Sawyers Hall College


Sawyers Hall College of Sport and Science was a secondary school located in Brentwood, Essex, England. It was a mixed school of non-denominational religion. The school logo was traditionally that of a Griffin. However, when the school achieved specialist college status its motif was modernised; it became a two panelled shield with a griffin above a diagram of an atom.

History

Sawyers Hall College opened in 1936 as a single block mixed school known as Brentwood Secondary School. However, genders were separated during school hours. Later in life, the school expanded and genders were allowed to mix. When it was the first school in the area to become Comprehensive, it was renamed Hedley Walter after the Chairman of Governors. Under the Head, Arthur Gregson, the school went from strength to strength as a pioneer of mixed ability teaching and the innovative Humanities course. Visiting educationalists from all over the country and the world came to learn these new techniques. In around 2003, the school's name was changed to Sawyers Hall College. The original school building, circa 1936, became known as The Jack Petchey Building.
The school was formally closed in 2012, however the former school buildings are now used as the site for Becket Keys Church of England School.

School layout

The school was split into six buildings each named after someone who was related to the history of the school, plus a Sports Hall and an Astroturf pitch, which could be used in most weather conditions. An athletics track and football and rugby pitches were situated in fields across the road from the school. There were separate playgrounds for the various years, with years 10 and 11 sharing the same playground. From 2006 the sixth form had its own common room and study rooms for computer use.
The main assembly hall was part of the James Reddell building, in which the classes were science, technology and ICT.
Block 1

– French

– Spanish

– English

– Maths

– Media

– Administration, Finance and Reception
Block 2

– Personalized Learning

– ICT

– Business Studies
Block 3

– Science

– Technology

– ICT

– Main Hall

– Canteens
Block 4

– RE

– History

– Geography

– Gym

– Resource Centre

– Construction

– Sixth Form

– Meeting and Seminar Rooms

– Site Office

– The Lanes Hair & Beauty Salon
Block 5

– Construction
Block 6

– PE

– Art

– Drama

– Music

– Photography
Block 7

– Sixth Form Common Room
Prospects College Construction Building

– Construction
Sports Hall

– PE

Subjects

Sawyers Hall College offered a variety of subjects in both GCSE years and Sixth Form in consortium with the Brentwood Learning Partnership, including:
• Accountancy

• Archaeology

• Art

• Business Studies

• Childcare

• Citizenship

• Construction

• Drama

• English

• Food Studies

• General Studies

• Geography

• History

• ICT –

• Law – |

• Mathematics –

• Media Studies –

• Modern Foreign Languages –

• Music

• Music Technology – |

• Philosophy and Ethics – |

• Photography –

• Physical Education

• Product Design

• Psychology –

• Religious Education –

• Science –

• Textiles

• Travel and Tourism

Headteachers

Over the past 15 years, it had 5 Principals/Headteachers, three foreign nationals.
The school offered a range of extra-curricular activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh award.
The name 'Hedley Walter' was used in reference to the school's first Head of Governors.
There were four house teams which were named after ships with historical references; Golden Hind, Endeavour, Calypso and Beagle.