Royal Forest of Dean College was a

college of further education Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is education in addition to that received at secondary school, that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. I ...

located close to the town of Coleford, in the Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire. It was dissolved by government order as of 31 January 2011 in order to be merged to Gloucestershire College. Together with its secondary site at Mitcheldean, and around 30 further outreach sites, the college served a mainly rural area.Ofsted
Retrieved 17 September 2010 The college offered a range of courses from

A-levels The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational a ...

and was associated with University of Gloucestershire for higher education to

Master's degrees A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

History

East Dean Grammar School of

Cinderford Cinderford is a town and civil parish on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The population was 8,777 at the 2021 Census. The town came into existence in the 19th century, following the rapid expansion of Cin ...

, formed in 1929, merged with Bells Grammar School of Coleford in 1968 to form the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School on a new site. Bell's Grammar School had a history dating back to 1445 when a school was founded by

Joan Greyndour Joan Greyndour later Joan Barre ( Rigge/Ridge/Rugge (c. 1400 – 17 June 1485) was an English noblewoman. She founded a chantry and school at Newland in Gloucestershire. Life She was born at Charlcombe in about 1400 and her parents were Kather ...

. In 1985, the grammar school was split into a comprehensive school and the tertiary college. A 2009 Ofsted inspection rated the school with a Grade 2 (good). On 31 January 2011, it merged into Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology

Alumni

Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School

* Janet Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon,

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is a ministerial office in the Government of the United Kingdom. The position is the second highest ranking minister in the Cabinet Office, immediately after the Prime Minister, and senior to the Minist ...

from 2009–10 and Principal of Somerville College, Oxford

East Dean Grammar School

* Prof James Cross, Baines Professor of English Language from 1965–85 at the

University of Liverpool , mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning , established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...

Valerie Grosvenor Myer Valerie Winifred Grosvenor Myer (April 13, 1935 – August 9, 2007) was a British writer, university teacher, and editor. Early life Valerie Winifred Grosvenor Godwin was born in Lower Soudley in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England ...

, writer * Dame Muriel Powell (nurse) CBE * Sir

Archibald Russell Sir Archibald Russell, CBE, FRS (30 May 1904 – 29 May 1995) was a British aerospace engineer who worked most of his career at the Bristol Aeroplane Company, before becoming managing director of the Filton Division when Bristol merged into Bri ...

CBE (attended from 1914-9 when his father was the headmaster), aircraft designer, designed the

Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War, with examples still being used as trainers until t ...

, the

Bristol Britannia The Bristol Type 175 Britannia is a retired British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the Commonwealth. During development two prototypes were lost and the turboprop engines proved su ...

and later worked on Concorde - Chief Engineer from 1944–60 at the Bristol Aeroplane Company *

Reg Ward Albert Joseph Ward (5 October 1927 – 6 January 2011), known as Reg Ward, was the first Chief executive of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC), serving in that capacity from 1981 to 1988. Early life and education The son of a ...

, Chief Executive from 1976-80 of Hereford & Worcester County Council and from 1981-88 of the London Docklands Development Corporation * Sir

Jimmy Young (broadcaster) Sir Leslie Ronald Young , known professionally as Jimmy Young (21 September 1921 – 7 November 2016), was an English singer, disc jockey and radio personality. Early in his career in the 1950s he had two number ones, "Unchained Melody" and "The ...

CBE, former

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...

presenter from 1973-2002

Bells Grammar School

* Edna May Healey, Baroness Healey, writer and wife of

Denis Healey Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey, (30 August 1917 – 3 October 2015) was a British Labour politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979 and as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970; he remains the longe ...

Dennis Potter Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC television serials '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), ''The Singing Detective'' (198 ...

, television writer * Dr Cyril Hart OBE (1913-2009),

Verderer Verderers are forestry officials in England who deal with common land in certain former royal hunting areas which are the property of the Crown. The office was developed in the Middle Ages to administer forest law on behalf of the King. Verde ...

of the Forest of Dean, Author, Forestry Expert and Historian, born in the Forest and lived in Coleford.

References

External links

University of Gloucestershire

EduBase
Educational institutions established in 1985 Coleford, Gloucestershire Education in Gloucestershire 1985 establishments in England {{Gloucestershire-school-stub