Commonweal School celebrates its 90th birthday with reunion

Since the school opened in 1927 thousands of Swindonians have passed through the door of Commonweal, the town’s oldest secondary school.

Perhaps you were one of them? Were you a student, a parent, a governor, or a member of staff? If so, you are invited to the school on the afternoon of Saturday 23 September from 2pm to 6pm to celebrate the school’s 90 birthday.

Commonweal School is hosting an open afternoon for a reunion of former staff and students with archive displays, tours of the school and, of course, tea and cake.

Students will be on hand to guide visitors around the school where they can meet up with old classmates, wallow in nostalgia and marvel at the developments of recent years.

One of the event organisers, Sue Hammond, said: "It will be an opportunity to revisit some of your old haunts, take a look at what has changed and perhaps to reminisce with some of your contemporaries."

When the school opened, it accommodated just 280 students, whilst in 2017 the number, including the sixth form, stands at 1,400.

Back in 1927 the school was the newest and largest public building construction in the Borough of Swindon since the end of The Great War.

Commonweal's Head teacher, Robert Linnegar, said: “Not surprisingly a lot has changed in 90 years! Current students on our roll come from a diverse range of backgrounds both socio-economically and over 40 nationalities are represented.

"Over the years we have expanded with the needs for demand. Commonweal means, ‘for the common good,’ and that is just what we do, embracing and encouraging our students to be the very best they can be.

“Our school is an ambitious, restless and inclusive community, that is passionate about learning. We aim to develop character, compassion and service.

"We want young people to look back on a joyful school experience which has inspired and challenged them, given them wide opportunities and prepared them for the ups and downs of life. I am thrilled to be the new Headteacher of the Commonweal School as of September 2017."

Keith Browning, a notable atmospheric scientist, attended Commonweal in the 1950s. Justin Hayward, front man of the internationally acclaimed pop band The Moody Blues, went to Commonweal in the 1960s and is a Friend of the school.

Karl von Buren, the Global Head at HSBC, attended in the 1980s and Lyndon Ogbourne, an actor in the TV soap Emmerdale, went to Commonweal in the late 1990s.

The school patrons include Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, painter and muralist Ken White and Shirley Ludford station manager for 105.5 Community Radio.

The school has had just six head teachers over its 90 year period, with Bob Linnegar, being the sixth starting this month.

Commonweal still maintains a House system and is probably the only secondary school in the Borough to maintain an active PTA (Parent and Teacher Association), raising much needed funds to supplement school equipment and activities.