The Misbourne is a state secondary school in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. It is a Community school state school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 19. The school has approximately 1020 students. The Misbourne has a sixth form of around 170 students, offering A-Levels as well as BTEC qualifications.
Academic performance
In the Ofsted report of 2013 The Misbourne was rated as good in all four judgements. Ofsted reported that the school's achievement "is good and rising rapidly". Behaviour and safety "of students and their attitudes to learning are extremely good. Teaching "is good overall with some that is outstanding". Leaders and managers "are ambitious for the school's future and set demanding targets". The Misbourne improved its 5 A*-C GCSE performance from 72% in 2011. to 84% in 2012, placing the school in the top four upper schools in Buckinghamshire, to its highest ever result of 88% in 2013. In the sixth form, 99% of A level exams were passed, with 76% at A*-C and 41% A*-B. According to its 2013 Ofsted report, "The sixth form is good. Students’ attainment at both AS and A2 levels is improving. Sixth formers make good progress in their work related courses" Ofsted Report April 2013.
Facilities
Partly as a result of the school's specialist statuses in Arts and Technology, the school has several ICT rooms with computers for student use. In addition, there is a printing room where photographs can be processed and produced. Students also have access to computer aided design software. The school canteen functions as a café, operated by a third party company. The school also has tennis courts and large playing fields. Recently the school has built an English block, giving students extra space. The block according to the students has been a help due to the increase in space, sunlight and the interactive whiteboards where the students can all participate in group discussions and activities. Due to the new English block being built there was extra area for a new sixth-form study room this room includes an area for the students to study and relax in including multiple computer suits and extremely comfy 'pods'. The school's Performing Arts block was opened in 2004, in memory of former headmaster David Selman. It provides a small practise rooms for private music lessons and student use. The classrooms are all equipped with Casio keyboards. There is a dance studio and a recording studio equipped with music editing software. Sixth formers have access to their own private study area and ICT suite.
History
The Misbourne was the first purpose-built secondary modern school in the country. The first pupils started at the school on 19 December 1955, although it did not officially open until 20 January 1956. Originally there were only twenty-five students. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005/6. The celebrations culminated in a Jubilee summer fête in June 2006 which was attended by Cherie Blair. The Misbourne School was rated the "friendliest school in Britain" in 2005, on Friends Reunited. In September 2006 the Misbourne was awarded specialist school statuses in both Arts and Technology. The Misbourne celebrated the first MizFest on 9 July 2012 students took part in music and drama performances, a fashion show, and workshops including fashion, cake baking, trampolining and Taiko drumming, with a performance by the community choir. Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP, visited The Misbourne on Friday 14 March 2014. On Wednesday 19 March 2014 former Misbourne student, Lieutenant Ian Bennett, "dropped in" to The Misbourne in a Merlin Mk 2 helicopter. Bennett came back to school to talk about his career in the Royal Navy, and invited some on board the helicopter.
