Whickham School

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Whickham School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Burnthouse Lane

Whickham

Tyne and Wear
,
NE16 5AR

England
Coordinates54°56′24″N 1°41′06″W / 54.940°N 1.685°W / 54.940; -1.685Coordinates: 54°56′24″N 1°41′06″W / 54.940°N 1.685°W / 54.940; -1.685
Information
TypeAcademy
Local authorityGateshead
Department for Education URN137360 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadteacherFraser Turnbull
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1601
Websitehttp://www.whickhamschool.org/

Whickham School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in Whickham (near Newcastle upon Tyne) in Tyne and Wear, England.[1]

Formerly Whickham Comprehensive School, it opened in 1962 as a replacement for the small, 'all-age' Victorian school in the village centre. A much larger school was required due to the large house-building programme that was taking place. It holds around 1700 pupils between the ages of 11-19 and has 300 members of staff. It offers a range of vocational and traditional qualifications at Key Stage 4 and 5, including GCSE, BTEC and A-Level.

School performance[]

The school has good academic achievement, and is the largest sixth form in Gateshead.[citation needed]

The last Ofsted inspection judged the school as Good with five areas of the school judged Outstanding.[citation needed]

The ‘Outstanding’ areas were:

1 - The quality of learning for pupils with special educational needs and /or disabilities and their progress 2 - The extent to which pupils feel safe 3 - Pupils’ attendance 4 - The effectiveness of care, guidance and support 5 - The effectiveness of partnerships in promoting wellbeing

Drama at Whickham School[]

A minimum of two productions are staged every year (a spring musical and an autumn show)[clarification needed]. Recent Whickham School productions include the Wizard of Oz and the Grease.

Fire[]

On 21 March 2008, there was a fire which destroyed the staff room, library, two music rooms, sixth form common room and study area.[2] New and improved Sixth Form facilities opened ready for the academic year beginning in September 2009.

Legal challenge to school uniform[]

In June 1999, University Professor Claire Hale took legal action against the School when they refused permission to allow her daughter to wear trousers. Amongst others, the Equal Opportunities Commission decided to back the case.[3] On 24 February 2000 the school avoided a legal battle by announcing that, in future, girls would be able to wear trousers.[4]

Notable Former Pupils[]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.whickhamschool.org/
  2. ^ "Gateshead News: Whickham School damaged by fire". 22 March 2008.
  3. ^ "EDUCATION | Court action over school trousers ban". BBC News. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  4. ^ Judd, Judith (24 February 2000). "Girl triumphs in fight to wear trousers at school - Education News, Education". The Independent. London. Retrieved 13 August 2010.[dead link]

External links[]

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