Copleston High School

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Copleston High School
Copleston high school 10s07.JPG
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Copleston Road

Ipswich
,
Suffolk
,
IP4 5HD

England
Coordinates52°03′16″N 1°11′39″E / 52.05455°N 1.19412°E / 52.05455; 1.19412Coordinates: 52°03′16″N 1°11′39″E / 52.05455°N 1.19412°E / 52.05455; 1.19412
Information
TypeSports Academy
MottoAchieving Success Together
Established1939
Department for Education URN136827 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalA. Green
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1768
Websitehttp://www.copleston.suffolk.sch.uk/

Copleston High School is a secondary school for ages 11–18 in Ipswich, England. It is an academy, and caters for around 1,800 students,[1] as well as between 340-370 students in the sixth form which was shared with Holywells High School until 2011. A 2009 Ofsted inspection rated its overall performance as good with outstanding features.[2] A following Ofsted inspection in 2018 awarded them with a 'good' rating.[3]

History[]

The school first opened in 1939 as two separate boys' and girls' secondary modern schools.[4] However soon afterwards, World War II was declared and the site was used as a hospital for the duration of the War.

2006 arson attack[]

A severe fire on 27 August 2006 damaged the school's gym, classrooms and staff room, which prevented many students from returning after the summer break while repairs were being carried out.[5] Former pupil Ashley Norman pleaded guilty to starting the fire at Ipswich Crown Court in January 2007, whilst a second boy denied the charges.[6] They were both found guilty of arson and charged with 3 and 4 years respectively in a young offenders institution.

Two separate fires were started on site, the first in the staff block of the main building and the second in the girls' gym where a trampoline was set alight.[7] For a time the school used an old air raid siren to signify the end of classes after the fire destroyed the old bell system.[8]

Allegations about suspended teacher[]

In May 2013, Stephen Benson, a former science and PE teacher at Copleston was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of 21 offences, including nine rapes, six indecent assaults, two sex assaults and two counts of sexual activity with a child. "Jailed athletics coach Stephen Benson, of Ipswich, faces £30k legal bill after sex convictions". Ipswich Star. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2019. Another former teacher, Stephen Brenchley, was also convicted of sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.[9]

Gippeswyk Community Educational Trust[]

Copleston High School is a part of the - also known as GCET (A multi-academy trust.) The trust comprises Copleston High School, Britannia Primary School and Rosehill Primary School - all in the locality of East Ipswich. Previous Principal, Shaun Common, has now assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the trust.

Enterprise[]

In 2007 a scheme by students to run a "juice bar" selling smoothies in cooperation with a local firm earned one of the students the title of East of England Student of the Year and attracted interest from other schools in the county. The myjuice bar subsequently closed due to the closure of the company behind the idea.[10] A coffee bar stands in its place today.

References[]

  1. ^ "Copleston High School School overview". Directgov. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Copleston High School Inspection report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 January 2010.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk, Ofsted Communications Team (16 October 2019). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Copleston High School, Ipswich". www.schoolsnet.com. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Fire school opens for some pupils". BBC News. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Teen admits starting school fire". BBC News. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Teen started massive fire after break-up". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Fire school using air raid sirens". BBC News. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. ^ "A 'nice bloke' who became a child abuser". Eastern Daily Press. 29 May 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  10. ^ Juicy school scheme to roll out Evening Star, 27 July 2007
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