| The King's Academy | |
| Established | September 2003 [1] |
| Type | City Academy[2] |
| Religion | Christian[2] |
| Principal | Christopher Drew[2] |
| Location | Stainton Way Coulby Newham Middlesbrough North Yorkshire TS8 0GA England |
| LEA | Middlesbrough |
| Ofsted number | 8066906 |
| Students | 1109[2] |
| Ages | 11 to 18 |
| Website | Official website |
The King's Academy is an 11–18 secondary school and city academy located in Coulby Newham in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England, serving the community of South Middlesbrough. Established in 2003, it is run by the Emmanuel Schools Foundation[3] established by entrepreneur Sir Peter Vardy. It was officially opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair in March 2004.[4]
It was built to replace the former Local Authority run Brackenhoe and Coulby Newham secondary schools and Beverley School for the Deaf, accepting its first students from educational years 7 to 11 on 8 September 2003 and first opening its sixth form a year later. It has capacity for 1,250 students and promotes a specialism in Business and Enterprise. It is wholly funded by the DCSF and operates the same intake policy as that in place across all other Local Authority-maintained schools in Middlesbrough. It reserves 10% of its intake for children with Statements of Special Educational Needs, specifically for those with hearing and visual impairment and those with moderate learning difficulties.[5]
Contents |
Academic achievement
In the academy's first Ofsted report in 2005 it was described as "a good school with many strong features".[6] In its second Ofsted report in 2009 it was described as "a good school with many outstanding features".[7] 2009 Ofsted report gradings by sub-section were given as follows: Quality of Teaching and Learning = Good; Achievement and Standards = Good; Care, Guidance and Support = Outstanding; Leadership and Management = Good; Personal Development and Well-being = Outstanding; Effectiveness of the Sixth Form = Good; Curriculum and Other Activities = Good.[7]
In its first five years of operation, the academy increased its GCSE pass rate (5 A–C) from 34% (2004) to 61% (2008).[8] In both 2007 and 2008 it was given a Contextual Value Added (CVA) score that placed it in the top 10% of all schools nationally for the progress its students make between the start of Year 7 and the end of Year 11.[8] In January 2009, The Guardian newspaper ranked The King's Academy amongst the top 50 most improved secondary schools in the country.[9] The academy runs a sixth form, where examination results have improved consistently over the last three years.[8]
Ethos and values
The academy has a non-denominational Christian ethos. It promotes seven Core Values, namely: Honourable Purpose, Humility, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, Courage and Determination.
Even before it opened, opponents of City Academies and the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, including the prominent British scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins, claimed that the Academy would teach creationism in science lessons; this allegation was published in the national press and repeated for a few years.[10][4] However, the school consistently denied teaching creationism.[11][12] Finally, in 2006, The Guardian visited the school and published a strongly supportive article, emphasising that associating the school with creationism "couldn't be more wrong."[5]
Curriculum
At Key Stage Three students study English, mathematics, science, business studies, ICT and enterprise, French or German or Spanish, history, geography, religious education, engineering or resistant materials, food technology, art & design, music, drama and physical education.
At Key Stage Four all of the above subjects may be studied through an options system, plus English literature, double or triple science, economics, graphic products, textiles, electronics, business communications, health & social care and travel & tourism.
At Key Stage Five, Advanced Levels are offered in English language, English literature, mathematics & mechanics, mathematics & statistics, further mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, applied science, French, German, applied business, applied ICT, economics, history, geography, psychology, religious education, product design, food technology, art, textiles, theatre studies, music and physical education. BTECs are offered in business, sport, ICT and health & social care.
Music and drama
Students are involved in a wide range of music and drama activities throughout the year. Students are encouraged to practice a musical instrument and to take graded exams, and to participate in showcase events such as the Performing Arts Festival, the Music Evening and Prizegiving. The King's Academy's Gospel Choir won the "Boro's Got Talent" Competition at the Riverside Stadium in 2008.
Major sports
Major sports throughout the autumn and spring terms are boys' football and rugby and girls' hockey and netball. Boys' basketball is also played. Major sports in the summer term are athletics, boys' cricket and girls' rounders. Tennis is also played.
