments in communications technology and the increasing globalization of the world's markets will result in a high demand for employees who have the ability to converse in more than one language.

We offer more languages than most other schools, currently including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Latin. Therefore, as a Language College, we are able to provide excellent opportunities for our students to gain the skills and knowledge needed for the world of the future.

The school is also a designated Training School, demonstrating excellent practice across the range of teacher training activities, especially in initial teacher training and the continuing training of the whole school workforce.

Traditional values play an important part in the school's approach, particularly in the areas of discipline, work, uniform and politeness. At the same time, new curriculum concepts and technological innovations are given great emphasis.

Manners, courtesy and industry are common traits throughout the school and we strongly feel a sense of loyalty and trust in a school which prepares young people for demands of present day life and the world of the future.