Talk:Holcombe Grammar School

We have one of the best school networks around I think, someone should mention that. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.34.86.192 (talk • contribs)

I realise that comment is sarcastic, but in fact we did have the first school computer link in Kent, so you're unintentionally partially correct :P

— Gary Kirk | ^talk! 18:45, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Domain name/new website

I have no idea why the new website is at www.holcombecollege.co.uk. The domain cgsb.co.uk redirects to it. It belongs to Eniki, a company set up by one of the school ICT tecnicians. Anyway, that's why the site is as it is. We haven't suddenly been renamed Holcombe College... — Gary Kirk | ^talk! 17:33, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

“ why not merge chatham grammar skool 4 girls to chatham grammar skool 4 boys ”

They are two completely different schools at least a mile apart. Is there even an article for CGSG then? Let me check. — Gary Kirk // ^talk! 17:11, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

Tell me something it says on the article that the school was established in 1920, yet Charles Dickens alledgly went there, he died in 1870. The years don't add up. I don't think he did attend the school and would suggest this information shouldn't be added on this article until the information is verived from a reliable source. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Corona21 (talk • contribs)

Also he moved away from Chatham around 1822 (When he was 10) So how could he have attended a School that was built in the latter of the 19th Century, and when it wasn't even a school at that time.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Corona21 (talk • contribs)

I don't know. Pretty sure he didn't; they'd make a deal of it if he had attended. He definitely visited the Holcombe Manor building, inspiring Dingley Dell in The Pickwick Papers. — Gary Kirk // talk! 09:53, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

RE Charles Dickens- i heard the same thing (that he went there) but i think it was when the school was situated in the town.

Photos

I've taken some more photos. Unsure which to use to replace the main one in the infobox, or maybe add one somewhere else (probably enough already but yeah). Gary Kirk [Talk] 14:16, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

• 
  Holcombe Study Suite
• 
  A block

This article does not reflect the current performance of the school, and could be considered bias. To provide a more accurate article on the school, please refer to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/887_gcse_lea.stm to see that the school has recently been performing poorly in exams. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.193.11.80 (talk • contribs)

Done Gary Kirk [Talk] 08:24, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

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What were the historic names of this school? I went there when it was called Chatham Technical High School for Boys, but I'm sure it was previously called something different. Anyway, I suspect they didn't like me as two years after I left they changed the name to the current one?

Could we have a list of the old Headmasters? I joined in 1975 when Mr. Gregory was on the throne. Nice guy very fair minded but firm. Mr Cheetham was his deputy head. I vaugly remember them saying that they had been there together for seven years prior to 1975. They were still there when I left in 1980. I would however, love to see more of the history of the place in this page.

Great page though! keep it up! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.148.79.23 (talk) 19:31, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

Name change

@Hosgeorges: Please see this letter from Mrs Juliet Diaz, the principal, in which she informs parents that the "governors have agreed that this will be the new name of the school". Significantly the letter head says "Holcombe Grammar School". The first citation in the article is to a document published by Medway council entitled "Holcombe Grammar School Admissions Policy 2017/18" in which it refers to the school as "Holcombe Grammar School(formerly Chatham Grammar School for Boys ...". I could mention a private conversation on 13 June when a member of SMT said "we are now Holcombe Grammar School" but of course that is not citable.

To avoid edit warring I shall give you two days to justify your moves or revert them. Since the move had only just occurred and was cited you should have sought consensus here first, please do so in future. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 20:42, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

@Martin of Sheffield: Private discussions are not to be used in Wikipedia. The school stil has a website named as Chatham Grammar. This letter states that it is not until 2017 that it officially changes.

The letter says: "During the course of the next year you will therefore start to see the name ‘Holcombe’ used more and more by the school so that by September 2017 all documents and school-related items will bear the name Holcombe". The school is using up old stocks. Please note that the heading to the letter already refers to it as Holcombe, as does Medway council. Perhaps you failed to notice where I said "but of course that is not citable" and thought I needed to be informed? You are right that the main website is "cgsb", that is the site with the large "Latest News" announcing the name change. Try running your mouse over some of the links though, you'll see an odd mix of URLs: holcombeonline, holcombecollege, holcombe. Should you care to look at the letters published this month, two are from the Principal and use Holcombe notepaper, two are from other staff and use CGSB. In short, the school is clearly transitioning now, the September 2017 date is a final cut-off for the re-branding exercise. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 13:28, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

• Sorry Martin of Sheffield but I'm afraid I'm a +1 here, Although the school does confirm it's changing names IMHO the article shouldn't be moved not until everything has changed (IE the school name, website etc etc), and as the rename is happening in 2017 moving it so early only causes more confusion (All for we know the school could be renamed on Dec 2017), Had I known it was 2017 even I would've moved it back, The school (despite the misleading letter) still goes by Chatham Grammar and should remain at the name until everything's moved,
  

(Forgot to say I assumed the school was going to be renamed by Sep 2016 hence why I never reverted), Thanks, –Davey2010^Talk 16:11, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

• Rebranding ends by September (not December) 2017. According to the principal and local authority the school is already named Holcombe. Online and printed material and will be "more and more" throughout the (academic) year. Given that we are slap in the middle of exam season I can understand why they wouldn't want to fiddle with the domain name. Would a lead like this be better:

  Chatham Grammar School for Boys (now Holcombe Grammar School) is a grammar school with academy status in Chatham, Kent, England. It is a selective school; however, the sixth form is comprehensive. From the 2017-18 academic year, the school is expected to become co-educational and remain selective in the lower school. The school has changed name in advance of becoming co-educational and plans to change all references from "Chatham Grammar School for Boys" to "Holcombe Grammar School" over academic year 2016/17.

I'm not quite sure how to set out the title in the infobox - do we put the School's name first with a "formerly ..." or Wiki's name first with a "now ..."? Martin of Sheffield (talk) 17:06, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

Martin of Sheffield - Actually that is a good point it would be stupid to mess around with the website now, The lead is absolutely perfect, I would personally do the formally one for now, Thanks for coming to a compromise :), –Davey2010^Talk 17:19, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

I've also found this letter [1] (dated the 24th) which suggests they're using the previous name .... Anyway thanks, –Davey2010^Talk 17:31, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

 Done I know the letter you are referring to, it is one of the letters I mention above "two are from the Principal and use Holcombe notepaper, two are from other staff and use CGSB. In short, the school is clearly transitioning now". Martin of Sheffield (talk) 20:50, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

Agreed they are, Anyway thanks for making a compromise - much appreciated. –Davey2010^Talk 20:53, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

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Houses

"There are five school houses, four of which are named after ships constructed at the historic Chatham Dockyard located nearby." A quick check would seem to indicate that all five ships were built an Chatham. Can someone confirm I'm looking at the right ships (ie those the school thought of) and update the article accordingly. Thanks Martin of Sheffield (talk) 11:45, 22 September 2020 (UTC)