The Commonweal School

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The Commonweal School is a secondary school with academy status with a performing arts specialism, located in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is situated in the south-west of Swindon, south of the A4289.HistoryThe Commonweal School was founded in 1927 where most of the first Commonweleans had been transferred from the College and Euclid Street Secondary Schools. The original building was designed for just 410 pupils in total. September 1939 say a sudden rise in numbers to 530 pupils, half from East Ham Grammar School plus 'detached' evacuees. In 1965, it became a Senior High School, taking pupils of all abilities aged 14 to 18. There was a second re-organisation in 1983 when Commonweal became a seven-form entry comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16, therefore losing its sixth form. Its Academy Status was awarded on 1 August 2011, previously, it had been a foundation school. An expansion in September 2014 saw the opening of its brand new Sixth Form, known as C6.LeadershipOver the last ninety years, Commonwealeans have seen many Headmasters. Mr 'Tam' Hartley was the first headmaster. Doctor C.E Jones was appointed Headmaster of Commonweal back in 1932, the namesake of the Shield awarded to the house that annually wins Sports Day. Keith Defter succeeded Michael Salt following his retirement in 1998. In an email to parents over Easter 2017, Keith Defter announced that he would be retiring following the Summer term after almost two decades. Bob Linnegar, the Schools Deputy Head, takes over the role of Headteacher from September 2017.