Activities and events
Major annual events in the academy calendar include the Performing Arts Festival, Staff vs Dads' Soccer Match, Christmas Carol Service, Senior Citizens' Party, Fashion Show, Careers Fair, Principal's Race Night, ESF Olympics, School Production, ESF Business Game, Year 8 Residential Week at Stainsacre, Year 9 Paris Trip, Year 6 Transition Week, Art & Textiles Exhibition, Tall Ships Challenge, Year 11 Principal's Dinner, Year 13 Leavers' Dinner, Sports Day, Sports Review Dinner and Prizegiving. Recent school trips abroad have included Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, Skiing in the French and Italian Alps, charitable work in South Africa and a football tour of Texas, USA.
The academy runs a comprehensive programme of House competitions throughout the year, where all four Houses compete against one another in each of the following disciplines: cross country, table tennis, boys' football, girls' football, boys' rugby, girls' hockey, boy's basketball, girls' netball, boys' cricket, girls' rounders, athletics, swimming, fishing, poetry, art, maths, short story writing, general knowledge, performing arts, chess, photography, cookery, merits and House boards.
Publications
The academy publishes a Yearbook once per year plus two Academy Times and one Sporting Times per year. News items on the website are updated on a weekly basis.
Facilities
The academy was purpose-built in 2003, designed by architects Howarth Litchfield Partnership and constructed by Surgo Construction. Its accommodation comprises over 80 classrooms, 12 seminar rooms, a main hall (seating 500) and lecture theatre (seating 270), a large sports hall (lined out for basketball, tennis, badminton, five-a-side football and with indoor cricket nets), a dance studio and fitness suite, school library, sixth form study centre and common room, drama studio and music recording studio, two restaurants, a full size floodlit astroturf pitch (lined out for hockey and football), a large hard court multi-use games area (lined out for netball and tennis) and extensive playing fields (lined out for football and rugby in the autumn and spring terms and for athletics and cricket in the summer term).
The school was the first to have closed-circuit television cameras installed in all classrooms.[13] The Head reported in the school's first year that CCTV had already proved valuable in protecting a teacher against false allegations.[4]
Principals
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 2003 - 2005 |  Nigel McQuoid |
| 2005 - Present |  Christopher Drew |
House Cup
| Years | Winners | House Manager | Head of House |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003/04 | Hebrews | Steve Garland |
Christopher Drew |
| 2004/05 | Romans | Sue Lawrence |
John Rhodes |
| 2005/06 | Hebrews | Steve Baxter |
Christopher Drew |
| 2006/07 | Hebrews | Steve Baxter |
Christopher Drew |
| 2007/08 | Medes | Ellie Unwin |
Gary Wiecek |
| 2008/09 | In Progress |
School productions
| Year | Production | Director | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Oliver! |  June Walker |
30–31 March |
| 2005 | Bugsy Malone | ||
| 2006 | Hello, Dolly! | 11–13 July | |
| 2007 | Bye Bye Birdie | 27–29 March | |
| 2008 | The Sound of Music | 1–4 April | |
| 2009 | Godspell | 24–27 March | |
| 2010 | Seven Brides For Seven Brothers | TBA |
References
- ^ "The King's Academy homepage". http://www.thekingsacademy.org.uk/. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
- ^ a b c d "The King's Academy". Direct.gov.uk. http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/8066906/overview/. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
- ^ Emmanuel Schools Foundation, Registered Charity no. 1093739 at the Charity Commission
- ^ a b c The lesson today, The Observer, 11 July 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2009
- ^ a b Martin Wainwright, They aren't faith schools and they don't select, The Guardian, 5 December 2006
- ^ "Ofsted Inspection Report". Ofsted. 2005. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/(id)/60172. Retrieved on 2009-03-07.
- ^ a b "Ofsted Inspection Report". Ofsted. 2009. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/(id)/105447. Retrieved on 2009-03-07.
- ^ a b c Local Authority : Middlesbrough school results 2005-2008 at DCSF website
- ^ "School league tables: Most improved schools 2005-08". Guardian Newspapers. 2009-01-15. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2009/jan/15/most-improved-2005-08-gcse-alevel. Retrieved on 2009-03-07.
- ^ 'Creationism' school opens its doors, BBC News, 8 September, 2003
- ^ Teach the origins of life based on evidence, scientists demand, The Times, 22 June 2006
- ^ "Science fact not fiction". Gazette Live. 2004-12-20. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/news-archive/2004/12/20/science-fact-not-fiction-84229-14997939/. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ CCTV in class 'will monitor bad behaviour', Daily Telegraph, 2 August 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2009
External links
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