Школа Шелдон: История и современность чиппенхэмского учебного заведения.

Sheldon School (formerly Chippenham Boys' High School) is a large mixed secondary school and sixth form in Chippenham, Wiltshire for students aged 11 to 18 and is the largest school in Wiltshire. Since April 2011, it has been an Academy. It is one of three secondary schools in Chippenham, the others being Abbeyfield and Hardenhuish. The school is headed by Peter Lynch, former Headteacher of Bradley Stoke Community School, who was appointed in September 2023. The school is off the Hardenhuish Lane in the southern region of Hardenhuish Park, which is all that separates it from Hardenhuish School to the north.

In AD 854, documents record the settlement known as Hardenhuish on the north west side of Chippenham. The name probably derives from the family holding of one Herejeard, who occupied the land. In 1066, the Domesday survey establishes the owner as Arnulf who held it before this date. The medieval manor house and church were situated on the flat land which now forms Sheldon School's playing fields.

In 1707, the Colborne family purchased the estate and selected a new site for a fine Georgian house, Hardenhuish House, on higher ground to the north, built from 1773 to 1774. In 1777, Joseph Colborne of Hardenhuish became Sheriff of Wiltshire. In 1779, Colborne decided that a new church should be erected on higher ground to the west of his new house. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, it was designed by the famous Bath architect John Wood and is supposed to contain recycled material from the earlier church.

In 1822, the Clutterbuck family bought the Hardenhuish estate. In 1826, Thomas Clutterbuck of Hardenhuish became Sheriff of Wiltshire. In 1854, Edmund Lewis Clutterbuck of Hardenhuish became Sheriff of Wiltshire. From 1875 a private venture grammar school existed in Chippenham, conducted in St. Mary Street by a Mr. Wilson and from 1883 by Mr. Cruikshank. In 1891, the Technical Instruction Acts (1889 & 1891) provided financial assistance for evening classes in various science and arts subjects. Earlier voluntary classes were now coordinated, and this became the beginning of a national system of technical education. Subjects included Shorthand, Animal Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Hygiene, Carpentry and Dressmaking. In 1893, Edward Newall Tuck was appointed by the Education Committee of the Borough of Chippenham to organise technical classes in Chippenham and district. Classes were held in rented premises at No. 21 London Road and at the Jubilee Institute, as well as villages including Grittleton and Yatton Keynell. Teachers from elementary schools attended classes in a School of Art on Saturdays at the Jubilee Institute. Tuck, in addition, gave talks on Wiltshire history and nature study; he also served as town councillor and was Mayor of Chippenham from 1931 to 1932. In 1894, pupils were not admitted to classes until they reached the age of 11. Pupils from day schools were admitted free from aged 11 to 16. The fees at this time were fixed at 6d per month, the whole expenses of the school being met by fees and grants from the Science and Art Department and the County Council. Higher grade classes for boys, including Woodwork and Chemistry, were held at No. 21 London Road.

In 1896, under the provisions of the Technical and Industrial Institutions Act (1892), the Borough of Chippenham established the Chippenham and District County School, subsequently known as the Chippenham County Secondary School for Boys and Girls, with Tuck as the first headmaster (he would remain in this post until 1939). The first Chair of Governors was former mayor Alderman John Coles. The premises were still No. 21 London Road and the Jubilee Institute. As the tenancy of the private venture school was to end on 25 March 1896, the Town Council paid Cruikshank £10 for the desks, books and goodwill of his school. Boys were drawn from three elementary schools in Chippenham: the British, National and St. Paul's Schools. In addition, twelve boys had previously attended the private grammar school. Others were from other private schools in Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Calne and surrounding villages. 39 boys aged 11 to 16 were on the admission register from 13 April 1896. The curriculum included Latin, French, Science, History, Geography, Grammar, Book keeping, Shorthand, Arithmetic, Writing, Geometry and Freehand Drawing. In addition to the buildings and playground, four acres of adjoining land were rented for playing fields. All day classes were consolidated here and pupil numbers increased rapidly. In 1908 the fees were £5 5s. 0d. a year, including books. However, there were a number of scholarships available and figures for the year show that of 115 pupils – 66 girls and 49 boys – 57 held scholarships, one a free place, thus only 57 were fee payers.

