Tewkesbury School
| Tewkesbury Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
Ashchurch Road ,, GL20 8DF England | |
| Coordinates | 51°59′46″N2°07′56″W/ 51.99602°N 2.13222°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy |
| Motto | Expecting and achieving success |
| Established | c. 1972 |
| Department for EducationURN | 137752Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Chair of Governors | Steve Hawkins |
| Head Teacher | Kathleen McGillycuddy |
| Gender | Both |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1,400 |
| Houses | Bronte; Brunel; Elgar; Hodgkin; Keller; Priestley |
| Website | tewkesburyschool |
Tewkesbury Academy(previously Tewkesbury School) is asecondary schoolin the English town ofTewkesburyinGloucestershire.It has been anacademysince 2012; in July 2023 its name was changed to reflect this.[1]Since 2022 thehead teacherhas been Kathleen McGillycuddy.
History
[edit]20th century
[edit]The school was the product of the decision taken in 1969 to make Tewkesbury switch to comprehensive secondary education.
Formerly, Tewkesbury had had four secondary schools:
- the Grammar School for Boys, located at Southwick Park to the south of the town[2](later offices of the Severn-Trent Water Authority's Lower Severn Division, after that Equinox Maintenance Limited and now Cambian Southwick Park School - a residential school for autistic pupils)[3]
- the Grammar School for Girls, known as the "High School", in Church Street (later the Abbey School, now private premises under development)
- the Secondary Modern School for Boys in Chance Street (now the C of E Primary School) and
- Elmbury Secondary Modern School for Girls, a modern premises on the Ashchurch Road, opened in 1960.[4]
It was the latter whose buildings were chosen to form the nucleus of a new Tewkesbury Comprehensive School, with all of the town's secondary education being concentrated on the one site, and the former schools closing.
After a major building programme, enlarging the old Elmbury School to several times its original size, the new comprehensive, known as Tewkesbury School, was opened on 5 September 1972 with about 1,200 pupils on its books, and John C. Faull as its first head teacher.
The official opening took place on 16 November 1972, performed by ProfessorDorothy Hodgkin(1910–1994),Chancellorof theUniversity of Bristolfrom 1970 till 1988, winner of theNobel Prize in Chemistryin 1964 and theCopley Medalfrom theRoyal Societyin 1976.[5]
21st century
[edit]The most recent Ofsted[6]inspection in November 2021 saw the school retain a "Good" rating, stating that "Leaders have raised expectations of academic standards in the school. Pupils are resilient and do not give up. Pupils attend school regularly".
The school previously gained bothSportsmarkandArtsmarkawards, whilst also qualifying as anInvestor in People.
The school canteen has seen many different changes over the years, with catering currently provided byAramark.[7]
Asledused as part of the famousAntarcticexpedition to theSouth Poleby CaptainRobert Falcon Scottand his team, formerly on display in the former Boys' Grammar School's dining hall, is housed in the Humanities building at Tewkesbury Academy due to the school's links with Dr.Edward Adrian Wilson.The sled had been donated to the Grammar School by SirRaymond Priestleywho was born in Tewkesbury and who participated in the Antarctic Expeditions of Shackleton and Scott.[8]
In July 2011, John Reilly resigned from headteacher to be replaced by Martin McLeman as interim headteacher. In July 2011, it was announced that Gary Watson, formerly headteacher atMaidenhill School,Stroud,would take over the position from January 2012.
Gary Watson retired as headteacher in August 2022. Kathleen McGillycuddy, formerly principal ofBroadoak Academy,[9]Weston-super-Mare,became the headteacher on 1 September 2022.
As of 2023, the senior team consists of headteacher Kathleen McGillycuddy, deputy head Clare de Glanville, and assistant heads Angela Parker and Vivienne Whiting.
On 10 July 2023,policewere called to the school following reports that a pupil had attacked a teacher. A teenage boy was arrested and the teacher was admitted to hospital with "suspected stab wounds."[10][11][12]
Notable former pupils
[edit]- Roland Lee,Commonwealth Games swimmer (silver and bronze medallist in 1986)
- Mark Payne,footballer for English teamCheltenham Town,and second-tierDutchteamSC Cambuur
- Sarah Hoefflin,Olympics gold medallist fromSwitzerland
References
[edit]- ^Gov.uk."Tewkesbury Academy".Retrieved10 July2023.
- ^"History of the School".The tld theocsbrians Society.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2018.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^Jenkins, Robin (23 April 2018)."School to close just five years after taking first pupils and following £9million investment".Gloucestershire Live.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2020.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^"The borough of Tewkesbury: Schools Pages 165-167 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 8".British History Online.Victoria County History.Archivedfrom the original on 21 July 2020.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^"Hodgkin".Tewkesbury School.Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2018.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^Ofsted Communications Team (8 October 2020)."Find an inspection report and registered childcare".reports.ofsted.gov.uk.Retrieved16 August2022.
- ^"School Catering".Tewkesbury School.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2018.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^"Tewkesbury Town Guide".Tewkesbury Town Council. p. 34.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2012.Retrieved23 August2020.
- ^"Welcome to our Academy".Broadoak Academy.Retrieved16 August2022.
- ^"Teenager arrested after teacher stabbed at Tewkesbury School".BBC News.10 July 2023.Retrieved10 July2023.
- ^Hanlon, Tim (10 July 2023)."School in lockdown after 'teacher stabbed by student' as police swarm scene".mirror.Retrieved10 July2023.
- ^"Teenager arrested after reports teacher stabbed by pupil at Tewkesbury School".Sky News.Retrieved10 July2023.
