Finham Park School
In September 2003, it became the first Mathematics and Computing College in Coventry. The Headteacher is Mr Chris Bishop, with Deputy Headteachers Ms Sarah Megeney and Mr Rob Morey. The previous headteacher had been Mr Mark Bailie who was head between 2009 and 2017 and is now CEO for the Finham Park Multi Academy Trust set up in 2015.
The school has 1,750 students across the five mandatory years and the two optional years of the sixth form. The student intake is from the Finham, Styvechale, Cheylesmore, Green Lane, Gibbet Hill and Fenside districts of the city, plus certain parts of Earlsdon.
History
Finham Park School opened in 1970, but construction of the final school buildings was not completed until late 1971. Before Finham Park School opened, pupils in the area went to a variety of Coventry schools.
The building originally built for Finham Park 2, for their temporary placement at Finham Park during 2015/2016 is now a large study centre for the Sixth Form, with a recent refurbishment.
In 2005, Finham Park School became the first school in Coventry to offer the IB Diploma Programme, as an alternative to A Levels. Upper sixth form students, the first to take the IB diploma from the school, sat their IB examinations in May 2007; though the IB Diploma is no longer offered.
In 2007, Finham Park was one of the first schools in England to test out the 'Biometric Cashless system' when buying food and drink items from school. Students have their thumbprint scan converted into an 11 digit number, and can then pay by having their thumbprint scanned into a system. Students' parents can top-up their child's account by using ParentPay – an online payment system allowing payments for lunches, trips, book etc.
In 2012 the main school buildings were all painted blue.
In January 2014, the school opened a fitness suite for use by students during and after the school day as well as by staff before and after school. The suite was officially opened by Coventry born athlete, David Moorcroft OBE on Friday 17 January
In December 2022, Finham Park School's 'E Block' was opened and is officially called 'Peter Burns Performing Arts Centre' this space provides extra classrooms, a large music suite, a large performing arts studio plus a large canteen/kitchen to provide extra catering facilities before school, at break and lunch time.
At present, the main buildings are being repainted dark blue and white as well as having new dark grey aluminium windows fitted to replace the old Double Glazed windows.
Bishop Ullathorne RC School is close by, towards the A45. The school gates of the two schools are between 5 and 10 minutes walking distance.
Colleges
The school now has five colleges:
- Nubian
- Masai
- Barbary
- Asiatic
- Katanga
These college names are based on different subspecies of lion, some being extinct.
Each pupil belongs to one of the colleges and participates in intercollegiate events to earn points for their college.
These school houses were previously split into Newton, Ada, Whittle, and Galileo; but in 2008 the houses were changed as above along with a new vertical tutoring system. Originally the school was divided into four houses: Leasowes, Manor, Stivichall and Cryfield. Stretton, Ryton, Waverley and Kingswood were added as the school approached capacity.
School buildings
- A Block – Reception, Psychology, Media, Film Studies, Drama, Gym and Sports Hall
- B Block – Modern Foreign Languages
- C Block – History, Religious Education, Social Studies and PSHE (Physical Social Health Education)
- D Block – Geography, Adult Education and the School Library
- E Block – Performing Arts Centre, Large Canteen and General Teaching Space
- H Block – Computing, Business Studies, Maths, Textiles, Art and Food Technology
- J Block – Maths and Science
- K Block – Art and Design Technology
- L Block – Science
- M Block – English, Fitness Suite and Canteen
- S Block – The Gateway (Formally The Personalised Learning Centre)
- T Block – Sixth Form Study Centre
- Cafe6 - Sixth Form break and lunch servery
- The View - General classroom space and PE changing rooms
- The Venue - Conference Centre
Most school buildings have two floors, The Gateway, Cafe6, The View are all single floor. A Block has three floors.
Behaviour for learning system (BFL)
Finham Park School has a consequence system for bad behaviour and a reward system for good progress and work in class. The "consequence" system gets worse punishments as the student misbehaves; a C1 is a verbal warning, a C2 is a warning where your name gets written on the board, a C3 is a detention lasting 30 minutes, C4 is moved to another classroom and a detention lasting 1 hour and a C5 is an isolation.
In 2018, a new policy was introduced called "Restorative Justice". Alongside the regular consequence system, the wrongdoer(s) and the teacher that reported the bad behaviour engage in a restorative conversation, in an attempt to make amends between the teacher and student(s).
Notable alumni
- Kate Dempsey (born 1962), poet.
- Matthew Naylor (born 1996), cricketer.
- Mark Wood (born 1966), explorer.
- Tom Clarke (born 1986) Musician.