In 1922, the school received further County and Government grants. In the interwar years, the number of pupils on roll increased steadily, and by 1929 there were 262. The Junior department was reorganised as a kindergarten and preparatory form, catering for 61 children aged 8 to 10. However, the number of pupils over the age of 16 was proportionally small in comparison with the average for Wiltshire grammar schools, consequently, there was no discrete sixth form, although a small number of pupils did progress to university, some with the aid of County Scholarships. By the early 1930s, the buildings were presenting difficulties of overcrowding. By 1935, pupil numbers had reached 288. Hardenhuish Park was purchased from the Clutterbuck family by Wiltshire County Council in order to implement the educational requirements of the growing town.

In 1938, the Secondary Grammar School moved from Cocklebury Road to new buildings (since demolished), erected on the east side of Hardenhuish House. The old Manor House became the headmaster's room, the school library and some classrooms. and 11th Armored Division, whose headquarters were at Lackham House and Manor. Close relations developed between these troops and the school.

In 1946, Eric Minter was appointed the headmaster at Chippenham County Secondary Modern School. Following the war, there was a steady increase in the numbers of pupils and additional buildings were constructed. The catchment area of the school covered the triangle between Chippenham, Corsham and Melksham. In 1956, with pupil numbers at 547 (102 of these in the sixth form), constant growth of the area saw the major development of a new secondary modern school for girls to the south of Hardenhuish Church. On 28 September, the new Girls' High School opened. These buildings now form part of Hardenhuish School. In 1960, more Grammar School buildings were erected behind Hardenhuish House due to the continual growth of Chippenham. The school began to admit 120 instead of 90 each year. The three schools occupied some 40 acres of Hardenhuish Park and some 2,000 boys and girls attended from the Borough and from the district within a radius of about eight miles. In 1966, the Grammar School and the Girls' High School integrated with the Chippenham secondary modern schools in a semi comprehensive system with all 11 to 13 year old boys and girls being educated on the Hardenhuish site. Minter retired as headmaster and was awarded the OBE. In 1967, George Morgan was appointed the headmaster.

In 1975, the three schools were merged into two comprehensive schools, under the names Hardenhuish and Sheldon. Hardenhuish was made up of the old Grammar School and Girls' High School buildings, spread across the old Hardenhuish estate and comprising seven blocks. for schools with the most pupil progress between key stages. In 2006, Sheldon was re designated Specialist School Status which helped to enrich and transform the scientific aspects of numerous subject areas. In 2007, the school was again identified as a high performing Specialist School and designated a second specialism as a Sports College with the Performing Arts. It was also awarded Artsmark Silver. In 2008, in its fourth Ofsted inspection Sheldon was judged to be "outstanding" in all 38 categories that made up the new inspection framework. The Sixth Form Centre was opened. In 2009, the school was designated a third specialism as a Language College. In 2011, Matt Dawson opened The Refectory, an award winning hot & cold dining area.

On 1 April 2011, Sheldon School became an Academy. In 2012, Neil Spurdell was appointed headteacher. In 2023, Peter Lynch was appointed headteacher.

In June 2011, 40 sixth formers contributed to a survey carried out by The Chippenham Vision for the Spatial Planning Team at Wiltshire County Council, to assess opinions. Voting was on a range of key local issues in a questionnaire produced by The Chippenham Stakeholder Workshop, in September 2010. The Council said, "The responses gathered through the consultation will be used to help draft the Wiltshire Core Strategy – a plan which sets out long term planning and development aims and principles. This will ensure local people continue to have an integral role in shaping plans which will affect them and their communities".

In its March 2008 inspection, Sheldon was judged to be "outstanding" in all 38 inspection categories, an exceptional achievement matched by only six comprehensive schools in 1,500 Ofsted inspections. In the January 2011 Interim Assessment statement, parents were informed that indications were that "performance has been sustained". At the most recent full inspection in October 2012, Sheldon was judged to be "good" overall. Despite standards having dropped, the school was praised for its pupils' behaviour, stating that it was "outstanding". It also mentioned that "To improve further, the inspectors highlighted the need for the very good teaching observed in the classroom to be taken to an even higher level". A short inspection in June 2017 repeated the "good" assessment, stating "The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection". Concerns were raised over the difference in achievement between disadvantaged pupils and others, and the attendance record of some disadvantaged pupils.