Site Information and Accessibility

Wyvern College was built in 1958 and the campus comprises a range of buildings which have developed over time to meet the needs of the college staff and students.

The following information is intended to provide details on the layout of the site and other accessibility issues:

• the following departments are on the first or second floors and these can only be accessed by stairs: Learning Support and one Art classroom, Geography, History, Philosophy and Ethics, and Maths
• internal access to the Modern Languages department is via a small flight of six steps, although the department can be accessed externally via level pathways
• internal access to the Drama Studio and the PE Department is via a small flight of four steps, although these departments can be accessed externally via level pathways
• the main entrance to the College Hall has level access, although within the Hall, access to part of the seating space and the stage area is via four steps
• the only area of the site currently serviced by a lift is the Library which is on the first floor in a separate block
• externally, pathways and walkways are generally accessible. There is a small flight of six steps at the back of the Technology Department which provides access to the rear of the college, although there is an alternative route available using level pathways
• stair treads and steps have been highlighted to assist those with visual impairments
• the college currently has a portable hearing loop facility which is suitable for one to one conversations, and is in the process of installing a room hearing loop in one of its classrooms
• the college has three disabled toilets: one near the main reception, one in the Modern Languages Department and one in the sports complex at the rear of the college
• there is two accessible shower rooms; one near the main reception and one in the sports complex at the rear of the college
• in relevant public areas, the fire alarm is both audible and visible
• a number of disabled parking places are available across the site.

To see our accessibility policy please visit our policies page  by clicking here

The college aims to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the individual needs of students, parents, staff or visitors coming onto the site. Each situation is approached on a case by case basis, and we would strongly encourage you to contact the college if you have particular questions or concerns in relation to accessibility.

In terms of accessibility to our curriculum, students in the catchment area or community, with particular special needs are welcomed in so far as our provision is compatible with their needs, the efficient education of other students in the college, and use of resources. The college works closely with external agencies to assess individuals’ access needs in order to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to provide the best educational opportunities for all. Reasonable adjustments are made in terms of rooming and timetabling to enable the physically less able to access the mainstream curriculum provision and extra-curricular activities.

The high standard of teaching at Wyvern is supported by continual investment in facilities. Over the last ten years a series of new buildings has provided for increasing student numbers, and ongoing refurbishment ensures that well-equipped learning environments re available to support the various curriculum areas.

The current facilities include:

• a large hall with a sunken auditorium
• a modern Sports Hall, Dance Studio with seating, and Sport and Fitness Suite
• a specialist Music suite
• a Design Technology suite that includes 5 multi-craft rooms, an ICT room, two newly-refurbished Food Technology rooms and a Textiles room
• a Science block with ten laboratories
• a Drama Studio
• a separate ICT suite with three classrooms and a library equipped with computers
• three well-equipped Art rooms with ICT facilities
• classrooms conveniently suited for Humanities, Religious Studies, English, Mathematics, and Modern Languages
• six hard tennis courts with floodlighting, hockey, rugby and football pitches and an artificial turf pitch
• a new athletics track and field events area

The original village school in Fair Oak at Fair Oak Court catered for pupils aged 5 to 14. In 1935 a new school was built on the Infants School site, and pupils continued at this school until 1958 when it was decided that the 248 pupils should attend a newly-created secondary school in Eastleigh. They were joined by Bishopstoke pupils as other Eastleigh secondary schools were overcrowded. As the school was now sited outside its catchment area, all pupils had to travel to and from by bus.

Originally, the new school was known as the Eastleigh Secondary School, but within a year the new Headmaster, Robert Blachford, chose the distinctive name of Wyvern with the motto “Advance”. This heraldic dragon has been connected with Wessex since Tudor times and formed the crest of Sir Francis Drake; it also featured on the badge of Mr Blachford’s Wessex regiment. However, accommodation became a problem at the Wyvern County Secondary School, and in 1966 the Wyvern arose again at Fair Oak, in the centre of the catchment area which also included the villages of Colden Common, Durley, Horton Heath and Upham. The number on roll had risen to 750.

The new school buildings, designed for 450 pupils, were not large enough and the old school in Eastleigh became known as “the Annexe”, with a whole year group being bused to and fro each day. The school leaving age was increased to 16, new courses were introduced and Fair Oak became an increasingly popular residential area. By 1976 the school roll was 1200 and the teaching staff had increased from 10 to 60! However, it was in 1978 before there was sufficient accommodation and “the Annexe” was no longer needed. The Wyvern Community School was emerging.

Subsequently, throughout the 80’s and 90’s, all departments were gradually enlarged and suited to facilitate the delivery of the changing curricular. In 1985, the then headmaster George Davies, achieved community status for the school. Information Technology then developed rapidly and started to form an integral part of every student’s learning experiences and in September 2000 , the college was awarded Technology status and became Wyvern Technology College.

The college continued to evolve and change during the first decade of the new century and converted to an Academy in June 2012, changing its name to Wyvern College at the same time.