In the early 19th century, the only education local children received was from the church-run school of St Peter and St Paul's, which taught around 240 pupils together in the Vestry Hall. However this was insufficient because the school only operated on Sundays and, in the opinion of the Brougham inspectors of 1811 at least, was severely unprovided for in comparison with Long Marston school, which contained only 92 students. Tring National School was founded in 1842 by Church of England Revd Edward I. Randolph, with the assistance of a grant from the National Society, on land granted by the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. At that time it was built on Aylesbury Road in the middle of Tring, where Tring Library now stands. During the First World War, the school building was taken over as a military hospital. In the 1930s the junior and secondary departments were re-organised as separate schools, though still occupying the same building. The junior school would later become Bishop Wood C of E Junior School. In 1956 the senior school, now known as Tring School, moved to its present site at the top of Mortimer Hill, to the east of the town, and in 1969 it was re-organised as an all-ability 11-19 co-educational school. The school converted to academy status in August 2012 and then became part of the Ridgeway Learning Partnership in December 2017.
Academic standards
Following the Ofsted inspection in November 2017, Tring School was rated ‘Good’ with an ‘Outstanding’ Sixth Form and ‘Outstanding’ Personal Development and ‘Outstanding’ Behaviour. The school was also rated ‘Good’ under the SIAMS inspection framework in May 2019 with ‘Outstanding’ Religious Education.
Wider Curriculum
Clubs are lead by staff and students alike and the school also hosts clubs run by external providers such as Air Cadets. Increasing in popularity is the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and World Challenge programmes.
Organisation
House system
The students of the school are separated into four houses, namely Ascott, Claydon, Halton and Waddesdon all of which are country houses from the local area, each of which has its own Head of House. They compete annually for a House Cup as well as for other cups and trophies throughout the year with the cup being presented at the end of year assembly. Each house has its own colour: Blue, Red, Green and Yellow respectively. Since September 2009 Tring School's form system has incorporated vertical tutoring, with each tutor group including pupils from the same house across the age range of the school. The previous house system consisted of Ashridge, Beacon, Chiltern, Mentmore, Pendley and Ridgeway.
Layout
Tring School's facilities are about to see a major redevelopment with all buildings, except the Desborough Hall, Beloe Block and the Sports Centre, being replaced. The Sports Centre had a complete refit in 2019 and both the Beloe and Desborough buildings will be refurbished to match the new build.
Relations with other schools
Tring School is part of the Ridgeway Learning Partnership which also includes Grove Road Primary School. Tring School has transition links with other local primary schools.
